When did it all start?
‘Did I win again? Then the chocolate is mine, right?’
Was it from the time I made a bet over chocolate, which I always enjoyed?
‘How do I keep winning? Of course, I hate losing with a passion.’
Or maybe it started when my friend suggested, ‘Since you like winning, how about trying boxing?’
I joined the boxing club thanks to my friend, who was part of it, but I wasn’t that interested in boxing.
I like winning, but there’s no reason it has to be boxing.
Just because I joined right now doesn’t mean I can win immediately.
Chuka Chip. No, the top student Choi Hana always received the same report card, wearing a bored expression.
Winning is fun, but it gets boring if I win the same way every time.
Maybe that’s why I joined.
Perhaps I could find some thrill in victory there.
‘Oh! And the club president’s parents run a bakery. They always bring homemade chocolate leftovers, just so you know.’
…Of course, part of it was for the chocolate too.
—
Bang!
“Wow… how are you so good at boxing too?”
My friend Jung Ye Ji, who invited Choi Hana to the boxing club, smirked at her own knocked-out self.
Top student.
Not exactly a celebrity looker, but pretty and fit.
During gym class, I saw her athletic ability and thought maybe she’d be good at boxing, so I introduced her…
“How long have you been training?”
“Six months? Wow, that’s quite a while.”
Choi Hana responded indifferently, taking off her gloves.
I was at a loss for words at her reaction.
A person who didn’t know the first thing about boxing defeated all the members of the boxing club in just six months.
She had already won youth boxing tournaments, and various offers were coming in to take Choi Hana pro.
‘This is boring.’
However, Choi Hana herself wasn’t thrilled about it at all.
Top student at school, top athlete.
With her pretty looks, she seemed like someone everyone would envy, but the joy of ‘victory’ had lessened compared to before.
As long as it’s not a nonsensical match where losing is impossible, she would never accept defeat.
When she was younger, that fact was always delightful, but as the tension faded, so did the satisfaction.
If I go pro this way, can I really achieve proper victories?
Maybe I’m just wasting time and ending up the same…
‘Should I quit?’
“Oh, right. I heard a newcomer joined. The president personally brought her in because she looks talented.”
“…Newcomer?”
Then let’s quit, only focusing on the newcomer.
It’s about time my parents decide whether I should continue studying or keep boxing.
“Hi! I heard you’re really good?”
And so, two more years went by.
Overwhelming feeling of defeat that I’ve never experienced before.
It’s not like I’ve never lost. As a child, I lost in games like rock-paper-scissors with friends and also lost when I first joined the boxing club.
But that was a matter of ‘luck’ – an uncertain gamble. Or it was just fights where the opponent had already learned so much that winning was impossible from the start.
“…Huh.”
But now it’s different.
“Wait, why am I winning?”
My opponent is just a rookie who has just started learning boxing.
In contrast, I’ve only been training for six months, but I’ve already won a youth boxing tournament, and maybe I could even beat high school students.
‘I can’t lose.’
This is truly ‘talent’.
For the first time, seeing Choi Hana with greater talent sparked a strange feeling in me.
Competitive spirit. And a negativity bubbling up from deep within.
Maybe I could find it.
“Do I really have talent? I only tried it because my sister told me to.”
“You… keep boxing.”
“Huh? I mean, I will… Why?”
Swish.
I put my gloves back on.
“To beat you.”
First, let’s win just once.
“Hey! Why are you saying you’re quitting?!”
February, 2nd year of high school.
Choi Hana grabbed her rival by the collar while organizing old gloves.
She’s someone who could definitely go pro.
Unlike me, she has no talent outside of boxing, but she’s a genius in boxing, the best among the best.
So why is she saying she’s quitting?
“Ah… I heard my parents are moving abroad because of their work. I’m not completely quitting, but I don’t know how well I’ll do with foreigners.”
“If you don’t go… no, rather, I…”
Choi Hana tried to argue irrationally.
It’s not easy to change a decision that’s already been made about moving abroad.
Besides, her family isn’t planning to move abroad, and Choi Hana herself doesn’t like being away from home.
She smiled and shook her head for no reason.
“Congratulations. If I go, you’ll be first place now. Finally, you’ve beaten me, right?”
“Shut up. Do you think I wanted that kind of victory?”
“…With your personality, I guess you wouldn’t accept it.”
1294 matches, 0 wins, 3 draws, 1291 losses.
That’s the result of our matches excluding the ones she purposely let me win, and I thought this would continue forever.
But it’s not the case anymore.
“Now don’t just cling to boxing thinking you’ll catch up to me. Do you know how much your parents have tormented me?”
“…I’m sorry about that.”
I put my studies aside to beat her at boxing.
Of course, with what I had been doing, I always maintained a high rank, but I was no longer the top student in class.
You were always at the top of your class, but no longer the number one.
“Last time.”
“Hana, I feel bad for saying this, but I’m really jealous of you.”
“……”
“Not only are you good at studying, but you’re also pretty. Plus, you’re great at sports and super popular. I was shocked when I opened your locker once and a love letter fell out!”
“…That stuff is useless.”
I kept trying.
I had a gifted mind and body, but I never slacked off in my efforts.
I always liked winning and won a lot.
But why…
‘Why can’t I win?’
Thud.
Something small was placed on the boxing club table.
Something I like…
“Still, at least one of those is something I’m good at, so that’s a bit comforting. Hehe.”
“…Are you making fun of me?”
“Don’t worry too much about it. About me, I mean.”
Chocolate.
“You probably didn’t eat much because you were cutting weight for the competition. A little won’t hurt.”
“……”
“Well then, take care. You’re going to be fine no matter what, so I won’t interfere anymore.”
So, goodbye.
“Hey.”
Gulp.
I threw my gloves at the departing girl.
I put on the gloves.
“Let’s have one last match. No holding back.”
Of course, I lost.
■
I quit boxing.
Even the coach, a former pro who taught boxing, and the boxing club I had been with for a long time, along with my family and friends, all tried to dissuade me, but my decision remained unchanged.
In fact, my mom was happy, thinking I had finally settled on focusing on studying.
‘But I’m not going to focus on studying.’
Getting into college wouldn’t be a problem, but studying isn’t exactly a competition to determine a winner or loser.
The time when coming in first would bring joy has long passed.
More than anything, not being able to see my opponent in front of me is a big downside.
“Ah.”
In early spring, with winter just hanging on,
I stepped out of the school gate with my belongings, wrapped in a scarf.
Snow falls. Just a little, not enough to be bothersome.
Should I try another sport?
Will I run out of time?
I’m in 2nd year high school, should I just focus on college first…
As I woke from my dream, reality crashed down on me.
Crunch.
I bit into the chocolate.
It’s not sweet.
Not sweet at all.
Ugh~
“?”
[Ye Ji Ye Ji]
Jung Ye Ji.
Choi Hana’s best friend and the one who introduced her to boxing.
After introducing her, she gave it up due to lack of talent before even entering high school.
“For the record, I’ve heard the ‘don’t quit boxing’ speech 300 times already, so I’m not going to listen anymore.”
─Of course not. Have you been on the internet lately?
No way. Have you checked the internet right now?
“Internet?”
I went online without hanging up the call.
The first thing I saw on top was ‘Virtual Reality Game’ and ‘Devil of Angel.’
Seeing that name made me think.
‘Wow… what a lame name.’
What kind of game name is that? It’s not the 90s anymore; why is it so old-fashioned?
“Why is this happening?”
─You have to try this right now! It feels just like reality!
“Reality, my foot…”
I had heard there was VR, but isn’t it just a bunch of equipment and graphics, really?
I liked competition and had played games, but for some reason, I had never been that interested in them.
On the other end, Jung Ye Ji jumped up.
─No! Hey! Where are you right now!
“Where do you think? I’m on my way home, packing my stuff.”
─I’m coming!
“Uh? What?”
The call ended.
And I was immediately led by Jung Ye Ji to a place called ‘Access Room,’ which I didn’t even know existed.
Seeing the new building and the neat interior, it seemed like it hadn’t been around for long.
“…Do game companies build stores these days?”
“Who knows? I looked it up, and they’ve been building them across the country for a year now.”
“What a waste of money.”
Anyway, since I had nothing to do, I decided to play for a bit after a long time.
And just like that, I was hooked.
■
It was a new world.
There, I could transform into numerous beings and meet countless people.
My skills from reality worked here too, and after a short thought, I began my pro career under the name ‘Chota Choka Chuka Chip.’
It was fun.
Since it was a ‘team’ game, I didn’t win every time, but at least there was no opponent I couldn’t beat.
Sometimes, there were monster-like people in the world for whom winning was impossible, but they weren’t as talented as ‘that guy.’
‘Or maybe not.’
“I just did it, and it worked, you know?”
Perfect talent.
An absolute gap that could never be crossed.
And yet, a newcomer who hadn’t been around for long.
Sometimes, the world creates things that make no sense.
“I won’t miss this.”
This time, I will definitely win.
For sure.
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