NXT 2 U [Minsung AU]

𝟚𝟚 • ℬ𝕖𝕨𝕒𝕣ℯ

~POV Minho~

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While the sound of chairs and students' footsteps became deafening, I would have liked to stay seated, but it wasn't possible.

In the Honor Hall, present teachers were trying to stem the student's flow, who were gathering to watch the scene. Near the photos wall, the headmaster was shouting full lungs, while the education counselor and Mr. Shin seemed angry too. Mrs. Kim and Mr. Bang, were more indecisive, even disturbed.

It was cacophony. I could hardly understand what was going on. All I could see was how the squirrel was lost in all that uproar. He was pale and kept his head down, like a scolded child keeping silence. I was clenching my teeth nervously while Mr. Hyun yelled.

"You don't have that kind of prerogative Mr. Han!" He roared, with red and tense face. "You have gone too far!"

Damn it... What the hell was happening?! Usually, the headmaster avoided scandals like plague. He never reprimanded teachers in public. But there, he seemed so blinded by anger nothing could hold him back.

"I-I..." The squirrel took a deep breath when Mrs. Kim intervened.

"Wait." She asked, glancing suspiciously at us. "The person who I entrusted cleaning the storage room was Hwang Hyunjin, and..."

But looking up at the headmaster, the squirrel took the floor.

"It's me." He said, bowing. "I found this photo in the storage room... I thought it was more beautiful than the other, so... I switched them... I acted without your permission and I apologize... Forgive me."

Sorry?!

In a second, yielding to the fury spreading in my veins, I turned to Hyunjin, whose face was inscrutable. Pulling him by the arm, I pushed him away from the students' crowd before forcing him to face me.

"Asshole... What are you playing at?!"

But he shrugged his shoulders, looking innocent.

"Me? I didn't do anything..."

You, fucking...

Mad with rage, I could feel my jaw tensing. I was just about to bang him against the wall when the mood around us changed noticeably. Whispers gave way to an almost religious silence, not hard to guess what the reason was, because in this highschool, only one man was capable of such a feat.

"This goes too far." Mr. Bang claimed, as an admiring sighs' wave spread among the students. "Mr. Hyun, this Hall is something very dear to you, but Mr. Han was new here. He didn't want to do anything wrong. And we're wasting the students' time on a matter that could have been settled otherwise." He put a comforting hand on the squirrel' shoulder, who thanked him with an embarrassed smile. "Let's all go back to our activities. It won't happen again."

At once, a thunderous applause filled the Honor Hall. Students and teachers were under the spell, as always, of the semi-Australian's charisma. In a flash, tension had fallen. As Mr. Hyun ordered us to go back to class, wiping his sweaty forehead, Hyunjin whispered in my ear.

"You know, no one here sees what's really disturbing." His tone was carefree as usual, but I could detect bitterness in it. "There are more than hundred photos here. But so early this morning, someone saw such a small difference? A single needle changes in a haystack, and it's so fast noticed?" He had an ironic laugh. "This photo must hide something, no? Who knows? Maybe yesterday, I miscounted them..."