Self Esteem || Peter Parker

3

"Danny!" Jay called in greeting as the three teenagers let themselves into the basement complex that served as the gym that Daejoon Han worked in. It was a series of rooms in the basements of several office buildings ten blocks from Minjoon's apartment. Already, despite it being mid afternoon, it was half full of people. The weights room contained the body builder regulars that had grown used to the teens. Minjoon peered through the glass doors and waved at a few men. Some of them waved back and those who couldn't, nodded at him between reps.

"What do you three want?" Daejoon frowned as he stepped out of the boxing room. He had grown since the snap. Skinny eighteen year old now a large twenty six year old. Since their parents had disappeared he had stepped up to the challenge. He became Minjoon's legal guardian and had gotten a part time job at this gym. The owner was an old boxing coach who had set up the gym in retirement. He had lost all his workers in the snap and had a weakness for underdogs. Minjoon guessed that the pair of them had been a pair of very pitiful underdogs. They were going to loose the apartment if Daejoon had not gotten the job. Luckily he had.

In the time since then he had worked his way up from janitor to professional boxer and trainer. Mr Santiago, who owned the gym, training him in his spare time. It seemed the older boy had a knack for it. Now Daejoon was twice the size as he was at eighteen, all of it in compact muscle that did nothing to damper his wide easy grin and boyish features. Minjoon and his older brother did not look very much alike other than their shared smiles. They both had the same dimples.

Daejoon rubbed the sweat from his face with a towel and eyed the three teenagers. "Did you all get in trouble with school again?"

"Nope", Minjoon tried an innocent smile.

"Nothing more than usual", Ellie waved a hand. "Is Mr Santiago in the mat room again?" She did not wait for an answer and strode through towards the corridor leading to the locker rooms. Jay waving at Daejoon before hurrying after her.

The frown melted into a fond smile as the older Kim reached out to ruffle his little brother's hair. "How was your day Minnie?"

"Stop calling me that", Minjoon whined. "You're going to ruin my reputation".

"What reputation? That you're a little shit?" Daejoon laughed. "Come here". He reached for his brother but Minjoon dove backwards to avoid the aggressive hair ruffling he was about to receive.

"I'm going to be late", he excused, edging towards the corridor. "I made some kimchi yesterday. It's in the fridge and there's rice in the cooker from this morning. Please remember to get groceries on your way home later. Also I've calculated the budget for the water and electricity bills. I'll go over it with you when we're both home later", he rushed to remind his older brother. While Daejoon was talented at boxing and his job, he wasn't the best with maths and calculations. Ironically, maths was what got Minjoon into Midtown. 

"Thanks!" Daejoon called after his brother as the shorter boy ducked down the corridor. Minjoon was almost out of sight when his brother shouted after him. "Wait! Minjoon!"

He turned and his red converse skidded on the floor. He flailed and managed to catch himself by grabbing the corner of the wall. Daejoon grinned as his younger brother stuck his head round the corner, expression sporting an annoyed frown. "What?"

"The school emailed me"- Daejoon began.

"It wasn't me!" Minjoon declared as he stuck his head back round the corridor and tried to make a break for it. Daejoon lunged and there was the squeaking of shoes on the linoleum. Hands grabbing as Minjoon yelped and struggled. They wrestled for a minute before Minjoon finally lost, or when Daejoon finally gave up on letting him pretend to win. (His brother was ten years older and never let him win their wrestling matches, even after they both started training in boxing).

"Stop wriggling and let me speak", he huffed as Minjoon grumbled in the headlock he was currently fighting against. "As I was saying, the school sent me an email. It's not anything bad!" He laughed as Minjoon began cursing at him in Korean.

"If it's not bad you can let me go now". The bigger boy released him and Minjoon skittered away, wary of any more brother attacks. (He inwardly cursed the fact that he had gotten his mother's height and barely reached past his brother's shoulder). "So what is it?"

Daejoon's smile grew. It crinkled his eyes in the way that they shared. Sometimes it reminded Minjoon of their father but he didn't think much about their parents anymore. Not after the incident three months ago. He didn't want to think of them much again after that. He preferred to see the crinkle of his brother's eyes as matching his own. "The school are doing a trip. Mr Harrington and Mr Dell are planing a trip to Europe. They're only taking a certain amount of students though, those from humanities and sciences".

Minjoon's eyes widened, then they furrowed into a frown. "But that's expensive".

Daejoon's excited grin faded into something a bit more softer, sadder, fonder. "We can afford it".

Minjoon's frown creased even further. "No we can't. Even with the school paying half of it, all the money we earn here goes to things. We can't afford for me to take a trip round Europe. There's bills".

"Hey. We can afford it", Daejoon repeated slower. He reached out and pressed his hands to Minjoon's shoulders and met his gaze. "I have a match on Saturday remember? If I win, we will have the money". His tone was sincere but Minjoon only eyed him suspiciously.

"Are you getting Ricky to bet on you again?"

Daejoon sighed heavily. "I don't get Ricky to do anything. It's your birthday coming up. Ricky said he'd cover half the cost of the trip if I cover the rest. The match winnings is more than enough to cover all of it. It's the final in the competition, remember?"

Minjoon nodded. His brother didn't take part in matches often but when he did, he took part in completions and usually made it far. Despite having a talent for boxing, he wasn't actually a big fan of violence. Boxing just offered him a way to earn money and raise Minjoon. He always preferred to teach the self defence lessons than the boxing classes. It was something Mr Santiago always complained about. His best student preferring to teach rather then do. Any competitions he did take part in was for the money or to gain prestige for the gym rather than himself. That reason of prestige was why he had entered the current competition, and he had made it to the final.

Minjoon sighed deeply. He worried about his older brother. "What if you don't win?"

Daejoon sniffed at him. "Who says I won't win? That's bad luck".

"But what if you don't? When do we need to pay the fees by?"

"A week on Friday. So we have plenty enough time. I'll win. Don't worry". Daejoon patted his little brother's shoulders with a wide smile. "Now you're late to your kickboxing lesson".

Minjoon huffed at the reminder and spun around. Daejoon watched as he made his way down the corridor and pushed open the doors to the men's changing rooms. Once he disappeared from sight, the smile left the man's face. He ran a hand over his face with a soft sigh. His little brother worried him. Had been worrying him for months. Minjoon was seventeen and he wouldn't get to be a child much longer. He deserved this trip. Daejoon inhaled deeply. He knew what the kids at school said about Minjoon. He knew that his brother didn't tell him about every fight, or every incident. He certainly didn't tell him about the rumours. That he was in a gang, that he had killed a kid, that he was dealing drugs and in trouble with the police. Those had only picked up since the return.

There had been much lost during the blip. Yet things were somehow still the same. Immigrant mouthy kids who were living pay check to pay check and basically not much better than orphans were still on the lower rungs. He would be the first to admit the his little brother was passionate (or hotheaded, whichever you prefer) but that didn't mean he was a bad kid. None of the trio were bad kids. They were just unlucky.

Daejoon pulled himself together and exhaled slowly. His brother deserved more and if he wanted to pay for that trip then he needed to continue training. He rolled his shoulders and started towards the door to the boxing gym.

Unedited