Chapter 0 - Prologue / Preview
Gwanmyeong Middle School, Pohang.
Class 3-D.
BANG!
The sound of a table being slammed shut the whole class up. All eyes turned to the source of the noise.
Standing there was Kim Tae-jin, a large student with a crumpled uniform, his top button undone, and tattoos crawling up his neck. His eyes were sharp and filled with rage. He roughly kicked a desk out of his way, making the atmosphere in the classroom even more tense.
Behind him, his three gang members laughed along.
Tae-jin stared at a student in the corner of the classroom: Park Ji-hoon.
A chubby boy with an innocent face, thick glasses, and a uniform that looked too tight on his body. The other students usually called him "Hoon Pig."
Tae-jin walked towards him, his steps heavy and full of menace.
BANG!
His hand slammed down on Ji-hoon's desk, making it shake.
Tae-jin (leaning closer):
"Hey, pig... You know what? My mood isn't very good today."
Ji-hoon looked down in fear. His trembling hands gripped his pants, and cold sweat dripped from his temples.
Ji-hoon (softly, nervously):
"I... I... I didn't—"
Tae-jin (shouting):
"I lost a bet, you idiot!"
With a single hard punch to the head, Ji-hoon fell to the floor.
Tae-jin's gang erupted in laughter.
Gang member 1 (kicking a chair):
"Hahaha! Look at that! An earthquake in the classroom because Hoon Pig fell!
Gang member 2 (mocking, patting his own stomach):
"Be careful, pig. Don't fall just anywhere; you might crack the floor!"
The classroom fell silent, filled only with the bullies' laughter. The other students could only look down, none of them daring to help.
Brutally, Tae-jin grabbed Ji-hoon's hair.
Ji-hoon (crying in pain):
"A-aagh! It hurts... please let go!"
Tae-jin (dragging him out):
"Shut up! Follow me to the bathroom. You know what happens to you when I'm in a bad mood, right?"
The students could only peek from behind the classroom door. No one dared to move. Even the teacher pretended not to notice.
In the school hallway, everyone stared with horrible looks.
"Hey, look, that's Hoon Pig; he's probably going to get beat up by Tae-jin again."
"What's that all about? Since when did Tae-jin buy a pig?"
"That's Ji-hoon, the loser from class 3-D. He's so pathetic; it looks like today is his unlucky day."
"I think every day is his unlucky day, haha."
I heard all these words every single day.
It's true.
To them, I am trash, deserving of this kind of treatment. Even though I am a human just like them.
But why do they treat me like trash?
No, not trash. Maybe I'm worse than trash. Trash still gets attention, gets recycled, but I am truly treated like a punching bag, fit only for their beatings and bullying.
Arriving at the bathroom, Tae-jin pushed Ji-hoon against the cold wall.
Tae-jin (in a threatening tone):
"Money. Give me your money now!"
Ji-hoon (sobbing, kneeling on the floor):
"I... I... I didn't bring any allowance today. Please... I'm sorry..."
Tae-jin (laughing mockingly):
"Useless! All you can do is whine, huh? Good! I love seeing you cry."
Punch after punch landed on Ji-hoon's body. His stomach, cheeks, shoulders. The sound of impacts filled the small room.
The other gang members just whistled, watching and taunting him.
Gang member 3:
"Wow, this pig looks perfect as a punching bag. Haha!"
Ji-hoon collapsed, his body trembling. His tears mixed with the blood dripping from his cracked lip.
But his suffering wasn't over.
Tae-jin came out of a toilet stall, his face full of satisfaction.
Cruelly, he grabbed Ji-hoon's trembling hand.
Tae-jin (coldly):
"Hey, pig. You know what? There's no toilet paper here. So... your hand will have to be the tissue."
Ji-hoon (shocked, screaming in desperation):
"N-no!! Don't... please...!!"
But no one cared. Tae-jin's gang left, laughing with satisfaction.
Ji-hoon sat weakly on the floor. His hands trembled as he washed the filth from his skin.
His face was full of wounds, his glasses were cracked, and his eyes were swollen from crying.
He looked at his face in the dirty bathroom mirror.
"No one cares... No one helps...
I'm living in a never-ending nightmare.
But... I have to hold on.
For my mom... for the only reason I'm still alive..."
Tears fell again, mixing with the blood still flowing from his lip.
Three years.
Three years of torture, humiliation, and despair.
Graduation is coming soon; I just need to hold on. A little longer.
That's right, just a little longer...
Continue to Chapter 1...