Hansol stared at Jay who's staring to fall asleep at the couch in his office after finishing half of Hansol's lunch that he only offered to be polite, but the kid took it literally.
"Kid! If you're done writing your incident report, can you please get out at once?" Hansol rudely told the kid. He was starting to get into Hansol's nerves.
He hates this kind of behavior.
"But Sir, I want to stay here longer. It's comfy. Can I do it a little later?" Jay asked as he dropped his shame and laid on the couch comfortably.
Hansol rolled his eyes and covered him with a comforter. It reminded him when he was first offered the job of being the guidance counselor. He wasn't supposed to take it, but the comfort of having office with a couch and AC tempted him. Now here he is.
"Don't make a fucking noise you little punk, or I'll kick you out immediately." He warned, then let a student in.
First was to testify against Jay was a classmate, Choi Jaeho who was first in line. He even had lunch outside the office.
The moment he walked in, he locked the door, pulled the chair in front of Hansol's table anxiously. "Sir, Jay's falsely accused. We've seen him solve a tricky problem at Physics, it's no surprise he also knows Trigonometry. Miss Yuri is just not happy that the whole class didn't fail her test and won't give her special project. If you know what I mean." He manage to say every word without breathing.
Jay heard it. He was still awake, just resting.
"All you kids have to do is testify against her, why can't you? Nobody's going to believe you unless others would back you up with this story. Why is the student body not united? Why are the others protecting her?" Hansol asked.
Jaeho lowered his head suddenly. "But it was the truth." His voice suddenly broke. Hansol thought it was sad as well. Every time things like this happens, only three people would tell the truth while the others keep silent.
Many other students were expelled for telling the truth before, including Hansol's favorite students. It was heartbreaking with him. Even other teachers got fired because of it. The only reason why he's still here is to give students a someone to trust.
"Can you drop this one Mr. Ji?" Jaeho asked. "He just transferred."
Hansol bit his lips. "I have my ways." He told Jaeho. Don't worry about it. Nothing will happen to your friend. You're good to go."
Jaeho went out and another student came in,, Choi Jongho.
"Mr. Ji, you know what happened. You know how Miss Yuri is. Jay's a transfer student. He doesn't know how to avoid trouble yet." The guy spoke.
Jay was now curious. What's this thing that Miss Yuri does that Mr. Ji already know?
"That's perfect then. He's not like everyone else. He can fight back without fear." Hansol told Jongho.
The kid was hesitant. "What if it gets traumatic and he ends up like..." He paused and can no longer continue. Now Jay was alarmed. End up like who?
How far does Miss Yuri go?
Hansol shook his head with a blank expression. "I promise you, it won't get that far." He reassured Jongho.
"What if you end up leaving like Namjoon hyung, and we'd be left with Johnny and Mark hyung?" The kid asked sadly. The atmosphere suddenly changed. Even Hansol couldn't answer him anymore.
Jay was waiting for an answer. He doesn't know what's happening. He's only new here. He doesn't know who to trust yet. "I won't let that happen." Hansol muttered.
Wait, Namjoon?
Jay thought about the guy who greeted him on his birthday. His name is Namjoon as well. Are they the same?
"Namjoon stepped down because he highly believes in justice and fair play. He works with ethics, that is why he sacrificed his job to save a student. I don't play fair and you all know that. Even if I end up in hell, I will always revolt for what I think is right, for people I care about. Even if it means I have to evade the rules." Hansol smirked. Jongho shook his head and finally smiled in relief.
"You'll end up in trouble someday, hyung." Jongho told him.
"If justice has a lot of holes, and if karma doesn't work, you have to be respectful." Hansol finished. "Get some rest kid. Don't worry too much. Your friend will be fine." It was Hansol's last reassurance before Jongho went out.
Next was Ha Yves, the Student Body President.
"Mr. Ji, it was all his fault! He wasn't thinking! He argued with Mr. Yoon. He triggered Miss Yuri by taking it too far instead of just simply showing the inside of his backpack. He was clearly not thinking. What if the whole class gets punished because of him? He's not thinking." She kept babbling until Hansol raised his hand to gesture her to stop talking.
"I get it, he's not thinking." He repeats. He somehow managed to forget that Jay was still in the room.
"He's new. He doesn't know how to keep quiet yet. And why does he have to? Why do we all follow these unwritten rules?" Hansol asked in frustration.
The girls was silent. She didn't want to get in trouble because of Jay. She's already spent all her high school life living chaotically because of other classmates who tried to change the system and failed miserably. She didn't want to be a part of that again.
"Make him transfer. Take him to Section B and let Jungwon deal with him instead of me and Sunghoon. I don't want Sunghoon to get stressed by him. He has a competition coming." Yves' voice softened upon mentioning Sunghoon.
Hansol was stunned by the fact that Yves just said those last sentences. He was convinced that she was only acting this way because she was thinking about the whole class. He was disappointed that she was only thinking about Sunghoon.
"My poor husband even went home early for not feeling well. It's Jay's fault!" Yves accused.
Wait, Sunghoon went home? He's not going to testify?
Jay was hurt. His own brother! His own twin left him to deal with this alone. Did he hear that right?
Next was Youngbin, but before he could even speak, Jay sat up and put his shoes on. There's no need for him to stay here. Sunghoon already left anyway.
Youngbin was so shocked that he almost threw Hansol's stress ball that looked like a basketball that was the first thing he always grab from Hansol's shelf whenever he visits him.
"Thanks for the meal and for letting me stay." Jay said and stretched his arms, yawning as if he really did manage to sleep. He's good at lying anyway.
"Wait, I'll give you a lift after I'm done with this." Hansol told him, since he wanted to comfort the child.
"It's ok." Jay told him and left.
He started walking towards he back building. He doesn't even know why he comes here often. The construction was ongoing and it's dangerous. His feet seem to always lead him here.
He started creating a dance routine to keep his mind off of the things that seem to bother him. When everything's too much, he just has to play music and complete a choreography for distraction. It was the best way, rather than counting, or deep breaths and a stress ball that he always ends up destroying.
After completing a dance routine after hours and hours of trying, he finally sat down to rest.
Pushing his hair back, he grabbed his phone to ask Sunghoon if he was feeling well, but he didn't have to. Sunghoon already sent him a text beforehand.
Hoon: Mr. Yoon told dad. He came to pick me up. He didn't want me to get involved. He's kinda furious. Make yourself busy while I calm him down for a while. I'll tell you when it's safe to come home. 👌
Jay smiled because Sunghoon didn't leave him behind for no reason after all.
He was finally at ease and can walk around again. On his way out, he saw Yuri and Hansol arguing outside the faculty. The school is now empty aside from the three of them.
"It was his first offense! First offense is warning." Hansol spoke calmly.
"No! The first offense is suspension, unless he gives me a special project!" Yuri spat, almost slapping Hansol in anger but couldn't. She then glanced up at the CCTV, crossing his arms. No wonder Hansol decided they talk here. He planned this.
"I have the student manual Ji Hansol! It states here that...."
"I updated the school manual before the school started. Here's the new rules and punishments. No more of your special projects. Stop taking money from students." Hansol said in fury and left her there.
So that's what a special project is. She simply takes money from students.
"Stupid Hansol!" Yuri muttered in her breath.
The next day, nothing happened to Jay. Hansol just simply gave him a warning. And a tip, "Yoon Jaehan hates noises, but what he hates most is dragging our shoes on the wooden platform in front. Yuri loves accusing students of cheating whenever she needs to buy her boyfriend a limited edition shoes. That's during pop quizzes. Don't ever get the right answer for that. I still don't know how to solve this. So you have to avoid her for sometime." Hansol told him with a wink. "Come see me at my office. If you play basketball, let's play sometimes." He told Jay.
That same day, Mr. Yoon was annoyed to see him not suspended. Every time he asks Jay to solve the problem, Jay drags his shoes on the wooden platform like what Hansol told him. Mr. Yoon was irritated by him but couldn't even say anything because whatever Jay is doing it's not a part of his class rules.
(End of Flashback)
Jay never thought Jungwon has ever heard of him. He never felt that students like him with lots of responsibilities has time to gossip.
"How's Niki and Taki doing with your aunt?" Jungwon asked Kei to change the topic.
"Niki's doing better than Taki. Taki couldn't help but follow me around and be vocal about how much he loves to dance and compete. Aunt Jess wanted to enroll him to a dance class instead of following my footsteps, but Taki said dancing should be learned with friends, nit with students in another class and a whole bunch of new school regulations. I'm afraid he's be sneaking out like me one day." Kei admitted to Jungwon.
"Don't be afraid. You're not a bad person doing bad things. Your aunt is just making it seem that way. We're just simply dancing." He comforts his friend. He still remembers when he first started dancing. It was because he saw a dance battle with Kei once. Since then he couldn't help but watch more performances of him. Until he convinced himself to start dancing to hang out with Kei. That's why he didn't think Taki's decision was bad.
"We're trespassing most of the time though. Which adds more adrenaline while dancing. I don't want any of my brothers to feel like they have to break the law just to feel that they're alive and existing." Kei explained further. He has a point. Of course if you're the eldest, you'd want something better for your younger siblings.
Jay couldn't believe that he agrees with Kei on this.
Wait, did he say something about trespassing? Is this trespassing?
Jay rushed his way out, carefully so no one would see him. He didn't want to make any more mistakes that would put his family in shame.
He loves his family and didn't want to out them through shame. Was on a rush away from the building when he bumped into someone. A group of men, taller and bigger than him.
"Euijin..." The tallest but skinniest spoke.
Euijin? Who's that?
They looked each other in the eyes until one of the others hit his shoulder. "If that's Euijin, then he hasn't aged at all. Stop being stupid Hyungwon."
"Was it his son then?" Hyungwon asked the others.
They all stared at him in horror. "He died with them in the car crash." They old him on a frustrated tone.
"Weren't they looking for Jong Seong that night. The reason why they ended up in a car crash. Euijin wasn't in the right mind, he just woke up in the middle of the night when their son vanished. He call all of us." Hyungwon defends.
"The investigators said they found him and was on the way home when they collided on the bridge and fell on a cliff." The most muscular guy with soft features explained.
Jay raised his hands on them. "My father's alive, my mother's alive. I have a twin brother to prove that I spent a little bit of my childhood here with a family. Whoever Euijin is, I don't know him. His son is most likely dead because I'm not him." He told them, giving them weird looks before leaving.
They were all weird. He watched them from a distance and saw them entering the building where Kei and Jungwon are. Do they live there? Was the place not abandoned?
Would Jungwon and Kei get caught?
Those guys he met just now, didn't look mean though.
Jay waited for 30 minutes in case something goes wrong but nobody came out of the building. The weird part is, more people entered. He recognized Jake, though he was even more good looking with his own clothes and without his uniform and tie.
"Nicholas! Faster! It's about to start!" He yelled at this guy who was texting and falling behind from the others.
Jay wanted to look closer, but then he saw Johnny, Yuta and Mark Lee, together with a bunch of people that Jay doesn't know of. His teachers might be friends with these people.
Nicholas came out and seem to be waiting for someone. He started dancing and correcting his angles when two guys came and joined him. One was familiar. Jay swear he knew him from somewhere. The three of them were laughing until Kei came out if the building and yelled. "Go home Niki!"
Right, it's his younger brother.
"But we've been practicing for this, hyung. You saw us."
"Shut up Hanbin! Back then I didn't know it was for this! I thought it was for a school festival or something." Kei scratched his head then buried his face on his hands. "You and Taki just get that dance lesson auntie was offering and just leave me here. Let me do my thing. You're good at everything else Niki! Why do you want this? You're top of your class. Why do you have to ruin everything?" He asked his brother.
Niki turned red. He looks like he's holding back his anger.
Jay wanted to rub his back and let him breathe. He knows how it feels like.
A good looking guy, just as tall as Kei stopped and smirked at Kei. "Look how much of a bad influence you are to your brother. What kind of eldest son are you? You're putting your brothers in danger." Heeseung – Kei's competitor, teased, before entering the building.
"Just go home and study." Kei told his brother calmly.
Without being told twice, Niki turned his back.
"Wait!" Hanbin stopped Niki, then faced Kei. "If we win against Allen, Wonjin and Hyeongjun, can you finally allow Niki to join the Secret Society?" He asked. Niki and Nicholas anticipated for Kei's answer. Their eyes softened for a few seconds.
"No. Not my brother. I suggest you both stop hanging out with him. He has to focus on his studies if he wants to attend the best University." Kei finalized and left.
Hanbin clutched on Niki's sleeve to stop him. "Wait, maybe after the performance he'd change his mind. If he sees how talented you are, up there, he might...."
"Nevermind." Niki cut him off and walked away.
Jay felt bad for the kid. For some reason he saw himself in him. Nowhere to go. Nowhere you belong to. No home.
Even until now Jay felt like he has no home. He's not even allowed to go home until Sunghoon says it's safe to do so.
Jay watched Niki go into the closest alley and perform his dance routine he's supposed to perform with Nicolas and Hanbin. It seemed like it at least. It doesn't look complete with him alone. Though he did looked cool while dancing. He's talented. Why would Kei keep him from dancing tonight?
Niki smiled and did more runs until he has finally decided, he's going to perform tonight whether Kei likes it or not.
Rushing inside the building, he has this smiling face on. He found enlightenment while dancing. Jay envied him. He has his own decision and it was not affected by what his brother thinks.
Jay followed behind. Unlike earlier, there are now more people inside. Others are just standing there waiting for their friends. Others were dancing.
Jay can recognize Jeno, Jisung, and Haechan. A bunch of seniors that are knows for being active in school's extra curricular activities. Haechan was the Student Body Vice President last year. Rumors had it that he's good at persuading even the most terror teachers for permissions.
He's just that wise.
Jay kept closer to Niki towards the entrance. "Password!" A cute girl with a wavy long hair demanded.
"Not all treasures are silver and gold, mate." Niki whispered but quite loudly because of the loud giggles from the side, which is why Jay heard it.
The girl opened the door for Niki then shut it right away. "And who are you? I've never seen you before." She suspected Jay. "School spy?" She eyed him from head to toe. He's still wearing his uniform.
Another girl came, giggling. "Hello handsome, here to register for the class fieldtrip." She teased. The girl who guards the door laughed with her. "Good one Yuna." She said.
That was until Yeji appeared, coming from the door. She smiled at Jay right away. She was wearing a crop top and a sweatpants. Her hair was tied up on a high pony tail. She looked like the others. A dancer.
"What are you doing here?" She asked excitedly.
Her friends' eyes widened when she talked to Jay. They didn't know she knows this guy.
"Ryujin, he's with me." Yeji told the girl guarding the door.
She nodded but bit her lips and blocked Jay's way to Yeji. "He's still wearing his uniform though. He'll get traced if we get raided tonight. And today's dance battle night. How can you watch if you're going to show him around?" She asked.
"I'll get him some clothes from Hyunjin's locker. I'll start by introducing him with the best crews." Yeji excitedly said and ran towards a different room grabbing Hyunjin's clothes. She just hopes Jay can pull off white, because most of Hyunjin's clothes are white.
She went back and gave Jay the clothes she got.
Yeji pulled Jay inside the doors and took him to the changing room.
Jay was suddenly nervous. He didn't know how to react yet. He doesn't even know what he's getting himself into. He's got into a fight several times, but he's never been into something like this. Whatever the hell this is.
He came out wearing Hyunjin's clothes and saw Yeji smiling at him. "Welcome to the Black Pearl Secret Society. BPSS for short." She explained.
"Founded by Lee Hongjoong and Park Seonghwa." She started the introduction. "This used to be a hospital. But ever since COVID19 ended, it was no longer needed." She continued. She was stopped when Jay stopped his tracks and covered his mouth and nose with a hand to protect himself from any type of virus.
Yeji thought it was funny and cute.
"It was used as a reverse isolation for Cancer patients. Hospitals are filled with pathogens anyway, so they created a new building for patients who has weak immune system. There's nobody contagious admitted here. It's safe, you can stop covering your mouth and nose." The last sentence was the only thing she has to say but said a lot of things that Jay was not too familiar of. Though he was impressed. He'd love to ask more about that. He always loves learning from other people who knows more than him.
Yeji seems like a cool person to hang out with.
"Is your arm ok?" Jay recalled when he accidentally tripped Yeji.
She smiled again. She has an adorable smile.
"It's perfectly fine, but thank you for worrying. Sorry about Hyunjin. It's just that we're all each other has." She told Jay then dragged him towards a bigger door.
Jay was hesitant once again and stopped in the middle of the hall. Yeji was ahead of him and noticed he had stopped when she looked back. "Not scared, are you?" She asked with a smile.
"What's behind that door?" Jay asked her, just to be ready of what he's about to witness.
"Do you fear... death? Do you fear that dark abyss? All your deeds laid bare, all your sins punished?" Yeji ignored his question and asked what Davy Jones ask sailors before he kills them or turns them into his crew.
It was the last part of initiation for the BPSS.
Jay is familiar of Pirates of the Caribbean, and was aware of the character with that dialogue was Davy Jones, the captain of the Flying Dutchman.
The Flying Dutchman's story has always fascinated him. How it has to always have a captain. The heart of the captain gets removed from his chest and should be hidden and protected. Because the pirate who stabs the heart becomes the new captain.
It was a sad story, even when Will Turner became the new captain. For some reason the captain of the Flying Dutchman has a destiny to be separated from their loved one.
Yeji feared he'd refuse to come. Her smile faded at Jay hesitates. His heart was beating faster than usual. He didn't know if it was the adrenaline or because Yeji stood before him.
"Y-yes." Jay hesitated, but took Yeji's hand anyway. He's now allowing himself to loosen up, giving her his full trust.
Yeji opened the door.
Another long hall was behind it. Ryujin was there, raising a brow at them.
"Who's going to guard the second door while you play Cinderella, Yeji?" She asked.
"No worries, I already called Chaeryeong." Yeji told Ryujin.
"Fine." Ryujin stood straight. "You are without a doubt the worst pirate I’ve ever heard of." Ryujin told Jay. Yeji was about to answer the last password, but Jay knew what he's supposed to say.
"But you have heard of me."
Ryujin placed the code to the door security. And opened it.
Behind it was a darker room, but there were mobile lights and a stage in the middle. The room was as wide as a ballroom. Tons of people gathered inside. Some of them were Jay's schoolmates, some are unfamiliar.
He saw Hyungwon at the side of the stage with Johnny beside him. They were the ones playing the songs. Hansol was at the back controlling the lights that danced with the beat.
First thing that Jay saw was Niki, looking around as if he's looking for somebody. He's probably looking for his friends. Where are they?
The music was turned down a little bit. "Tonight's dance battle is between Deathly Hallows, and Jumpers." Hyungwon announced.
The groups stood on stage. Jay was shocked to see Hanbin and Nicholas with Taki instead of Niki. Taki is going to do Niki's part.
Jay glanced at Niki, who looked hurt. His eyes glistened with restrained tears build up.
"Let's start with Deathly Hallows. Formation boys. We'll be starting shortly." Hyungwon said. And Hansol dimmed the light.
The music started and Niki watched with such regret.
They were so good. Jay was amazed. This place is a good distraction. A great escape.
After the performance, another group performed. They were just as good. Nobody in the crowd could possibly guess who's going to win.
Both teams stood side by side during the awarding. Niki excused himself before the awarding, trying to squeeze himself from the crowd. When Deathly hallows were announced to have won, he paused and decided to congratulate his brother and friends before going home, when he saw Kei hugging Taki and proudly screaming that it was his brother.
Niki felt a tug in his chest for being left behind. That should've been him up there. Not Taki. Of only he doesn't listen to what others has to say. He doesn't blame Nicholas and Hanbin, they've been practicing so hard for this. It'll be a waste if they don't perform because of Niki.
He can't blame Taki as well. He only did it to help Nicolas and Hanbin.
He can also never blame Kei. Being the oldest son has responsibilities. He's almost blamed for every mistake he and Taki makes. It's only right for him to be strict.
Jay left Yeji and was about to go to Niki, though he didn't know what to do or say to comfort him. He can sympathize.
"Wait, Niki!" Hanbin tried to chase him. "You're here. We thought you left. We were trying to reach you when Taki..."
"No worries, bro. Don't make it a big deal, or I'll feel worse." Niki said and gave a forced smile, then walked away. Hanbin wanted to follow him, but has decided to let him be for now.
Without much thought, Jay found himself following Niki towards this commercial building. Niki went to the fire exit and climbed the stairs to the 14th floor that was supposed to be 13th but replaced because 13 is believed to be an unlucky number.
As far as Jay knew, he's seen the grocery and department store of this building, but never been at the higher floors.
Jay didn't mind walking up the stairs to the 14th floor and didn't even feel tired after doing so because it was helping him clear his mind. Niki is a genius. This is an effective stress reliever. Jay wondered why his counselor hasn't recommend it before.
After the last set of staircase, there was a door leading to the rooftop. Jay watched Niki pick the locks and open the door. No alarms were triggered. He must've hacked it a long time ago.
Jay knew this wasn't right anymore and wanted to just go home and call it a day. He only followed Niki because he didn't want to go home yet, jut this is getting out of hand. He would cause an argument with fellow students and teacher but never break the law. He wouldn't do anything that would put him to jail.
Kei's brother seem to be daring to pull this off.
The cold breeze the the outside coming from the door gave Jay sudden chills. It reminded him of how cold outside was. Then it hit him.
This is a rooftop.
Niki just had a bad encounter with his brothers and friends.
Jay ran up towards him and saw Niki standing on the ledge, hands spread with eyes closed.
"Stop!" Jay yelled, startling Niki, and causing him to almost fall. He laughed and placed a hand in his chest in shock, glancing at Jay.
"That was close." He mutters in between chuckles.
...
A/N: I hope Jay's ranking would rise up more. Please vote for him. He deserves to debut. It'll be cool to see him in variety shows and watch him show his hidden talents and see him talk more.