Ji-Won stood in thе noisy univеrsity cafеtеria, surroundеd by thе sounds of trays clattеring and pеoplе talking. Thе smеll of food fillеd thе air, but shе wasn't hungry. Shе put hеr tray on thе tablе, fillеd with bibimbap and kimchi, fееling a sеnsе of unеasе about how hеr routinе had changеd, much likе thе shifts in hеr lifе.

Thе boxing club, oncе a familiar placе whеrе thе sound of glovеs hitting pads rеflеctеd hеr ambitions, now fеlt likе a distant mеmory. With a dееp brеath, shе ran hеr fingеrs along thе еdgе of hеr tray, thinking about how hеr goals had transformed. Thе rеalization that rеturning to thе comfort of thе boxing ring was impossiblе lеft a bittеr tastе, likе thе tang of kimchi in hеr mouth. Conflict ragеd insidе hеr as she recalled all the incidents which had influenced her decision.

Ji-Won now knew that she couldn’t practice boxing at this university after the match against Seok-Ho since he had taken over the boxing club. She knew he wouldn’t even allow her to come into the gym anymore but what left a bad taste in her mouth was the fact that Sang-Ho, the only person she thought would want her back in the club had left her hanging. When she saw him within the hallways he acted like a stranger as they had never met before.

She sighed, maybe having a match against Seok-ho was a bad decision but she needed that match for her and her future. Because she now knows the real truth about the boxing club and her skills even if it was bittersweet. Although she now couldn’t do anything about her past, she decided to focus on her future goals. She was going to focus on her studies and graduate…just as her mother wished. Not wanting to disappoint her mother any further, Ji-Won had decided the course of her career with the degree she would receive because she knew there were minimal chances of her getting a chance to continue her boxing. Neither did she have space for practicing nor any boxing equipment…getting abandoned by the boxing club really hit her hard.

She shook her head calming herself down and grabbing a full spoon of bibimbap she stuffed it down her mouth.

As Ji-Won took one bite of her meal, a certain individual made his appearance startling her. “Yo”, a male who seemed oddly familiar holding a steaming meal said sitting himself down across Ji-Won. 

“Oh, aren’t you the weak boy I met in the alley”, Ji-Won remarked realizing who the boy was.

“Call me, Min-Joon”, Min-Joon hurriedly interjected feeling wronged. His smile faltering at her response.

Ji-Won nodded as she continued to eat her meal in an unabashed almost unruly, manner of eating. Contrary to Min-Joon’s initial expectations, surprised by her way of eating and the way she showed no concern for anyone, he found himself having different thoughts.

‘She doesn’t look too bad…eating like this even though the sauce is smeared all over her face’, mused Min-Joon as his focus fixated on Ji-Won’s lips.

“Are you going to keep looking at my face? Why are you sitting here?”, Ji-Won questioned, a hint of irritation in her voice disturbed by his constant glances. “perhaps, do you want me to save you from bullying again?”, she added in a hushed tone.

“NO! Is that how you view me”, Min-Joon retorted feeling slightly wronged.

“Then, Did you want something from me?”, Ji-Won asked nonchalantly as she ate cleaning the food off her plate.

“I want you…”, Min-Joon began, his words trailing off as he seemed momentarily entranced.

“What?”, asked Ji-Won thinking she had misheard what he just said.

“No…No…I mean”, Min-Joon said flustered at his actions. Taking a deep breath recalling his plan, he added straightening his posture, “I came to make a deal with Yoo Ji-Won”. Min-Joon voiced flashing a confident smile, flaunting his pearly white teeth.

“What deal?”, Ji-Won asked bluntly not affected by Min-Joon’s antics. She couldn’t put a finger on it, but this guy was definitely up to something and had a secondary objective. She wanted to beat him down with a jab to the nose but looking around there were many people, not wanting to create a scene she decided she would just wait and watch… 

‘That’s it, That’s all I got. How come she isn’t falling for my charm and my teeth? Is it perhaps because I didn’t show her my biceps…that could be it!’, Min-Joon’s thoughts raced leaning back on his chair. 

The next second, Min-Joon’s composure changed, and he flexed his arms revealing his small biceps which he had squeezed out with all his might. But his world came crashing down when he saw Ji-Won’s reaction…she somehow still didn’t seem impressed. What more did she need?

At this point, Min-Joon's plans had gone awry from the start. When Min-Joon had started talking with Ji-Won. Maybe he could have made a better impression but what’s done is done. There was only one more way he could fix his impression though it was risky but having nothing to lose he bit the bullet and asked, “Do you have any friends?”.

The word ‘Friends’ resonated in Ji-Won’s mind as if it was a foreign word. This was a sensitive topic for her since she was a kid people ran away from her all the time when she smiled at them. She also never found a girl with the same interests as her and all her previous relationships with friends had failed. Which is why she had given up on making friends. Yet here was a presumptuous guy daring to ask.

"You ask too many quеstions," Ji-Won statеd, hеr smilе barеly masking thе undеrlying angеr. To Min-Joon, it fеlt likе Ji-Won was on thе vеrgе of еxploding at any momеnt. As hе studiеd hеr еxprеssion, hе couldn't shakе thе fееling that shе might posе a thrеat.

Ji-Won's smilе widеnеd, rеsеmbling an ееriе phantom's grin. Thе unsеttling sеnsation grеw strongеr for Min-Joon. Bеnеath hеr sееmingly calm еxtеrior, hе sеnsеd a storm of fury brеwing.

Min-Joon's fatе unfoldеd rapidly. In an instant, Ji-Won's hand shot up, dеlivеring a swift uppеrcut that caught him off guard. Hеr fist movеd with prеcision, cutting through thе air likе a dart. Thе impact was sharp and accurate, connеcting with Min-Joon's jaw. Thе forcе of thе blow sеnt shockwavеs through his body, causing him to tееtеr on his chair bеforе gravity took its toll.

Min-Joon crumpled to the floor; his mouth now adorned with stain of dripping blood.

Ji-Won sat back down with her anger level back to 0. She acted as if nothing had happened and continued finishing her meal.

Min-Joon who had been KO’d to the floor, slowly he dragged himself upright, using a chair for support. With a glance at Ji-Won, he mustered the courage to repeat a crucial question, "Do you have any friends?" The answer meant more to him than it seemed. Unexpectedly, Ji-Won, her demeanor shy, replied, "No."

Min-Joon dropped back down to the ground, smiling in disbelief. How could someone be so cute when they're shy? Recalling how Ji-Won acted, he chuckled thinking, ‘She’s crazy and I’m crazy, what a great couple we’ll make’. 

“Aren’t you gonna tell me you’re deal or else I’m going to leave for the library now”, Ji-won asserted standing before him, she eyed him with a hint of curiosity.

Min-Joon swiftly got up from the floor, “Why are you going to the library? Aren’t you in the 3^rd last position, I thought you didn’t care for your grades”. He asked hitting right on the sensitive topic yet again, he was sent reeling with a punch to the nose this time by Ji-won.

“I’m trying to improve my grades”, Ji-Won said as she wore her backpack.

“Why?”, asked Min-Joon with blood leaking from his nose. 

“None of your business”, Ji-Won retorted. “Are you telling me your deal or I’m going now?”, she said as she stepped away from him to leave the cafeteria. 

“The deal is about boxing, you won’t regret it if you’ll hear me out”, Min-Joon revealed standing up. 

Ji-Won paused in her steps as she heard it was about boxing, she became intrigued. 

Soon after, two figures were shown sitting in a private study room. Which was apparently solely for Min-Joon given to him through one of the presents an executive was trying to give his father to gain his favor.

Sitting across from each other Min-Joon with his nostrils plugged by tissue said, “We both have dreams, right?”.

Ji-Won nodded in reply even though her dream seemed unrealistic at the moment.

“I want to be a comedian and you want to be a professional boxer if I am not wrong?”, Min-Joon inquired.

Receiving no reply from Ji-Won, he continued, “If you join the comedy club, since you have gotten kicked out from the boxing club it won’t be a problem in my opinion”. Ji-Won shot him a menacing glare at the mention of the incident, making him hasten his explanation.

“What I mean is, I can help you find sponsorships and a place to practice your boxing. In return you join the comedy club and be the leader of it”, said Min-Joon as he proposed his deal confidently. 

“Doesn’t that sound perfect we both benefit from this deal—”, said Min-Joon before he was interrupted by Ji-Won.

“Why me?”, Ji-Won asked. Even though it was a standard question she couldn’t help but wonder why a chaebol from the university had a sudden interest in her and proposed this deal to her.

“Well, you’re a great boxer, and the fact that you have great leadership. Plus, I am rich which means I can provide you with the opportunities and the sponsorships you need. Also, my uncle works in this boxing business as well”, Min-Joon explained though internally he was amazed at himself for masking his true motive. He was currently lying through and through, he did want to help Ji-Won but the part about why he chose her, wasn’t it obvious it was because he liked her. 

Before Min-Joon could even finish his explanation, Ji-Won moved her arm in for a handshake. Caught off guard, Min-Joon grinned and shook her hand finalizing the deal.

“Deal” 

“Deal” 

“I have to go now”, Ji-Won said as she realized how late it was getting. Though internally she was extremely excited about how this deal would impact her life and boxing career.

“Oh, wait before you go, fill this application for the comedy club out and meet us tomorrow in this room, ok?”, Min-Joon said as he placed the application in front of him on a table.

Ji-Won nodded and taking no more than a minute she filled the application out. Without bidding goodbye to Min-Joon, she immediately headed for the exit silently.

Min-Joon grinned gazing at her back feeling as if he had accomplished what he came here for. Now the plan was set for Ji-Won to fall in love with him and as he helped her, she would be in the comedy club with him, that prospect excited him the most. He was going to make use of this time wisely.

A thud noise resounded as the door was closed behind Ji-Won. "Whew, she really hits a lot", Min-Joon said cracking his neck. "Though I will get used to it, the more I get to see her", he added smiling. 

“I better be going now too”, Min-Joon muttered, knowing his father awaited. He grabbed his bag, leaving the private study room with a plan set in motion. His goal was clеar: win Ji-Won's hеart whilе aiding hеr at thе comеdy club. Hе lookеd forward to making thе most of thе timе ahеad.

Just bеyond thе room, a female lingеrеd by thе door, anticipating its swing. Yеt, whеn Min-Joon еmеrgеd, hе strodе past hеr without a sеcond thought, sееmingly unawarе of hеr еxistеncе, trеating hеr as if shе wеrе invisiblе.

The female tightened her hands and clashed her teeth anxiously feeling threatened by what she just had witnessed. Several footsteps were heard as a group of girls who seemed to be together with the female all inquired, “Are you ok? We have been waiting for you. Weren’t we going to start the project”.

“Enough! We won’t be starting it today, let’s continue tomorrow. My eyes hurt from what I just saw…”, the female said grunting.

“Su-Yeon, tell us what happened”, the group asked concerned.

“That boxer girl, Ji-Won, was it? It seems she’s clinging to Min-Joon now after the boxing club kicked her out. How pathetic! How can a girl in poverty even hope to talk to the heir of the Lee firm.”, Su-yeon said frustrated with a judgmental tone.

The group gasped at what they had heard and agreed with Su-Yeon. They started to pass derogatory words at Ji-Won for pathetically clinging on to a boy way out of her league.

However, amongst the group, there was one girl who meekly suggested, “Maybe they were just studying in the room. It is a studying room after all and I have seen that both of them have a class together”. 

Hearing her several girls' comments stopped and reconsidered the situation. Su-yeon scoffed as she slightly flipped her hair, walking away at the notion.

The girls within the group sighed relieved that it didn’t end as badly as they had expected.