Episode 6: This is a Bit Much
The leather surface of the sandbag was covered with fist marks and scratches, as if it carried the weight of many years.
I slowly put on the wraps and gloves the coach had thrown to me. After tightly wrapping my wrists and securing them, I took a deep breath.
Should I start with a light jab?
I threw a light jab with my left hand.
Thud!
A dull sound echoed through the gym.
Using the rebound, I quickly moved my steps and returned to my original position.
‘Nothing beats exercise for stress relief.’
I threw short and quick consecutive jabs, testing the impact.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sandbag swayed gently.
Combining jabs with straight punches, I increased the tempo.
Thud! Thud! Thud—Crack!
As the sandbag swayed rhythmically, I targeted the side and threw a hook.
Squeak!
The sandbag swung widely, and the chains creaked loudly.
I adjusted my breathing and straightened my slightly off posture.
Kang Chul was resting his chin on his hand, watching me with interest.
Jinyoung, on the other hand, opened his mouth so wide it looked like his jaw might fall off.
“Wow… You’ve learned boxing before, haven’t you? This feels like a betrayal.”
“It’s my first time.”
Well, it was my first time boxing in this body, so technically, it wasn’t a lie.
Kang Chul looked me up and down before letting out a snort.
“Did you say your name was Kim Dohyun? First time boxing? Man, no one would believe that. But you don’t look like someone who’s trained professionally either. Is this just natural talent?"
I shrugged as I started to take off my gloves.
“Your footwork and timing aren’t amateur-level at all. The direction and trajectory of your punches are spot-on. Your basics are flawless.”
Kang Chul walked over and tapped my wrist lightly.
“Kim Dohyun, you’re a guy who was born to box.”
“Excuse me…?”
At this point, it wasn’t just overwhelming— it was downright absurd.
‘Maybe I should’ve just told the truth.’ I thought to myself.
Then Kang Chul clenched his massive fist and shouted,
“Now that you’ve caught my eye, you’re the treasure of this gym. A Hobby? Fine. I’ll teach you even harder, so you can at least do it properly as a hobby.”
Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he rubbed his chin.
“Starting tomorrow, come by. Don’t worry about the fees.”
“Sorry, what?”
“I won’t charge you anything, so just come. But don’t skip. I can’t let talent like yours go to waste.”
Kang Chul shrugged casually as he spoke.
No, seriously, this is way too much.
“Well, you’re still young, so you can start as a hobby and maybe transition into becoming a professional.”
If I stayed here any longer, I had a feeling I’d be completely roped in by this muscle monster.
“I should get going now. It’s getting late….”
“Make sure you come tomorrow. If you don’t, I’ll wait for you outside the front door.”
After saying goodbye to Jinyoung, I hurriedly bolted out of the gym.
*
On the Way Home
The streets were blanketed in darkness, with occasional neon lights painting the ground in scattered hues.
I walked slowly, glancing around.
A landscape both familiar and unfamiliar.
Posters pasted on building corners, the smell of fried food wafting from street vendors, and groups of students chatting as they roamed in clusters.
‘This world isn’t all that different from the one I used to live in.’
I ruffled my hair and let out a sigh.
Life here was gradually becoming more familiar.
When I got home and opened the door, the warm aroma of food from the kitchen greeted me.
“Brother, you’re home?”
Harin stood in the kitchen wearing an apron. The dining table was already set with dinner.
“You’re a bit late, aren’t you? You must be hungry.”
Harin smiled brightly as she placed the utensils down.
I nodded in response instead of speaking.
So this is what everyday life looks like, the kind that would usually be skipped in a game.
There’s still some time before the next main event, so…
As soon as I entered my room, I locked the door and pulled the blanket over myself. By now, my hands moved out of habit.
“I guess… I just feel uneasy if I don’t lock it.”
Under the blanket, I stared at my smartphone screen, ending the day like that.
*
The Next Morning on the Way to School
The moment I stepped into the school hallway, something felt off.
“Ahhh! Look over there!”
“Oh my gosh… he looks insane in person.”
“He’s seriously so good-looking!”
Whispers and muffled giggles surrounded me from all directions.
I instinctively looked around. I could feel their gazes following me.
‘What’s with this? Why are they acting like that?’
I shook off the unpleasant feeling and headed to the classroom. The moment I opened the door, Jinyoung shot up and waved his hand.
“Dohyun! Did you get home okay yesterday?”
The way he acted so friendly gave me goosebumps.
He didn’t seem like a bad guy, but he was definitely the annoying type.
With a triumphant look, Jinyoung ran over to me and shoved his smartphone in my face.
“Hey, look at this.”
The screen showed a post on the “Bamboo Forest” page.
And right at the top was a post pinned for everyone to see.
[The prince who blocked the ball during P.E class…♥]
I felt like I’d just seen something I shouldn’t have.
“Please, no way…”
A bad feeling crept over me, and sure enough, the post seemed to be about me.
As I scrolled down, it got even worse.
[During P.E. yesterday, I was sitting with the girls in the stands, and suddenly a soccer ball came flying toward us. But then Kim Dohyun ran over and casually deflected it. I haven’t felt butterflies like that in ages.]
The comments section was even crazier.
• Do you think his hand hurts? I would’ve fainted for sure.ã… ã…
• Isn’t that Kim Dohyun? Seo Yuna’s seatmate?
• If he were in my class, I’d die from a heart attack…
• Crazy. He’s out of this world. Break the planet!
• Guys, is this reality or a novel?
Jinyoung excitedly tapped my arm.
“Hey, you’re super popular! It’s crazy right now.”
Suppressing the urge to curse, I shoved the phone away.
Seeing my reaction, Jinyoung smirked and shrugged.
“Man, I’m jealous. Living the life of an alpha male. I wish I could be one, just for a day.”
Ignoring him, I slumped into my seat.
“You’re getting a lot of attention this morning, huh?”
Next to me, Seo Yuna teased with a mischievous grin.
“Who are you teasing?”
“By the way, is your hand okay?”
Just as I was about to answer that I was fine, Jinyoung ran over from behind.
“Hey, what’s this? What’s this? What’s going on between you two?”
“What?”
Jinyoung’s eyes sparkled as he glanced back and forth between Yuna and me.
“Are you guys dating or something? Things seem suspicious since this morning.”
“We’re not.”
Yuna frowned and shot him a glare.
At that moment, I couldn’t take it anymore and buried my face in my hands.
Jinyoung, seeing that, burst out laughing once again.
“You even look good pretending to be embarrassed. No wonder you’re so popular.”
Should I just punch this guy and go to jail? The moment I clenched my fist with that thought in mind, Jinyoung immediately backed away.
“Hey, hey, it was just a joke! I was kidding.”
Then he quickly fled back to his seat.
Letting out a sigh, I turned to look out the window. Something felt seriously off.
“Are you sure your hand’s okay?”
“I already told you, it’s fine.”
I rotated my wrist once to show her.
Considering how I had enthusiastically punched the sandbag yesterday, there was no way it hurt.
“You hit it pretty hard back then. Were you just holding it in to look cool?”
Yuna smirked playfully as she spoke.
“Yeah, it hurt so much I thought I was gonna die. So stop talking to me.”
“But isn’t ‘prince’ a bit much?”
“Cut it out, seriously.”
Yuna crossed her arms and glanced at me before bursting into laughter.
“Still, thanks to that, you’ve become really popular. The girls can’t stop talking about you.”
“I don’t need that kind of attention.”
“Really?”
Yuna tilted her head, then suddenly plopped down on my desk and stared at me intently.
“What?”
“I’m analyzing why you’re so popular.”
I quickly turned my head away. Finding my reaction amusing, Yuna chuckled softly before lowering her head.
*
First Period: Art Class
Sunlight streamed through the windows, gently illuminating the desks.
The art teacher stood in front of the chalkboard, tapping a piece of chalk lightly in their hand.
“Today’s topic is portrait drawing. A portrait isn’t just about drawing a face. It’s about capturing the expression, mood, and even the personality of the subject.”
The teacher pointed at a sample drawing as they continued.
“Observation is everything when it comes to portraits. You need to capture the subject’s features accurately. Especially through the eyes, lips, and facial contours, you should be able to express their emotions. The key is to view your subject with an artist’s eye.”
When the class began murmuring, the teacher clapped their hands to quiet them.
“For today’s assignment, you’ll draw a portrait of your partner. Don’t just mimic their features; try to capture their overall vibe.”
As the students exchanged glances with their partners, awkward laughter filled the room.
The moment I turned my head, I met Yuna’s sharp gaze.
She was already opening her sketchbook.
“Make sure you draw my face well.”
“You’re not lacking confidence in your face, are you?”
“Huh? I’m totally confident. But if you mess up my face, you’re dead.”
“Do we really have to do this?”
“If you want to stay after class for extra lessons, feel free to skip it.”
“Ugh…”
Reluctantly, I began sketching, the pencil gliding across the paper.
Before long, the outlines of her portrait began to take shape.
‘Wait, am I… talented at this?’
As I focused on my drawing, Yuna suddenly tilted her head and squinted one eye.
“Wouldn’t this angle make me look cuter?”
“…Just sit still.”
“Sorry.”
She giggled and then showed me her drawing.
It was… an unidentifiable figure.
“What’s that?”
“It’s you. That’s how I see you.”
I stared at her in disbelief, but she only grinned mischievously.
At that moment, the teacher approached us.
“What are you two doing instead of focusing?”
Yuna quickly flipped her drawing over and put on an innocent expression.
“We were working really hard, teacher!”
“Save the flirting for after class.”
Shaking their head, the teacher moved on to check the other students’ drawings.
Lowering her head slightly, Yuna scratched her ear with her pencil and muttered under her breath.
“The teacher is really…”
Despite her grumbling, the tips of her ears were bright red.