lim sarim is abused by her father, and when sunghoon, her coldhearted and bold classmate, witnesses it, he starts bullying her. but as he gets to know her pain, he realizes he has feelings for her that he can't ignore.
"𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞...
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As Sunghoon turned a corner, he heard laughter and shouting that cut through the stillness. He hesitated, sensing something was off. The sounds grew louder, and his instincts kicked in. Curiosity pulled him closer, and when he rounded a dimly lit alleyway, his heart dropped.
A group of boys surrounded a female figure on the ground, their laughter harsh and mocking. Sunghoon narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of the chaos.
He immediately recognized her.
It was sarim.
One of the boys pushed her down again, while another kicked her side. She cried out in pain, and Sunghoon's heart sank.
"Look at her! Such a loser, she can't even defend herself" one of the boys sneered, kicking her again. "Think you're tough just because you work at that karaoke club? You're so pathetic!"
Something snapped inside Sunghoon. The guilt he felt earlier transformed into a surge of anger.
Sunghoon couldn't just stand there and watch as the boys kicked Sarim. She curled up, trying to protect herself from the blows.
Something in him snapped-like a switch had been flipped.
His chest tightened with anger, and before he even realized it, he was moving toward them. He couldn't let this happen, not to her.
Not anymore.
Without thinking, he rushed forward, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
"Get the fuck away from her!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the alley walls.
The boys turned, surprise flashing across their faces as they took in his presence. Sunghoon wasn't known in their circles; he was just another student. They exchanged confused glances, their laughter fading into scorn.
"Look, it's the knight in shining armor," one of them mocked. "What do you want? This doesn't concern you."
"Back off!" Sunghoon growled, fists clenched tightly at his sides. He stepped closer to Sarim, positioning himself between her and her attackers. "You're not going to hurt her anymore."
"Or what?" the same boy taunted. "You think you can take us on?"
Sunghoon didn't hesitate. He charged forward, and swung his fist. He aimed for the boy's jaw with a powerful right hook, the punch connecting with a satisfying thud. The boy staggered back, surprise written all over his face.
Before the others could react, Sunghoon shifted his weight and launched a quick left hook at another boy, catching him off guard. The boy stumbled sideways, hitting the wall hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs. Sunghoon felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him.
"Get him!" one of the remaining boys yelled as they finally rallied together, lunging at Sunghoon. But Sunghoon was fueled by anger and a sense of purpose. He ducked low, evading the first boy's wild swing. As he stood up, he landed a swift kick to the boy's knee, sending him crashing to the ground.
Sunghoon stepped back, then countered with a sharp jab to the boy's gut, making him double over. Sunghoon didn't stop there, he followed up with a knee to the face that sent the boy reeling back, stunned.
The last boy, the biggest of the group, rushed at him with a furious roar. Sunghoon braced himself and sidestepped at the last second, causing the boy to barrel past him. As the boy turned around, Sunghoon seized the opportunity, tackling him to the ground. Their bodies crashed against the concrete, and Sunghoon pinned him down, pressing his weight against him.
"Leave her alone, " he shouted, staring into the boy's eyes with fierce determination.
"If you ever touch her again, you'll regret it."
The remaining boys hesitated, their bravado faltering in the face of his fury. With one last glance at their downed friend, they scrambled away, retreating into the shadows. Sunghoon stood up, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest.
He turned to Sarim, who was still sitting on the ground, tears streaming down her face. He knelt beside her, his heart aching at the sight of her battered state.
Without a word, he reached out his hand. She looked at him, uncertainty in her eyes, but he kept his expression steady. Slowly, she took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. They stood there for a moment, the weight of the situation and the tension hanging in the air as Sunghoon kept his grip firm, ready to help her.
