Chapter 4: The Beginning of a New Life
That morning, Ji Hoon sat on an old wooden bench near a small lake not far from his boarding house in Seoul. A gentle breeze lifted his hair, which was now straight and shiny. He stared at his hands for a long time, as if he still couldn't believe this unfamiliar body was truly his.
"How could this happen? Did I die yesterday and get reborn? Or is this just a long dream? But the pain of that beating, my fear, everything felt so real... And this body, this face, even this strength... it's not the old me. Is it possible... someone intentionally gave me this body?" Ji Hoon wondered to himself.
Ji Hoon pulled out his old phone, opened his browser, and typed in: "Woke up with a different body, why?" or "Suddenly became handsome and strong." But the results were only fictional articles, conspiracy theories, and teenage forums talking about isekai and reincarnation.
Ji Hoon closed the screen, letting out a sigh.
"There are no answers… this is all still a mystery. But… why me of all people?"
Suddenly, a small laugh was heard. Three high school girls in white-and-gray uniforms walked past him. When their eyes fell on Ji Hoon, their steps stopped.
"OMG… OMG… is that… an idol trainee?!"
"My god, he's more handsome than the drama actor I watched yesterday!"
"I… I can't stop looking at his eyes… he's… too perfect."
Their faces flushed, pushing each other shyly. One of them bravely waved.
"H-hi… can we take a picture together?"
Ji Hoon was startled, pointing to himself. "Huh? Me?"
The three of them nodded enthusiastically.
Ji Hoon stood up, his tall body radiating an aura that made the girls even more hysterical. Their phone cameras trembled as they took selfies, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling.
"Before… not a single girl wanted to sit next to me. They looked at me with disgust... called me a pig, trash, a loser. But now... I've become... a person they admire?"
Ji Hoon looked down, nervous. "I'm… not an idol. I'm just a normal person."
"A normal person couldn't possibly be this handsome!" one of them exclaimed, giggling shyly.
After saying thank you, they walked away with light steps, still turning back to look at him repeatedly. Ji Hoon just stood there, blushing. But the stares from other people from a distance began to feel suffocating. Some whispered, some openly took pictures of him.
Feeling uncomfortable, Ji Hoon quickly left. As he walked, he almost tripped on a small rock. Instinctively, his body spun once in the air, then landed perfectly with one hand to brace himself. Everyone around him was stunned, thinking he was an athlete or a model.
Ji Hoon himself was wide-eyed.
"Did I just do a flip? I've never even exercised seriously in my life..."
He started to run and was shocked to realize he could run for 3 kilometers without stopping, without getting out of breath.
The Next Day – First Day at a New High School
A large sign read:
"Chungnam High School of Technology & Arts"
The modern building soared high, filled with clear glass and a well-kept garden.
As soon as Ji Hoon stepped through the gate, the school's atmosphere became a buzz of activity. Whispers broke out among the crowd of students:
"Who is that?!"
"My god… he's insane, he looks like a drama actor!"
"Is he… a new student? Please tell me he's in my class, oh my God!"
"He's… too perfect, is this real?"
Girls stared without blinking, some whispering with flushed faces. Even a few female teachers glanced at him.
Meanwhile, the male students looked on with cynical expressions, their faces red with a mix of jealousy and feeling threatened.
Ji Hoon straightened his uniform, giving an awkward smile. He quietly murmured to himself:
"This... is a completely different world from the hell of my middle school days. But... can I survive here?"
Inside the Classroom
His new class was Digital Design & Animation. The room was filled with computers, posters of artwork, and modern chairs. As Ji Hoon walked in, all eyes immediately fell on him. The girls started acting extra friendly; some offered him a seat, others tried to strike up a conversation.
"Hi! What's your name?"
"You can sit here, next to me!"
"I can help you if you need anything."
The boys just scoffed, some whispering harshly:
"Hah… just relying on his looks."
"We'll see, being handsome won't get you far."
Ji Hoon gave an awkward smile, looked down, and sat in his chair. His heart was beating fast.
Break Time
When the break bell rang, Ji Hoon was once again the center of attention.
This time, a beautiful student named Jung Min Ji walked closer. Her long hair was shiny, her skin was fair and radiant, and her thin pink lips curved into a charming smile. She was known as the prettiest girl in their year.
Min Ji sat beside Ji Hoon, her face leaning in, her voice soft.
"You… must be the new student, right? What's your name?"
"I'm… Park Ji Hoon," he replied nervously.
"Ji Hoon…" Min Ji repeated slowly, as if savoring his name. "A name that suits your face."
>
The entire class watched with envy; some girls gaped at Min Ji's courage. Ji Hoon tried to keep his face from flushing.
Suddenly—
SMACK! A desk was hit hard. Everyone fell silent.
A tall, muscular man with a sharp glare rose from his seat. He was Lee Jae Hwan, the national junior boxing champion, known for being stubborn and full of ego.
He walked toward Ji Hoon, his sharp gaze piercing.
"Hey, pretty boy. Stand up."
Ji Hoon flinched, his heart pounding.
"Am I... going to be beaten up again? No... not here..."
But he stood with an innocent face, bowing his head slightly. "I... I'm sorry. I'm not looking for trouble."
Jae Hwan scoffed, glancing at Min Ji, who was clearly looking at Ji Hoon with a flushed face. His anger boiled over.
"You bastard, you think I didn't see? You're trying to steal Min Ji from me?!"
The class erupted in a buzz.
"Whoa! Ji Hoon is going to get beaten up!"
"He just has good looks, there's no way he can fight Jae Hwan!"
"Don't forget, Jae Hwan is a boxing champion! Ji Hoon is finished."
Jae Hwan immediately threw a punch towards Ji Hoon's face. A fast punch—so fast that the other students couldn't even follow it with their eyes.
But... for Ji Hoon, the punch was slow.
His eyes widened.
"I... I can see his movements?!"
Instinctively, Ji Hoon shifted his head, and the punch missed. All the students screamed in shock.
"W-what?! He dodged it?!"
"Impossible! No one can dodge Jae Hwan's punches!"
>
Jae Hwan's face turned bright red. Being embarrassed in front of Min Ji was the biggest disgrace for him. He immediately attacked again with a brutal combo—a jab, a hook, an uppercut. The air in the classroom vibrated with his speed.
Ji Hoon stumbled back, cornered against the wall, panicked. His breath was ragged.
"Damn it... I can see it, but my body isn't used to it yet! I... I'm going to die here... again..."
But as Jae Hwan threw his final, knockout punch, Ji Hoon's hand suddenly moved on its own.
BLAM!
He caught Jae Hwan's fist with one hand.
The room fell silent.
Ji Hoon's eyes changed. They were a pitch black with white rings, sharp, cold, and emotionless. He stared straight at Jae Hwan, full of intimidation.
Jae Hwan's body shivered, his hand trembling despite being held.
"What... are those eyes... they're not human. I... I'm facing a... monster!"
The entire class held its breath, their faces pale. Min Ji even covered her mouth, shocked and stunned.
Ji Hoon stood tall, still gripping his opponent's fist.
His low voice was flat, piercing:
"I told you... I'm not looking for trouble."
To Be Continued...?