Ignite

Sparks, flames, explosions.

With a snap of a finger, a throaty shout, a jump in her step, Jimin felt like a monster.

It was a laughable case for her because of all the years of her believing that she was a monster, that she was nothing but danger; she became a hero.

A part of the pack that lived to serve and save the people. Because prior to her discovery, she was just trying to be an ordinary girl in school, who wanted to study, graduate and maybe find a boring nine to five job to keep her stable until she was old and frail.

But no. It didn't end up like that for her, especially since she lived in the center of Seoul and the headquarters of the heroes were secretly located there. Of course, they eventually found her and realized what she was capable of doing.

Jimin didn’t want to be a hero, the League was aware of that. But it was better for her to be on their side than the Legion’s. Jimin had no interest in both. In fact, she offered to give up her body just so they could extract the power from her.

What a fool she was, thinking they would simply agree.

So, her life drastically changed when the League of Heroes unfortunately discovered her and immediately took her in. She wasn’t even finished with college, since they believed that saving the world was far greater than earning a dinky bachelor’s degree.

And it wouldn’t have been that way. If only she was careful. If only she was able to control her emotions.

Kim Minjeong.

The reason for everything. She was the reason why Jimin became competitive, crass, maybe even proud. Because she wasn’t usually like that. Jimin honestly was simple, goofy and enjoyed cracking a joke or two. She also liked being everyone’s friend, always helping anyone out in school and maybe joining clubs, running for student government and the like.

It was the first year of their high school when she met Minjeong. The girl was shorter than her, had long black hair and was unsurprisingly quiet. From what Jimin noticed, she had no superpowers or anything out of the ordinary. Minjeong, to her, was just a regular student as well.

Jimin would be lying if her little gay heart didn’t feel it tugging here and there whenever she laid eyes on the girl. She was cute and timid. Jimin often caught herself wanting to just sweep Minjeong away and cuddle her. But they weren’t friends, as much as Jimin wanted to be. She just couldn’t find the right reason to be. So, she left her alone most of the time.

And they were both consistent at avoiding each other at school. Since Jimin was popular and Minjeong liked to keep her circles small, there wasn’t really much of a reason for them to cross paths.

Until the end of their second year in high school when Jimin was inside the science laboratory to clean up, because she volunteered, until a random group of students started messing around inside and bumped the table that had important research papers made by the students, including Minjeong’s, and just so happened it was Minjeong’s paper that was the only one that fell off.

And she tried to catch it after the boys left the laboratory, but the flames that surged through her body went haywire due to her panic and the research paper was caught on fire.

Jimin tried everything to put it out. Only for it to be completely burnt and some turned into ashes. Jimin didn’t know what to do. And if the situation got any worse, Minjeong suddenly came in and recognized the blue cover of the folder that was destroyed in Jimin’s hands.

Minjeong was livid and Jimin was as well. Because there was no way she could explain to the girl that it wasn’t her fault she accidentally burnt her research paper due to her powers. She did try to defend herself about the group of students who bumped the table in the first place. But Minjeong didn’t buy her reasoning.

For someone who was always perceived as a quiet one, Minjeong had a lot of words to say to her that stung pretty deep. And as much as Jimin wanted to be the bigger person and accept it was her fault, she challenged it. Fighting back with words that she wished she didn’t say, but it still came out because Minjeong hurt her first.

It was unfortunate. Minjeong was the only girl that she actually liked in that way. And her first crush in her entire life was her mortal enemy.

They would shoot glares at each other in the hallway, bump into each other whenever they had the chance to. Sometimes, out of the irritation inside Jimin’s head, she would purposely use her powers to make the water fountain or a seat in the cafeteria hot so that Minjeong would shriek and jump in pain.

Jimin should have let it go. They should have been more mature than that. But it was so hard to stop when Minjeong was so easy to pick on.

Things got even more interesting when they reached their final year and the school decided to unintentionally fuel their petty feud by making them classmates.

Sometimes Jimin would often wonder if the teachers regretted their decision to let them be classmates or make them stay near each other in such a close space. Because there would always be reasons for them to argue. Every day was a debate.

Why was her answer correct? Was her solution to the math problem even complete? Why did Jimin have a higher score in Korean Literature than Minjeong?

And maybe Jimin found pleasure in all of this because Minjeong had a cute face whenever she was riled up. So being the cocky person that she was, she kept doing it just to see that face over and over again.

Things honestly just escalated as the year passed. But Jimin had to endure it. Minjeong was harmless anyway. And even if she did get on her nerves, at least she got Minjeong’s attention.

How childish of her.

“You’re just a gigantic butt head.”

“Can’t you think of a better name for me than that? What are you, five?”

“Okay, then get your head out of your ass for once then, Yu Jimin?”

“Oh wow, I’m so scared of the little puppy. How about you make that pout again so everyone can see how scary you are, Kim Minjeong.”

//

“Scared that I got a higher score than you this time?”

“No, get over yourself.”

Jimin then intercepted her, walking in front of Minjeong making her abruptly stop, and then she leaned forward. Jimin smirked at the way Minjeong’s face and ears turned red with anger, it really was so easy to get a rise out of her.

“You’re scared, Kim.”

Then Minjeong shoved her away, groaning at how cocky her voice sounded but Jimin laughed when Minjeong didn’t say anything and went back into their classroom.

Jimin didn’t really mind her useless banters towards Minjeong. Because she knew that all of it was shallow. School rivals weren't going to reach until they were adults anyway. Plus, with how Minjeong was with school, Jimin knew the other girl would probably land in an international school to become a big name for herself.

She, on the other hand, would rather stick into the crowd and not stand out. That was the last thing she wanted anyway.

Jimin planned on studying hard and to become a nurse. She always wanted to help people out; she wouldn’t be a hero, but at least she would still be of assistance to anyone in need.

It didn’t matter at the moment. She should really just concentrate on graduating high school and qualify for one of the universities in Seoul.

When high school was about to end, Jimin met Minju, a girl from another school in the city. They met at a convenience store, Minju saw Jimin light her hands up in a gentle flame to keep her hands warm. But instead of freaking out and running away, the girl introduced herself.

Turned out, Minju was like Jimin. She had powers as well. Jimin had to admit that she was jealous of how in control Minju was with what she had.

Invisibility was something she hadn't seen in person, due to the obvious. But Minju would easily sneak into her school and reappear whenever Jimin was in the bathroom. The first time that happened, Jimin panicked and almost burned the girl’s eyebrows in seconds. Luckily the other girl had great reflexes.

Jimin realized that they were just the same. They both have super powers but they were trying their best to keep it subtle just so they could have a normal childhood.

But the only difference they had was that Minju wanted to join the League of Heroes. She seemed fit to join, because Jimin knew that she was athletic and cunning, good with strategies. Jimin encouraged her, telling her friend that she would be a great asset to the League.

Plus, the girl went on a tangent about how she sincerely wanted to save the world, or at least be a part of it.

Though, Jimin was honest enough to tell her she wasn’t interested. She explained to her friend how her fire powers have been nothing but a nuisance. It didn’t help that they were slowly developing into explosions and not just conjuring a flame or two.

Her powers were getting even more destructive that she was scared that one day she wouldn't be able to control it and she would be the reason why people would get hurt. Her thoughts and worries would make her go into a downward spiral. Thinking that if anyone found out about her powers, let alone be a reason for pain and suffering, the League of Heroes would step in and do something about it. Jimin didn't want to be discovered by them. That was the last thing she wanted.