rookie mistake || j.hn

is being self-aware a trend now?

Chanhee brought Younghoon over to their table at lunch the next day. We had the comic book open, and was looking at the cast list.

"So, you're Choi Chanhee, the protagonist's best friend. And you're Son Eric, the antagonist. Of course I know you two. But you are..."

I smiled, grabbing the comic book out of his hands and flipped to a random page. I frowned, turning to the next page and looking around for a moment. I proudly pointed at a faceless person, getting shoved to the side by Lee Juyeon. "That's me. Ju Haknyeon, professional extra at your service."

Younghoon nodded. "Yeah. I'm Kim Younghoon, the second lead. You guys probably know that. Um, so what do you guys need? If this is about Jaehyun-"

"Look," Chanhee interrupted. "We need these answers. Please, we're begging you."

The other sighed, looking at each of the three. "Okay, fine."

-

Their theory was correct. Both Younghoon and Jaehyun witnessed someone else being murdered. Jaehyun then wanted to know what happened if a character died. Obviously, Younghoon wouldn't let him murder someone, so...

"So what you're trying to tell me is that Jaehyun had jumped off the roof because he wanted to know what happened if someone died?"

Younghoon nodded. "The only reason why he did it was because he was convinced that he saw a person who died the next day. I thought he was crazy at first, but I guess he was right."

Eric took a sip of his drink. "So why don't you just show him the book and make him self-aware again?"

Chanhee look at him as if that was the dumbest question ever. "You mean you didn't go around telling people that they were in a comic when you first met them?"

The younger shook his head. "No, why?"

"I showed people the comic when I found out, and all I got were crazy stares from people. The only reason that we have our self-awareness is because we hate our conditions. Those who are content won't accept a different truth."

I gasped, clapping for him. "Woah. Chanhee actually speaking some deep shit instead of fluent sarcasm."

Chanhee slapped the other's arm, but suddenly stiffened (since he'd been self-aware way before me and Eric, he can kinda sense a scene seconds before the page flips). Once again, a scene was starting, the sound of a page flipping ringing in my ears.

We were at our book cafeteria spots. Chanhee and Changmin sat with Juyeon, Younghoon, Jaehyun, and all the other popular characters. Eric sat with his little group of minions. I didn't have many scenes that happened there, but that time I was unlucky enough to be there.

Changmin was walking alongside Juyeon when Eric stuck out his foot and tripped him. He fell to the floor, his food smothered all over his shirt. Eric snickered. "Whoops. Didn't see you coming."

Juyeon grabbed the boy's collar, lifting him out of his seat. "Ya, Son Eric. How far are you willing to take this?"

Eric looked him in the eyes. To the readers, it would show hatred. To me, it showed obvious sorrow. "When you get bored of him, I will."

A sob escaped Changmin's lips. "You want me to stay away from Juyeon, right? Is that it? Fine. Juyeon, I can't be with you. Not as friends, not as lovers, not in any way." He looked up at Eric. "Is that okay? Will you leave me alone now?"

He didn't wait for a response before storming out. Juyeon punched him across the face.

The scene ended.

The punch was strong enough to knock Eric out cold. Chanhee and I rushed over to him, picking Eric up and trying to wake him.

Juyeon scoffed. "Ya, Choi Chanhee. Aren't you Changmin's best friend? How much of a traitor are you, always hanging out with someone like him." With that, he ran after Changmin, not noticing how Chanhee froze up.

Younghoon waited until Juyeon was out of the room before going up to the trio. Jaehyun came up behind him, obviously confused. "Is he okay? God, he must've punched Eric so hard."

I shrugged, letting out a small sigh of relief as Eric started regaining consciousness. "He's fine. This is a frequent occurrence. Eric's just unbelievably weak for a bully, that's all."

Chanhee was still frozen in his spot, eyes fixed on where Juyeon previously stood. "Younghoon. Why didn't you tell us that Juyeon was self-aware?"

Younghoon's eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry, what? Juyeon's self-aware? No. That's not possible."

"Well, he is. He remembers how much I hang out with Eric. He's either in the beginning stages, or he's been self-aware for a long time and we just haven't noticed."

I rested my head on the cold bench. "Great. Because things couldn't get more complicated."

—

Oh, you don't know the half of it.
~your lovely extra