Jerome didn't attend the same school as Jinn from the beginning. He went to a different kindergarten before transferring to the same primary school. On his first day of school, because they were so young, their appearances didn't clearly distinguish them as boys and girls, leading many of his classmates to mistake him for a girl, even though the teachers said he was a boy. Many of his classmates were still confused and mistook him for Jinn, and yes, Jinn was one of them.

 

At that moment, the other person looked at him with sparkling eyes, as if they were looking at their favourite candy. They liked to be close to him, taking care of him in every way a seven-year-old could, saying they loved him most and wanted to marry him. Jerome was incredibly annoyed at the time because he had been treated like this his whole life. He didn't understand why people always mistook him for a girl, even though his clothing and belongings were always those of a normal boy. People just seemed to overlook it.

 

Until one day, Jerome couldn't take it anymore. His past and present merged, causing him to explode with emotion. Jerome told Jinn that he was a boy, not a girl. He said boys should like girls, and that he couldn't marry him. The way the mischievous boy Jinn looked at him, he seemed completely incomprehensible. The other boy said...

 

"We know Jerome is a man, our mother told us. But if he's a man, why can't we get married? We still like him."

 

He couldn't even remember what he said in response back then. He only knew that after that, he would always tease Jinn, taking everything Jinn liked—snacks, toys, even friends—until Jinn's liking turned into dislike. They teased each other back and forth until they couldn't be near each other anymore. The sparkle in Jinn’s eyes turned mischievous and wicked. From caring for him, he became the one orchestrating others' teasing of him instead. Everything changed drastically in a very short time.

 

The classroom was divided into two factions from then on, and by the time they reached middle school, the bullying had become increasingly severe. They punched and fought each other daily, snatching everything they could get their hands on. The factions were so clearly divided that the school was never peaceful. Their parents had been called in three times, and they had been given an ultimatum: if it happened a fourth time, they would definitely be expelled.

 

Admittedly, Don was incredibly embarrassed because the teacher brought it up while they were standing in front of the flagpole, with the entire school gathered. Jerome had always been concerned about his reputation, so this incident made him reconsider his actions. There was no way he could let things slide again. And it seemed Jinn had realised the same thing. They stopped fighting physically, but instead engaged in a war of words. They continued to fight over things, but instead of doing it behind each other's backs, they competed openly, determined to see who would win and who would lose right then and there.

 

They both proved face-to-face that snatching something behind someone's back is more likely to get you beaten up than snatching it face-to-face. Behind someone's back, it feels like an unwitting insult, but face-to-face, you acknowledge it, and it's over right then and there. Simple, fast, and straightforward.

 

Everything got better after that. They disliked each other more, but there was no more group fighting like before. The two groups of friends gradually merged into one. He and Jinn became rivals who only fought each other, without anyone else involved, from then on.

 

Jerome changed a lot, and it was most noticeable in high school. He loved playing sports and exercising so much that no one thought he was a girl anymore. His features became more defined, just slightly more feminine. He was tall and slender, with strong, well-defined muscles.

 

Jinn was the same way. The other person was taking better care of themselves in every way. They were like rivals in everything; there wasn't a single thing they didn't compete on. They knew more about each other than anyone else, but at the same time, they always tried to hide certain weaknesses from each other. He had things he didn't want Jinn to know, and Jinn felt the same way. They were like the closest people, yet also the most distant. It was really strange.

 

In his first year of high school, Jinn started dating a male friend. At first, his friends were confused, but when they saw he remained the same, they didn't think much of it anymore. Jerome was initially puzzled, but seeing it more often made him uncomfortable. So he tried teasing one of Jinn’s guys, and surprisingly, the guy played along. But instead of pursuing a relationship, Jerome didn't. He didn't want to get involved with someone Jinn was already dating; it was just his own foolish ego.

 

At first, he didn't think he'd be interested in men, but after talking with them and getting to know them, he felt no disgust at all. He then thought he might like men, too. So Jerome came up with a new kind of competition: if he could snatch the guy Jinn was interested in before they went on a date, he would win. That's how the competition to win over men started.

 

Looking back, it all started from something completely trivial, and it seems like he's almost entirely to blame... If he had explained things properly back then, instead of playing tricks on the other person, things might have turned out differently now. But Jerome doesn't know if it would have changed in what way, whether it would be better or worse than it is now.

 

So why are they dating more than ten years from now...? Was it fate or bad luck?

 

"Hey Van, are you a spy?"

 

A curt, irritated voice came from the doorway, immediately drawing Jerome's attention. Van, with his light-colored eyes, stared blankly at the newcomer's teasing face, watching the slender finger provocatively beckoning his friend. He felt a dryness in his throat. He didn't know why, but he felt an urge to run to Jinn rather than let someone else go in instead.

 

Because the way the other person is acting right now is similar to the way they'll behave in the future when calling their "boyfriend."

 

And yes, that fan was him.

 

"Cute? 'No way. I just saw him alone, so I went to chat with him. I'm always here for you,' Van made a mini heart gesture to Jinn."

 

"What a double-dealer," the newcomer shook his head with a sigh. His sharp eyes glanced at the person sitting across from him before he pouted in annoyance, settling into his seat and waiting for the teacher to arrive as was customary.

 

Leaving the one who knows the future to ponder alone, Jerome doesn't even know what to do about it. Should he change the future or let it be as it should be? But for some reason, he feels that the future he sees seems incomplete, not at all like the future that the current situation suggests. There are many things, many events that feel wrong. Why? What's the reason? Or is the future actually...?

 

Things have definitely changed since that car accident. Jerome has a very clear feeling that if he hadn't seen that shocking double vision at that moment, he would have definitely won against Jinn in that race, and everything would have been different. It wouldn't be the way it is now.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Why can he see the future? Why does he need to know about these things before they happen? Or is it because the future is bad and he wants to change it? But what's so bad about it? Ugh! My head hurts!

 

"I said no, no, but you didn't listen. Look what happened, you didn't wake up. Serves you right."

 

"I didn't wake up just because I forgot to set the alarm, not because I was tired. Someone like me, come on!"

 

"What kind of 'brother' are you? You fell asleep before me! And after getting taken, I still have to wipe your dick clean. Next time, I'll be the one to do it instead."

 

"Tee, where would you get the strength? I've fattened you up! Even when I let you on top, you only bounced around twice and said you didn't want to anymore, that you were tired! Oh! Jinn, let go!"

 

"Okay, say that again, or I'll squeeze your testicles until they burst right here. You don't even need testicles, we're not going to have children anyway."

 

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. It's all my fault. I take full responsibility."

 

"I'm looking for trouble. Come here. What kind of designer can't even tie their own tie nicely? How did you become number one?"

 

"I just design them to sell, I don't wear them to sell. Besides, I have a wife, and she ties them for me every day anyway, right? Huh?"

 

"I'm really tired of you. Do you think I'd be number one just because I can still design things?"

 

If you had continued on this path as you intended, you would have definitely been number one. Now I'm his replacement, so we're essentially the same. Whoever becomes number one, it's like the other gets to be number one too, isn't it?

 

...Since you spoke well, I'll reward you before you go to work.

 

"Gasp!" Jerome woke from his dream with a start. His breath was hot and ragged; his body, which felt as if it had just experienced intense excitement, trembled slightly. His gleaming eyes scanned the darkness of the bedroom towards the person who should have been sleeping beside him at this moment, but found only emptiness. The bed beside him was empty; there was no one there, no one's presence as usual. Only the light and the sound of water from the bathroom could be heard.

 

"Damn it!" The young man ran his left hand through his hair in frustration, his eyes glancing down at his unusually bulging crotch as he sighed.

 

"What kind of reward is this? Wasting my time?" He thought about the dream that initially seemed useful because he learned something unexpected, but for some reason, it turned into something lewd. The only good thing was that he was sure he was the one who got to do it, and this time he even heard it. The voice, certain it was its own, was responding to it as well. It couldn't be clearer.

 

It's as if the more he learns something in real life, the more those things are revealed in his dreams, as if to say that his suspicions are correct. From initially only hearing Jinn’s voice, to finally hearing a clear conversation today, it means there must be a connection between the present and the future he dreamed about. But he still doesn't know what's what. Sigh.

 

"But he's already taken a shower, hasn't he?" Jerome got up from the bed, crept slowly to the bathroom door, and pressed his ear against it, trying to listen to see if the person inside was doing what he suspected.

 

Don't get me wrong or anything, but there are only a few possibilities for a man to get out of bed at past one in the morning and turn on the water to cover up the noise. For example...

 

“Ha, yeah.”

 

Help yourself, just like Jinn is doing.

 

Swamp!

 

“Shit! Is your father dead or something?!” The loud, cursing shout of the interrupted person made the person banging on the door laugh evilly. How's that? You played a trick on me in my (future) dream! Now you can't even think about enjoying it, Jinn!

 

"What are you doing? How can you get aroused lying next to me? You're really not trusting me, are you, Jinn?" Jerome teased back in a playful tone.

 

"What the hell are you thinking? What does my being horny have to do with you?! I just haven't had sex with anyone in a while, what's wrong with me masturbating?!" Jinn yelled angrily. Seriously, what the hell are you doing up at this hour?! Because he didn't expect Jerome to wake up in the middle of the night, he didn't go to the bathroom outside. Look at that, now what? It's entertaining, isn't it?

 

"It's not wrong, but I'm horny. I haven't had sex with anyone in a long time either."

 

"Why are you telling me this? Go to the bathroom outside! Do you want to have a masturbation contest with me?!"

 

“..." Jerome

 

..." Jinn

 

"Hey, we've never had a masturbation contest before! Open the door, quick! Let's compete!" Jerome couldn't help but feel excited. Perhaps it was because he had just seen Jinn in his dream, rewarding himself with his hands and mouth until he climaxed. He couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to do the same thing in real life. Jerome had only seen it, never experienced it. Now that he had the chance, why not seize it?

 

"Are you serious?!" Jinn’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. What the hell is wrong with him?!

 

"Seriously? So open the door! If you don't open it, I'll ejaculate on your pillow!"

 

"Hey! Don't you dare! Damn it, wait a minute!" Jinn quickly pulled up his pants and leapt to open the bathroom door in an instant, as if afraid that Jerome would actually do what he said.

 

Don't you dare stain my pillow, you little brat!

 

But the moment the door opened, Jinn realised he had made a huge mistake. Jerome, standing before him, seemed like a completely different person from the one he knew. His eyes were cunning and strangely intense, a look he had never used before. Those beautiful lips curved into a faint smile, yet they conveyed an unbelievable danger.

 

"Good boy," Jerome immediately stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Throughout the entire process, he didn't take his eyes off Jinn’s face for a single second. He didn't know why, but the moment he saw the other's face when the bathroom door opened, his brain and heart screamed in unison, a scream he couldn't ignore. He couldn't ignore it, and he couldn't deny it.

 

This is his future person.

 

Yes, it was his, his man alone.