My Lifeline - Jaywon Shortstories

Bonus chapter: The locket

Hi everyone!
It's been a while isn't it?
I'm sorry for all of you who wanted an update, who wanted more stories, but I had a rough year and I just didn't feel like writing..
anyway, things are getting better and I started writing the Connected series as REAL BOOKS!

It's far from done, I just started it, but I'm really excited about this new adventure!!!!

In the meantime, inspiration hit me today and here is another bonus chapter for you all🫶

Love, AuthorNim

P.S. I still read all your comments, so please continue writing them🫶

~~~~

Jungwon was in a hurry. Today was one of his most important Taekwondo fights. Not to brag, but if this went well, he would become a finalist for the national championship.

No biggie, Won. You can do it.

"Do you think the traffic will be better once we pass the corner of the street?" asked Jungwon to his driver.

The later checked the screen next to him. Jungwon's question had been purely rhetoric. The little line drawn between the car and the dojang was bright red. The traffic was obviously terrible and they wouldn't make it in time.

"Unfortunately I don't think so, sir" replied the cab driver.

Jungwon started stressing even more than before. He HAD to get there in time. His whole career, his whole life, everything depended on this one fight.

The young man looked around, wishing the cab could just cut through the park on his right. In fact, the dojang was straight ahead, so close yet still so far.

"I will leave the cab, okay?" he said quickly, already imagining dashing through the trees. "You can keep the change."

Jungwon didn't let the driver reply anything. He simply put a hand inside his pocket, grabbing a little object tightly as he opened the door, jumping outside the car and into the park.

Never had he run so fast and yet he didn't feel anything. His legs didn't complain once, they simply executed the orders until Jungwon got to the other end of the park, behind the dojang.

He quickly circled it, only to find his coach pacing in distress at the entrance of the building.

"JUNGWON" he shouted, more red than Jungwon had ever seen him.
"Sorry Jungkook hyung" he declared as quick as possible.
"Go inside, now, the fight starts in six minutes!" added the older, not even noting that Jungwon had called him more casually than he should have.

The both of them ran inside, rushing to the changing room where Jungwon got undressed as fast as humanly possible.

"There" said Jungkook as he passed his student his dobok.

The latter didn't reply, he was overwhelmed. He hated being late, and today it hadn't even been his fault, which pissed him off the most. Things just pilled on top of others and now, he didn't have time to calm down before the match.

He didn't have time to-

"GO" said Jungkook, eyes fixed on the clock on the wall.

Jungwon turned around to face his jacket on the floor. He knew he didn't have time, but if he didn't at least touch it, he wouldn't win.

His hand reached for the pocket, desperate to touch the cold metal, and yet... it found nothing.

"What are you doing?" asked Jungkook, somehow sounding less hurried.

Jungwon's eyes opened wide as he realized what had happened.

"My locket" he whispered. "I lost it."

~

Jungkook knew about the locket. Before each fight, Jungwon would hold it in his hands for a few seconds before going out of the changing room. He had explained that it was his lucky locket and that he had won every match he had brought it to.

"Look, I know it's important to you, and I'm sure it's somewhere in your bag" said Jungkook with a soft voice. "I also know that you win your fights because you are hardworking, talented and the best kid I ever trained."

Jungwon couldn't even hear what his coach was saying. He got the soft tone of his voice, but no words got through him.

He had held the locket as he had left the cab. It must have fell in the park, while he ran as crazy.

"I can't fight" said Jungwon in a whisper.
"What do you mean?" asked Jungkook.
"I mean I don't want to fight, I have to find my locket" he added.

Jungkook took a big inspiration, trying to gather his thoughts.

"Won, this is the national semifinal" said the coach. "You worked so hard to get here..."

Jungwon shook his head.

"I can't" he added.

Jungkook looked at the clock once again. They had one minute left.

"Please reconsider. I will help you find your locket as soon as you finish this fight, I promise" said Jungkook. "You are ready for this."

Jungwon looked at him. The same face that had trained him for years, giving him all his trust and knowledge. It broke Jungwon's heart to see the despair in his eyes.

"Okay" he agreed. "I will go, win and then we find my locket"

Jungkook nodded, his eyes promising him they would find it.

~

"I have never seen that Jungwon!" shouted Jungkook as they both returned to the changing room. Tears of joy rushing down his cheeks. "Never has someone won a fight so fast before! I don't even have words-"

Jungwon was so enraged to have lost the most precious thing he had ever owned that he couldn't even hear the compliments Jungkook was showering him with.

In fact, it had been the best fight of his career. His opponent hadn't stood a chance. They had fought each other several times before, so Jungwon knew his weaknesses. However, it was his rage that had made difference. He had fought to win. That was all.

But none of that mattered.

The locket mattered. The most.

Jungwon cursed himself to have waited so long to go look for it. He had looked through his clothes and his bag three times before deciding it was indeed somewhere in the park.

Jungkook had stopped talking by then. He knew his student for decades and that keep talking wouldn't be of any use.

"A promise is a promise" he simply added as they both headed for the park.

~

"Found anything?"

Jungwon just shook his head. They had been looking for an hour and still no sign of the locket. Jungwon couldn't breathe properly anymore. He needed to find it.

"I'll look over there" he said, walking back to where he had left the cab.

There weren't many people in the park, in fact Jungwon had only seen another person near the dojang. But as he got close to the other side of the park, he saw someone else.

Not that it interested him, his eyes were focused on the ground, hoping to catch the familiar glimpse of the locket.

"Lost something?"

Jungwon didn't look up.

"Yeah, it's... it's my lo-" he started answering.
"Locket, right?" finished the other person.

Jungwon finally detached his eyes from the ground, seeing shoes, legs, and finally hands holding his beloved locket.

Tears filled Jungwon's eyes as he lifted them higher to see who his savior was.

"Long time no see Wonie" the person said, with a smile that illuminated Jungwon from the inside.

"Jay?" he replied, almost choking on the name.