Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Please, let me clear some things.

First of all,
This is a fan fiction. Many things won't match with the original webcomic.

Second,
This is for me. I'm writing this work to fill-full my desires. If I see that I'm getting good response than maybe I'll take others into consideration.
If there aren't any responses at all or bad responses, than just know *my work, my will*.

Third,
Neither English is my mother tongue nor it is my first language. There bound to be mistakes, even silly one. Cause I don't check. Plus, repeating of words. Though, sometime intentional.

Forth,
I'm not dropping this, no matter what. Even if 1000 years pass, I'll still upload one chapter.

Fifth,
I'm going take a break after the four crews are complete. We both know how many characters are truly there. So it's going to take a long while to finish. But even then, I'll reveal some details about some characters in my work in my break.

Sixth,
There may be some characters that were made by me but I'll try to not include them as much as possible because I don't truly enjoy fics like this either.

Seventh,
Follow the original webcomic before reading this.

Eighth,
More mysteries than answer.

Nineth,
Other things will be added shortly.

Chapter Text

The clouds were crying and the sky was roaring.
Maybe even they weren’t fond of what had happened earlier. But was the sky angry or just laughing at his misery?

He knows his face is swollen. Though the bleeding stopped.....not too long ago.

He hopes his mother wouldn't call at the moment.
With such shaky and wet voice, he doubted he could sound steady.

Was it a bad decision?
He didn’t know.

All he knew was that he was at fault too.

Why had he thought things would be different? Hadn’t he been treated like this before, over and over?

He had. For far too long. Long enough that maybe he’d lost the ability to think properly.

And now, the only thing he felt he was losing was hope.

The bell above the door chimed, followed by slow footsteps. Someone had entered the store. At least that's what he could tell, if his ear was still leading him right.

It's strange.
So late at night, not to mention the heavy downpour.

Yet he doesn’t dare to look up, to look at the person.
Maybe because of his face?
Maybe because of the thought of getting beaten up again?

His heart thudded as the footsteps passed the counter and disappeared down the aisles.

The steps sounded like they belonged to a man.
Soon, that man would be at the counter.

What do I do? Should I cover my face? Not like it would change anything but—
But what?

No.

He hadn’t been beaten because of his face. It was just a misunderstanding… right?

Nothing would change.
He was born to be beaten.
So why couldn’t he be beaten to death instead?

“Hello?”
Too soon.

The voice was soft and steady, almost gentle—pleasant to the ear.

He flinched, then hesitantly lifted his eyes. They darted around before finally landing on the figure in front of him.

And—

My, the man standing there was breathtaking.

Perfect posture. Perfect face, the expression gentle at the moment. Soft half closed blue eyes, almost sleepy, blinking slowly. Yet bright as shining diamonds. Like his soft, smooth glowing pale skin.

Another soft spot is his lips. pink, but it's clear it's not lipstick or lip gloss or lip oil or, or anything related to lips.

Short silky black hair with soft curls at the end. Styled neatly. Bangs covering his forehead, framing his face flawlessly and brushing the back of his neck.

Half closed blue eyes, almost sleepy, blinking slowly. The eyes are practically shining as if they are diamonds, just like his soft, smooth glowing pale skin.

Another soft spot is his lips. pink, but it's clear it's not lipstick or lip gloss or lip oil or, or anything related to lips.

Broad shoulders filled the white fur coat he wore—tailored like a suit, with caramel-colored buttons and a silver zipper fastened up to his neck.

Strange, He wasn’t even wet from the rain.
Maybe he had an umbrella?

One hand rested on the counter, index finger tapping lightly, trying to catch the cashier's attention. When the customer's lips curved into a small, warm smile, he found himself smiling back without meaning to.

The male began placing items on the counter one by one, as he scanned them with forcefully steady hands:

First aid kit — 12,000 won.
Pack of bandages — 10,000 won.
Medium-sized ointment bottle — 10,000 won.
Painkillers — 3,000 won.

Total: 35,000 won.

“It would be helpful if I got a bag,” the man said politely.

Hyung Suk nodded, slipping the items into a plastic bag and handing it over.

The stranger smiled again. “May I?”

Confused but answering unconsciously, he nodded. Just like how he smiled back earlier.
The male pulled over a chair and gestured for him to sit.
And he did. Why? Not sure.
Before he could doubt, the stranger opened the kit, soaked cotton with ointment, and began dabbing it gently against his bruised skin.

Hyung Suk stiffened, startled, but the man’s voice broke through, calm and kind:

“What happened?”

For a moment, Hyung Suk was speechless.

Someone who doesn’t even know me is treating me.
Someone so… beautiful is treating me.
Someone is asking me kindly.

Gathering himself, he answered. After all, this man had gone to such lengths just for him.

“I got beaten up.”

“By who?”

“The same person who beat me the day before yesterday.”

The man’s expression flickered with curiosity, though his hands never stopped tending to the wounds.

“Why would the same person beat you twice?”

He hesitated. He didn’t know even the answer himself.
Maybe to first but not the second.

Still, he tried.

“The day before yesterday, I bumped into a girl. We both apologized at the same time. Then a guy came to her side, asked if she was okay, and glared at me. He thought I did it on purpose.The girl pulled him away quickly, but…”

He paused, remembering.

“I smiled at them. That’s what set him off. He got angry, but the girl kept dragging him away.”

He remembered it so vividly as if it had been curved into his mind.
Thus, he mimicked the man’s voice perfectly: " ‘You dare smile like that after seeing a girl!’ "

The stranger chuckled softly at the impression, a soft amused expression on his face.

“I suggested we sit for coffee and clear the misunderstanding,” He continued, “but instead he punched me. The girl managed to take him away."

But the damage was done -- was left unsaid.
People had filmed it. Posted it online. Everyone had seen it. Maybe even this male,

"Today...I suppose he came back to finish the session?"

yet the male didn't mentioned anything about it.

He shook his head.

“Today, three guys came in with a fake ID, asking for cigarettes. I refused, so they tried to threaten me. In the middle of it, that guy walked in.”

The male frowned, murmuring, “Just for cigarettes…”

He nodded.

"Hearing the commotion and because of the delay, another person entered the store and it was that guy."

The male looked like he wanted to say something but stopped. He knew what it was.

"He didn't beat me right away." He confirmed.

" He went around the store, took some items and place it on the counter. It was alcohol and some snacks. I said I could sell the snacks but not the alcohol. The guy smiled and said
'Why don't you give me the snacks and alcohol for free? And I'll forgive you for before.'
I tried to deny but suddenly his eyes went on my nameplate and he jumped off the counter."

The story wasn't finished,
but his story ended.

The stranger’s eyes flicked to the counter,
"I cleaned it.", then to the nameplate.
His lips curved.

His breath hitched. After all, it was a similar action.

“We have the same last name. Park"

The plate read: Park Hyung Suk.

Not unusual—Park, Kim, Lee, and others were common names. But still, it stirred something in him.

“Can I have your name?” he asked quietly.

“Sure, Daniel Park,” the man said.

Hyung Suk blinked in surprise. Daniel? That’s not a Korean name. But it felt rude to question, so he stayed silent, just smiling faintly,unsurely.

Daniel chuckled. “I’m half-Korean.”

Hyung Suk nodded quickly.
It was true! Half breeds were really beautiful!

“But doesn’t my appearance give it away?” Daniel teased.

“People wouldn’t even think about that,” Hyung Suk murmured. “They’re too busy admiring the art.”

Daniel laughed, the sound like music.

When he finished treating the wounds, Hyung Suk’s face was covered in neat bandages. He hadn’t realized how bad it looked until now. Daniel packed the kit, then pressed the bag with bandages, ointment, and painkillers into his hands. After paying.

35,000 won.

Hyung Suk tried to refuse but Daniel only shook his head,

"I insist" as he pushed the bill on the counter towards Hyung Suk before suddenly standing right next to the door.

"Thank you" Hyung Suk meekly said.

Daniel didn't respond but before he closed the door and fully left, there was a soft

"Goodnight. "
.
.
.
.
.

Chapter Text

Daniel didn’t take an umbrella with him before leaving, nor was there any outside for him to forget.
That’s what Hyung Suk realized in the middle of the night.

Hyung Suk closed the store around 2 a.m., seeing that the rain was letting up. He knew that if he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t be able to later—because the rain showed no sign of stopping.
So he returned home.

He didn’t eat. Muttered something about dieting.
Was he comparing himself to someone? Most likely.

But sleep wouldn’t come if his stomach was empty.
Yet he seemed determined to stick to his diet. Didn’t get up to eat. Just turned around.

Somehow convincing himself,
“If I don’t eat, I’ll save some money. And I’ll get fit! Win-win!”

Really, it was a win-win… with low self-esteem.
Was it the money that mattered? His body?
Well… both.

Hyung Suk’s body began to grow heavier as it became harder to turn around.

“I need to distract my mind. What to distract with? What to distract with… what to distract with…”

The What to distract with was working as a distraction itself.
And so he began slipping away from the earth, drifting toward dream.

But, just like your mind always remembers your most embarrassing stunts the moment you need to sleep, the same thing happened to Hyung Suk.

“But doesn’t my appearance give it away?”
That’s what Daniel had said to tease him.

Hyung Suk’s eyes shot open. Within moments, his face burned red with embarrassment.

Did he notice me staring? he wondered.

Perfect posture. A flawless face, soft and kind expression. Half-lidded blue eyes blinking slowly, almost sleepy, yet bright as diamonds against pale, glowing skin. His lips… natural pink, no gloss, no oil, nothing. Short silky black hair curling lightly at the ends, neat bangs brushing the back of his neck. Broad shoulders in a white fur coat, tailored like a suit, with caramel buttons and a silver zipper fastened neatly to his throat.

He had described the other.
How could he not? Daniel’s charm drew attention effortlessly.

He had sat when Daniel asked him to.
He had answered when Daniel inquired.
He hadn’t even argued when Daniel pressed the bag into his hands after payment.

Now that he thought about it…
Daniel hadn’t talked much, yet he had said so much.

Hyung Suk’s face burned even hotter.

He turned toward the window. His prediction was right: the rain had poured heavily all this time. When had it started? He hadn’t even noticed.

……

Wait, wait, wait!
Hyung Suk sat up, still staring out the window.

“Daniel wasn’t wet when he came… and he didn’t take an umbrella before leaving!”

He was confused.
There wasn’t an umbrella outside.
The store’s floor was spotless when he closed it; even Daniel’s shoes were clean. Yet the road outside was muddy.

Waterproof jacket? No.
Waterproof jeans? What?
Waterproof shoes? Eh…?

Maybe he had come in a vehicle?
No… he must have walked at least a little.

That’s it. A raincoat?
Right…?

No matter what, Hyung Suk couldn’t find a suitable answer.

He sighed and flopped onto his mattress. He would ask Daniel if they met again. For now:

Let’s just assume his umbrella blew away in the wind. Besides, it would be a miracle if it hadn’t flown into space. The umbrellas here don’t really work that well anyway.

Chapter Text

Totenschlaf.
A German word meaning Death sleep.

Perfect to describe him.

Despite his empty stomach, Hyung Suk slept like a corpse.
Though not for long.

Just before dawn, he stirred, dizzy.
He hadn’t slept much, so that was normal.

But this was different.

Something felt wrong.
That foreign sensation pulled him awake.

He stood, feeling oddly light, though the pounding in his head only worsened.

Sticky.
Sweat ran down his skin.
He stumbled into the bathroom first.

That’s when he noticed it.
He could see clearly—but smaller.

'What’s wrong with my eyes?'

Panic rising, he rushed to the sink.
The panic twisted, became a full-blown attack when he saw the face staring back.

It wasn’t him.

It took a moment for the truth to sink in.
It was Daniel.

Shocked, he splashed water, rubbed frantically at his skin.
Soft—just like he remembered—but still, he refused to believe it.

He looked up again, and so did the reflection.
Daniel.

As he stared into those eyes—Daniel’s eyes, hollow now—sunlight crept through the window, spilling gold across his features.

No mistake.
It was Daniel.
But with one change.

The hair. Black in the store, but here, under the light, it gleamed dark blue. So dark it could pass for black.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice before…

But that wasn’t important.

The question was—
Why could Hyung Suk see and move through Daniel’s body?!

A million thoughts whirled, none with an answer.

A breeze slipped into the room, chilling his borrowed skin.

He looked down.
He shouldn’t have.

Naked.

Flushing scarlet, he snatched up a blanket and wrapped it around himself in one frantic motion—so fast it felt like a whip cracked against him.

A cry tore out, pain jolting through his head.
Eyes squeezed shut, he shook violently.

This isn’t true, this isn’t true, this isn’t true! What. Do. I. Do?!

The headache pounded harder, irritation boiling with it.

When he dared to open his eyes again—

What luck.
It was true.
Because now he was staring at himself.

His own body.

Unable to bear it, Daniel collapsed.
Hyung Suk fainted.

Chapter Text

He didn’t know whether to call it a dream come true or a dream turned nightmare.

Truthfully, Hyung Suk didn’t even know if he had ever dreamed of this.
He had never wished for it.
Never prayed for it.

And yet—it happened. Without warning.

Nature usually gives hints, but if it had, he hadn’t noticed.

All he could do now was feel sorry for the soul.

After finally mustering the courage—it had taken him until evening—he checked Daniel for injuries. There were none.

But he couldn’t just throw the body out.

I. He would wake up in that body.
II. People might think Hyung Suk had killed someone.
III. If he didn’t use the body, questions would come—who was the other person, and why was he hidden?
IV. And worst of all… he had made a stupid mistake. He had left a witness.

If anyone asked his mother about that night, she would say:
“Yes. My son was acting a little strange.”

How would she know? Simple.
He told her.

When he first fainted and woke again, his eyes had darted to where he collapsed. His desperate prayer had gone unanswered—the body was still there.

Panicked, he had called his mother.
It was already past dawn. Normal for her—she was always awake earlier than the birds.
But not for him.

And this was the first time since he’d arrived in Seoul two days ago that he had called first.

Of course, what mother wouldn’t answer?

{Hello? Hyung Suk! Why are you awake?!}

Her gentle greeting quickly shifted—louder, but still soft, still full of concern.

He almost blurted out everything. But then, a sharp thought struck.

Won’t it sound insane?

But he had called. He had to say something. He couldn’t just pretend he was asleep—his heavy breathing would give him away.

{Hyung Suk, is everything alright?! Why are you breathing so hard?}

{Mum, I—}

The words stuck. His heart pounded. He steadied his breath instead.
It only made her more worried.

{Did something happen at school?}

{No, no! Nothing at school, Mum. Everything’s fine. I even made some friends!}

A lie.

He hadn’t gone to school. He hadn’t even bought the uniform yet. Sure, he’d passed by the road—but when he heard the laughter of students, the fear hit hard.

He hadn’t seen their faces.
Hadn’t met their eyes.
But the feeling was enough.

The feeling of being the center of something that should never exist.

{Really?! I’m so happy for you, Hyung Suk! But why did you call?}

{Nothing, Mum. My phone lagged, and I must’ve pressed your number by accident. Did I disturb you?}

{What disturb! I was already awake. You didn’t bother me, don’t worry!}

{Glad to hear, Mum. But I need to go now—I have to get ready!}

{My son, waking up early for school! I’m so proud of you!}

He could hear her smiling.

{Muummm!}

Hyung Suk’s face flushed hot with embarrassment.

{Alright, alright. Bye!}
{Bye, Mum!}

Now, as Hyung Suk replayed the call in his head, reality weighed heavier.
He would have to go to school sooner or later. He needed that uniform.

He sighed, looking over at Daniel’s still form.

Guilt seeped through him, thick and crushing.

In a low, soft, almost trembling voice, he whispered:

“I’m sorry.”

Chapter Text

Two girls were grumbling about waking up so early, voices still heavy with sleep. Vacation had only just ended, and school had barely begun again — complaints were inevitable.

The two girls seemed like high school students to be more specific.
They wore the standard high school uniform: white shirts, red ties, gray skirts.

Though the tie colour seems to dependent on the gender cause not far away a male was walking and had a blue tie instead.

But the girls didn't care about that.

The conversation shifted immediately the moment they landed their eyes on him.

"Hey-hey, isn't that Seul Bum? He seems to have dyed his hair!"
It was supposed to be a whisper but the voice gave it way.
Blondes are loud, aren't they?

The black-haired girl leaned closer.
"So cute! But isn't he from the music dependent? I thought only the beauty dependent could dye their hair."

"Who cares if he get in trouble? Ahh~ The colour suits him!"

Seul Bum pretended not to hear the whispers. He walked with the air of someone saying, I don’t care what you think! I’m just being myself.

But he did care — a lot.
Especially when someone brushed past him without a word as he was praising himself while looking in the window.

The whispers grew louder.
Not because of him, but because of the stranger who’d just passed.

The male stared back briefly, then gave a small, polite bow — maybe an apology — before continuing.

Even Seul Bum, who prided himself on confidence, couldn’t help but think,

Truly mesmerizing.

And then suddenly he cared more about what that person thought than others around.

A girl burst through the gates, out of breath, her cream-colored jacket flapping. Peach-colored hair tied up in a messy bun — neat bangs, messy rest. She’d clearly tried to look good and lost the fight with time.

A miracle she wasn’t late.
But late to the scene? Definitely.

The crowd near the building had thickened — buzzing like a hive.
She spotted her friend’s familiar blue sweater and tried to push through, but her friend suddenly ran ahead.

"Su Jin!" She yelled.
Su Jin turned around but instantly froze as the person also stopped.
Than—only for a second—the mysterious male turned to look before turning back again.

For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
Did I just see a deity?

She noticed two of her friends, also wide-eyed. Their black and blonde hair whipping in the light breeze, too stunned to move.

All confused, she cursed. Why did I had to be late today?!

On the second floor, a blonde girl with pink-tipped hair shouted, “Why don’t our Jang Hyun take a look and tell us who’s more handsome?”

Those who were leaned out the window gasped, protesting instantly.
“That’s betrayal!”
“He’s our guy!”

But curiosity wins against loyalty every time. Girls slowly looked at his direction.
The said male just shook his head and remained seated but at the end
Jang Hyun was dragged to the window.

Sighing in defeat, he peered outside — saw the male standing under the morning sun.
The way he carried himself was effortless, almost unreal.
So much that he found himself unconsciously staring.

The girls kept looking back at the male then again at the stranger.

“No comment.” he said at last.

The class exploded in noise.

“Come on, he’s not that handsome!” one girl yelled.
Some agreed, others whispered, but Jang Hyun said nothing more.

In his mind, one thought looped quietly.
He’s not just handsome… he’s all kinds of beauty.

Seems like he halfway agreed to the statement.

A group of guys were standing near the stairs, watching the commotion.

One with large ears squinted, a male's standing in front of a girl right in the center.

A man near came closer to him, “I feel something off, Bumjae.”

The others hummed in agreement.

“Maybe he asked the girl out?”
“Maybe she confessed first?”
“Or maybe he did something wrong,” said the man but with a low, deep voice.

“Don’t assume without knowing, Vasco.” Bumjae warned, but his eyes stayed on the male.

But the next moment, the male walked past that girl calmly and entered the building, leaving him unable to analyse further.

He wouldn't admit but he did stopped to watch for a second.

"Yo, Hobin!"
A blonde girl waved from down the hall, her grin wide.

He turned, half listening.

“Oh~ you like him or something? Should I ask him out for you?”

Hobin arched a brow. “You’re the one who sounds in love, Miru.”

She laughed. “He’s so handsome, I wouldn’t mind!”
"Huh?!"

Hobin turned towards Miru.
And in that exact moment the bell rung. The door opened.

And there he was.

The male everyone had been whispering about stepped inside the classroom — sunlight catching the edge of his hair.

“Excuse me,” he said politely, “could you tell me where the teacher’s room is?”

“What department are you in?” Hobin asked, pretending not to stare.
The male looked too new, too composed to have been around before.

“Fashion department,” he replied after a pause.

“Oh~ it's up stairs, second classroom, left side. Want me to show you?” Miru said eagerly.

He shook his head with a small smile and bowed slightly before heading up the stairs.

Hobin whistled low, Looks like one of us.
Though it came out more like a perverted old man messing with a teenage girl on the street.

Miru smacked him on the shoulder.

He didn't care that all the girls were looking at the male in front of the board but
he cared that MiJin was staring.
Second, why the hell did his last name had to be Park?

He didn't know he had came to hate that name but it was just unpleasant to his ears. What can he do?

Most knew it and that’s why everyone turned to him the moment they heard the teacher say "Why don't you sit in that empty sit? Ok?"

The male himself seemed to hesitate.

He just shrugged.

Hyung Suk did knew that all this attention would come, but still he was surprised. All eyes followed him. Some curious, some admiring, some resentful.

Deep inside, he was anxious and guilt was killing him. But that soon turned to fear. Though his appearance remained calm.

Not a twitch of discomfort.
Just, that calm, detached air that seemed to silence everything around him.

He had scanned the class right when he entered after the teacher.
Fifth row, last seat right next to the window.
The same male who had beaten him sat there.

The reason he avoided it was in front of him.
It wouldn't had been a problem if the only empty seat wasn't next to him.

Still, he sat there without a word after the teacher asked him to.
He could only remind himself He can't recognise me, he can't recognise me, he can't recognise me-*

"Hello, the name's Jin Sung Lee." The boy next to him said.

Hyung Suk had no interest learning the name of the person who had beaten him. Still he turned to answer him.

"Um, hello. I'm Park—"
"I heard you the first time." Jin Sung said.

Hyung Suk stared then nodded, "Hope I won't be bothering you." then turned.

Jin Sung turned to MiJin, it was already a bother. Unaware that the calm beside him wasn’t peace —
it was someone else’s stillness.

Hyung Suk smiled to himself and closed his eyes.
Thank you and.....I'm sorry.

The male sighed. By his experience, good looking people were bad at fighting thus he would get beaten less badly.

But how Hyung Suk looked perfect, there was a slight chance that he would be perfect at fighting too.

I just hope this day would pass soon

Oh.

Chapter Text

Whispers,
so thin, they were piercing his ears.

Stares,
so intense, he couldn't see.

Same gesture but different cause.
Yet the feeling remained unchanged.

It chased him until the school ended. Though some people still tried to follow him. One was very eager, he would say.
He didn’t have the heart to refuse, so he agreed with a hesitant nod.

He was walking back home when he noticed an old lady cooking at the corner of the road, under a dim streetlight.
Her wrinkled face brightened when their eyes met.

The scent was very appealing. He thought for a moment, humming.

In the end, he bought food from her and she was very happy. She even blessed him. In return, he bowed, quiet and polite.

As he passed near a house, something small darted past him — fast enough to blur.
The alley ahead was dark, moonlight barely reaching in.
For a heartbeat, he thought he’d imagined it.

Then came the grunts and barks.
A dog.

He moved quickly, just escaping its snapping teeth, and hurried deeper down the narrow alley.

The moonlight was guiding him.
The night air wrapped around him — cool and refreshing.
Almost comforting.

The nature was adoring him.

He reached home and was bearly tired.
Yet still fell asleep the moment he hit the bed after eating.

The manager handed him the keys and left.

Hyung Suk wondered,
if he didn't have Daniel's body, would Daniel had come to his store again? Well, he wouldn't have despise the company.

The bells rung, someone had entered the store.
To his disappointment, it was just another customer.

The young man looked nervous at first, then relaxed a little after noticing him —
as if he were the frightening one.

Hyung Suk felt oddly offended but let it side.

But what the male did next wasn't something he could let go.

One moment he was asking him,
the next he was running after him.

They ended up at the same alley which he had seen the dog earlier. it was no where to be found.

The strong smell of smoke caught his attention. Four people were smoking.

"The cashier isn't the charger though?" One said.
"Oh~ he's slightly cute. What's your name?" The blonde girl Said. Every body present ignored him.

After some disturbing cursing. They all looked at him.

"Damn, he really need to lose weight. A mosquito beat him!"
The girl said. The others just laughed.

The so-called mosquito guy mumbled endless apologies, voice trembling.

“What’s going on here?”

A stern voice cut through the noise.
Too late.

"Vasco?! We-we were,um,"
"We were just-just"

The Vasco guy spoke but what he said didn't reached his ear.
What others said also didn't reached his ear.

Soon the others left and he sat up.
It was all an act except his ears were ringing very bad.
His head had hit quite hard when he fell down.

Vasco looked at both the thin-fish bone guy and Hyung Suk.

"You shouldn’t just take beatings,” Vasco said firmly. “You’ll never know your strength if you don’t fight back. Come to me if you need help." Vasco said firmly,

The guy was about to spoke when Hyung Suk just shook his head,

"Too late."

He burst through the door and saw a startled young lady.
Then the items on the counter.

Panting, he spoke "I'm sorry! I'll ring your stuff right away."

"Ah- it's okay! You don't need to bow, I wasn't waiting long anyway." The beautiful lady said, waving her hands in front of her face.

But his mind twisted her words,
I would’ve left if you had came any later.

He nodded quickly and moved to the register as she set a drink on the counter.

Before he could speak, she slid a bill forward and placed the drink down again.
“It’ll make you feel refreshed,” she said softly. “Keep the change. Take care.”

Hyung Suk sank behind the counter, resting his head against the wall. "Thank you...."

if he didn't have Daniel's body, would Daniel had come to his store again? Well, he surely wouldn't have despise the company.

"I would have appreciated that."

Chapter Text

A week had passed and still,
he couldn’t adjust.

How could he?
It was the total opposite of before. It felt foreign.

Hyung Suk had always been the center of attention — for all the wrong reasons that is.

But now that everyone wanted to interact with him, he couldn’t do much except smile and listen to whatever they said, sometimes answering their questions.

He treated everyone the same, yet somehow, a sticky situation had found its way to him like always.

Why?

The table had been thrown aside, blocking the door. No one could enter, and thus, a crowd had gathered.

Though even if the way wasn’t blocked, none of them would’ve stepped inside.

A blonde male was gripping another male’s wrist. Though the blonde’s eyes were hidden by his bangs, everyone could feel the daggers behind them — a silent warning.

Among the murmuring whispers, a sharp voice broke through.

“Jin Sung! Let Hyung Suk go! Stop this madness or I’m calling the teachers!”

A brunette shouted, glaring at Jin Sung. Her gaze cut through the crowd, and everyone immediately looked away.

Then another girl with black hair shouted, backing her up.

“What are you assholes looking at, huh?! Go back to your classrooms! This isn’t a drama!”

Yet she herself was enjoying it.
“I’m rooting for you, Hyung Suk! ♡”

The brunette sighed and glanced at Hyung Suk with an apologetic smile.

Seeing that, Something in that expression set Jin Sung off. His jaw tightened. His anger flared. He yanked his wrist free and lunged at Hyung Suk.

In a split second, Hyung Suk tilted his head aside — the punch missed by inches.

Silence. Calm before the storm.
And that storm was the crowd.

“He dodged that!”
“Wait, wasn’t Jin Sung an up-and-coming boxer?!”
"Indeed is indeed indeed."
“How could he miss?!”
“Kyaa~ I knew Hyung Suk would win!”
“Go, Hyung Suk, go!♡”
“Beat the shit out of him!♡”
“Ugh, the fight’s not done yet!”

True. It wasn’t.

Jin Sung snapped out of shock and charged again — left, right, right, left, right, left — but each time, Hyung Suk escaped.

Frustrated, Jin Sung swung again and aimed towards right while Hyung Suk shifted left when it came. He had mislead Hyung Suk on purpose.

The punch was about to hit him when he dodged again.
"Fight like a real man, will ya?!" Jin Sung shouted.

Hyung Suk was about to say something when his back hit the lockers. He’d been cornered.

Everyone flinched as Jin Sung’s fist came flying toward his face.

“No! Not the face!!” the black-haired girl screamed.
“Jin Sung Lee!!” the brunette yelled.

They all shut their eyes, afraid to see. Everyone knew — once Jin Sung’s punch landed, you were done for.

Then came the sounds.
A hit.
A body collapsing.
A choked breath.

Someone dared to open their eyes.

"JIN SUNG LEE HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!"

The hallway erupted.

Cheers.
Screams.
Applause.
Phones out.
Voices blurring.

Hyung Suk just stood there, stunned.

Jin Sung was wheezing, clutching his stomach, kneeling on the floor. Foam and saliva dripped from his mouth.

Hyung Suk didn’t know what to do.
He hadn’t expected this — neither had anyone else.

From the moment he started dodging, a voice had whispered in his head.
“And just like that, the first hit should always be at the solar plexus — they won’t be able to stand up.”

But he didn’t want to.
He didn’t want to become the kind of person he hated from the bottom of his heart. Until there was no room left for choice.

His hand had moved faster than his mind, and now Jin Sung was on the floor. Everything was so loud.

He stared, wide-eyed, then glanced around.
Why?

He finally exhaled, walked to the door, and began moving the overturned tables back into place.

He didn’t have to kick mine after kicking his, he thought absently.

He turned, bowed apologetically, then gave a toothy grin toward the blonde, the brunette, and the black-haired girl. A silentthank you, maybe?

He hurried to Jin Sung, picked him up, threw his arm over his shoulder, and began walking out.

The crowd fell silent again.

Jin Sung spat out, “I’ve got faces, you bitch! I’ll make you pay for laughing at me!”

“Jin Sung!” Hyung Suk called out, concerned.

But Jin Sung didn’t reply, didn’t look — just kept glaring at the crowd.

Ah.
He probably didn’t have the courage to look at him.

"Four times,” Hyung Suk muttered, rummaging through the cabinet,
“Four times I’ve come to this nurse’s room, and I still haven’t seen the nurse anywhere in the whole school. Where even is she?”

He picked up a small jar of ointment and a handful of cotton pads before walking to the bed.
Jin Sung sat there, stiff-backed, silent.

He stared at him with a questionable and somewhat heated gaze.

"Would you mind lifting the shirt up a bit for me? I can see the bruse forming underneath."

Jin Sung’s eyes narrowed. His stare was sharp, simmering with confusion — and pride.

He could’ve done it himself.
He should have done it himself.

Why was the same person who humiliated him in front of the entire class tending his wounds now?

The anger still boiled whenever he thought about it.
But curiosity — annoying, stubborn curiosity — won.

He lifted his shirt.
The hell’s he doing this for?

Hyung Suk bent down slightly and began applying the ointment to the purple blotch spreading across Jin Sung’s skin.

The silence that followed felt comfortable for Hyung Suk — but unbearably awkward for Jin Sung.

Then—

“Why?” Hyung Suk asked quietly.
He had asked it countless times during the fight. Yet only a few had reached Jin Sung's ear.

“Huh?” Jin Sung snapped. “You don’t get to ask, pretty boy. Answer mine first. Why’d you flirt with Mi Jin?”

“Who’s Mi Jin?”

“Stop pretending! You know Mi Jin!”

“I really don’t,” Hyung Suk said, shaking his head, patient but puzzled.

A pause.
Then Jin Sung muttered darkly, “That bitch didn’t tell you?”

Hyung Suk smiled awkwardly.
“Ha Neul,” Jin Sung said suddenly.

“Oh. Not really. She did introduce me to the department students and all but not to anyone specific.”

Another beat of silence.

“A girl with long brown hair like the earth,” Jin Sung began, his voice softening. “Usually braided — one ponytail, sometimes two. Wears glasses when she studies. Uniform’s always neat. Her voice... soft, like an angel’s. Brave, polite. That’s Mi Jin.”

Hyung Suk blinked.
“Oh, the brunette who warned you earlier? No, I didn’t flirt with her. I don’t even know how to flirt.”

“Bullshit!” Jin Sung barked. “You made eyes at her! You were standing close — too close — and she was laughing at whatever nonsense you said! You were flirting!”

“Jin Sung, I wasn’t.” Hyung Suk’s tone stayed calm. “You can ask Ha Neul, or anyone. Besides... why would I?”

“That’s something you’d know! She’s beautiful — anyone would want her!”

“Maybe you want her,” Hyung Suk said gently, “and that’s why you’re keeping others away. I have no reason to be with her. But if it helps, I won’t go near her again.”

He paused, watching Jin Sung’s face.
“I suppose that’s the cause of this fight, then?”

Jin Sung didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.

Hyung Suk sighed, set down the ointment, and began putting everything back in order.

“But I have a request.”
When Jin Sung didn’t speak, he continued,

“You know those three — That gang of Doo Lee? They hang out with you, right? Tell them to stop harassing me. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, and I won’t tolerate hitting animals or bullying people.”

“That’s not why you interfered earlier, right?” Jin Sung asked quietly.

Hyung Suk didn’t turn.
“Don’t bad-mouth parents,” he said firmly. “Especially mothers. You went too far.”

Jin Sung stared, at a loss for words.
He could only watch as Hyung Suk walked toward the door.

His hand reached for the knob — then Jin Sung spoke again.

“You came here four times?”
He hesitated. It's not something he should ask.

“Was it during lunch? Shouldn’t you be in the cafeteria instead? Ha Neul said she couldn’t find you… and no one saw you eat after.”

Hyung Suk’s voice was quiet, returning to its usual softness.
“I simply lost my appetite.”

And then he left.

The door clicked shut.

Come to think of it… he hadn’t gone to the cafeteria even before the fight.

Ding—dong.

Lunch time was over.