Outcast || Meanie

07

As the sun sets and the city lights begin to twinkle, the group of four students—Dahyun, Tzuyu, Jun, and Mingyu—exit the restaurant with full laughter.

"That was hilarious, Jun! I can't believe you actually did that," Dahyun giggles, nudging Jun playfully.

"Well, you know me," Jun replies with a grin, "always up for a little fun."

Mingyu chuckles, "I swear, if we keep going to that place, they'll start charging us extra for the entertainment."

They walk down the bustling streets, Their casual conversation filling the quiet evening air. They had spent the afternoon hanging out together, and now they were making their way back to their dorm. Tzuyu adjusts her scarf against the evening chill, while Dahyun throws her head back, still giggling from Jun's latest joke. Jun walks with a relaxed stride, his hands tucked into his pockets, while Mingyu remains quiet, lost in thought.  Tzuyu who notices her boyfriend's quiet demeanor tilts her head. " Mingyu, what's wrong?"

Mingyu snaps out of his thoughts and glances at Tzuyu, offering a small smile before addressing the group. "Hey, have you guys noticed the new kid, Seungcheol? He seems kind of... cold, don't you think?"

Dahyun stops giggling and looks thoughtful. "Yeah, I've seen him around. He doesn't really talk to anyone, does he?"

Jun nods, his grin fading slightly. "I've tried to say hi a couple of times, but he just gives me this blank stare. It's like he's not interested in making friends."

Dahyun furrows her brow, a curious expression forming on her face. "I wonder what Seungcheol's deal is with Wonwoo. They seem to have some serious tension between them.

Upon hearing the name, Mingyu raise his brow. "Wonwoo?" 

Dahyun nods, her gaze distant as she recalls their encounters. "Yeah, it's strange. I've seen Seungcheol shoot him these icy glares, like Wonwoo personally offended him or something."

Tzuyu nods in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I've noticed it too. But Wonwoo doesn't seem bothered by it at all. He just brushes it off like it's nothing."

Jun chuckles, shaking his head. "Well, let's be real here, who wouldn't hate Wonwoo? He's a bit of a loner and always has his head buried in those old books. Maybe Seungcheol just doesn't get his vibe."

Dahyun nods slowly, mulling over Jun's words. "Yeah, you might be right. But still, it's weird to see someone hold such a grudge against someone they barely know."

As the conversation continues, Mingyu's discomfort grows. While he understands their observations, he can't help but feels a sense of loyalty towards Wonwoo, whom he's grown fond of in a short time.

Sensing the need to speak up but not wanting to disrupt the flow of the conversation, he decides to keep his feelings to himself for now, not wanting to disrupt the group dynamic or cause tension. Instead, he steers the conversation towards lighter topics, hoping to shift the focus away from Seungcheol and Wonwoo.

As they approach the college area, the group realizes they need to split their ways since the girls' dorm and the boys' dorm are in opposite directions.

Tzuyu glances at the others, her expression reflecting the reluctance to part ways. "Well, it's that time again. Until tomorrow, guys."

Dahyun nods, offering a warm smile. "Yeah, see you tomorrow. And Jun, no more crazy antics at the restaurant, okay?"

Jun chuckles, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Got it, no promises though!"

"Take care, you two. See you tomorrow," Mingyu said with a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He waves at the girls, who giggle and wave back before disappearing into the twilight, their laughter lingering in the air like a sweet melody.

So, now it's left Mingyu and Junhui. As the two guys start walking towards the boys' hostel, Mingyu slows his pace slightly, falling into step beside Jun. He clears his throat, hesitant to bring up the topic but feeling compelled to address it.

"Hey, Jun," Mingyu begins, his voice cautious, " why do you dislike Wonwoo so much?"

Jun's stride doesn't falter as Mingyu poses the question. He looks at Mingyu with a mixture of surprise and amusement, as if the answer should be obvious.

"Ah, Wonwoo," Jun starts, his tone laced with a hint of superiority. "It's not just me, you know. Pretty much everyone finds him a bit... off. He's always in his own little world, barely trying hard to acknowledge anyone around him."

Mingyu's discomfort grows as Jun continues, his words confirming Mingyu's fears. But Jun seems oblivious to his unease, too engrossed in his own perspective.

"And let's not forget," Jun adds, a smug grin forming on his face, "the guy is just plain weird. I mean, who spends all their time buried in books? It's like he's trying to escape reality or something."

Mingyu forces a tight smile, his discomfort reaching its peak. He wants to defend Wonwoo, to tell Jun that he's wrong, but he knows it won't make a difference. Jun seems set in his opinion, oblivious to any other perspective.

"Yeah, I guess," Mingyu replies, his voice lacking conviction. "Well, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, right?"

Jun nods, seemingly satisfied with his explanation. "Exactly. Anyway," Jun stop his pace. "Speaking of a devil."

As Jun stops abruptly, Mingyu stops too, his eyes follows Jun's gaze and suprise to see Wonwoo across the park, playing rollerskates by himself.

"Still playing with his toys, I see." Jun mocks. "Just praying he don't break a bone or something. We don't need any more drama around here."

While Junhui is mocking Wonwoo, Mingyu's heart sinks as he recalls the conversation from the previous evening. He had eagerly invited Wonwoo to join him for a skate around the park at this very hour, hoping to spend some quality time together outside of their usual routines. But Wonwoo had declined, citing another commitment.

Now, seeing Wonwoo skating alone, Mingyu feels a pang of hurt and betrayal. It's not just that Wonwoo had lied about having other plans; it's the realization that Wonwoo didn't want to spend time with him, despite Mingyu's efforts to reach out and connect.

With a heavy heart, Mingyu finally tears his gaze away as he proceed to  leave.  "Let's go, Jun."

"Hey, isn't that Seungcheol?"

As Mingyu is about to leave the place, Jun's sudden interruption draws Mingyu's attention back to the park. He follows Jun's gaze and sees Seungcheol standing near a tree, his eyes are looking intensely at something or perhaps someone. Both Jun and Mingyu follow Seungcheol's gaze and to their suprise it is Wonwoo whom he was watching but what make them more suprise is the fact that Seungcheol's lips suddenly twitch into a small smile as he observes Wonwoo from afar.

Mingyu's brows furrow in confusion as he observes Seungcheol's unexpected reaction. It's a stark contrast to the icy demeanor he's accustomed to seeing from Seungcheol. Could it be possible that Seungcheol harbors different feelings towards Wonwoo than what everyone assumed?

Jun leans in closer, his curiosity piqued by Seungcheol's unusual behavior. "What's he doing?"

Mingyu shakes his head, equally puzzled. "I have no idea. But it looks like he's... smiling?"

As they watch in silence, Seungcheol takes a step forward, his expression softening as he continues to gaze at Wonwoo.

Seungcheol's unexpected actions leave Mingyu feeling a mix of confusion. He watches, unable to tear his gaze away as Seungcheol slowly approaches Wonwoo. As Seungcheol reaches Wonwoo, he hesitates for a moment before gently reaching out to caress his hair, a small smile playing on his lips.

As Mingyu watches from a distance, Mingyu's jaw tightens as he observes the lovely interaction between Seungcheol and Wonwoo. His mind races with questions, doubts, and a growing sense of unease. Why is Seungcheol acting this way towards Wonwoo? And why does it bother him so much?

Unable to bear the sight any longer, Mingyu turns away, his gaze fixed on the ground as he struggles to make sense of his conflicting emotions. He feels a surge of guilt for feeling jealous, knowing that he has no right to feel possessive over Wonwoo. But despite his rationalizations, the feeling lingers, gnawing at him from within. His hands shake before before he realised, he eventually grab onto Jun's fingers and pull him away from there.