Linda left and headed toward Mr. Kwon's office. She raised her hand to knock, but before her knuckles touched the door, his deep voice came from inside.
"Come in."
It was as if he had already sensed her presence.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Good morning, sir," she greeted respectfully.
"Linda… Linda Harrison."
The way he said her name made her pause. It felt strange, unsettling. No one had ever addressed her like that before. She had always been Linda Lee.
Hearing her master call her by her real name made her feel exposed, as if a part of her she wasn't used to acknowledging had suddenly been brought into the open.
"Your father must have told you that your biological father and I were good friends in school," Mr. Kwon said, his tone softer than she had ever heard from him.
"Yes, sir," Linda answered quietly.
"Your father was a good man," he continued. "What his brother did to him was inhuman."
Linda's hands clenched slightly at her sides.
"Linda," he went on, his voice turning serious, "you are a threat to your uncle. He will not stop until every obstacle in his path is removed."
Her chest tightened.
"You are not safe," Mr. Kwon said calmly. "I cannot protect you. But I can prepare you for the worst."
Linda swallowed hard.
Follow me he said, almost a command. Linda followed him to a quiet corner of the gym, her curiosity piqued.
"I've been watching you for a while now," he revealed, his eyes piercing. "And I must admit, I underestimated you. You're more than just a talented karate student; you have a natural flair for combat."
Linda's eyes widened, unsure how to respond this time. "Thank you, sir. That means a lot coming from you."
Mr. Kwon's gaze intensified. "If you're willing to push yourself more than karate in other to defeat your uncle and protect yourself, I can teach you more. Much more."
Linda's confusion deepened. "What do you mean, sir?"
He smiled, a hint of excitement in his voice. "You have the energy and passion needed to learn more than just karate. I've been training in this school for years, and I know a hidden potential when I see one. Follow me."
Linda hesitated, unsure what to expect, but Mr. Kwon's enthusiasm was infectious. She trailed behind him as he led her to a door she had never noticed before. It was tucked away in a corner of the gym, and she had never thought much of it.
Mr. Kwon produced a master key and unlocked the door, revealing a dusty exercise room. The room was dimly lit, and the air was thick with dust. Linda's eyes adjusted slowly, and she saw old exercise equipment scattered around the room.
"This is just a cover," Mr. Kwon said, walking to the wall and placing his hand on a hidden panel. A scanner flashed, and a hidden door swung open.
Linda's eyes widened as she stepped inside. Mr. Kwon pressed a button. The room lit up, revealing a state-of-the-art training facility. There were gun shooting ranges, archery stations, and equipment for wall climbing and other specialized skills. The room was vast, with high ceilings and a polished floor.
"Welcome to the real training ground," Mr. Kwon said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This place was once used to train special students, but it was shut down after an accident. I've kept it a secret all these years, but I believe you're ready to learn what I have to offer."
Linda's mind reeled as she looked around the room. She saw targets set up for gun shooting and archery equipment that looked advanced. There were also climbing walls and obstacle courses.
"You attended this school?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Kwon nodded. "Yes, I did. And I was trained in this very room. This place was set up to train students who would be enrolling into the military academy."
"Now, I'm offering you the same opportunity. But it has to be a secret between us. Can you keep that promise?" He asked staring at her.
Linda's heart pounded as she considered the offer. Mr. Kwon continued, "You once said my kung fu club was too big for you, but the truth is, it's too small for you. You have potential that goes beyond what I can teach you in the club. Will you learn from me, secretly, every Saturday?"
Linda's eyes locked onto Mr. Kwon's, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper, tears flow down her cheeks. "Yes, sir. I'll do it."
Mr. Kwon smiled, a sense of satisfaction on his face. "I knew you'd be interested. Let's get started, tomorrow, shall we?"
Linda nodded, her heart racing with excitement. She had no idea what lay ahead, but she was ready to take the leap.
----
By the time Linda came out of the training grounds, evening had already settled in. Alex and Ha Rin were waiting for her at their usual spot.
"Did Linda tell you what happened between her and William at the party?" Alex asked quietly.
"No," Ha Rin shook her head. "She said she doesn't want to talk about it, so I let her be. I don't even think she knows who Williams really is."
Just then, Linda walked out to meet them.
"Linda!" Ha Rin jumped up. "We've been looking for you. Let's go home."
Linda went to get her bike.
Linda was about to climb onto her bike when Ji Hoon called out to her. She turned around and saw him standing a short distance away.
With a few long steps, he closed the gap between them. He took longer than necessary, he said, his eyes lingering on her, studying her with open suspicion.
"Yeah… I think so," Linda murmured.
"Hope there's no problem?" Ji Hoon asked, searching her eyes.
"No," Linda replied calmly. "Just a few words of advice."
"Really?" he asked, clearly unconvinced.
"Mr. Kwon hardly ever gives advice. He usually doesn't have the time. He treats you differently."
"Not really," Linda said quickly. "He just happens to be my dad's classmate. That's all."
At that moment, Ha Rin called.
"Linda!" Ha Rin waved from the car.
"Oh.... I have to go," Linda said.
With that, she mounted her bike and rode off, following their car out of the school grounds.