13. A New Beginning in a Foreign Place

Joon-hyuk stood in front of the school gate, staring at the building that loomed before him. The large sign at the entrance bore the name of his new elementary school, a place unfamiliar and distant from everything he once knew. The chattering voices of children filled the air, yet it all seemed so distant, muffled as if he were underwater.

He adjusted the straps of his backpack, inhaling deeply. The past few weeks had been a blur—a new home, a new guardian, a new environment. His father's old friend had taken him in, a man he barely knew but who had offered to look after him. It was an act of kindness, but Joon-hyuk could feel the tension in the household, the way the man's wife looked at him with poorly disguised pity and caution. They weren't cruel, but they didn't know how to treat him either. He was a reminder of something dark and tragic, an unspoken weight in the home.

Stepping into the schoolyard, Joon-hyuk immediately felt eyes on him. Whispers followed in his wake, some hushed and others more direct.

"Is that him? The kid from the news?"

"I heard he was involved in something really bad..."

"Why is he even here?"

Joon-hyuk ignored them, keeping his gaze forward. He had expected this. The media hadn't let go of the incident easily, and even though he was just a child, the rumors spread like wildfire. His past had followed him here.

The classroom was just as loud as the schoolyard, but when he entered, a brief silence fell over the students before they resumed their chatter in hushed tones. The teacher, a middle-aged woman with a gentle yet firm demeanor, introduced him.

"Everyone, this is Kang Joon-hyuk. He's a new student, so let's all do our best to make him feel welcome."

He gave a small bow, avoiding eye contact. The teacher gestured for him to take a seat near the back, next to a window. As he walked to his desk, he felt the weight of their stares.

The boy sitting next to him glanced over, his expression unreadable. "Hey. I'm Min Jae."

Joon-hyuk hesitated before nodding. "Joon-hyuk."

"I know," Min Jae said, not unkindly. "Everyone does."

Joon-hyuk tensed, waiting for the inevitable question or remark. But Min Jae only leaned back in his chair and added, "Just don't be a weirdo, and we'll get along fine."

It was the closest thing to acceptance he had received so far.

Lunch was another challenge. As he carried his tray to an empty table, the whispers intensified. No one approached him, and he didn't expect them to. He had learned to eat alone.

But then, a tray landed on the table across from him.

"What's up with everyone acting like you've got the plague?" Min Jae sat down, shoving a piece of food into his mouth. "Annoying."

Joon-hyuk stared at him, surprised. "You don't care?"

"I don't trust rumors. Besides, you don't look like a psycho." Min Jae smirked. "Unless you are?"

Joon-hyuk hesitated before shaking his head. "I'm not."

"Then we're good."

Another voice interrupted. "Hey, can I sit here too?"

A girl with short hair and bright eyes stood beside the table, looking more curious than cautious. Joon-hyuk recognized her from class—Han Ji-won, one of the top students.

"Go ahead," Min Jae shrugged.

Ji-won sat down and poked at her food. "You don't seem scary to me."

"I'm not," Joon-hyuk repeated, though he wasn't sure if he was convincing himself or them.

She hummed in response, seemingly satisfied. "Good. Then let's eat."

Slowly, Joon-hyuk felt some of the tension in his chest loosen.

Days passed, and though the whispers never fully disappeared, he found himself settling into a rhythm. Min Jae and Ji-won didn't treat him differently, and their presence acted as a shield against the worst of the gossip.

However, not everyone was so willing to accept him.

"You think you can just come here and act normal?" a voice sneered one afternoon as Joon-hyuk walked through the hallway.

A group of boys blocked his path, their leader stepping forward with a cruel smirk. "We don't want a murderer in our school."

Joon-hyuk's fingers clenched around the strap of his backpack, his pulse quickening. He didn't respond, knowing anything he said would only fuel them.

"What, got nothing to say?" The boy shoved his shoulder. "Or are you scared?"

Joon-hyuk took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. He had promised himself—no more violence. No more losing control.

Before he could react, another voice cut in.

"Back off."

Min Jae stood behind them, his hands in his pockets. "Unless you're looking to get your ass kicked."

The bullies hesitated. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Yeah? Well, I say it does." Min Jae's grin was anything but friendly. "And I'd love an excuse to fight."

The tension crackled before the bullies scoffed and backed away. "Whatever. Just watch yourself."

Joon-hyuk exhaled slowly, his grip loosening.

Min Jae nudged him. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Joon-hyuk met his gaze, something unspoken passing between them. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

As time passed, Joon-hyuk realized that while the past would always follow him, it didn't have to define him. For the first time in a long while, he felt something close to hope. Maybe, just maybe, this place could be a new beginning after all.