Vasco stood off to the side, catching his breath.
Hyunjin stepped closer.
Then crouched down "I know about you, Jin Jang." Jin's eyes shifted.
"What?"
Hyunjin rested his arm on his knee "According to Johan, he doesn't know you're still doing things like this."
"Scams side deals.. probably more."
Jin's eyes widened "H-how do you know that?"
Hyunjin smiled "I have my ways."
Jin swallowed.
Hyunjin leaned in just a little "You're smart."
"You know this could ruin Johan's position as successor."
Jin said nothing because it was true.
"Join me." The words landed simply "I could use someone like you."
Jin's eyes flickered, thinking.
"I need information about Workers hideouts."
Jin's expression tightened.
"Don't say, you don't know."
"You're the type who collects everything, Every Information and movements."
"That's your strength."
Jin exhaled "I can tell you about Workers."
"But I can't join you."
Hyunjin didn't react, Just looked at him.
Hyunjin stared at him for a second longer.
A small smile, he stood up "Information is enough for now."
He turned "But think about it opportunities like this don't come twice."
Jin didn't answer.
But his eyes were thinking.
From the side
Vasco looked at Hyunjin.
Then glance back at Jin.
Zack arrived breathing slightly heavy "We made it-"
He stopped, looked around "Looks like we're late."
----
Next day.
Jiho stood in front of a mirror, sweat on his face, chest rising and falling fast.
He'd been trying to work out.
Push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Anything.
But after just a few reps, his arms gave out.
He dropped to the floor.
Breathing hard.
Shaking.
Images flashed in his mind
Zack,Vasco and Daniel.
All stronger and better.
"Why can't I do anything.." He clenched his fists.
But even that felt weak.
He slammed the floor "Useless."
His eyes shifted something on the ground a knife.
He stared at it.
Longer than he should have.
His breathing slowed "I can't get stronger.."
"But I can still do something."
He picked it up, his grip tightened.
-Outside
"Jiho!" His mother's voice.
"Your friend is here!" Jiho didn't answer.
"Jiho?"
...
-Pool Hall
The sound of balls clacking.
James stood near a table showing the ball
Jiho walked in.
His hand trembling but still holding the knife.
"Hey."
James turned "Huh?"
That's when, Jiho rushed forward.
Slashed.
SHK
"What the hell?!"
Jiho stood there eyes wide "Do you think I'm weak?"
James stared at him.
Jiho took a step.
And tripped and fell.
The knife clattered away.
James exhaled "Yeah."
He grabbed a pool stick "I do."
He swung.
THUD.
Jiho cried out.
Another hit
CRACK.
Jiho tried to crawl back
But couldn't.
"STOP!" Daniel rushed in.
Grabbed the stick.
Pulled James back "Enough!"
He turned to Jiho "Run!"
Jiho looked up.
Breathing hard.
But instead of relief, his face twisted "Why are you here."
Daniel blinked "What?"
Jiho pushed himself up "Mind your own business."
Daniel frowned "Jiho, we're friends."
Jiho laughed "Friends?"
He looked at Daniel "How can you understand me?"
"You?".His voice cracked.
"You have everything."
Daniel shook his head.
"That's not true, You have Lil Daniel."
"You have Duke."
"We still care about you."
That made it worse.
Jiho's eyes hardened "Don't act like you understand."
He shoved James
Jiho pushed
They stumbled backwards.
Toward the window.
Then
CRASH.
Glass shattered.
Daniel and James fell out.
Silence
Jiho stood there.
Frozen.
Breathing heavy looking at the broken window.
His hands shaking "What did I do?"
----
Three Weeks Later
A lot changed.
Daniel learned something he shouldn't have, Charles Choi knew about his second body.
That truth alone was enough to shake everything.
Before he could even process it things got worse.
Logan Lee found him with Zoe.
After that daniel ran.
Zoe..
Rumors spread fast that she was "dating" Logan now.
Jiho, with that incident.
The consequences of that was..
Two years of Prison.
Daniel's second body was Hospitalized for Three weeks.
Then Daniel came back.
Fought Logan.
A bet, everything on the line.
He won it.
After the fight he collapsed.
And when he opened his eyes again, white ceiling.
Beeping machines.
His second body was awake after three weeks.
Meanwhile Hyunjin stayed quiet.
Because he chose not to interfere till God Dog Arc.
His novel exploded.
"WORD" became a name people recognized.
Top rankings, Discussions everywhere.
No one knew who he was but everyone knew his work.
Volume 2 finished.
Volume 3 was scheduled next week.
Momentum was unstoppable.
At J-High his presence grew with the characters.
And outside school
He trained with Geon for experience.
For three times.
He met with Mary Kim because of Vin Jin
Afterwards Their paths crossed
With conversations.
....
-Present J-High.
Students gathered whispers spreading again "Did you hear?"
"He's back, Daniel park is back."
Daniel walked in
With changes, awaken, something Changed.
In classroom Hyunjin watched.
The story wasn't slowing down.
If anything It was about to get worse.
The God Dog's are coming to J-high.