Reality Quest: Strike Back

The sound of pens scratching paper and annoyed murmurs filled the classroom

"Minseok, you really wrote that down?" I leaned over, peering at his exam paper with a grin. "It's clearly B."

Minseok shot me a glare, but I could see the edge of a smile tugging at his lips. "It's not wrong. I'm pretty sure it's C. You just always go for the easy answer."

"Yeah, and the easy answer is usually right," I shot back, lounging back in his chair with his own test only half-filled out. "If you were as quick to finish as you are to argue, maybe we'd get out of here sooner."

Minseok sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. "I'm actually trying to pass, Dae. You're acting like we're doing this for fun."

"Who said anything about fun?" I replied, stretching his legs out under the desk, his chair squeaking slightly. "This whole thing's just a formality. We both know it doesn't actually matter."

Across the room, the teacher, Ms. Park, was busy scribbling answers and explanations onto the chalkboard. Only about half the class was actually paying attention, the other half coughing, laughing, arguing… the usual.

"I swear, you're gonna fail one of these days if you keep making fun of me," Minseok muttered, glancing sideways at me as if trying to gauge exactly what I wanted to do.

"Can't fail if I didn't even do it," I said with a happy smile, tapping his pen on his paper. "You're too busy stressing. You know, you could try to have fun once in a while."

"Yeah, says the guy who'd rather be sleeping than doing anything productive," Minseok shot back, rolling his eyes. "Seriously, why are you even here?"

My grin widened. "For your sister."

Minseok shook his head, a smile creeping onto his face despite himself. "You fucker."

I leaned back, looking at the clock. Ten minutes left. And then we could go to the Internet Cafe. Fucking Quest of Mirina and its pay to win schemes. I couldn't keep on wasting my money on it but… I needed that Greatsword. 

The Fire King Greatsword would mean that I could actually farm the mobs down at the Flaming Cavern and then I could finally break through Level 150.

Level 150. My mouth practically watered at the thou-

Minseok shook me out of my daydream.

"Bro, you look like you're about to moan. Don't tell me you're actually daydreaming about my sister!" he hissed.

"Nah, something even better."

"Huh, then what?"

I looked him straight in the eye.

"Your mum."

"I'm going to fucking kill yo-"

RING! RING! RING!

We both instinctively shot up out of our chairs, ramming everything into our bags.

I could vaguely hear Ms. Park saying something about homework through the noise of the school bell but it was such a shame I was already running out of the classroom, Minseok hot on my heels.

We burst out of the classroom like fools on fire, weaving through the crowded hallway as the sound of the bell echoed around us. Students poured out of their classes, chatting, shoving, and doing anything but walking in a straight line.

"Move, move, move!" I yelled, slamming through a group of kids blocking the hallway.

"Why are you acting like this is the Olympics?" Minseok called from behind, struggling to keep up. His bag was slung over one shoulder, bouncing against his side as he jogged. "We've got time, man!"

"Not if you want to sit next to me in the prime seats," I shot back, practically vaulting over a stray chair left in the middle of the hallway.

Minseok groaned but picked up his pace. The thing about the Internet Cafe wasn't just about getting there… it was about getting there first. If we didn't snag a decent spot, we'd be stuck in the corner, crammed between sweaty middle schoolers or worse… that one dropout who brought his entire snack stash and ate noisily the whole time.

By the time we hit the school gates, we were both sprinting. The cold November air slapped me in the face, and I cursed at my lack of scarf as we turned the corner.

"You're gonna get run over one day, you know that?" Minseok huffed, keeping up with seeming ease.

"And you're gonna kill me if I don't beat that boss before you do," I fired back, a grin plastered across my face.

The streets weren't too busy yet, but a group of kids from another school was heading in the same direction as us. A quick glance told me they were gamers too, and they were walking at the deliberate pace of people who thought they'd get a good spot without running.

Big mistake.

"Dae, don't," Minseok muttered, noticing the glint in my eye.

But it was too late. "Think we can make it there before them?" I asked, already picking up speed.

"Seriously? You're competing with random strangers now?"

"Every quest has a rival, bro," I called over my shoulder.

I didn't wait for his response, instead bolting across the street just as the pedestrian light started blinking red. I could hear Minseok cursing behind me, but he followed anyway. The other group saw us running and, realizing what we were up to, broke into a sprint of their own.

It was chaos. Shoes pounding the pavement. Breath visible in the cold air. A mad dash to the finish line.

The Internet Cafe came into view, its familiar neon sign glowing faintly in the afternoon light. My heart pounded, my lungs burned, but I wasn't gonna slow down.

"Dae, slow the hell down!" Minseok wheezed, but I could tell he wasn't going to let me win either.

I skidded to a stop just outside the door, my hand slamming against it as I turned to Minseok, grinning. "First place."

"You're… fucking… stupid," Minseok huffed, stumbling to a stop beside me. He was bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

The other group showed up a few seconds later, their leader glaring at us as we casually strolled inside. I gave him a mock salute, and Minseok shook his head, muttering something about punching. Weirdo.

The cafe was warm and familiar, the hum of computers and quiet chatter filling the air. Rows of screens stretched out in front of us, but my eyes immediately locked onto the best setup… the back corner with the comfy chairs and extra monitors.

"Go, go, go!" I whispered, and we dashed over to claim our spots.

Sliding into my chair, I powered up the computer and entered my login details. The familiar loading screen for Quest of Mirina filled the screen, and I felt a surge of anticipation.

Minseok plopped down beside me, shaking his head but grinning. "You're the worst kind of person, you're stupid but contagious."

I shrugged, already navigating to the store page. "Say what you want, but we've got the best seats in the house."

As the game loaded, I scrolled down to the Fire King Greatsword rarity increase package in the shop. I didn't want to think about how much I'd spent trying to get it, but today was the day. It had to be.

Beside me, Minseok was already in the game, his character standing in the middle of the Flaming Cavern. "If you don't get that sword today, I'm never letting you live it down," he said, smirking.

"You talk a lot for someone who's about to watch me solo this dungeon," I shot back.

He just laughed. Fucker.

***

The sky was still bright blue as I stepped out of the Internet Cafe. The familiar rush of heated air gave way to the cold day breeze, biting against my face. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, still riding the high of finally getting my hands on the Fire King Greatsword.

"Man, my back is killing me," Minseok groaned, stretching his arms above his head. "We've been sitting for what, three hours straight?"

"It's called dedication," I said with a laugh. "You wouldn't last a second in the Flaming Cavern without me carrying you anyway."

"You carrying me? Don't make me laugh," he shot back, rolling his eyes. "You barely made it out of that boss fight alive. Pretty sure I'm the MVP."

I just grinned, too satisfied with my victory to argue. The streets were quieter than usual as we made our way toward the bus stop. Most of the other students had already cleared out, heading home for dinner or cramming in last-minute study sessions. Probably what we should be doing tonight. Except one quick look at Minseok's exhausted expression and I knew that wouldn't be happening. 

We'd probably nap the second we got home.

As we turned a corner near one of the smaller side streets, something caught my eye. There, in a narrow alleyway between two old buildings, was a guy. He was sitting against the wall, his knees pulled up to his chest, and his head buried in his arms.

I stopped walking. "Yo, Minseok. Check it out."

"Huh?" He followed my gaze and frowned. "What's he doing?"

"No idea."

He was shaking.

Minseok stopped in his tracks. "Yo, is he crying?"

"Looks like it," I said, glancing around. There was no one else in sight. Just us and the teenager.

For a second, we just stood there, unsure what to do. Then I nudged him forward. "Go ask him what's up."

"Why me?"

"Because you're the one who's always acting like an idiot!" I hissed.

He sighed and walked over, keeping his steps light. "Hey," He called softly, stopping a few feet away. "You good, man?"

He didn't respond.

I stepped up beside him. "What's going on, man? You need help or something?"

His head shot up, and I saw his face clearly, recognising him immediately. Park Inrang. His eyes were red and puffy, and his expression was a mix of fear and panic. He stared at us like we were the last people he wanted to see. Oh shit. 

"Hey, it's okay," I said, holding up my hands. "We're not gonna hurt you or anything. We just—"

Before I could finish, he scrambled to his feet and bolted.

"Whoa, wait—!" Minseok called after him, but he didn't look back. He ran past us and disappeared around the corner, leaving us standing there in stunned silence.

"What the hell was that about?" Minseok muttered, turning to me.

"I don't know," I said, frowning. Something about the way Inrang had looked at us… it wasn't just fear. It was like he was running from something. Or someone.

Then I heard it.

Laughter.

That rich teen laughter, coming from further in the maze of alleys.

I turned slowly, my stomach twisting into knots.

A group of guys sat on the air conditioners, precariously perched on the walls. The one in the middle, wrapped in a clearly designer branded racing jacket over his school uniform, was the one laughing. Anyone who didn't know him was either not from Daehak High or just flat out blind. Choi Jinho from Class 3.

Behind him were his usual friends, smirking and snickering as they leaned against the conditioners.

"Oh, fuck," Minseok muttered under his breath. "Not them."

I didn't say anything. My mind was racing. They hadn't seen us yet, but they would soon.

"Let's go," I whispered, turning back toward the street.

Minseok nodded, and we started walking, keeping our heads down and our steps quick.

"Don't look back," I murmured.

"I'm not," Minseok hissed, his voice tight.

But I couldn't help it. As we reached the edge of the alley, I glanced over my shoulder. Jinho and his friends were still there, laughing and talking among themselves. One of them pointed toward the direction the kid had run, and my stomach sank.

They hadn't noticed us. Yet.

We kept walking, our pace just shy of a jog. My heart was pounding, and I could feel the heat buzzing under my skin.

"Think they saw us?" Minseok asked once we were a safe distance away.

"I don't think so," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure. "Let's just keep moving."

Neither of us spoke after that. The quiet tension hung heavy between us as we made our way to the bus stop.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about games or tests or anything else. Just those guys. The way they'd been standing there, the way they'd laughed.

Bullying was always just background noise, something that happened in the periphery of my day. You'd hear a slap echo through the halls, see someone being forced to carry an upperclassman's bag, or catch the tail end of some poor guy getting humiliated for laughs. But it wasn't like I was part of it. I didn't join in, and I didn't cheer it on.

I didn't stop it either.

I mean, who would? Nobody in their right mind willingly paints a target on their back. The unspoken rule was simple: keep your head down, mind your own business, and they'll leave you alone.

Besides, it's not like I was close with any of the guys who got bullied. Half the time, I didn't even know their names. They were just… unlucky. Wrong haircut, wrong shoes, wrong personality… there was always some stupid excuse. It was easy to tell yourself they brought it on themselves. Maybe if they stood up for themselves, it wouldn't get so bad.

But seeing that guy in the alley today, shaking like a leaf… it hit differently. He wasn't just some awkward guy with bad luck. He looked broken.

And I wondered for the first time if they thought about us… me, Minseok, and everyone else… when they were alone. Did they sit there, crying in some corner of the school or their bedroom, wondering why no one stepped in? Did they blame us for ignoring it?

I swallowed hard, glancing at Minseok. He was quiet too, staring down at the ground as we walked. Normally, he'd be cracking a joke or complaining about how far the bus stop was, but not tonight.

It wasn't that we didn't care. I mean, we weren't bad people. It's just… what could we even do? Guys like Jinho didn't stop because someone told them to. And standing up for someone else would just put a big, neon bullseye on your back unless you were well known.

We weren't heroes. We were just kids trying to be happy.

And maybe that was the problem.

The thought made me feel… weird. Uneasy. Like there was a pit in my stomach that wouldn't go away.

Inrang had run, and we'd let him. Just like always. And Jinho and his guys, they'd probably find him again. They always did. The unlucky ones couldn't outrun it forever.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. There was no point in overthinking it.

It wasn't my problem.