Chapter Text
Winter break was finally over. Not only that, once Midterm grades finally made their appearance, any sort of pressure was lifted off all and any students’ shoulders. It left the air to be all to easy to breathe in. Most normal people would find that a good thing; however, Min was not an average person.
He practically thrived off of his scared and anxious classmates’ panic attacks. Before testing, he would find ways to get others’ to snap. It was a fun stress reliever, but with their final grades rolling in, those same people are now relaxing. What killjoys those were. Now, he lays his head down lifeless on the cold concrete table of the outside cafe across from the university with one of his closest friends, Seungho.
For a while, he paid his mischievous friend for the past half hour. Usually, he would succumb to the silence, but he was beginning to worry that he hadn’t heard one insult thrown into the air all day.
“I try not to ask this often, but what the hell is wrong with you?” Seungho asked without lifting his eyes from his book. “And please, do not make me regret asking you.”
Slowly, Min lifts his head from the table without any emotion on his face.
“I’m bored. Without anyone within a 100-mile radius having an existential crisis, I haven’t got anything to do,” Min responds.
Seungho just rolls his eyes. At least, he somewhat does not regret asking, “Have you decided to take up knitting? Or something that doesn’t have severe consequences to your actions.”
“Yoon Seungho, I am serious.”
“And you won’t believe it, I as well.”
Min kisses his teeth with a snare. Unlike everyone else, Seungho isn’t too easily swayed by his friend’s habits. Only because it kept Min away meddling into his own life. Seungho was far too busy trying to keep his father off his back then to entertain any of Min's nefarious deeds.
Min finally sighs in defeat.
What a miserable existence he's living—no one to mess, bother or harass in these trying times. Not even Jihwa gives him the time of day as he is now in a sickening happy relationship with Tarzan. Even thinking about it was giving him wrinkles.
Seungho continued to ignore him. He busied himself by diving into the large history book halfway covering his face. Min finally pays attention to him. He noticed how strange it was for him to study this early in the new semester.
"Oi, what's with the studious attitude?"
Once again, Seungho rolls his eyes before answering.
“I fail Prof. Jeong’s midterm. Now, Father is forcing me to get a tutor. So, I have to prove to said tutor that I’m good without one.” What made things more annoying was the smug look on In-Hun’s face when Seungho confronted him on the 68% he received on the written exam. He knew he got all the answers right, but Prof. Jeong counted points off for ‘poor choice of wording”.
“Yikes. Jeong In-Hun, I heard he purposely makes the midterms impossible to pass at a past time. That dude seriously needs to get laid,” Min responded in a sigh. He was grateful that he had a different professor for History, but it seems that Prof. Jeong had a vendetta against all his students.
If that was the case, why become a teacher?
“Anyways, Father is now up my ass and threatening to take away my trust fund until I get my grades up. It’s even worse than he had to find a tutor on campus,” Seungho was at his wits. He’s regretting Seungho from three months ago for taking his class as a challenge.
Min snickers, suddenly feeling himself cheer up from Seungho’s suffering. It wasn’t much, but it was nice to see someone get fucked over once in and while. Soon his snickers came to a pause as a phone chimed between them. It was Seungho’s phone. He was a bit puzzled as it was a non-contact number. He decides to answer it anyway, just in case.
Seungho clears his throat before answering,” Hello.”
His expression widens a bit before groaning, “Yes, I remember it was today…..Where are we meeting at?..... Alright, see you soon.”
Min could not contain any more of his laughter as Seungho had nothing but a defeated look on his face. Sluggishly, he put all his books and notes back into his bag. Not one time, Seungho looked back at his friend and tried to leave him in silence. Yet, like an annoying little duckling, Min pursued like it was his tutoring session as well.
***
On-campus, there are two libraries. There was the West Library that was near the science building, and there was the North Library that was near the theatre auditorium. The North Library was where Seungho was meeting his mystery tutor. It was a smaller library that was as old as the campus itself. It was too small to hold tutoring sessions, so it’s only used for checking out books or individual studying. Seungho’s father had kept all details on who his tutor was hidden so Seungho would not find ways to run, bride, or shoo him away.
From their phone call from earlier, the tutor’s voice was small and nervous. But it was hardly recognizable. Whoever it was, his dad made sure that it could not be anyone that Seungho had known for quite a while. Min and Seungho arrived at the North Library to hardly anyone around. Only two students took up the computers and the librarian was too busy being on their phone to even greet them. Seugnho scanned over at the tables for anyone that looked nerdy enough to be his tutor, but there was no person with their insight.
“Seems like they bailed on you,” Min snarky remarks.
Seungho scoffs in annoyance,” What a load-, why the hell would he call me asking if I was coming if he’s not even here yet.”
Huffing once more, as Seungho was about to turn his back and leave a small “excuse me” was heard behind him. Right before him was someone he had never met before. Despite being near to his shoulders, Seungho could not help but tilt his head down to meet those mesmerizing honey eyes. In his hands, he holds a cup carrier with two cups in it and a box of mochi donuts. The man before him takes a few steps back.
“I’m sorry. Are you Yoon Seungho?” the man asks, “I asked the librarian if it was okay to bring snacks in and I went off to go get us some. I hope you didn’t wait long.”
“My name is Baek Nakyum, I’ll be your tutor.”
Seungho tried to remain as neutral as possible to Nakyum’s greeting, but everything in him felt stiff. His entire body felt hot, he couldn’t think straight and all he could do was mutter thanks and shake his hands. While all of this was happening, Min saw through it all. He could feel a shift in Seungho’s whole demeanor. From afar, he watched Seungho interact with his cute new tutor.
Eventually, an evil thought passed in his mind.
***
A few hours later
After Seungho’s tutoring session, Min decided to treat his friends to KBBQ. In the meantime, they managed to find Jihwa and drag him away from his scary boyfriend. They talk, eat, and drink like the good ol’ days as Min thought through his scheme to mess with Seungho. Soon after, the three privileged adults head back to Seungho’s apartment to crash for the night.
“So, Seungho~! I heard through the grapevine that you got yourself a tutor,” Jihwa with a can of beer in his hands.
“Could you please not refer to Min as the grapevines. You’ll ruin grapes for me.”
“Hey! I take offense to that.”
“Good,” they say in unison.
“But anyway, yes. Prof Shit-Hun won last semester, but I fully plan to bite him back where it hurts for Finals,” Seungho admits to Jihwa to make himself look a bit better in defeat.
Jihwa scoffs as he crashes on the couch,” Was it your plan or your dad’s plan?’
“Doesn’t matter. It’s a good plan, especially with Baek Nakyum as my tutor.”
Jihwa chokes on his beer upon hearing that name. It took a moment to regain his composure before continuing the conversation where Seungho left off.
“Ah shit,” Jihwa coughs in between sentences, “ it’s been a minute since I heard that name. You caught me off guard, bastard.”
Before Seungho could question what Jihwa meant, Min jumps from his spot and offers to help Jihwa in the bathroom. Min manages to whisk him off before he could oppose, leaving Seungho alone in his living room. After Jihwa finally catches his breath, Min offers a warm towel to help clean him.
“Why are you nice all of sudden?”
“I love it how you get to the point of things. I just have a few questions about Seungho’s tutor.”
***
Act I: Setting the stage
“Wait, what?” Seungho exclaims which resulted in an annoyed shush from the librarian. A little embarrassed, he mutters an apology before returning back to Nakyum.
“Yes, it’s a little petty but Prof. Jeong does not like it when his students outsmart him in his class,” Nakyum explains quietly.
It was Nakyum and Seungho’s second meetup and instantly Seungho broke down the root of his failings. Seungho explained all how it feels like he could never meet up with his professor’s standards and it’s pulling him back in class. Soon, that is when Nakyum dropped the bomb on him.
“Professor Jeong hates his smartest students. He also hates his dumber ones, but you are not the case. From what I have seen from your exams, he’s taking advantage of his power to fail you. You understand the lesson very well, but that won’t get you very far,” Nakyum insinuated.
“What? Is he trying to keep my ego in check?” Seungho asked in annoyance.
“No, it’s more like an ego boost for him.”
That son of a bitch.
Step by step, detail by detail. Nakyum helps Seungho how to pass In-Hun’s class by beating him in his own game. Nakyum explained that he had an older sister that had In-Hun and was having the same problem that Seungho had. She learned to not make her essays that she knew more than what In-Hun taught, not to use any buzz words to make her answers more educational, and to always repeat any sentences that In-Hun used in previous lessons.
Could this man’s head get any bigger than this?
Their session was put to a pause for Nakyum to excuse himself to the restroom. He didn't make it far as a student accidentally ran to him and spilled juice on his pink sweater. A few gasps were heard, but Nakyum was way too embarrassed to be bothered to hear an apology. Urgently, he made his way to the restroom with a new agenda
Getting Ocean Spray off his sweater.
Afterwards, Seungho walks in seeing a tank top wearing Nakyum running water on his shirt. His face flushes red for a moment before saying the first word.
"Hey, that guy felt really bad about your sweater. He kept apologizing," Seungho explained. A sigh left from the sophomore before turning to Seungho.
"I know, it's fine. I just got embarrassed, you know. Cranberry juice tends to stain easily," a dry laugh escapes.
Unexpectedly, a plaid shirt was in Nakyum's peripheral.
"Here. Just wear this and give it back the next time we see each other."
The room felt really tense. Seungho’s unexpected kindness caught Nakyum off guard. He didn't even realize the shirt was already in his hands until he felt Seungho’s gaze intensely on him.
He muttered," Thank you."
Before anyone could say anything else, someone's phone echoed in the restroom. They were both saved from the awkward tension they both put themselves in. Seungho picks up the phone to see Min calling.
"What do you want?"
"Hello to you too. Are you still going out with us tonight?"
Seungho sighs as he forgot that he was supposed to be going out to celebrate another friend of theirs birthday. However, he was too mentally exhausted to do any sort of partying at all.
"Yeah, sorry. I won't be able to make it. I'm with Nakyum at the moment."
The light bulb in Min's head turned on brightly.
"Oh, I understand. Keeping him company, I see. I didn't think you were the type to recuperate feelings," Min says slyly.
Seungho was confused,"What are you talking about?"
"Damn, said too much. My bad," Min quickly retracts," Well see you tomorrow. We'll try to get you some cake."
What Seungho didn't know that his friend was laughing maniacally on the other side of the screen.
***
Week 2: Taking the Bait
Seungho’s tutoring session are for 3 days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. They go on for two hours and they go back to their daily routines. However, this Sunday was a little different.
Nakyum called to cancel their tutoring session because his car broke down. He felt terrible as he was all the way downtown and it would take over an hour to find a ride. Seungho fully understood where he was coming from. They gave each other their goodbyes and agreed on meeting next Monday.
Now, Seungho sat around his apartment bored with nothing better else to do. A few hours pass by and a knock comes to Seungho’s door. He waits and hopes it's just Jehova Witness, but more knocks pounds on his door.
Groaning, he looks to see who's outside and Min all nicely dressed.
"Who did you kill?" Seungho immediately questions.
"Why do you think of me so poorly?," Min feigned hurt.
"You don't give me much choice. Whatever, why are you dress so nicely?"
"Duh, we planned to go out to that hibachi downtown. Why aren't you dressed?"
"I don't ever remember planning that with you guys."
With a shrug, Min carried on to Seungho’s room and raided all his clothes for something nice to wear. Before Seungho could throw any sort of objections, a whole outfit was thrown at his face.
"Wear that! Me and Jihwa will be waiting in the car!"
As always, Seungho is roped into his friend’s bull shit without any sort of discussion.
Once they arrived to the restaurant, their hostess put them to a booth and handing them their menus. A few minutes later a soft and familiar voice greeted them.
"Hello, my name is Nakyum and I'll be your server today—" Nakyum finally looks up to see Seungho looking at him. A blush surrounds his face as he didn't expect to see him at work.
Nakyum sighed knowing it was gonna be a very long work night. For the entire night Nakyum avoided all eye contact with Seungho's table. Seungho felt weird enough that he wasn't talking to him, but he was getting even more annoyed that Min decided go get all chatty with him all of a sudden.
Seungho left to clear his head outside with a cigarette. There he sees Nakyum walking up to him, still not looking at him, of course.
"I wasn't lying, you know. My car really did broke down, but I don't live in the dorms. So, it's very inconvenient for me to find rides nowadays and felt bad. Like, we barely know each other so I can't just—"
Dammit, I'm rambling
Seungho stubs his cigarette and thought it over a moment. He felt like he was gonna do something that he might never turn back on.
"Do you need a ride after work?"
***
Week 4: D-Day
For the past couple of weeks, Seungho and Nakyum have been hanging out nonstop. Even after their sessions, they're with each other like good friends. Nakyum invites him over to tutor in his apartment with all sorts of snacks and arrangement.
Every now and again, Min would tease and act as if they were in a relationship.
"Oh, come on. He's likes you. I don't see how you haven't noticed it," Min exclaims.
As always, Seungho ignores him. Yet, Min pushes his boundaries.
"The way he acts around you—"
"He's just polite."
"He makes you snacks—"
"Their new desserts for the restaurant."
"You barely let anyone in your car—"
"Last time I did you threw up in it!"
"Six months ago, pado!"
Min was totally not letting this subject go. Seungho continued to roll his eyes at his antics before moving on to another subject.
"I don't want to do anything for my birthday. I just to drink and sleep. Got that."
"Of course, of course."
He says knowing full and well that was a lie. After, he left Seungho alone, he texted Jihwa to be ready. He had a whole plan set up to for a surprise party for Seungho. All he needed was the bait. Sitting with his sketchbook in the courtyard, Nakyum was enjoying his peace and quiet until he felt someone's presence behind him. It was just one of Seungho’s friends from the other week.
"Excuse me, so sorry to bother, but you know Seungho, right?"
Nakyum nodded.
"Could you deliver some his stuff for me?"
Nakyum felt a little nervous just coming to Seungho’s apartment without warning. Especially with a weirdly shaped box in his hands, but they were friends, right? He finally arrives to the black door that had Yoon right under the his apartment number. He knocks a few times and waits.
He's shocked by the abruptness of the door opening and a very shirtless Seungho appears.They both look at each other for a moment before everything just finally processes what's going on.
"Hey, is this your way of saying Happy Birthday because I don't like surprises."
A dark chuckle escapes Seungho as Nakyum completely stutters what he wants to say.
"It's alright, I like you too"
And just before Nakyum could say anything, he just nods his head and comes inside.