Chapter 16:
Chapter 16 — Son Vs JD
My New Home
Riyuka’s eyes narrowed as she studied JJ, her tone filled with stubborn disbelief. 「So… you’re really saying you don’t even have your heart in your chest?」JJ scoffed, his lips curling into a bitter, self-deprecating grin. 「I’m the definition of a walking corpse.」Without hesitation, he pulled off his hoodie, then tugged his shirt over his head, exposing the brown, scarred skin beneath.「But if you don’t believe me…」 His voice lowered to a challenge, his eyes fixed on hers. 「You can place your hand right here.」
The room fell silent. Gasps echoed around him. Riyuka’s eyes widened in profound shock, while the others froze, their stares fixed on his bare chest.It wasn’t just the visible absence of the muscle working—the lack of any rising and falling movement associated with a heartbeat—that stole their words.
It was the scars.Some were savage, jagged, the kind born from brutal battles against beasts or men. Others were thin, precise… surgical, almost inhuman in their perfect, cold geometry.
JJ’s eyes flicked across their stunned, horrified faces. A scoff escaped him.「Oh, those? Don’t mind the scars. Some I got in battle. The more… medical ones, I earned while—」 He cut himself off with a bitter, cynical laugh. 「Actually, I don’t owe you an explanation.」He stepped closer to Riyuka, his gaze heavy and challenging. 「So? Do you believe me now?」Riyuka turned her head sharply, refusing to meet his eyes. 「F-fine. I get your point. Just… put your hoodie back on already.」
JJ chuckled under his breath, a hollow sound, tugging the fabric back over his shoulders. But as he did, his eyes slid toward Miyeon.For the first time that day, a flash of genuine, subtle amusement gleamed within his pupils.
Miyeon stiffened under his gaze, her cheeks coloring. 「U-uh… is there something on my face?」「No.」 JJ pulled the hoodie fully over his head, shadows swallowing the scars again. 「But I would like to know how you two got yours. If you don’t mind.」
The twins froze, a visible wave of fear passing between them. Jiyeon and Miyeon’s cheeks flushed a painful red, trembling under the sudden weight of his invasive words.
「H-how’d you know?」 Jiyeon whispered, her voice barely audible.JJ’s tone sharpened instantly, every syllable cutting like a blade of ice. 「I can tell the difference between natural wounds and inflicted ones. Just as I can tell the difference between scars made to hurt… and scars made to humiliate.」He raised a finger, pointing directly at them.「And the two of you carry the second kind.」Miyeon’s eyes filled with tears, the defense tearing down instantly. Her voice trembled uncontrollably. 「H-how… how did you know?」JJ let out a long breath, his voice lowering, suddenly almost gentle, filled with a deep, weary understanding. 「Why do you think Psyc reacted so violently earlier? Pain recognizes pain. I didn’t have to ask. You wear it always but hope people won't know.」
For a moment, the silence was suffocating, thick with shared trauma. Then Jiyeon suddenly stepped forward, her movements desperate and impulsive.
「—!」 Miyeon gasped, reaching for her sister, but it was too late.Jiyeon wrapped her arms tightly around JJ, burying her face against his chest, her body shaking as she whispered, 「I’m sorry. I’m really sorry…」JJ sighed softly, his hand resting atop her head, his posture shifting from weapon to shelter. 「It’s already in the past.」 His voice lowered, touched with quiet, shared pain. 「Though I won’t lie—what you said earlier… hurt. Especially since you both been through something similar.」「I-I’m sorry…」 Jiyeon’s words came muffled, trembling against him.JJ gave her hair a light, comforting pat. 「No need to apologize so much.」
At that moment— Growl.A stomach rumbled loudly, shattering the heavy, emotional silence with embarrassing reality.All eyes turned.
Shizuko’s face flushed scarlet as she clutched her stomach with both hands. 「U-um… Papa…」 She lowered her head in utter embarrassment.JJ blinked, then let out a small, fond chuckle, the moment of tension completely broken.「Don’t worry. I’ll get us something to eat.」
◽Later that night◽
The twins slipped quietly into JJ’s room, their movements hushed and deliberate.「JJ…」 Jiyeon’s voice was soft, uncertain, standing by the closed door.JJ glanced up at them, one brow raised, already sensing the shift in dynamics. 「Yeah? What’s up?」Miyeon locked the door behind them with a sharp, confirming click.JJ’s eyes widened slightly, a complex mixture of caution and anticipation crossing his face. 「Oh? You two sure about this?」The twins moved toward him, their cheeks flushed, climbing onto the bed.Jiyeon leaned closer, her voice trembling slightly with both fear and resolve. 「Yes. Besides… just asking for forgiveness isn’t enough.」 Her face reddened deeply. 「I… I want to feel it.」Miyeon smirked, her tone suddenly dripping with confident seduction, all traces of the shy victim gone. 「As for me? I’m just curious. You’re half black… and the rumors about black men…」 She licked her lips, her eyes challenging him. 「Let’s just say I want to see for myself.」At that moment, JJ’s hair and pupils flared Crimson—Psyc had effortlessly seized control. Psyc laughed darkly, a sound of hungry malice, his grin spreading wide. 「Well then… let’s get to it.」
◽The next day◽
◽Sunday, 10 April 2050◽
JJ sat at the table, sipping coffee. His eyes were sharp, thoughtful, and analytical.【So much for virgins… They knew exactly what they were doing. Which means they weren’t.】He lowered his cup, his gaze darkening, the shadow of the previous night still clinging to him.【All that’s left… is to find the bastard who stole it from them. And kill him.】
The door opened. JD and the others returned from whatever business they had conducted.
Youngmi frowned, looking at the cup. 「Afternoon coffee? Really?」JJ smirked, the surface politeness in his eyes. 「Yeah. I’m a very busy person. Besides—」His hair flickered Crimson. Psyc surfaced, chuckling, instantly replacing the base personality.「Guess who’s back, back again, Psyc is back, tell a friend.」Youngmi froze, recognizing the shift. 「P-Psyc?」JD’s eyes narrowed, his guard immediately rising, sensing the extreme danger. 「How’d you get out?」Mr. Jeong’s face paled, looking toward JD for direction. 「What’s going on, Jimmy?」JD clenched his fists, focusing on the danger. 「That’s the evil side of JJ.」Psyc scoffed, shaking his head with dismissive contempt. 「Evil? Please. I wasn’t born evil. Heck, I’m not even evil now. It’s all about perspective.」「Perspective?」 JD snarled. 「Don’t make me laugh.」「C’mon, JD. You and Uncle AJ have your own versions of the O-P. And they’re not evil.」「That’s because we have control. Something you lack.」Psyc smirked, his gaze filled with dark amusement. 「Not anymore. And you should really thank one of your stepdaughters. That’s the reason I’m even here.」 His laughter rang out, chilling and mocking. 「Funny, now that I think of it.」JD’s fury snapped. He lunged forward and punched Psyc square in the jaw.「What did you do to them?!」Psyc staggered, the impact shaking him, his smirk twisting into annoyance, not pain. 「Don’t go punching me like that ever again. Or I’ll hurt you.」「Tch. I’m not afraid of you.」 JD ripped a locket from Psyc’s neck, a sudden, desperate move. His grip trembled as he stared at the familiar object. 「You don’t deserve anything your mother gave you.」Psyc’s Crimson eyes darkened dangerously, a killing intent radiating from him. 「Give it back, JD. I won’t ask again.」JD scoffed, holding the locket tight. 「What, or else? What’re you gonna do?」In the next instant, Psyc lunged forward, moving with blinding speed. JD shoved him back, but Psyc only sighed, his voice calm yet sharp as steel.「I’m going to hurt you now.」JD raised his guard defensively. 「Please, y—」Crash! Dramatic Beat.Psyc slammed him into the floor, the impact rattling the entire room and shaking the furniture.【Dammit… was he always this strong?!】 JD thought, struggling against the weight of the alter.Psyc climbed over him, his fists raining down in a relentless, brutal assault. JD shielded his face, but each blow was heavy, bone-jarring, and vicious. Blood spilled freely from JD’s lips.【No way… these punches are too heavy… they’re causing internal damage—】 JD’s thoughts were cut short.Psyc’s voice cut through his thoughts, low and venomous, right next to his ear. 「Three months, JD. Three fucking months. That’s how long Mom was tortured, beaten, humiliated, and raped. Me and Big Bro were only six—forced to watch, helpless. Do you have any idea what that does to a kid?」His hair tie snapped loose. His nanomite mask peeled away from his face, dissolving into nothingness.The face beneath was raw, furious, but still achingly human—JJ’s true, unmasked face.JD coughed, blood staining his teeth. 「You act like you and your brother were the only ones experimented on. The same happened to me and AJ!」Psyc’s Crimson eyes narrowed. His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper of despair. 「What’s my brother’s name?」JD froze, unable to answer the simple, devastating question. 「What? Why would you—」Psyc let out a hollow, broken laugh, his expression shattering, the rage replaced by profound emptiness. 「DJ was right… there’s no point in killing you. No point even hitting you to vent my rage.」He stood, looking down at JD with empty, pitying eyes. 「You really are pathetic.」He turned to the others. Their stares clung to him, not in fear, but in stunned fascination at his unmasked face.「…What?」Sakura’s cheeks flushed a deep red. She quickly averted her gaze, flustered and confused. 【H-he’s more handsome than Ryota-sama… No, Sakura, don’t think like that!】「Your… your face looks different,」 she managed to whisper.Psyc smirked faintly, a cynical curl of his lips. 「I see. The mask, huh? Made from nanomite tech… only used to hide RVIPS and above.」He walked toward Hana without hesitation and pulled her into a sudden, forceful hug.Hana froze, her heart hammering in her chest, her cheeks instantly turning crimson. 「M-mhm…」【Wow… he’s… he’s a total hunk…】Psyc’s voice lowered to a calm murmur against her hair, almost sounding pained. 「I have this massive urge to kill… to create chaos. But moments like this…」 He pressed his forehead against hers, searching for an anchor. 「…they make me hesitate.」His Crimson eyes searched hers, burning with unspoken torment and raw vulnerability.「So tell me, Hana. What do I do… with all this bottled-up rage?」
The room fell silent. Gasps echoed around him. Riyuka’s eyes widened in profound shock, while the others froze, their stares fixed on his bare chest.It wasn’t just the visible absence of the muscle working—the lack of any rising and falling movement associated with a heartbeat—that stole their words.
It was the scars.Some were savage, jagged, the kind born from brutal battles against beasts or men. Others were thin, precise… surgical, almost inhuman in their perfect, cold geometry.
JJ’s eyes flicked across their stunned, horrified faces. A scoff escaped him.「Oh, those? Don’t mind the scars. Some I got in battle. The more… medical ones, I earned while—」 He cut himself off with a bitter, cynical laugh. 「Actually, I don’t owe you an explanation.」He stepped closer to Riyuka, his gaze heavy and challenging. 「So? Do you believe me now?」Riyuka turned her head sharply, refusing to meet his eyes. 「F-fine. I get your point. Just… put your hoodie back on already.」
JJ chuckled under his breath, a hollow sound, tugging the fabric back over his shoulders. But as he did, his eyes slid toward Miyeon.For the first time that day, a flash of genuine, subtle amusement gleamed within his pupils.
Miyeon stiffened under his gaze, her cheeks coloring. 「U-uh… is there something on my face?」「No.」 JJ pulled the hoodie fully over his head, shadows swallowing the scars again. 「But I would like to know how you two got yours. If you don’t mind.」
The twins froze, a visible wave of fear passing between them. Jiyeon and Miyeon’s cheeks flushed a painful red, trembling under the sudden weight of his invasive words.
「H-how’d you know?」 Jiyeon whispered, her voice barely audible.JJ’s tone sharpened instantly, every syllable cutting like a blade of ice. 「I can tell the difference between natural wounds and inflicted ones. Just as I can tell the difference between scars made to hurt… and scars made to humiliate.」He raised a finger, pointing directly at them.「And the two of you carry the second kind.」Miyeon’s eyes filled with tears, the defense tearing down instantly. Her voice trembled uncontrollably. 「H-how… how did you know?」JJ let out a long breath, his voice lowering, suddenly almost gentle, filled with a deep, weary understanding. 「Why do you think Psyc reacted so violently earlier? Pain recognizes pain. I didn’t have to ask. You wear it always but hope people won't know.」
For a moment, the silence was suffocating, thick with shared trauma. Then Jiyeon suddenly stepped forward, her movements desperate and impulsive.
「—!」 Miyeon gasped, reaching for her sister, but it was too late.Jiyeon wrapped her arms tightly around JJ, burying her face against his chest, her body shaking as she whispered, 「I’m sorry. I’m really sorry…」JJ sighed softly, his hand resting atop her head, his posture shifting from weapon to shelter. 「It’s already in the past.」 His voice lowered, touched with quiet, shared pain. 「Though I won’t lie—what you said earlier… hurt. Especially since you both been through something similar.」「I-I’m sorry…」 Jiyeon’s words came muffled, trembling against him.JJ gave her hair a light, comforting pat. 「No need to apologize so much.」
At that moment— Growl.A stomach rumbled loudly, shattering the heavy, emotional silence with embarrassing reality.All eyes turned.
Shizuko’s face flushed scarlet as she clutched her stomach with both hands. 「U-um… Papa…」 She lowered her head in utter embarrassment.JJ blinked, then let out a small, fond chuckle, the moment of tension completely broken.「Don’t worry. I’ll get us something to eat.」
◽Later that night◽
The twins slipped quietly into JJ’s room, their movements hushed and deliberate.「JJ…」 Jiyeon’s voice was soft, uncertain, standing by the closed door.JJ glanced up at them, one brow raised, already sensing the shift in dynamics. 「Yeah? What’s up?」Miyeon locked the door behind them with a sharp, confirming click.JJ’s eyes widened slightly, a complex mixture of caution and anticipation crossing his face. 「Oh? You two sure about this?」The twins moved toward him, their cheeks flushed, climbing onto the bed.Jiyeon leaned closer, her voice trembling slightly with both fear and resolve. 「Yes. Besides… just asking for forgiveness isn’t enough.」 Her face reddened deeply. 「I… I want to feel it.」Miyeon smirked, her tone suddenly dripping with confident seduction, all traces of the shy victim gone. 「As for me? I’m just curious. You’re half black… and the rumors about black men…」 She licked her lips, her eyes challenging him. 「Let’s just say I want to see for myself.」At that moment, JJ’s hair and pupils flared Crimson—Psyc had effortlessly seized control. Psyc laughed darkly, a sound of hungry malice, his grin spreading wide. 「Well then… let’s get to it.」
◽The next day◽
◽Sunday, 10 April 2050◽
JJ sat at the table, sipping coffee. His eyes were sharp, thoughtful, and analytical.【So much for virgins… They knew exactly what they were doing. Which means they weren’t.】He lowered his cup, his gaze darkening, the shadow of the previous night still clinging to him.【All that’s left… is to find the bastard who stole it from them. And kill him.】
The door opened. JD and the others returned from whatever business they had conducted.
Youngmi frowned, looking at the cup. 「Afternoon coffee? Really?」JJ smirked, the surface politeness in his eyes. 「Yeah. I’m a very busy person. Besides—」His hair flickered Crimson. Psyc surfaced, chuckling, instantly replacing the base personality.「Guess who’s back, back again, Psyc is back, tell a friend.」Youngmi froze, recognizing the shift. 「P-Psyc?」JD’s eyes narrowed, his guard immediately rising, sensing the extreme danger. 「How’d you get out?」Mr. Jeong’s face paled, looking toward JD for direction. 「What’s going on, Jimmy?」JD clenched his fists, focusing on the danger. 「That’s the evil side of JJ.」Psyc scoffed, shaking his head with dismissive contempt. 「Evil? Please. I wasn’t born evil. Heck, I’m not even evil now. It’s all about perspective.」「Perspective?」 JD snarled. 「Don’t make me laugh.」「C’mon, JD. You and Uncle AJ have your own versions of the O-P. And they’re not evil.」「That’s because we have control. Something you lack.」Psyc smirked, his gaze filled with dark amusement. 「Not anymore. And you should really thank one of your stepdaughters. That’s the reason I’m even here.」 His laughter rang out, chilling and mocking. 「Funny, now that I think of it.」JD’s fury snapped. He lunged forward and punched Psyc square in the jaw.「What did you do to them?!」Psyc staggered, the impact shaking him, his smirk twisting into annoyance, not pain. 「Don’t go punching me like that ever again. Or I’ll hurt you.」「Tch. I’m not afraid of you.」 JD ripped a locket from Psyc’s neck, a sudden, desperate move. His grip trembled as he stared at the familiar object. 「You don’t deserve anything your mother gave you.」Psyc’s Crimson eyes darkened dangerously, a killing intent radiating from him. 「Give it back, JD. I won’t ask again.」JD scoffed, holding the locket tight. 「What, or else? What’re you gonna do?」In the next instant, Psyc lunged forward, moving with blinding speed. JD shoved him back, but Psyc only sighed, his voice calm yet sharp as steel.「I’m going to hurt you now.」JD raised his guard defensively. 「Please, y—」Crash! Dramatic Beat.Psyc slammed him into the floor, the impact rattling the entire room and shaking the furniture.【Dammit… was he always this strong?!】 JD thought, struggling against the weight of the alter.Psyc climbed over him, his fists raining down in a relentless, brutal assault. JD shielded his face, but each blow was heavy, bone-jarring, and vicious. Blood spilled freely from JD’s lips.【No way… these punches are too heavy… they’re causing internal damage—】 JD’s thoughts were cut short.Psyc’s voice cut through his thoughts, low and venomous, right next to his ear. 「Three months, JD. Three fucking months. That’s how long Mom was tortured, beaten, humiliated, and raped. Me and Big Bro were only six—forced to watch, helpless. Do you have any idea what that does to a kid?」His hair tie snapped loose. His nanomite mask peeled away from his face, dissolving into nothingness.The face beneath was raw, furious, but still achingly human—JJ’s true, unmasked face.JD coughed, blood staining his teeth. 「You act like you and your brother were the only ones experimented on. The same happened to me and AJ!」Psyc’s Crimson eyes narrowed. His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper of despair. 「What’s my brother’s name?」JD froze, unable to answer the simple, devastating question. 「What? Why would you—」Psyc let out a hollow, broken laugh, his expression shattering, the rage replaced by profound emptiness. 「DJ was right… there’s no point in killing you. No point even hitting you to vent my rage.」He stood, looking down at JD with empty, pitying eyes. 「You really are pathetic.」He turned to the others. Their stares clung to him, not in fear, but in stunned fascination at his unmasked face.「…What?」Sakura’s cheeks flushed a deep red. She quickly averted her gaze, flustered and confused. 【H-he’s more handsome than Ryota-sama… No, Sakura, don’t think like that!】「Your… your face looks different,」 she managed to whisper.Psyc smirked faintly, a cynical curl of his lips. 「I see. The mask, huh? Made from nanomite tech… only used to hide RVIPS and above.」He walked toward Hana without hesitation and pulled her into a sudden, forceful hug.Hana froze, her heart hammering in her chest, her cheeks instantly turning crimson. 「M-mhm…」【Wow… he’s… he’s a total hunk…】Psyc’s voice lowered to a calm murmur against her hair, almost sounding pained. 「I have this massive urge to kill… to create chaos. But moments like this…」 He pressed his forehead against hers, searching for an anchor. 「…they make me hesitate.」His Crimson eyes searched hers, burning with unspoken torment and raw vulnerability.「So tell me, Hana. What do I do… with all this bottled-up rage?」
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