Chapter 3: Self-Encounter

Chapter 3: Self-Encounter

***

"Who are you?" his mother inquired, her tone carrying a hint of confusion as she observed the unfamiliar young man standing before her. His tall stature, pinkish hair, and handsome features catching her attention. The sight of the tears streaming down his face added to the unusual scene before her. Though he was sporting the same school uniform as her son, she couldn't help but wonder who this stranger was. "Are you Eugene's friend?"

Without thinking, Eugene replied softly, "Mom, it's me, Eugene."

Eugene's mother's facial expression swiftly changed in that moment, her anger bubbling to the surface. She could not fathom why this unfamiliar young man before her would find humor in making fun of the situation.

"You think this is funny?" Struggling to cope with the overwhelming emotional distress caused by the situation, Eugene's mother couldn't stand the sight of a stranger mocking her comatose son. Her distress turned to anger, and she lashed out, yelling, "If you don't have anything good to say, leave now!

Tears streaming down Eugene's face, he pleaded fervently, begging his mother to believe him. "Mom, please hear me out. I am Eugene." His hand clenched into a fist as he gathered the courage to propose a proof for his identity. "Mom, I can prove it." His expression pleading.

Just as Eugene finishes speaking, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupts the conversation as a figure clad in a white suit walks into view. It is the doctor, who must have heard the commotion.

Eugene, despite his own curiosity and desire to hear what the doctor would say, was forced to shift his attention as his mother practically darted forward, her desperation evident on her face.

"Doc, any news about my son's condition?" she inquired, her voice trembling, clouded with the weight of her worries.

Eugene found himself unable to bear the thought of further distressing his mother. With a heavy heart, he left the room and waited restlessly outside.

As Eugene exited the room, he found himself in a long, well-lit corridor. Sweat broke out on his forehead, mingling with the salty tracks of his tears. His hands clenched and unclenched instinctively, as his mind raced with what he could do to prove that beneath this stranger's body, is his very own soul.

Deciding to sit on the cold metal bench outside the room, he was lost in deep thought. He desperately wracked his brain for a way to revert back to his own body, his mind going over different possibilities and strategies. "What should I do? How can I return to my original body? Should I touch my comatose self?"

As Eugene sat on the metal bench outside the room, preoccupied with his own thoughts and massaging his aching temple, he failed to notice Seung's presence approaching him. It was only when he looked up that he felt a chilling shock coursing through his veins. There, standing in front of him, was Seung.

"There you are, little brother. Why are you here?" he inquired. Seung knew there had to be a reason why his younger brother skipped his lunch and had come to this place without his knowledge or approval.

"None of your business," Eugene retorted, his voice sharp and defensive. He was not in the mood to entertain Seung's curiosity.

Seung leaned closer, a hint of menace in his eyes as he said, "Saejin-ah, you don't want me to get angry. Now, tell me why you're here."

"I'm here to visit that boy." His words were deliberate, the implied meaning leaving no doubt about who he was referring to - the unfortunate boy who had fallen victim to Seung's actions - himself.

Seung's irritation grew, his tone dripping with jealousy. "Oh, so now you care about him all of a sudden?" he retorted. Seung's dislike for that boy was evident, and the mere mention of him provoked a surge of possessiveness.

Eugene's anger surged as well. He clenched his fists and declared, "You're a monster! I'll make sure you pay for your crimes and rot in jail!"

Seung, caught off guard by Saejin's unexpected retort, grabbed hold of him and whispered into his ear, his lips touching his earlobe. "Saejin-ah... I'm your brother. The crime you referred to, we committed it together. You can't leave me behind." Seung's smirk twisted into a sinister expression. The words left a nauseating feeling in Eugene's stomach as he recalled the pain of falling from height, and the fact that he was currently residing in Saejin's body.

Just then, two police officers unexpectedly arrived, catching both off guard. Seung gripped Saejin's hand tighter, refusing to let go. Meanwhile, Eugene felt a glimmer of hope as he saw the police, silently hoping he could finally reveal the truth. However, he couldn't help but wonder why the police were present in the hospital. Were they here to investigate his accident, or was it related to something else?

As the police officers took notice of the two teenagers loitering outside the patient's room, their uniforms bearing the familiar insignia of Kiseung High School, they offered a polite greeting. While their primary objective was to speak with the mother of the victim, they couldn't pass the opportunity to engage in a brief conversation with the young pair.

"Hello young men, I'm Lieutenant Kim and this is Officer Lee," he introduced. "Are you, perhaps, acquaintances of Eugene's?"

"Yes Mr. Kim!" Eugene began eagerly. "I'm Eugene's friend and I know what hap-" However, his words were abruptly halted by Seung, who stepped in to interrupt.

"I understand your concerns Mr. Kim," Seung said, his voice laced with false sincerity. "But please understand, we need to return to school now. We have important afternoon classes that we can't afford to miss."

Seung's feigned politeness and concern successfully distracted the police officers from their questions, causing them to momentarily forget their original objective.

"Oh well," the Lieutenant said, a hint of frustration in his voice. He seemed somewhat displeased but had no choice but to let the students go.

As Seung and Saejin walked away from the policemen, the officers resumed their main objective. They made their way to the room, intending to speak with the mother of the victim.

Just as they knocked the door, the doctor happened to be leaving the room to attend to another patient. The doctor passed by the officers and nodded in acknowledgment before departing.

Inside the room, the police officers found the victim's mother sitting by the bedside, her face etched with worry and concern for her son.

The police officers diligently examined the victim's body, connected to a labyrinth of wires and tubes. As they observed the sight, a pang of sympathy and sadness washed over them, their expressions somber.

"Mrs. Gil," Lieutenant Kim gently addressed the mother. "We apologize for the intrusion, but we have a few questions to ask you regarding your son's accident."

Mrs. Gil looked up at the two policemen who stood tall, with sympathy in their eyes. She nodded weakly, signaling that she was ready to answer their questions.

Lieutenant Kim spoke up next, "We understand this is a difficult time, and we apologize for troubling you. Can you please tell us what you noticed of your son the day before the accident? Any information could be helpful in our investigation."

"I firmly believe that my son was not the type of person who would harm himself," the mother said, her voice filled with urgency and desperation. "He was not someone who would end his life. I know my son, and I am certain that this was not a case of suicide."

The police officer noted her concern and then asked curiously, "By the way, ma'am, do you know the two male students who visited earlier?"

The woman appeared puzzled and replied, "Two? There was only one boy who visited earlier, and he seemed quite... intense."

The Lieutenant's forehead furrowed in confusion as he inquired further, "Intense? How so?"

The woman's voice softened as she recalled the encounter. "Yes, intense. He was crying and insisting that he was my son. It was quite a strange encounter. It was my first time seeing him."

"Do you remember his face?" Lieutenant Kim probe more.

"He is tall and quite handsome," she pointed out. Although both boys are handsome, the Lieutenant wanted to identify which of the two Mrs. Gil was referring to.

"How about their hair color?" Lieutenant asked.

Mrs. Gil's answer came swiftly. "Pink," she said, her voice unwavering. "That hair color stands out, it's quite memorable."

"Hmm...," the police officer paused, mulling over her words. "Did he mention anything else?"

"After that, he left," she replied shortly.

The officer pressed further, his tone empathetic. "Alright, ma'am. Can you think of anything that occurred before the incident? Did your son mention or do anything unusual prior to the accident?"

The mother wiped a tear away and took a deep breath before she spoke, her voice filled with frustration and desperation.

"Yesterday, he seems fine. He said that school was fun," the mother recalled, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and frustration.

The police officers continued their line of questioning. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but is it just you who is taking care of your son?"

The woman's expression darkened as she responded. "Yes. I'm the sole provider for my son and me. And now, with him in this condition, I don't know how I'll be able to pay the medical bills. If only there was someone who could help me look after him."

The officers continued to ask questions, delving deeper into the circumstances surrounding the incident. "How about his father?"

"My husband has been gone for years. He disappeared without a trace when my son was 5 years old. I don't know his whereabouts."

"How about friends? Did Eugene have anyone close to him?" Officer Lee didn't forget to mention. There should be any friends out there that possibly know how Eugene was doing before the accident.

Her eyes welled up with tears, the mention of her son's social life clearly bringing emotional turmoil.

"My son... he doesn't have many friends," she admitted, her voice trembling. "He's always been very reserved and rarely talks about his friendships. I'm not sure who his friends are. He had never brought any friends over."

The woman's memory seemed to spark, a realization crossing her face.

"Wait a moment," she said, her tone becoming more animated. "The boy earlier, I don't know if I can count him as Eugene's friend, but he appeared to know my son."

The police officers exchanged a brief glance, their suspicions raised. Their minds immediately went to the two students they had encountered outside the room earlier. With a brief moment of thought, the police officers finished their questioning and prepared to leave the room.

***

As Seung drove the car on the way to school, his left hand gripped the steering wheel while his right hand reached into the glove compartment. With a deft movement, he pulled out a package of still-warm food.

"Here, eat this," Seung said, placing the food in Saejin's lap. "I know you probably haven't had anything to eat yet."

"I'm not hungry," Eugene declared, his voice sharp and defiant. His appetite nowhere to be found due to his current circumstances. He silently cursed Seung, feeling bitter about the missed opportunity earlier.

Seung, unfazed by Saejin's reluctance, persisted. "Saejin-ah, don't be stubborn. Eat that before we reach school."

Eugene's expression changed, his focus shifting to an entirely different subject. "Why did you push that boy?" he questioned.

"Are we arguing about this again?"

"Yes! Tell me! Why?!"

Seung, his suspicion piqued, leaned in closer. "It's funny how you don't remember." As the car stopped at a red light, Seung leaned in closer towards Saejin, "Do you seriously not remember why I pushed him?"

As Seung leaned closer, Eugene found himself frozen in place, his mind racing back to their previous discussion where Seung had mentioned that Saejin was an accomplice. Could that really be true? Eugene racked his brain, trying to recall what happened on the rooftop. But no matter how hard he tried, all he could remember was seeing Seung alone up there.

Eugene was acutely aware that Seung had noticed his sudden shift in demeanor. Despite his anger towards his Seung, he understood the importance of keeping his emotions in check and acting as if nothing had changed. However, he found himself at a slight disadvantage, as he didn't know much about Saejin's personality or mannerisms. Yet, he would do his best to portray Saejin's character, at least for the time being.

"Forget it," Eugene responded, his voice tinged with resignation.

"Saejin-ah, let's not concern ourselves with trivial matters and concentrate on our own affairs instead," Seung advised.

***

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