Pʟᴀʏ ᴏғ Aɴᴛᴏɴʏᴍs || 2Sᴇᴏᴋ

Act II, Scene 1

The Ranking. A word that means a list, where something is sorted from the best to the the worst rank. Usually we can see it in a reversed order, to bring the feeling of anticipation, tension caused by the uncertainty about that someone or something that is place of the first place of this list. Well it is a little bit different in the school that Kim SeokJin happens to go to.

With big, clear letters, on the top of three rankings, there are names of people, that, regarding to grade, have the best scores, and the scoring is extended about variety of events inside and outside of school, where the students can represent the facility. No one other matters. Even if the person that takes the second place loses with only a decimal points, this person still was on the second place, instead of the first. And the young Kim is exactly that person. The school year of the first grade he had began climbing on the honoured place, marked as the first, just to fell on the second place next month and remain on that place for three years straight until now, November, the middle of second semester of the last grade, he is right after the top of the class. Always the second one. His name is written with small letters, under the name of the one who invariable is on the highest rank in their grade.

Talking about him, Jung HoSeok, he is taking a special care about studying, he can't allow himself to fall in the ranking. It stressed him enough when he had lost with a small amount of points to a boy from his class the first month of first grade of school. A weight fell off his shoulders when the next month brought him a success with schoolwork and he felt a peace in mind. Consequences that he could suffer if he didn't achieve it were something that he tried to avoid at all costs. He was and is not going to stop. He is too close to his goal. He has to hold on, only until February, when the school year ends, the only thing left will be final exams that defines his future. 

He isn't aware though that his place in the rank is intentionally left for him, by a boy who without even trying can catch up those few points between them.

SeokJin, because we will focus our attention on him now, knows how important it is for the other boy to be the first on the ranking. He doesn't blame him and he isn't really surprised by that. The reason why he is sometimes giving the wrong answers on purpose is simple. For him, the first place on rank won't change anything, for Jung - everything.

During his whole, almost seventeen years long, live he's trying to fulfill his unhealthy high ambitions. He isn't doing it insanely, not minding the price, but aware drifting away from the goal affects his mood negatively. Even if he knows that if he won't give a fuck to other people, he could do everything he want, if isn't making him feel any better. And his family's attitude towards him is putting him deeper and deeper in an emotional pit. But can you call a family a step-mother that never noticed that the boy exist? Is the family a step-brother who's wrongdoings from years at school made everyone look at the youngest of Kims negative? Is the family a father, that never showed a parental warm towards him and took him under his roof and gave material things so no one would thought about Kims as a low-class family and all of this only to avoid scandal? Not because of the sense of duty towards his child from out of wedlock. 

Being aware of this, he tried not to be bigger disappointment to his father, he tried to do everything, so the man can be proud of him. Although when was the first time that he was on the top of the school ranking, still in the elementary school, it didn't made the old Kim look at his descendant more sympathetic, and some circumstances made the boy not wanting to be the best one in the high school, so he gave up on those efforts, that he may be still taking unconsciously. The only thing he ever dreamed about was and still is to hear from his father that he loves him, that he's proud of him. But he lost his hope for it.

That's why SeokJin is doing everything to be the second one, to not be better than Jung, even if b accident. It isn't his only reason though.

Let's go back to HoSeok now.

Since ever he is an astonishingly intelligent boy, to add he is very friendly and can win over everyone's heart in a short time. He value everything, especially that he doesn't have much. He was from a family that surely had seen better times, if you speak about the financial status. Now his parents, who aren't lucky with their jobs, have to provide their two children.

Both, HoSeok and his sister, are doing everything to help the family budget, even in a small amount. Anything to help their hard-working parents.

That's why, when HoSeok got a chance to study at the best high school in the city as a stipendist, after a family meeting all of them decided that HoSeok would take the offer. Mr. and Mrs. Jung dreamed that their children will go out of the poverty that they grew up in, and their kids dreamed to be successful and allow social advancement for their parents. And what is a better opportunity than a good education?

Despite primary fears, the young Jung started to study in this facility, almost instantly gaining liking of everyone around because of his incredibly sunny character. No one cared that he is from a poor family.

But he got his first warning just after the first month at school. After announcing the results of the ranking from that month, he was called into the principal's office. He heard then that if he won't get scores for the first place, he may lose his scholarship. This situation was a pure absurd. An amazing student was about to lose the possibility to high-quality education because of few points. But unfortunately that was the system.

Of course, this whole event stressed the boy out, so he felt really relieved when the next month, and after this every next month, he ends at the top of the list. 

His hard efforts bring results and he is proud of it. Nobody knows that it isn't the only reason behind the boys success.

If you are not the best, then you won't be noticed, at least not in a way you are supposed to be.

That day, when HoSeok was called to the principal's office, another student wanted to ask for help. Events at home escalated to the point, that the boy didn't know what he should do. At that moment, when he was on the top of the ranking, he could call himself as one of the three principal's pets. The principal had one on each grade, and it isn't hard to guess what is a keys to decide who is the pet now. That's why SeokJin, cause we are talking about him, hoped that the man would help him. At that moment he was the only one who noticed him. 

While waiting until he could come inside to the office, he unwittingly overheard the conversation, that was happening there. When it had came to the end, he run away frightened, after all not being able to tell the most important person in this building, with what he had to deal day by day.

And he never get anymore chance for it. He isn't principal's pet anymore. 

This day he decided that he will do everything to be the second, no matter what, he will always be sure that HoSeok is on top of the ranking. He heard the ultimatum about the scholarship of his age-mate. He understands what would happen if Jung won't gest higher rank in this unforgiving game.

For young Kim, telling someone about his problems, probably wouldn't change anything. Maybe it could only worsen everything. But HoSeok has a chance for a better future.

And SeokJin doesn't wanto to be a cause for the boy to lose it.