Breaking Character (Shut it Down)

When I said it could get even weirder…
I wasn’t joking.
The voices.
I was hearing voices.
But not like Jeni’s mother calling from downstairs.
No…
These were different.
Inside my head.
People were actually talking...in my head.

“She was supposed to leave the note in his locker!” someone shouted.
....
The note?
What note?
.....
That’s it…
I’ve definitely lost my mind.
I mean, I’ve always been a little… different.
Maybe not fitting in.
But this...
God damn it, Annie… why can’t you at least suffer like a normal human being?
......
“Everything froze. It’s some kind of glitch,” another voice said, clearly irritated.
“This is on air—fix it!” someone shouted.

The sound was like a broken frequency,
sharp, distorted, unbearably annoying.
“It’s not working… should we shut it down?” one of them said, clearly irritated.
.....I couldn’t quite understand what they were trying to shut down…
but chills ran all over my body.
Maybe I’m lying unconscious....
and someone’s trying to wake me up.
......
“Damn it… right in the middle of broadcasting. What lousy luck.”
Broadcasting…?
On air…?
Is this…
what I think it is?
That’s the only explanation right now.
I’m hearing the drama crew.
That’s it.
That could happen in real life.
…right?
Teleportation?...For some reason…


I remembered the phone.
I’ll look it up.
There has to be some kind of forum…
Teleportation experiences.
Yeah… I’ll start with that.
Okay, Annie… be cool.
Let’s be rational.
Not that there’s anything rational about this.
But it is what it is.
It’s not like I have any other option.
Let’s just see where this is going.
The sound,
that broken frequency,
started to fade.
And then…
The hallway suddenly filled with students.
Loud voices.Laughter.Movement.
Jisu and Ani appeared behind me, as energetic as ever.
Ani grabbed my arm, leaning in to whisper...
the phone almost slipped from my hand.
“Yuri asked Kai to be her boyfriend.”
They were watching me, waiting for a reaction.
Ani pouted.
“Oh… that snake,” Jisu added quickly, shooting Ani a look.
“They won’t last long. She has no shame, asking him out like that,” she said, frowning, trying to soften the impact.
“She already lost him… he doesn’t like girls who are that bold.”
Too much information.
All at once.
What am I supposed to do now?
Do I cry? Do I faint? What’s the script here?
I was in the middle of researching that teleportation thing...
and not a single useful result.
But… it’s possible.
 That’s what people online were saying.

At least Google still works… even in another dimension.

Ani squeezed my arm so hard it actually hurt.
Her eyes were fixed ahead,
so I looked too.

Yuri and her group were walking toward us.
Kai and his friends right beside them.
People were literally moving out of their way
like they owned the hallway.
Actually…
not just the hallway.
The whole school.

Research can wait.
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
Let’s see what happens,I’ll just try to go with the flow.

Wait a minute…
My eyes widened.
Is she… in slow motion?

Well.
Of course she is.

She’s probably the daughter of some business owner.
A young heiress.
Of course she deserves to walk in slow motion…
brushing her perfect hair,
smiling with her perfect white teeth.

And who is Jeni, exactly?
A poor girl not destined for slow motion.
And even if she was…
it would probably turn into a comedy.
She’d trip and fall.
.....
Ani and Jisu pulled me through the hallway, and as we walked past Yuri and her little group, one of them casually extended her foot.
I tripped.
…see?
What did I just say?
Such a cliché.
I should’ve seen that coming.
I landed on my knees.

So… Yuri’s a bully too.
Okay.
Let’s play a game, Queen Yuri.

My loyal friends rushed to help, trying to ease the embarrassment…
But I didn’t feel anything.
I just stood up, brushing off my uniform, straightening myself.
The crowd was watching.
Laughing.
“What?” I lifted my head, adjusting my hair.
“You’ve never seen someone trip and fall?”
It seemed no one saw that coming.
I’m pretty sure they expected me to run to the bathroom, crying and hating myself.
Yuri let out a quiet laugh, watching me from the corner of her eye.
“You should’ve learned how to walk by now.”
Laughter erupted again.
The anger building in my chest was almost frightening.
I took a slow breath.
Then another.
Holding it in.
“Listen to me, slow-motion girl… I’m not exactly a fan of yours either.”
I took a step closer.
“So try to stay away from me.”
I pointed a finger at her.
“What did you just call her?” one of the girls stepped forward.
Of course.
She didn’t even need to defend herself.
“I think she should’ve learned to speak for herself by now,” I said, looking straight into Yuri’s eyes.
I had to stand on my toes.
She was way taller than me.
“Or does she need someone to do it for her?”
I raised a brow.
The whole crowd started reacting.
“They’re going to fight!” someone shouted.
I just straightened my uniform again and grabbed my “friends.”
“Let’s go.”They didn’t move for a moment.
I bet they were stunned.
Just like everyone else.
I could see it...
jaws dropped, eyes wide, like they had just seen a ghost.
I had to pull them away.
Their heads were still turned toward Yuri and the crowd.
“Come on,” I said.
As we walked, I glanced back.
Kai had lifted his head slightly, a faint smirk on his lips.
And he looked… amused.
Of course he was.
He probably thought this was all for him.
Dream on.
The crowd seemed disappointed.
They were expecting a fight.
But soon enough, everyone started moving again, heading toward their classrooms like nothing had happened.
Yuri’s face was red.
I think I caught her off guard.
I’m sure the real Jeni would’ve acted differently.
…but I’m not her.
And this isn’t my story.
So...
“What’s gotten into you, Jeni?” Ani almost whispered.
“You shouldn’t have told her about Yuri and Kai, Ani…” Jisu shot her a look.
“Don’t you see she’s hurt?” She pulled me into a hug.
“I’m telling you, Jeni… he’s into you. I can see it. Just wait… you’ll see.”
“Oh… shut up, Jisu,” I snapped.
“I don’t care.”
Jisu pouted, almost in disbelief.
“What’s wrong with you, Jeni? I’m just trying to help.” She sounded hurt now.
Oh… right.
They get hurt so easily.
Especially when it comes to Kai.
“I know, Jisu… I’m sorry.”
I hugged her back.
“But friendship is more important than any Kai.”
I pulled back slightly, looking at both of them.
“Or do you want me to forget about you two in a few years because of him?”
They looked at me strangely.
Then at each other.
“That could never happen,” Ani said with a small smile.
“No way,” Jisu nodded, glancing at Ani.
“…but it can,” I lowered my head.
Actually...
it already happened.
To me.
“So… you don’t want him anymore?” Ani’s eyes widened, clearly shocked.
“I don’t know… I’m not sure anymore…”
I didn’t know how to act.
He was the last thing on my mind right now.
And I had no idea how to end this without hurting them.
“But he likes you,” Jisu frowned almost instantly.
“I see the way he looks at you. He’s just playing hard to get.”
See?
She was already hurt.
“Well, if he does… then it’s his turn to work hard to get me.”
Let’s just end this conversation.
They both stared at me, stunned.
“Let’s go… class is about to start.”
I pulled them into the classroom.

“Oooh… I see,” Ani pointed a finger at me.
“You’re playing hard to get now… changing your strategy.” She wiggled her brows.
“Sooo… smart.”
Her expression made me laugh.
They really don’t give up.
“Why didn’t you just say that? Why torture us like this?” Jisu laughed.
“How are you planning to do it?”
They pushed me into a chair.
“Tell us everything.”
Their faces were so close to mine...eyes wide, full of curiosity.
It was actually kind of funny.
“Okay, okay… I’ll tell you everything.”
I pushed them back into their chairs.
They were amused, waiting for me to start.

Suddenly,
the classroom fell silent.
I was expecting to hear the crew voices again.
But…
this was worse.
Yuri and her girls.
Kai and his squad.
They were entering the classroom.
Oh… give me a break.
Are they all in the same class?
But why?
Nice one, screenwriter.
Let’s just make your character suffer as much as possible.
Kai and his friends were approaching my desk, so I quickly tried to look busy, searching through my backpack like I had something important to find.
As he passed by, his hand brushed against my shoulder.
Jisu squeezed my knee.
Hard.
I knew she was holding back a scream, so instead she dug her fingers into my leg with all her strength.
My eyes widened from the pain.
I grabbed her hand, trying to pull it away.
They sat down in the back.
I could hear chairs scraping against the floor.
And then,
Yuri.
I don’t know why, but just looking at her made me want to slap her.
She hadn’t even done anything.
But still.
That’s how I felt.
Why am I so angry?
Ever since I woke up this morning…

She ran her fingers lightly over my desk, leaning closer.
Her hair almost brushed my face.
The scent was so strong it made me sneeze.
Yeah…
that definitely ruined her moment.
She pulled back slightly and said, as casually as she could...
“I think you heard the news.”
A faint smile.
“I’m Kai’s girlfriend.”
She looked so proud.
Like she had just won the lottery.
I couldn’t help it.
I laughed.
That was so… painful to watch.
I coughed, trying to clear my throat and stop myself from actually bursting out laughing.
“So… why are you bothering to tell me that?” I lifted my head, meeting her eyes.
Her face turned red again.
I think she expected Jeni to break in front of her.
She straightened her posture.
“Just so you know,” she said, frowning, crossing her arms.
“Don’t chase after him… he’s taken now.”
I had to lower my head.
This was too funny.
If I’m forced to be in this drama…
I might as well make it interesting.
“So you’re not so sure he’s taken?” I crossed my arms, smiling.
“I am… he is...” she stopped, and for a second it looked like she regretted coming over at all.
“Then… you shouldn’t be worried about other girls chasing him… right?” I winked.
Jisu squeezed my leg so hard it felt like she was trying to physically stop me.
“It doesn’t matter.” Yuri brushed her hair back.
“I just wanted to tell you.”
She tried to look unbothered.
But…
she wasn’t.
I followed her as she walked away, and from the corner of my eye, I caught Kai’s gaze.
Jisu was right.
He really did look at Jeni…
It doesn’t matter.
I pulled out my phone and went back to researching.
From what I know about dramas, when something like this happens...teleportation, body switching, whatever this is,it always comes with some kind of purpose.
I just need to figure out what mine is…
so I can end this.
The classroom door opened.
The teacher walked in.
And everything fell silent.
I glanced at the reflection in the dark screen of my phone.
Jeni’s reflection…
It felt strange.
I stared at her face.
Beautiful eyes.
Full lips, naturally red.
Clear skin.
A soft, round face.
She was so young.
So beautiful.
And I knew,
she didn’t even realize it.
I bet she wasn’t confident.
Shy.
Not fitting into society’s standards.
I could see Kai in the back...
sitting there, looking perfect, like he stepped out of a magazine.
He is such a red flag.
Perfect smile.
Unbothered look.
Running his fingers through his hair like he’s in some kind of commercial.
Heartbreaker.
For sure.
But how could she see that…
when she was blinded by love?

In the dark screen, I could see Yuri too.
She blinked slowly, almost like a Barbie doll,
sitting there like she was on top of the world
just because she was next to him.
Love really is blind.
And yet…
looking at them like that,
they really did match each other’s energy.

Why was Jeni even there?
Maybe just to prove some kind of point.
Honestly…
even I would root for him and Yuri.

“Jeni… put the phone down.”
I stood up immediately, placing it on the desk.
The teacher’s eyes were burning with anger.

Oh boy…
I forgot what this felt like.

“I’m sorry… it won’t happen again.”
I lowered my head.
I had to.

God…
it had been so long since a teacher last scolded me.
Back in high school…
And just like that,
the memories came rushing back.

I think you can guess...
Back then, I wasn’t Yuri.
I was…
mostly…
Jeni.
I had my own Kai.
And I got him with great effort.
…
Yeah.
That part doesn’t really matter.
In the end,
he became the reason for all of this.
Me...
not knowing if I’m lying dead in my apartment from alcohol poisoning,
or just hallucinating…
thinking I’m trapped inside this ridiculous drama.
And my brain is still refusing to face the fact
that I gave him eight years of my life…
just for him to end up with slow-motion girl.
With whom, by the way,
he probably should have been from the beginning.
I was just the one who refused to see it.

The anger spread through my body,
hot and sudden.

I should have punched him.
Thrown a glass of water in his face.

But instead…
I chose denial.

God.
That was stupid.

…but it is what it is.
What can I even do now?

“Sit down,” the teacher snapped.
“Yes, sir.”
I sat down immediately.

Great…
The sound of that broken frequency again.
Dizziness.
And then...
the voices.
.....
“This is totally out of control!”
Out of control again?
I glanced around.
Everything seemed normal.
No one reacted.
Jisu and Ani were focused on their notes, writing down everything the teacher was explaining.
“…How is this even possible?” the voice sounded frustrated.
I didn’t move.
I kept my head down.
“I don’t have any control over this anymore…”
The disappointment in his voice was obvious.

My head was still lowered.
I waited.
To see where this was going.

“Someone is clearly messing with us,” he added, frustrated.

“Let’s just shut it down. It’s already messed up!”

I recognized that voice.
The shut-it-down guy.

I clenched my fingers until it hurt.
And closed my eyes.

Shut it down already…
Maybe this is my way out.

“Then… I’m shutting it down?”

Are they seriously hesitating again?

“Oh my God… just shut it down already.
It’s not like this is some kind of masterpiece no one has ever seen before… do it.”
I shouted, clenching my fists, my eyes squeezed shut.

“Wait!”
The voice cut through everything.

“…Did she just—?”
“No… that’s not possible.”