"Alright, settle down." A deep, throaty voice speaks as calculated steps enter the hall, the man's combat boots thudding against the tiled floor, books slapping on the large wooden table sitting in front of the smartboard.

Min Sehyuk groggily peers through his thick lashes, observing the male between the spaces of the blond strands that fall over his eyes. He straightens up, adjusting his yellow hoodie two sizes bigger than his body proportions, fingers rubbing his almond-shaped, hazel eyes to get rid of his drowsy state. He pulls at the turtleneck under his hoodie, scratching his collarbones, milky skin turning a shade of red where his nails scrape.

"Ms. Im Yura will be absent for the whole semester as she is taking a leave to perform Lumbar Spinal Fusion surgery which would take about three to six months to recover from." The tall man informs in a monotone, gesturing towards himself with tattooed fingers. "I'm Park Dae Ho, the substitute professor for your art course for the time being."

Min Sehyuk squints, a brow shooting up in assessment. The new art instructor looks nothing like one would expect him to be, all pastel and artsy. Forget berets and paint smocks, he's wearing a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his arm covered in black ink and the first three buttons undone. The shirt fits him perfectly, hugging his body at all the right angles, tucked into the waistband of his grey-black checkered jeans. Lastly, chunky chain bracelets are locked around his wrist, matching the metal rings on his fingers. He is handsome with sharp features, exuding an intimidating ambiance. He would be more fitting as a sports instructor than someone teaching art.

"Any questions?" The substitute professor asks, his eyes roaming around the art room. The space is smaller than the main lecture halls, albeit able to fit about thirty people. Wooden easels are placed at the back with rows of cabinets holding art supplies and a few large tables for students to work on.

"How old are you?"

"Can we not do anything today?"

"Are you single?"

Similar sorts of queries echo throughout the room, Sehyuk shaking his head at the boldness of university students. They aren't reprimanded like it is done in schools, and both the professors and students being mature enough to be responsible for their words and actions. Freedom of speech is something everyone gets a kick out of, along with bunking classes without any explanation.

"I'm thirty-four and my relationship status shouldn't matter to any of you. And even if I'm single, my standards are higher than you lot," the raven-haired man rolls his eyes in offense. "As for my ability to teach this course to you all, something that should be your real concern, I'm well qualified. I have been doing art for years now."

Sehyuk chuckles lightly, two fingers coming up to his M-shaped lips, giving his smile a fuller, more youthful appearance. He is sure his art classes wouldn't be boring.

It's been a month since Min Sehyuk joined Hanhwa University, following a mundane lifestyle every day. His family is well-off, with both parents working in high positions in multinational companies. Although he's lived in the U.S. since he turned a teen, the boy's parents sent him away to South Korea to pursue his studies so he could have a quieter life after an incident that forced him to coop himself in his room for a whole year.

Sehyuk leans back on his chair as Park Dae Ho explains the details of the course, its grade allotment, and projects. When the older man dismisses the class after the introduction, Sehyuk straps his backpack and leaves, exiting the building to take some fresh air on the university grounds.

Hanhwa University comprises different colleges, namely Science, Humanities, Business Administration, Cinematic and Fine Arts, Architecture, Medicine, and Engineering. Each department has a building of its own with one building common for all students where the cafeteria, gym, and student's lounge are located. The university starts at eight in the morning and ends at six. Students are free to choose the course timing according to the sections allotted.

Sehyuk settles on the long stone bench placed under the shade of a tree, in the university garden. He mentally curses himself for wearing a turtleneck in summer. But the cold shower he had taken in the morning sent shivers up his spine along with a few sneezes and he didn't want to fall sick. It would not bode well for a student living alone in an apartment.

Life in Seoul in the past month has been uneventful, almost enervating Sehyuk with its prosaic routine. Waking up for university daily and coming back to his apartment is all he does. Maybe he should join one of the clubs the university offers. He enrolled in Hanhwa for the large football ground and coaching facilities apart from the study field he's chosen. Football has been a constant sport in his life, something he enjoyed until last year.

"Kick him!"

Sehyuk snaps his neck to the side, trying to find the source of the voice. His eyes zero onto a group of boys surrounding a student who's on the ground. The blond jolts up as one of them steps on the boy with his shoes, eliciting a yelp as he protects his stomach.

"What in the world is going on here?" Sehyuk dares walking up to the small crowd.

The student in a fit umber shirt lands the last kick on the boy curled on the ground before turning to Sehyuk. He runs a hand through his slightly wavy chestnut hair, brow rising inquisitively.

"Scram! It's none of your business," he warns, flicking his wrist in the air.

"This is wrong, you're hurting him," Sehyuk replies, walking up to the student lying on the asphalt. "Are you okay?" he asks, helping him sit. The boy nods slowly with a flinch and tears clouding his eyes.

"You should go to the infirmary," Sehyuk adds, ignoring the challenging look the student in front of him pins him with. "I'll deal with them," he whispers.

The boy places his hand on the wall for support and stands up, sprinting away from the scene.

There are several eyes on him but Sehyuk overlooks them and slips his hands in the jeans pocket and moves only to be stopped when a hand gets a hold of his shoulder.

"Not so fast." The boy with low eyelid creases and a pointed nose, followed by a mole right below the corner of his lips tilts his head with a chuckle. "What are you, his superhero?" His eyes roam over Sehyuk's jeans. "But I don't see you wearing your underwear outside your pants."

His friends deride behind him at the comment, throwing high-fives at each other and directing dirty looks at the blond who interrupted their little session.

"I'm no superhero but that student isn't your punching bag either."

"Aren't you the freshman that transferred from the U.S., the one girls have been swooning over in the past weeks? Don't think that the attention you get means you could interfere with what others do."

Sehyuk presses his lips into a thin line. He does remember seeing the boy he's confronting in some of his classes. If he remembers correctly, his name is Kang Kihyun, the son of one of the investors of the university. He sleeps throughout the few classes he attends, leaving as soon as it ends.

"You let my target escape, I'll be replacing him with you." Kihyun closes in, his hand slamming at the side of Sehyuk's head.

And something tugs at Sehyuk's heart, an unnamed emotion flashing through his gut. It isn't fear or anger, but the dawning of something he's been missing. A thrill of what would unfold next. One would call him strange or a masochist but the boy stands up straight with a mirth dancing in his eyes.

"Sure," the newcomer smiles without hesitation. "I'll be your scapegoat till you're satisfied."

The brunette scoffs in disbelief, reeling back with judgmental eyes. "Are you stupid?"

"Kang Kihyun," Sehyuk casts his hand forward for a shake. "Bully me." His smile grows, feet jittery.

The other boy doesn't return the gesture, instead, Sehyuk is greeted with a fist to his jaw. Kihyun pulls him by his hoodie and lands a second blow.

And another.

He hits him till the freshman is no longer standing. When he forces him to look up by pulling his hair, the irritating smile on Sehyuk doesn't subside even after sporting a busted lip. Kihyun grits his teeth, nose flaring. "Are you mocking me?"

Kihyun shakes his head, the sophomore raising his hand for another punch but his friend stops him.

"Kihyun, Professor Haru is coming this way." He pulls at the taller's shirt. "Let's go."

Kihyun pushes Sehyuk into the wall. "You should've walked away but you provoked me. You won't be smiling after I ruin that face of yours."

"I know I'm handsome. That's why I think you want to ruin my face."

The bully gawks for a second but recollects himself. "What I think is you need to be taught a lesson about what happens when you put your nose into others' business." He spits before picking his bag up and walking away with his lackeys.

The transferee stays in the same position on the ground till he no longer sees Kihyun or his friends' figures. He pats two of his fingers over the corner of his lips to wipe off the blood, wincing at the burning sensation. He licks the torn skin, tasting the residue, and supports his weight on the wall behind him, laughing and wiping the sweat trailing down his temple with the back of his sleeve. It has been an interesting encounter and Sehyuk looks forward to meeting Kang Kihyun the next time.