Chapter 3: Resurrection
Scene: YNJ High School Cafeteria – Lunchtime
The air buzzed with noise. Forks clinked against steel trays. Laughter exploded in every corner. Smells of kimchi, eggs, and warm rice circled the space like a greasy halo.
At the far end of the cafeteria, a skinny boy sat alone. Head down. His tray had been flipped, food scattered on the floor. Milk poured over his head. His glasses bent.
Five boys stood around him, laughing.
Kwon Tae-Ho (Leader): "I said bark. Come on, dog-boy."
Jung Min-Su: "He's shaking like a Chihuahua!"
Kim Byul: "Let's put him in a cage. Should we call the zoo?"
Han Dong-Goo: "He's lucky we're not charging entry for this entertainment."
Seo Yuri (Female Bully): (Fake pout) "Aww, don't bully him too much... oh wait, never mind. Keep going."
The boy whimpered, clutching his knees. Eyes full of shame. Around them, no one moved. Everyone watched. Silent. Powerless.
Until—
Daniel Park stood up. He dropped his spoon with a clink.
Daniel: "That's enough."
Lee Hyung Seok stood beside him.
Lee: "We don't do five-on-one. You're not tough. You're trash."
Kwon turned slowly, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Kwon Tae-Ho: "Who are you clowns?"
Jung Min-Su: "Are these the new transfer kids?"
Han Dong-Goo: "They got guts. No brains though."
Kim Byul: "Two against five? This'll be fun."
Seo Yuri: (smirking) "Boys, show them how YNJ welcomes heroes."
Laughter erupted again.
Kwon cracked his knuckles.
Kwon: "You guys are only two. We are five. So sit your asses back down."
Suddenly — a shadow moved behind them.
Footsteps. Confident. Calm.
A voice, cool like iced steel:
Zack: "They're not two... I'm also with them."
The bullies turned. Time paused.
There he stood — Zack. Sharp black hair falling over his eyes, blazer half unbuttoned, face pale and beautiful like a winter storm. A deadly kind of beauty. Quiet. Controlled.
Whispers spread like fire.
Girl 1: "Who is that...?"
Girl 2: "He's so hot... I'm literally going to faint."
Girl 3: "Is he an idol? A model?"
Seo Yuri: (lip twitching) "Tch... pretty face."
Kwon's smile faded.
Kwon Tae-Ho: "Who the fuck are you, motherfucker?"
Zack: (grinning) "Your dad."
Gasps. The entire cafeteria froze.
Zack stepped forward. His hand balled into a fist. His eyes met Kwon's — empty, unreadable.
He moved to swing —
SLAM!
The cafeteria door burst open.
Teacher (Mr. Baek): "WHAT the hell is going on here?!"
Silence. A heartbeat. Then the bullies backed away like scared dogs.
Mr. Baek's eyes scanned the scene.
Mr. Baek: "You five again?! And YOU — Yuri! Why are you with the boys' in cafeteria section again?!"
Seo Yuri: "I-I was just walking by!"
Mr. Baek: "My office. NOW!"
He turned to Daniel, Lee, and Zack.
Mr. Baek: "You three, sit. No more stunts."
They obeyed. But Zack's gaze never left Kwon. He smiled.
> "This is just the beginning."
The rain hadn't stopped since lunch. Clouds sagged low, casting shadows over YNJ High. Thunder echoed faintly in the distance. On the rooftop, Zack stood still — eyes locked on the empty schoolyard below.
The door creaked open behind him.
Daniel: "You're some kind of storm, huh?"
He stepped out, water dripping from his uniform. No hesitation in his voice, just curiosity.
Lee: "You really don't like being watched, do you?"
Zack didn't reply. His hands were in his pockets. His breathing — controlled.
Daniel: "I didn't need your help. We had that under control."
Lee: "You were bleeding."
Daniel (scowling): "I've had worse."
Zack (coldly): "Wasn't helping you."
Lee (calmly): "Then who were you helping?"
Zack turned to face them, eyes unreadable.
Zack: "No one."
He stepped forward. A chill swept through the air. Lee met his eyes, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them — not trust, but not hostility either.
Below, two of the bullies from lunch were absent. Hospital rumors. But no complaints filed. No punishment given. Just silence.
---
Flashback
Two years ago. Same rooftop. Different figure. A lonely kid, drenched in rain, sat curled in a corner. No one came. No voices. Just quiet sobs swallowed by the storm.
---
Later That Day – Hallways of YNJ
The school murmured with nervous energy. Zack walked the halls, alone but never unnoticed. Eyes followed him. Whispers followed him.
Student 1 (whispering): "Did you see how fast he moved?"
Student 2: "He didn't even flinch when Kwon swung at him."
Student 3 (in awe): "That guy's not normal."
Zack stopped in front of a classroom. Room 2-3. He entered. Empty. He walked to a desk in the corner. Sat. The sun peeked through the clouds and hit the window just right.
He rested his arms on the desk. Eyes closed. Breathing slow. Alone.
A folded note sat tucked in the side.
> "Who are you?"
Zack read it. Then burned it with a lighter. Ash fluttered out the window.
---
Faculty Room
Vice Principal Hwang paced behind his desk. He was uneasy.
Hwang (muttering): "Why does he feel familiar…?"
Principal Jung entered.
Jung: "Something wrong?"
Hwang: "That new boy. Zack. I've seen someone like him before."
Jung (shrugging): "It's a big city. People look alike."
Hwang: "No. Not like this."
Jung said nothing and left. Hwang opened a locked drawer. Inside: an old student file. Name blacked out. Case closed. He stared at the photo. Then shut the drawer quickly.
---
Evening – City Park
Zack sat on a swing. The creaking chains matched the drizzle. He looked forward — at nothing.
A figure approached.
Yuna: "You're the one who took Kwon down."
Zack didn't react.
Zack: "I didn't ask for an audience."
Yuna: "Too bad."
She stood tall. Confident.
Yuna: "I've been watching this school rot for a year. You cracked it open in a day."
Zack looked at her for the first time.
Zack: "And?"
Yuna: "I want in."
Zack: "This isn't a club."
Yuna (grinning): "Then let's call it a cause."
---
Next Morning – School Wall
In giant black letters:
> "You were kings. Now you're prey."
Below it, a red tag:
> Z
Students gasped. Phones clicked. Teachers panicked.
Girl 1: "Who's Z?"
Boy 1: "Doesn't matter. He's our
new nightmare."
From across the yard, Zack sipped canned coffee, watching the commotion.
He smiled faintly.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...
---
Hidden Detail:
Zack's arrival shifts the balance of power at YNJ. While he smiles and acts calm, there's a storm brewing behind his eyes. Daniel and Lee recognize it — he's not just strong. He's dangerous.
Nobody knows where Zack came from. But in this moment, the entire school starts whispering his name.
And deep in the faculty files, a folder sits untouched. Labeled: Missing Student – 2 Years Ago. Status: Cold Case.
But no one connects the dots… yet.
[TO BE CONTINUED]