How to be a Villain

2. Academy of Villains

Wooyoung survived his encounter with the angel, but he needed a long time to recover. After his friends found him, they brought him home to his terrified parents to nurse him back to full health, but Wooyoung didn't explain what happened to anyone for weeks. He ignored all questions and dodged their eyes whenever he needed to leave his room. Too worried to nag him, his parents endured it and allowed him shelter.

Nobody knew what had happened, but he felt they did. Their judgmental eyes bore into his skin and mocked his defeat.

Wooyoung couldn't look at his parents or friends and neither could he look at himself. He avoided all mirrors and lay curled in his bed for days, barely moving to survive.

His friends were going crazy with concern, but his heart remained cold to their pleas to see him. Soon, it was time to move into the dormitory of the academy. The weeks passed in a flash and soon his summer break was over. Wooyoung should have spent the time working ahead on his study materials, but he couldn't get himself to anything. In the few hours of sleep he found, the mocking visage of the angel plagued him.

Wooyoung sincerely wished him hell and worse whenever his body writhed in need and all it could think of was that bastard's touch.

Wooyoung moved out of home and hugged his parents goodbye. They were worried about letting him go with his empty gaze, but they promised he could come back any time. Thus, Wooyoung slinked off to his dorm.

He shared his room with Seonghwa, so dodging his questions became impossible. But after two months of recovery, Wooyoung was ready to talk. Though shaken to the core, he knew his priority needed to be his studies. Gradually, his flame sparked anew, and it was more hateful than ever.

He would become the most spiteful of villains. And he would have his revenge on that dastardly angel, even if he needed to raze down the entire heavenly kingdom.

Seonghwa was quiet when he helped Wooyoung arrange his luggage in the room, but Wooyoung saw the upset brimming in his eyes. His friends knew the angels were at fault, were frustrated that they turned Wooyoung into a mindless doll. But they couldn't fathom the entire truth.

The night before their first class, when both of them lay snuggled in bed and Seonghwa cosied up in his silken sheets, Wooyoung opened his mouth after an eternity. His usually merry tone was dulled to a croak.

"Thank you for taking care of me." He didn't just mean Seonghwa. He included Yunho, Mingi, his parents and even their worried neighbours. Yet Seonghwa breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first time in a long while that he heard the voice of his best friend.

"Are you back?" He whispered into the twilight of their room. The perpetual red light from hell crept through the curtains to douse the chamber in its faint hue.

Wooyoung turned his head to look at his friend. Seonghwa's horns framed his face sweetly and his dumb, doe eyes sparkled at Wooyoung, full of hope.

His guilt didn't allow Wooyoung to mope any longer. He needed to become stronger. And he needed to have his revenge.

"Perhaps not quite, but... I'm trying," Wooyoung whispered back. He was scared to be dropped now that they no longer needed to take care of him, but Seonghwa had always been his gentlest and closest friend. Even in the dark, Wooyoung saw him smile.

"That's a relief. Tell me if you need any help," he offered, and a weight lifted off Wooyoung's heart. He could apologise to Yunho and Mingi later. They would understand. And Yunho - in case he faulted himself for daring Wooyoung - could rest his conscience.

After another moment of silence, the two lay awake. Seonghwa was too wired now to fall asleep.

When he spoke up, his voice was reluctant.