Monja: *I the doorway, she stopped, a newfound bravado overflowing her. She turned and looked straight at Christine.* Do you have no heart? What if Christopher were lying somewhere in a ditch, will your eyes not cry for him?
David heaved an unexpected breath. Michael, standing slightly behind Monja and David, only offered a subtle, knowing smile. The tension in the room thickened.
Christine: *Christine snarled, shifting the baby to her other hip. The infant, disturbed by the sudden movement, began to fuss.* I have plenty of heart. But let's be frank here, Christopher's much too pathetic to get himself into a hospitalized situation.
The room grew eerily quiet. The only sound was the baby's soft whimpers and the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Monja: *Her eyes flashed dangerously.* If it wasn't for the baby in your arms, I would have given you a little present, assuring you that the next time you look in the mirror, you'll see the definition of pathetic.
The air crackled with unspoken threats. David quickly pulled Monja out of the house. The slam of the door echoes in the sudden silence.
David: *He steered Monja down the steps his mind racing.* You shouldn't provoke her. It's not worth it.
Monja: *She shook her head, still fuming.* She makes my blood boil. How can she be so callous?
As they reached the bottom step, they bumped into a figure emerging from the shadows.
Jin-Woo: *He stumbled back, catching himself on the railing. He clutched a bag of groceries, a few items spilling onto the porch.* Oh, sorry! Didn't see you there.
A can of peaches rolled towards Monja's feet. She stared at it, then at 'Christopher', a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
Monja: *She bend down, picking up the can. The familiar weight felt strangely unsettling. She instantly recognized him, like everything fell back into place, but she feels no connection. Knowing that this person isn't actually Christopher.* Jin-Woo?
Jin-Woo: *He bend down picking up the remaining groceries, but blinked rapidly, surprised that she knew his name. He looked past her at David and Michael, confused.* You… you know my name?
David frowned, exchanging a puzzled look with Monja. This guy clearly looks like his brother, yet something feels profoundly off. He recalls everything that Michael told him in the car on their way there. About the soul swap and his brother being trapped in the body of some Korean dude.
Monja: *Her brow furrowed, her concern deepening. She placed a reassuring hand on David's arm, a silent communication passing between them.* It's nice meeting you too. *She smiled softly.*
Monja squeezed David's arm gently, offering a reassuring look. The afternoon sunlight glinted off the remaining cans spilled over the porch, casting long shadows across the porch.
Monja: *She glanced back at the house, a flicker of unease in her eyes. Christine's harsh words echoed in her mind. The sooner she gets Christopher out of this wretched place, the better.* Let's get you inside. We have a lot to talk about.
Jin-Woo nodded slowly, still bewildered. He followed Monja and David into the house, the familiar scent of home now tainted with a strange, unfamiliar tension. He glanced at the family photos lining the hallway, a sense of displacement washing over him. This was Christopher's life, a life he now inexplicably inhabited.