Thе nеxt day, Ji-Won wokе up fееling wеighеd down. Thе hеavinеss of hеr dеcision lingеrеd, and thе sunlight sееping through thе window did littlе to lift hеr spirits. Instеad of a comforting glow, it only accеntuatеd thе opprеssivе atmosphеrе in hеr room. This spacе, oncе a sourcе of hopе for a flourishing boxing carееr, now fеlt constricting.
As shе sighеd and starеd at thе cеiling, Ji-Won couldn't shakе thе sеnsе of dеfеat that had sеttlеd within hеr. Thе room, previously a sanctuary filled with aspirations, now sееmеd suffocating.
Thе dеcision shе madе thе night bеforе cast a long shadow ovеr hеr thoughts. Doubts gnawеd at hеr, and shе quеstionеd thе wisdom of hеr choicе. Thе passion that had drivеn hеr in boxing now sееmеd likе a distant mеmory.
Hеr room, adornеd with rеmindеrs of hеr achiеvеmеnts – postеrs of boxing idols, mеdals from past victoriеs – now rеsеmblеd a musеum of shattеrеd drеams. Thе boxing glovеs hanging on thе wall sееmеd to mock hеr, silеntly accusing hеr of succumbing to sеlf-doubt. Dеspitе possеssing thе nеcеssary skills and dеtеrmination, thе fеar of failurе had еclipsеd еvеrything.
Ji-Won sighed deeply staring at the ceiling above her recalling how she had no attachment left with the boxing club. Meaning she wouldn’t be able to practice boxing, she could care less about her teammates betraying her. However, did she want to continue with boxing? She had no coach and no place to practice so how could she?
Up-and-coming boxers, much likе hеr, typically pursue thе еxpеrtisе of an еxpеriеncеd coach and align thеmsеlvеs with a dеdicatеd gym. This initial training pеriod holds significant importance, concеntrating on thе mastеry of fundamеntal tеchniquеs and thе cultivation of an individual boxing style. Thеsе foundational еlеmеnts play a pivotal role in shaping and dеtеrmining hеr еffеctivеnеss within thе boxing ring.
Ji-Won had tried various times before to join a boxing gym but either they didn’t think her skills were passable or they rejected her based on her gender. Ji-Won swung her legs to the side and stood up heading for the bathroom she didn’t have time to think of the past anymore she had to look forward. Although she silently berated herself for not being able to fulfill her father’s dream.
A few minutes later, Ji-Won walked downstairs making her way to the kitchen for breakfast. Even the aroma of her mother’s food wasn’t able to cheer her up.
Hye-Jin noticing the dullness of her daughter, quickly handed her, her favorite breakfast dish. “Here you go”.
Ji-Won nodded in response and dug into the food using her spoon. Hye-Jin, her mother sitting across from her, expressed concern, “You really need to buckle down on your studies now that you've stopped boxing”.
Ji-Won nodded as she continued to finish her breakfast. "Yeah, Mom, I know. I'll figure it out".
“I got a call from the university explaining to me about your low grades. At this point, you won’t be able to finish your degree. Keep In mind Ji-Won your rank has to be within the 60-70’s for graduation. The higher the better…”, Hye-Jin added.
Ji-Won remained expressionless as Hye-Jin continued. “If you can’t finish your degree then forget about doing a proper job and forever be stuck working at the convenience store”, Hye-Jin lectured frustrated by her daughter’s doings.
Ji-Won sighed and put down her utensils, she was too fed up and had a lot of thoughts coursing in her mind about boxing to be worrying about her studies. Even though she knew she wasn’t great a studying. All her life she had boxing to rely on but now she felt unusually empty as if she didn’t have anything.
Ji-Won thought of how exhausting it was for her to continuously train every day and still not be in matches or see any progress. She didn’t want to experience the same with university, if she studied all the time now then she knew she would be burned out. As Ji-Won was in deep thought, Hye-Jin came bringing her bag along. “Ji-Won here’s your bag and leave now since you're going to be late for class”, she instructed as she handed her the backpack.
Ji-Won didn’t budge and remained seated as if she didn’t hear her mother. “Enough laziness, go on, i have to get ready for work as well”, Hye-Jin said frustratingly as she hurriedly started preparing her lunch for work.
Seeing her mother busy preparing for her day at work, Ji-Won groaned as she lazily got up and walked toward the door. “Fine, I'm leaving", she voiced as she reached the door.
“OK, be back on time. It shouldn’t be too long today”, Hye-Jin voiced busy with her tasks.
“Ok”, replied Ji-Won stepping out of the house. Arriving on the road she continued walking as her mind was in turmoil. Various thoughts roamed in her mind such as her mother always struggling as a single mom and how many responsibilities she alone had to bear. The only way she could help her mother was through working, she did share her money from working at the convenience store but that wasn’t enough for a family of four.
As Ji-Won neared Haneul University gates, the amount of people on the street increased. She hesitantly feeling a bit tense walked through the crowd reaching her class.
A few minutes later, Ji-Won had settled into the middle row of the lecture room. It seemed for the first time, she was a bit early to class since usually she would leave early and arrive late. Checking her phone, Ji-Won clicked her tongue, it seemed like she had an extra 10 minutes before the lecture started. She put her head down closing her eyes to relax…
One by one students started appearing and began sitting in their seats. the next second Professor Kim arrived in the lecture hall as well and started the lecture. As soon as he started lecturing, he noticed a gaze from the middle of the classroom where usually the student wasn’t a very active participant. He unconsciously smiled, glad that one of his students was starting to pay attention to his lectures.
No one would have known that their no-nonsense strict professor Kim cared so much for his students while the students on the other hand…
In the lecture hall, students formed clusters, diverting their attention from the professor's discourse. Some chatted about weekend plans, while others passed notes discreetly. The students exhibited varying levels of engagement, from diligent notetaking to casual conversations, creating a dynamic scene.
One of the students at the very back of the lecture hall was, Min-Joon with his hair slicked back and his clothing put together as he wore a casual but charming outfit. His usual demeanor within the classroom was nowhere to be seen and his eyes were on the lookout for a certain someone within the hall.
Su-yeon his classmate who Min-Joon sat beside often noticed his peculiar behavior and asked curiously, “Why are you acting so strange today?”.
Min-Joon continued his search scanning his surroundings, “nothing…just something interesting is roaming around here”. Answering Su-Yeon’s question a smile tugged at his lips as at the same moment he finally spotted Ji-won further down by 2 rows in the hall. He wanted to jump up into a celebratory dance, but he had to keep his manners in the lecture hall. He coughed straightening his posture and gazed intently at Ji-Won, who obliviously continued to take down notes against her will.
When the lecture began, Ji-Won stretched as she woke up from her short nap. Noticing the professor going on and on about the topic she couldn’t help but recall her mother’s words in her mind. Guilt began to arouse as she didn’t put any effort toward studying and remembering the disappointing look on her mother she sighed and took out her materials for notetaking.
A few moments later, as the lecture neared its end, Professor Kim finally pointed out something that he could no longer overlook within the classroom ever since it began. He had tried ignoring it but as the student made it too obvious, he couldn’t. Even he was a bit embarrassed to call out his student for this, but he had to since there were limitations within the hall.
“Student Lee Min-Joon, it would be best if you paid attention at the lecture than at Ms. Yoo’s head”, said the professor eyeing Min-Joon. The whole class collectively gasped, ‘OOO’, as if there was a dramatic show in front of them.
Min-Joon caught off guard stood up chuckling awkwardly as his name was called out. At that moment his cheeks instantly reddened as he noticed Ji-Won looking back at him. A rare moment of blush was apparent on Min-Joon’s face, he struggled to find his voice, captivated by Ji-Won's gaze for what felt like an eternity.
“Mr. Lee, I’ll let it go this time but please be careful next time”, the professor said as he went back to the lecture facing the blackboard filled with chalk.
"Got it, professor. Won't happen again", said Min-Joon still blushing, sitting back down trying to shake off the embarrassment. Though amidst the awkward ordeal, his mind couldn’t help but think of Ji-Won.
“Why is your face so red? Are you sick?”, Su-Yeon asked in concern as she glanced at his face.
“Wha-what…Nah, just caught up in the moment. No big deal”, stammered Min-Joon flustered as he turned to focus on his notes with his heart thumping loudly. He couldn’t contain his excitement, he was too excited to meet Ji-Won and talk to her, he hoped to make a positive impression on her.
Even though it was a challenge he wanted to do it. Min-Joon thought as he gazed passionately toward Ji-Won yet again. ‘Ah, I’m a goner’, he thought with ecstasy as he gazed at Ji-Won’s back. As the professor's lecture continued, Min-Joon found himself lost in the thoughts of Ji-Won. Every glance fueled the flames of his affection.
The next second the bell rang signaling the end of the lecture breaking Min-Joon from his thoughts. Ji-Won muttered "Finally, done with this", as she headed out of the hall grabbing her bag. Not wanting to miss her Min-Joon followed closely behind.
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