New Prince

Yesterday was the craziest school day of his life or so San Ha thought. But now, he was starting to think that maybe he didn't mind Kim Ju Mi's new personality. Maybe, just maybe, he could finally have a friend he felt comfortable with.

Or so he thought.

Because today, unlike yesterday, Kim Ju Mi was back to normal.

When he greeted her in the morning, her face turned bright red, and she ran away without a word just like always. San Ha stood there, blinking. Does she have multiple personality disorder or something?

Meanwhile, Kim Ju Mi was losing her mind.

The first thing she ran into that morning was Han Yeon Ji. She braced herself, expecting a punch or two, but instead, Yeon Ji bowed to her!

"I'm sorry," Yeon Ji said, shocking Ju Mi even more. "And… thank you."

Huh? Was she dreaming? What was Yeon Ji even talking about?

Then, as she stepped into the classroom, things got even weirder.

"Hey, Ju Mi! You were awesome yesterday!"

"Girl, you were so cool! You stood up to Yeon Ji and Yun Do, damn!"

Wait, what?!

But she didn't even come to school yesterday!

What the hell is going on?!

Then, like a puzzle clicking into place, Kim Ju Mi realized something.

Yesterday… her makeup items went missing. And so did one of her uniforms. At the time, she didn't think much of it. She figured that idiot Kim Jun must've hidden them as a joke.

But now…

There was no way, right?

There was no way Kim Jun that idiot actually disguised himself as her.

Even though they were twins, even though they looked alike, there were still obvious differences. Jun was a little taller, his build slightly broader, and no matter how much they resembled each other, there was no mistaking that he was a boy.

Yet… none of this made sense.

Because she didn't come to school yesterday.

So that meant…

"That absolute idiot!" she screamed, completely forgetting where she was.

The whole classroom fell silent. Everyone turned to stare.

Ju Mi didn't care. Her hands balled into fists as she gritted her teeth.

After their mother passed away last year, she and Jun only had each other. Their father was never in the picture to begin with. And when things got tough, Jun made a decision, a decision Ju Mi had never agreed with.

He stopped going to school.

Instead, he started working nonstop, just so she could go to a good university.

No matter how much she argued, no matter how many times she told him it wasn't fair, he never changed his mind.

"I'm a boy, you know?" he'd always say with that stupid grin. "I can do whatever for a living. But you have to go to college and get a decent job."

And now, now he had the nerve to sneak into her school disguised as her?!

Kim Ju Mi was going to kill him.

"Ju Mi."

She startled when she heard someone call her name. A pretty, short-haired girl stood beside her.

"Ah… Mina."

Silence settled between them, thick and uncertain. The classroom buzzed with chatter, birds chirped outside, and the trees rustled in the wind, but Mina stood still, her lips pressed together as if searching for the right words.

Finally, she spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything."

Kim Ju Mi looked at her and gave a small, comforting smile, as if to say it's okay.

She already knew, Mina had tried. She had complained to the school heads about the bullying. She had done whatever she could in her own way. It might not have been enough to stop it, but Kang Mina had never abandoned her.

And Ju Mi knew that very well.

She was about to say something, but before she could, the classroom fell into sudden silence.

Everyone turned to stare at the door.

A tall figure stood there, his wavy brown hair slightly disheveled, his long brown eyes as kind as she remembered. A plaster sat on his forehead, like a reminder of what he had gone through.

Ju Mi's breath hitched.

"Yoon... Seong."

It was him. Her childhood friend. The one who had always stood by her.

Even when she was bullied, even when she pushed people away, he never left. And he paid the price for it, he got hurt because of her. That was why Ju Mi had forced herself to be alone. To keep the people she cared about safe.

Is he angry with me?

She couldn't stop thinking it.

Then, Yoon Seong did what he always did. He smiled. Warm. Kind. Just like before.

Ju Mi's vision blurred as tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks.

"Hey! Don't cry," Yoon Seong said, rushing to her side. He sighed, shaking his head. "Jeez, you're still a crybaby." Ju Mi laughed through her tears. If Seong smiles like that, it means he doesn't hate her, right?

"Are you alright, Seong?" Ju Mi asked once the classroom returned to its usual noisy state.

He placed his hands on his waist and stood proudly. "Yeah, of course I am! Don't forget, Ju Mi. I'm the captain of our monster-hunting team!"

Ju Mi burst into laughter.

He's still going on about that childish game?

Those days were sweet. Back then, Ju Mi was the princess in need of rescuing. Yoon Seong was the fearless captain of the monster-hunting team. And Kim Jun? He was always the monster.

Yoon Seong sat down at his usual seat, right behind Ju Mi.

"Oh, right! Ju Mi," he suddenly said, as if remembering something important. "I saw Jun this morning."

Ju Mi blinked. "Huh?"

"And get this, he was wearing our uniform."

Ju Mi froze.

"I thought I imagined it. But it really was our uniform. Dark blue jacket with Ansung High name stitched on it."

Kim Ju Mi: ...…???

Yoon Seong's eyes lit up. "Is he finally going to attend school?!" he asked excitedly.

Back in their younger days, Kim Jun used to go to school with him. It was safe to say they were best buddies back then. Jun was goofy, but he had a sharp mind and a knack for making people laugh.

Truth be told, both Yoon Seong and Ju Mi missed those chaotic days.

But still, Ju Mi couldn't believe it.

Jun? Attending school? After all those times he rejected my arguments? No way!

Before she could wrap her head around it, a loud voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey! I saw a prince back there!" a girl exclaimed to her friends.

"Kang San Ha?"

"Nope, not San Ha! But someone who looks like a Chinese prince. He's really handsome, and he was wearing a Chinese-style earring on his left ear."

"Ahhh, right! I saw him too! He was seriously attractive, wasn't he?" another girl chimed in. "I've never seen him before. Is he a new student?"

"Maybe a transfer student?"

"Ooooh, I wonder which year he's in. Hope he's our age, hahaha!"

"And I really hope he gets placed in our class."

And,

Kim Jun walked through the crowded hallways, feeling the weight of dozens of curious stares on him.

Damn… this is more annoying than I thought.

He kept his head down, shoving his hands into the pockets of the uniform he had obtained from someone. His dark blue jacket had the school's name embroidered on it, Ansung High. He never thought he'd wear this kind of uniform again.

Whispers followed him as he passed by groups of students.

"Who is he? He looks so cool."

"Wait, isn't he wearing our school uniform? But I've never seen him before!"

"That earring… he looks like some rich heir from a historical drama."

"Do you think he's a transfer student?"

Kim Jun sighed. Great. Now they think I'm some mysterious rich heir.

He wasn't supposed to be drawing attention. His plan was simple, blend in, and make sure Ju Mi didn't suffer any more bullying, so, she could keep on with her studies. He even moved into part-time jobs so he could both attend school and make money. But all of these things only las until he gets rid of all the bullies. After that, he can go back to his usual life.

But now, thanks to these rumors, he was becoming way too popular.

As he reached his destination, Ju Mi's classroom, he paused in front of the door. Through the window, he saw her talking to that idiot Yoon Seong. He heard that Yoon was beaten by someone and hospitalized. But Jun didn't even have time to visit him back then.

He rolled his eyes. So he was alright...

Jun stared at them for a moment before continuing down the hallway. His classroom was right next to Ju Mi's. From what he had heard, only the top students were placed in Class 10-1. So, someone like Kim Jun will never reach expectations to get into that classroom.

As he turned the corner, he almost ran into someone.

Kang San Ha.

Why did I have to run into this orange bastard of all people?!

Kang San Ha stared at him for a moment, as if trying to place him. Then, his eyes narrowed slightly. Wait… doesn't he kind of look like Kim Ju Mi?

His gaze shifted to the long Chinese-style earring dangling from Jun's left ear. The same one the other students had been gossiping about. So this is the so-called new prince…

"Yo!" Jun said, a small sweat drop forming on his forehead. "I'm Kim Jun. Transferred here today."

San Ha looked him up and down. Wrinkled white shirt, oversized blue jacket, that earring making him look more like a gangster than a student. This guy isn't here to study, is he?

Without a word, San Ha turned and walked past him into his classroom.

Jun stood frozen in place.

Did that bastard just ignore me?!

It's not like he wanted the guy's attention, but still, completely brushing him off like that?!

Damn that ripped orange fruit!

Shaking his head to brush off unnecessary thoughts, Kim Jun stepped forward and opened the door to his new classroom, 10-2.

DANG! WHOOSH!

Chaos.

Unlike the disciplined atmosphere of class 10-1, this place was a complete warzone. Students were wrestling like it was a fight club, desks were shoved aside, and papers were flying through the air. Jun blinked, then glanced at the students' jackets again.

This is really Ansung High, right? The elite school of Itaewon?

"YA! Cut the crap already!" a loud voice boomed. "We got a guest today, so show some respect, you damn cockroaches!"

As soon as the words rang out, the madness halted.

A boy with bright red hair leaned against a desk, smirking at Jun.

"Come inside, Mr. New Prince," he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "Welcome to our kingdom."

what the heck was going on?

"So he's the new prince those girls were talking about? Hah! Poor Kang San Ha. If this guy is the new prince, then that orange bastard is now the ripped prince! Hahahaha!"

Laughter exploded across the room.

"But man, seriously, when they called him a prince, I thought he'd be some elite nerd like those guys in 10-1," another student chimed in.

The red-haired guy stretched his arms lazily, yawning as if the whole situation bored him. Then, he strolled toward Kim Jun, stopping just in front of him.

"So, what's your ranking?" he asked.

"Ranking?" Jun blinked. Was he talking about exam rankings? "Uh… I guess I'm around the last." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. It was his last exam ranking from a year before though.

"Last?" The red-haired guy's eyes widened.

"Damn it, this is disappointing. I thought you'd be some elite rank."

"So if we fight this weakling, that makes us bullies, huh? Why can't they send someone actually good at fighting?"

"No matter what we call ourselves, to others, we're just bullies or gangsters anyway. So I guess it's fine." The red-haired guy shrugged.

Then, he smirked at Jun and jerked his chin toward the back of the classroom.

"Hey, New Weak Prince, you can have that last window seat."

The room instantly erupted in protests.

"That's not fair, Yun Do! You never let anyone have that seat!"

"Yeah, why are you letting him sit there?!"

"Because he's weak," Yun Do replied with a grin. "I don't have to worry about getting my head smacked in my sleep. Now shut the hell up."

Kim Jun, still standing frozen, was completely lost.

So… in this school, students think that if they score better than the last place, they're bullying that guy?

Does fighting mean studying here?!

Or so Kim Jun thought.

********************************************************************

The day before evening,

Kim Jun patiently stared at his phone screen, waiting for the receiver to pick up his call. It had been almost a year since he last contacted that guy. Would he answer? Or ignore the call like he never existed?

He really didn't know.

But after a while… someone picked up.

Silence.

"…It's been a long time, Captain."

A familiar voice flowed through the speaker, making Jun's grip tighten on his shirt. He exhaled deeply, stopped walking, and leaned against a neon-lit sign to focus.

"Yo," he said casually.

A laugh came from the other end. "I thought you got killed by some random thug."

Jun's lips curved into a comfortable smile. "I'm not, I guess."

"So… how are you doing, Captain? After all this time, I wonder are you planning to rebuild the gang?"

Jun fell silent for a moment before replying, "I'm sorry. I don't think I can come back anymore. I called you today because I need a favor. Would that be alright?"

A quiet pause.

"It's alright if you don't wanna come back," the voice finally said. "And yeah, if it's for you, Captain, I'll do whatever you ask."

Jun let out a small breath, feeling oddly down. Dressed in his sister's uniform, he looked like a girlfriend who had just been dumped by her boyfriend.

"…It's not for me," he admitted.

"Oh?" The other person sounded slightly amused.

"I have this friend. And the favor I need… can you enroll him into Ansung High?"

Another long silence.

"…Ansung High?" The voice sounded cautious now. "Are you sure?"

Jun frowned. "What? Is it too much to ask? I know Ansung's an elite school, but I-"

"That's not the issue here, Captain," the voice cut him off. "I'm asking if you're sure your friend wants to go there."

Jun raised an eyebrow. Is he worried about the academic pressure or something? But since Jun himself didn't even attend for studying, it wasn't a big deal.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

A sigh came from the other end.

"Then that's that. Send me your friend's details. Tell him he can start school tomorrow."

Jun blinked. "…Wait, tomorrow? You can enroll a new student in just one day?!"

The voice scoffed, filled with both arrogance and a hint of self-proud. "It only takes one or two phone calls. Just who do you think I am, Captain?"

"Hah ha, guess you're right." Kim Jun laughed it off, trying to keep things light. But then, after a brief hesitation, he asked,

"And um… is Myung Gil… alright?"

A long silence followed.

Jun's fingers tensed around his phone.

"…Captain," the voice finally spoke, but it sounded different this time, heavy, serious. "I don't want to mock you or anything, but… don't tell me you really didn't know?"

Jun's heart skipped a beat.

"Didn't know what?"

Another silence. The kind that felt like a storm about to hit.

Then,

"Shin Myung Gil… that guy..... is DEAD."