A professor instructed us to fall in line according to our year level. Since I was a first-year student, I went to the last row and said my goodbyes to Minjun. He had his friend with him, Chul-moo, in case of anything. There won't be any crimes happening in the school, so Minjun's identity was safe for the time being.
However, that all changed when the students I passed by had their eyes glued to Minjun. At first I had thought that they liked him. Considering Minjun's looks, especially his wounded face and his built body, every girl would've fallen for him.
But the opposite happened. Those girls had a disgusted look on their faces as if they had tasted something terrible and rotten. They had a look when someone ate something sour and wished to vomit it immediately.
The boys also had the same eyes that threw daggers at Minjun. Their hands curled like a ball, wishing to smash something near them.
"What's wrong with them…." I uttered.
Little did I know that my question would be answered momentarily.
"Everyone who is late for today shall be the last one to choose a club, especially the two of you," the professor, who was handling all the late attendees, glided his eyes to both Minjun and Chul-moo. "As you all know, having one's club will help you achieve more excellency in gathering your job of choice for your graduation. As always, it would be a first come, first save basis. That organisation would also serve as your extracurricular subject NEEDED for you to take and complete your course, besides the one you currently enrolled. This will all be taken today. Your names are already listed from the machine at the entrance. That is all, thank you."
What did they do? I didn't know. I was with them when this event happened. Nobody had told me they did something terrible behind my back!
And why would having a club be a part of our classes? Weren't they called extracurricular subjects, to begin with? This professor didn't make any sense at all!
But my thoughts were far off the mark. The professor and the students eyed Minjun as their common enemy and neglected Chul-moo as something of a stranger. Minjun told me he didn't share his secret with anyone but his father and me. So why was he the target of the class?
Every student slowly exited the place but still leered in Minjun's direction. It was as if he had killed a person before and labelled him as a murder. And those were the words escaping from their mouths.
"Look at him. Why did the school even allow him to enrol in this university? He's a punk."
"Do you think he had killed someone before?"
"What do you mean 'think'? He definitely had killed someone before."
"I'm going to fucking kill him."
"I want to break his face."
Those were the words resounding behind Minjun's back. And coincidentally, Minjun turned around and faced the students talking crap about him. He also narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Minjun might've done something terrible to the students inside his head, judging by the look he gave.
But despite having the powers to do so, Minjun refused to let his emotions get the best of him. He had the responsibility of a hero. And using his powers to get back to those students talking shit about him would be all for naught.
Minjun didn't want that. Nobody wanted this to happen. It was because Minjun had the body of a model and a face that would attract everyone that knew him. Even I couldn't handle his charm when I first met him wounded and stripped off from his clothes. It was a terrible incident, but a treat to my eyes.
However, his charisma was nothing special when Minjun was in front of these students. They kept calling him names Minjun didn't deserve. Even the professor had a biassed attitude towards Minjun, but not from Chul-moo. And the only thing that kept his cool was his best friend beside him.
"I see. The top student doesn't even want to become a role model for the university. Even though we don't strict our students from attending their classes, there's a limit for everything, mister Minjun. Let this be a warning for you…." the instructor said, and shifted his sight to Chul-moo. The bitter look on his face had also changed into a beam befitting for a kind person. "Chul-moo, why do I always see you with this.. boy. You don't deserve to be with him. He's nothing but trouble. You're the son of…"
The professor never scolded Chul-moo, even though the two of them arrived late. Even the students with us never heard anything from the professor except the punishment we needed to take. But I doubted that was the end of this trial.
Did this happen even before I enrolled in this school? I didn't know. I planned on asking Minjun or Chul-moo about it if I get the chance. Minjun's best friend looked like a kind man, after all.
And my thought proved me right when Chul-moo was the one who glared at the professor. Before the instructor could even continue his sentence, Chul-moo interrupted him.
"Say another word, and I will tell my father about this school and the way you treat my friend."
With just one sentence, the professor zipped his mouth and walked away. While he was around a few metres from Minjun and Chul-moo, the professor added that the only club that would be available for later was the Science club. And that included me with the gang.
However, I placed that thought aside and admired what happened before me. Chul-moo defended Minjun, marking his friendship between the two of them. The professor also hinted that Chul-moo was actually a son that the school couldn't touch. But that was his background. I wouldn't want to put my nose in an uncharted place where I could get myself in trouble.
Even though that bullying happened, I wasn't there to help Minjun. I couldn't stop the students from ridiculing Minjun. He was actually a superhero, maintaining the peace in this town. Minjun had fought criminals with his life. I saw it with my eyes. A hero. Even though he had a bullet inside his chest and screaming pain, Minjun didn't hesitate in jumping in, headfirst into the battle. However, how did these students repay him? By making him look like trash, that's what.
Minjun walked towards me and scratched the back of his head. He had a shameful look in his eyes, while covering his bruises and lowering his head. After all that he had been through and what had happened, I would've felt the same. I would've felt more than that, actually. It was too much.
"You didn't tell me you're the number one student here, Minjun." I was the first one to break the ice."
"Ah, that. It's not a big deal, actually." Minjun uttered. "I'm sorry that you see that,"
"Why are you the one who's sorry, Minjun? You didn't shit on them behind my back now, did you?" Chul-moo interposed, and stared at me. "And who's this, man? She was with me when I arrived at the entrance. "
"Don't mind him, Seok. This is Chul-moo, my idiotic friend, who can't come up with a solution for himself. Which is why I'm here, trying to help him."
"What do you mean 'my idiotic friend,' you idiot. You're the one who got yourself wounded for no reason at all! And I'm here to babysit you!"
"Babysit? More like watching in the audience's seat. I could've punched them in the face!"
"And you'd probably be expelled. Not probably. You're going to be expelled and leave this place. But you owe me for yesterday's lunch, you dimwit."
The beautiful relationship between these two guys had turned out to be as evil as a villain. Do boys fight like this all the time and curse like it's nothing? Nobody told me the answer. And even if someone knew, I wouldn't listen to them. I refuse.
After a few minutes of quarrelling, the bell above our heads rang like a roaring alarm clock. It almost ruptured my eardrum, considering the distance between us and the sound systems. And when that notification came out, the students from the orientation room marched like a herd of animals. They came to the right hallway.
However, instead of greeting us, those students stopped and glared in our direction. It took me a few moments before realising what was happening in front of us. Those students shared the same dagger-like eyes that pierced through Minjun. Only Minjun. It was as if they saw a criminal in action and declared the death penalty on him. The professors joining alongside the group also had the same look in their eyes.
It was the worst. Within a few seconds, those students and professors mumbled to themselves. The words they said were the same ones the students had uttered earlier, but even worse. Some guys over there even threw pebbles found on the floor or rotten things inside their bags. The girls took out their phones and captured a video over Minjun.