Leaving the classroom, Jihoon made his way to the club room. He had recently joined the arts club—a choice that surprised many, given his intimidating demeanor. But art was his sanctuary. Sketching and painting had always been a passion, a fleeting dream of becoming a painter. Of course, the whole "demon alpha" thing was a looming reality he couldn't entirely ignore.
"You know, you don't strike me as the artsy type," Wonyoung teased, sidling up to him with her usual overfamiliarity. Her chest brushed against his arm, but Jihoon ignored it, his expression indifferent.
"And what do I strike you as, then?" Jihoon quipped, raising a brow in mock curiosity, his voice laced with dry amusement. He played along—mostly to pass the time.
Wonyoung smirked, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger, her wide eyes blinking in feigned innocence. "Oh, I don't know..." she drawled, leaning in closer to his ear. "Maybe someone who would wreck another person's life without a second thought? Like, say... getting a teacher canceled for fun?" Her whisper was syrupy sweet, but her words were razor-sharp.
Jihoon's lips twitched in a barely-there smirk. This wasn't the first time Wonyoung had tried to provoke him like this. She thrived on being unpredictable, and Jihoon had learned to roll with it. She was dangerous in her own way, but not in a way that truly unsettled him.
Still, he wasn't stupid. He had needs, sure, and Wonyoung was more than willing to fulfill them—but the messy web surrounding Ryan made things... complicated. For now, he kept her at arm's length.
Jihoon pushed open the door to the art club room, the faint scent of paint and varnish wafting in the air. His steps were calm, but his thoughts ran restless. The room was simple: plain tiles, a large table in the center surrounded by chairs, and cabinets filled with art supplies lining the walls.
The soft hum of laughter and conversation filled the space as other club members talked amongst themselves. But the moment Jihoon stepped inside, accompanied by Wonyoung, the room fell silent. Conversations died down, and an awkward tension seeped into the air. Jihoon noticed the way the members exchanged glances, their smiles fading as they avoided looking directly at him.
He rolled his eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh. Great. Here we go again.
"Hey, guys!" Wonyoung chirped, completely ignoring the shift in atmosphere. She practically bounced into the room, her cheerful energy clashing with the now-muted space. She flopped down next to Kang Haesoo, wrapping an arm around her in a playful hug. "So, what were you guys up to?"
Haesoo stiffened under her touch, her eyes darting nervously to Jihoon before settling back on the table. "N-nothing," she stammered. "We were just discussing the next project."
Beside her, Kwon Taesuk, the guy Haesoo had been crushing on for months, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, nodding in agreement. His gaze flickered to Jihoon for a split second before he quickly looked away.
Wonyoung tilted her head, her gaze narrowing in mock suspicion. "Ohhh? Just discussing, huh?" she teased, her tone dripping with mischief. "You two look like you got caught sneaking around or something."
Haesoo's cheeks flushed, and Taesuk let out a nervous laugh. Jihoon, however, had no patience for the awkward energy swirling around him. He dropped his bag onto a nearby chair and crossed his arms, his gaze sharp.
"Alright, enough," Jihoon snapped, his voice breaking the tense silence. "If you've got something to say, just say it. Stop acting all awkward and making everyone uncomfortable."
The room stiffened further, and Haesoo and Taesuk exchanged another nervous glance.
"What are you talking about, Jihoon?" Wonyoung piped up, feigning innocence as she leaned back in her chair. "Are you saying they're acting weird because of you?" Her tone was light, but Jihoon caught the glint of mockery in her eyes.
He gave her a flat look. "Don't play dumb. We all know what this is about." He turned his attention back to the group. "You're all acting like I'm some kind of pariah because of Ryan. Just spit it out already."
Taesuk hesitated before speaking, his voice cautious. "Jihoon… it's just that…" He glanced at Haesoo for reassurance before continuing. "You've been spending a lot of time around the crown prince. And, well… you've heard the rumors about him, right?"
Jihoon's jaw tightened, his patience fraying. "Yes, I've heard them. And they're just that—rumors. Nothing more."
Haesoo bit her lip, her tone softer but no less insistent. "But rumors don't just come out of nowhere, Jihoon. Ryan's dangerous. Everyone knows it."
"Dangerous?" Jihoon scoffed, leaning forward as he met her gaze. "What makes him dangerous? The fact that he's different? The fact that he's an abnormal alpha? Or is it just because people are too scared to see him as anything else?"
"People are scared for a reason," Taesuk chimed in, his voice firmer now. "He's not like us, Jihoon. He's unpredictable. And if you keep getting close to him, you'll just end up getting hurt."
Jihoon's eyes flashed with irritation, his fists clenching at his sides. "You don't know him like I do. Ryan isn't some monster you all make him out to be. He's—"
"A ticking time bomb," Wonyoung interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension. She stood, crossing her arms as she fixed Jihoon with a sharp look. "And you're standing way too close to the explosion."
Jihoon glared at her. "You don't get it. None of you do. Ryan's not the problem. It's people like you—spreading lies, treating him like an outcast—that push him closer to the edge."
Haesoo's voice wavered, but she pressed on. "We're worried about you, Jihoon. If Ryan loses control, it won't just be you who gets hurt. He'll destroy everything. Even us."
"Then maybe the problem isn't Ryan," Jihoon shot back, his voice rising. "Maybe the problem is everyone who's too blind to see him as a person instead of a threat."
The room fell silent, Jihoon's words hanging heavy in the air. The tension was palpable, the weight of unspoken fears and doubts pressing down on everyone.
Wonyoung let out a soft laugh, though it lacked any real humor. "You're so naive, Jihoon. Defending him like this… It's going to get you killed one day."
Jihoon's expression hardened, his voice cold. "If that's the price I have to pay to stop people like you from turning him into the monster you all fear, then so be it."
With that, he grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room, leaving behind a stunned silence. Wonyoung watched him go, her eyes narrowing as something unspoken passed through her mind.
In the hallway, Jihoon's footsteps echoed as he made his way to the courtyard. His heart was pounding, anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He knew this wasn't the last time he'd have to defend Ryan.
But no matter how many people stood against him, Jihoon was determined to prove them all wrong. Even if it meant standing alone.
To be continued.....