The next morning didn't feel special at all.
Alarm went off. I turned it off. Lay there for a bit, staring at the ceiling like I always do. Same crack. Same stain. Still ugly.
I sighed and got up.
I checked the mirror again out of habit. Still young. Still annoying. At this point, I was already getting used to it, which felt wrong in its own way.
Breakfast was the same boring stuff. Rice, eggs, soup. My mom asked if I was tired. I said no. She told me not to forget something for school. I said okay.
Nothing weird.
Walking to school felt easier today. My legs moved without thinking. I wasn't rushing. I wasn't dragging myself either. Just walking.
At school, everything felt the same as yesterday.
Same noise. Same people. Same dumb ass energy in the hallway.
I went to class and sat down. Window seat again. I didn't even think about choosing it. It just felt right.
The teacher talked. I listened when I needed to.
Zoned out when I didn't.
Someone behind me dropped their pen. I leaned back and caught it without looking.
I paused for a second.
"…Here," I said, handing it back.
They muttered thanks. Nobody else noticed.
Good.
During break, Minjae kicked the leg of my desk lightly.
"You're awake early lately," he said.
"Yeah."
"You dying or something?"
"No."
He nodded like that explained it and walked off.
Lunch was quiet. I ate slower than usual, mostly because I wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere.
People passed by, talking loud about random shit. Tests. Games. Drama I didn't care about.
Someone bumped my chair. I adjusted without looking.
At this point, it was getting a little annoying how automatic everything felt.
P.E. was after lunch. Of course it was.
We lined up outside. Sun was annoying. The ground smelled like dust and sweat.
The teacher explained the drills. Running. Pair stuff. Nothing serious.
When it was my turn, I kept it basic. Didn't go
fast. Didn't try hard.
Still, a few people looked at me funny.
One guy whispered, "He's kinda smooth."
I pretended not to hear it.
During one drill, a guy tripped and almost face-planted. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back up.
"Shit, thanks," he said.
"Watch your step," I replied.
The teacher looked at me for a second longer than I liked.
I looked away.
After school, I headed out alone.
Halfway home, I heard yelling again. Same area as yesterday. Guess that spot just attracts dumb shitty ass arguments.
Two guys arguing over something stupid.
Voices raised. Hands moving too much.
I tried to walk past.
One of them shoved the other. The second guy stumbled and almost hit me.
I caught him by the shoulder.
"Careful," I said.
He looked at me, surprised. "Uh… yeah."
The other guy opened his mouth like he wanted to say something smart.
"Dude," I said, already tired, "just go home."
There was a pause.
Then he clicked his tongue and turned away.
I let go and kept walking.
Again, my heart didn't even react.
That bothered me more than it should have.
At home, I dropped my bag and sat at my desk.
Homework didn't take long. Most of it felt stupidly easy now.
Later, I went out to the convenience store.
Bought a drink. Stood outside for a bit.
People walked by. Cars passed. Nothing special.
On the way back, I ran into Minjae again.
"You avoiding people now?" he asked.
"Not really."
"You keep walking home alone."
"So?"
He laughed. "Fair."
We walked together for a bit.
"You feel different," he said.
"You already said that."
"Yeah, but like… calmer. You used to get pissed easily."
I thought about that.
"Guess I grew up."
He snorted. "In two days?"
"Feels like it."
He didn't push it.
That night, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling again.
I wasn't thinking about changing things. I wasn't planning anything big.
I was just… here.
The next few days went like that.
Small stuff kept happening.
Someone pushing someone else. Me stepping in without thinking.
Someone asking if I trained somewhere. Me saying no.
Someone watching me a little too closely during P.E.
It wasn't dramatic. Just noticeable.
On Friday, during cleaning duty, a guy I barely knew asked, "You good at fighting or something?"
I shrugged. "Not really."
"Bullshit," he said, half joking.
I didn't answer.
At lunch, Minjae sighed and leaned back.
"People are talking," he said.
"About what?"
"You."
I took a sip of my drink. "About what, exactly?"
"About whether you're strong."
I shrugged. "Compared to who?"
He stared at me. "See? That shit right there."
"What?"
"You act like you don't care."
"I don't."
"That's what makes it weird."
After school, I stayed behind for a bit. Hallways were quieter. Cleaning crews doing their thing.
Two guys were messing around near the stairs.
Play-fighting. Laughing too loud.
One swung too wide.
I stepped back without thinking.
He missed by a mile.
Everyone froze for half a second.
Then someone laughed it off and things moved on.
I kept walking.
That night, it finally clicked.
I wasn't doing anything special.
I wasn't trying to show off.
I wasn't trying to hide.
Iwas just being myself.
And apparently, that was enough to make people curious.
I lay back on my bed.
Same ceiling. Same crack.
Still ugly.
I closed my eyes.
Monday was coming again.
And yeah.
That was fine.