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Chapter 3 - ROUGH HEART

Panel 1]

Scene: College entrance. Students walking by. Bright morning.

Nema (smiling, greeting Young):

"Hey, Young! How's your fever?"

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[Panel 2]

Young appears a bit tired, but smiling gently.

Young:

"Oh, hey. It's gone now. I'm feeling better."

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[Panel 3]

Nema puts a hand on her hip playfully.

Nema:

"Good! I saw your message—you were off for four days!"

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[Panel 4]

Young:

"Yeah… needed the rest."

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[Panel 5]

Jack enters the scene, casually walking into frame. His eyes land on Young. The background fades slightly, emphasizing Jack's intense gaze.

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[Panel 6]

Mike walks up cheerfully.

Mike:

"Hey Nema, Young! Heard you were out sick. Feeling alright now?"

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[Panel 7]

Young (smiling):

"Yeah, I'm fine now. What about you? After the party… Jack's pheromones hit you hard."

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[Panel 8]

Mike (laughing lightly):

"I'm good now, thanks to you and the medicine."

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[Panel 9]

Nema (grinning):

"Okay, we better go to class before we're in trouble."

---

[Panel 10]

Young and Mike both nod.

Young and Mike (in sync):

"Yeah, let's go."

---

[Panel 11]

In class. Jack is seated a few seats behind. He stares intently at Young. The background dims around him as his gaze sharpens.

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[Panel 12]

Young stiffens slightly, feeling the stare. He thinks internally:

Young (inner monologue):

"Why is he looking at me like that?"

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[Panel 13]

Nema (noticing):

"You good?"

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[Panel 14]

Young (nervously smiling):

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine."

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[Panel 15]

Later. After class. A sudden movement—Jack grabs Young's wrist and drags him toward a storage room.

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[Panel 16]

Inside the storage room. Tension fills the air.

Jack (serious):

"You were the one who brought me home, right?"

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[Panel 17]

Young (hesitant):

"Y-Yeah… but someone else came. Said he could handle you, so I left."

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[Panel 18]

Jack (eyes narrowed):

"Did you see his face? Get his name?"

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[Panel 19]

Young (shaking his head):

"No. He was wearing a cap. He said he knew you."

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[Panel 20]

Jack leans in slightly, suspicious.

Jack:

"You're not lying to me, right?"

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[Panel 21]

Young (defensive):

"I swear I'm not."

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[Panel 22]

Jack stares a moment longer, then pulls back.

Jack (coldly):

"Fine. But if I find out otherwise… you'll regret it."

---

[Panel 23]

Jack exits. Young leans against the wall, clearly shaken.

Young (inner monologue):

"He can't find out… I was with him that night…"

Panel 24

Scene: Young exits the storage room

Nema (curious): "Hey buddy, what were you doing in the storage room?"

Young (nervous): "Oh, the teacher asked for something. I looked, but couldn't find it."

Panel 25

Nema: "Alright then. I'm starving, let's grab some food!"

Young: "Okay. Where's Mike?"

Panel 26

Nema: "Oh, I forgot to tell you—something came up. He had to leave." Young: "Oh, okay."

Panel 27

Caption: 1 and a half months later...

Young: "Finally, the tests are over." Nema (nodding): "Yeah."

Panel 28

Scene: Nema and Mike watching Young eat

Nema (surprised): "Hey, why are you eating like you're starving?"

Young: "No, I'm not." Mike: "Yeah, this is way more than your normal diet."

Panel 29

Scene: Young at his apartment

He's on the phone with his mom after changing into casual clothes

Young: "I'm fine, Mom. Just checking on you."

Panel 30

Scene: After the call, Young suddenly vomits into the sink.

Young (thinking): "Maybe I just ate too much..."

Panel 31

Caption: Next morning

Scene: Young texting Nema

Young (text): "I can't attend class. Feeling unwell." Nema (text): "You should go to the hospital right away!"

The Revelation

Panel 32

Scene: Hospital checkup

Young: "Doctor, I've been eating more than usual." Doctor: "We'll run some tests."

Panel 33

Scene: Doctor looking at results

Doctor: "Nothing serious. Come back tomorrow." Young: "Okay, thank you."

Panel 34

Scene: Next day in the doctor's office

Doctor: "You're perfectly healthy... but also... you're pregnant." Young (shocked): "What?! There must be a mistake!"

Panel 35

Doctor: "I triple-checked. It's rare, but alpha pregnancies do happen. You're one week in." Young (shocked): "I... I'm one week pregnant..."

Panel 36

Doctor: "You'll need your partner's pheromones to support your health and the baby's. Alpha pregnancies are delicate."

Panel 37

Young: "I... I can't let Jack know. He'd kill me and the baby... he hates people like me."

Panel 38

Scene: Young packing his things at home

Young (thinking): "I have to leave this city. Now."

Panel 39

Scene: Young on the phone with his mom, holding back tears

Young: "Mama, I'm coming to visit next week. School's giving us a break after midterms." Mom (on phone): "I'm so happy, son!" Young: "Yeah... I'll see you soon."

Panel 40

Scene: Young zips up his luggage, staring at the door with determination.

Caption: "To protect his secret... he must leave everything behind."

Midterm Break Plans

Panel 41

Scene: College campus courtyard, sunny day. Young walks toward Nema and Mike who are already sitting under a tree with iced drinks.

Nema (waving): Hey, Young! You made it!

Young (smiling): Yeah, feeling better today.

Panel 42

Mike: You sure? You looked pale last week.

Young: I'm fine now. Just needed rest.

Panel 43

Nema: Sooo… the midterm break is coming! What's the plan?

Mike: I'm going to my uncle's beach house! Can't wait.

Panel 44

Nema: I'm heading to the mountains with my cousin. Nature detox time.

Young (awkward smile): That sounds nice...

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Panel 45

Mike (teasing): And you, Young? Gonna sleep through the whole break?

Young (nervous, trying to hide stress): Haha, no… I'm, uh… visiting my mom.

Panel 46

Nema (cheerful): That's sweet! It's been a while since you went home, right?

Young (looking away slightly): Yeah… I miss her.

Panel 47

Close-up of Young's face, worried thoughts clouding his eyes.

Young (thinking): I have to leave before Jack finds out. I can't let him know about the pregnancy...

Panel 48

Scene: Jack walks by in the background, glancing toward Young from a distance.

Jack (thinking): He's been acting weird lately…

Panel 50

Scene cuts to Young clenching his phone in his pocket.

Young (thinking): I have to protect the baby... no matter what.

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