***
Min Soo—or rather, the man inhabiting his body—returned to the classroom, his mind racing. Sliding into his seat, he reached for the bag on his desk. If I'm going to figure out who I've become, I need answers.
He rummaged through the bag, finding books, a notebook, and a pencil case. The notebook caught his attention, its cover worn and scrawled with the name "Min Soo." Flipping it open, he found notes from class, doodles in the margins, and a small, folded photo tucked between the pages. Unfolding it, he saw an image of Min Soo with a group of friends, smiling brightly. Among them was the girl named Hanni.
So… we're friends, he thought. The realization felt strange—almost foreign. Friendship wasn't something he remembered having in his old life.
As he continued his search, he became aware of a pair of eyes watching him. Glancing up, he saw Hanni at her desk, her brows furrowed in concern. Her gaze flickered to his hand, and her eyes widened.
Before he could react, she was by his side, gently grabbing his wrist. "Min Soo! Your hand… it's bleeding."
He blinked, realizing he hadn't properly cleaned the wounds from punching the mirror.
"Come on," she said firmly, tugging him up. "We're going to the infirmary."
At the infirmary, the nurse was absent, leaving the two of them alone. Hanni pulled out a first aid kit and motioned for him to sit. She worked in silence, carefully cleaning and bandaging his hand. Her touch was gentle, yet her expression was filled with worry.
"What happened?" she finally asked, breaking the silence. "How did you hurt yourself like this?"
He hesitated, unsure how to respond. The truth was too complicated, too unbelievable.
"I… punched something by accident," he mumbled.
Hanni sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Min Soo, if you're feeling down or upset, you don't have to hide it. You can tell me, okay? I'm here for you. We're best friends, aren't we?"
Her words hit him harder than he expected. Best friends? In his past life, no one had cared enough to offer him comfort, let alone call him a friend. Yet here she was, worried about him, offering her support without hesitation.
For the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled—genuinely. "Thank you," he said softly.
Hanni studied him, her concern slowly easing into a smile of her own. "That's more like it. Just… try not to hurt yourself again, okay? You scared me."
As they walked back to the classroom, he couldn't shake the warmth her words had given him. Sitting back at his desk, he decided to focus on piecing together Min Soo's life.
The notebook and textbooks revealed little clues about his studies: he was an average student, judging by his notes. But it wasn't until he found a small journal tucked at the bottom of the bag that he truly began to understand.
Opening it, he discovered entries written in a neat, careful hand. The first entry read:
"I'm not sure if I'll ever be as good as everyone else, but I'll keep trying. Hanni says I overthink too much, but isn't that normal? She believes in me, though. Maybe that's enough for now."
He paused, the words striking a chord. This kid… he's struggling, but he's trying. Maybe he's more like me than I thought.
The entries continued, revealing a young man who was self-doubting but fiercely loyal to his friends. Hanni's name appeared often, always accompanied by fond remarks.
"Hanni always has my back. She's like the sister I never had."
Closing the journal, he leaned back in his seat, a newfound determination settling within him. Maybe this is my chance to be someone better. To live a life worth something.
From across the room, Hanni gave him a curious look, as if sensing his shift in mood. He nodded at her, and she smiled, her trust in him unwavering.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, but as the sun dipped below the horizon, he found himself walking home alone. The streets were quiet, and for the first time in years, he didn't feel the weight of loneliness.
Looking up at the darkening sky, he whispered, "I don't know why I'm here or what I'm supposed to do… but I'll make the most of it."
And for the first time, he felt a spark of hope.
***