Over the weekend, Sihyun refrained from visiting Hamin in the infirmary, ostensibly to allow him rest, but in truth, it was an excuse to avoid him. Confined to the dormitory, he pondered how to interact with Hamin moving forward but failed to reach a definitive conclusion as the weekdays approached. Fortunately, Hamin was still required to rest, exempting him from classes for the week.
The teachers, looking haggard, had apparently not heard that the mastermind behind the end-of-month evaluation incident had been caught. Given the time elapsed, their continued distress was understandable. It was then announced that the first semester’s second quarter end-of-month evaluation would be the last, a decision Sihyun had been forewarned about by the principal, allowing him to nod in agreement amidst the murmuring of his classmates, relieved at avoiding an awkward partner evaluation.
"It's not like avoiding the issue will solve anything..."
His mutter escaped as a sigh.
Avoiding Hamin and the incident was merely evasion. Sooner or later, they would have to confront each other, better sooner than later. Even Sihyun, inexperienced in relationships, knew it wasn't right to ignore the feelings of someone who had confessed to him.
However, knowing what to do and actually doing it were two different things.
It wasn't just a simple confession; there had been physical contact too, making any interaction with Hamin awkward. He hadn't decided how to respond, nor how to even begin or conclude the conversation. And it wasn't just Hamin's confession he had to consider.
He also had to figure out how to start and end his own story that he had planned to share over the weekend.
Deciding on a response to Hamin's confession had been straightforward, but how to convey it, that would come after sharing his own story.
With these complex thoughts, Sihyun attended class. Given it was the first class since the incident, the teacher focused more on explaining the new school policies resulting from the meeting rather than the lesson itself.
For the next week, classes would only be held in the morning, with the afternoon reserved for free training in the gym, provided no one trained alone to prevent any incidents. Similarly, during this heightened security period, personal outings were prohibited.
Except for Hamin, who had to spend another week in bed for recovery, Class A students adhered to this rule diligently. They used Sihyun's training room in groups of seven, always ensuring at least two were by Sihyun's side, acting as bodyguards.
Once, Sihyun, finding the overprotection suffocating, questioned why it was just him receiving such treatment. When he raised the issue, the kids unanimously responded that he was the most likely to get involved in trouble. Unable to argue, Sihyun resigned himself to their company.
Eventually, they moved in a group for everything but bathroom breaks, eliciting laughter from teachers by Friday. Initially pleased with their compliance, the teachers found their unchanging behavior amusing and endearing. The embarrassment was always Sihyun's to bear, while the kids remained proud.
As usual, Sihyun, blushing alone, felt embarrassed but diligently prepared his heart for the weekend. He took deep breaths and mentally rehearsed his speech. Time flew as Sihyun busied himself with preparations, and soon the weekend arrived.
To celebrate Hamin's discharge from the infirmary and to keep his promise, the kids gathered in Sihyun's training room, which felt more like a multipurpose room by now.
Hamin, seen for the first time in almost a week, looked healthier. Proper meals seemed to have replenished his previously gaunt face, and his lips, once chapped, now bore a healthy redness. Without realizing, Sihyun thought his lips looked softer and more inviting than before but quickly shook his head to dispel the thought.
The room buzzed with chatter as eight kids reunited for the first time in a while. They inquired about Hamin's wellbeing, joked about his week-long stay in the infirmary, and laughed at his complaints about the food.
Around thirty minutes into their lively exchange, Haewoon shifted the focus to Sihyun.
"So, why did Sihyun call us here?"
After an energetic discussion meant to alleviate boredom, Haewoon's question redirected the flow. The topic had shifted rapidly, eliciting laughter, and Sihyun, momentarily taken aback, seemed as if caught red-handed. Confusion spread across his face as he remembered his initial plan.
"Ah..."
Despite a week of contemplation and rehearsal, he found himself at a loss for words now that the moment had arrived. His mind blanked, leaving him to merely gulp down his nervousness as the kids awaited his explanation.
The once noisy training room fell silent.
The silence, normally comforting, felt oppressively tense, burdening Sihyun.
What should I say?
Feeling foolish, he was aware
of the seven pairs of eyes weighing heavily on him. How did it come to this? Sihyun recounted the past events in his dazed mind.
He had talked with Hamin when they were trapped in the shadow world, warning him of potential dangers from foreign guilds. Hamin had reacted angrily, accusing him of withholding too much information, prompting an apology from Sihyun. And then, and then…
"I'm not Kang Sihyun."
His own voice echoed clearly in his ears.
"If we get out of here, I'll tell you. Isn’t that why you called us?"
Hamin, as if reading Sihyun's mind, interjected at the perfect moment, helping him navigate the heavy memories. Sihyun, freed from the burden, looked directly at Hamin, who had not forgotten their conversation.
How did he remember everything amidst such chaos?
As if waiting for this moment to ask his question, Hamin helped Sihyun find the words. Surprised by Hamin's memory, Sihyun closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. His gaze settled on Daun, who bit her lip.
"Why are you two talking about something only you know? What's the story?"
As Sihyun's silence lengthened, Haewoon, growing puzzled, pressed for an answer. Hamin lightly scolded him, and Daun also gave him a look, signaling to wait patiently. In the room filled with anticipation, Sihyun chuckled softly.
This was why he had wanted to talk.
Because it was them.
He felt he could speak.
The emotions felt during their conversation in the shadow world returned. No matter how he reflected on it, Sihyun felt foolish, and the kids, kind. Overwhelmed with emotions, Sihyun slowly began to speak, his long eyelashes fluttering. The blue eyes held the seven kids in an embrace that felt too full.
"Where should I start…"
Without organizing his thoughts as he usually would, Sihyun spoke freely, believing it would be most effective and heartfelt. The kids listened intently to his slow, resonant voice.
"What do you think it would be like if you woke up from being hit by a car and found the world had changed?"
"…?"
Faced with a seemingly absurd statement, the kids looked perplexed. Yet, no one rashly dismissed his words as nonsense. From their reaction, Sihyun gathered courage to continue.
"That happened to me. After a car accident, I woke up to find everything changed. My room, my house, my parents, even the scenery outside the window. And... even my own body."
"…"
"Everything was different."
The heavy silence that followed his words left the kids speechless. Daun seemed to be the only one who immediately understood. It was expected; Sihyun wouldn't have grasped such a sudden and confusing story right away either. He gave the kids time to digest his words.
In the silence, they mulled over Sihyun's recent revelations. The varied eyes, initially filled with confusion, disbelief, and shock, gradually settled into calmness. Sihyun, ensuring they had time to follow his story, then spoke again.
"Remember the truth game we played during the courage test?"
Bringing up an old story, the kids who had been there grimaced slightly, except for Daun and Jihye who hadn't been present. Recalling how he had clung to his secret then, Sihyun took a deep breath and confessed.
"I'm not Kang Sihyun."
The biggest secret he had been hiding from them.
The start of an unpleasant secret he hadn't been able to disclose that day spilled from his red lips.
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