Chapter 7 -

After asking around for my locker, I finally found it. I sighed as I shut the locker door, grabbing my books. Any kind of school book seemed dead to me until now.

Eliam had no reason to even touch me this morning. What was the purpose? Jaehwa wasn't around. Did Eliam like me? Just joking. Definitely not. I've had multiple embarrassing moments where my delusional self thought someone was in love with me, and I am NOT going through that again.

Maybe it's normal to kiss people here. I don't even know anymore; I just want school to be over. Compared to my real school, everything here was a snooze fest. I was in the same class as Jaehwa, which was delightful.

As soon as I got to class early and sat down, Jaehwa plopped himself next to me, out of all the empty chairs.

"Hey, cutie pie," Jaehwa smirked, his tone playful.

"Call me that again and I will actually jump out of the window."

"Fine, then what about just 'cutie'?"

"What about you go die?"

I said, feeling like I was about to collapse internally before the class even started. This was so corny—what kind of frightening nightmare was this??

"Awh? But would you go to my funeral, cutie?"

"Of course I would! Absolutely. I'd arrange all of it, and then have your body thrown at anyone attending."

"Really? Like... This!?" Jaehwa threw himself on me, causing both of us to tumble to the floor.

I opened my eyes to find Jaehwa holding my waist to keep me from hitting my head on the table. I may have maintained eye contact for a bit too long.

"Get the flip off! People are gonna see you...!" I complained, trying to push him away.

"See 'me.'? Why not 'us'? You worry too much."

Jaehwa pulled me closer, looking down at me from his tall height, our faces nearly touching. I hoped I wasn't turning red.

I was about to slap him when I heard a voice. I immediately knew who it was; no one else could cast such a tall shadow from that distance.

"Jaehwa... May I ask why you aren't letting go of the guy?" Daehyun's voice was calm and low, with a hint of interest.

Jaehwa let go of me slowly, wearing an annoyed expression, while I eagerly scrambled out of his grip.

"Hi... So... Jaehwa saved me from an injury. That's all. Bye." I blurted out in front of Daehyun, then turned to retreat to my seat.

I felt a large hand grasp my shoulder. "What's your name again?" Daehyun asked, his voice resonant and deep.

"I-I'm Leon. Thanks." I stammered, eager to get back to my seat. 

For the rest of the class, I was a nervous wreck, shifting in my seat. I hadn't expected Daehyun to show up so early.

When the bell rang, I hastily exited the classroom, ignoring Jaehwa's calls. If I befriended him, Jaehwa might just throw me away to get back with Eliam. No need to waste time on that.

Maybe I should distance myself from Eliam too. Not now, but just a thought for the future. I don't want Jaehwa or Daehyun to hurt me because I fell in love with Eliam or something like that. Which I'm not, by the way. I just feel attached to Eliam. That's all it is. I don't really understand what love is. That's why I spend my days reading romance.

I'm being so dramatic right now. What am I? A hopeless romantic? Thinking about romance while staring at my food from the cafeteria, which is approximately ten times better than the food at my old school? Well, yes I am! I'm starved of real life romance, but at least the fried chicken here isn't made half-assed.

My thoughts were interrupted by a soft clink on the table where I was eating alone. Huh? Okay. I didn't think anyone would sit with a "gay freak."

I looked up, expecting a stranger or finally a new friend. I'd definitely like to meet someone other than Eliam or Jaehwa.

But it was none other than Daehyun, his hair slicked back, not wearing his blue uniform vest, just like this morning. Right. He probably hates me for that stupid confession that I did NOT even make. I wondered how he would torment me, especially since I knew he had a girlfriend. Sorry for mentioning it late, but I do remember him dumping his girlfriend for Eliam in the story. It was so subtly placed that I had totally forgotten.

"Oh..! Hi. Lunch is good today," I said bluntly, gazing at my food as I stuffed a spoonful into my mouth.

Daehyun observed me carefully as he sat down. The people around us began to look intently, like we had suddenly become the center of attention. Which I totally understood.

"Noticed how lonely you were here. The only table with one person, huh?"

"Well, I think everyone would hate someone who publicly confessed to a guy who has a girlfriend in front of everyone. But that's just my opinion."

I said, focusing even more on my food to avoid Daehyun's gaze.

Daehyun fixed his steady, probing look on me, as if he were genuinely interested in all the nonsense I was spouting.

"Not everyone, Leon."

"Yes, everyone. You can go back to your original seat if you're done with your... whatever. I don't know." I sighed.

"But this is my seat that I chose," Daehyun said firmly.

"Well... then... okay. I'll go now." I grabbed my empty tray and left, hoping not to interact with him further. I didn't know what he had seen from the "me" of this world. It was way too embarrassing.

I hadn't really dwelled on it, but I wondered what had happened to the Leon of this world. Maybe he died when I transmigrated or something along those lines. Am I just his replacement, and I have to correct all his weird flaws? Yikes.

I threw my tray in the bin and walked away. Well, that was a nice interaction, I guess? I was amazed that Daehyun didn't just humiliate me on the spot, which he had all the power to do.

I turned back, and Daehyun was still eating his food, rather elegantly, I guess. I looked away as soon as he stared back at me.

People started gathering around him as soon as I left. I guess no one here really likes me at all.

I sat in a hidden, isolated grassy lawn next to a large tree, near the school fence. It reminded me of our hideout area in middle school that my friends had named "the grass." It was such a stupid name, Sam came up with it. Yet now, I was having flashbacks to the lame, low-budget picnics we had together.

The sky was blue here though. In my old hideout, blue, cloudless skies were rare in the winter months, due to the burning of crops and factories and such in my country. In here, the skies might be beautiful, but yet the loneliness was felt everywhere.

I shut my vision, hoping that if I kept them shut long enough, I'd open them to find myself back in reality. Back where I came from. Where I belong.

"Leon?" 

Daehyun's voice startled me from my very emotional flashback.

I opened my eyes and sat up immediately, becoming self-conscious. "What are you doing here?"

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier. I originally wanted to apologize for affecting the way people think of you," he said, his tone considerate and understanding.

Oh. I forgot—he was only a red flag and overly obsessive with the people he was in love with, and only attacked those he hated or who got in his way. But regarding meeting friends or strangers, he was totally fine, unlike Jaehwa. Maybe it's just fine to talk to this guy. It's not like I'm in his way if he goes after Eliam. I think.

"No, no. It's not your fault, and it shouldn't be your problem. You didn't need to say sorry at all." I sighed, dropping my head in shame.

"About your confession—"

"No, don't say anything! Gosh... sorry..." I accidentally raised my voice. It's not like I was even the one in control when I confessed; I'm unclear why I feel guilty.

At least I didn't have class with Jaehwa or Daehyun for the rest of the day, though it was pretty lonely. Sad, but better than being messed with by Jaehwa.

That evening, Jaehwa didn't come around to bother Eliam. Must be some lovers' quarrel or something. This didn't happen in the original plot, so I wasn't sure what could have happened.

Eliam greeted me the usual way, with a friendly smile and a hug. I supposed school wouldn't be so bad. No one dared to talk to me, for better or worse. That meant I wouldn't get bullied, ever since Jaehwa scared them off.

It seemed that I wouldn't need to worry until next week when the deal with Jaehwa I stupidly made came into fruition. I was uncertain what he was trying to do or how this would make Eliam come back to him. Everything was shrouded in mystery from my perspective. 

The only thing to do was wait and find out.

In the meantime, I could enjoy talking with Eliam. He was really like a friend, though I didn't always understand his ways or what he truly had on his mind. Those kisses? It's probably nothing—a weird way to express friendship. But I'm not one to judge.