"Jun-a! Hey! Wake up!" A student vigorously shook him, causing Kim Min Jun to abruptly open his eyes.
Disoriented, he took a deep breath, his mind flooded with the vivid recollection of the accident. He straightened up, his heart pounding with residual panic.
"Hyun Soo! Where's Hyun Soo?" Kim Min Jun asked frantically, his voice tinged with desperation. It was then that he noticed his surroundings.
The familiar rows of desks, the hum of whispered conversations, the faint smell of chalk and paper – he was in the classroom. Confusion clouded his thoughts. What was he doing here? Had he been dreaming?
A chilling thought crossed his mind. He had heard that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes. Could this be what was happening to him?
Was he experiencing a rush of past memories in his final moments?
"Jun-a! You should hurry. Kang Do Hwan is bullying your friend!" the same student urged him urgently.
"What? Don't joke with me. We're dead," Kim Min Jun said dismissively, leaning back on his chair. He closed his eyes, ready to embrace the afterlife he was convinced he had entered.
"What are you talking about!? Who's dead?" Lee Jae Woo demanded, his voice rising in frustration. "Hyun Soo is in trouble. You need to save him!" He shook Kim Min Jun again, more forcefully this time.
Kim Min Jun opened his eyes, uncertainty gnawing at him. "Hit me," he said suddenly.
"Are you mad? What happened to you?" Lee Jae Woo asked, his eyes wide with confusion.
"Just hit me once," Kim Min Jun insisted, his voice steady.
"You asked for this!" Lee Jae Woo threw a punch at Min Jun's face, his knuckles connecting with a solid thud. He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, man."
Kim Min Jun touched his cheek, feeling the sharp sting of pain radiate through his skin. The sensation was too real, too vivid. He wasn't dead. He glanced down at the watch on his wrist and saw the date: August 3, 2019. Somehow, he had traveled back in time.
"Fuck!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. He knew this day well. It was the day when the infamous school bully, Kang Do Hwan, stole the keychain that Park Hyun Soo always carried with him. The day when the entire class laughed at him for carrying such an item.
Without wasting another second, he sprinted out of the lecture hall, his heart pounding as he navigated the familiar hallways of the school.
He lunged down the stairs two at a time, his breath coming in short, urgent gasps. Finally, he burst onto the terrace of the school, his eyes scanning the area frantically.
There, he saw Park Hyun Soo, his friend, standing against the railing with a look of anger. Relief washed over Kim Min Jun. Hyun Soo was alive. He was safe.
"Give that to me, Do Hwan!" Park Hyun Soo demanded, his voice steady as he took a step toward the bully.
"Oh ho!" Kang Do Hwan taunted, stepping back with a sneer while his friends burst into laughter. "Such girlish items don't suit your personality," he remarked, holding up the keychain mockingly.
Park Hyun Soo's frustration boiled over, and he dashed toward Kang Do Hwan, intent on punching him and reclaiming his treasured keychain. Just as he was about to strike, someone stepped in front of him, causing him to halt abruptly. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Kim Min Jun standing between them.
Without a moment's hesitation, Min Jun swung a hard punch at Kang Do Hwan's face, the impact resounding in the air. Grabbing Do Hwan by the collar, he pulled him close, his eyes blazing with anger. The four bullies standing nearby were stunned into silence; no one had ever dared to stand up to Kang Do Hwan like this before.
Kang Do Hwan, recovering from the initial shock, gritted his teeth and prepared to retaliate. But Min Jun was quicker. He caught Do Hwan's fist in mid-air and twisted his arm painfully.
"Ahhh! Leave my arm! You—" Kang Do Hwan's scream of pain echoed across the terrace, his words cut off as Min Jun tightened his grip. With a swift kick, Min Jun sent Do Hwan sprawling across the floor. He didn't waste a second, retrieving the keychain from the ground.
"Do it again, and I'll make sure you won't be able to speak again!" Kim Min Jun warned, his voice deadly calm. He turned to look at Park Hyun Soo, the fire in his eyes softening.
Kang Do Hwan and his friends scrambled to their feet and fled the terrace, the fear of Kim Min Jun's strength etched on their faces. They knew better than to provoke him further, especially considering Park Hyun Soo's prominence.
"That wasn't needed, Min Min," Park Hyun Soo said, taking the keychain from Min Jun's outstretched hand. "I would have handled him well," he stated, his tone trying to be nonchalant but with a hint of gratitude.
Kim Min Jun just stared at him, his heart swelling with a mix of relief and disbelief. He couldn't believe he was finally given another chance to be with Park Hyun Soo. Overwhelmed, Min Jun stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Hyun Soo, hugging him tightly, his eyes shut in a silent prayer of thanks.
Park Hyun Soo was taken aback and instinctively pushed him away. "What are you doing?" he asked, his eyebrows arching in confusion and slight irritation.
"Can't I even hug you?" Min Jun responded. Without waiting for a reply, he pulled Park Hyun Soo close again, wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace.
Hyun Soo stiffened at first, his mind racing with questions. This wasn't like Min Jun. Despite their friendship, Min Jun had never been this openly affectionate.
'I missed you. I missed you so much. I'll make sure to give us a happy ending, Hyun Soo.' Kim Min Jun pledged in his mind.
Park Hyun Soo pressed his hands on his chest and stared into his eyes. "You are acting strange. Let's go to the class before we get late," he said and walked away.
Kim Min Jun smiled and walked after him, pushing his hands into his pockets.