Transmigrating to Heal His Heart

Joey knew he was playing a dangerous game.

The more time he spent with Rael, the more blurred the lines became. It was easy to forget that his presence here wasn't permanent, that his mission had a clear ending.

And yet, despite all his reminders, he found himself standing outside Rael's apartment again.

"Come in."

Rael's voice was quieter than usual, lacking its usual sharp edge. Joey stepped inside, noting the dim lighting and the faint scent of tea in the air.

"You alright?" Joey asked, shutting the door behind him.

Rael shrugged, tossing his jacket onto the couch. "Just a long day."

Joey studied him. The usual cool and controlled expression Rael wore was absent. Instead, he looked… tired.

Not physically exhausted, but mentally drained.

Joey hesitated before plopping onto the couch, deliberately stretching out in a ridiculous manner. "Man, I swear, today felt like the longest day ever. I had to listen to a lecture about the importance of balance in life—like, who even has balance? I trip over my own feet half the time."

Rael huffed a quiet laugh, but it lacked its usual amusement. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a slow sip before setting the cup down with a sigh.

"…You ever try so hard to be what someone wants, only to realize you'll never be enough?"

Joey blinked, caught off guard by the sudden vulnerability.

He sat up properly, watching Rael's expression. There was something distant in his eyes, like he was looking at a past only he could see.

"Is this about your parents?" Joey asked gently.

Rael's jaw tightened. He didn't answer immediately, but after a long moment, he nodded.

"I spent years trying to be the perfect son," he murmured. "Tried to meet every expectation, followed every rule, even when it felt suffocating. But it was never enough. No matter what I did, it was always 'You could have done better, Rael.'"

Joey didn't speak, just listened.

"I stopped trying eventually," Rael continued. "Figured if I was going to disappoint them anyway, I might as well stop pretending."

His fingers traced the rim of his teacup absently. "But sometimes, I wonder… If I had just held on a little longer, would things have been different?"

Joey's chest ached at the quiet confession.

"Rael," he said softly, "you weren't the problem."

Rael let out a short, breathy chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Maybe. Maybe not."

Silence stretched between them. Joey knew he should say something more, offer some kind of comfort, but the weight of Rael's words sat heavy in the air.

So instead, he reached out and flicked Rael's forehead lightly.

Rael blinked at him. "What was that for?"

Joey grinned. "For overthinking. Trust me, I'm an expert in nonsense. And I say you should stop thinking about the past so much."

Rael scoffed but didn't push Joey's hand away when he ruffled his hair.

For a moment, just a moment, everything felt right.

And then Joey remembered—he was never meant to stay.

Scene 2: A Shift in the Air

The next day, Joey threw himself into his usual antics, trying to shake off the previous night's emotions.

Flirting with a few classmates was an easy distraction. He didn't even mean anything by it—just harmless teasing, lighthearted compliments.

But Rael was acting off.

At first, Joey thought he was imagining things.

But no—Rael was definitely quieter than usual, his gaze lingering on Joey whenever he talked to someone else.

And when Joey playfully complimented a girl's hair, Rael abruptly stood up from his seat and walked off without a word.

Joey blinked.

Wait… what?

Maya, who had been watching from nearby, raised an eyebrow. "I think you just did something."

Joey turned to her, confused. "What do you mean?"

Maya smirked. "You're usually the one teasing him, right? But look at him."

Joey glanced toward Rael, who had settled at the far end of the classroom, flipping through a book but not actually reading it. His shoulders were tense.

Joey frowned. "Is he… mad?"

Maya hummed. "I wouldn't say mad. But bothered? Definitely."

Joey stared.

Was Rael… jealous?

That didn't make sense. Rael wasn't supposed to have feelings for him. Right?

But then Rael turned slightly, his gaze flickering toward Joey for a brief second before looking away just as quickly.

Joey's stomach did a weird flip.

Oh.

Oh no.

Maya nudged him, amused. "Looks like you've got some things to figure out."

Joey groaned, dropping his head onto his desk. "This is not part of the plan."

Maya chuckled. "Welcome to the chaos of feelings, Joey."

Joey sighed, closing his eyes.

The mission was clear. Make Rael happy.

But what was he supposed to do if Rael's happiness started to include him.