I don’t remember much of my life before coming to LAB. No, it’s not that I don’t, I refuse to.

  My father was a senior construction worker with a wide body, dark blue hair and brown eyes. He was also unfortunately an alcoholic and an abuser. I say unfortunately, not for me but for my mother who had to deal with his behaviour. I don’t know why my mother, who was a pretty woman with brown hair and yellow eyes, stayed by his side. Perhaps she actually loved him. I wouldn’t know.

  But of course, my family life began to change drastically when my father started to argue over her one morning after returning from the bar. I was woken up by it actually and overheard them talking. I was about 5 or 6 at the time.

  “Which bastard was it? He’s not my son. Not with that blonde hair!” He hiccuped.

  My poor mother sobbed, weary of this endless interrogation, “I never cheated! I am and have always been faithful!l

  “Then explain his hair! Why is it blonde like that?! It’s creepy!”

  Before I could hear the rest, I closed the door to my bedroom shut and covered my ears.

  What’s wrong with my hair?

  A few weeks later, my mother took me to Darim Shelter, one of the orphanages in Gyeonggi-do.

  I remember her words clearly.

  She knelt beside me and smiled warmly but I could feel the tremors in her hand, “Jiho-ah, omma will be back later, can omma trust you to stay here and wait for me?”

  At the time, I nodded, oblivious to her lie. She kissed my forehead and began to run away.

  Her retreating back looked beautiful as if chasing the orange sun in front of her. She didn’t look back so I wouldn’t know what she felt, but surely, she must’ve felt happy then, right?

  After making sure she was long gone, I knocked on the door to Darim Shelter. The kind director grandma let me in and made me part of the family there.

  It’s funny actually. I say family but even then, the same events were repeating.

  At first, the kids were kind to me, asking me questions and whatnot like normal kids do. We played together, ate together, and took a nap together. I was genuinely happy at that time, I think.

  But somewhere along the line, when my talents for sports began to outshine the rest, they started saying things like…

  ‘Ah sorry, Jiho, I promised to play with Jaemin today. Maybe next time?’

  Or…

  ‘No way! You’re too good! We can’t have fun if you join…’

  Those words were something I could be patient with but I guess the words that really stabbed me was when I accidentally overheard some of the boys talk during the chore the director asked me to do.

  ‘Ah Jiho? No way. His hair is weird. It’s too bright and it blinds everyone when we play…’

  Again, it’s my hair…

  I didn’t hear them talk further as I quickly finished the chore and ran upstairs into the bathroom. I tugged my hair and got some scissors to cut it off. Of course, the director found out when she came to get me. I think her hand print is still etched onto my back when she scolded me then.

  Even so, it sucked because I shared the same room as those boys. I didn’t say anything to them for a long time after.

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  It was during this moment when I began to like the idea of running away but I was too scared at the time to actually do it. Being a helpless kid and all.

  Then, the incident happened. I heard some rustling in the middle of the night. I sniffed some weird smelling gas as I coughed and saw some men in black carrying the kids, “…stop…” But before I could do anything, I lost consciousness on the spot.

  When I woke up, I was in this weird tacky light grey uniform with the kids at Darim shelter. I looked around and it was a white facility. There was only one exit guarded by a black masked man.

  Needless to say, we were split up according to age. In that regard, I was lucky that I was the only one my age at Darim Shelter.

  Dr 8 was my supervisor, but somehow their explanation to make us into subjects didn’t sit right with me. The other kids seemed to like it but that was when I saw them, the green-haired twins, 8-32 and 8-33. 8-32 seemed to be smart as he asked the main points and 8-33 was quiet but her eyes darted everywhere.

  This was my first time seeing twins. I kind of felt envious. Maybe I wouldn’t feel this lonely if I had a twin.

  Anyway, when we started to live here, it was like heaven on earth. We had beds, we had food despite its suspicious appearance and we were even educated. But maybe after a month or two had passed, I started to feel lethargic staying in the same environment without the touch of sunlight.

  I began to wonder why I started to miss the director’s wrinkled face. I felt like I wanted to see her. That’s when I started escaping, slipping through guard rotations before eventually being caught on camera. And it was even more unfair when dozens of Black Guards had weapons while I had only my body and uniform.

  Whenever I would get caught, I was given to Mr Alpha who exhaled sharply, “How many times do I have to tell you? You can’t go out.”

  “I just want to see the sun.” I chuckled, confident he wouldn’t harm me. Somehow, my intuition told me if there was anyone I should be wary of, it was Dr 8. That’s why I chose my escape route through the Black Guards.

  My plan was simple. To continue escaping and memorise guard rotations. Once I’ve done that, I would slip through their rotation shifts to reach the exit.

  And I was so close too!

  When I heard of a certain drinking party Mr Alpha was planning at 19:30. I thought that was my chance. But of course, I planned on doing it after the lights were out.

  When I began to quietly walk around, I stopped and noticed Dr 8 leading a bunch of Grey Men who were carrying 8-21 and 8-33.

  They must have gotten caught.

  I pitied them but I also wanted to get out of here as I silently walked away. When I was near the exit, I saw the need for a keycard as I clicked my tongue.

  To think I can’t get out because of this!

  Just as I was thinking on how to open the door without a keycard, Mr Alpha’s voice reached my ear, “What are you doing?”

  I immediately turned as I saw him holding a packet of beer. I chuckled, easing the tension, “…Oops?”

  Mr Alpha rubbed his temples, “I knew you would do something with how chatty my men were. But now isn’t a good time, brat. Dr 8 knows some subjects tried to escape. Hurry back before you get caught in her crossfire.”

  I glanced at his tough facade and smirked, “I knew you were such a softie!”

  “Boy, do these guns look soft to you?”

  “…Sir, no, sir! I’ll head to bed.” I saluted as I went back to my room.

  The next day, Dr 8 was fuming as she showed the rest of generation 8 what happens to those that try to escape. I could briefly make out that it was 8-21’s dismembered body as I paled. In a way, I was lucky and thankful to Mr Alpha for being there to catch me instead of Dr 8.

  After Dr 8 had left, we were expected to eat lunch as I got my tray. I began to think of how I could exit through the door without a keycard.

  Maybe hack or short-circuit it?

  “Hah.” I laughed at the absurd idea. Everything here was technologically advanced. I wouldn’t possibly be able to hack into the system. Moreover, the walls were concrete thick. And then, that was when I had the thought…

  Surely, the Black guards have a key?

  But, they’re all stronger and faster than me…

  Ugh… If only I could just destroy anything with ease, I wouldn’t have to worry about it.

  Sparks!

  Yellow lightning surrounded me as I stood up in shock. Everyone in the cafeteria stood back as Dr 8 rushed in with a smile, “Wonderful! At least this is some good news! Mr Alpha, put him in the special restraints for the awakened.”

  Maybe because it was my first time awakening, I passed out after exerting myself.

  When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling came to view as Dr 8 explained the situation.

  I had awakened the lightning attribute. And, she just planted a nanobomb in my neck!

  …Oh great!

  She then led me to the Orientation room and had me sit down. I watched her leave me be as I began tapping my fingers impatiently on the table. When the door opened, I noticed a Grey Man coming in with a familiar figure, I stood up with widened eyes.

  It was 8-33! She was still alive!

  ***

  “Jiho… JIHO!”

  I snapped out of my reminiscing as I looked at Seohwa who yelled at me, “What?”

  “Did you listen to what Hawk said?” She asked as she chewed on her breakfast.

  “…Yes?”

  I saw her lips twitch as I sighed, “Sorry, no.”

  Seohwa exhaled out, “We’re sparring with our powers for the first time today… what were you thinking for you to be so out of it?”

  I didn’t reply immediately as I shrugged, “Just… lots of things, the LAB, how we met… my hair…”

  “Your hair?” Seohwa tilted her head as if asking if I was serious.

  I pouted, “Yes, my hair! Isn’t it weird?”

  Seohwa raised her brows, “Why would it be weird?” She then ruffled my hair, “It feels soft and reminds me of the warm sun.”

  I paused, not expecting that response. The memories of my parents arguing over me, my fellow orphans who called it weird, somehow, one sentence from her was all it took for me to look at my hair I despised differently. I chuckled, “Just as I thought, you’re fun.”

  “Fun? We’ll see if you like ‘fun’ in the arena.” Seohwa huffed. I noticed she didn’t like being called ‘fun’ but I still said it anyway. It was the only word I could describe her.

  At least with her, I can be my genuine self without holding back, right? So isn’t that fun?