Sometime later, Zeon woke up one morning — crying, gasping, and sitting bolt upright in bed. For a long, terrifying moment, he was still trapped in the scene: many people gathered on a street, and he was standing there, frozen. Another child lay on the ground, covered in blood. The sound of an ambulance wailed closer and closer.
A woman rushed over to the injured child, sobbing as she called out, “my child.” Then she spun around — her eyes wild with rage — and faced Zeon.
Woman (regretful and furious, pointing at Zeon): Wake up, my child! This is YOUR fault — why did he get into an accident? You’re the one who needs to be blamed! I wish my son never made a friend like you! I wish I never trusted my son to you! It would never have happened to him if you weren’t there! This is your fault — it should be you lying here, not my son!
Slowly, Zeon blinked. He looked down at his hands — they were shaking, but clean. He scanned his room: no street, no ambulance, no screaming woman. It was all gone. He wiped the tears from his face, his voice trembling: “It’s just a nightmare. It’s not real.” He was sweating so much his shirt stuck to his back, his heart thudding so hard he could feel it in his ears. After taking a few deep, shaky breaths to calm down, Zeon sighed quietly: “Why did I remember that? It’s all in the past now.”
Then, at school, Hoon suddenly shouted out:
Hoon: Guys, guys! You won’t believe this — I have good news!
Classmates (yelling): What is it, Hoon? What’s your good news?
Hoon: I heard from our teacher — we’re getting a new classmate! They say he’s smart and comes from a poor family. I also heard his mother died when he was 15, and now he lives on his own.
Classmates: Really? What a poor kid!
They all laughed.
The teacher walked in right after:
Teacher: Class, quiet down. We have a new transfer student. Sonyoung, you can come in now.
The new student entered. Zeon was lying on his chair, muttering under his breath:
Zeon: Another useless poor kid. Bet he won’t last long like the other “rags” who came before.
Teacher: Sonyoung, introduce yourself to your classmates.
Sonyoung (shyly): My name’s Sonyoung. Nice to meet you.
Zeon (muttering again): How rude...
Suddenly, Zeon looked up at the new student, his eyes wide with shock — and he stood up shouting:
Zeon: Ren!
Ren (confused, looking back at him): How did you know my nickname?
Zeon (flustered, stumbling over his words): A-ah, you just heard wrong! I said “rainbow yes — I said rainbow!”
Classmates: [burst out laughing]
Hoon: Bro, stop joking I heard you said “Ren,” not “rainbow!”
Zoen- l.. I'm not joking around I really said rainbow not Ren.
They laughed even harder than before.
Zeon (yelling): S- shut up!
Teacher: Class quiet — Zeon, sit down now.
Zeon immediately sat down and clenched his fists in anger. Hoon leaned over from behind and spoke to him:
Hoon: Bro, bro!
Zeon: What?
Hoon: (asking softly, still laughing a little) Do you know our new classmate?
Zeon: No! Stop annoying me.
Hoon: You’re so dismissive.
Teacher: Sonyoung, do you have anything else to say? Like your hobbies or what you like to do?
Sonyoung: No, sir.
Teacher: Alright, you can sit over there in the last seat.If you need any help to Zeon.
Zoen- sir.....
Teacher - Zeon after school please help arrange Sonyuong dorm.
