The bell rings, signaling the end of the school day. I sigh in relief, gathering my books and stuffing them into my bag. The confusion from my earlier conversation with Joon-Soo still lingers in my mind, like a fog I can't quite shake off. What was that? Was it real? Or just some weird, shared delusion? The thoughts swirl around, but before I can dwell on them any longer, I notice Yuna and Jisoo heading my way, their eyes alight with curiosity.
>Leaving school and going home<
"Aerum!" Yuna calls out, her voice louder than necessary, catching the attention of a few lingering students. She and Jisoo exchange a glance before turning their full attention to me. I can already see the excitement brimming in their eyes, and I know exactly what's coming.
"So," Jisoo begins, smirking, "what was that about? You and the new guy, Kang Joon-Soo, chatting it up? Everyone saw it!"
I feel a flush rise to my cheeks. "It was nothing," I say quickly, trying to downplay the situation. "We just... exchanged a few words."
"Just a few words?" Yuna echoes, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "Come on, Aerum, it looked like more than just 'a few words.' You guys were really intense, and it wasn't just us who noticed. The whole class was watching."
I frown, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. "It wasn't like that. He was just... asking about something."
"Sure, just asking," Yuna teases, narrowing her eyes playfully. But there's something in her gaze, a flicker of something that makes me uncomfortable. "I mean, he's practically a mystery, and here you are, already getting his attention. Everyone's talking about it."
Jisoo nods, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "People are saying he might be into you already. Not that I'd blame him. You're basically the queen of the school."
I roll my eyes, but there's a tightness in my chest that I can't quite ignore. "You guys are making a big deal out of nothing," I insist, trying to laugh it off. "Seriously, it's nothing."
Yuna smiles, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, whether it's nothing or not, you're still the one everyone's talking about. And it's not like you don't enjoy the attention."
I can't help but feel a bit defensive. "It's not about the attention. I just... I don't know. Something about him is... different."
Yuna's smile wavers, and I see that flicker of jealousy again. "Different how?"
"I can't really explain it," I admit, more to myself than to them. "It's just... he seems familiar, but that doesn't make any sense."
"Familiar?" Jisoo repeats, looking puzzled. "You mean, like, you've met him before?"
"No, not exactly," I say quickly, realizing how strange I must sound. "Forget it. It's nothing."
Yuna's eyes narrow slightly, but she forces a smile. "Well, if you say so. Just remember, Aerum, everyone's watching. You've always been the girl everyone admires, and now with Joon-Soo around... well, things might get interesting."
I don't know how to respond, so I just force a smile and change the subject. "Anyway, do you guys want to hang out after school?"
"Actually," Yuna says, her smile returning to its usual brightness, "I was thinking of coming over to your place. Maybe we could plan a little party, just the two of us. It's been ages since we had a sleepover."
"That sounds great," I reply, grateful for the shift in topic. "Let's do it."
As we leave the school, Yuna falls into step beside me, her earlier jealousy seemingly forgotten. The warm afternoon sun bathes the streets of Seoul in a golden light, making everything feel a little more surreal, like the day is just a dream.
"You know," Yuna begins, her tone thoughtful, "it's crazy how popular you are. I mean, every guy in school practically drools over you, and you always turn them down."
I laugh softly. "It's not like that. I just... haven't found anyone I'm really interested in."
Yuna nudges me playfully. "Not even Hwang Jiwoo? He's, like, the most eligible guy in school. Handsome, rich, and from a super powerful family. Every girl would kill for a chance with him."
I grimace at the mention of his name. "Hwang Jiwoo? No way. He's a total bully. I don't care how good looking or rich he is, I'm not interested in someone like that."
Yuna nods, her expression serious. "Yeah, he's bad news. But still, it's impressive how you handled him. Most girls would be too scared to reject someone like him."
I shrug. "I just don't see the point in dating someone I don't like. It's not worth it."
Yuna sighs, her tone a bit wistful. "You make it sound so easy. You're like a magnet for attention, and you always know exactly how to handle it. I wish I could do that."
I glance at her, noticing the way she avoids my gaze. "It's not as easy as it looks, Yuna. Sometimes, it's... beyond annoying. Everyone expects me to be perfect all the time, but I'm just me."
Yuna looks at me, her expression softening. "I know, Aerum. But you make it seem effortless. I guess I'm just jealous."
"Jealous?" I echo, surprised. "Of what?"
"Of you," she admits with a fake laugh. "You've got everything looks, brains, popularity. It's hard not to feel a little envious sometimes."
I reach out and squeeze her hand. "Yuna, even though you are quite annoying from time to time, you are also quite amazing yourself so just stay the way you are."
Yuna smiles, squeezing my hand back. "Thanks, Aerum. You didn't have to be completely honest though."
We walk in peaceful silence for a while, the noise of the city filling the gaps in our conversation. I'm starting to relax, the strange tension from earlier beginning to fade, when suddenly, a group of guys appears in front of us, blocking our path.
"Hey, look who it is," one of them sneers, eyeing me up and down. "Choi Aerum, the ice queen herself."
I frown, instinctively moving closer to Yuna. "What do you want?" I ask, keeping my voice steady.
The guy at the front smirks, his eyes glinting with malice. "Just thought we'd say hi. You're always turning everyone down, Aerum. Not cool."
"Yeah," another one goofball in, "we thought we'd give it a shot. Maybe you're just waiting for the right guy, huh?"
Yuna stiffens beside me, and I can feel her unease. "We're not interested," I say firmly. "Now, move out of our way."
The leader of the group laughs, a sound that sends a chill down my spine. "Feisty. I like that. But we're not done talking."
He steps closer, and I can feel Yuna tense beside me. My heart pounds in my chest, but something else stirs within me, something deep and primal. The air around me seems to shift, growing colder, sharper.
"Look, we're not interested," I repeat, my voice low and cold. I can feel something building inside me, a force I don't quite understand, but it feels... familiar. The memories from earlier flash in my mind, the endless battles, the power, the instinct.
The guy at the front, clearly the leader, takes another step forward, his grin widening. "Come on, Aerum, don't be like that. We're just having a little fun. You're not scared, are you?"
He reaches out, trying to grab my arm, but before he can touch me, my body moves on its own. In a blur of motion, I twist out of his reach, my hand striking out with perfect precision. He doesn't even have time to react before he's on the ground, gasping for air.
"What the fuck??!" one of the others starts, but I'm already moving.
The second guy lunges at me, his hand reaching out as if to grab me by the shoulder. I sidestep effortlessly, my foot sweeping out in a low arc. The blow connects with his shin, and he crumples in agony. Before he can get up, I'm already on the third, my fist connecting with his chest in a powerful, controlled strike that sends him staggering backward.
The leader, still on the ground, struggles to his feet, his face twisted in rage. "You... you bitch!" he spits, charging at me with all his strength.
But he's too slow. My body, guided by pure instincts I don't fully understand, moves with a speed and grace that seems impossible. I duck under his wild swing, my leg shooting out to sweep his legs out from under him. He hits the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
The remaining two guys hesitate, clearly unsure of what to do. They exchange nervous glances before one of them foolishly decides to take a swing at me. I catch his wrist mid-air, twisting it sharply, forcing him to his knees. With a swift, fluid motion, I strike the pressure point at his shoulder, and he collapses with a groan, unable to move.
The last guy, seeing his friends defeated so easily, backs away, his face pale with fear. "W-what are you?" he stammers, his voice trembling.
I don't answer. My eyes lock onto his, and for a brief moment, I can see the terror in his gaze. Then, with a sudden burst of movement, I close the distance between us, my fist stopping just inches from his face. He flinches, falling back onto the pavement, scrambling to get away.
"Get out of here," I say, my voice cold and unrecognizable to even myself.
The guy doesn't need to be told twice. He scrambles to his feet, dragging his friends with him as they stumble away, casting fearful glances over their shoulders.
As soon as they're gone, the adrenaline drains from my body, leaving me trembling. I stare at my hands, still clenched into fists, the remnants of that raw, unfiltered power buzzing through me, making my hands shake. It was as if something had awakened inside me, something ancient and deadly. But as quickly as it had come, it fades, leaving me feeling cold and empty.
Yuna is staring at me, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear. "Aerum... what... what was that?"
I blink, trying to make sense of it myself. "I... I don't know," I whisper, my voice trembling. "I don't know."
Yuna takes a cautious step closer, her gaze never leaving my face. "That was... insane. You were like... a martial arts master or something. How did you do that?"
I shake my head, the confusion overwhelming me. "I don't know. I just... reacted. It felt like... instinct."
Now that I think about it, I've never fought before or done anything violent…in this life, at least. So how did I do that? It felt like my body was moving on its own, guided by something beyond my control. Maybe it wasn't really me who was fighting, but my past self. In this world, there's no magic nor ki like in the previous world…nothing but the ordinary. But somehow, the endless battle experience, the raw and innate instinct from that other life, it all came rushing back. The indomitable will to fight and dominate still exists within me, even here, even now. It's like a part of that old self transferred over, taking control when I needed it most
Yuna swallows hard, her expression torn between admiration and fear. "Aerum, that wasn't normal. You... you took them down so fast, like you knew exactly what to do."
"I know," I say, my voice hollow. "But I don't know how. It just... happened."
Yuna is silent for a moment, her eyes looking at my bleeding hands. "Are you sure you're, okay? That was...just incredible, but also kind of scary."
"I'm fine," I lie, forcing a smile. "Really, I am. Let's just get out of here, okay?"
Yuna nods, still looking a little shaken. "Yeah, okay. Let's go."
We walk in silence, the events of the day crashing into each other like a storm in my mind. What just happened? What had I done? And why did it feel so... familiar and statisfying?
Am I still the same Choi Aerum?
As we walk in silence, I can't shake the feeling that something inside me has changed, something that can't be undone.