Lookism: What If

(Friday, April 19, 2024 – 4:23 PM)

A dull ache settled in Daniel's body as his eyes fluttered open. His vision was hazy, blurred by lingering exhaustion, but the first thing he saw was...

A woman.

Crying.

Her frail hands clutched his shirt, her shoulders trembling as quiet sobs escaped her lips. The sound was heartbreaking, raw with pain.

Daniel blinked with his breath hitching.

'No way…'

His fingers twitched as he stared at the scene before him. A school field. The murmuring students in the distance. And the woman sobbing into his stomach with her warmth seeping through his shirt.

It was real.

His mind raced. 'Did I… really reincarnate into Lookism?'

The very thought sent a shiver down his spine. He wasn't dreaming. He wasn't in his old body.

He was Daniel Park.

The name echoed in his mind like a drumbeat, each repetition sinking in deeper.

A sniffle brought him back.

Seonhui Park slowly lifted her head, her tired, wrinkled eyes locking onto his.

"Daniel!" Her voice was filled with relief, but there was anger too. "Are you okay? Do you have any idea how scared I was?!"

She grabbed his face, scanning it for any new injuries, her fingers brushing against the bruises Logan had left.

Daniel didn't answer immediately. His mind was still struggling to catch up.

A mother.

He had a mother.

The realization hit harder than anything Logan could throw at him. In his past life, he had never known the warmth of a parent. He had been alone from the very beginning, no soft hands to comfort him, no gentle voice to call his name.

But now…

Tears welled up in his eyes before he could stop them. He lifted a hand, hesitating for a brief second, then carefully cupped her cheek.

Her skin was rough, weathered by years of hard work, yet it was the most comforting thing he had ever felt.

And then..

His mind split open.

Memories flooded in.

Crystal clear, sharp, and vivid.

He saw everything.

The bullying. The beatings. The laughter.

Every humiliating moment was as clear as if he had lived them himself. The way Logan had made him bark. The way he had forced him to crawl. The cigarette pressed against his lips, the sting of every insult.

Daniel's breath hitched with his grip on his mother unconsciously tightening.

He felt it. All of it.

The shame. The helplessness.

But no pain.

Because the brain couldn't feel pain.

He was lucky for that.

The memories settled, merging seamlessly with his own. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he was Daniel Park or the man he had been before.

But it didn't matter.

Because the moment he looked down at his mother again..

He knew.

His past life didn't matter.

His new mother had given him everything she could. He could see it in the cheap, patched clothes she wore, the way her hands were rough from work, the dark circles under her eyes.

She had sacrificed everything for him.

And he would love her with everything he had.

A deep resolve settled in his chest.

He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and turned his head slightly, scanning the students around him.

They were whispering, watching with mixed expressions, some awkward, some indifferent.

And then his gaze landed on him.

Logan Lee.

Walking away. Laughing with his lackeys.

Daniel's fingers curled into fists as his eyes hardened.

No fear.

Only hatred.

A hatred so deep it burned through his veins like fire.

He gently caressed his mother's hair in a steady voice, yet soft.

"It's okay, Mom." he whispered. "I don't blame you for anything."

She looked at him, startled.

"You've done everything for me." he continued, his voice trembling with sincerity. "I love you for that."

Seonhui's lips parted with her eyes glistening with fresh tears.

"I'll conquer the world for you." Daniel declared, conviction dripping from every word. "I'll give you everything you deserve."

A choked sob escaped her as she reached out, gently ruffling his hair. "Daniel… You don't have to say things like that." she murmured, smiling through her tears. "Just don't overwork yourself, okay?"

She didn't believe the "conquering the world" part.

But Daniel did.

With quiet determination, he pushed himself up, dusting off his clothes.

---

Name: Daniel Park

Height: 160 cm

Strength: |-{E}

Speed: |-{E}

Potential: |-{SSS}

Intelligence: |-{S}

Endurance: |-{D}

---

The murmurs grew louder as the students noticed him standing.

And then, Logan turned around.

A smug grin stretched across his face, mocking, amused.

But when his eyes met Daniel's...

That grin faltered.

Because for the first time, Daniel wasn't looking at him with fear.

He was looking at him with pure, seething hatred.

---

Name: Logan Lee

Height: 190 cm

Strength: |-{B}

Speed: |-{C}

Potential: |-{SS}

Intelligence: |-{A}

Endurance: |-{B}

---

....

Daniel exhaled slowly, his gaze locked onto Logan's. His hands reached for the thick frames resting on his nose, gripping the edges before he slowly pulled them off.

[Image]

The world around him remained crystal clear. He didn't need these anymore.

Without a second thought, he let them slip from his fingers. The glasses hit the ground with a quiet clink, forgotten.

Then, he took a step forward.

Logan, narrowed his eyes just as Daniel strode toward him with steady, unyielding steps. The students who had been whispering among themselves fell silent, watching in disbelief.

Logan's lips curled into a mocking grin. "The hell are you doing, pig? You want another beat-"

Before he could finish, Daniel moved.

His body shot forward like a bullet, closing the gap between them quickly. Logan barely had time to realize before Daniel leaped, using Logan's massive stomach as a foothold. The force sent shockwaves through Logan's body with his expression shifting from arrogance to surprise.

Daniel propelled himself upward, twisting mid-air.

His foot lashed out in a vicious arc.

Crack!

The kick connected directly with Logan's throat.

Logan's chin snapped back with his eyes bulging wide as a violent choking sound ripped from his throat. His hands shot up to clutch his neck, body reeling from the sudden, agonizing impact.

But Daniel wasn't done.

Still in the air, his hands latched onto Logan's head with fingers gripping the thick strands of hair at the top of his skull.

And then-

Boom!

His knee slammed into Logan's nose with brutal ruthlessness.

A sickening crunch echoed across the field. Blood sprayed from Logan's nostrils as his massive frame stumbled backward with his balance lost.

He crashed toward the ground, his feet skidded against the dirt, barely managing to keep himself from collapsing entirely.

Daniel landed with his breath coming in slow, controlled exhales.

His mind was clear, not lowering his guard.

'The Adam's apple and the nose… areas that can't be trained. No matter how strong someone is, those weak points will always be there.'

Before him, Logan clutched his throat, his face contorted in fury as he coughed violently, struggling to breathe.

Daniel stood tall with cold and uncaring eyes.

---

Name: Daniel Park

Height: 160 cm

Strength: |-{D}

Speed: |-{D}

Potential: |-{SSS}

Intelligence: |-{S}

Endurance: |-{D}

---

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