spectrum【fem!reader .lookism】

. ii

"Who's the newcomer?"

"Just someone who wants free sparring privileges."

A few people snickered.

Said newcomer felt a bit irked as they laughed at him. Unlike them, he genuinely wanted to improve his boxing skills. Being allowed to step in the ring whenever he wants to is a must for him.

Which also means he refuses to be beaten by a girl.

He got into a stance even before the match started.

-

"(Y/N)'s back!"

"Hey there, (Y/N)."

"Spar with me."

The (h/c) haired girl only sighed as she reached to her pocket for another lollipop. "Right now?"

"Yeah."

She just got back from the taekwondo gym after they asked for her presence there. Really, when she first applied here, she only wanted to clean the floor and equipment.

She didn't think practicing what she saw when she thought no one was looking would lead to her being made to learn both martial arts.

She also didn't think it would result to her being turned into a sort-of challenge to beat. But she's not complaining as long as she's earning money.

"Guess what," the boxing trainer mentioned next to her, shaking his head in amusement. "The newbie you beat earlier is still here."

"Really?" (Y/N) raised an eyebrow.

"Yep. He's punching the hell out of a bag. I think he's sulking."

Snorting, she said, "These men are always ashamed to lose to a girl."

"That's not true. Everyone here actually feels proud of you everytime."

"These days, yes. But I still remember how much of a sore loser those guys were in the beginning."

"Of course," snorted the trainer. "They've been training for years, after all."

And her lesser year and a half of training beat them.

It wasn't that she was a prodigy at martial arts.

It was just that she works twice as hard as those guys, and her effort is amplified by her adaptive nature.

It was easy to read and counteract their actions as soon as she learnt the tells and slight indications leading to it, both in taekwondo and in boxing. She only had to train herself to react fast enough to deal with it.

(It may or may not be one of the reasons some chose to not mess with her in school.)

The people in the gym noticed how she started gathering all her things and packing up. A groan resonated in the room.

"What about my spar?"

"Come here on Saturday," she answered briefly.

"But..."

"You're heading home early?"

"Be careful back, okay?"

She only nodded as she reached for yet another lollipop from inside her bag. (Y/N) bought an entire pack for a reason.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard the voice of the newbie who challenged her earlier that day.

"(Y/N) Park."

The girl paused but did not look.

"I will beat you one day. And I will get my sparring privileges. Just you wait!"

Unable to help herself, (Y/N) snickered loudly.

She raised a hand and said, "Okay then."

She may, or may not have felt like the protagonist when she stepped out of the gym with an awe-inspiring atmosphere around her.

That, as well as the weight of the cash on her pocket, (Y/N) deemed that day a damn good one.

-

"Welcome home, (Y/N)."

"Hi mom," the girl smiled lightly as she skipped her way inside the house. Her mother noted her cheerful expression and felt a bit somber.

Naturally as her daughter, (Y/N) immediately sensed her mood and faltered. Her mind immediately jumped to assume Daniel did something again.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you happy at school?" asked her mom.

A rather unexpected question.

She stopped across from her and sat to the floor as well. The girl dropped the bag from her shoulder and made herself comfortable.

"It's okay."

"You're not being bullied like your brother, are you?"

Ah. It seems she knows about the bullying.

(Y/N) breathes lightly and shook her head. "School is really fine for me, mom. Don't worry."

Just then, the door opened again.

The two simultaneously glanced at the door to see Daniel trying to creep his way inside silently. Except it wouldn't work, not with the two of them waiting next to the front door.

"You're home?"

(Y/N) turned away from her brother as their mom addresses him. Really, every time she sees him, there was only the annoyance from his words last night that echoes in her head.

It didn't take long before he was sitting next to her, a few inches away in case she starts another fight with him.

What their mother said, however, was no forseen.

"Go transfer, you two."

Both heads snapped up to look at the middle-aged woman, who remains calm as she speaks her next words.

"I haven't taken good enough care of you...And I can't come because of work."

"That's not true!" (Y/N) immediately protested. "Mom has done so much already, what are you saying?"

From beside her, Daniel watched with mild surprise. He knew that his adoptive sister treasured their mom so much, but it wasn't everyday that he sees her expression out of the usual scowl she directs towards him.

"(Y/N) is too sweet," the woman sighed. "But don't worry, okay? I'm sure you two will be fine by yourselves. Look after each other and study well. Especially you, Daniel. You're the older one."

The two siblings looked down, unable to meet each other's eye. With the animosity the held towards each other, how were they supposed to get along as their mom asks them to?

"I'll take care of your expenses. Just trust me and go."

It was the sound of Daniel's wailing that filled the air that night.

(Y/N) pursed her lips and kept her head down, willing herself to not start crying. Suddenly, the money she's earned that day just felt a bit heavier than what she had grown comfortable with.

She really hates running away.

--

Unedited.

I cannot write fight scenes to save my life...so why am I writing a fic about highschool boys that does nothing but fight?