Chapter 4: Back to War

The unopened questions surrounding Kim Bomjun never received answers.

At least, not publicly.

The police investigation continued for several weeks.

Students discussed theories.

Teachers whispered behind closed doors.

Parents exchanged concerns.

And eventually...

Life moved on.

Just as it always did.

The empty desk in the second-year classroom remained for a while.

Then one day, it disappeared.

The flowers left by students wilted.

The messages on social media stopped appearing.

Even the rumors died.

Slowly.

Quietly.

Until Kim Bomjun became another memory.

A tragic one.

But a memory nonetheless.

Jun hated how quickly everyone forgot.

Yet even he found himself thinking about it less often.

Assignments piled up.

Exams approached.

Life continued.

Only one person couldn't move on.

Jay.

Not because he did not mourn publicly.

Not because he did not cry.

Not because he did not talk about Bomjun.

He simply couldn't forget the final letter.

Or the man responsible.

His father.

The truth sat inside him like a stone.

Heavy.

Permanent.

Untouchable.

And completely invisible to everyone else.

Three weeks later.

Saville High finally felt normal again.

Which meant chaos had returned.

"The Inter-School Championship starts next week!"

The announcement immediately sent the classroom into an uproar.

Students cheered.

Desks rattled.

Someone nearly fell out of their chair.

Even Won woke up.

"The biggest event of the year!" Nikki yelled.

"Finally!" Seuin agreed.

Every elite boys' school in Seoul participated.

Three days.

Four sports.

Hundreds of competitors.

Thousands of spectators.

And most importantly—

Bragging rights.

The teacher slammed a ruler against the desk.

"Quiet!"

Nobody listened.

"The basketball captain selection will happen today."

Instant silence.

Every head slowly turned.

Toward two people.

Jun Seo.

Jay Kang.

Jun immediately groaned.

"Here we go."

Jay didn't react.

Which somehow made it worse.

The teacher sighed.

"Both of you are qualified."

The classroom leaned forward.

Entertainment had arrived.

"The coaching staff will decide after observing practice."

Jun cracked his knuckles.

"Good."

Jay looked up.

Their eyes met.

Electricity seemed to fill the room.

Jun smirked.

"Don't cry when you lose."

Jay closed his notebook.

"You say that every year."

The classroom exploded with laughter.

"ROUND ONE!"

"PLACE YOUR BETS!"

"FIFTY THOUSAND WON ON JUN!"

"YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE FIFTY THOUSAND WON!"

The teacher looked ready to resign.

Basketball practice became a battlefield.

Every pass was a challenge.

Every shot was a statement.

Every point mattered.

"Jun, twenty-seven points!" Coach shouted.

The team applauded.

Seconds later—

"Jay, twenty-nine."

The applause got louder.

Jun nearly threw the basketball.

"He's doing that on purpose."

Won laughed.

"You say that every practice."

"Because he does!"

Across the court, Jay calmly drank water.

Not even looking at him.

That somehow made everything worse.

Jun marched over.

"Got something to say?"

"No."

"You look smug."

"I'm drinking water."

The team burst into laughter.

Jun wanted to strangle him.

Soccer practice wasn't any better.

By the second day, half the team had given up trying to separate them.

Jun scored.

Jay scored.

Jun assisted.

Jay assisted.

Jun tackled.

Jay tackled harder.

At one point they both kicked the ball simultaneously.

The ball almost burst.

The coach stared.

The team stared.

Jun stared.

Jay stared.

Silence.

Then the coach screamed.

"GET OFF MY FIELD!"

The long jump trials were held Friday afternoon.

Students gathered around the track.

Everyone knew who the favorites were.

Jun sprinted forward first.

Jump.

Landing.

6.04 meters.

The crowd cheered.

"FIRST PLACE!"

Jun raised both hands triumphantly.

Then Jay stepped forward.

Jump.

Landing.

6.06 meters.

The cheering somehow became louder.

Jun froze.

Two centimeters.

TWO.

CENTIMETERS.

Jay calmly walked away.

Jun followed immediately.

"Are you serious?"

Jay looked confused.

"About what?"

"The two centimeters."

"I jumped."

"YOU JUMPED TWO CENTIMETERS FURTHER."

"Correct."

Jun nearly suffered a heart attack.

By the time the high jump trials arrived, the entire school was invested.

Students placed bets.

Teachers picked sides.

Even the principal knew.

Jun and Jay stood beside the bar.

Neither willing to lose.

Both cleared 1.85 meters.

Then 1.90.

Then 1.95.

The crowd grew louder.

Finally—

2.00 meters.

Jun succeeded first.

The audience erupted.

Jay followed.

Success.

More cheering.

Jun glared.

Jay adjusted his sleeve.

The crowd screamed.

"FIGHT!"

"FIGHT!"

"FIGHT!"

The real explosion happened during the captain selection meeting.

The basketball team sat inside the gym.

The coach stood at the front.

"We have reached a decision."

Everyone held their breath.

Jun folded his arms.

Jay remained expressionless.

The coach inhaled deeply.

Then—

"The basketball captain will be—"

The gym doors suddenly burst open.

A teacher rushed inside.

Pale.

Out of breath.

"Coach!"

The man frowned.

"What is it?"

The teacher swallowed hard.

Then looked directly at Jay.

"Someone is here to see you."

Silence.

"Who?"

The teacher hesitated.

His expression grew strange.

Uneasy.

Almost nervous.

Then he answered.

"Your Father."

The entire gym froze.

And for the first time in weeks—

The name Kim Bomjun returned...

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