I tried to dodge quickly, but my lousy balance sent me sprawling. Still, I managed to catch the hand that aimed a punch at my face, and we both ended up on the floor.
Moonlight spilled through the open door, revealing the attacker's face. I was stunned to see it was Mina. I should've guessed—she'd vanished earlier—but my brain had been too slow to connect the dots.
Ironically, it was the first time I felt lucky to have fallen, otherwise I'd have taken Mina's fist full on, and that would've hurt a lot more.
Mina hauled herself off me, cheeks flushed, irritation written all over her face. Maybe she was embarrassed her attack had failed.
"I've been beaten plenty of times, but never ambushed like that. Turns out one bad skill can be a blessing," I said.
"You say that proudly?" Mina sniffed.
My smile vanished. Sure, I felt a flicker of pride in that useless talent of mine. But facing Mina, who was clearly stronger, that pride curdled into shame.
"This is ridiculous." I knit my brows, trying to sound angry and protest her nearly putting me in harm's way.
"Ridiculous?"
"Yes. Ridiculous. We agreed this afternoon, and tonight you try to attack me? I haven't even started training yet. What if I get hurt? Are you going to take responsibility for that?"
Mina crossed her arms, unfazed. "If you're afraid of getting hurt, give up on becoming strong, unless you've got a superpower." With that she walked away.
I wasn't having it. I followed. "Still, you need to give me a chance to prepare."
We ended up in the kitchen where Mina grabbed a cold bottle from the fridge and drank slowly. Watching her drink, I noticed how deliberate she was—not like an ordinary person, more like an athlete post-training, sweat on her skin, water sliding down her throat. There was something almost sensual about the motion.
I shook my head to banish the thought. Not now.
"Enemies attack whenever they want. They don't wait for you to be ready. Don't act like someone without strength, only the weak advertise themselves as prey," Mina said, fixing me with a sharp look before handing the bottle to me. "Stand for what you want to keep. That's your greatest strength. Training without conviction is useless. No matter how hard you train, you'll lose what you're trying to protect. Remember that."
She left me in the kitchen, bottle in my hand with just a little water left—just like my hope, thin and fragile. I had a choice. Let the last drops sit there, or refill it.
I refilled it. I refilled my conviction too. I needed a bigger, fiercer resolve to win. My goal was clear, teach those who abused me a lesson and free Jia from Minjae's grip.
***
The next day Remy and I walked to campus from Grandma's house. People's gazes were the same, hostile, even worse after my interactions with Jia.
I hadn't seen her yet because I was avoiding Minjae. I'd been a coward before, maybe still was. But after training with Mina, after getting stronger, I'd come back for payback.
I'd been treated poorly too many times for who I was—poor, orphaned. It's the classic excuse for bullying, but it still stung.
"I didn't expect Mina to teach martial arts to kids around Grandma's place. She said your Grandma recommended her to neighbors," Remy said, breaking the silence as we crossed the campus grounds.
I'd heard that rumor too, though I'd been skeptical. Mina was mysterious and private, but apparently she was, after all, ordinary—if ordinary could be this formidable.
"Isn't that Jia with her manager?" Remy nodded toward a pair, and I turned. Immediately I froze. Today was not the day to face Jia. I wasn't ready. Not yet.
"Go ahead without me," I said quickly.
"Where are you going?" Remy looked puzzled.
"I'll take a different route."
"Fine. Probably best, since Jia really wanted to talk to you."
I turned to leave, but someone called my name. Jia's voice. I pretended not to hear and walked faster, then someone blocked my path. Jia's manager had moved quicker than I expected.
"You're Caspian, right?" she asked, winded from running.
"If you're here to set me up with Jia, stop—you're wasting your time," I said.
The manager chuckled, then sneered. "Who do you think you are, daring to refuse Jia? Lots of people want to meet her. Aren't you a little arrogant, thinking you're anything?"
My teeth clenched. The dismissal sharp as a blade.
"I don't get why Jia wants to see you. She shouldn't feel guilty for what happened," she continued.
"Jia wants to meet me?" I echoed.
She nodded. "She wanted you to hear this from her directly, but given the situation… she wanted me to pass along a message. She feels guilty and wanted to make distance so Minjae wouldn't bother you anymore. She asked me to tell you she's sorry for what happened that caused you to be targeted on campus."
I curled my hand into a fist. I couldn't accept that Minjae could keep ruling with impunity. Feared, untouchable, above the law.
"Tell Jia I won't give up. Minjae doesn't deserve to be feared or to be near her. I will defeat Minjae and free Jia from his grip."
That was my resolve.