Standing in a hospital gown, Kei Yun gazed at himself through a large mirror in his designated room. Two days had passed since he had awakened here, and each moment had only confirmed that his death was real and not some fever dream. He had in fact died and was reborn in another man's body. Each time the thought had crossed his mind over these past two days, his anger would flare up again and he would send himself into a fit of violent screaming, a futile attempt to vent his rage.
But such fits were unnecessary, his anger would not change anything.
His old life was gone.
He sighed as he stared at his reflection. Something he found himself doing more often than naught these past few days. Unlike his old face, which was also handsome, this one was more otherworldly. Almost fairy-like, a beauty that could capture a nation. His original face was more refined with a gentle masculinity. His current features were more androgynistic. But as much as he enjoyed looking at himself, his vanity had to be put to the side for the time being. There was more important things at foot.
Turning away from the mirror, Kei Yun had already resolved himself to leave the hospital today and head towards his new home. The little amount of time he spent resting in the hospital was enough for him to regulate himself with his new memories. They weren't much but they were just enough to get by.
He had quickly learned that his name was Min Jun, and he was a transfer student at X University in Hong Kong. He worked two in half jobs to support both himself and his alcoholic, gambling addict of a father. With an absent mother that left him at the age of 8.
For years, Min Jun had raised himself, relying on no one to help out. As a former orphan, Kei Yun found the circumstances all too familiar. At a very young age he had already come to a solid conclusion about life. Some people were born lucky, blessed with loving families; others, like him and Min Jun, simply were not.
It wasn't anything to pity or feel sad about. Such things were the ways of life.
Which was worse. Having a family that wasn't emotionally present or having none at all? Ironic as it was, Kei Yun would now experience both.
He changed out of the hospital gown into the clothes he'd worn the day before, grabbed his bag, and headed to the front desk to check out. With little cash he did have on hand, he used to take a cab straight home. The apartment reeked of mold and dust. Trash bags at the front door, cigarette butts, and empty liquor bottles littered every corner of the living room and kitchen. Poverty clung to the walls, but Kei Yun barely blinked. He stepped over the mess, shut himself in the tiny bedroom down the hall, and tossed his bag on the bed.
He glanced toward the timer on his dresser that read 13:24 pm, then walked over to the little desk in the corner and sat down picking up an old generational touch phone. Its screen webbed with multiple cracks and a battery that was completely dead, no matter how many times he tried to turn it on.
What Kei Yun could gather from his new memories, was that Min Jun was deathly poor. Every penny he earned from working went towards his tuition, rent, and his father's addictions. The fact he owned a phone in the first place was a miracle in itself.
Eh.. what a waste.
Moving forward, Kei Yun would not be supporting that man's wasteful habits. From now on Min Jun's father would be on his own in that department.
He tossed the dead phone back on the desk, frustration simmering. He needed information on himself, was his death in the news? Or was his body even discovered? He needed answers and he wasn't going to find them here.
He looked around and as he slowly scanned his bedroom his gaze abruptly stopped on a conspicuous poster in the room. He got up and stood in front of it, carefully examining the huge poster from head to toe. It was a foreign celebrity, strikingly handsome, possessing features that were a clear blend of half Chinese and half European. Their blue eyes were memorable, Kei Yun felt a vague sense of familiarity as he looked at them, but unfortunately he still couldn't place the man in his memory.
But it was clear, the man in the poster was a big time celebrity and Min Jun had been a fan, but Kei Yun had never cared for celebrities. His job at one point had been to raise them, he's seen the world of celebrities. He's lived in it, and it ain't all rainbows and sunshine. He was never a fan then and he wouldn't be one now. Coldly, he tore the poster down, crumpled it up, discarding it ruthlessly as he tossed it in the trash.
Turning around he walked over to the closet and rummaged through it for a long time. He searched for decent clothing, a set that wasn't a school uniform or worn out. Finding an outfit he eventually settled on a white turtle-neck, a black windbreaker, dark skinny jeans, and beige high-top sneakers.
Fortunately, the original owner had good taste and would go shopping for themselves from time to time.
Circling the room, Kei Yun found a wallet, that unlike everything else in the room was surprisingly new. Inside were several thousand yuan, about $700 USD in total. Enough to buy a new working phone and anything else he needed.
It was obvious that the money he had was Min Jun's savings but Kei Yun figured he'd use it as he planned to make more money in the future. Working wasn't the problem, he just had to strip Min Jun's habit of giving money to his father and move out. Getting a crappy apartment for a couple yuan wouldn't be a bad idea. Anything would be better than staying here.
Wallet in his pocket, keys in hand, he left the apartment. Even in plain clothes, he attracted attention from the moment he stepped outside to the moment he reached the intersection, people stared openly. Teens and adults alike turned to look at him in awe.
His new reflection might be a stranger's, but it was undeniably, hauntingly beautiful.