Chapter Text
> “Sa lahat ng tao sa campus, bakit siya pa?”
Kim Mingyu stood in the hallway of the comm building, tall frame slouched like gravity personally decided to bully him today. Third year na siya. He thought he’d mastered the system—coast through class, drop a few charming smiles, ace the group work, and move on.
But this?
This was war.
"Podcast project,” he muttered, staring at the printed syllabus. “Two hosts. Conflicting perspectives. Graded across the semester. Final grade will depend on chemistry and performance.”
His jaw clenched. Chemistry? Performance? The moment he saw the name beside his on the partner list, he already felt a nosebleed coming.
Jeon. Freaking. Wonwoo.
---
Inside the classroom, students were chatting, laughing, already pairing off. Seungcheol waved at him from a corner desk.
“Yo, Gyu! Sinong nakuha mong partner?”
Mingyu dragged his feet over, slumped into the chair. “Alam mo 'yung mga nightmares na paulit-ulit?”
Seungcheol blinked. “Oh no. Sino?”
Mingyu didn’t have to answer. Because right at that moment, the classroom door swung open and the air shifted like a K-drama reveal.
“Wow,” came a voice, smooth as silk and smug as hell. “Co-host ko si Kim Mingyu? Sa dami ng tao sa room na ‘to, bakit ‘di nalang ‘yung tahimik?”
Everyone turned. Jeon Wonwoo, in all his unreadable glory, sauntered in wearing a black button-down, silver wireframes, and a smirk that could cause small earthquakes.
Mingyu sat up straighter, instantly on guard. “I should’ve transferred.”
Wonwoo smiled, sliding into the seat next to him like it was his desk. “I was actually hoping for someone with a brain, pero sige na nga. Let’s make it fun.”
“Define fun,” Mingyu snapped.
“Making you admit I'm better,” Wonwoo replied, grinning, “on record.”
---
Flashback: Freshman Year – Debate Club Tryouts
The auditorium was packed. Mingyu stood at the podium, confident and cocky. Topic: “Love is a waste of time.”
“Ang point ko lang naman,” Mingyu declared, “we’re young, we should be chasing goals, not feelings. Love is a distraction.”
A voice from the audience cut through: “So never ka pang na-in love?”
Wonwoo.
Everyone turned. He stood slowly, like he had all the time in the world. "Or are you just scared na baka hindi ikaw ang distraction... kundi regret?"
The room exploded. People cheered. Mingyu stood frozen, ears red, pride crushed under that smug, unreadable gaze.
He walked out right after the event. Never came back to debate club. And he never forgot.
---
Back to Present
“You guys okay?” Junhui asked, concerned but clearly amused. “Baka magpatayan kayo before Episode 1.”
“Or maghalikan,” Vernon whispered to Seungkwan, who gasped dramatically. “Manifesting.”
“I heard that,” Mingyu hissed.
Wonwoo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Tense ka masyado, Mingyu. Relax. People might think you’re obsessed with me.”
Mingyu turned to Seungcheol. “I swear to God, i-drop ko ‘to.”
Seungcheol patted him on the back, chuckling. “You won't. Pride mo won’t let you.”
Wonwoo opened his laptop, already typing. “I’ll write the first episode’s outline. Unless gusto mong ikaw ang mag-sulat ng intro na walang grammatical error?”
Mingyu leaned closer, voice low but firm. “You’re not winning this, Jeon.”
Wonwoo smirked. “But I already am.”