Crossed Paths

The boy stayed silent, staring down Sa-Ook. Sa-Ook gave an unassuming smile in return. The boy merely scowled.

"I'm Park Ji-Hoon. You better take me seriously… I'm not like these other guys." He says solemnly.

Sa-Ook holds back laughter.

'Why is this brat so serious? It's kind of endearing.."

Sa-Ook quirks his head, studying the eager teenager before him. 'Park Ji-Hoon? Never heard of someone with that name. But, I don't seem to remember anything in my teen years.' Sa-Ook approaches Park Ji-Hoon, seemingly with his guard completely down. He slid his hands in his pockets and stood about five feet away from the disgruntled boy.

"Why should I fight you?" Sa-Ook asks, grinning patronizingly. The boy's demeanour tightens, clenching his jaw. "Do you want to, that badly?" Sa-Ook teases, thinning his lips.

"Yes." Ji-Hoon says, swallowing his evident pride.

"You saw what happened to your friends, are you sure?" Sa-Ook's eyes thin, a tantalizing grin stretching over his face. Ji-Hoon's brow scrunches and his face flushes.

"Yes goddammit, how many times do I need to say it?!" He shouts, swinging at Sa-Ook with the self determination hardwired in every hormone boosted teenager. Ji-Hoon charges at Sa-Ook, faint mana distributed and dispersed through his punch.

Sa-Ook was mildly intrigued by his show of power. Sure it wasn't phenomenal, but his form wasn't too lacklustre and had an amount of tact and practice. Sa-Ook admitted that this kid had immense talent, likely trained enough to get where he was, but he made one fatal mistake.

Sa-Ook spun around, grabbing Ji-Hoon's arm and slamming him down. Ji-Hoon's eyes widened and rolled away, quickly regaining his composure and swinging at Sa-Ook again, who was seemingly unscathed. Ji-Hoon lunged to the right, and Sa-Ook kicked him squat in the chest before he could complete the punch.

'He's just too damned predictable'

Sa-Ook thinks, kicking Ji-Hoon again before he can get up. Ji-Hoon clenches his jaw again, seemingly a habit, and releases mana from his palms exponentially, procuring flames down the lengths of his arms.

'Impressive!' Sa-Ook commends.

"That's not fair now is it?" Sa-Ook smiles innocently. Ji-Hoon remains firm. "You're a player too. I would say it's pretty fair."

"Would you know? And what makes you think that?" Sa-Ook teases innocently, playing dumb.

"If you weren't, then how would it explain how you threw a person away from you and flung around these—" Ji-Hoon gestures to the ground. "—People everywhere, and I doubt you would be able to dodge my mana infused attacks either. Don't bullshit me, fight me proper."

"I don't want to." Sa-Ook gives Ji-Hoon a toothy grin. Ji-Hoon grimaces, extinguishes his flames and turns away. "Fine. I guess you would be busy, Jeong Sa-Ook? Or should I say 'Maroon'?" He says.

'Maroon? What the fuck does that mean? A code name?'

Before Ji-Hoon can leave, the doors to the roof burst open and the girl from earlier barges in. Her brown eyes full of vehement worry.

"Mi-Sun?!" Ji-Hoon says in surprise. "What are you doing here?" He says shocked. Mi-Sun ignores him, and looks to Sa-Ook.

"What is wrong with you today?! I thought you promised to get out of trouble?!" The brunette scolds him.

Sa-Ook shook his head and gave a meek smile."I don't think this counts as trouble…" He says. Mi-Sun sighs and just grabs Sa-zoom's hand to his surprise and drags him. "Cmon, let's just head home."