* * *

Weeks have passed since Jungin dropped that bombshell he’d kept bottled up inside.

Frustratingly, he was still trapped in Lee Jungin’s body, and Choi Jungin showed no signs of waking up.

Every night, he was haunted by the thought—what would he do if he had to keep living this way forever?

It felt like endlessly walking through a tunnel without an end in sight.

“I’m heading out.”

Jungin’s three brothers, including Jungjin, looked on with tense expressions as Jungin left.

They bit their lips, clearly worried about the younger brother who’d been silent since that day.

“Hyung, are we really just going to leave Jungin like that?”

“I’m worried. What if, like before…”

“Lee Jungwoo. I told you not to bring that up.”

Jungwoo, nervously breaking the silence, sighed deeply when Jungjin cut him off.

No one knew when Chairman Lee would be back home, and if their father and Jungin met under these circumstances, it was uncertain whether his young brother could handle it.

Jungin, who had abruptly disappeared that day, was eventually found near dawn at a bus stop.

Soaked from the rain, he stared blankly at the road with a hollow expression that made his heart plummet.

It was like that day, years ago, as though Jungin might do something drastic.

He was also troubled by the fact that he kept visiting the hospital, looking for “Choi Jungin.”

It was a sign that didn’t bode well.

“Keep a close watch on him for now, and if it seems like… something might happen, haah. Remove anything dangerous from his reach, and… keep him confined.”

Jungjin, after some hesitation, clenched his fist tightly, his face pale as he recalled that dreadful memory.

…

“Really, what an idiot.”

Jungin had slipped out of the house as if escaping, leaning against the front gate and running a hand over his face.

That day had felt strangely surreal, as if he’d been possessed.

Thinking back, the principal had always behaved that way—it should’ve been something he could shrug off.

But for some reason, it felt unbearably lonely, like he’d been abandoned.

“Ah… What am I supposed to do about my brothers…”

But that wasn’t the only problem.

In a moment of overwhelming sadness, he’d blurted out that he wasn’t really Lee Jungin, their brother, and then fainted.

When he came to, he was in a familiar hospital room.

He should have laughed it off or explained that it was just a joke, but the serious atmosphere weighed so heavily on him that he stayed silent, and more time passed.

“Today… I’ll apologize properly and talk it out.”

Feeling guilty for unsettling the household, Jungin took a deep breath, settled into the waiting car, and closed his eyes.

After drifting through the morning in a daze, he barely came to his senses by third period—PE class.

“I know you’re all seniors, but staying at your desks all day won’t help. It’s been a while since we’ve had a ball. Play soccer, volleyball, whatever.”

The PE teacher, looking slightly annoyed, tossed a ball and walked back into the school building.

Maybe I should go to the nurse’s office since it’s so sunny…

“Hey, we’re playing dodgeball today. Split into teams.”

That was when one of the bigger guys, who was always hanging around with Park Hyuntae, grabbed the ball and made the announcement.

Some kids grumbled, but whenever they made eye contact with Choi Taejun, they quickly looked away.

Seeing that the teacher had left, Jungin tried to sneak away to the nurse’s office.

“Lee Jungin, you’re on that team. Think you can just skip out again? Get ready.”

Park Hyuntae slung an arm around Jungin’s shoulders, muttering ominously.

Not wanting to get into a power struggle, Jungin took his place on the designated team.

The teams were split almost instantly, or perhaps they’d been predetermined.

At the whistle’s sound, a heavy ball came down, hitting him hard on the head, making him groan and rub the spot.

Damn it.

His already sour mood sank lower.

In the past, the bullying had just been annoying, and he’d retaliated enough to keep it in check, but today, he didn’t feel like tolerating it.

‘Maybe leaving early is the best option.’

As something bitter rose up inside him, Jungin was about to head out when Hyuntae, on the opposite side, smirked and called out, “Hey, you can be the ‘outcast’.”

A sarcastic laugh escaped him at the term.

He smirked as he met Hyuntae’s eyes, noticing everyone nodding in agreement.

“Lee Jungin, get back here. A hit to the head doesn’t mean you’re out.”

Realizing the group’s true intent, even classmates from other classes distanced themselves from him.

Jungin looked to the referee, but he just blew the whistle, motioning him back in.

Sure, this could be good evidence for later, but he wasn’t desperate enough to deal with that right now.

Ignoring the referee’s whistle, Jungin turned to leave.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”

“Let go.”

Jungin’s voice came out low and cold.

Startled, Hyuntae, who had grabbed his wrist, paused but then tightened his grip.

“Get back here, you little—”

“Hey.”

“Freakin’ bastard, acting all high and mighty!”

A punch slammed into him, making his head spin, and his glasses were sent flying as they collided with Hyuntae’s foot.

The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

Letting out a frustrated breath, Jungin glared at Hyuntae, who had grabbed his collar.

“Are you… staring at me?”

Hyuntae’s gaze faltered as he took in Jungin’s bloodied nose.

“You…”

Though he was the one who’d been hit, seeing Hyuntae frozen in fear made Jungin lean in close.

“Idiot. Why’re you closing your eyes?”

Hyuntae, snapping back to himself, raised a hand to hit him again, but Jungin grabbed his wrist and whispered in his ear.

“Just wait a little longer.”

“…”

“I’ll make sure you don’t get bored.”

Finishing his words, Jungin bit down on Hyuntae’s ear.

“Agh!”

Seeing Hyuntae clutching his ear in pain, Jungin stood back, sighing softly as he noticed everyone’s eyes on him.

Ignoring the stares, he picked up his glasses and approached the referee, who was standing in stunned silence like the rest.

“Hey.”

“W-What?”

“Can I be done now?”

“I’m going to the nurse’s office,” he added, staring the man down until he blinked back, still dazed.

What’s his problem?

He was about to say something else when a rustling sound from behind made him turn.

He locked eyes with Hyuntae, who looked strangely dazed.

‘Screw this—I’m done.’

Jungin frowned as he noticed the tips of his fingers turning white from gripping the ball too tightly.

What kind of grudge could be so deep that he’d go this far?

Clicking his tongue in disapproval, Jungin turned on his heel and started walking toward the gym entrance.

“Hey, um… should I walk you there?”

“Sorry, guess I went a bit too hard…?”

Someone grabbed Jungin’s wrist, asking, while a few others offered apologies, saying they might’ve gone too far.

What the… are they seriously playing both sides now?

Jungin shrugged off the hand gripping him, hastening his steps in case Park Hyuntae’s group decided to grab him again.

Once inside the main building, he found himself in front of the nurse’s office, but as he was about to knock, he noticed a “Out on Duty” sign and sighed deeply.

“Of course… school’s never here when I actually need it.”

He thought about going to a nearby pharmacy, but that would require permission from his homeroom teacher.

And there was no way they’d give him an exit slip for something like this.

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Jungin trudged heavily toward the restroom.

Standing alone at the sink, he gazed at his reflection in the mirror.

“Great… now I need to get this washed too.”

* * *