Damian had never been the type of person to take the lead, but that day would be different. He felt the weight of oppression and humiliation on his shoulders. The same delinquents who always made his life hell were in front of him again, mocking and pushing him for no reason. He was tired of being the target. His body, stronger and more defined, seemed to scream at him to act, to do something. And, at that moment, he decided that passivity would no longer be an option.
The leader of the delinquents, a threatening-looking boy, advanced on him, laughing and pushing Damian aside. The laughter echoed through the room, but something was about to change. Without thinking, Damian closed his hand into a fist and, in a quick and accurate movement, landed a punch straight to the face of the first delinquent. The impact was so strong that, for a moment, the room went silent. The delinquent staggered back, his legs shaking as if the shock of the blow had hit more than just his face.
What seemed like a moment of victory, however, soon turned into a brutal fight. The gang leader, furious, shouted for his friends to attack. "Finish him and the others too!" That was enough for the other delinquents to advance, trying to surround Damian and his friends. Chaos quickly ensued. But instead of retreating, Damian stood firm, and his friends, Jin, Seok and Minho, soon joined him. They were no longer willing to let themselves be humiliated.
Minutes later, the fight stopped, and silence took over the room. Damian and his friends were panting, but with the delinquents lying around them, victory was clear. Despite the adrenaline, a sense of incompleteness hung in the air. His friends looked at Damian, impressed. Jin was the first to speak, with a smile on his face: "Bro, you were awesome! I didn't even know you were so strong!"
Seok also approached, patting Damian on the back. "You outdid yourself, man. I don't think anyone will want to make fun of you now."
But Minho, who was always more cautious, seemed worried. He looked around and lowered his voice, as if he was saying something no one else wanted to hear. "You know these guys aren't just any bullies, right? They're part of the Donghwa gang, one of the most powerful in the city. They don't just have power here at school, but also in several illegal businesses, including apartments and even some things on the side. If we get mixed up with them, it could be really dangerous."
Damian was silent for a few seconds, processing Minho's words. But instead of hesitating or getting intimidated, he simply looked at his friends and, with a tired smile, said: "I'm tired of being beaten, I don't know about you, but this has gone too far. If we don't do something now, it will always be like this. And I'm sure you're tired of being humiliated too."
His friends exchanged glances, Damian's words echoing in their minds. It wasn't just Damian who was fed up with his life. They were ready for a change too.
Jin was the first to bow his head in agreement. Seok did the same, and even Minho, although worried, accepted that it might be time to face the consequences. They had taken an important step, and now there was no turning back. Their fight was just beginning.