A Bout for Two // NCT Renjun

Introduction

       Silence.  That's the thing that I can never get enough of.  It's the anecdote, the solution to all of my problems.  It's the thing that comforts me the most, the thing that picks me up from my falls, the thing that soothes me the most as I try to go to sleep every night.  It's the thing that I long for every moment of my life.  It's the thing, that I can never ever have enough of.  It's the thing, that I can't afford to hold onto for a long period of time.

       Ever since I was little, I'd always been that athletic girl.  I'd hang around with the boys more often then the girls, since they were the ones who had the most energy.  Over the years, I've enjoyed hanging around guys more often.  They keep me on my toes constantly, and have always challenged me to be better than everyone else.  I was never like the other girls in my class at elementary and middle school.  They were into cute guys, getting their nails done, cute clothes, styling their hair, makeup, etc.  I never found interest in that stuff.  I think of those things as petty wants in life, nothing that's actually very exciting in my opinion.

       I've been pretty well off all my life.  My mother is a successful fashion designer and my dad is the CEO of one of the biggest tech companies of all time.  When I was little, I never really had much time to spend with them, as they were always busy.  I never had a sibling to keep me company, so I was forced to find and make my own company.  When I was 12, I had saved up enough money from babysitting that I got a dog.  A corgi to be exact who I named Gyeoul, meaning winter.  He was a very well behaved dog, and was always up for cuddles.  He means a lot to me, and seems like my only friend some of the time.  Sure I have other friends at high school now, but Gyeoul was there for me since the beginning, since day one.  

       Now enough of all this random information.  Here's the part that really counts.  I'm a junior at Neo High School, one of the most prestigious schools in all of Seoul.  I moved to Korea from China when I was 8, and I must admit that moving to a new city with a new language, culture, etc was difficult at first, but it got easier over time for me.  I'm a very extroverted person, and I make friends easily.  Every year I always pull straight As, and I'm known for not only my cleverness, but as well as beauty, athleticism and honesty at my school.  I wouldn't say I'm the most popular person at Neo High, but I'm definitely up there.  However, it gets pretty tiring when everyone knows who you re because of your parents and your reputation.  Having people constantly coming up to you to ask for homework help, relationship advice (which I have no experience in), trying to be nice to you just for the money, or just trying to make conversation can be overwhelming at times.  I just want to be alone with my thoughts at times, and that escape for me is fencing.

       My dad wanted me to pick up a sport when I was around the age of 5.  He put me in all sorts of sports: volleyball, football, ballet, swimming, all the sports you try when you're typically a little kid.  However, I never found that perfect match.  I did martial arts for about 2 and a half years, but I yearned for something more.  That's when I found fencing.  It's a beautiful sport that's not just about skill, but also about strategy.  I'd always enjoyed learning about the military tactics Ancient China had used long ago in battle, and now, I've found my own place to practice my own kind of strategy.  I never stopped fencing once I picked it up, and now I'm a internationally ranked fencer, ranked 26 in the world for women's foil.  Now onto explaining foil.  Foil is a type of fencing.  There are three types actually.  There's foil, saber and epee.  Foil, the type that I do, is where the only valid target is the chest, the back, the flank, the sides, and little part of the bottom of the mask called the bib.  Basically any of the silver shiny stuff your opponent is wearing.  There's a bunch of rules about fencing, which can get really confusing, but once you start and learn more about it, it gets easier.  

       I'm lucky that Neo High School has a fencing team, in fact it's one of the few schools that do.  I'm glad that I'm allowed to fence for both my school, as well as China, since that's the country I selected to fence for once I became internationally ranked.  Everyone in the fencing community knows each other, but I'd like to say that the reputation I hold in the fencing community is different from everyone else's.  It always goes something like this...

"Omg, that's Aria Wong, you know the one with the super rich parents."

"Her dad is the CEO of that super massive tech company right?"

"Omg, I would die if her mom were to style my hair and dress me in her clothing."

"She goes to Neo High School too, which is so hard to get into.  I wonder what she's ranked in her class."

"So you think she's dating anyone???"

All the gossip starts to rub off, but it's still equally annoying.  It's frustrating how no one pays attention to the fact that I'm a good fencer, just my fame and money.  It's tiring to also have to constantly worry about your image for the sake of yourself and your parents. 

       Also, big fencing tournaments are absolutely the worst.  Coaches and parents are screaming at their kids, either throwing encouraging words or insults of disappointment.  The referees who are starting the bouts between two fencers.  The scream of the fencers who get a difficult touch during a bout.  It's all beautiful, but it's all scary as well.  This is when I wish for silence, I want to hear my own heart beating in my chest, to hear my steady breath, for time to be frozen in place.  However, I also longed for someone, to reassure me of why I picked this sport.  To comfort me at my lows, a way my parents could never have done.  To share the same interests, to respect me, to understand me, to love me inside out.  And to be honest, my life completely changed my junior year at Neo High.

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Hey everyone!

I'm so excited that I have finally started this story!!!

I hope you all enjoy😘