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The blinding light beamed and hit my eyes again. I closed them for a moment and reopened. Then, everything went clearer.

I am inside a room, apparently lying on a bed. And again, as I turn to my left, the little kid, who I think is the young me, was also lying down beside me as he stared at the ceiling.

"Now, where are we?" I asked, hoping he could hear me this time.

"In our home here in California. Appa was serious on us to permanently live here from now on." He looked at me quizzically, "And when I say 'us', I didn't mean you're included. Say, why are you here again?"

"I don't know..."

"Really? That same answer?"

"Hey, I really don't know why I'm here, okay."

"Fine... So, what's your name?" he asked.

"Yu---"

"George!" Miss Boa, who I think is my late mother, shouted from outside of the room. She knocked on the door for few times then continued, "You're gonna be late for school."

"I'm not going to school, okay!" he shouted.

She then opened the door widely and stood in front of his son with her arms at the sides of her waist. "Get up, George Nicholas Kwon, you're ruining your clothes!"

George Nicholas? I think I heard of that name before...

The kid groaned then stood in front of his mother, "I said I don't wanna go, umma. It's so boring there. I'd rather stay here. I can just study by myself."

"No, you're going to school and that is final. If you're not going down in one minute, you're dead." Then, she stomped her way out of the room.

"Uggh- umma's really so bossy!"

"Why don't you wanna go to school?" I asked.

"The subjects are boring. I already know them all. And also, I don't like my schoolmates there. They're so... annoying." Then, just like his mother, he also stomped himself out of the room.

Hmm. So, I was a little bit of a problem child back then? I never thought I'd be one since the one vague memory that left with me of my childhood is that I showered my parents with lots of medals for academic excellence. Nonetheless, I still don't remember any of these scenes.  I don't know if these are all real or maybe just part of a dream.

---

Anyway, I don't know how does this weird phenomenon works, but, it seems I could not engage a conversation to anyone else but only to the young me and also, it seems it is only allowed if we're just alone with each other or something. Furthermore, for some reason, wherever he goes, I seemed to follow along too.

And now... we have arrived in front of an elementary school.

He sighed loudly, "Another lousy day."

"Try to make friends. If you get to have one, I'm sure it won't get lousy."

He looked at me in an unamused manner, "I don't make friends with anyone. They're all inferior to me, so, why would I?"

"You're creeping me out, kid. Are you the 'little me' or 'little Sooyoung'? You're damn heck full of yourself."

"Little you? And who was that other one?"

I sighed, "Never mind."

He started to walk towards the school building. I followed along. "Say... George Nicholas? Is that your real name or something?" I asked him.

"Yeah, It's my English name, unfortunately. Umma preferred to call me that after we arrived here in California. She said she had a big crush over George Clooney-guy and that other one, Nicolas Cage. That's the very SHALLOW reason why she named me George Nicholas when I was born. Everything's for her own amusement, you know?"

"You seemed to really hate your umma so much."

"That's because she's not making any sense!" He stopped walking and confronted me. "Umma and appa are not making sense at all! They do not make sense in everything!"

"But, why?"

He looked away and ignored my question, "I hate them."

The day continued and the kid was right. It was hella boring. I don't know if it's just because I'm already old enough to attend a grade school class or what, but, somehow, whatever he feels is like linked to me too.

It was almost the end of the second subject, Mathematics particularly, when the teacher announced the results of the long test they had the last time. The young me got the highest score which seemed to be shocking for his fellow classmates. Then, the other kids started to mock another boy. That boy's Asian-looking and, probably, also Korean. Hmm. From how I see it, maybe he's the most intelligent in the class and no one beats him until just now.

After the second period, the kid lazily headed for the school cafeteria. Yet, as he reached the hallway downstairs, an unknown kid shouted his name and made him stopped from walking, "George Nicholas!"

He looked at the other kid boringly. "What?"

The unknown kid went near and said, "You're gonna pay for what you did."

"What did I do?"

"I am the Math-wiz of this school, okay. This is my territory. You better back-off if you don't want to die."

He mocked a laugh. "Why'd you ever think I'll be afraid of you, you nerdy weirdo? Do you think that thick eyeglasses, braces and rainbow-colored high socks of yours can intimidate me?"

Well, the young me has a point, this kid looked too harmless and innocent. Also, the way he dresses himself and his round, doe-eyes make his death threat rather unconvincing.

Wait...

This kid... He looked hella familiar.

"Pfft. I may look like this but do not underestimate me!" the unknown kid rebutted. He then went closer. "Remember this face. This face will be the one bringing an end to your life."

"Hmm." the little me looked at the kid from head to toe as if studying him. "What's your name again?"

"Im Y---" he quickly looked away. "You don't have to know my name!"

He then noticed a card on the pocket of the kid. He quickly snatched and looked at it intently. Afterwards, he laughed out loud then mocked, "Your full name's Im Yoona? As in YOONA?! You freaking got a girl's name?!"

Im Yoona...? Wasn't that Yoong's birth name?! Wait, does this mean this weird, nerdy-looking lame boy is the same as the self-proclaimed cool, overly-conceited guy I am friends with?! And if he is so, then, why he never told me he knew me since we were kids?!

"Ya! Give me my I.D. back!" he tried to get it from the young me yet, he kept on failing.

"Hahahahahaha! I cannot believe this! You got a girl's name!" and he continued to teased the poor boy over and over.

"Shut up already!" He was about to cry. "So what if I have a girl's name?! It's none of your business!"

The young me sighed in defeat, he handed his I.D. back, "Here. Just leave me alone and we're quits."

Yoona quickly hid the I.D. back in his pocket. It looks like this poor boy is so ashamed of his birth name. It was like a complete turn of his personality, from a try-hard bully to a softy that seems to be a subject of bullying most of the time.

The young me continued, "Look, Yoona, I never intended to steal your Math-wiz crown from you. It just so happens I'm smarter than you. If you want to get it back, then, study harder." He then chuckled, "But, I guess that won't get you any help. No one is better than me and no one will ever be. So, even if you study hard, you will not be able to beat me."

"Alright." Yoona looked at him straight in the eyes and was like burning with desire to win, "I will prove I'm better than you. I am now acknowledging you as my rival!"

"Pfft. Yeah, right. Whatever." He turned and started to walk away.

"Remember that, George Nicholas! I will win!"

---

Few days or, perhaps, weeks later, the boring classes continued. The only thing entertaining going on is how that poor boy with a girl's name is kind of a clumsy one. He always gets to trip down anywhere he walks to. Not to mention, he seemed to be so fragile and weak too. And the most particular trait dominant is how much of a geek he was. Hmm. I still can't believe Yoong was like that when he was young.

Well, just like the young me was doing, I tend to just observe the poor kid every day. Call it for entertainment? Hey, I'm not a bully, okay. If you are in my place, you'll probably do the same thing. I'm stuck in a freaking elementary school just watching the young me getting bored too. I mean, seriously, aren't flas