(Monday, May 27, 2024 – 8:05 AM)
The morning air was filled with the usual chaos of J High. Students crowded the hallways, some rushing to their classrooms, others lazily dragging their feet as if Monday itself had personally wronged them.
Namsoo walked into class, adjusting his blazer while scrolling through his phone, until his eyes landed on Zack's feet.
A fresh, crispy pair of Limited Edition Jordans.
His chest tightened.
"Wait… WHAT?!" Namsoo practically screeched, causing nearby students to glance over.
Zack, leaning back in his seat, smirked. "Oh, these?" He casually lifted his foot, tilting it slightly to show off the pristine condition. "Yeah. I got them in the end."
Namsoo's soul left his body.
He knew those shoes weren't possible to buy with the amount of money Zack gave him. Yet, here they were. Brand new. Untouched. Mocking him.
"You… YOU GOT THEM?!" Namsoo pointed an accusatory finger. "How?!"
Zack grinned. "Don't worry about it."
Namsoo's fist clenched. His glasses slid down his nose as he stared at Zack's perfectly intact sneakers, knowing damn well he could never have gotten them for that price.
'I suffered for NOTHING?!'
Before Namsoo could throw a fit, a familiar soft voice interrupted them.
"Zack, are you gonna study for mid-terms?"
Mira stood nearby with her arms crossed, looking at him expectantly.
Zack's smirk vanished.
He glanced away, rubbing the back of his head. "Uhh… yeah, about that…"
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"You're not studying."
Zack cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. "Never said that."
Mira exhaled through her nose. "Zack."
"...I'll study."
"No, you won't."
Zack clicked his tongue, looking away. "Tch. Studying's boring."
Mira sighed deeply, already regretting asking.
Meanwhile, Big Daniel, who had been listening, suddenly realized something.
'Oh, right. Mid-terms.'
He hadn't really studied much outside of just paying attention in class, but…
'I should be fine. My memory's good. And I have two bodies.'
A small smile tugged at his lips thinking at how useful the bodies are as well their talents 'This is basically cheating.' he begun to think how the fuck did og Daniel have an horrible life before the second body.
'Yeah, I'm convinced it's plot.'
(10:02 AM)
The morning classes passed as usual, with students half-listening, half-dreading the inevitable approach of mid-term exams. Some were already frantically taking notes, whispering about study groups, while others, like Zack, were clearly not planning to study at all.
When the bell rang for break, students stretched, groaning as they slumped over their desks or made their way toward the cafeteria.
Lil Daniel leaned back in his chair, letting out a long yawn as he cracked his neck. Just as he was about to stand, Zoe appeared next to him.
"You ready for mid-terms?" she asked, tilting her head.
Lil Daniel nodded casually. "Yeah. I'll study at the library later with my brother."
Zoe blinked. "Wait… you actually study?"
Lil Daniel was offended. "What, you think I'm an idiot?"
She opened her mouth and paused before deciding not to answer.
Instead, she sighed. "Alright, then I'll help. I'm good at math."
Lil Daniel nodded immediately. "Cool. But I want food as payment."
Zoe's eyebrow twitched. "What?"
He leaned forward, completely serious. "If I'm gonna let you help me, I need compensation."
Zoe's expression darkened. "I'm literally helping you. Why would I have to pay you?"
Lil Daniel shrugged. "This is the world."
"…What?"
"Food is power."
Zoe stared at him for a long moment, then smacked him upside the head.
"STUDY YOURSELF THEN, YOU GREEDY PIG!"
Lil Daniel rubbed his head, groaning. "Damn, no need to be violent."
Zoe stormed off, muttering something about how she was wasting her time.
Lil Daniel chuckled, stretching his arms. 'I'll just make her bring food anyway.'
Meanwhile, Jay sat near the window, quietly scrolling through his phone. The familiar panels of Lookism: True Flow filled his screen, his eyes focused as he read through the latest chapter. He barely noticed the sounds of students chatting around him, completely immersed in the story.
Zack, stretching his arms, happened to glance over and spotted the familiar art style. His eyes widened slightly before he smirked.
"Oi, Jay." Zack nudged him with his elbow. "You finally started reading that masterpiece?"
Jay, without looking up, nodded.
Zack chuckled. "Tch, took you long enough. What do you think?"
Jay's eyes flickered to the panel showing one of the characters, the man using Systema. The way he moved, how effortlessly he countered attacks with calm precision, his unshakable confidence… it was inspiring.
But at the same time…
Jay typed something on his phone before turning the screen toward Zack.
[He's too evil.]
Zack leaned in, looking at the panel Jay was pointing at. His expression shifted slightly before he nodded. "Yeah. That guy's strong, but he's just an evil bastard."
Before the conversation could continue, Big Daniel walked over, munching on a bag of chips.
"What are you two talking about?" He asked, plopping down next to them.
Zack tilted his head toward Jay's phone. "Lookism, he likes the dude that uses Systema."
Big Daniel chewed thoughtfully before swallowing. "Yeah, his skill is solid though."
A thought crossed his mind, and he turned to Jay, raising an eyebrow. "Now that I think about it… what's your martial art, Jay?"
Jay scratched his cheek, hesitating for a moment before typing again.
[Systema and Kali Arnis.]
Both Zack and Big Daniel blinked.
Then, in perfect unison...
"Woaaahhh."
Zack grinned, nudging Jay with his elbow. "Bro, you're a killer in disguise."
Big Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, he's too kind for that."
Jay lowered his head slightly with his fingers tapping the side of his phone.
Noticing this, Big Daniel wrapped an arm around Jay's shoulder, laughing. "But hey, you can always use those skills to protect your friends."
Jay's eyes widened slightly.
Big Daniel leaned back, tossing a chip into his mouth before continuing. "Even a pen can be used to kill someone. Or… it can be used to draw." His gaze turned slightly more serious as he looked at Jay. "What matters is how you use what you've learned. That's what decides if it's good or bad."
Jay looked up at him.
Then at Zack, who flashed him a grin.
Something warm settled in his chest.
He smiled softly before speaking clearly this time.
"Thank you, guys…"
(12:04 PM)
The hallways buzzed with chatter as students moved toward the cafeteria, some walking lazily, others practically rushing to secure a good spot in line.
Groups of students yapped about different things with their voices overlapping.
"Bro, I swear I'm gonna fail the mid-terms."
"Nah, just memorize the formulas, you'll pass."
"Did you see that new girl from Class 3? Absolute goddess."
"Yo, I think I'm gonna start dropshipping."
Lil Daniel walked leisurely through the crowd, hands in his pockets, soaking in the atmosphere. Unlike the students stressing over exams or making delusional money plans, he was completely at ease.
Then, a tap on his shoulder.
"Yo."
Lil Daniel turned his head slightly, already grinning as he dapped Zack up. "What's up?"
Zack was about to speak when his brows furrowed. Something felt off.
His eyes subtly measured their height.
A second passed.
Then another.
He nodded to himself.
"Wait… you got taller."
Lil Daniel raised an eyebrow before nodding casually. "Yeah, I was 169 before and now probably 173 cm."
He flexed his arm slightly with the outline of his muscles subtly showing through his uniform.
Zack stared at his arm, then back at his face.
He murmured under his breath, still processing..
"Man… the world isn't fair."
Lil Daniel exhaled, nodding as if he completely understood his pain.
"Agreed."
----
Leaving a cliffhanger!
What's the matter Zack plans to speak about? Find out in the next episode of Drago- chough... Lookism: What If!