VNV Chapter 01

Chapter 01

 

I blinked blankly and barely managed to sit up.

“…What?”

I couldn’t believe it. There was no way I could.

Why am I… still alive?

A spacious bedroom I had never seen before, with no one but me. I couldn’t make sense of the situation at all.

‘I thought I was definitely dead…’

I clenched my trembling hand into a fist, then slowly unfurled it. The gesture and sensation were unmistakably mine, without the slightest trace of unfamiliarity. I had died—I was certain of it.

I still vividly remember the moment I jumped off the bridge and the sensation of water flooding my lungs. The pain of suffocating, as if my body would burst, was something I could never forget. It wasn’t a hallucination or a dream—it was a reality, a past that I had chosen with my own will.

Then why?

“What in the world is going on?”

I couldn’t understand a single thing—why I, who had undoubtedly died, was here as if nothing had happened, why my twitching fingers and moving body felt even more like my own than before.

Was this heaven? If so, why did everything still feel so painfully real? Heaven, where the dead are supposed to find solace in their desires, wouldn’t torment me by recreating the nightmare of my life.

Then… was this hell? Or had I somehow failed to die?

Burying my face in my hands, I curled in on myself as though trying to disappear into the ground. The ache in my chest was unbearable, as if my heart were being mercilessly shredded by invisible shears.

Why… Why me?

I hadn’t even had a taste of the peace of eternal rest yet. The courage I had mustered with all my heart had amounted to nothing, bearing no fruit. My chest burned with frustration as I silently cursed whatever god might be watching.

Can’t I even rest in peace?

I rubbed my dry eyes with cold, lifeless hands.

[Seong Yu-un.]

A voice suddenly echoed, making me jolt and lift my head. I quickly looked around, but there wasn’t a single thing that could have made the sound.

‘What was that?’

Was I hearing things now? No. I instinctively knew that it wasn’t a hallucination. Unlike normal sounds, this voice resonated directly within my mind—a strange yet unmistakably clear presence.

“…Who are you?”

I asked, frowning slightly.

[Min Yu-un.]

The voice repeated itself as if to clarify.

[My name is Min Yu-un.]

“……”

[Yes, the Min Yu-un you’re thinking of.]

I stiffened. Even though I couldn’t believe it, the voice continued, as if my doubt didn’t matter him.

Min Yu-un. The cruel and selfish villain from the BL novel That Boy in Third Year.

[I need you to do something. It’s not that difficult.]

Before I could process my confusion, Min Yu-un went on.

[Live as me.]

Live as him? Not as the protagonist or even an ordinary extra, but as the villain? After all the scorn and hatred I’d already endured in life? My lips twisted bitterly, but Min Yu-un only chuckled softly as if sensing my hesitation.

[I want to be loved.]

I stared blankly, focusing on each word as he spoke.

[If I apologize and make friends with everyone… maybe I can be loved, just like that annoying guy.]

“……”

[But I can’t apologize. I don’t want to.]

“…What?”

Any small hint of sympathy I had felt quickly vanished. Yet Min Yu-un, oblivious to my disbelief, continued with a tone so shameless that it was almost impressive.

[I didn’t do anything wrong. He’s the one who took what was mine first.]

“Didn’t you say you wanted to apologize?”

[Yeah, I do.]

Even though I knew there was no one in the room, I could almost see Min Yu-un pointing his finger directly at me, eyes wide with expectation.

[You do it.]

A dry laugh escaped my lips. I couldn’t begin to comprehend his way of thinking—and frankly, I didn’t want to. But Min Yu-un pressed on as if he hadn’t noticed my exasperation.

[Apologize for me, Seong Yu-un.]

“Why the hell should I? You drag a dead guy out of nowhere and expect me to do you a favor?”

[If you do as I say, I’ll leave you alone and won’t bother you anymore.]

A tired sigh slipped past my lips as I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. So this wasn’t a request or a plea—it was a threat. I didn’t know how, but Min Yu-un clearly had the power to interfere with me, even after death. How fitting for a villain like him, with both the means and the attitude to match his role.

Well, there’s no way around it, is there?

Resigned, I slowly nodded and stood up. As if satisfied with my silent agreement, Min Yu-un began rattling off a string of explanations.

[It’s Monday.]

Half-listening, I moved cautiously around the room. As I opened the bedroom door, a gust of air, cooler than in the bedroom, hit me. The house had little furniture and warmth, making it feel like a place that existed solely for sleeping. Just in case, I opened the refrigerator, but aside from a bottle of water, it was completely empty.

“Do you not eat anything at home?”

[I can just buy food. What’s the problem?]

Ah, right. Min Yu-un was rich. The realization hit me anew as I took in the spacious, spotless house. There was no way Min Yu-un cleaned it himself—he probably hired someone. In every sense, it was a testament to considerable wealth.

I thought about looking around a bit more but decided to save that for later. After checking the time, I changed into my school uniform and slung my bag over my shoulder. Stepping outside the chilly house, the warm breeze of late spring brushed against my skin. The world outside didn’t feel too different from the one I originally lived in, nor did it feel strange.

The only changes were that I was wearing a school uniform for the first time in years, the house was bigger, and there was no food in the fridge. That was all. I was still alone.

Following Min Yu-un’s directions like a personalized navigation system, I made my way to school and soon entered the classroom. Several students glanced at me, exchanged looks, and whispered among themselves.

“What the heck? He actually showed up to school today? Wasn’t he sick since last week?”

“How did he recover so quickly?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He probably jumped out of bed as soon as he thought about bullying Si-eon again.”

Half of their voices were filled with fear, while the others seemed to be defending someone named Yoo Si-eon. Their insults weren’t too harsh—simple, lightweight jeers. Thankfully, if this was the extent of their taunts, I could endure them hundreds of times over.

[Sit over there in the back.]

Following Min Yu-un’s suggestion, my gaze landed on the seat by the window at the very back of the classroom. It was isolated, with no desk partner beside it. I was certain it wasn’t a coincidence that Min Yu-un sat alone, even though the number of students in this class was odd.

I walked over and sat down. Despite inhabiting a body several years younger, the fatigue in my bones refused to fade. As sleepiness crept in, I slumped over my desk but didn’t close my eyes.

[ Quest 1: Apologize to the main characters. (0/3) ]

Before leaving for school, I had asked how I was supposed to apologize. Now, the message box I’d seen earlier kept flickering before my eyes. I read the lines over and over again. Under the quest description, a bright and bouncy message caught my eye.

(★TIP: A sweet tip for someone who’s never apologized before!★) *How about gifting a cream bun as a gesture of your pure-hearted intentions to turn over a new leaf?

Putting aside the teasing tone, what bothered me most was how the system treated me like a criminal. I wasn’t the one who had bullied the main bottom or committed any crimes—it was Min Yu-un. So if anyone needed to “turn over a new leaf,” it was him. Yet, the apologies and responsibilities all fell on my shoulders. The more I thought about it, the more it grated on my nerves.

[Seong Yu-un, you’re not falling asleep, are you? Stay focused.]

Min Yu-un’s voice, spoken as if this had nothing to do with him, drained the strength right out of me. I was exhausted with my own frustration.

“I’m perfectly awake, so stop popping up out of nowhere.”

I mumbled quietly, letting my body relax against the desk. Main bottom, main top, side top—whoever it was, I wished they would hurry up and show up.

Click.

The classroom door slid open. In an instant, a breeze of fresh, invigorating energy seemed to sweep through the room, as if sunlight had burst in and spread warmth everywhere.

The students greeted the newcomer with the liveliest voices they could muster. Straightening up slightly, I glanced toward the doorway.

A striking figure caught my eye—someone with exotic features that stood in stark contrast to my ordinary black hair and eyes. His soft, pastel-pink hair and violet eyes were undeniably beautiful. And just by looking at him, I instinctively knew who he was.

[That’s Yoo Si-eon.]

The main bottom—loved not only by the two tops but by this entire world itself.

My fingertips twitched. An irrational hesitation tightened around my chest. Just then, a notification window popped up, filling my field of vision.

[ Quest 1: Apologize to the main characters. (0/3) ] (★TIP: A sweet tip for someone who’s never apologized before!★) *How about gifting a cream bun as a gesture of your pure-hearted intentions to turn over a new leaf?

Its flickering light stung my eyes, as if urging me to get up and complete my assigned task immediately. Swallowing a sigh, I rose from my seat. My steps toward Yoo Si-eon were steady, with no more hesitation.

Hearing my footsteps, Yoo Si-eon looked up from placing his bag down. His eyes widened briefly in surprise before his expression hardened into a frown.

❤️‍🩹

Thank YOU for reading! ♡

Much ♡ to bloomin for helping with the editing. ( ੭ ˘ ³˘)੭‎°｡⋆♡‧₊˚