A Loser's Fate

Forty-four years had passed since that day.

In a small, dimly lit apartment, a fat man sat slumped on his couch, his swollen eye proof of a recent beating.

He barely paid attention to the TV in front of him, his focus lost between the cold food he was eating and the overwhelming misery weighing him down.

Tears streamed down his face as he thought about how pathetic his life had become.

His fingers clutched the green crystal necklace hanging around his neck—the last thing his father had given him before he passed away.

Pressing it against his lips, he closed his eyes, and his father's words echoed in his mind:

"Son, there's always a reason why we suffer. What I need you to do is be a good man… and always listen to your brother."

His chest tightened as a bitter laugh escaped his lips. Listen to his brother?

That so-called brother was the reason their family had fallen apart. After their father's death, their once-successful business collapsed—not because of bad luck, but because of his brother's reckless decisions.

He wasted years gambling, chasing women, and throwing away their money until nothing was left.

Even now, he hadn't changed. Drowning in debt, he resorted to illegal dealings just to survive.

The fat man wiped his tears, but the sadness in his eyes started to fade. A new feeling took its place—one colder, sharper.

Was this really what his father wanted? Was suffering really necessary? Or was it just an excuse for people too weak to fight back?

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Academy of Haneulyeon. Every aspirational youngster apparently aspired to attend this alleged peak of status. Those imposing gates and immaculate grounds were more than simply a school entry to the outside world; they were a statement.

The idea that only the elite belonged here and that riches, connections, and the influence of a last name were more important indicators of success than intelligence made it impossible for ordinary individuals to enter Haneulyeon.

If the tuition costs weren't enough to devastate a family's finances, the intense competition for admittance would. At least that's what they wanted everyone to think: only the most intelligent and well-prepared kids had a chance. The majority of the talking was actually done by money. I understood better than anybody that if you had enough of it, doors that were locked to others would magically open for you.

My father had made sure I was admitted to Haneulyeon, not because I was a genius or prodigy, but because he had the funds to do it. Seeing me in this academy with the kids of CEOs, politicians, and business tycoons was more his fantasy than mine. And I could act like I belonged for a time. I had the name and the way of life—until I didn't. After my father died, everything fell apart. Overnight, the reputation, the wealth, and the security vanished.

The family business collapsed, and all of a sudden I was just another student in a school where money was important, and I had none. I was remembered for being a fool, while others were praised for their intelligence.

The student who found it difficult to keep up in class, whose every error was met with laughter. I was the joke, the one that people muttered about, the one that teachers hardly tolerated—not the genius who was bound for greatness or the prodigy who aced examinations. I didn't belong here—possibly I never did.

Everything I said, did, and even just existed in Haneulyeon felt like an accident. However, I refused to silently vanish even though I was at the bottom, surrounded by people who thought I was nothing. At the very least, I still had myself even if I had nothing left.

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"Hufff, hufffffff, hufffff"

Running fast, Amir's heavy frame shook with every step, his legs struggling to keep up.

"F*ckkk"

He turned the corner of the school building, frantically searching for a hiding spot. Behind him, the bullies were gaining.

"Amir!" one of them yelled, laughing.

"You better slow down, you look like a running piggy bank!"

The group erupted in laughter, their voices echoing through the empty hallway.

Gasping for air, Amir spotted a pile of garbage bags near the back of the building.

Without a second thought, he threw himself into the trash, pulling the bags over his body, trying to disappear within the filth.

His heart pounded against his ribs as he forced himself to stay still, barely breathing.

The sound of footsteps grew louder. One of the bullies had wandered dangerously close.

Amir clenched his fists, trying not to tremble. If they find me, it's over…

The bully stood just inches away. Amir shut his eyes tight, praying that he would leave.

"Ohh god save me from this fucking nightmare"

And for a moment, it seemed like luck was on his side—the footsteps began to fade, the bully turning away.

But then, disaster struck.

A loud, unmistakable fart escaped from Amir's trembling body.

Silence.

Then—

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Found yaaaaaaa!" The bully's voice rang through the air. "What was that noise? Did you just poop your pants?!"

The rest of the group rushed over, their laughter filling the space like a cruel chorus.

Amir barely had time to react before the first punch landed. Then another. And another.

"Arghhhhh, plssss stop"

"Please I'm begging you stop"

He curled up on the ground as fists and kicks rained down on him. The garbage bags ripped apart, scattering trash everywhere, but the real filth was in the people standing over him.

By the time they were done, he was left lying there, battered and broken. His body ached, his face was swollen, and his vision blurred with tears.

He wanted to scream, to call for help—but what was the point? No one would listen. If he told the teachers, the bullies would only make things worse.

This wasn't bullying, this was torture.

Alone, humiliated, and hopeless, Amir could do nothing but cry.

After the beating, Amir stumbled into the school bathroom.

He locked himself in a stall, trying to clean himself up as best as he could. The routine was becoming all too familiar.

Always bringing an extra uniform, always knowing the pain would come—it was a part of his life now.

His skin stung as he wiped away the blood and dirt, but it was nothing compared to what he endured every day.

Once he was cleaned up, he slipped into a fresh uniform and dragged himself back to class, as if nothing had happened.

In the classroom, Amir sat at his desk, his mind far from the lesson. The words the teacher spoke felt like they were bouncing off of him, never sticking.

He had trouble grasping the material, and even if he managed to understand something, it was quickly forgotten.

He was an idiot, or so he thought, but it didn't matter. The bullying was always a constant—he'd never truly be able to escape the cycle.

But there was one person who made it slightly more bearable: Kim Seojin.

She was everything Amir was not: educated, dedicated, and widely admired. Seojin was at the top of her class, constantly succeeding in all subjects; her genius was evident.

He knew people whispered about their relationship, but he didn't care. Seojin was kind to him, never mocking his lack of intellect.

That small act of kindness meant more than he could express.

After class, Amir and Seojin decided to take a stroll down the dike, away from the noise of the school.

They sat down on the edge, looking out at the sea. Fishermen were scattered along the shore, casting their nets into the water while the waves gently crashed against the rocks.

"So, did they beat you again?" Seojin asked with a soft voice

"Yeah," Amir replied with a bitter laugh,

"I'm kinda used to it by now."

He shrugged, trying to play it off, but the sarcasm in his voice didn't hide the exhaustion.

Seojin reached into her bag and pulled out some cotton and alcohol. Gently, she began cleaning the bruises on Amir's face.

"I know this is random, but do you ever question your existence?" Amir asked.

"Me? Uhh yeah, all the time. Like, why am I here? What's my purpose? But then I remember—I still haven't figured out if cereal is a soup or not HAHAHAHA"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA" amir just laugh off the cringe

"What's existence to you?" she asked

"I don't feel like I exist"

Amir wiped his eyes, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought.

"But you're here, Seojin. You make me feel like I matter, like I actually exist in this world."

Seojin rolled her eyes but smiled lightly, giving his back a playful slap. "You're so cringe, you know that?"

Amir managed a small smile despite himself. Her teasing was the only thing that kept him grounded, reminding him that even though the world seemed hell-bent on breaking him, there was still something worth holding onto.

The moment of quiet calm between Amir and Seojin was shattered when a loud fart escaped from Amir, echoing across the dike.

His face turned red, and he awkwardly shifted in place, clutching his stomach.

Seojin burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. "I know that wasn't just some random noise, Hahahahaha!" she teased, wiping tears from her eyes.

Amir was about to respond when Seojin's phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the screen and let out a small sigh.

"Ah, it's my driver. He's probably here already," she muttered before answering. "Hello? Yeah, I'll be there in a minute."

Amir nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Guess that means you're heading out?"

"Yeah," Seojin said, locking her phone and looking up at him. "But hey, this was fun."

Amir grinned. "Yeah, it was. You heading straight home?"

"Probably. Unless my mom suddenly decides to drag me somewhere," she said with a smirk.

Amir chuckled. "Classic."

Seojin took a step back toward the street. "Alright, I'll see you around. Text me later or something."

"Will do," Amir said, giving her a small wave.

Seojin waved back before heading toward a sleek black luxury car parked by the curb. Amir watched as she opened the door and slipped inside, the tinted windows reflecting the bright afternoon sun. Just before the car pulled away, she turned back, flashing him a warm smile and waving her hand in a playful goodbye.

Amir stood there for a moment, watching as the car disappeared down the road. With a small chuckle, he exhaled and turned to start walking home, already looking forward to their next conversation.

Later that evening, Amir sat in the cramped bathroom, clutching his stomach.

He was struggling again, the pressure building inside him as he sat on the toilet, his body straining with every attempt.

"Fvckk, even pooping is too hard for me," he muttered under his breath.

"Why can't it just go out easily?"

He gritted his teeth and groaned, his body pushing with all the force it could muster. "Aghhh... Arghh!"

But just as the pain and frustration reached their peak, something strange happened.

The green crystal necklace he had worn for years suddenly began to glow. Its eerie green light pulsed brightly, casting a strange glow in the dim bathroom.

Amir froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the necklace, but before he could even touch it, the necklace seemed to jerk from his neck. In a shocking moment of force, the necklace ripped itself free and flew across the room, landing in the corner with a faint clink.

Amir, still in disbelief, reached for his phone, completely forgetting about the struggle of pooping. He quickly began to record, his mind racing with confusion and wonder.

"Is this... actually happening?" he muttered as he filmed the glowing necklace in the corner.

The light continued to pulse, its strange energy filling the room, casting shadows that seemed to shift unnaturally.

And then... something weird happened.