07: The phantom

September 25, 2018.

Takayama, Japan. 12:35 PM.

The recess bell had rung a couple of minutes earlier, and some students gathered in the school cafeteria while others wandered the hallways and classrooms, loudly talking, laughing, and occasionally shouting in excitement. Even though no one stopped to think about their futures at that moment, they knew that this present would become yet another memory of their youth—whether bitter, sweet, or bittersweet—that would stay with them for life. While schools might not be the safest place for a teenager, they had a significant impact on their development, perhaps even more than their parents. Schools were always the places where lost children could be found, trying to fill voids in various ways. Cigarettes, bullying, unrestrained sex, video games, and much more. While some masked their problems with excessive sports or excessive studying, a few hearts could find nothing but hatred for everyone and everything.

Schools were like jungles, where it was easy to become prey for those who had already found their territory and their pack. These packs would always find someone to torment at the slightest opportunity, and lunchtime was their favorite time. For foreigners in countries with such closed mentalities, criticism, ridicule, and even inexplicable hatred from certain people were inevitable. Sooner or later, Junseo would become the target of these behaviors, and it was up to him to either fend for himself or let others oppress him.

For his role, perhaps it was best to stay silent and avoid drawing attention. But for his pride, it was hard not to retaliate and make it clear that he wouldn't be an easy target.

It all started in the morning. Small remarks, hidden mockery, silly laughs aimed at excluding him. Of course, he couldn't have cared less. As long as he was with Alexandra, he'd probably be fine, as he would be under the protection his brother had inadvertently granted her with his reputation. Once he was alone, they wouldn't hesitate to strike.

It was humiliating—for a twenty-one-year-old man to be harassed by high school students was undoubtedly one of the most incredibly shameful things he might have to endure. So, he tried to escape his fate throughout the first period.

By lunchtime, he had already forgotten about it.

He went out to buy drinks to share lunch with Alexandra, as he had managed to have long conversations with her enough to consider her a "friend." Though it was still superficial.

The vending machines were beyond the store, near the sports courts, which at that time were deserted. It was the perfect place for troublesome students to gather and, on occasion, sneak a cigarette. There was a couple in Junseo's classroom, seemingly boyfriend and girlfriend, who enjoyed making inappropriate remarks and jokes to make everyone else feel uncomfortable. Junseo didn't even realize they were there near the courts; he was too focused on trying to count the coins in his hand, hoping they'd be enough for two drinks: a peach soda for Alexandra and a lemon cider for himself.

"Oh? It's the gaijin," the girl's irritating voice rang out, hanging onto her boyfriend's arm.

"Hey, gaijin, buy us something to drink, will ya?" The guy spoke in a strange tone, a kind of voice Junseo had trouble understanding.

Gradually, not only they but also all their friends gathered around, probably there just to avoid going against them.

Junseo ignored them.

"Hey, are you ignoring me?"

As he spoke, he moved closer to Junseo, leaving his girlfriend behind. He threw the cigarette butt he had been smoking to the ground behind him.

"Damn gaijin."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were talking to me," Junseo finally turned around, still holding the coins and not yet having bought the drinks. "Unfortunately, I'll have to decline the offer."

A frustrated groan escaped from the guy.

"Are you retarded? Buy me a damn drink."

With his index finger he tapped Junseo's chest several times, who was trying to maintain a friendly smile. Although a soft twitch in his eye betrayed his frustration.

It wouldn't be difficult to knock him out, in fact it would solve many of his problems during his stay, but he had promised to keep a low profile to suit his goals. Furthermore, he was also meant to be a third year student, a role model. The boy in front of him raised his hand about to hit him and in this way he found his refuge. After all, it would be for defense and there would be no more problems than a small wake-up call. However, when he raised his face, realizing that the blow had been slow in coming, he met with Vasiliy's broad back, blocking his body like a wall between Junseo and his attacker.

The guy who had almost raised his hand collapsed at his girlfriend's feet, completely unconscious. A direct hit to the solar plexus had taken all the air out of him.

"Bastard, didn't they teach you not to touch what's not yours?" His Japanese, though rough and heavily accented, was clear. Every word was said with proper intonation and pronunciation.

He then turned toward Junseo, staring at him intently without showing any expression—like a blank canvas. After a long moment, in which Junseo eventually felt uncomfortable under Vasiliy's penetrating and cold gaze, he awkwardly thanked him and gave another delicate smile.

But Vasiliy didn't even acknowledge him and left without saying a word, dragging his feet through the school hallways with a lazy gait that made little sense at that time of the afternoon. Junseo bowed to the friends of his would-be aggressor and offered to notify the nurse. His drinks were completely forgotten. By the time he returned to class, it had already started a while ago. He entered carefully, trying not to draw attention, and sat down with his face resting between his arms on the desk.

He felt his body burning again, for no reason. Like fire, it consumed him from the inside out, draining every drop of oxygen from his body until he was left thirsty and exhausted.

Alexandra occasionally glanced at him, trying to understand the cause of his apparent despondency. When she had the chance, she placed a hand on his back to get his attention. The heat radiating from him made her think he might be coming down with a cold and that perhaps it was just a fever he was trying to hide.

The next day, Junseo missed school. And the day after that. And the day after that.

At first, he excused himself with an illness, but after a couple of long weeks, even the teachers stopped asking about him, nor did they ask anyone to bring his class notes. Alexandra had no choice but to ask, but even the teachers couldn't give her a proper answer. She wanted to call him, to know if he was alive or not, but she didn't have his contact details. Just as suddenly as he had arrived, he disappeared.

"What did you do to him?" she asked one afternoon as they walked from school to the station.

"I don't have time for whatever you're imagining, Sasha."

Although she hated admitting it, she knew he was telling the truth.

Since then, she had struggled a bit with creating designs, and her mother's pressure didn't help much. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, no matter how much she wanted to. She spent the nights pacing from corner to corner in her room, frustrated at not being able to get her ideas to work.

Where was Lee Taeyang? And why had he left so suddenly? Did it have something to do with his father, his brother? Had he left because of the bullying? Why did everything seem to be against her? She didn't understand. Just like she didn't understand her father's mutterings trying to placate the vendors or her mother's constant reminders to meet the monthly quota.

All the freedom she had once felt slipped away with Taeyang and his Samaritan smile that always brightened her day.

Her wings of freedom were once again shackled to reality.

She knew there was no way back when, after half a month, she received a letter from Taeyang. It detailed how his parents had found out about the bullying and had decided to take him back to Korea. She became so angry that she finally found the inspiration to create something—a weapon that would become the desire of anyone with military power. Known as "The Heart of Persephone," no one knew what it was or how it worked, but its destructive power was so immense that it was soon auctioned for an exorbitant amount of money.

Because, after all, Alexandra and Vasiliy belonged to a world completely different from Taeyang's, and there was no way—or power—that could change that.