"Why isn't Minseok here? I told him to be here by seven" A boy dressed in a school uniform asked looking impatient.

"Boss don't worry, I'm sure he's caught up buying cigarettes," said another with a chuckle.

Just then they heard a familiar voice, "SORRY IM LATE!!!"

"Kim Minseok is here!"

Minseok struggled to breathe as he spoke, his shirt messy, tie undone and his hair resembling a bird's nest yet his features absolutely perfect. His silver hair swept back in a seductive manner gave him a strong impression, but his eyes were soft, contradicting to the nature of his look.

"I was out of stock..." he inhaled, "I hope I'm not too late"

The boss endearingly ruffled Minseok"s hair to which he frowned and said, "Let's go take care of those bastards"

The previous day one of their team members had gotten into a fight with one of the students of Namsan high school. Though the fight ended pretty soon and no one received any severe injuries, this incident on its own was a silent announcement of a battle. A battle between the top gangs of the two high schools, the loser must concede defeat and will be subdued by the other for the rest of the year. This battle was like a tradition passed on for years and took place every year but if the opposing party was weak they'd concede defeat without a battle. The members of the gang were feared by the entire school and also received a lot of favours, no one dared go against them. Despite all this, there were still a few gangs who were climbing up the chart and had the potential to surpass the top dogs of the high school.

The Boss and Minseok led the team to a nearby playground only to find the five members of Namsan High School already there. They all had an ignorant look on their faces, a provoking grin on their lips and eyes which were looking down on them. Minseok clenched his teeth and was about to curse when the Boss pushed him aside and said, "No need to waste your words on these fools...Our fists are enough to show them who's Boss"

 Thirty minutes later, five boys lay on the ground looking miserable. Some of their clothes were ripped apart, a few of them had broken arms and ribs and the others had barely any energy to even speak. The winner was obvious, Yeongsan High School had an easy victory with the team members have received nothing more than a few superficial wounds. Minseok laughed at them and said just one word before leaving, "Losers"

_____

"WHERE IS THAT PUNK MINSEOK?!!!" A scream sounded in the hallway of Yeongsan High School, the owner of this voice was the infamous whale instructor (1), Song Byunmoo, who was also their homeroom teacher.

The main door slid open with Minseok entering into the classroom at high speed, if not for the two human barriers who were with him (2), he would've certainly run into the teacher.

”YOU!” Byunmoo was appalled by his behaviour and screamed, ”HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I TELL YOU TO BE IN CLASS ON TIME?! ARE YOU ASKING TO BE EXPELLED?!”

Minseok closed his ears instinctively and waited for his teacher to finish talking and then bowed slightly saying, ”I am sorry, it won't happen again”

Byunmoo slightly tapped his head and sighed, ”Okay now go back to your seat and wipe that blood off your face, it will be an issue if the principal sees your face and even you two, get seated”

Just as they entered the class, the rest of the students started whispering stuff to each other.

”Looks like they had a fight with those thugs from Namsan high school! I heard they are really strong but looks like our school won... well it's not a surprise because we have Minseok... I heard that he is a heartless bastard! There is a rumour that he almost killed a student in a fight”

”Don't say it out so loud, he might hear you! If he does you are dead!!”

Minseok was sitting just behind them and he could clearly hear their conversation. Minseok couldn't help but scoff at their foolish words. The rumours really make him look like a villain, no wonder everyone is afraid to get close to him.

”Such a waste of beauty! Look at his face!! I heard that even the girls from the other class want to ask him out but they are too scared to do so”

”Don't you remember that one time when that girl in our class asked him out and he just turned around and walked away?? How rude! If I was in his place I would be so grateful to God!! Haha”

”HEY, YOU TWO CROWS STOP WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER!!” Song Byunmoo shouted at the two students who were busy talking about Minseok, ”We have a new student who will be joining us for the next two years, take good care of him! New student- Come in”

This time the girls started whispering and the boys had a stupid look on their faces.

”How can he be so handsome?! Oh my”

”I fell in love...”

”I'm definitely going to ask him out! Can't lose my chance”

”Like he’d go out with you haha”

”Introduce yourself”

”Good Morning, I'm Park Jaehyun”

Park Jaehyun seemed intimidating and difficult to approach, his eyes were thin and sharp and were a lighter shade of brown whereas his hair was dark. He was surrounded by an aura which was difficult to describe. If he stood in a group of people he would undoubtedly stand out for some reason.

Byunmoo hesitated, he had hoped Jaehyun would introduce himself well but that didn't seem to be the case. As the homeroom teacher, he was responsible for every student in his class, he was worried that the less spoken Jaehyun who was forced into the transfer due to cases of violence would not be able to get along with the rest of the students.

He looked around and pointed at the seat beside Minseok and said, ”Jaehyun, you can sit there next to Minseok”

Minseok’s eyes shot up when he heard his name, he looked at the tall figure walk to his seat and sit down, not even sparing him a single look.

How dare he ignore me?! Doesn't he know who I am?! Minseok thought to himself as he turned to face Jaehyun.

_________

A/N

(1) Whale - The students nicknamed Song Byunmoo this because of his extremely loud voice.

(2) The two students referred to here are a part of the five-member gang of which Minseok is a member. The other two members are in different classes.

“New student, don’t you know who I am?” Minseok asked, a smirk on his lips, he tilted his head to get a good look at Jaehyun.

Jaehyun, however, didn't care.

How dare he?! I AM TALKING TO HIM BUT HE IS STILL IGNORING ME?!? Who does he think he is?!

”You annoying f-

Minseok exhaled sharply and said, ”I'll see you after class”

______

As the first two classes ended, many students stormed outside, scattering across the hallway.

Minseok stood up kicking his chair away and walked towards Jaehyun with his hands in his pockets. Jaehyun was not intimidated even a bit, on the other hand, he could barely sense the presence of this person who was now standing in front of him.

Jaehyun lifted his head to look at him and asked, ”What do you want?”

”YOU-” Minseok was at a loss of words, he sighed and pulled a chair to sit down in front of him, ”are you not from around here?!” (1)

Jaehyun shook his head, ”No, I'm not”

Minseok was again at a loss of words, Isn't he supposed to tell me where he is from??

”Well if that's the case then all I can say to you is that the top dogs of this school are five members, and I am one of them. In other words, you are at the bottom of the chain right now. So unless you plan on climbing up this chain you better learn how to survive.” (2)

”Okay” Jaehyun said nothing more.

Did he even understand anything I said just now?? Is he pretending to have understood what I actually meant? Minseok cursed in his head, this jerk is annoying!

_________

The first day of school was rather annoying for Jaehyun. He thought of Minseok as someone who was pretentious and fake. He wanted to ask about the bruises on Minseok’s face but he had restrained himself because he was afraid of being asked something about himself.

Walking down the empty street he felt uneasy at the thought of home. That place was nothing like home.

”I’m home,” he said timidly as he put his shoes on the rack.

He was about to enter his room when he heard a voice, ”What took you so long? How was the first day at school? Won't you tell me about it?”

Jaehyun said nothing and turned the knob of the door when he felt a hand on his shoulder. His body froze all of a sudden, cold sweats covered his pale face.

”Are you” his mother spoke in a harsh tone, ”not scared of me anymore?”

Jaehyun shook his head, ”Mother, I am sorry”

”Get in the room”

Jaehyun obediently walked into his room, turned around to face his mother and stood still against the wall. His eyes were fixed at the floor, his face expressionless.

She grabbed a baseball bat from behind the door and swayed it in front of Jaehyun, ”I bought a new one just for you... Now, let's begin!”

She lifted it high and smashed it against Jaehyun’s thigh. Jaehyun fell to the ground involuntarily, he couldn't move his leg anymore. But she didn't stop here, she beat him until the bat was smashed to pieces.

”Let's stop for now,” she said as she wiped off the sweat on her forehead, ”I'm tired.”

Jaehyun lay on the floor covered in bruises and blood. There were several pieces of wood pierced into his skin. His face was the only part which was spared. He exhaled loudly as he closed his eyes, this wasn't the first time so he didn't think much about it.

_________

”I AM HOME!!” Minseok shouted cheerful as he entered, ”MOM I'm hungry...”

”Okay! Get changed first”

After a while, everyone was gathered at the table for dinner.

Minseok was too hungry so he dug into his food first, and soon he was finished.

”How was school today Minseok? Did you get into a fight again? Look at those bruises on your face! Or did you get bullied?? Talk to me” His mother asked, her voice stern.

”Mom I told you not to worry too much about me” Minseok replied as he grabbed a piece of meat with his chopsticks, ”I am not the one getting bullied... I am not as weak as you think! Everyone in school fears me!!”

”Sure” said his little brother with a chuckle.

”I am telling the truth... But there is this one guy who keeps ignoring me, I don't know if he's just acting or...he is so weird...”

”WHAT ARE YOU MUMBLING ABOUT!?” Minseok’s little brother yelled in his ear, startling Minseok.

”YOU LITTLE- COME BACK HERE!!!”

______

A/N

(1) - This simply implies that Jaehyun is from a different city in Korea, he is not a foreigner. Minseok asks this question because if Jaehyun were from the same city he’d definitely have heard about their gang.

(2) - In this paragraph, he is trying to tell Jaehyun that he should show some more respect to Minseok unless he climbs to his position.

Minseok arrived early at school and was walking around the playground with a football at his feet when he saw a familiar silhouette walking towards the school building.

Isn't that the new student? Why does his posture look weird?

Minseok couldn't help the curiosity and so he walked up to Jaehyun with the football in his left arm.

Jaehyun saw him walk towards him but said nothing and continued walking. Minseok was enraged by this and stopped Jaehyun.

”You saw me and yet you didn't greet me?? Should I even teach you how to greet people when you see them?” Minseok asked, his eyes fixed on Jaehyun.

Did he fall down or something? Now that I saw him walk from close, it looks like he's trying hard to walk straight but he is still limping.

”Is there something on my face?” Jaehyun asked, bringing Minseok back from his thoughts.

Minseok was flustered, *Have I been staring at his face all this time?! ”*NO! NOTHING... Y-You didn't answer me!!”

”Sorry, I was in a hurry” Jaehyun nodded his head slightly, ”Good Morning Minseok”

”Hey who said you could address me by my name?? Anyways what's up with your leg?”

”I fell down from my bike”

”Oh” Minseok looked at him from head to toe, contemplating if he should believe him or not, and asked, ”And why are you wearing your jacket in this weather?? Take it off once you get to class if not Byunmoo whale will scold you”

”Whale... Byunmoo?”

”Our homeroom teacher... He's loud but he's not that bad”

Jaehyun didn't say anything else and waited for Minseok to speak.

”You can go now”

Why am I even speaking to that guy?? Looks like he's the first guy I've ever spoken to voluntarily and for so long. Minseok thought to himself as he looked at Jaehyun walk with difficulty.

Should I help him? WAIT WHAT?! What am I even thinking?! Why would I help that annoying guy?? Why would I help anyone?

_________

When Minseok went to class after strolling around the school, he saw Jaehyun sitting there without his jacket, he felt satisfied. Minseok didn't realise that his lips had curved into a smile, as he walked inside the class he heard a girl scream and when he turned around to see, he saw her pointing at him.

”HE SMILED!!” She shouted, ”I SAW MINSEOK SMILE!”

”THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE” another girl shouted from the other side of the classroom, ”Have you lost your mind??”

”I SWEAR I SAW HIM SMILE!!”

Minseok quickly put on his cold face and glared at the girl, she immediately shut up.

”I guess not,” she said with an embarrassed chuckle and sat down in her seat.

Minseok turned around and saw Jaehyun looking at him. He suddenly became conscious of himself and walked to his seat.

He looked at Jaehyun from the corner of his eyes and saw his arms.

What the f- this guy’s arms are bruised... And that bad!? Did he get into a fight with someone?? But he doesn't look the type... I wonder if the reason he's limping is the same? Minseok thought to himself and sighed. I shouldn't have asked him to take his jacket off... And he's so obedient. What if the rest of the classmates see him like this? Won't they spread baseless rumours??

”J-Jaehyun”

Jaehyun turned to look at Minseok who was looking nervous.

”What is it?”

”Put on your jacket”

”You told me to take it off”

”Yeah, I did! But now I'm asking you to put it back on”

”Alright”

Jaehyun pulled his jacket from his bag and put it on, he then looked at Minseok with a blank expression.

Minseok didn't know what to say, should I smile?? Why is he looking at me like that?!

Minseok had started to sweat under the heated gaze of Jaehyun, he didn't know how to react.

He pulled out his hand from his pocket and showed him a thumbs up. Jaehyun looked away and Minseok could finally breathe. This guy! So weird!

______

During the lunch break, Minseok went to the storeroom for a smoke. He unintentionally eavesdropped on two boys talking outside the storeroom.

”He hasn't spoken to anyone since yesterday... That new student, what was his name again?”

“Park Jaehyun?”

“Yeah. There are already so many rumours about him... I heard the teacher say that he was forced a transfer due to extreme violence!”

“What? He doesn’t seem the type...”

“And I saw Minseok speaking to him this morning... but looking at the two of them together Jaehyun is so good looking even in front of Minseok who is known for his looks!”

“Minseok spoke to him?? Damn, that’s shocking... he barely speaks to anyone without cursing!”

“Do you think Jaehyun is getting bullied by Minseok?! Poor guy.”

“Serves him right! In the morning he came to class and took off his jacket. When I looked over coincidentally his hands were bleeding!! He went to the washroom to wash off the blood... I was so scared! His face was expressionless as though he couldn't feel any pain...”

”That's scary! I'll keep my distance from that freak!”

Minseok flinched at the last sentence, he felt uncomfortable listening to the two of them gossiping. He wanted to smash their heads into the wall. They barely know anything about Jaehyun but they are assuming things about him!

Minseok put out the cigarette and walked out of the storeroom, the two boys immediately shut up when they saw him. He gave them a final look before leaving. This look meant a lot of things but the boys understood.

______

Minseok walked to his classroom wearily and saw that the teacher was already in class.

If I go in now she’ll make me stand out for sure, I'll just skip this class...

Minseok hopped through the hallway and went to his favourite place, the storeroom. This was the only place in the entire school where he could be himself and not worry about anything else. He was about to push open the door when he heard a strange voice coming from inside.

Is someone inside? But no one usually comes to this place.

He placed his ear close to the door and tried to listen attentively. He heard a nasty growl from the inside which made his hair stand up.

A WILD ANIMAL?? SINCE WHEN? HOW?? Should I call for help? Eh, it's impossible that a wild animal would be in our storeroom haha...im so silly! Let's just take a look inside.

The fearless Minseok was long gone, he mustered up all the courage he had left and pushed open the door.

JAEHYUN??!!