Reality Quest: Lookism

Jin turned as the sound of footsteps caught his attention. Approaching him was a slightly clumsy but towering guy sipping on a juice box. His simple haircut and innocent demeanor gave him a unique presence.

'Euntae Lee.' Jin thought, recognizing him immediately. 'Or better known as Vasco.'

Their eyes met briefly, and Jin gave him a small nod. Vasco paused, tilted his head slightly, and returned the nod with a straightforward sincerity before taking another sip of his juice.

Neither said a word as they turned the corner together, walking side by side toward the ongoing confrontation. Ahead, Gun was calmly observing Daniel, who was still tense but standing his ground.

Gun's sharp eyes scanned Daniel up and down. "Your eyes are good." he said, his voice calm but cutting. "Your body is strong, yet light. And looking closely… you don't seem like someone who plays sports."

Daniel froze, unsure of what to say, but Gun's tone didn't change.

"You have talent."

Jin's attention sharpened at the exchange. 'Gun likes to yap too much.' he thought.

Suddenly, a loud voice broke the tense moment.

"Wait… wait!"

Jin turned his head slightly to see Crystal rushing toward Gun, her usual composure replaced by frustration. Her sharp features were softened by genuine concern as she called out, "Jong Gun! I told you to watch him!"

Gun barely glanced at her, his expression indifferent as he responded calmly, "That is the order that you've got."

Crystal's breath hitched, her earlier frustration morphing into something closer to guilt. "You didn't have to do this." she said, her voice faltering.

Gun's glasses reflected the sunlight, hiding his eyes as he interrupted her. "My order was…" He turned slightly, his tone unwavering.

"...Nobody should touch you."

Crystal's eyes widened, the weight of his words hitting her. Her lips parted slightly as she processed his statement, guilt etched across her face.

"And I should crush the ones who dare to!" Gun continued, his calm tone gaining a faint edge of menace.

"No… no!" Crystal stammered, shaking her head. Her thoughts raced, panic rising as she muttered to herself, 'Because of me…!'

Jin watched the scene unfold, his expression calm but his mind sharp. Gun's unwavering devotion to his orders was both fascinating and terrifying.

Before Crystal could say anything further, Gun shifted his attention, tilting his head toward Vasco and Jin.

"Hey, glasses." Vasco said, his voice loud and direct.

Gun's head turned slightly toward the voice, his ever-present calm now focused on Vasco.

....

The moment Vasco opened his mouth, I knew things were about to escalate.

"Hey, glasses." he called out to Gun, his tone casual yet heavy, as if he were addressing an equal.

Gun's head turned slightly, his ever-present calm demeanor unchanged. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice carrying the faintest tinge of irritation. "Are you his friend?"

Vasco didn't hesitate. "Yeah." he said firmly. "I'm his friend."

Daniel's eyes widened in shock. "Vas… Vasco?!" he stammered, completely caught off guard. I couldn't blame him, Vasco declaring someone as his friend out of nowhere was classic Vasco behavior, but it didn't make it any less surprising.

Without another word, Vasco set down his juice box with deliberate care. Then he stood up straight, his tattooed arms bulging slightly as he stepped forward.

"Don't attack him," Vasco said, his voice firm as his gaze locked onto Gun. "Or you're gonna get scolded by me."

I paid attention watching Vasco's stance. He wasn't bluffing, he was ready to fight Gun.

Before Vasco could say another word, Gun's fist shot forward like a missile, slamming into Vasco's face with a sharp crack.

I witnessed at the sheer speed and force of the punch, getting more excited. Gun held massively back but his punch was still fast, precise, and devastating.

But Vasco didn't move.

He stood firm, his face taking the full brunt of the attack. His body didn't sway, his feet didn't slide back, he simply tanked the hit like a wall.

"Hmm.." I mumbled with my eyes glued to the scene. Vasco's endurance was no joke, but Gun's speed and precision were on a different level entirely.

"Glasses…" Vasco muttered, his voice low and steady as he raised his hand to wipe his mouth.

Gun narrowed his eyes, clearly intrigued by Vasco's resilience. The atmosphere grew heavier, and I could feel the tension building between them, like a fuse waiting to ignite.

Gun raised an eyebrow, his expression showing mild surprise. "Doesn't your face hurt?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Vasco didn't reply, his fists tightening as he got ready to retaliate. The tension was thick, but then Gun's sharp eyes drifted to me.

I stood there casually, my hands shoved into my pockets, leaning slightly as I watched the scene unfold. Gun's gaze lingered, analyzing me for a moment.

"You.." he said, his voice calm but direct. "You kind of look like me."

I blinked at him, remaining unbothered. "Huh?"

"Well." Gun continued, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "The weak and skinnier version."

A tick mark twitched on my forehead, my annoyance bubbling over. This smug bastard. While he continued his monologue, I dashed forward without hesitation, my fist aimed directly at his abdomen.

PAM!

The sound echoed, but it wasn't what I expected. My fist collided with Gun's outstretched palm, which had moved faster than I could even register. He didn't budge. He didn't even react.

Gun looked down at me, his expression blank. "And who are you?" he asked, his tone disinterested. "Their friend?"

"Nah." I replied, my voice calm as I stepped back, already preparing my next move. "I just want to fight you."

I spun, using Blind Spot Strike, my leg cutting through the air in a precise roundhouse kick aimed at his head.

Gun's hand shot up, catching my leg effortlessly. His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of intrigue crossing his face. "Oh?" he muttered. "For a fraction of a moment… I didn't perceive your kick."

I grinned, ready to follow up with another strike, but Gun's grip on my leg tightened like a vice. Before I could react, he swung me around like I weighed nothing, hurling me through the air with terrifying force.

The world blurred, and I smashed into the wall of a nearby building, the impact rattling my body as the concrete cracked behind me.

I slumped to the ground, my vision blacking out for just a moment.

Meanwhile, Gun adjusted his glasses, then slowly removed them, his lips curling into a sadistic smile. "How interesting this school is." he said, his voice filled with dark amusement.

I groaned, shaking my head as I regained consciousness. My whole body ached, and I glanced down at the slight indent in my uniform where his throw had left its mark.

'WTF was that?' I thought, trying to steady myself as I pushed off the ground.

Despite the pain, I couldn't help but grin. "Alright, Gun." I muttered under my breath, getting back on my feet. "Let's see how long I can keep you entertained."