What It Takes (Inspired by BAP' One Shot MV)
Prologue
South Korea, Location: MansionHim-chan Kim lingered in the opulent hallway. He was only ten but he knew a significant conversation when he heard one. Never mind that he was not supposed to be listening to this talk in particular; that was why he was crouched in an alcove just beside the parlor door, after all.
That man was here, again. The one who took him away from the orphanage when Him-chan was barely six. Although that lonely place his parents had left him at was nowhere he’d willing return, Him-chan still wanted to know what exactly the man wanted from him.
Every day, Him-chan woke up, put on expensively made clothes, ate a finely cooked breakfast, and then met with distinguished-looking tutors. The schoolwork was simple at first, then increased in intensity. Luckily, Him-chan liked learning. Math and reading were normal enough. Even having all his needs carefully attended to as if money were no issue could be explained. It was when he had turned eight that he realized he was being groomed for something.
For the past two years, after every morning spent on books, Him-chan was led to the dojo. There, under careful, but relentless, supervision from his sensei, he practiced Tae-Kwon Do all afternoon.
Him-chan smiled ruefully, and glanced over at the other shadow across the door, who was also eavesdropping. The other girl had arrived at the mansion six months into Him-chan’s new physical regimen, and had quickly dubbed the renowned martial art as “How to Kick Ass.”
Their teacher had lectured her for an hour after he heard her, telling her how her lack of respect for the art would ruin her discipline and undermine all his hard work. The older girl had listened diligently, but rolled her eyes good-naturedly at Him-chan once Sensei looked away.
Noona had since been a bright, jovial light in Him-chan’s world. A mischievous one, if anything, but at the moment her face was solemn.
“T.S. brought in another boy,” she suddenly whispered.
“T.S.? That’s his name?” Him-chan replied in the same hushed voice. Strange. The man had never told him that, even if he had sort of adopted him.
“Well?” she continued, “What are they talking about?”
Him-chan turned back to the door. Through the sliver of light beyond, he spied T.S. and Jun-ho, the mansion’s manager, talking. Him-chan focused on T.S.’s lips.
“This one’s special,” Him-chan voiced, “T.S. looks serious. He’s saying…” he paused, squinting, “he says that something happened to this boy’s mother. She didn’t give him away. She died. So T.S. took him here to live here now, and train with us.”
The girl frowned.
“Do you know what they’re talking about, Noona?” Him-chan inquired. She kept silent.
The voices suddenly drew closer. Him-chan quickly backed up behind a large vase, but his companion did not move.
Jun-ho opened the door. T.S. followed, pulling a cigarette out of his tailored suit pocket. He stopped short of lighting it when he caught sight of Noona standing in the hall. She fixed him with a stare.
“T.S.” she said, “May I speak with you?”
T.S. raised his eyebrows, “About what, now?” a warm smile crossed his face, “You look very well by the way. Much better than the last time I saw you.”
“Thanks to you,” the eleven-year-old answered, “And I don’t want to complain or anything…I just want to talk to you about the boy you just brought in. ”
T.S. gave her a long look. Then he nodded and turned back towards the parlor, motioning for her to come with him.
“Jun-ho, bring us some hot tea,” T.S. ordered. Jun-ho bowed and left.
Him-chan remained still, and pressed his ear to the door.
After that night, Noona left with T.S.
Him-chan saw her now and again, but she no longer resided at the mansion with him. Instead, the boy, whose name was Yong-guk, eventually joined him in his studies, proving to be quite intelligent.
At first, Yong-guk was taciturn at best, and Him-chan could not blame him. Him-chan never had a mother, but if he had, he’d miss her, too, he supposed. Then one day, Him-chan had grown tired of being careful, and simply nailed Yong-guk across the cheek with a right jab during a spar.
Yong-guk had gaped at him, stunned, from the floor. And then he had smiled. Him-chan helped him up, and Yong-guk clasped his hand. They nodded at each other, and moved on.
The two of them became fast friends, after that day, and over the next few years, witnessed their group growing. Four more boys came to live with them at the mansion. There was Dae-hyun, who could get away with anything with his angelic face. Next came Jong-up, who smiled like a toddler, but hit like a bull. Jun-hong, who insisted on being called “Zelo,” hacked the computers on his second day there just to buy himself a new video game, and finally, a teen named Young-jae, who enjoyed being cocky and extremely competitive.
T.S. named them B.A.P. one New Year’s day, and proceeded to explain what exactly they had been trained for all those years. Him-chan’s theories over time were confirmed.
They were now a mafia lord’s specialized hit squad.
That man was here, again. The one who took him away from the orphanage when Him-chan was barely six. Although that lonely place his parents had left him at was nowhere he’d willing return, Him-chan still wanted to know what exactly the man wanted from him.
Every day, Him-chan woke up, put on expensively made clothes, ate a finely cooked breakfast, and then met with distinguished-looking tutors. The schoolwork was simple at first, then increased in intensity. Luckily, Him-chan liked learning. Math and reading were normal enough. Even having all his needs carefully attended to as if money were no issue could be explained. It was when he had turned eight that he realized he was being groomed for something.
For the past two years, after every morning spent on books, Him-chan was led to the dojo. There, under careful, but relentless, supervision from his sensei, he practiced Tae-Kwon Do all afternoon.
Him-chan smiled ruefully, and glanced over at the other shadow across the door, who was also eavesdropping. The other girl had arrived at the mansion six months into Him-chan’s new physical regimen, and had quickly dubbed the renowned martial art as “How to Kick Ass.”
Their teacher had lectured her for an hour after he heard her, telling her how her lack of respect for the art would ruin her discipline and undermine all his hard work. The older girl had listened diligently, but rolled her eyes good-naturedly at Him-chan once Sensei looked away.
Noona had since been a bright, jovial light in Him-chan’s world. A mischievous one, if anything, but at the moment her face was solemn.
“T.S. brought in another boy,” she suddenly whispered.
“T.S.? That’s his name?” Him-chan replied in the same hushed voice. Strange. The man had never told him that, even if he had sort of adopted him.
“Well?” she continued, “What are they talking about?”
Him-chan turned back to the door. Through the sliver of light beyond, he spied T.S. and Jun-ho, the mansion’s manager, talking. Him-chan focused on T.S.’s lips.
“This one’s special,” Him-chan voiced, “T.S. looks serious. He’s saying…” he paused, squinting, “he says that something happened to this boy’s mother. She didn’t give him away. She died. So T.S. took him here to live here now, and train with us.”
The girl frowned.
“Do you know what they’re talking about, Noona?” Him-chan inquired. She kept silent.
The voices suddenly drew closer. Him-chan quickly backed up behind a large vase, but his companion did not move.
Jun-ho opened the door. T.S. followed, pulling a cigarette out of his tailored suit pocket. He stopped short of lighting it when he caught sight of Noona standing in the hall. She fixed him with a stare.
“T.S.” she said, “May I speak with you?”
T.S. raised his eyebrows, “About what, now?” a warm smile crossed his face, “You look very well by the way. Much better than the last time I saw you.”
“Thanks to you,” the eleven-year-old answered, “And I don’t want to complain or anything…I just want to talk to you about the boy you just brought in. ”
T.S. gave her a long look. Then he nodded and turned back towards the parlor, motioning for her to come with him.
“Jun-ho, bring us some hot tea,” T.S. ordered. Jun-ho bowed and left.
Him-chan remained still, and pressed his ear to the door.
After that night, Noona left with T.S.
Him-chan saw her now and again, but she no longer resided at the mansion with him. Instead, the boy, whose name was Yong-guk, eventually joined him in his studies, proving to be quite intelligent.
At first, Yong-guk was taciturn at best, and Him-chan could not blame him. Him-chan never had a mother, but if he had, he’d miss her, too, he supposed. Then one day, Him-chan had grown tired of being careful, and simply nailed Yong-guk across the cheek with a right jab during a spar.
Yong-guk had gaped at him, stunned, from the floor. And then he had smiled. Him-chan helped him up, and Yong-guk clasped his hand. They nodded at each other, and moved on.
The two of them became fast friends, after that day, and over the next few years, witnessed their group growing. Four more boys came to live with them at the mansion. There was Dae-hyun, who could get away with anything with his angelic face. Next came Jong-up, who smiled like a toddler, but hit like a bull. Jun-hong, who insisted on being called “Zelo,” hacked the computers on his second day there just to buy himself a new video game, and finally, a teen named Young-jae, who enjoyed being cocky and extremely competitive.
T.S. named them B.A.P. one New Year’s day, and proceeded to explain what exactly they had been trained for all those years. Him-chan’s theories over time were confirmed.
They were now a mafia lord’s specialized hit squad.