ALL BARK NO BITE | SADISTIC BEAUTY SPINOFF

Chapter 14

~ Teacher's Lounge, Hanguk University, Daehak-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Byun Minho rubbed the worry from his eyes, he was already buzzing from having tossed and turned the previous night, seeing vivid dreams and visions of the threatening kind. Teaching? With Cha Wookyung? In the same classroom? It covered him with cold sweat, filled him with brick-like discomfort.

It wasn't that he was going to be working with the university that strung him up, it was that no matter where he was, he would be watching him. With heady, lovesick eyes. Wookyung was always breathing down his neck and Minho didn't know how to feel about it.

On one hand, it was good to know that he still bothered over him so much. Bothered enough to keep inserting himself back in the places they used to share. It made him feel unusual and strangely powerful. That someone kept seeking him out and dancing before his eyes for some attention.

But that didn't mean he was any less intimidated by him. The scales were still tipped against his favour. Minho had decided a long time back that what Wookyung had resorted to wasn't a lavish show of affection, he had always been a child in a candy shop, pulling out treats and tossing away their wrappers.

Even back in college, Wookyung rarely took up extracurriculars within his academic layout. Showing just a general disinterest in any and all things but he was rather quick to take up a spot in the Literature Club. Reasons for which, Minho knew best.

For a man who always got everything, life wasn't life without the struggle. The things he couldn't get, he saw as his sole purpose. Something worthy of his time because what else could he fight for that he didn't already have? What would Cha Wookyung do if he couldn't have something for once?

*

"Professor Byun?" the receptionist popped into the office. "Yes?" he swivelled around in his chair, eyes seeing the world in bokeh mode "Is something the matter?" he took off his glasses, squinting up at the woman.

"Actually, there is a student at the reception asking for you, he says it's urgent" she put a folder to hide her face "he feels a bit suspicious, so be careful". "Okay..." he got up, patting down his suit and rearranging his glasses "I'll see to it".

****

15 MINUTES LATER

~ Reception Area, Hanguk University, Daehak-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

"You shouldn't have lied to the receptionist, Minhyuk" he glared at the 20 something-year-old, young man. "I had no other choice" he mumbled. "You could've called me!" Minho sounded annoyed. He immediately hushed as some senior professors entered, talking among themselves.

They were huddled in a corner of the main college lobby, whispering in soft voices to keep it from echoing around the empty, tiled lobby. Minho clad in his well-tailored suit towered over the shorted, stouter boy dressed down in more shabby, oversized clothing.

"None of my calls were going through. Minjun and Minyoung also tried calling but you didn't pick up" he wrung his hands and Minho, against his own memory, recalled blocking them one evening when he couldn't take it anymore. He was aware of the urgency but wanted to avoid any and all contact with his household.

Only now did it occur to him that he was punishing the rest of the kids too. "Something must have been wrong with your numbers then" he excused himself. He was the sole breadwinner of this family. Minhyuk frowned at him and Minho sighed, turning back to leave. "Wait! Hyung" he stopped him as he turned to go.

"Listen.. we are honestly not doing very well... especially ma..." he trailed. He was wearing an old shirt. Minho remembered that it used to belong to him, it was his favourite shirt and he had actively worn it down to the thread at the elbows and shoulders. It wasn't even the same colour anymore.