Delinquency of Teenage Students

In a narrow alley named Sinpo-dong, a cluster of shops sold kalguksu—handmade, comforting noodles that warmed the soul. The shopkeepers had a unique method to attract customers; they played films throughout the day. Sometimes, these films caught the attention of schoolboys who would come specifically to enjoy their kalguksu while watching the show.

Yet, what drew even more curiosity were the nearby comic book stores. In these shops, some owners discreetly set up private rooms where, for a small extra fee, they screened uncut films. Others flaunted their defiance of rules by playing such films openly, without a hint of concern for regulations.

"Hey, have you guys seen Affair of Ajumma?" Go Woo-chan asked confidently, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he looked at his friends.

"I watched Growing Up last week," replied one of his friends nonchalantly.

Go Woo-chan casually rattled off the titles of so-called 'hot' films as if it were an everyday occurrence. Meanwhile, Ryu Ji-ho let out a small grunt and stubbed out his cigarette.

"Enough with the smoking. If we keep hanging around here, we're going to get nowhere," he said, his tone firm yet calm.

"Let's skip school."

He stood up, followed by the others who quickly snuffed out their cigarettes. The small group exited the main building where their literature club was based, crossing the now-empty schoolyard. Kim Jun-woo, looking dejected, started a new conversation with Hwang Jae-jeong beside him.

"Why isn't anyone organizing a date meeting?" he asked, half-joking, half-serious.

Hwang Jae-jeong shrugged. "There are some rather rowdy seniors in the photography club. Why don't you ask them for help?"

Kim Jun-woo snorted. "I the only one who joined a club? You did too, and so did Ji-ho."

Hwang Jae-jeong chuckled softly. "The seniors in my club are just into drinking makgeolli. They don't care about girls."

"I find that hard to believe," Kim Jun-woo teased.

"So, what are we doing now?" Hwang Jae-jeong asked, attempting to change the subject.

"You're the one in charge today."

Kim Jun-woo sighed deeply. "Why is it always me who ends up paying? Or is it just my imagination?"

"Because you're the rich kid," Hwang Jae-jeong answered with a wide grin.

"The one with money should be the one to pay. Why should someone as poor as me have to spend money?"

They were just about to pass through the school gate when a loud voice called out from behind.

"Hey! You bunch of beggars!" someone shouted with a sneering tone.

Simultaneously, Ryu Ji-ho and his friends turned around. Park Gwang-Ryeol and his entourage swaggered toward them, their sudden appearance causing Ryu Ji-ho's expression to turn icy.

"Damn, these kids don't know manners?" Go Woo-chan muttered, his face reflecting displeasure. He was ready to step forward when Kim Jun-woo quickly grabbed his arm, trying to prevent a fight.

"Good afternoon," Kim Jun-woo greeted calmly, bowing slightly in a gesture of respect.

Next to him, Hwang Jae-jeong gave Go Woo-chan a gentle nudge, signaling him to hold back. The two of them lowered their heads, showing respect despite the seething hatred they felt inside.

In a simple yet palpably tense manner, the conflict between the two groups seemed like an inevitable part of their daily routine.

Kim Jun-Woo was the first to bow deeply, his movements filled with respect. Beside him, Hwang Jae-jeong nudged Go Woo-chan with his elbow, urging him to bend at nearly a ninety-degree angle. Behind them, Ryu Ji-ho reluctantly lowered his head as well. Meanwhile, Park Gwang-ryeol watched them with a condescending gaze, his lips curling into an unpleasant sneer.

"Relax, I'm not going to take your money, you beggars!" Park taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

Ryu Ji-ho and his friends stayed silent, choosing not to respond. They held their ground, though inside, fury burned hot. Park Gwang-ryeol, full of arrogance, spat on the ground before walking past them, his attitude making it abundantly clear that he thought they were beneath him.

"Stupid bully! If only he weren't an upperclassman, I'd give him what he deserves," Go Woo-chan muttered, his face flushed with the frustration of suppressed anger. At Sinpo High School, the hierarchy was strict. Even if an underclassman had formidable fighting skills, they were forbidden from challenging their seniors. Should they dare to rebel and win, retaliation from the older students would be swift and unforgiving.

"Don't let it get to you. We're not avoiding him because we're scared, but because it's not worth dealing with trash like him," Hwang Jae-jeong said, patting Go Woo-chan's shoulder, attempting to soothe his friend, though he, too, was simmering with irritation.

"It's infuriating," Ryu Ji-ho added quietly, his voice low and bitter.

Despite Sinpo High being known as a prestigious school, the number of troublesome students was quite small. Ryu Ji-ho recalled his early days there when the atmosphere felt much friendlier. Even those students who were considered "troublemakers" rarely bothered the younger students, let alone tried to extort money from them. But there were a few, like Park Gwang-ryeol, who seemed to have no sense of decency or manners. They weren't many—just a handful, maybe two or three in each grade. Still, even a few were enough to make life at school difficult.

'Avoiding them might bruise my pride,' Ryu Ji-ho thought,

'but if I fought back, I'd lose.'

For the next two years, they'd have to keep seeing these seniors at school. If they showed any weakness, the harassment from their upperclassmen would never end.

"I really need to start training at the dojo again," Ji-ho murmured softly, but there was a clear resolve in his voice. Yet, doubt crept in almost instantly.

"But... is Taekwondo still enough? Maybe I should try Hapkido or some other martial art—something more challenging."

The original plan had been simple—resume Taekwondo training when summer break came around. But after a few encounters with Park Gwang-ryeol, a martial arts master everyone seemed to be talking about, Ji-ho's thoughts had become a tangle of confusion. Gwang-ryeol had made him realize that training alone would never be enough.

"There's no way I'll make progress just by practicing on my own. I have to get back to the dojo, be with others, learn with them."

Boxing, Hapkido, even kickboxing—they all seemed more efficient for self-defense. But there was something about Taekwondo that held him back from switching.

"Better to stick with what I know," he thought. Besides, there was a chance the monthly fees at the dojo would be discounted—practical reasons that couldn't be ignored.

For now, Ryu Ji-ho could only react to the circumstances life threw at him. Taking proactive steps still felt far off, especially considering how limited his time and energy were. Schoolwork, physical training, and other activities were all competing for space in his ever-tightening schedule. Time felt like it was shrinking, and choices that once seemed simple were now turning into a tangled puzzle.

Yet, deep in his heart, Ryu Ji-ho knew one thing for certain—he had to take the first step, and that step started by returning to the place he already knew so well.