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Hyo glanced at her schedule one more time. She had recently learned that Zanka, her old primary-school classmate, was attending the same college as she was. Normally, something like that wouldn’t affect her at all. It wouldn’t make her excited, curious, or anything close to that. But somehow, the thought of seeing him again had pushed her to arrive early. She even walked around the halls ahead of time, checking classrooms so she could find him as fast as possible.
She didn’t slow down as she entered the building. Her steps were quick, one could almost say they were eager. She didn’t need to think, her feet knew exactly where she wanted to go. Since Zanka’s classroom was just around the corner. When she reached the door, she paused only for a second before sliding it open. Her eyes moved through the room, and stopped the moment she saw him.
Zanka was sitting in front of his desk, just like he used to in primary school. But everything else about him felt different. Hyo almost didn’t recognize him at first. The Zanka she remembered had bright, lively eyes; this one’s eyes seemed dull and tired. The bright light they held, especially when it came to talking about his studies, were absent. His messy hair, which he used to let fall everywhere, was now held back by several hair clips so it wouldn’t block his vision. And the biggest surprise of all was that he wore glasses. Hyo never would have guessed that in a million years.
He didn’t notice her at all. It didn’t take long for her to understand why. Another boy stood beside him, a boy with long locs and a huge, toothy grin. He was talking endlessly, barely pausing to breathe, spilling out words in one long stream. Zanka wasn’t even looking at him, yet the boy kept going like he didn’t need an audience.
When the talkative individual finally spotted Hyo at the door, he stopped for a brief second, stared, and then acted as if she wasn’t even there. He turned back to Zanka and continued talking. Hyo felt a small spark of annoyance, but it wasn’t strong enough to be called anger.
She stayed where she was, quietly watching. She noticed how Zanka’s eyebrows pulled together, how he frowned slightly like he was trying to understand something or maybe trying to ignore everything around him. One of his hands held a pen, maybe a bit too tightly to actually write comfortably, while the other was clutching the textbook.
Standing there, Hyo realized how strange it felt to see someone she used to know look so unfamiliar. Part of her wanted to walk up and say something. Another part wanted to stay still and watch a little longer, trying to understand the person he had grown into.
Her mind wandered back to the old days, like the time Zanka threw a tantrum after getting second place on a test. She had always wondered why he was so upset. She had gotten first place, and even if she hadn’t, she knew she wouldn’t have reacted like that. Moments like those made Zanka feel like an enigma, and that mystery had always stuck with her.
As she watched him now, Hyo remembered what most people never noticed. Everyone called him a genius, but she had seen the truth; the hours of work he’d pour into studying, or the way he pushed himself again and again. It had inspired her in a quiet way. She never cared about being at the top, and studying itself didn’t excite her, but watching Zanka’s dedication had made her want to try harder too. Not to compete, but just because the effort he put in was strangely beautiful.
“Zan-Zannn~ y’know, it’s really rude to ignore me like this,” the boy beside him cooed, leaning close to Zanka’s ear. His voice was playful, and loud enough for Hyo to hear every word. Something in her chest tightened. “I’ll make ya happier than that textbook.”
“Jabber, please-” Zanka sighed. Before he could finish, he let out a sharp cry. “Ow-! Did you just bite me?!” He pulled his head back quickly, one of his hands covered his ear.
“Y’weren’t paying attention to me,” Jabber complained. He draped his arms over Zanka’s shoulders and shook him back and forth as if he were a toy.
Hyo saw everything, especially the stiffness in Zanka’s shoulders and the way his whole face practically screamed discomfort.
“I’m trying to study,” Zanka sighed.
“Urgh, that’s so borin’. C’mon, Zan-Zan.” Jabber leaned in again, and Hyo could feel her annoyance boiling up faster than before. “If ya just gimme it, I’ll leave ya alone.”
“I’m not kissing you ever, you douche.” Zanka turned back to his work, clearly trying to ignore the pathetic excuse of a man beside him.
But of course, Jabber didn’t back off. He never seemed like someone who could. He started teasing Zanka in every irritating way possible; a quick blow of air to his ear, his hand sliding over Zanka’s, the cold touch of the metal ring on his finger tapping Zanka’s cheek. With each move, Zanka’s expression tightened even more. He probably wasn’t just annoyed now, he was exhausted.
“Cease your unwarranted solicitation towards him,” Hyo finally said, her voice cutting through the chatter like a blade.
Jabber turned, confused. “The hell?”
Zanka took a moment before looking up. When he finally saw her, the reaction was immediate, as his eyes widened in shock. “H-Hyo?” he stuttered, still taken aback.
She gave a small nod. “Do you require assistance in removing that man from your personal space?”
Zanka shook his head quickly. “It’s alright. He does it all the time,” he said. “I’m just… I didn’t expect you to be here.”
Hyo stepped toward him, making sure to glare at Jabber as she passed. “Are you certain?”
Zanka nodded again, a bit too fast. Hyo could only assume he’d been worn down by this behavior for a long time. “Yeah. But, um… how- why are you here?”
“To attend college.”
Zanka squinted. “Why this college? You were top of the class back then. I’m sure you got better offers.”
Hyo blinked once, then twice. “It’s close by.”
Zanka let out a breath. “Right.”
Jabber finally pulled himself away from Zanka and walked right up to Hyo. He stared down at her like he was trying to start a fight.
Hyo found it irritating almost instantly. She was trying to have a conversation, and this man clearly didn’t know what personal space meant. “Leave my line of vision,” she said flatly.
“And what if I don’t?” Jabber shot back, sticking out his tongue. “What makes ya think ya can just show up and tell me what t’do?”
“I will break your radius and ulna.”
“Ouuu, I’m so scared,” Jabber said, dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t threaten me with a good time. A broken bone sounds like a dream.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Can you two knock it off?” Zanka finally interrupted. “It’s so loud. If you’re going to fight, fight outside.”
Jabber instantly switched his expression and tone. “I’m sorry, Zannie~ Can I make it up to ya? How about a lil kiss from me instead?”
Hyo elbowed him with lightning speed.
“Argh, fucker!” Jabber hissed, clutching his side. “Yer such an aggressive woman.”
“It was an accident.”
“Accident my ass, ya clearly-”
Before he could finish, Zanka slammed his hands on the desk and stood up.
“You two, shut up!” he yelled. “I have things to do, and no time to do them. So either you shut the fuck up, or go fight outside.”
Hyo froze for a moment. Maybe she really was going too far. Not toward Jabber, he deserved it, but toward Zanka. She knew how hard he worked, and now she was part of the noise making it harder for him to focus.
She glanced at Jabber, and he didn’t look like he intended to leave at all. That made her eyebrows twitch. Fine. She’d drag him out herself.
Hyo grabbed one of Jabber’s locs and pulled him toward the door. Jabber exploded with curses, shoving at her hand, but her grip didn’t budge.
“What was that for?!” he yelled once they were outside the classroom.
“You were a nuisance,” Hyo replied simply.
“Yer the only nuisance here! I was just spendin’ time with my Zan-Zan until ya shoved yer way into our business.”
“I came to extend my greeting to Zanka,” she said with a deadpan expression. “I do not see how that’s an issue.”
“No one’s believin’ that! ‘Cause the first thing ya said was basically ‘fuck off,’” Jabber snapped.
“False information,” Hyo muttered. She already disliked him, deeply. And she felt genuine pity for Zanka, who had to deal with this man on a daily basis.
At that moment, Hyo made up her mind. She was going to save Zanka from this beast.