My Fool Fighter

5

Song: One Person - solji

(Please see subtitles then listen to it on repeat while reading to immerse yourself in their story)

Flashbacks:

Flashback 1

(19 years old wooyoung)
I was heading out checking my surroundings in fear, those neighbourhood boys might be anywhere, they're probably waiting for me in some corner where no one can see them beat my ass out.. I'm just tired of them, tired of this place.

A hand suddenly covered my mouth while two others pulled me from my sides to that place I knew so well.

One of them smirked holding up a thick stick heading towards me, I only I shrunk and covered my eyes with my fists waiting for the pain I never got used to regardless of how much I had been beaten up by those guys.

But the hit never came, it is been a good time since he waved it at me, why am I not feeling anything? Did I pass out or what?

Instead a hand from behind touched my nape moving down to my tattoo right below it, "are you okay?" a deep yet a very tender voice entered my ears finally allowing me to relax my muscles a bit.

All the guys around me bowed to me and ever since, they never crossed roads with me.

Flashback 2

(13 years old san)
I was sitting on the seesaw by myself at the park, I would always come here to clear my mind, I always played alone.

The seesaw suddenly lift me up to bring me back to reality after I had zoned out for a while, on the other side sat a boy with black hair, long bangs covering his eyes but I could still see that big mole under his eye, it stands out, his big smile does too.

He didn't say a word neither did I, we just kept playing for a bit until he got off and headed towards me, "here" he handed me a caramel pudding cup with a plastic spoon, "enjoy it" the boy said smiling, and I knew he was going to be so special to me ever since.

"Can you wait here for me?" He asked me and left running, not as if I had a better place to be at, and I'm not that fond of going back home to be welcomed warmly by a mad dad who would again vent out at me.

A few minutes later the guy came back, kneeled down by me, he took some ointment out of the small bag he had in his hand and started applying it on the corner of my lip, my eyebrow and my outer wrests, I could now see his eyes, they weren't as friendly if not for his smile.

He then took out some cute heart printed plasters of different shapes and covered my wounds caused by the person who should be my shield and shelter, no one else but my dad.

I kept my eyes on him tracing his features, fondly.
I placed my finger on his mole while he was putting the plasters on the wound by my lip, "a star escaped the sky to land on your cheek", he chuckled softly "it is my dot!".

He became my first and only friend that day.
He one day told me about the tattoo he wanted to get once he was old enough,
"Sanni, I really hate being alone, I'm so glad we met if without you I would have been facing my worst nightmare now.."

"..that's why, when I'm old enough I will get a tattoo that says (I'm never alone and I will never be)" he smiled and asked me if I wanted to get any myself.
I shook my head as an answer " there's nothing that means anything to me to get a tattoo"

"Hmm, there has to be something, I'll think of one for you too!"
I only locked eyes on the guy, my heart aching for the fact that I will be moving again soon, I was lonely after all because of how much we moved, wooyoung doesn't know yet..

-----

"Sanni sanni, I found our tattoo!"

-----

Flashback 3

(18 years old Wooyoung)
Now that I am 18, I can finally get the tattoo I wanted! My booking is ready, and I will never be alone.
But wait..what about the promise I made with san..?

Flashback 4

(23 years old wooyoung)
I took the change of clothes san had prepared me, only when I came back I realised he wanted us to match.
I didn't want to give this guy any hope or react any nicely to whatever he does because I knew I wasn't gonna stay with him. I wanted my disappearance to feel better for him, I didn't want him to miss me.
And as bad as I felt for the guy, I stuck to my plan.

I took the hoodie off, only for san to get upset and head to the passenger's seat to sleep. When he stood I could see something right above his knee, now that he stood it was revealed from beneath the shorts he wore. Wait a second, why does san have the same tattoo as me on the same spot??
And it only hit me then.

How stupid was I to not notice the similarities between him and my childhood park friend?

Friend..?

----
I heard him sob from his seat and it only shattered my heart harder, he wanted to match outfits, and chose shorts on purpose to make our matching tattoos visible..?
Wait he actually kept his promise? He remembers me but I don't, what a shame.
-----

I could feel him every night stare at me for good two hours if not more, and I would wait for him to do the same once he is back to sleep, we adored each other secretly, and it wasn't new, we did 10 years ago too.

-----

While he was asleep I would clean his wounds and apply some ointment on it to heal faster, only if I could do this while he is awake, only if I can look him in the eye while he is secretly admiring me, not very secretly, it was easier for him since he never felt the need to hide it like I did.

-----

I would put back the hoodie every time after he falls asleep, I love our matching hoodies, I do, I just cannot give him this hope.

-----

Every time he went into the ring my heart falls, it aches me as if it fell and hit the ground so hard, I hated that, I hated to see him get hurt, I hated to see him fight for me, bleed and bear it all, feel guilty and useless every time I lied to him saying we didn't make money because he wasn't strong enough only to keep it all to myself, I hated using him, I hated everything even myself, but him.

Flashback 5

(18 years old san)
It is finally July, I can finally keep my promise to you my only one.

Flashback 6

(19 years old san)
I have heard from the boys that they were bullying the new guy who moved to this neighbourhood recently, I wasn't interested in anything they did, but they kept telling me anyways since I was the only one they feared, thanks to my built and my dad who made me take the decision of becoming stronger to protect myself from him and those I love if any.

I happened to pass by where these guys usually operate, and I thought I was going crazy, he had very unique features, I could tell him apart from anyone else in this world! His dot, eyes.., but I might be wrong..

I followed to where they took him and watched from behind, until the guy shrunk, the hood of his loose jacket now fell down and I could see the skin underneath it, I could read the words, those words wooyoung once said to me.
(I'm never alone, and I will never be)

Only then I had to stop it all, if my body was for any use, it has to be protecting wooyoung.

I'm never leaving him alone.

This was my purpose ever since, and he was my one beloved person.