Dark Matter | JJK

4. Stone Cold

In all of the nineteen years of her academic career, never had Petra been so terrified of going to the Dean's office.

As much as she denied it, she hated being reprimanded. There were times when she regretted having been a goody-two-shoes throughout school, never once cheating on a test or bunking a class for fear that she would get scolded by her peers. There were quite a few instances in middle and high school when she'd been summoned to the Principal's office to either be congratulated on her academic proficiency or assigned duties for the upcoming school event.

So when Professor Lee Daehyun demanded her presence in his office not a week after the commencement of classes, it shouldn't have come to her as a surprise.

But it did.

As her sneakers squeaked against the tiled floors of the lighted corridors, Petra felt herself shrink into an adolescent all over again, frantically adjusting her shirt and twiddling her thumbs as she walked to the Dean's office. Students and teachers scurried past her, white lab coats swaying with their bodies. Professor Lee's office was on the second floor of their building, the last room at the rear end of the corridor. It was easy spot, distinguished from the surrounding rooms by glass-paneled walls with wooden borders. She stood outside the door, took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," came a muffled voice from beyond the glass.

She pushed opened the glass double doors and stepped inside.

The interior of the office of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs was exactly how Petra had imagined. The layout was expansive, the walls painted in sleek, light colours that carried the aura of a personality that was punctual but a little disorganized. A plush brown divan sat before a glass table the colour of sapphire, a medium-sized TV affixed on the opposite wall. The man himself sat on his marble desk, hunched over a red clipboard and twirling a pen between his fingers. He looked up at Petra standing by the door and sniffed.

"Ah, please," he said, gesturing to the chairs across him, "do take a seat."

Petra did as was told, watching as Daehyun removed his black-framed glasses and placed them on the table.

"So, Petra Gordon, how has your experience in Seoul University been so far?"

"It's an honour to be here, sir," she admitted, and she meant it. "I couldn't have asked for a better environment to study and live in."

Daehyun smiled warmly, entwining his fingers. "Your performance in all your classes, as I was told by my colleagues, has already crossed our expectations. We are happy to have you here."

Even as she contained the blush seeping into her cheeks, something told her that this meeting was not being held to discuss her academic accomplishments.

"Since I have observed you enough to know I can bestow my trust in you," he said, demeanor shifting to something pensive, "there is something I want you to do for me."

"And what may that be?"

A hand moved to scratch his forehead. "I suppose you must know Jeon Jungkook."

Her heart sank. So that was what this was all about. Had that little prick complained about her? Of course he had. It was obvious he'd been annoyed. But all she'd done was look at him - maybe a little more than just look -

"Miss Gordon?"

"Yes," she said abruptly, shaking off her thoughts. "I do know him."

"I am aware that because most of you grad students are new to this place, it is natural for you to find it difficult to make friends and adjust to the environment. But Jungkook - that boy is a little...different."