Chapter Text
Chapter 1:
“The crowd is getting wild and impatient already, and the boxers haven’t even entered the arena yet! What an iconic match this is going to be I can feel it already! What do you think Yuna?” Yeojin turned towards her co commentator and best friend.
“People have been placing their bets for a week! The anticipation in the arena is almost palpable right now, it’s not every day you get to see a match between Shin “Cataclysm” Ryujin and Crimson Swan.” The whole arena erupted into a roaring applause upon hearing the name.
“Wow would you look at that Yuna, everyone’s so fired up just upon hearing the name, she’s certainly made a name for herself here.” It was certainly a sight to behold. The entirety of Madam Jung’s club was cheering for their favorite, Crimson Swan, wearing burgundy t shirts and waving around self-made posters.
From her own luxury box above, that was completely enclosed from the public and giving her the best view in the arena, Madam Jung watched curiously how the audience was getting restless by the second. She smirked and then looked at her secretary, curling two fingers as if sending a signal.
The secretary immediately poured her two ounces of the Highland Park 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky and stepped back to her previous position.
“Say, Minji.” Madam Jung started before swirling the whisky in her hands. “How much have we made on today’s match?”
“We have made a total of 44 million won sparing all the expenses and payments to the boxers.”
Madam Jung beamed at her before taking a swig of her whisky. “You know what this means Minji?” The secretary just looked at her, allowing her to continue.
“This is the biggest profit we’ve ever made, the biggest bloody profit the club has ever made, and the bets are only going to increase because we have her.” She pointed at the girl who was now approaching the boxing ring, the cheers became deafening and everyone was chanting just one name.
“Well folks, looks like Crimson Swan is here and she looks ready to kick some butt! Although I wouldn’t suggest her actually doing that literally unless she wants to lose points.” Some of the people gave the commentator good natured laughs.
“Looks like her opponent has just arrived as well, Cataclysm has entered the arena!” Some people cheered for the girl who seemed to pay no mind to them, her gaze was zeroed in on no one but her opponent, the undefeated Crimson Swan.
“This is going to be interesting to watch eh Minji?” Madam Jung said in a low voice receiving a nod in return.
“Alright looks like both the boxers are in the ring, this is it!” Yeojin looked over at the crowd of people who were going insane.
Cataclysm sneered, “Well well well, Crimson Swan, you’re really the talk of the town around here aren’t you?” She was confident, and expected to make a name for herself after defeating Crimson Swan, who just looked at her, uninterestedly.
Countless people had tried before, professional boxers, those who had been practicing for years, all of them challenged the 22-year-old girl, in hopes of increasing their commissions or just to add laurels to their name. Shin Ryujin was one of those people, who trained vigorously just for this day. When she challenged Crimson Swan a month ago in front of everyone, she knew what she was getting herself into, and nothing was going to stop her from winning tonight.
“Well I wish I could say the same for you, Cataclysm was it?” She said in a breezy tone.
“You really like pissing people off, don’t you?” Her cut woman and good friend known by the name of Raging Lupus chuckled and shook her head.
“It’s amusing to me.” She stared at her opponent with a calm smile who was now fuming.
“Going to end this soon, time me, will you?” Raging Lupus gave her a funny look before taking out her stopwatch.
“You think you’re such a hotshot huh, I’m going to make you eat your words.” Cataclysm was staring at her with fury in her eyes.
“I’d like to see you try.” Both the opponents wore their mouth guards and went over to the middle of the ring.
“Alright guys, looks like the action is about to begin, how is everyone feeling!” Yuna yelled and was met with an even louder crowd.
“Crimson Swan, make her eat your dust.” A high-pitched voice was audible over the others and Crimson Swan knew just who it belonged to.
“Kim Jiwoo again.” She muttered under her breath, the sprightly girl just kept yelling and cheering for her favorite. “I love you Crimson Swan!”
“Great, just great.” The 22-year-old rolled her eyes and turned to look at the girl, offering her a forced smile earning a shriek in return.
The referee gave the indication that the match has started. Both the boxers were testing each other out with jabs and blocks. Cataclysm was looking for an opening to be able to assert dominance and land a good blow on her opponent who seemed to be much calmer and in control, studying her opponent’s every move.
Cataclysm found an opening and soon moved into the combination of a jab cross, trying to assert her dominance and make her opponent wary. She kept punching and aimed for the ribs; it was perfectly timed yet her opponent’s reflexes were not to be underestimated. She moved away just in time to avoid what would’ve been a really good blow. “Not too shabby,” Crimson Swan thought, “Not good enough either.”
Cataclysm was shocked, she immediately moved into defense, parrying and ducking the punches thrown at her. She had a weak defense, and was barely able to dodge her opponent’s blows.
That alone was going to be too costly a price to bear for the younger girl.
From her box above, Madam Jung was watching the match with utmost curiosity, a vicious sneer making it’s way towards her lips. She knew she had won the lottery when Crimson Swan decided to fight for her club, it made her almost yelp in delight.
“Mother, what is the meaning of this!?” Madam Jung’s train of thought was interrupted by her one and only daughter, Jinsol, who was looking at her with a frown on her face.”
“What is it Jinsol, can’t you see I’m busy?” She looked at her daughter uninterestedly and almost impatiently.
“How are you so calm, how can you just, fix my engagement with some guy I don’t even know?” Jinsol was fuming, it took every thing in her to not burst into flames right then and there.
Madam Jung’s expression staled, “I don’t see the issue here, Ye Jun is a fine young man, I’ve met him myself, twice.”
“Every bit of that sentence is so wrong mother.”
“Simmer down, it’s for the best, I know what I’m doing.” She turned away to watch the rest of the match, expecting her daughter to leave.
“I don’t care what you think, I’m not marrying Ye Jun!” Upon hearing that, Madam Jung tightened her grip on the glass and smacked it on the table, hard.
“You don’t decide your fate here young lady, if I said you’re marrying him, then you very well will.” She looked into her daughter’s eyes directly, who was now on the verge of tears.
“I won’t!” Her voice broke, this was Jinsol’s worst nightmare, she was familiar with the brash coldness of her own mother who had never treated her lovingly or spent time trying to learn about her daughter’s interests, since her childhood. Her mother had always been busy with her business, not to mention the underground boxing club that she had opened to earn more revenue by the prospect of wealthy betters, she had never seen Jinsol for who she is or rather, never made an effort to do so. Everything was taken care of by Minji, her mother’s secretary, who used to provide her with the love and nourishment of a mother in her early years, but then Minji got married to Yoohyeon and adopted a kid of her own, thus not able to spend any more time with her.
She was alone, so alone. Being filthy rich meant nothing to her, the only thing she craved was warmth, she wanted to get noticed by the people around her for who she really is. Madam Jung had wanted her daughter to get home-schooled, hired the best tutors in Seoul for her, but she didn’t want that. She wanted to go to a normal school and make normal friends, with whom she would’ve felt like she belonged somewhere, and that people really do care for her and don’t interact with her just because of her being a rich kid.
She never understood the concept of family and how it was portrayed in rom coms. It seemed, unrealistic to her, a forced notion not holding any sentimental value to her at all. Her own mother, only hung out with her when there was a photographer present. She used to hold her close, a hand on her shoulder and even if it was just for a brief moment, it used to remind Jinsol of everything she didn’t have, and might as well never have.
The pain was unparalleled.
Now her mother wanted her to marry some rich snob who probably wouldn’t ever be interested in knowing her preferences, the story of how she got her pet fish, ‘Betta’, what kind of music makes her cry and her idea of a perfect life, which only needed one thing.
Love.
“Mother, why don’t you understand, I don’t want to get married to him.” She was sobbing, eyes red and mind numb.
“Listen to me you little brat.” Madam Jung held Jinsol by the chin. “I don’t give a damn about what you want or not. Ye Jun’s father is an influential man, doing quite well for himself in the business world, do you even have an idea what it could mean for the Jung family business? Our joint ventures will almost double our profits, more than we get from the underground league! It’s going to expand the Jung family business and our watches would be famous worldwide, and your life would be secured!”
Jinsol removed her mother’s hand from her chin, taking in a shaky breath. “No.” She paused. “Your life might become secured after that, but mine would fall apart and you know that.” Her voice was barely a whisper, and her mother was giving her a disappointed look.
“I can’t believe you would actually consider marrying me off for money, do you not have a heart!” She was yelling, tears flowing down her face like waterfalls. “You’ve never cared for what I want, you only do what you want, you’re just a selfish bit- “
Smack.
The voice ringed through Jinsol’s ears, she felt her face heating up at the impact. Her mother was giving her a death glare. “You have no right to speak to me that way young lady.” She said in a slow and piercing voice. “You’ve been nothing but a nuisance to me, you have not contributed anything to our family business because of course,” She gestured around with her hands. “I have already provided you with everything and you still complain and speak to me this way.”
“You have not earned a single penny ever, you’re living on the money I earned, with my hardwork and dedication, something you haven’t an idea about. All day you keep playing with that stupid fish of yours like you’re still 7. You have no right to be ungrateful, this is the least you can do for me after the years I’ve invested in you, do you understand?!”
Jinsol felt her ears ringing and her head spinning, this was all too much. Too much for her to take in all at once. She felt devastated, like something was clawing on her throat making it unable to speak. After a long, painful moment finally, she somehow regained her voice.
“I am not worthless, I can work hard as well, you know nothing about me.”
Her mother snickered, “Oh yeah, can you now tough girl.”
“Doubt me as much as you want but I can prove myself to you and I won’t marry Ye Jun.” Madam Jung’s face soured.
“You know what, you’re being awfully confident about this so here’s the deal.” She pointed towards the boxing ring. “If you manage to win against three of the ‘Top 4’, I’ll believe you, but until then, this wedding is happening and not even god can stop it!” She hissed and then looked over at Jinsol whose eyes flickered between her and the boxers before finally, training her eyes on the two boxers.
“This match is getting more and more interesting, Cataclysm hasn’t been able to score a single blow on her opponent, and is barely fending off her attacks, Crimson Swan really is giving her a run for her money.”
Both the opponents were eyeing each other, moving in and out. “It’s time to finish this.” Crimson Swan thought and then moved in a close range of her opponent who barely recoiled her previous jab. She steadied herself and then with extreme expertise, landed a lead hook on her opponent’s chin.
Cataclysm fell to the floor, mouth full of blood. The referee didn’t need to do an eight count, everyone in the arena knew she isn’t getting back up.
“Crimson Swan has just landed a striking lead hook to Cataclysm’s chin, knocking her out in round 1 itself, what a sight to behold!” The arena went crazy, chanting her name like an anthem, when the referee lifted Crimson Swan’s hand up, the chanting only got louder. Everyone was stunned. She made her way over to her friend.
“Crimson Swan you’re the best, you’re perfect!” Jiwoo was waving around a poster full of her pictures and clapping.
“Well what do you know, one minute six seconds, a new personal record.”
“Ah wanted to finish it under a minute.” She said while taking off her gloves.
“You, I really hate you sometimes Sooyoung.” Her friend said, in between laughs while shaking her head.
“You and I both know you’re lying, Hyejoo.” She said before taking a sip out of her water bottle.
From above, Jinsol was watching her with mixed emotions running through her head. She was completely baffled after briefly watching the talented woman box but she also, felt scared to face her.
As if reading her expressions, Madam Jung spoke in a low tone. “Don’t worry, you don’t need to fight her, she’s unbeatable and almost all the boxers have accepted that except a few like Shin Ryujin over there, and look at her state now.” A million thoughts were racing through Jinsol’s head.
“I doubt you’d even be able to defeat a novice so, this is solely for my entertainment, maybe getting knocked out will knock some sense into that privileged head of yours.” But Jinsol wasn’t listening, her eyes still stuck on the woman who made a whole crowd howl out her name and won the match without so much as breaking a sweat or getting a scar.
“Crimson Swan.”