Chapter 6: The Art of Not Caring (But Also Caring a Little)
I'd officially decided that Moon Young's stubbornness was not my problem anymore. Seriously, if she wanted to fight like it was the Stone Age and refuse to adapt, that was on her. I was done emotionally investing in a battle that wasn't mine to win.
So, for now, my daily routine was simple: show up to class, scribble down enough notes to convince the teacher I was paying attention, and try really hard not to stand out like a neon sign flashing "Here's the new guy!"
Meanwhile, I was working on something way more important—collecting the contact info of every girl in my class.
Not because I was desperate or anything. Nope, definitely not.
But hey, why not?
I'm not shy. And let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy a little attention from good-looking girls?
We weren't friends yet, but that was just a matter of time. I mean, friendships start somewhere—usually with some awkward small talk or me borrowing notes because I forgot my textbook again.
I'd learned that making the first move was way better than sitting around, overthinking, and accidentally missing out. Misunderstandings? Nah, not my style.
So, as I packed up my stuff, ready to disappear like a ninja into the hallway, a small group of girls suddenly appeared by the door like it was scripted or something.
"Goodbye, Jae Gu~!"
A chorus of cheerful voices, all waving like we were at some kind of awkward parade.
I turned, threw on my best casual smile, and said, "See you tomorrow."
Then I walked off, off to my part-time job, where I'd be pretending to know what I'm doing for the next eight hours.
Yeah, living the dream.
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Walking through the crowded halls was like starring in my own personal reality show. Whispers, curious glances, the occasional "Who's that?" muttered under breath—it was all part of the package. I just kept my head down and pretended I didn't notice, like some kind of stealthy ninja, except with less cool gear and more awkward teenage sweat.
My destination? The boxing club room—the place where people actually hit things on purpose. Behind me, trying to be sneaky but failing spectacularly, was Dal Dal. I knew she was there. I could hear her footsteps, her breathing, and that tiny pause she made every time I moved, like a cat stalking prey but way less graceful.
Did I say anything? Nope. If she wanted to trail me like a shadow, that was her business. I wasn't about to stage a confrontation in the hallway.
Stepping inside the club, I spotted a surprise guest—Lee Na. Yeah, the Lee Na. Former Wild League champ before Queen took the throne. Talk about showing up with some serious cred.
Moon Young was there too, helping Queen wrap her hands, probably gearing her up for some epic showdown. As soon as Moon caught sight of me, her grin spread wide like she'd just landed the punchline to a joke only she got.
"You seem really excited, Song. I thought we were a thing."
That line hit me like a sucker punch.
"What!?"
Out of nowhere, Dal Dal stepped up from behind me, eyes practically popping out in disbelief. Moon smirked, clearly enjoying the show.
"Oh, if it isn't the skinny chicken. What can we help you with?"
Dal Dal shot back instantly, no filter. "Who needs help from you, fat cow? And what do you mean you have a 'thing' with him!?"
Moon just laughed, like she was savoring every second of this drama. "Hehehe, we're in a relationship."
Dal Dal whipped around, glaring daggers at me, like I was the punchline to some cruel joke.
I kept my cool. Calm, steady, mature—I wasn't some clueless kid playing dress-up anymore.
"It's a trial relationship that I initiated," I said, "but only time will tell where it ends up going."
No games. No fake promises. Real talk.
Dal Dal blinked. Surprised. Then… she smiled.
That tiny phrase—only time will tell—gave her hope. A chance. And for now, that was enough.
Honestly? Even though this whole thing started as some weird task for marks, I couldn't deny it. She was a challenge.
Not just because she was tough, but because she was smart and fierce and didn't back down.
And that? That made it worth every awkward step.
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Moon Young's smile did that weird thing where it wobbles like a cartoon character about to realize the floor's about to disappear. She looked like she just tried to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded.
"What does this mean?" she asked, her voice missing all the usual sass. Honestly, it was almost… vulnerable. Which made me feel a bit guilty, but hey, life's complicated.
I didn't waste time or words. I had a point to make.
"It means you should take this seriously. We don't know each other. No feelings yet. So technically, this isn't even a relationship — it's more like an experiment." I said it like I was the professor and this was some weird science project nobody signed up for.
"This is a pure relationship where we learn about each other. Yeah, you're attractive, but that's not enough. And my looks shouldn't be enough for you either."
Then, because subtlety is overrated, I walked right past her, dropped my bag like a boss, and without missing a beat, started peeling off my shirt and pants until I was down to shorts.
Cue Dal Dal and Moon Young going into stunned silence, like they were seeing a mythical creature for the first time. Me? I just ignored the stares and climbed into the ring, kicking off my shoes in one smooth move that would've made a ninja jealous.
Moon, still quiet, was probably replaying my speech in her head like a mixtape on repeat.
At first, she'd only agreed to this "thing" because, let's face it, hello, I'm not exactly invisible. But now? It wasn't just about looks.
There was something else. Strength. Confidence. Skill. A side of kindness she hadn't expected. And, yeah, the body didn't hurt.
But love? Pfft. That was like trying to solve a calculus problem when you're just learning addition.
After all, we'd just met today.
And that was the weirdest part of all.
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Queen didn't say a word, but her poker face had a tiny crack in it. A hairline fracture of relief. You wouldn't notice unless you were me… or had microscopic emotional sonar. But I saw it.
She'd been worried. That I might be one of those guys—built like a Greek statue but with the personality of expired yogurt. You know the type: pretty face, rotten center. The kind of guy that makes women lose trust in humanity and online dating.
But my little heart-to-heart (shirtless version) seemed to win her over. A small victory.
And then the air shifted.
A new voice entered the ring—metaphorically. And almost literally, because she had the presence of a war immortal casually deciding whether or not to smite mortals today.
"She's right. You should think about these things seriously."
Lee Na.
Yup. That Lee Na.
The one people whisper about in locker rooms like she's the final boss of female fighters. The woman with the kind of aura that made professional killers and beauty queens feel equally underdressed.
Tall. Graceful. Dangerously elegant. Blonde hair sleek like a blade, parted just enough to make you wonder if it was by choice or by destiny. Purple eyes that didn't blink—probably because blinking was too inefficient.
She looked at me. Directly. No flinching. No "oh wow he's hot." Just the raw gaze of someone who's here to see if you're worth betting the planet on.
"Song Jae Gu," she said. "The Founder has great expectations for you. So show us your worth."
No pressure, right?
Then she added, with the subtlety of a business merger, "We know of your problems. And things can be arranged."
Translation: We know your wallet's flatter than a pancake after leg day. We know you've got a family you'd fight demons for. We know you're scared to fail—but we also know you're the type who won't stop swinging.
My eyes narrowed just a bit.
I didn't ask how they knew. People like Lee Na didn't make guesses—they got reports.
And honestly, there was no point pretending anymore. If they knew the stakes, then they knew why I couldn't afford to lose. Why my body wasn't just mine—it belonged to my siblings. To a future I hadn't earned yet.
So I gave her the only answer that mattered.
"I'll try my best."
No dramatic pause. No anime-style speech. Just the truth.
Then I turned to face my opponent.
I had planned to keep it simple. Be efficient. Don't show too much.
But since the Boss of the Final Bosses was watching...
Why not put on a show?
If they wanted to see my worth...
Let them feel it.