4 Beginning of my story

Another long day in this school, we are now having Maths with Mr.Ong.

I sincerely don't know why does he hate me that much?

Really, all classes I'm always asked about something that's clearly out of topic . If there's something I'm proud of, is analyzing people, I may not be that good at math right now, but I can clearly tell people's intentions from just one look. And this semester with Mr,Ong has clearly told me that he is not interested in my education at all, he doesn't ask me so that I learn, no, he just wants to humilliate me.

I'm pretty sure I've never met him before, so I can't really understand him.

Anyway, after again asking me to make a long division in my mind, and me clearly failing at it, all the class again laughed at me. I just shrugged it off. I just wanted to survive today and go hunting a little bit.

Oh, and having a hamburger with Eimi, I thought.

Just then a bell rang, at last, maths was finished, now I only have to survive through PE, and the day is over.

But there's nothing wrong with PE, the teacher is a pretty woman in his 30s, she's very kind, and is in my opinion the only decent teacher this place has. She's actually a great fan of korean music, it seems, I've seen her with a couple of albums in her office, not that I know all of the bands.

I just recognized a group that debuted last year called H.O.T

After making us run for some time, we were free to do whatever we wanted, so the group's started separating, there were the soccer players, basketball , tennis, volleyball, or even cheerleading.

Me?

I'm not that interested in sports, not that I hate them, I just don't want to interact too much with kids here. Not to victimize myself, but I had to mature quicker than others because of my living style.

Being an orphan is not easy you know?, even though I have Damian, he does not cover a parent's role perfectly.

Where was I at?

Well, I'm not really into sports, I like to sing and dance though, so after separating a little bit of the main group, I accommodated myself behind an old gym of the school and started humming while slowly dancing.

I have to admit, I love the L dance from Park Nam Jung, it was really catchy. Eimi loved it too, but her favorite song was from Kim Wan Sun, "The Pierrot laughs at us", so I ended up liking it too.

We don't really have something to listen to music in our shack and Damian isn't really into Korean music, so all our knowledge comes from Claudia, Lucy, or casually listening about what other people listen to during our walks.

— Have you ever thought about auditioning? — this sudden question snapped me out of my thoughts, and my dancing. Turning around, I now noticed there was audience to my little "show" behind the gym.

It was the PE teacher, Ms. Son Changmi.

— You must be jesting, Teacher Son. I'm not good at all — I answered back.

— This is a completely new facet about you, I didn't expect this school's official demon was a dancer in hiding.

Sighing, I could only nod trying to make her forget her previous question.

— Now, answer my question, Have you ever thought about auditioning? — she said, seriously, clearly implying that I couldn't avoid the question.

Women are really scary, mature women do really know what you're thinking about at any moment.

Again sighing, I responded.

— Teacher, you more than anyone in this school, should know about my situation, there's absolutely no way I could pass an audition, this agencies are looking for nice looking, passive people . I'm not like that — I calmly replied.

— So you're admitting you are good enough to audition though — she teased.

What's with every woman teasing me this days? Do I look that easy to tease?

... She got me there, but it is not arrogance, all of my time, other than hunting and being at school I've been practicing.

I've never had a teacher though, but I've looked to some dance school's in Cheongdamdong, always memorizing the instructors moves, and trying to imitate them.

And indeed, I've thought about auditioning.

Noticing the awkward silence, it was her turn of sighing. She turned around and started leaving, not before saying:

— You know? You are too young to be limiting yourself like that, I perfectly know that you're an orphan and don't have any money, nor anyone to support you. If you let me, I'll help you in whatever I can, just come to my office, and think about the audition, it's your future though.

— Why are you helping me? — I inquired, clearly shocked with her reponse.

She stopped, after a couple of seconds, she said

— ... I think, you and I are really similar, also, don't think the world is full of Mr.Ongs. Yes even I think he is a poor creature. — Laughing, she left, leaving me deep in my thoughts.

After some minutes, I regained focus, and noticed everyone was leaving, so I changed back to my regular clothes from my PE clothes, went to get my bike and started riding towards Cheongdam Primary school again. This time, Eimi was already waiting for me in the door, after arriving, I helped her get on the bike.

While looking at the sky, I noticed it showed signs of raining.

It seems there will be no hunting today.

— Well little girl, it was about time for me to pay my debt..... one word..... Ham...Bur...Ger... — I slowly said with a teasing smile in my face.

Her expression brightened the moment I finished talking.

— Yessss! Hamburger!! Hamburger! Hamburger!

She started chanting, and suddenly started singing a really childish song. If I must say so, her singing voice is just so sweet, I love it too much.

After arriving in front of a local, I parked the bike in front of it and quickly entered with Eimi. Then, I noticed all the stares people were giving us, or more precisely our clothes, it seems they're just too old, they're losing their color and made us seem like beggars.

Not that we are that different.

After ordering something to eat, courtesy of our previous fat victim, we seated and started eating .

Eimi, as always was eating voraciously, almost choking, while I ate slowly. After finishing her food, she stared at my hamburguer, so I just passed it to her, making her resume her voracious eating.

After she finished, I took a napkin and started cleaning her face, noticing how her eyes were closing, against her wishes, I assumed she was getting sleepy and it was time to go.

Just after standing up, I noticed a fat figure getting into the place alongside a tall figure wearing a navy suit.

I could recognize both of them...

The fat figure was the fat man I "hunted" yesterday, but the tall figure was the nightmare of every occupant of Guryong village, Hongman... he's basically the ruler of the village, and main cause of all the deaths that had ever happened there, I noticed him looking my way.

I rapidly hid behind a stand of toys the local had to distract boys while eating, taking Eimi with me and whispering.

— Eimi, do you see the two men by the counter? — she nodded — You need to execute plan E okay? I think they saw me but not you. Do you understand? Go back to Damian and tell him I'm okay. — I got out of my cover and started walking to the tall man.

My story with him started quite a few time ago, I wanted money, and I wanted it fast, where is the best place other than with the leader of the village?

That's when I actually started hunting seriously, whatever I hunted, I gave his subordinates half of it.

Pretty simple at first, but it got worst later, he started wanting protection fees, making all the money I stole disappear, worst of all, he seems to be great inflluence in the government and entertainment industry, making him effectively inmune to any kind of report that we may do.

With that being said, I worked for him enough to get acquainted enough with him. I became the leader of some other lads in the village, and kept working with them... Until that accident...

It's been a couple of weeks since my last interaction with him, so I was getting nervous as I neared him. I could already hear him talking with the fat man.

— Are you really okay with this, sir? I'm already tired of being with all this peasants. I don't really understand why must you eat here, sir — Hongman said, not arrogantly neither subserviently

— Hahaha, don't worry Hongman, who would ever think I would get my wallet stolen. I hope you could get that matter solved quickly, after all, it happened at your territory, and a dragon can't beat the local snake, or so have I heard — said the fat man, with a joking tone but some seriousness behind his voice. — Anyway, you have to find it or there will be grave consequences, you know what I mean right?

After hearing that, I shivered, does that mean I stole from the dragon? Who is he? Hongman seems to have some respect to him. These were all the thought I had in my head.

I started backing up, the fat man, whose back was facing me all this time suddenly turned around.

Looking at me, he was first puzzled, but he then took a look at my eyes and hair, slowly realizing who I was.

He started grining...

It was disgusting seeing his face getting deformed by that smirk.

— Look who is here? Now isn't this a surprise? — He said, with that disgusting smirk on his face.

— Sir. do you know him? This is Park Chris, a subordinate of mine, he's a really promising kid — said the tall man, also smirking at me.

— Oh is he? Well nice to meet you little guy. You don't know who am I? Do you? I have the same last name as you, I'm Park Do Joon, I'm usually called Mr Park, or just Gangnam's father — he slowly finished.

After hearing his name, I despaired, of course I've heard about Gangnam's biggest criminal organization, and its leader, Park Do Joon....

And I stole his wallet?

— Well Hongman, it seems there's no need of looking for my wallet anymore, aren't I a kind man? Now little guy, can I have it back? — He said, putting his hand in the back of my neck and strongly gripping it.

"If I moved wrongly, he will kill me" that's what I thought.

I was completely sweating.

— I..I...I... lost it. — Stuttering, I managed to say. I remembered how I threw the wallet after taking all the money.

Instantly Park Do Joon frowned.

— You see, there was something really important in that wallet, something that could make a kind man like me start killing if I lost it.... What a pity... Hongman, take care of him. — He said as he was turning back and calmly leaving the place.

Noticing the situation has turned to the worst I punched Hongman really hard on his crotch and started running towards the back exit of the local.

Exiting the place, I got to an alley, noticing a lot of boxes piled up next to the exit, I kicked them making them splatter over the floor, blocking the way. I could hear some screaming from the inside

— Catch the damn brat!!! If he escapes we are both dead!!!

I was wondering why did both of them were alone, the fact is they weren't.

I started running again, the fastest I could.

I got to a 4 meter tall iron gate. Trying to open it, I noticed it was locked, so I started climbing the gate. Another ability of mine that I got while working with Hongman, quite useful for this kind of situations.

I heard the footsteps getting nearer as I was getting to the top of the gate.

Almost there...

Suddenly I felt something pulling my right leg, making me fall from the three and something meters I've climbed.

I heavily hit my back and was out of breath because of it. As I was trying to stand up, a heavy kick hit me in the stomach, making me pant even more.

— The brat almost escaped, sir. — said one of the so called bodyguards

Hongman was just arriving, it was his bodyguards that caught me.

— I don't know how did you stole Do Joon's wallet, but you've made a big mistake brat — he said while gasping for breath — Now, Where is his wallet?

— In your mom's ass, you bastard.— I said, before spitting at him.

He simply smiled at me while cleaning his face with a napkin one of his men gave him. Then, he nodded at the people beside him.

*Bang*

Another kick hit me, in my head this time, courtesy of the tall bastard, making me really really dizzy.

Oh this is bad, I'm starting to lose consciousness.

— Cheeky brat, last chance, where is it? — he said once more, still maintaining his smirk.

— .... — I whispered. He came a little bit closer to hear me better

— Fuck you... — I said while smirking at him. I could feel blood flowing down my face.

This time he grabbed me by my hair and slammed my head against the floor, before kicking me one last time on the stomach.

Oh, my sight is getting dark, I can't feel anything anymore....

It seems this is my end. I started remembering all of my short life, and started regretting every decision I've made.

Maybe if I've never brought Eimi to eat hamburgers, this might have never happened, or if I ate a quicker, we have been gone before they arrived, or maybe, had I still have the wallet, Mr.Park may forgive....

No, these are just excuses, had I not stolen his wallet, I would not be involved in this mess, how many people have I wronged, thinking that my necessities were more important than theirs, I guess this is justice..

But I don't want to die yet, I want to see Eimi again, I want to see Damian, Claudia and Lucy again. I want to audition, become a singer, even an singer among singers. Be in that stage where they are everyday, and not leave it.

I don't want vengeance, I just want to leave. Tears were flowing down now mixing with the blood and dirt in my face.

I noticed how I was now alone, it seems they thought I was dead already.... and I'm not too far from that....

Whatever gods are out there, please, I just want another opportunity, no more chances, please!!!.

There were no more tears to cry, but still, I was awake only because of willpower... Suddenly, I heard it...

— Mommy, why is he on the floor? I want to do it too..

My only hope has come....