𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐚𝐮𝐝 | 𝐲.𝐣𝐰

『𝟎𝟏』𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧

hyeji stepped into the ring as she prepared herself for her first match of the day. adjusting the straps of her pink gloves as the referee made ready his whistle. she took a deep breath and at the blow of the small instrument, she began to bounce on her feet around the ring as her opponent does the same.

maintaining eye contact, it was easy for hyeji to predict her enemy's next move.

dodging hits one by one, she punched back, controlling her technique and style.

at this point, she scored more punches than her opponent. thus, her enemy was exhausted and was completely drained, taking the opportunity to swing at their face. sending them to the floor with no mercy.

drops of blood trickled to the floor from her opponent as she too was bleeding from small cuts received on her cheek and throughout her arms.

1. 2. 3. the referee calls knockout.

the younger girl smiled with pride and victory as the referee grabs her wrist, raising it high as everyone around her cheered. thats another crown for her triumph.

hyeji was an all time winner at the underground boxing ring. everyone knew her as the alpha of the crew and she didn't fail to show that she was. even at her age.

✰✰✰

after cleaning herself up, she proceeded to take the bus home and quickly change before she had to go to her real job.

behind all this, hyeji lived a pretty normal, private life like any other teen her age would.

she was a senior in high school that lived on her own. her parents didn't support her choice of sport with the fact that it involved fighting and was completely inappropriate for a girl to do. it was also located underground, associating with thugs and bad people. and to add to that, illegal.

but she understood how they felt. they still loved her and she still loved them but the pair were scared for their daughters' future, feared it would lead her in the wrong direction.

despite her parents denial, she did what she loved and that led her into becoming a pretty successful person. even if the career wasn't something you would normally think of. as long as she enjoyed it and as long as it got her money she was satisfied.

hyeji still worked a part time job. she didn't box full time and even though it payed loads, she still had to get her service hours in for her school one way or another. as ironic as it sounds, she got a chance to experience the hardships of a student. she liked it because lots of people would come in and it made her feel a bit less lonely. all she really needed to do was sit behind a counter and ring up customers. she worked night shifts so that meant she had to work alone but she didn't mind.

the girl didn't have any friends. many would come here and there but were to walk out not long after. she felt she couldn't give them the attention they wanted with how busy her life was. but it didn't really matter and she didn't really care. soon after she thought a friend would just be a burden, something else you would have to prioritize. keeping that thought in her head was probably the biggest reason she never gave any of her friends time which led her to being all alone. but this job was enough to keep her content.

with a typical job like this, it was normal to encounter a few perverts and creeps whether it was around or inside the store during the nights and even mornings. but its not like she couldn't handle a few pedophiles.

but this night, someone clearly had other plans.

hyeji was alone, sitting down at the counter on her phone when the commotion had interrupted her peace.

a distressed man had busted through the front door and her impulses quickly brought her to her feet.

he hunched over whilst catching his breath so she figured something had to have been wrong.

"are you okay?? do you need help??"

her eyes tore away from him to the gun he held in his hands.

she gasped.

after a short observation she soon realized the person that stood there was a boy, not a man like she had assumed.

he avert his attention to the girl, pointing the gun to her in panic.

she held her breath raising her hands in defense as she was paralyzed with fear.

hyeji might be one fond of fighting and although she tends to be fearless most of the time, she knew this wasn't funny business and nothing was going to get her around this.

dialing 119 was off the list. the boy had all his attention to the girl that stood in front of him, the gun still aimed at her.

"ah shit." the boy curses, looking towards the door behind him before jumping over the counter, covering her mouth whilst pressing the gun to her side.

"don't say a word." his voice whispers harshly as he shoves the girl beneath the counter. him following in suit.

hyeji could feel the cold tip of the barrel pressed against her school uniform. the boy besides her was holding in his heavy breaths under his mask and hood. she too was breathing rather harshly as her adrenaline rushed.

it stayed silent like that for a few more seconds before she could hear more people burst through the door. multiple footsteps stomp around. "we know you're here so stop playing around."

a few more seconds of silence before footsteps continue rapidly scattering the small store in attempt to find the hiding boy.

the sound of shoes and shuffling approached the counter and was brought to a halt. the two look at each other, both knowing they would be caught any second.

she unconsciously moved a bit closer to him. she couldn't decide whether to be scared of the boy besides her or the person right above them so she went along with the second option. his grip on his gun loosens but his grip on her does not.

however, nothing came.

the door to the store opens and footsteps began to fade away.

the boy relaxes, removing his hands from her mouth, about to move from besides her but she stops him. placing her hands on his knees. he freezes, looking at the terrified girl before hearing the last set of steps walk out the door.

the steps of the person over the counter.

they waited a few more seconds before he quickly stood up, removing the gun from besides her and jumped over the counter.

"come get me. i think i lost them." he spoke into his inear.

the boy walked out the door he had entered through, but not before taking a last glance at the standing girl, making eye contact with hyeji and letting out a long sigh.

that night, hyeji decided it was best to close the store early.