Jaeho stood there with blood running down the back of his neck, his vision still blurry from that first hit.
These idiots had actually done it. They have gone too far this time.
A baseball bat to the back of his skull. Any harder or at a different angle, and he would have been killed or his brain damaged. Or in a coma and then what would happen to Jia and Serin?
"What the hell are you fools doing!?" His voice came out shaking, not from fear but from pure rage.
Minho's grin was vicious. "What are we doing? You threatened me today, Han. In front of everyone. You think you can just walk away from that?"
Jiwon was still rubbing his jaw where Jaeho had hit him earlier. "You think you're hot shit now? Just because some rich lady picked you up?"
Daeho moved closer, bat resting casual on his shoulder. "You're still trash. That's all you'll ever be. And trash needs to remember its place."
Jaeho barely heard the insults. He'd taken worse for years.
But something felt wrong here. Different.
"Why'd you follow me home?" His head was pounding, but his voice stayed level. "This shit's supposed to stay at school."
It always had before. Bathrooms, empty classrooms, school grounds. But they'd followed him here, to his street, right outside the apartment where Jia and Serin were sleeping.
The three of them exchanged looks. Minho laughed, long and ugly.
"Stay at school? You think this is some game? Nah. You embarrassed us. Made us look weak. So now you're gonna learn what happens when you step out of line."
Jaeho's fists clenched hard enough that his nails cut into his palms. They'd brought this here, to the one place that was supposed to be separate from all the school bullshit.
"You should've just taken it like always," Jiwon said, blood on his face but still smirking. "But you had to get cocky."
Daeho's eyes went cold. "Maybe we should drop by sometime. Say hi to those cute little sisters of yours. Show them what happens when their oppa forgets his place."
Everything stopped.
Jaeho's vision tunneled until all he could see was Daeho's smug face. He'd just threatened Jia and Serin.
The rage wasn't simmering anymore. It erupted, white-hot and all-consuming.
Jaeho didn't think. He lunged forward and his fist caught Daeho square in the jaw. Bone on bone. The impact rattled up Jaeho's whole arm but he didn't care. Daeho's head whipped sideways, eyes rolling, and he went down hard. The bat clattered away across the pavement.
Minho and Jiwon froze for just a second, then they came at him.
Jaeho caught Minho in the ribs and Minho gasped and stumbled. Jiwon grabbed him from behind, arms trying to pin him down.
Jaeho threw his head back and connected with Jiwon's nose. He felt the cartilage crunch. Jiwon screamed and let go. Jaeho spun and drove his fist into Jiwon's gut. Jiwon doubled over, tears streaming down his face.
For maybe five seconds Jaeho thought he could actually win this. He was stronger now after all those months loading trucks and hauling boxes had built real muscle. But he wasn't trained. Didn't know how to fight three guys at once or cover every angle.
Minho tackled him sideways and Jaeho's shoulder slammed into pavement. Pain shot through his arm. Jiwon was back up, nose pouring blood, eyes wild. He kicked Jaeho in the ribs once, twice, three times. Each one felt like getting hit with a hammer.
Daeho grabbed the bat, his hand shaking, jaw already swelling purple.
"Hold him!"
Minho and Jiwon forced Jaeho onto his back, pinning his arms. Jaeho thrashed and tried to break free but there were too many of them.
Daeho raised the bat.
The first hit cracked his ribs. The second got his shoulder and something gave way inside. The third slammed his leg.
Jaeho kept his teeth clenched. He wasn't going to scream for them.
"Stop it! Stop right now!"
A woman's voice cut through the night. Footsteps running toward them.
Minho's head jerked up. "Shit, someone's coming!"
Daeho's eyes were locked on Jaeho's face, wild and furious. "One more. Just one."
He swung the bat straight down at Jaeho's head.
Blinding pain exploded through his skull right before he lost consciousness.
The bullies ran, their footsteps pounding away down the alley as they fled the scene.
The woman rushed over, her voice shaking. "Oh my god. Oh my god."
Jaeho wasn't moving. Blood was pooling under his head, spreading dark across the pavement. His face was already swelling and his breathing was shallow.
She pulled out her phone with shaking hands. "Hello? I need an ambulance. There's a boy, he's been attacked. He's bleeding really bad. He's not waking up. Please hurry."
Then a man joined her soon after, he was out of breath becasue he tried to catch at least one of the culprits but failed, he stood beside his girlfriend, looking around for any possible threat.
She knelt down and pressed her jacket against the head wound. Blood soaked through immediately.
"Please," she whispered, tears falling. "Please be okay."
Jaeho didn't hear her, he didn't hear anything as he lost consciousness.