❛FLIPPING THE SCRIPT❜

"Hey, Yoon-ah, wait up!" A voice called out.

Turning swiftly in the hallway, Yoon-ah raised a brow, spotting Miguel and Demetri hurrying over toward her. Both clutched the straps of their school bags as if they'd been jogging through the crowded corridor.

"Please convince Demetri to keep going to Cobra Kai—I mean, you enjoyed it, right?" Miguel asked, slightly out of breath.

Yoon-ah shrugged, glancing off to the side.

"See? It's not that great," Demetri said, tilting his head triumphantly.

"Yeah, but you can't quit," Miguel argued.

"I got yelled at, got my ass kicked, and then I gave him my money. You know who lives like that? Hookers," Demetri deadpanned.

Miguel groaned. "He's not that bad of a guy. You gotta give him a chance. You don't know him like I do."

"That's... that's hooker talk," Demetri retorted, throwing up his hands. "Besides, I don't need to learn karate when I have you. And soon Yoon-ah will be good as well—that's like double bodyguards."

Yoon-ah frowned. "I'm not going to be your bodyguard."

"Wait." Demetri's voice dropped as he nodded toward Kyler, walking through the hallway. Kyler's gaze flicked to Miguel, his bruised face tightening as he turned on his heel and sped down the hall, avoiding eye contact.

"See? No one's gonna mess with you," Demetri added, gesturing toward Kyler's retreating figure with a smirk.

Miguel sighed. "Whatever—hey, Yoon-ah, what's your next class?"

Yoon-ah felt a small smile grace her face. "English," she said.

"Unlucky—we'll catch you later at lunch," Miguel said, patting her shoulder before walking off with Demetri.

Yoon-ah grimaced at the touch, her shoulders stiffening instinctively. Shaking off the unease, she brushed her long, dark hair out of her face and continued down the hall.

The classroom was already filling up by the time she arrived. Sliding into her usual seat near the middle, her gaze drifted across the room. She spotted Xander almost instantly, lounging near the window, a book propped open in his hands. His expression was unreadable, but the slight slump of his shoulders made him look bored.

As if sensing her, he glanced up. The moment their eyes met, a flicker of interest lit his face. A slow, easy grin spread across his lips, and he set the book down.

"Yoon-ah," he called quietly, his voice warm. "Wasn't sure you'd show up."

She blinked, confused. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Thought maybe the rain scared you off permanently," he teased.

She frowned. "The rain?"

"Yeah, yesterday," he said, leaning back in his chair as though the memory amused him. "You know I think I have a cold."

Yoon-ah bit the inside of her cheek, fighting the faintest twitch of a smile. "You didn't have to give me your jacket"

"Nah, I wanted too. I mean I'd way rather be sick than let you be sick"

Yoon-ah stiffened. "I...uh I brought it." She pulled the jacket from her bag and placed it on her desk, not meeting his gaze.

Xander's eyes flicked to the jacket, then back to her. "You can keep it," he said casually. "Looked good on you, anyway."

Her head shot up, a mix of confusion and embarrassment flashing across her face. "I don't need it," she said quickly.

"Maybe not," he replied, his grin unwavering. "But it suits you."

Yoon-ah frowned, unsure how to respond. Her stomach twisted oddly, like something was stirring that she didn't quite recognize—or want to.

The teacher started the lesson, pulling her attention back to the front of the room. But even as the class went on, Xander's presence lingered, like he was in her peripheral vision no matter where she looked.

When the bell finally rang, Yoon-ah gathered her things quickly, hoping to avoid more unnecessary conversation.

But Xander was faster, stepping into her path just as she reached the door. "Hey," he said, his tone light but insistent.

She looked up at him warily. "What?"

"Got plans later?" he asked casually, hands shoved into his pockets.

Yoon-ah narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why?"

"Thought we could hang out," he said, flashing her that same easy grin. "You know, somewhere that isn't a storm or a classroom."

She hesitated, her instinct to keep people at arm's length kicking in. But his expression wasn't pushy—it was open, like he wasn't expecting anything from her other than a yes or no.

"I don't know," she said finally, her voice quieter than before. "I'm... not sure if I can."

"Why not?" he asked, his tone still casual but with a hint of genuine curiosity.

"I just..." She searched for an excuse but couldn't find one that didn't feel hollow. Instead, she shrugged, her gaze dropping to the floor. "It's complicated."

For a moment, Xander simply watched her, then nodded, his smile softening. "Fair enough," he said, stepping back. "No pressure. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Yoon-ah glanced up, startled by his easy acceptance. Before she could say anything, he shot her a final sweet smile and headed down the hall.

Her chest tightened, and she told herself it didn't mean anything. It couldn't. Letting people in only led to hurt. Still, the warmth from his words lingered, no matter how hard she tried to push it away.

After a silent ride to the Cobra Kai dojo, Yoon-ah stood stretching alongside the other students. The room buzzed with the chatter of teenagers warming up, the faint scent of sweat lingering in the air. She focused on her breathing, trying to clear her mind, when one of her fellow students strolled over with a confident grin.

"Hi, I'm Aisha," the girl said, holding out her hand.

Yoon-ah glanced at the extended hand, momentarily caught off guard by the formality. Still, she took it, giving it a polite shake. "Yoon-ah," she replied curtly, her tone soft but not unfriendly.

Aisha grinned wider. "I'm so glad there's another girl here. It was getting kinda boring—and honestly, really smelly."

Yoon-ah allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to tug at her lips. "I can imagine," she said quietly.

As they moved into side stretches, Aisha leaned in slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, what made you join? I mean, most people don't walk through those doors unless they've got a reason."

Yoon-ah hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I just... wanted to learn how to defend myself."

Aisha nodded knowingly. "Good call. Let me tell you, this place? It works. You stick around, and you'll see what I mean."

Yoon-ah tilted her head slightly, intrigued by Aisha's confidence. Before she could respond, Johnny Lawrence strode into the dojo, his commanding presence silencing the chatter almost instantly.

"All right, line up!" he barked, his no-nonsense tone cutting through the air.

Yoon-ah followed Aisha and Miguel to the front, slipping into line as the dojo quieted. The walls around them were covered in motivational posters, faded but still imposing, alongside various martial arts memorabilia that spoke to years of history.

Johnny looked out at the students, his sharp gaze settling on each of them in turn. "Three more absences, Sensei," Miguel said with a sigh, breaking the silence.

"Bunch of pussies!" Aisha muttered under her breath, earning a stifled laugh from Miguel.

"No, it's my fault," Johnny said, his tone softer now. He paced slowly in front of the students, his voice taking on a raw, honest edge. "Since you've joined Cobra Kai, I've been hard on you. I've called you names, humiliated you. Some of you, I've even hit. And for that, I don't apologize."

Yoon-ah blinked, her arms crossing over her chest instinctively as she listened.

"Cobra Kai is about strength," Johnny continued. "If you're not strong on the inside, you can't be strong on the outside. And right now, you're all weak. I know that because I was you. I used to have no friends, used to be the weirdo kid—well, not that weird. I hooked up with babes and all, but... the point is, I wasn't always the badass sensei I am today. Just like a cobra, I had to shed my loser skin to find my true power. And you guys will too."

Yoon-ah shifted uncomfortably, unsure if his words were meant to inspire or intimidate. She kept her eyes down, her usual self-comforting gesture of wrapping her arms around herself taking over.

Suddenly, the doorbell chimed, breaking the tension in the room.

"Welcome to Cobra Kai," Johnny said, turning to see who had entered.

All eyes turned to Eli as he strode in, his presence strikingly different. His once-quiet demeanor was gone, replaced with confidence—or perhaps something bordering on arrogance. His freshly shaved mohawk stood out like a bold declaration, and Yoon-ah couldn't help but stare.

"Eli, what happened?" Miguel asked, his voice filled with curiosity and faint admiration.

"I'm flipping the script," Eli replied, his voice steady and self-assured.

Yoon-ah's eyes widened slightly. This was the most she'd ever heard him speak.

Johnny studied him for a moment before grinning. "Hawk," he declared, christening the boy with a new name.

Kicking off his shoes, Eli—now Hawk—joined the front of the line. Johnny's voice boomed across the dojo, calling out to the students.

"Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?" he asked Hawk.

"No, Sensei," Hawk responded confidently.

"Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?" he directed at Aisha.

"No, Sensei," Aisha answered firmly.

Walking over to Miguel, Johnny softened his tone slightly. "Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?"

"No, Sensei," Miguel replied, his voice resolute.

Johnny turned to the rest of the class, his intensity reigniting. "Class, are you ready to learn the way of the fist?"

"Yes, Sensei!" the group shouted in unison.

Yoon-ah hesitated for a split second before joining in, her voice blending with the others. For a brief moment, her usual guarded demeanor lifted, replaced by a flicker of empowerment she hadn't felt in a long time.