.

Being unable to stand him speaking cheesy and cocky, I blurted out, “Eww, why do you talk that way like a twelve-year-old kid? And prove what? This isn’t a math question!”

“Anyway, I am correct. You aren’t the nationwide Number one, right? Do you admit it? No?”

“Oh, geez, hate that tone of voice…” Groaning that way, I found Ban Hwee Hyul’s face turning stiff. I also became grim-faced.

If I kept spending more time persuading Yoon Jung In, Ban Hwee Hyul would feel uncomfortable, in the end, and try to deal with the situation in his own way like he did in the past. A sense of crisis surged into me all of a sudden.

If someone asked me how he had handled things in the past, it was, of course, using his fist. ‘Feel how my punch is like then you’ll get to figure out whether I’m the nationwide Number one or not.’ I couldn’t help but think that Ban Hwee Hyul would go something like that.

Before Yoon Jung In becomes a human punching machine, I’ve shouted urgently, “O…o… objection!!”

It made him take a step back with a flinch. “Jesus Christ! What’s wrong with you, girl? Why are you speaking like you’re in a court?”

As he murmured in surprise, I replied determinedly, “Okay, let me perform a U-turn on your opinion. That’s what I should do, right?”

“My opinion? Ban Hwee Hyul isn’t that good-looking? Do you think that’s refutable? It isn’t a matter of IQ but about appearance, which can’t be inspected again.” Yoon Jung In grumbled as if my words made no sense.

Ignoring his response, I beckoned to Ban Hwee Hyul to come over to this side. As we got closer, I whispered to him, “Recently, have you ever felt that you want to hit us?”

After thinking about it for a second, Ban Hwee Hyul shook his head.

‘Oh, cool. I was a little concerned since Mr. Yoon Jung In always ordered a knuckle sandwich everywhere every time, but Ban Hwee Hyul, you’re quite generous and big-minded…’ I looked up at Ban Hwee Hyul in awe.

I asked him, “Hwee Hyul, let’s take off your glasses.”

It was Yoon Jung In, not Ban Hwee Hyul, who reacted to that suggestion. He shook his head, looking insipid.

“Hey, just give up. Even if he takes off his glasses, his appearance won’t change…” Babbling that way, Yoon Jung In’s face suddenly turned pale. As if he had confronted a zombie or monster in the middle of the street, Yoon Jung In’s eyes quivered for a while. Stepping aside totteringly, he then collapsed on his knees.

“No… no way…”

Losing all his confidence he had just now, Yoon Jung In plopped down on the floor as if he became penniless. I showed a warm smile at the sight.

‘Sorry, kiddo, I didn’t want to break down your logical thinking this dramatically. Just as you’ve said, a person’s appearance won’t change just by taking off glasses. That isn’t wrong. It’s Ban Hwee Hyul who’s way out of our commonsensical way of thinking.’

Then I paused offering words of comfort to Yoon Jung In as he dropped a crap.

“My friend was the nationwide Number one… My quiet school life is all over now.”

“Dude, what the heck are you talking about? As long as I know, your school life was never quiet, even once.”

Even though I spoke that way, Yoon Jung In didn’t seem to accept the reality. Well, he had never seen the face of the missing nationwide Number one in person; having a handsome appearance was, thus, not enough to prove that Ban Hwee Hyul was actually the top-notch fighter.

Barely controlling his mind and self, Yoon Jung In tossed a question with his eyes still showing a strand of hope.

“Hey, I’m sorry but I can’t believe it yet.”

“Why?” asked Ban Hwee Hyul.

“It’s because… there’s Hwang Siwoo. Why did you leave him to behave that way? I mean if you’re the Number one fighter, don’t you have enough strength to just easily beat him up? Is it because you wanted to live a quiet life as you mentioned earlier? But isn’t Hwang Siwoo the one distracting your peaceful school life?”

Ban Hwee Hyul responded without hesitation, “Didn’t I tell you guys earlier that I’m even feeling glad about it?”

Lifting my head up, I asked, “What?”

Ban Hwee Hyul continued speaking without hindrance, “I’m, instead, appreciating… Hwang Siwoo.”

As soon as he dropped that remark, there was a moment of silence. Amid the speechless atmosphere, Yoon Jung In and I raised our heads and had eye contact.

Yoon Jung In carefully detached his lips. “Dude, sorry… I didn’t know you had that taste… of things…”

‘Gosh, Yoon Jung In!!’ While I pressed my aching temples firmly, Ban Hwee Hyul uttered like a roar, “No.”

“No? Your secret taste of things has nothing to do with appreciating Hwang Siwoo?” asked Yoon Jung In.

“You would have seen in the patient’s room that I went earlier.” Ban Hwee Hyul spoke with a snarl while glaring his eyes like a beast.

Both Yoon Jung In and I remained silent for a second. We weren’t ready to talk about the subject; it was too heavy for us to take into our minds.

While we became wordless, Ban Hwee Hyul continued to speak composedly.

“Ban Hwee Ahn, he’s my little brother, two years younger than me.”

“…”

“Did you see him on the bed? As you can tell, he wasn’t muscular at all even before he came to the hospital. Thus, he wasn’t able to do tough part-time jobs; he caught a cold very often. Sometimes he had to spend more money on getting treatments and medicines after work.”

I slightly squinted my eyes at the words that quietly came out from Ban Hwee Hyul’s mouth.

Things became clear. Even though he was a student, Ban Hwee Hyul was doing a part-time job at late night. I did notice from that situation, but Ban Hwee Hyul seemed to have some difficulties in his family circumstances. The two brothers had to support their family financially.

Confessing his personal story that way, Ban Hwee Hyul didn’t show any signs of sadness or unfairness. I found the same look that Eun Hyung revealed on his face in the past, adapting to the unlucky life.

Raising his eyes, Ban Hwee Hyul observed our reactions then slowly detached his dry lips.

“I… had to walk along dark streets at night, and therefore, people often picked a fight with me. My body wasn’t this big when I was young. Sometimes they started to argue why I was looking at them offensively, but most of the time, they wanted to steal my money.”

“…”

“Even though I had just a few bucks, I couldn’t give it to them, so I fought desperately. I’d never lost a fight that someone else started first. As if it spread out like a rumor, more kids began to come over and challenge me…”

His voice gradually subsided, “Then one day someone suggested me participating in the Ranking Battle. I was told that a lot of good things will happen if I win there.”

Ban Hwee Hyul then shut his mouth again.

As the silence became unbearable, I threw him a question. “So?”

“Even in that competition, I never lost, never got defeated. The top position was, of course, mine. Afterward, things turned out to be quite comfortable as they told me.”

“If you say things became comfortable…”

Ban Hwee Hyul continued, “If I was in need, kids quickly came out to take my place at work, brought me money from somewhere, and even ran my errands… things like that.”

My face turned dark. Throwing a glance at Yoon Jung In, he also seemed to look grim. That was because victims still existed in this world even if there weren’t any direct perpetrators. Ban Hwee Hyul said he knew nothing, but was he utterly innocent of the situation around him? In terms of the privileges he had enjoyed as a nationwide ranker, no one could say that he was completely free from blame.

Receiving our attention, Ban Hwee Hyul opened and clenched his fist unnecessarily. He then opened his mouth again.

“Hwee Ahn was the first to criticize me that I wasn’t helping the weak with my power; I’m neglecting people exploiting them.”

“…”

“Just as he said, I never gave a ** about the helpless, the weak getting beaten and crying beside me. I just didn’t care at all when my friends harassed those kids. That’s because when it came to a physical confrontation, I never asked others to fight on behalf of me, so I thought I had no reason to fight for them too.”

“Geez…” I sighed involuntarily.

Glancing at my reaction, Ban Hwee Hyul continued, “But Hwee Ahn had a different thought.”

“What was it?”

“He insisted that I should not ignore those kids and definitely help them as a person with power. With that being said, he often intervened in other’s fights fearlessly. If he did that in front of me, I would have come forward to help him, but sometimes he didn’t. Whenever it happened, my little brother always came home injured; I had to hear others telling me I should better take care of him and make him behave well. Then one day…”