Troublemaker

TROUBLE 33

The classroom was enveloped in an almost eerie silence, a stark contrast to its usual lively hum. The tension from the morning still hung in the air like a lingering storm cloud, casting a chill over the room. Taehyung stood at the front, chalk in hand, methodically writing a series of complex questions on the board. The soft scraping of the chalk was one of the few sounds breaking the silence, accompanied by the occasional wintery sneeze or a stifled cough from the students.

Y/N sat among them, trying desperately to suppress her cough, but a few escaped despite her best efforts. She winced each time, eyes flicking nervously towards Taehyung, hoping not to catch his attention. The room was so silent that every small noise seemed amplified, the soft sound of turning pages or the faint scratch of pen stood out in the quiet room.

After finishing the last equation on the board, Taehyung turned, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room. His voice, cold and authoritative, sliced through the silence. "Listen carefully. These questions are designed to cover the most critical topics for your exams. I expect each of you to tackle them with full focus. If you encounter any difficulties, raise your hand immediately. I need to pinpoint where you are struggling so we can address those areas before the exams. Do not hesitate."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, pressing down on the students. His tone brooked no argument, only compliance. "Am I clear?"

A chorus of "Yes, sir," followed, the students responding with a mix of respect and apprehension.

"Good." His gaze hardened, sweeping over the students once more. "Turn to face away from your neighbors. There will be no notes, no whispering, and no looking around. This work is yours alone. If you have questions, direct them to me. By the end of this session, I expect every question to be completed. No excuses."

His arms folded, Taehyung surveyed the room with a steely gaze, making sure his expectations were understood. "Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the students echoed, sitting up straighter, fully aware of the seriousness in his voice.

"Begin," Taehyung commanded, watching as the students turned their heads away from each other, diving into their work with a newfound intensity. No one dared to look up or let their attention waver, aware that Taehyung's sharp eyes would catch even the slightest hint of distraction or dishonesty.

Y/N, usually full of playful energy, knew better than to test boundaries today. With Taehyung's strict presence looming over the class, she kept her head down, her pen gliding across her notebook as she worked through the questions. Occasionally, she glanced up at the board to double-check her notes, silently hoping she wouldn't have to raise her hand and meet his intense gaze.

The quiet was interrupted when a student, Jihoon, hesitated over a particularly challenging question. He glanced up, catching sight of Taehyung, who was pacing between the desks, keeping a close watch on everyone. Noticing Jihoon's uncertain expression, Taehyung immediately asked, "Yes, Jihoon?" His voice was steady but firm.

Jihoon swallowed nervously, then replied, "Sir, I have a doubt here." Taehyung moved briskly toward Jihoon's desk, ready to assist.

Taehyung leaned over Jihoon's desk, his eyes scanning the question before speaking in a calm, measured tone. "Alright, Jihoon, let's break this down. First, you need to focus on the formula here. Remember how we discussed the application of this in last week's class?" He walked Jihoon through the steps methodically, ensuring the student grasped each point.

As he finished explaining, Taehyung noticed Jihoon sniffle softly, a faint pallor on his face. He placed a firm but gentle hand on the boy's forehead, then on the back of his neck. "Are you feeling feverish?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of concern.