Reality Quest: Lookism

Give me the stones! 😫

Btw, the slice of life chapters are easy as fuck to write since I don't need to go back and forth to revise the canon info so i can write an entire chapter in 20 min 😂 so don't worry as I'm having fun myself writing.

Thanks for the support!

----

The cool evening breeze swept through the empty streets as Dowan and I walked side by side, the faint hum of the city in the background. I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to enjoy the calm before I got back to work. Dowan glanced at me, his expression thoughtful.

"So, where do you train, Jin?" he suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

That question caught me off guard. My eyes darted away, and I scratched the back of my neck. "Uh... I train, uh... y'know, here and there. I don't really have a fixed spot."

Dowan raised a brow. "Here and there? What does that even mean?"

"Fine, fine." I said with a shrug. "I'll probably head to the central park tomorrow. Lots of space to move around. That's all you need, really."

He nodded as though that answer satisfied him. "Central park, huh? Makes sense."

We came to a fork in the road where our paths split. Dowan stopped and turned to me. "Well, my house is the other way. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." I said, waving him off. "Go get some sleep. You need it."

Dowan shot me a half-smile before walking away, his figure disappearing into the distance. I stood there for a moment, looking up at the night sky, then turned toward my own house.

"Hah!? Se you tomorrow? Little bastard!"

....

The next morning, sunlight poured through my bedroom window, forcing me out of bed. I groaned, dragging myself to the bathroom. After washing up and throwing on some fresh clothes, I walked into the living room to find my mother lounging on the sofa, scrolling through her phone.

"Why aren't you at work?" I asked, confused.

She looked at me like I had just asked the dumbest question in existence. "It's Sunday, Jin."

"Oh." I muttered, scratching my head. "Right... Sunday."

She rolled her eyes and went back to her phone. Shaking my head, I grabbed my training gear and headed out the door.

As I stepped outside, I saw my father pulling into the driveway. He rolled down the window, giving me a nod.

"Heading out, Jin?"

"Yeah. Got some training to do."

"Good. Keep yourself sharp." he said before driving off.

I watched him disappear down the road, then adjusted my duffel bag and began stretching. After a few minutes, I started jogging toward the central park, the morning air crisp and cool.

....

The streets were mostly empty as I ran, the sound of my shoes hitting the pavement keeping me company. I was nearing the park when a group of seven guys caught my attention. They were hanging out by a convenience store, their mismatched outfits and cocky postures giving away their thug status.

One of them looked up, his eyes locking onto me. He elbowed his friend and pointed. Within seconds, all seven were looking at me, then at their phones. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

The bully council.

They had already started their hunt.

I slowed my pace, watching as they whispered amongst themselves before breaking into a run, straight toward me.

A grin spread across my face. "So it begins." I muttered, cracking my knuckles.

They were fast, but I was faster. I let them chase me for a bit, luring them into a quieter street where no one would interrupt. When I reached the perfect spot. a secluded alley, I stopped and turned to face them.

"Alright, boys." I said, bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet. "You've caught me. Now what?"

The leader, a guy with a buzz cut and a cheap gold chain, stepped forward. "You're Jin Lee, right?"

"Depends. Are you here to hand me a paycheck or waste my time?"

Buzz Cut sneered. "You've got a big mouth for someone about to get stomped."

The group closed in, surrounding me. They didn't waste any time lunging at me, fists flying.

The first guy came at me with a wide swing. I ducked easily, grabbing his wrist and twisting it hard enough to make him scream. Before he could react, I drove my knee into his stomach and sent him sprawling to the ground.

Two more rushed me simultaneously. I sidestepped one, grabbing his collar and slamming his face into the other guy's. They both went down in a heap, groaning.

Buzz Cut tried to tackle me from behind, but I spun around, catching him by the shoulders. With a grunt, I slammed his head against the asphalt.

One by one, they fell. Some tried to put up more of a fight, but their punches were sloppy, their movements predictable. I weaved through them like it was a dance, my fists and feet finding their marks with precision.

By the time I was done, all seven of them were lying unconscious on the ground. I crouched next to Buzz Cut, checking his pockets.

"Let's see if this was worth my time." I said, pulling out a wad of cash. After going through the rest of them, I counted 300,000 won. Not bad for a warm-up.

I stood up, snapping each of their phones in half before tossing the pieces into a nearby dumpster. "Tell your boss I said thanks for the donation." I muttered to their unconscious forms.

Adjusting my duffel bag, I stepped over their bodies and continued toward the park.

Today was going to be a good day.

....

The sun was just beginning to rise higher into the sky as I reached the central park. The air felt crisp, the kind that invigorates you, and the space was open and serene, perfect for what I had in mind. I placed my duffel bag down by a bench and started my stretches, making sure every muscle was loose.

The faint sound of rapid footsteps reached my ears, accompanied by a familiar, almost comedic wheeze. I turned my head, narrowing my eyes toward the source of the noise. In the distance, a figure was stumbling toward me with all the grace of a drunk pigeon.

"Jin!"

The voice was unmistakable. Dowan.

He waved a hand weakly as he closed the distance between us, his face redder than a tomato and his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. By the time he reached me, he collapsed onto the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"Made...it." he croaked, lying flat on his back. "Thought...I'd...die."

I glanced down at him, unimpressed. My eyes flicked to the glowing system panel hovering above his head.

---

Quest: Learn From the Fearless Weirdo

Duration: Spring Break

---

I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Great. So now I have my own personal fan club."

I shook my head. The look of determination in his eyes yesterday suddenly made sense. He must've gotten the quest right after we parted ways. I could already tell this spring break was going to be a headache.

I grabbed a bottle of water from my bag and handed it to him. "Here. Drink before you keel over."

Dowan sat up slowly, still wheezing, and gulped down the water like a man stranded in the desert. After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he gave me a sheepish grin.

I raised a brow at him. "Let me guess. You're here to train with me?"

Dowan scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Well...yeah. I figured, you know, I could learn a lot from you. You're strong, fearless, and-"

"Stop." I cut him off, shaking my head. "Let me ask you this: is that why you said 'see you tomorrow' last night?"

His awkward laugh said it all. "Maybe?"

I sighed again, stretching my arms above my head. "Alright, fine. If you're serious about this, I won't stop you. But let me make one thing clear, this isn't going to be easy."

Dowan nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up with determination.

I started my stretches again, rolling my shoulders and loosening up my legs. After a few moments, I glanced at Dowan, who was still sitting there, watching me like some kind of puppy waiting for instructions.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare?" I asked, raising a brow. "Or are you going to get up and actually do something?"

Dowan scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over himself in his haste. "Right! Sorry! I'm ready!"

----

1365 words.

Stooooneeeesss.