Pulse:vicious cycle

Jin sat on the rooftop of his small apartment until the cold seeped into his bones, yet he barely noticed it. The weight of his thoughts was far heavier than the biting chill. He gazed at the stars, scattered across the night sky like shattered fragments of light—a stark contrast to the darkness he felt inside.

The faint hum of the city below was distant, muffled by his own pounding heartbeat. He replayed Haruki's mocking laughter in his mind, the look on Yumi's face when she cleaned his wounds, and the suffocating shame of knowing he couldn't do anything about it.

The thought terrified him. Not for himself, but for Yumi. Her sacrifices, her relentless efforts to shield him from the world it was all too much for her to bear alone. She deserved better. She deserved a brother who could stand tall, who could protect her the way she had always protected him.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the rooftop, rustling Jin's hair and pulling him out of his thoughts. His eyes locked on the horizon, where the faint glow of the city lights met the darkness of the night.

"I don't know how," Jin whispered, "but I'll find a way."

The next day, Jin walked through the school gates with his head held slightly higher. The weight of fear and humiliation still clung to him, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. It wasn't confidence no, he was far from that but it was resolve.

The whispers followed him as usual, sharp and cruel, but he tuned them out. He ignored the trash in his locker, the graffiti on his desk, and the snickers of his classmates. Haruki and his gang, lounging near the back of the classroom, noticed the change immediately.

"What's with him?" Riku muttered to Haruki. "He's walking like he's got a backbone all of a sudden."

Haruki smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Doesn't matter. We'll break him down again. Just watch."

Jin's day passed in a blur of jeers and taunts, but he kept his focus. He paid attention in class, took meticulous notes, and even stayed late in the library to study. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

That evening, as Jin returned home, Yumi was waiting for him with dinner. She raised an eyebrow as he placed his bag on the table and sat down.

"You're late," she said. "What were you doing?"

"Studying," Jin replied simply, picking up his chopsticks.

Yumi blinked, taken aback. "Studying? Since when do you—"

"I've been thinking," Jin interrupted, his tone serious. "when will you resume school too"

Yumi stared at him, her expression softening. "Jin.... I'll go to school after we clear all the debts our parents left behind."

" I'll also look for a pert time job so I can assist u and I can go to school"

"Don't worry" yumi said

Jin shook his head. "I appreciate that, but I can't keep relying on you to pick up the pieces. I need to stand on my own."

For the first time in a long time, Yumi saw something different in Jin's eyes—a glimmer of hope, of determination. She smiled, her heart swelling with pride.

"Alright," she said. "If that's what you want, u can support. But promise me one thing."

"What?"

remember who you are. You're kind, know matter what they do to you Jin. Don't let them take that away from you."

Jin nodded. "alrighty"

I am going to sleep

The hallways were dim as the sun began to rise, the school almost empty. Jin finishing up in the library. His bag hung heavy on his shoulder as he trudged down the corridor, exhaustion weighing him down. He didn't notice the footsteps trailing behind him until it was too late.

"Hey, Jin," Haruki's voice echoed from behind, cold and sharp.

Jin stopped, his shoulders stiffening. He turned slowly to see Haruki and his gang—Riku, Daichi, and two others—spreading out, blocking the hallway.

"I heard you've been acting tough lately," Haruki sneered, stepping forward. "Talking back. Standing up. Like you think you're better than us."

"I'm not looking for trouble," Jin said, his voice calm but firm."can't you just leave me alone."

Haruki chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the empty hallway."leave you alone". You've got a lot to answer for."

Before Jin could respond, Haruki lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him into the lockers. The metal rattled loudly, and pain shot through Jin's back.

"You think you're some kind of big deal now?" Haruki spat, his face inches from Jin's. "You're nothing but a punching bag."

Jin shoved Haruki off with all his strength, but it wasn't enough. The others closed in, their expressions cruel and mocking.

"Hold him down," Haruki ordered, and Riku and Daichi grabbed Jin's arms, forcing him to his knees. Jin thrashed against them, but they were too strong, too many.

Haruki's fist connected with Jin's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. A second blow struck his face, splitting his lip and sending blood dripping down his chin. The pain was sharp and relentless, but Jin refused to cry out.

"You think staying quiet makes you tough?" Haruki taunted, landing another punch to Jin's side. "Say something, loser!"

Jin gasped, his vision swimming from the force of the hits. His body screamed at him to fight back, but he was overwhelmed, outnumbered. A kick to his ribs sent him sprawling onto the floor, his bag falling beside him.

"Pathetic," Riku said, kicking Jin in the side again. "This is what happens when you don't know your place."

Jin coughed, blood splattering onto the floor as he tried to push himself up. His arms trembled, barely able to support his weight.

"That's enough," one of the others muttered, glancing around nervously. "We'll get in trouble if someone sees us."

Haruki smirked, crouching down next to Jin. "Trouble? No one cares about this trash. Isn't that right, Jin? No one's coming to save you."

Jin glared up at him, his face bloodied and bruised. "You're wrong," he muttered, his voice hoarse but steady.

"What was that?" Haruki asked, leaning closer.

"I said… you're wrong," Jin repeated, his eyes burning with defiance. "I don't need anyone to save me."

Haruki's smirk faltered, and for a split second, there was something resembling unease in his eyes. But it was gone just as quickly.

"Still mouthing off, huh?" Haruki sneered, standing up. "Have it your way."

He motioned for the others to follow, and they walked away, their laughter echoing down the hallway. Jin lay on the cold, hard floor, his body battered and broken. Every breath was a struggle, every movement agony, but he refused to let the pain consume him. He made his way to the infirmary

By the time Jin limped home, the sky was dark, and the streets were quiet. His hand trembled as he pressed the code to the lock. When he stepped inside, Yumi was waiting for him, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of him.

"Jin!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

"It doesn't matter," Jin mumbled, brushing past her and collapsing onto the couch.

"It does matter!" Yumi snapped, grabbing his arm. "Look at you! You're a mess! I can't just stand by and—"

"I said it doesn't matter!" Jin shouted, his voice cracking. The room fell silent, his words hanging heavy in the air.

Yumi's expression softened, and she knelt beside him, her hands hovering uncertainly over his bruised face. "Jin… why won't you let me help you?"

"Because you can't," Jin said quietly, his voice trembling. "No one can.

Yumi's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't argue. Instead, she grabbed the first aid kit and began cleaning his wounds in silence.

As she worked, Jin stared at the ceiling, his jaw clenched. The pain was unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the humiliation, the anger boiling inside him.

He had hit rock bottom, but something within him refused to break. The spark of determination that had ignited on the rooftop burned brighter now, fueled by his suffering.

That night, as Yumi slept in the room next to him, Jin sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his battered reflection in the mirror. His bruises, his cuts they were reminders of his weakness, but they were also a call to action.

For the first time in a long time, Jin felt a glimmer of hope. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him going.