Discover Top Posts Tagged with #park jonggun

Awakening Tiger

Chapter 8: You're Not Alone, Daniel

Awakening Tiger Masterlist

The intimidating man towering over Daniel, continues to glare down at him as he repeats his question, “Are you deaf? Who the hell are you?”

Daniel gulps audibly as he stares up at the man, “I-I’m Daniel Park of J High School. I’m sorry for trespassing, but I’m just here to look for something that got mistakenly thrown out by others in my class. It’s very important to me…” he rambles a bit, trying to explain himself.

Gun Park narrows his eyes looking down at the rambling high school student, as he remembers how the chubby kid just dodged his kick as if he had eyes at the back of his head. “… You’re an idiot.” He drawls as he relaxes his stance, dusting off his white expensive coat.

Daniel feels annoyed at suddenly being called an idiot, “Hey I’m not an idiot! Just because I want to get back what I treasured, doesn’t mean…” he was cut off by Gun who growls in annoyance while he points to the big building beyond the fence behind Daniel. “The trashes are sent to the recycle centre complex across the street. This area is for the electric and electronic wastes, and metal dump area… Idiot. Either you can’t read or you act without thinking, which makes you even more of an idiot.” Gun snorts, sneering at him.

Daniel blushes with embarrassment as he turns to look at where Gun points behind him, “O-oh… I uh didn’t read the signs properly, just saw the trucks parked near the entrance…” he murmurs, turning back to Gun. “Sorry for the uh trouble. I’ll leave now…”

Gun simply watches Daniel turns and head back to the gates to exit the area. Just as Daniel about to make a turn to the main path towards the gate, he suddenly stops and slowly takes a few steps back. Gun frowns seeing a group of young men advancing towards Daniel, soon crowding him. He simply watches from the distance, not about to interfere since it’s not his problem. But he’s intrigued to see the kid in action, that instinct of his that made him dodge Gun’s kick so easily even if he wasn’t going in at full power.

Daniel meanwhile looks around at the guys that formed a circle around him, caging him in as they sneer at him. Daniel does not recognize any of them, and they don’t seem like they’re from J High School. “Step aside please, I’m in a hurry” he tries to ask politely, as he keeps himself on full alert.

“You’re not going anywhere today, pig. You messed with the wrong girl 2 days ago. Such a dirty pervert, touching a girl in public without her consent.” the guy standing directly before Daniel says with a disgusted glare aimed at him.

Daniel frowns trying to make sense of what he said, before he realizes this guy must be talking about Yui Kim. “Hey, look. It’s not what happened. It’s just a misunderstanding.” He tries to explain, but his body moves immediately to the left to avoid the punch aimed at his head. “Whoa! Hey, calm down. I’m telling you, Yui Kim is just lying to you!”

The guy, Yong Lee, looks extremely annoyed that his punch was dodged by his target. “You F****r! Grab him guys!” he barks to the other 4 guys who immediately moves in to grab Daniel’s arms and shoulders, keeping him still. Daniel struggles against their hold, “Hey let me go! I’m telling you what she told you is all a- OOF!” Yong Lee’s punch hits Daniel straight on his face.

Yong Lee growls loudly “You dare spout nonsense about my Yui after harassing her, you perverted dirty pig?? HUH??” he aims for another punch this time to Daniel’s stomach which lands. Daniel gasps and groan in pain as he struggles to get himself free. “I’m telling the truth….” Daniel groans out, glaring up at his attacker.

He feels that deep rage within him bubbling to the surface again, “I’m not LYING!” he roars. In a sudden move, he slams his head back which hits the chin of the one behind him hard and makes the guy stumbles backwards before falling on the ground holding his chin. The next moment was a blur to Daniel, but he just moves following his instincts and somehow, he is free from the hold they had on him. Yong Lee moves back in shock seeing Daniel suddenly moving like a raging animal, just thrashing and hitting his 4 friends within seconds. Daniel pants before him, with bloody lips and nose, and eyes glinting with rage towards him.

Yong Lee falters for a bit, before gritting his teeth, “Hah! I won’t trust your words over my sweet Yui!”

Daniel simply glares before he roars, “But that’s the truth! I even had witnesses and proof of what truly happened that day! Why didn’t you just go to the café to get proof and report me to the police, if you truly believed her!”

Yong Lee is taken aback, as he opens and closes his mouth while he tries to come up with a rebuttal but eventually fails. “… You…” he growls, truly annoyed with the guy. “You’re gonna die, you worthless pig!” he roars as he moves in haphazardly throwing punches and kicks, but none seems to land on his target. Daniel simply dodges each one, as he keeps his eyes on Yong Lee while he attacks.

“Get back up you losers!” Yong Lee yells at his 4 friends who are on the ground still not just because of the pain inflicted, but mostly out of shock at being hit and knocked on their asses by the guy they deemed as weak. And they’re now gaping at seeing Yong Lee struggling to even land a single hit on that guy.

Daniel takes the opportunity of Yong Lee’s distraction to land a solid punch to his stomach, making the guy doubles over in pain. He falls onto his knees, holding his stomach while he glares at Daniel. “You…” He struggles to get up, and Daniel throws another punch towards his face making him flinch and ready to receive the punch. It never lands, stopping an inch away from his face. “Leave and don’t ever let me see you again. Tell Yui if she wants, she can file a police report over the incident on Saturday. See how she reacts, that’s gonna tell you who lied.”

Yong Lee gulps, seeing the ferocity in Daniel’s eyes and the almost painful punch that would have landed on his face. He scowls but he relents as he lets himself be helped by his friends, and they leave the area at his reluctant order.

Daniel lets out a breath once they’re gone, hands trembling slightly as he looks at them. He keeps wondering how he’s able to dodge attacks and fight back ever since it happened back then just before he moved here. He is startled out of his thoughts hearing slow clapping of hands from behind him. He turns to see the X-scarred face guy clapping his hands slowly with an amused smirk, “You’re an interesting brat, I gotta say. An idiot, weak, but interesting.”

Daniel is unsure how to react to that, so he settles with a confused “Uh… Interesting?” as he rubs the back of his head.

“The name’s Gun Park. Who knows one day our paths might cross again.” Gun smirk widens, “But for now…” he grabs the back of Daniel’s uniform jacket and carry him towards the gates. He dumps Daniel onto the pavement outside, “Don’t trespass this place ever again,” he grunts and slams the gates close.

Daniel looks at the closed gates with mixed emotions, wondering who that guy is. “What a strange guy…. But I somehow feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before. But where?” he hums as he gets up and dust his pants off. He winces when he checks on his bruises on his face, groaning softly, “Not gonna trust that Yui again. She’s a sneaky one,” he murmurs under his breath.

He turns to look at the recycling centre building across the street, sighing at the possible tedious evening it’s gonna be trying to find the lost pencil Jay gave him. Just as he was about to cross the street, he hears the roar a superbike coming down the street. He looks at the red motorcycle as it stops near him, and the rider turning off the engine. Daniel wonders who the guy is, and if it’s another problem for him. He seems tense as he waits for the guy to take off his helmet or speak up.

The rider takes off his helmet and Daniel relaxes seeing who is under the helmet, “Jay… Thank God it’s you…” Jay tilts his head slightly looking at Daniel, with a question mark over his head. Daniel rubs his head, “It’s a long story, but I’m glad you’re here. Not another unnecessary problem, or fight…” Jay’s lips turn into a thin line as he frowns, getting off the bike at the same time before approaching Daniel. He seems to check visibly and just realized the bruises on Daniel’s cheek and lips, with slight blood dripping down the cut lips. “???”

Daniel winces, “There’s some guys, they thought I did something to Yui last Saturday.” He begins explaining about the incident to Jay, and what lead to the situation earlier. Jay’s frown deepens as he listens, he begins connecting some dots to what he has gathered so far. The whole reason why he’s here looking for Daniel.

Jay crouches down, with a serious face as he looks directly into Daniel’s eyes, “…………”

Daniel’s eyes widen, before they turn sad and angry at the same time. “So, it’s true Yui Kim set this up, just because she had a grudge over Saturday’s incident….” He doesn’t seem completely surprised, as if he’s used to people’s unexplained cruelty and mean streak. Jay wonders what happened to Daniel for him to be like this. It somehow tugs at his heart to see Daniel looking sad like this. “I’m sorry for losing the pencil, Jay. I should have taken better care of it.”

Jay shakes his head gently, “……….” He knows Daniel would understand him; he doesn’t care if Daniel lost the pencil. His safety is more important than a pencil, because he’s a friend to him. Daniel blushes some, but he still feels guilty for it.

Jay pulls out something from his jacket, and it’s revealed to be the very pencil that he lost. Jay hands it over to Daniel, who looks surprised “Wait how did…? Did you buy a new one or something?” Jay shakes his head, as he places the mechanical pencil into Daniel’s hands.

Daniel looks at the pencil and then at Jay, “You’re telling me, Yui Kim had it all along? You confronted her and the class president when you saw me run after the truck at school?” Jay nods solemnly, closing Daniel’s hands over the pencil, as he watches Daniel’s eyes get watery.

“I… this… they…” Daniel holds back his tears, and his emotions as he tries his best not to break down in front of Jay. He’s stronger than this. Jay puts a comforting hand on Daniel’s shoulder, making Daniel’s eyes begin leaking tears freely. He cries silently as he looks down at the ground, just letting his emotions run wild as Jay stays there offering silent comforting presence as his friend. They stay there for quite a while before Jay gives Daniel a ride back to school to get his things.

When they got to their classroom, they’re met with Zoe, Vasco and Jace. All of them look worried, and relieved to see Daniel return with Jay. “Jay, you told them?” Jay shakes his head, and Jace gives the answer needed, “He didn’t. I overheard Yui Kim on the phone with her boyfriend at the secluded area behind the school. I then did my own digging, interrogating the right people. Barely able to stop Vasco from rampaging down to the recycle centre just now, only to see you enter the class with Jay. So, Jay got to you first, but it seems you got hurt” Jace says softly, inspecting the injuries on Daniel’s face.

Zoe crouches down with a first aid kit she brought with her and begins patching up Daniel’s face gently. Daniel winces at times, as he lets her work. “I… don’t know what to say ow….” Zoe gently scolds him, “Don’t talk, I’m trying to clean the cut on your lips…” She continues to work after Daniel nods, looking embarrassed yet thankful for her help, and their presence. He never had this, the support, the worry, the friendship. They truly are proving to be more than just schoolmates to him. And he doesn’t know how to articulate his emotions right now, especially after Yui Kim’s antics.

Once Zoe is done, Daniel smiles softly as he gazes at all of them, “Guys… thank you… I… truly appreciate you guys, your friendship.” Vasco feels tears in his eyes, “Don’t mention it, Daniel! You’re our precious friend! We’ll always have your back! Now I’m gonna kick that bastard’s ass who did this to you.”

Daniel chuckles softly, “Don’t worry, I think I taught them a lesson or two. They’ll know better than to confront me again after this.” Jace blinks, “Oh? So Vasco’s little lessons on the weekends on how to defend yourself is beginning to yield results huh? That’s good” he smiles. Vasco meanwhile looks so proud of Daniel, as he hugs Daniel tightly, “That’s great! I’m gonna teach you more so you can defend yourself better now!”

Daniel struggles in the hug, “Ow owww Vasco! Injured person here” he laughs while wincing slightly in pain. His tears fall, not from sadness but from happiness at being surrounded by friends that’s proving to be more precious to him. Vasco jumps away, apologizing profusely to the laughter of the group. Even Jay is sporting a small genuine smile.

A while later, the group is seen gathered in a restaurant not far from school to have a meal together. Daniel smiles as looks around at the table as they have a meal and chat with each other. He has more than just his mom now that’s precious to him. He has real friends who would worry about him and have his back. ‘You’re not alone anymore, Daniel’ he thinks as he continues to enjoy spending time with them.

>> Next Chapter