"Jun-hyung...!!!"
"Minjun-sunbae..."
Seung-joon glanced up from his textbook; his attention pulled away by the rising commotion in the classroom. The entire class seemed to be buzzing with excitement, and girls were whispering and giggling as they stole glances toward the corridor. There, in the midst of it all, stood Min-jun, looking slightly overwhelmed by the throng of admirers surrounding him. His friend was making an effort to manage the crowd while the class monitor tried to smooth things over, apologizing to Min-jun for the disruption. Min-ho and Jae-won, from the basketball team, were animatedly chatting with Min-jun, adding to the lively scene.
"Joon-ah, pass me the eraser."
Seung-joon turned his eyes from Min-jun to Tae-min, who was watching with a pained, bitter expression. Tae-min's gaze lingered on Min-jun and his admirers, his face revealing a sense of discontent and envy that was hard to ignore.
"Let it go, hyung. You know Jae-won can play better than you. He has to do what's best for the team."
As Seung-joon passed the eraser to Tae-min, Tae-min snatched it from him, his irritation still evident. Seung-joon watched for a few moments as Tae-min erased his mistakes with a manic fervor, mumbling angrily to himself. Shifting his gaze, Seung-joon observed Min-jun, noticing how his rich, chocolate-brown eyes seemed to light up with joy as he conversed with his teammates.
Seung-joon mused, "So, did you really come just to see them or me?" His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Min-jun's eyes sweeping over the classroom. Seung-joon quickly averted his gaze, pretending to be absorbed in the view outside. Still, the reflection in the window showed that Min-jun's eyes were firmly fixed on him.
At first, Seung-joon believed that Min-jun's fame was just a result of his social status and good looks. However, as he observed Min-jun more closely, he came to realize that it was Min-jun's easygoing and genuine personality that really drew people to him. This revelation was somewhat hard for Seung-joon to grasp, especially in a school like A*, where most of the wealthy students tended to be quite arrogant.
Ever since their second meeting at the infirmary, Seung-joon had been closely observing Min-jun and was astonished by his profound emotional sensitivity. It was intriguing to discover that, despite his privileged position, Min-jun possessed a heart that was refreshingly innocent and childlike. Seung-joon found it both amusing and endearing to see how Min-jun frequently misread social cues and unintentionally rebuffed many girls. He was also entertained to learn that Chang-min shared his amusement at Min-jun's sincere nature. Yet, Seung-joon couldn't ignore the fact that Min-jun's naivety made him susceptible to manipulation, and he had observed how Chang-min consistently intervened to protect Min-jun from potential pitfalls.
Seung-joon found himself fascinated by the deep affection and attentiveness Chang-min showed towards Min-jun. It was striking to see how Chang-min consistently stepped out of his comfort zone to ensure Min-jun's well-being. The exceptional level of care and dedication Chang-min devoted to Min-jun stood out plainly. Seung-joon couldn't help but admire the profound bond between them, wondering what made their relationship so uniquely special.
"Tae-min hyung, do you know anything about Cho Chang-min?" Seung-joon asked, his curiosity piqued.
Tae-min, the school's go-to source for all the latest gossip, barely looked up from his textbook as he responded, "He's Han Min-jun's step-brother."
Seung-joon's surprise was evident for a moment, though he quickly masked it. "Really? Hmm… that makes a lot of sense," he muttered to himself.
"Why the interest in Cho Chang-min?" Taejon inquired, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Seung-joon glanced to his left to find Tae-jon watching Min-jun with a cold, piercing gaze. 'Damn. He already knows.' Seung-joon thought, but he maintained a casual demeanor.
"Well, he seems quite devoted to Han Min-jun. I was just curious," Seung-joon replied casually, bending over his paper to hide his expression from Tae-jon as he jotted down his answers.
Over the past few weeks, Seung-joon had observed Min-jun making frequent visits to his class. Min-jun often loitered in the corridor, seemingly waiting for a chance to catch a glimpse of Seung-joon. Min-ho and Jae-won were usually by his side, providing company. Fortunately, the troublesome twins were absent during most of these visits. Yet, on the rare occasions when they were present, Chang-min would promptly step in, guiding Min-jun away before any trouble could erupt.
Seung-joon was well aware of the emotions driving Min-jun's frequent visits. There was a part of him that took satisfaction in being the focal point of Min-jun's attention, and he noticed the bewilderment in Min-jun's eyes.
'I bet you never imagined falling for a guy,' Seung-joon mused, watching Min-jun's reflection in the classroom window. 'What would happen if I were to like you back, Han Min-jun? Would you be able to handle it?'
Seung-joon understood that a romantic relationship with Min-jun was unfeasible. He knew that Min-jun's family would strongly oppose any such relationship, causing Min-jun considerable distress. On top of that, there were also the troublesome twins to consider.
An unexpected desire surged within Seung-joon to meet Min-jun's gaze, drawn irresistibly to the depth and warmth of his chocolate-brown eyes.
'Han Min-jun, will you ever take the responsibility for disturbing peace of my mind?'
As the bell marked the end of recess, Seung-joon watched Chang-min lead Min-jun away, his heart unsettled by the sight of Min-jun disappearing around the corner. He leaned back in his chair, banging the back of his head gently against it, letting out a sigh of frustration.
'Eomma, why couldn't you pass me the rest of abeoji's genes? I'm way too short for a guy.'
Seung-joon looked at the sky through the classroom window.
'That's the least of your worries, fool.'
He wanted to scream from the top of his lungs.
'Han Min-jun, why are you a fox in wolf skin?'