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Chapter 20 - Forward

Jun-lee was preparing to leave the desert. He smiled at what he accomplished. It was one of the first genuine smiles. Jun-lee knew it would be the last time eating meat. They got back to District SK-S2 in a few minutes. Seokjin generated a car, and they were taking it for a spin. Jun-lee took a baseball bat and began hitting mailboxes. It was nighttime, so it did cause a commotion. They stopped at a mountain cliff and sat by the road near it. Jun-lee had cans of beer. They lay down with a view of the night city. He finally moved on and could find happiness. "Jun-lee, do you know why I left you?" Seokjin asked. "So, I can finally learn not always to need people to help me.", Jun-lee answered, while taking a sip. Seokjin looked at Jun-lee as they fist-pumped. "Can you believe Seul-gi came back to the city to visit? Now it's your chance.", Seokjin said to Jun-lee. Jun-lee looked at him, surprised, then looked down with a small smile. "I can stop this whole miscommunication.", Jun-lee said. Jun-lee went to the car to change the radio to Tame Impala- Cause I'm a Man. A few hours later, they drove to a place Seokjin recommended. The place was Gyoyuk-Hagwoon, the place Jun-lee taught at. Jun-lee felt a hint of nostalgia for a long moment, as walking around the school triggered the memory of being there again. He touched the wall, as he saw everything was decaying. Nothing was actually staying intact. The roof was crumbling, the floor had corroded, and the wall had mold. Jun-lee still looked at it as the same school. He knew all his students had died. It was the feeling of nostalgia, remembering his students dancing and cheering, with Xi, who was always gloomy and quiet. Not the new Xi with a girlfriend. He smiled, and then began crying, because he had never seen a place with so many memories. He stopped crying, and they both sat down in the football (soccer) spectator area. He remembered his students taking a photo with him, happy and carefree. He thought he should also finally be as happy as they were. He walked back to the boys' bathroom. He looked through the mirror. No longer the skinny teacher, brown bowl cut, glasses, now black wolf cut, piercings on ears, nose, mouth with biceps and a body of a Greek God, but not too muscular, just average strong built on the outside, but immensely strong on the outside. He remembered being the weak peasant to now the 'Fallen Angel'. They drove back to the dorms and dropped off Jun-lee. He was welcomed by everyone also Seul-gi and Ha-eun. They threw a surprise party, with the people who knew Jun-lee so much. Langit walked up to him and smirked. "I'm going to train you to the point where you're going to wish for another break.", Langit said. "You're on.", Jun-lee said with a smirk as they shook hands. Xi made vegan dumplings, salads, and ramen. Jun-lee was starving, and he wanted to eat the meal now, but he maintained his composure. Xi looked at Jun-lee, surprised. "It's been too long since I've seen you so happy.", Xi said. "I could say the same about you; maybe a girl came into your life.", Jun-lee said, trying to play dumb, knowing Xi and the director are dating. Xi and the director blushed, as the others looked at Xi, wanting to know who it is. The director nodded at Xi, and she walked up to him and grabbed his arm. "It's me," Anna said. Jun-lee looked at the director with a smile. "That's good, but don't get pregnant early," Jun-lee said, teasing them. Anna playfully kicked him, embarrassed by the statement. The director went to drink vodka. Jun-lee was left with Seul-gi. "Hi," Seul-gi said. He smiled, "Yo, been a minute. Ha-eun, are you taking care of her?" Jun-lee asked. "Yes, sir," Ha-eun said as she stood up like a soldier. Jun-lee tried not to laugh, but Seul-gi did the honors and laughed her ass off. Jun-lee and Seul-gi went to the rooftop. "Hey, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye," Seul-gi told Jun-lee. Jun-lee began laughing, and he said, "Do you think I keep grudges?" Seul-gi looked up at him and also began laughing. She thought to herself, 'He finally moved on. My fear is gone now. It's the first time in a while I've seen Jun-lee laughing and smiling without thinking any miserable things.' She was right; it had been a while. Jun-lee, good job. "Thanks, narrator," he said. They looked at holograms of the night city. A. I. girlfriends for free holograms. Coca-Cola cans as holograms. Everything looked like the future again, because they knew it would be their last time speaking. 

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