Chapter 13: chapter 12
The air was thick with tension as Kai and Vin Jin squared off. Kai's stance was low, knees bent in a classic wrestling posture, every muscle primed for the fight. Vin Jin, however, stood tall with his arms crossed. His sunglasses shielded his unique, unsettling eyes—eyes that had always been a point of pride... and a source of insecurity.
Kai noticed the sunglasses immediately. It was the perfect target.
Kai: "So, you hide behind those shades? What's wrong? You got something to hide?"
Vin's expression soured, his jaw tightening as his fingers instinctively twitched towards his sunglasses.
Vin Jin: "Shut up, Kai. Just because you can't handle a real fight doesn't mean you have to be a damn coward."
Kai laughed. His words were dripping with mockery.
Kai: "Coward? Nah, I'm just wondering what kind of freaky eyes you're hiding under those glasses. Got a couple of extra pupils or something? Maybe a third one for your 'mysterious vibe'?"
Vin felt his irritation grow. Kai knew exactly what he was doing—pushing every button. But the thing was, Vin wasn't entirely wrong to keep his eyes hidden. His condition was nothing like anything most people had ever seen.
Vin Jin: "Keep talking, Kai. I dare you."
Kai, sensing the weakness in Vin's demeanor, pressed on.
Kai: "I bet your eyes look like something out of a monster movie. Two pupils in one eye? What, are you trying to look like a freak on purpose?"
Vin could feel the heat rising in his chest, but the words dug deeper than they should have. It wasn't just about his appearance—it was about control, about hiding something so personal, something he hadn't shared with anyone. But Kai wouldn't stop.
Kai: "You know, I think you're trying to scare people. But really, those eyes... they're just a joke. I can't even look at you without thinking you're just trying too hard. If you've got some superpower in those freaky things, it's a damn waste."
Something inside Vin snapped. The anger he'd held back for so long boiled over.
In a flash, Vin grabbed the sides of his sunglasses and threw them to the side. The glasses hit the ground with a sharp clink, but it was nothing compared to the raw fury in his eyes.
What Kai had said, it didn't just hit his pride—it hit his soul. He had spent years hiding those eyes, keeping them under wraps so no one would judge him for his condition. But now, here he was, the one person who had the audacity to mock them.
Kai stopped, staring for a moment, his grin faltering. He hadn't expected this. Vin's eyes weren't just unsettling—they were intense, with multiple pupils stacked in each eye, as though there was something… otherworldly about him.
But instead of showing fear, Kai smirked.
Kai: "Oh, so this is the freak show. Look at you... What, are you some kind of freaky science experiment? Those eyes... it's like you're trying to hypnotize me or something. No wonder you've been hiding them."
Vin's hand tightened into a fist. His rage intensified, the insult cutting deeper than any physical strike could.
Vin Jin: "You don't know anything, Kai. You're just a little punk who thinks he can get under my skin. I'm gonna make you regret that."
Kai, sensing he'd pushed too far, tried to backpedal. But the damage was already done. He hadn't expected the eruption of emotion he was now facing. The fight had become personal, and there was no going back.
Kai: "Oh, come on, don't get all mad. I was just having a bit of fun. You look like some... walking lab experiment, that's all."
Vin's lips curled into a twisted smile, and he stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Kai's. He wasn't going to let Kai get away with this.
Vin Jin: "I'm done with talking. Time to show you just how much a joke you really are."
With incredible speed, Vin lunged at Kai. His hands shot forward, grabbing Kai's wrists with a vicious Judo throw that slammed Kai into the ground. Kai grunted, but his grin never left his face. This was what he had been waiting for.
Kai: "There it is! Now we're talking! Let's see if those eyes can keep up!"
Despite the overwhelming anger building in him, Vin felt a strange satisfaction. His eyes were more than just a weakness. They were part of him—something no one, especially not someone like Kai, could take away.
And so, the battle continued, a clash of wills as Kai wrestled with everything he had, and Vin unleashed the full extent of his martial prowess, driven by the rage and humiliation Kai had ignited. But one thing was certain—the fight had only just begun, and neither of them was going to back down.