Vantage || Hwang Hyunjin

Chapter 3. 𓇼 ⋆.˚ Excuse Me, That's My Body

Aeri ⋆.˚ 𓇼

"It's a dream. It's a dream. It's a dream."

I kept repeating it to myself as I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately hoping that when I opened them again, I'd be back in my own room, in my own body.

But nothing changed.

The unfamiliar bedroom remained exactly where it was.

My chest tightened as a hundred thoughts crashed into me at once. What happened to my body? Was it still at home? Was I asleep somewhere? Was I in a coma?

Then another possibility hit me so hard I nearly stopped breathing.

If I'm inside Hyunjin's body...

...then is Hyunjin inside mine?

"Oh my God."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

If he had woken up in my body, then he definitely knew who I was now. The realization made panic crawl up my spine. I needed answers, and the only person who could possibly explain any of this was Hyunjin himself.

I needed to find him.

Forcing myself to calm down, I headed toward the bathroom. At least I didn't have to leave the room to shower. Before stepping inside, I laid out the school uniform and mentally prepared myself for what was about to happen.

Or at least I tried to.

The entire experience was pure torture.

I kept my eyes fixed anywhere but down while changing and showering, refusing to acknowledge the fact that I was trapped inside someone else's body.

Unfortunately, that strategy didn't work very well.

•

"Uh... Dad?"

Once I was dressed and ready, I stepped into the kitchen and addressed the man I'd assumed was Hyunjin's father.

The man looked up from his coffee and frowned.

"Dad?" he repeated. "You haven't called me that since middle school. What's gotten into you?"

Damn it.

I was already messing this up.

The problem was that I had absolutely no idea how Hyunjin acted at home. I didn't know his habits, his personality around family, or even what kind of relationship he had with his father.

"Right. Sorry." I laughed awkwardly. "I guess I'm still half asleep."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

I quickly changed the subject.

"Is school... close?"

The question sounded ridiculous the moment it left my mouth, but I genuinely had no idea. I always walked to school because it was close to my house. For all I knew, Hyunjin lived on the other side of town.

"What is wrong with you today?" he asked, irritation slipping into his voice. "If you hate me so much that you'd rather walk than accept a ride, then go ahead. I'm not stopping you."

I blinked.

Hate him?

The way he said it made my stomach twist.

Did Hyunjin and his dad really have that bad of a relationship?

I hadn't seen his mother either, and honestly, I wasn't brave enough to ask.

"I'll walk," I said quietly. "Thanks, Dad."

The man's eyes widened for a second before he looked away. Definitely not something Hyunjin normally said.