I Discovered the Secret
I steadied my quickening breath. Taking deep breaths, I glared straight ahead. One guy was glaring back at me like he wanted to kill me. I raised my gloved hand to cover half my face.
Just a little more, just a bit longer. My chest burned like fire was lit inside it. It moved like a living person for a moment, though briefly. I threw a light jab. He ducked way too much.
Now! Calf kick. He staggered. Another calf kick. He couldn't hold back and charged in.
That one-two feint pattern again! I knew his pattern well. I slipped to the side and fired a check hook. He staggered even harder than before. No problem since I'd spotted the pattern after just a few looks.
Time to end it. He spat curses. I couldn't hear them clearly. I was focused entirely on this fight. Just like he was on me, I gave him my full attention.
The one time in the day I feel like a normal person. Even staggering, he kept his upper body well-covered. I ducked low and dove in, grabbing his legs for a double-leg takedown. No need to drag him to the cage. I pinned the wrist of the arm he planted to push up from the mat.
Lock it down, break him. I passed to his opposite side and secured his upper body. He thrashed like a fish just surfaced from water.
Arm triangle choke! I locked his upper body with one arm and squeezed. He panicked, body shaking. He struggled for a moment before tapping out. Climax over.
I won. I caught my breath and stood. Cheers erupted around me. Just sparring, but I'd won today too. Pumped up.
"Whoa, that was awesome!"
"Sung Si-hyeok, you're a genius!"
"Taking down our gym's golden boy like that. And he's only been training for half a year."
"That's what talent is."
Praise poured in from around me, as always. But my chest felt empty. I flashed a fake smile while cleaning up. Let out a sigh.
Even winning doesn't feel good. It should, though. I clicked my tongue and headed to the showers. Let the warm water cascade over me. When did I become like this? I knew the answer all too well.
Mom and Dad's divorce. After my seemingly happy parents split, the mom who'd held everything together vanished. Ever since, I couldn't focus on anything, couldn't form attachments. Hell, I even swapped military service for industrial service duty. Food tasted hollow, everywhere felt foggy like walking on mist.
Dad said it: I've become an empty person. I smiled bitterly. Still, I tried my best to live up to everyone's expectations. Even going easy in this sparring match, I beat the golden boy. Was it really impressive? I wasn't sure.
Heo Seung-hee must've already left? I thought of the female gym buddy I'd gotten close to. Shook my head and finished up. Dressed and headed home. Crossed the familiar yet always strange streets.
Crowded today. How do these people live? What are they thinking? I couldn't understand any of it. Finally arrived home.
"Whew."
A luxurious Gangnam detached house. My dad might lack affection, but he was damn good at making money. Never went hungry because of it.
But so what?
Stepped inside. Click, creak. Right at the entrance, I froze. Two women came into view.
"Huh? Loser. You're back already?"
"Romi, I told you not to call him that. He's your brother now."
I blinked. The two women in front of me. One was my silver long-haired stepsister with blue eyes, So-na. The other was my sexy slender stepsister with pink twintails, grinning like a little devil, Romi.
New family after Dad remarried. Still awkward. And the reason is... They're too beautiful. Way too beautiful—face, body, everything perfect. Distinctively gorgeous, left me speechless.
Romi's green eyes sparkled.
"Loser♡ What're you spacing out for?"
"Oh, uh. Hi, sis."
So-na smiled gently.
"Hehe, you still talk so awkwardly. Yeah, hi! Heehee."
Sister approached warmly despite my stiffness. Romi, on the other hand, punched my stomach playfully, her eyes curving mischievously.
"Loser♡ You do martial arts but got hit again, huh? Want me to kiss it better? Loser♡"
"Never been hit. Even if I do, I take it to the ground first and finish."
Romi always teased cutely to test my reactions. She pouted and snorted.
"Hmph, too bad. For a loser♡"
Still so pretty. Up close, even more intimidating. Could debut as an idol visual right now. But then.
"Si-hyeok, you're home? Come on in."
A familiar face appeared between the two. A glamorous body with violently huge, beautiful breasts. Golden mid-length hair glowing like a saint under the light. Our stepmom, Bae Yu-jin, apron neatly tied.
She divorced her husband for some reason. Must've been bad—they still use Mom's last name. I bowed my head.
She smiled warmly, glancing at her daughters alternately.
"Aren't you two going to work or academy?"
"Yeees."
"Too annoying♡"
The sisters moved. So-na gave a sly eye smile.
"Then I'll head to cartoon academy."
"Mmm, off to my part-time job. Get along with Loser!"
Sister and little sis left. Awkward silence lingered. I sighed.
Sis graduated from a top Seoul university but just now found her passion. And she's a working model too. Just amazing. Real talent—making good money doing what you love anytime. Me? Pathetic in comparison.
So lame.
Swoosh. A warm hand entered my view. It stroked my hair. A touch I'd felt once before.
"Son, dinner's ready. Eat up."
"Yes, Mother."
"Call me Mom comfortably. And why no reply to my text earlier? Trying to make me sulky?"
Stepmom pouted angrily. But so cute. Like an older girlfriend throwing a fit. I scratched my cheek.
"Oh, yeah. Was sparring."
"Hoho, okay. Come eat."
"Sure."
How could I call her that easily? My real mom, who'd been my everything, vanished in an instant. No ill feelings toward stepmom, but she couldn't replace her.
Don't think about it anymore. Forced a smile and went to the kitchen. Sat down; she served sides from across.
"Here, your favorite burdock root. Try it. Seasoned right?"
"Mmm, yes. Delicious."
Really was. Cooking and looks rivaled my real mom. No—her efforts to treat me better were beautiful.
That's why it hurts. Even this amazing woman tries, but I can't open my heart. What if we secretly dated like in some 19+ doujin? No, ridiculous.
Ate everything she served. Finished.
"How was it? Like it?"
"Yes. Mother's cooking is the best."
"Oh, you. Go rest."
"I'll do dishes."
"No! You've trained hard. When you make it to WFC, buy me flowers. Hoho."
She stuck out her tongue playfully. Cleared the table. I scratched my head and went upstairs. The spacious two-story house felt warm and welcoming.
Plus rooftop BBQs.
To my room. Lay on bed, sighed deeply. Stuffy. Dad remarried a year ago.
He's on overseas business now. Southeast Asia? Long-term. Gave me a computer and left. Small mercy? Always nagging to treat new family well.
Arm over forehead, stared at ceiling. Always wanted to ask Dad.
Why the hell did you divorce? We were happy. Always laughing. So why?
Fuck. What's the problem? Always brushed off as adult matters. Hated him. I'm an adult now. Sometimes wanted to spar him into submission. Did he hate Mom that much?
Need to know to play along. Fuck. Sighed, got up. Wanted to clear my head. Opened bag beside me. Pulled out a drone. Sleek black, eagle-like sheen.
Love Maker? Weird name. Latest model from department store event prize. Video, photos, voice recording—all-purpose. Tough too. Wouldn't break unless full swing with a bat.
Third prize? First was imported car, second Hokkaido onsen hotel trip? Solid third.
Opened window. Cool night breeze. Smirked, donned goggles, flew drone. Whirr, hum. Not like buzzing wasp—quiet, nice. Wobbled up then stabilized.
Checked drone view.
"Vision okay."
Glided through night sky. Reminded of old Monster Hunter game. Riding dragons. Kinda living it.
Let's fly farther.
Raced over city. In this moment, I was the drone, the eagle, Superman.
Wow, field of view's wider than expected?
Dark streets lit by neon. Crowds and cars harmonious, nostalgic.
Curb here! Everything novel. Seeing outside from room amazed me. Passed motel, paused. Something caught eye.
"Huh?"
Familiar face. Flew back. Scanned windows—one had my little sis. Definitely Romi.
What the? Guy emerged naked from bathroom. Something off.
What's she doing at a motel? Said part-time job. With a guy?
Romi looked grim. Forced? Acting? No clue. What was happening?
Why would such a pretty girl...?
The moment the guy reached for her. I doubted my eyes.
"Gasp?!"