Mingyu boiled in rage, slamming his room door shut with a loud bang. He couldn't believe his mother's audacity to remain so nonchalant, especially after doing stuff she wasn't supposed to. Like he'd expected, his mother had already made a public announcement of 'Kim Mingyu's relationship with Lee Agencies' next rumoured heir – Lee Chaeyeon'. After being hideous enough to deliberately trouble Mingyu by putting up the photograph in the living room, she most definitely hadn't been satisfied with her deeds.
And when Mingyu had questioned her about his phone, she'd just shrugged like a psychopath, and said, "It's my money the phone came from. I can do anything I want," That was a bluff, Mingyu could tell by the ever-so-slight tremble of her eyes, and the fact that he'd fucking purchased the device himself. But he had been too tired to even argue back; knowing well enough the argument would turn on him eventually, so he'd left it at that.
Right, the news. Needless to say, Chaeyeon had called in literally five minutes after it was announced, and had sounded so desperate, Mingyu felt bad he couldn't do anything, although it was his own mother who'd caused this. Shamefully muttering a silent 'I'm sorry,' Mingyu had hung up, because he was speechless. How was he supposed to address the situation?
To muddle with his mind even more – adding on to the situation – Wonwoo sent in a text to meet up at the library after classes the next day. Amidst all of this mess, Mingyu nearly forgot he even had this to do. Sending in a quick 'Okay', Mingyu tried to divert his full attention to his studies lying unattended on his desk. He hoped completing an assignment for Human Resources takes his mind off of things.
--
"So, you and Lee Chaeyeon, huh?"
If they weren't at the library, Mingyu would have seriously strangled Wonwoo until he begged him to let go. Just another reminder of his terrible life he needed. He grunted, being clear enough in showing his displeasure at the topic that had just come up, gesturing towards the books that lay open on the table in front of them.
"Aww, are you embarrassed?"
"I'm leaving," Mingyu began gathering his books, until a hand stopped him. It immediately recoiled, as Wonwoo cringed.
"I won't say anything more, I'd rather do Calculus than talk about you."
"Great. Thank you."
"So it isn't true, it seems?"
Mingyu glared at him. "You just fucking said-"
"Oops." The wicked grin on Wonwoo's face told Mingyu Wonwoo was, in fact, not sorry.
"Jeon, I swear to god-"
"Okay, I'll shut up."
Wonwoo imitated closing a zipper across his lips, and looked down at the thick, massive study material sprawled on the library's long table.
"We have clubs after this," Mingyu said out of nowhere, making Wonwoo tilt his head at him in confusion.
"Okay?"
"It's October."
"I know..."
"WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE YEAR-END PLAY!"
"I KNOW- Oh..."
Mingyu looked to the side, observing Wonwoo's face.
"That's disgusting, did you have to bring that up?"
"It's disturbing,"
"No shit, Sherlock. You think I want to do this?"
"I don't know,"
"Well, I don't. You said you'd keep it closed off, just for Theatre,"
"Yes,"
"Then shut up,"
The next hour passed by calmly, but the hour and a half after that was unbearable. Mingyu thought he could talk Professor Lee out of it, just for the rehearsals.
To his rare luck, the Professor agreed, and let them go without doing unwanted stuff for the rehearsal. Mingyu wondered how he and Wonwoo would manage on the actual day of the performance, then he slapped himself for thinking up till there.
"Why did you do that?" Wonwoo asked.
"Do what?"
"Slap yourself,"
"I did?"
Wonwoo looked at him weirdly, ignored him, and went back to whatever he'd been doing.
--
The next time Mingyu found himself tutoring Wonwoo for Calculus, he realised he'd gotten used to watching the boy do his thing: crouching over the table while his pen scribbled recklessly across the page, and the usual sticking his tongue out when he was confused and all. Mingyu didn't think Wonwoo even needed to be tutored. He was pretty smart. Or maybe, he was just using Mingyu to get better, so he could surpass him every time after this with little to no effort. He wouldn't be surprised if Wonwoo scored more than him the next time, and then walked away like nothing happened, pretending as if he'd done it on his own. No one would raise a brow.
Wonwoo huffed from his side a while later, causing Mingyu to break out of his train of thoughts. As he took a look at the boy with glasses, he noticed him looking a bit frustrated with the question he'd been solving. He violently scrubbed his hand over the page, and then flipped it to the other side to start anew. Mingyu carefully watched him go through it once again, which got the exact same reaction as earlier. "You need help with that?" Mingyu pointed to the page.
"No." Wonwoo barked, but then his voice softened. "Just... Just gimme a second."
"Okay."
Mingyu watched him yet again, stifling a laugh when Wonwoo grumbled annoyedly. He silently pushed the sheet of paper towards him, Mingyu had expected it, and stuck his hand out to grab it from him. He shouldn't have, because now he felt extremely awkward since his hand had brushed against Wonwoo's. The boy stuttered, and cleared his throat, gesturing to the unsolved equation eventually.
"Right, the question," Mingyu mumbled, not knowing how to react to the brief contact.
