Chapter Text
In the silent morning, there is a person named Jeong Taeui, a very diligent and hardworking student despite always being late to class by half an hour.
"No fucking way, this is the 5th time I'm late for the class in this semester, am I gonna beheaded in front of everyone this time??"
Taeui rushed to the class with a cup of coffee that was grasped in his dominant hand, his headphones in between his neck, and a simple plain tote bag on his left shoulder. He doesn't have time to choose which bag he wants to use, so he just grabs whatever can fill them.
He threw a very basic outfit, just a gray hoodie, baggy jeans and a pair of casual shoes that he almost wears everyday.
He's fighting for his life to not burn out this semester, because as a STEM student, this is his final year to do the best after all.
He knocked on the door twice, and again, hoping that someone will unlock the door for him. Yeah, definitely not. Maybe he should just go study in the library as usual if he's too late for class.. As he turned back from the door, he heard the door opened, reveals a slicked back silver-gray hair man frowned slightly at the sight of someone infront of him.
"Uhh.. I'm sorry for being late again, there's a traffic jam and I..I stay awake late at night due to finishing the assignment, and yeah.. I-l woke up late again.. I'm so sorry, prof..."
Taeui bowed at the man in front of him, feeling ashamed for always late to his class.
There's a silence in the halls that no one dares to break it, the man eyed him up and down, noticed his messy looks, like someone really in a rush. Taeui smells like sweats and a fresh body soap mixed with a bit of cologne. Not too unpleasant, it smells like a natural body scent.
He adjusted the brim of his glasses and muttered, "You're forgiven, please just take your seats."
Taeui nodded and let a small smile on his face, he didn't expect this from the professor. He sat down and the lecture continued back as usual. He takes a note while chewing something in his mouth. It's a mint flavor.
"Psst..Tay, how the hell does the professor let you go so easily this time?" A guy from the back whispered at him.
"I know right?? Usually, he would throw the most illogical question at you or if you can't answer, you will suffer by sitting at his table for the rest of the time." A girl besides the guy agreed.
"Perhaps he's in a good mood today? Who knows?" Taeui said.
The girl immediately coughed in disagree, "No?? Are you serious?? The professor literally glared at us like crazy before you came."
"Hey, slow down, the professor might hear you guys in the back." Someone besides them said.
Taeui replied, "I think you guys are just overthinking it though, there's nothing wrong with being good for once with his-"
The loud whispering finally ended with the voice speaker, "Mr. Jeong, is there something good you wanna share with us? I'm all ears."
The halls went quiet once again.
And Taeui?
He doesn't know what to say. This is the first time he gets called out for something like this.
"It's nothing prof, they just.. ask for some chewing gum I brought with me. I'm sorry."
He lied.
The professor just nodded. And say nothing else.
The lecture went again, smoothly. No one dared to speak this time. The man who's slightly expressive earlier is gone now. His voice is flat, the same neutral expression, and still composed as usual, but his eyes are sharp and narrow, observing like he owns the room in silence. And everybody knows that.
As he wanted to look away from that man, their eyes met again. Just a minute ago, he saw a flat expression on his face and right now, there's a subtle smirk dancing on his lips.
"Uh..Huh..?"
Did he just see a thing?
Maybe it's true he started to develop some symptoms of schizophrenia.
"Tay-hyung, are you okay?" The man beside him asked.
"Yeah, why..? Did I look unwell?"
He touches his forehead slightly, it's warm. Weird. Normally he never forgets to swallow painkillers before class in case something happens.
Plus, he almost forgot there's Xinlu by his side. He enjoyed his company a lot since they're in the same course.
"No.. it's just.. you flushed so red earlier and you are.. dozing off a lot today, that's why I asked." Xinlu said.
He startled slightly. Damn, has anybody else noticed that other than Xinlu..? Haha.. what the fuck..
"Oh, is that so..? Hmm.. it's nothing to worry about.. Maybe I'm still high from the beer I drank a few hours ago, and you know that lately I've stayed up a lot."
"Fine, if you say so, hyung. But, listen, don't pressure yourself too much, you know..?" Xinlu said.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Thanks for your concern. But I'm fine, really, Just think about yourself first, eh?" He tapped on his shoulder lightly.
The lecture hall was a bit dark at the front, and suddenly the lights went on.
"No one is allowed to speak until my lecture is finished, unless we have a QnA session. Do I need to remember this every time? You're all a grown up person, not a high schooler. Clear that?"
"Yes, prof." The class said in unison.
Taeui startled slightly by the mentioned, does he see me and Xinlu talking to each other? God how many eyes did he have actually, this is the second time he got caught. He swears that man was focused on the lecture or the other students. Not here!
Later when the class has ended, the man reminds all of his students to finish the assignment before the dateline. And the due date is tomorrow. Gladly he finished it already, he planned to give it today.
"Professor Riegrow."
The man noticed him immediately, and Taeui took that as a good sign to approach him.
"Yes?"
He stopped, like two steps away from each other.
"Uhh.. here's the assignment. I've done it."
He gave the pen drive at the man while brushing their hands slightly.
Xinlu who stood silently beside him, didn't say anything. Just frowned at the tension between them.
"Alright, I will inform you if there's a slight change in the assignment."
The man just nodded in approval. Then, before they left the lecture hall, he said, "Got it, prof. Anyways thanks for today's lessons."
-------
"I still can't believe that man is teaching us this semester." Xinlu mumbled loudly, and took a bite of his cheese bread.
"What do you mean?" Taeui looks up from his book.
"C'mon, you know about the rumors that men are hooked up with multiple women and men as his hobby. He's a fuck boy. I mean it's not just that."
" The worst part, is, no one fucking survive after one night with him. Is not that crazy?? A fucking sex crazed whore man teaching us. About political. Law. And the man itself doesn't give a good example of the best leader. He's also a fucking terrorist too. Killed so many people like it's nothing. "
He put aside his half cheese bread on the table.
"Talking about that man makes me lose my appetite now, ughhh.."
"You start first."
"But! You know, well, listen to me, I just give you a warning, based on the strange looks he gave to you earlier, you should be worried."
As Xinlu wants to continue again, but gets interrupted by Taeui.
"So, what? Maybe he's changed now. And, where the fuck you get this piece of information anyway. You're scaring me now."
"Don't underestimate me, hyung. Look where I came from-"
He paused.
"Wait, hyung. Can you repeat what you just said..? Did you realize what you're saying about that man?!"
"A notorious killer, Ilay Riegrow. In the same sentence as changing himself, hahaha..."
He huffed a laugh. His eyes went wide awake hearing the unexpected answers from Taeui. He stood up immediately and pinched the bridge of nose to process his words.
There's a long silence before the notifications popped up on Taeui's phone.
"You know what Xinlu, it's late now. The more I hear about the rumors, the more ridiculous it sounds."
"And so you better go rest in your own room, we had a long day after all and I wanna have some time alone. Goodnight."
He grabbed the doorknob and held the door wide open as if to urge him to go out from his apartment immediately.
Xinlu pouted, but just sighed in defeat. He grabbed all his stuff and headed out to the door.
Before the door closed, Xinlu held it open back, just to say something before he forgot.
"Wait, hey! but- just listen to me! Whatever happens just stay away from him ok??"
"...??? What could the professor possibly want from me? Compared to you, I'm far too ordinary, plain and boring. I don't even have a great mind like Jaeui-hyung. I think you're the one who should be careful."
"N-no hyung! You don't understand! You have some charms that make people attracted to you. It's not that I'm one of them, I have Gable anyways.. still nothing's good coming from that man you know.."
"Here you go with that charm again. Yeah, yeah, fine. See you tomorrow, Xinlu."
They exchanged farewell before Taeui closed the door behind him and let out a long breath.
Actually he's not in a very good mood, just earlier he got the message from that man, half of his assignment page is missing.
Which is strange.
He rechecked the assignment multiple times before saving the drive.
He never slacked off that bad, except he accidentally saved it to another file.
It still doesn't make any sense. And he doesn't know what to feel about that.
He just stared at the walls, dumbfounded. He's scared to meet that man tomorrow.
Is tomorrow gonna be his funeral?
The man also told him to meet him at his office by the afternoon for further explanation.
Should he ask Xinlu to go with him? Consider the bad rumors he got from earlier.
That guy is not going to murder me from giving the incomplete assignment, right...?
"Hah.. You're a dead man walking in trouble, Jeong Taeui..."
He laughed in disappointment.
He walked to the small fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. He gulped in at once and threw it immediately into a trash can.
'It doesn't work, I want some beers to cool down my throat.'
He hummed to himself in thoughts and suddenly, he felt his stomach growled. Yeah, great, he didn't eat anything much earlier, he should stop by the 24 hour convenience store to buy some food.
And it's 12 am now. He should hurry up before it's too late.
He grabbed the doorknob and stepped out from his apartment. He brings the phone with him in case something happens.
The store is not even half kilometers from his house. It's just that he feels something off happens to him lately and just wants to keep himself alert by the surroundings.
-------
He arrived earlier than expected.
Likely because he used his scooter, he doesn't use it that often.
By the time he arrived, Taeui was greeted by the cool air in the store, with the cashier waiting at the counter, humming the song like and smiled slightly at the sight of customers.
He smiled back, and continued walking straight to find his food.
He grabbed a pack of frozen chicken and three cans of cold beer. While that, he grabbed some sweets with him and put them in the basket.
As he finished grabbing the food he wanted, he turned around to pay them at the counter, he saw him.
Oh fuck, what a coincidence.
He doesn't even want to meet him tomorrow, but then this guy decided to show up. The world is not on his side today. He's cooked.
He avoided meeting his eyes immediately, but before he could notice, that guy was already beside him with the stack of beers. What the fuck.
He had so many questions in his mind. First, did he enjoy beers as much as he wanted to, or is he the type to invite someone to have a party in his house? Second, what's he so rushing for? And third, nevermind..
When he was about to pay, the guy beside him dropped the beers. "This too."
Huh?
"What...?" Taeui stared at him, tilted his head in confusion and the cashier was confused too.
"I'm paying for his stuff too, so what's the total?" The guy said nonchalantly.
"Oh, that would be ####€ in total."
Before he could think, he handed over the money too, tapping aggressively on the cashier counter to not let him pay for his stuff.
"NO, I CAN PAY IT MYSELF--"
*Ding* Your payment is successful.
The beeping sounded so loud in his ears. He stunt.
The cashier just watched them in silence, and gave the plastic bag to him. The silver-gray hair man just chuckled and went out to the store with the stack of beers.
Taeui chased after him while hugging the plastic bag tightly to his chest. He nervously muttered, "W-w-wait!! Professor Riegrow!"
He suddenly bumped into him, and the plastic bag was already scattered on the floor by the sudden stop.
The man collecting the scattered items on the floor and slowly gathered it with care, handed it back to him with a small smile.
"Uhh, thank you.. by the way, professor-"
"Ilay."
"Eh, what?"
"Call me Ilay."
"....???"
"We're out of the class, call me that."
"....Do the other students do the same too...?"
Ilay doesn't answer. His eyes urge him to continue the words that were left unspoken earlier.
"Ilay.."
Strangely, the man's name didn't feel strange on his tongue. Though it still feels awkward to call your professor by the name, especially by the first name.
"Hmm?"
The quiet hummed from the other man dragged him out from his thoughts. He stayed silent for a second before muttering again,
"Why..?"
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly, playing confused.
"You don't need to pay that. I mean, my stuff..."
"I know." Ilay smirked.
"Then, why...? Why did you do that? I don't understand..."
He just shrugged his shoulder innocently. He paid no mind to his confusion, and just chuckled quietly.
"Go home. You must be tired by now. See you tomorrow."
As he turned to walk away again, Taeui grabbed him by the wrist, blocking him from moving any way.
"P-professor- no- I mean.. Ilay...!"
Fuck, why did he do that. Oh, maybe...
"It's nothing! Really.. I-I just wanna say thank you.. for paying my stuff.."
'Even though I didn't ask for it' were left unsaid.
"And, have a good night, Ilay..."
"Pfft..."
Ilay suppressed a laugh. Not too loud, just enough to reach his ears. He taken back slightly from the sudden reaction and narrowed his eyes.
What a weirdo.. he thoughts.
Well, no matter how much he looks at this man, even in his simple black turtleneck, he looks effortlessly attractive. No wonder so many students talked about his appearance, or posted crazy thirst traps in the university confession.
He should smiles often, it really suits him well..
Then a laugh appeared outside of his thoughts. It was from that man again.
"Aha, is that so..?"
"!!??"
Did he say just say that out loud!? Fuck.
"Ilay.. it doesn't like what you think it is..!"
"Okay."
Ilay just chuckled again, making him flustered at his own words. Ugh, whatever...
But suddenly, Ilay touched his ears and brushed something off him. When he realized, he immediately stepped back and his reddened cheeks became more visible.
"There's something like a dust in your ears, so I decided to brush it off from you."
Fuck, seriously. Why is he overreacting again.
"Oh...okay, uhh see you later or.. tomorrow.."
Ilay just hummed back in answer. While he was walking back to his scooter, he decided to look back at the place, and that man was already gone. What a strange man.