On Friday morning, Alex and Ha Rin walked Linda into the martial arts hall.
The moment they step inside the hall, a wave of energy hit her.
The wide hall echoed with the sharp rhythm of feet hitting the floor. Dozens of students were spread across the polished floor, moving in perfect lines, their movements matching the steady count of a senior student. The air smelled faintly of sweat.
At the center of the hall stood Mr. Kwon, the kufum Mr. His broad-shouldered, arms crossed, his posture straight like a soldier carved from stone. His present alone made most students stand straight.
His sharp eyes flicked toward them the moment they stepped inside.
"Good morning, Sir," Ha Rin greeted with an polite smile.
Alex added, "Morning, Coach."
Linda hesitated only a second before bowing as well.
Mr. Kwon's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her.
"And who might this be?" he asked, voice low and firm.
"i am Linda, Linda Lee," . Linda introduced herself. "She joined grade ten this Monday."
Ha Rin chipped in. And she loves kufum.
"She wants to join the club," Alex added quickly.
Mr. Kwon stepped closer, towering over Linda. His presence alone pressed on her like weight.
"Are you sure you have the potential to join my club?" He challenged
Linda felt her heart bump against her ribs, but she refused to break eye contact.
"I believe I do, sir," she said respectfully. "I've been training for years."
Her hands were slightly clenched, betraying her tension, but her voice didn't shake.
Mr. Kwon watched her a moment longer, observing all her struggling, as he silenly test her.
Then, he gave a short nod "Then prove it." he said gesturing to a student beside him. "Defeat one of my students and then we'll talk."
The chosen student stepped forward. He was tall and muscular, confidence written on his face . A smirk tugged at his lip as he cracked his knuckles, then rolled his shoulders like a predator preparing to play with prey.
"Let's see what you've got," he taunted, his voice low and mocking.
All students abandoned their drills. They gathered in a loose circle, murmuring in excitement. A new girl facing one of the top fighters was a spectacle no one wanted to miss.
Linda inhaled slowly, grounding herself. Her palms tingled.
The fight began.
Linda moved quickly, her body low and steady. Her strikes were sharp and fast, each motion precise. She ducked under his first swing and drove a quick jab toward his ribs.
But he twisted at the last second making her strike to cut through air.
That only increased his smirked." That fast baby" he teased, as he moved with ease, blocking her follow-up kicks, his defense almost effortless. His eyes narrowed, studying her as though dissecting her every move.
Linda pushed harder, striking and attacking with all the skill she had. But she quickly started getting frustrated. Every hit landed on the air. Her breaths grew quick and shallow. As her speed reduce each minutes.
And through it all, his opponent smug smile stayed fixed on his face, taunting her.
Then, in a blur of motion, he struck.
His foot slammed into her stomach. Pain exploded through her ribs as the air was knocked out of her. She gasped, staggering backward. Before she could recover, his fist crashed into her jaw, snapping her head to the side.
Her vision blurred. The taste of blood filled her mouth as it trickled from the corner of her lips.
Mr kwon eyes remain fixed on them, as the fight continue.
But Linda forced herself upright,refusing to quit. She clenched her fists, her teeth grit against the pain. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her quit.
The boy loomed over her, confident and smug. "Give up baby," he whispered close to her ear, as he blocked another of her attack.
Murmurs spread through the watching students.
"She thought too highly of herself," one whispered.
"She's strong, but he's on another level," another chipped in.
Mr. Kwon finally rise his hand, signaling them to stopped. He walked towards her with his hand cross
"I don't think you're suited for my club," he said flatly. "You lack the skill and finesse required."
"What do you mean? I gave it everything I had!" Linda protested, breathing heavily.
Mr. Kwon raised a brow, unimpressed. "That was your all? What I saw was wild punches and sloppy kicks without strategy. No control. That isn't martial arts. That's brute force."
His words stung worse than the blows she'd taken.
"I've been training for years," Linda murmured, her fists trembling at her sides, as she tried to control her anger.
His lips curled into the faintest, mocking smile. "Really?" He asked, because from what I saw, you were flailing. No balance and composure. If you can't control yourself, how can you control your opponent."
"You're judging me on just one fight that not right!" she shouted.
"No," he cut sharply "I'm judging you on what I saw today. And what I saw was not impressive. If you can't handle a simple spar, how do you expect to handle the demands of this club?"
Heat flushed her face. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Fine," she spat, stepping forward. "Maybe your club is just too good for me. Maybe I'm not worthy of your precious club.
Mr. Kwon's face darkened. His voice thundered across the hall. "Enough! You think talent alone earns you a place here? Talent is nothing without tactics.
Linda's chest heaved. Her voice dropped, low as she asked "Do all your students win their first fight to get in? Do they all pass your test without question?"
"No," he growled. "But they show potential. The right mindset. The willingness to learn. You think raw strength is enough? It isn't."
Her anger broke free. "You're just been biased, with that, she turned and stormed out. Alex and Ha Rin watch her leave.
After she Left, Mr kwon dialed a number and a calm voice answered from the other end of the line. "How was she,?" He asked. Not bad Mr kwon replied, "she is stubborn"he added . Before ending the call.