Rivalry Rewritten: Enmity to Intimacy ( Volume: 2)

Five

Wooyoung was currently at his dorm as he finished his final study session and got up to grab coffee. While sipping coffee, Wooyoung decided to give Minji a call. They hadn't talked in a few days and he wanted to catch up with her.

As soon as she answered the call, Wooyoung asked, "Hey Minji, how's life been treating you?"

Minji let out a sigh and replied, "Oh, you know, just living the dream." They both burst out laughing, knowing that life was far from a dream at this point.

"I'm serious though, what have you been up to?" Wooyoung asked, trying to sound concerned.

Minji's tone suddenly changed as she replied, "Actually, I attended a party last night and it was so boring that I dragged poor Mingi along with me."

Wooyoung couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Mingi being forced to go to a party with Minji. "Oh, that poor guy. He must've been so bored."

Minji retorted, "Hey, he came because he was also bored. And besides, he had a good time."

Wooyoung jokingly replied, "Sure he did. He probably just didn't want to hurt your feelings."

Minji laughed, "Oh please, Mingi's sarcasm game is as strong as ours. He can handle me."

The two friends continued to exchange sarcastic remarks, each one trying to one-up the other. Their banter was always filled with humor and wit, making even the most mundane conversations interesting.

As they talked, Minji suddenly remembered something and asked, "Hey, how's your exam preparation going?"

Wooyoung let out a groan, "Don't remind me. Exams are starting next month and I haven't even started studying properly."

Minji laughed, "Well, good luck with that. I'm sure you'll do just fine, Mr. Last-minute-study."

Wooyoung chuckled, "Hey, I work best under pressure."

And just like that, the serious topic of exams turned into a lighthearted one, with Wooyoung and Minji making fun of each other's study habits.

Their conversation continued for a while longer, filled with laughter and jokes. It was moments like these that made their friendship so special. They were always there to make each other laugh, even in the toughest of times.
As they said their goodbyes, they promised to catch up again soon. Because no matter where life took them, they knew that their bond would always remain strong, and their sarcastic banter would never die down.

As Wooyoung says his goodbyes to Minji, he hears the sound of the dorm door opening and then closing. He gets up from his seat and makes his way to the living room, where he finds Seonghwa struggling to carry a stack of books and pieces of cloth.

"Need some help?" Wooyoung asks with a smile, knowing that his boyfriend often gets lost in his thoughts and forgets about his surroundings.

Seonghwa nods gratefully and hands over half of his load to Wooyoung. As they make their way to Seonghwa's room, the older boy begins to tell Wooyoung about his day.

"You know that event we attended two months ago? Well, I got some great news today. My designs were a hit and they were even shown in class. Everyone loved them!" Seonghwa's voice is filled with excitement and pride.

Wooyoung can't help but feel happy for his friend. He knows how hard Seonghwa has been working to make a name for himself in the fashion industry. "That's amazing, Seonghwa. I always knew your talent would be recognized."

As they reach Seonghwa's room, Wooyoung helps him put away the books and cloth. He then notices the worried expression on Seonghwa's face. "What's wrong?"

Seonghwa lets out a sigh and flops down on his bed. "There's this new guy in my class. He's incredibly talented and his designs are top tier. Everyone loves them, including our professor. But he's not very friendly. I tried to congratulate him and strike up a conversation, but he just ignored me and walked away."

Wooyoung can see the disappointment and frustration in Seonghwa's eyes. He knows how important it is for Seonghwa to build connections and network in the industry. "Maybe he's just shy or focused on his work. Don't take it personally, Seonghwa."

Seonghwa nods, but Wooyoung can tell that he's still bothered by the encounter. "I just wish he would give me a chance. I really want to get to know him and learn from him."

Wooyoung puts a comforting hand on Seonghwa's shoulder. "I'm sure he'll come around eventually. And who knows, maybe he just needs someone like you to break the ice."

Seonghwa smiles at Wooyoung's words. He knows his boyfriend is right. After all, Wooyoung has always been there to support and encourage him. "Thanks, Wooyoung. I'm lucky to have you as a supporter of mine."

Wooyoung returns the smile and pats Seonghwa's back. "Anytime, Seonghwa. Now let's get some rest. Those exams are coming up soon and we need to be prepared."

Seonghwa's face falls again as he remembers the upcoming exams. "I know, I'm really nervous about them."

"Don't worry, you'll do great. We'll study together and help each other out." Wooyoung reassures him, knowing that Seonghwa always gets anxious before exams.

Seonghwa nods with a grateful smile and the two friends spend the rest of the evening studying and discussing their upcoming exams. As they lay in their beds that night, Wooyoung can't help but feel grateful for Seonghwa's friendship. No matter what challenges they face, they always have each other's backs. And with that thought, he falls asleep with a sense of contentment, knowing that no matter what, they will always have each other's support.

San was on his way to his company, feeling a mix of anticipation and exhaustion. Being the son of the CEO of a successful business was no easy feat, and San had worked tirelessly to reach where he was today. As he walked into the building, he breathed in the familiar scent of his workplace and felt a sense of calm wash over him.

But as he made his way to his office, his eyes fell on his phone screen that was lighting up with a notification. Curiosity getting the better of him, he opened it to see an unexpected picture of his stepbrother, Wooyoung, with another man. The two were holding hands and laughing together, with a caption that read, "Stepson of Popular Businessman Involved with a New Male Partner?"

San's eyes widened in shock and his heartbeat increased at the sight before him. Wooyoung with another man? It was a bizarre thought that had never crossed San's mind. He didn't know how to react. Should he be happy for Wooyoung finding someone he loved, or should he be sad and jealous at the sight?

Despite the fact that Wooyoung had kicked San out of his life and had made it explicitly clear that San should not interfere in his personal affairs, San couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness and jealousy at the sight of his stepbrother with another man. After all, they had shared a special bond in their past, and it was hard for San to see Wooyoung with someone else.

But then, San reminded himself that he was a married man. He had a beautiful wife waiting for him at home. He had no right to feel anything but happiness for Wooyoung. He couldn't let his personal feelings cloud his judgment. And most importantly, he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him and cause any more trouble for Wooyoung.

With a heavy sigh, San decided not to interfere in this matter of Wooyoung since it's Wooyoung's life and his choices. But as he was about to close the notification, he saw that it had already received a lot of attention on social media and was spreading like wildfire.

San knew that this was not good for Wooyoung. His stepbrother was not used to the public eye, and this news could potentially ruin his image and cause havoc in his life. Without wasting any more time, San called his assistant and instructed him to take down the news and make sure it didn't go viral. He used a professional and stern tone, making it clear that this was not up for negotiation.

San couldn't help but wonder why he felt so uneasy about the whole situation. Was it because he still cared for Wooyoung, or was it just guilt for causing so much trouble in his life?
Whatever the reason, San knew that he should keep his distance and not meddle in Wooyoung's affairs any further. He had already caused enough problems for his stepbrother, and it was time to let him live his life without any interference.