Three days. That's when Sehyuk had seen Kihyun last. Injured and crying on his carpeted floor.

Now, Sehyuk sits on the bleachers, staring at the students practicing football on the field. He sighs, groaning, "Ugh! Where is he!" No phone calls and no messages informing him of Kihyun's whereabouts. "I should've controlled myself," he says, slouching into his seat. The thought of him being gone has been weighing on his conscience.

The university has started its new term but Sehyuk hasn't seen Kihyun attending. He searched his classes and asked people around but found nothing. 'If he's dead, you're responsible.' The blond slaps his hands on his face at the thought, teeth grazing together. He hasn't been able to sleep well because of it. He doesn't know whether it's a good thing that he hasn't received any news about him being either dead or alive.

"Sehyuk! It was great to see you on the field today."

The boy looks up to meet the eyes of the football captain Jung Namshin. The guy isn't sweating like the others, having built stamina over the years he played sports. "Thanks, cap. It's good to be back."

"I don't see your personal cheerleader around today."

"Who?"

"Byun Jaemin," the captain chuckles, "his voice was the loudest when he came to watch the matches."

Despite what transpired between them, Sehyuk smiles with glee, Jaemin was undoubtedly deafening, always earning a few 'shut up' from the audience around him. He never failed to get a watered-down sports drink for him and a protein bar, excitedly slapping Sehyuk's back and talking about how well he played, didn't matter whether they lost or won the match.

The blond's lips then settle into a soft frown, thinking how he should've given Jaemin a chance to explain. But even the other hasn't reached out to him since that day. And Sehyuk's pride doesn't bend over to be the first one to initiate anything in the matter. But it would be a lie if he says he doesn't miss him. His presence has been the first that molded itself into Sehyuk's every day. They hung out together during breaks and if not, after university ended. He is the very first friend he made before Gyeom and the others.

There's a piece he and Kihyun must've missed because someone like Jaemin wouldn't be friends only for the sake of how rich they are. Or maybe they failed to recognize that side of him.

"Ugh!" Sehyuk groans, ruffling his hair and sucking in a breath through in teeth.

"You good, buddy?" Captain Jung's deep chuckle draws Sehyuk back to the present. "You looked like you were having a midlife crisis." He jokes, waving his hand in the air, and sauntering towards the gym lockers without waiting for an answer.

Sehyuk gets up as well and heads the same way to take a shower. When he's out, he wipes his wet hair with a towel but leaves them damp. He taps on his mobile phone screen to check the time. 6:30 P.M., it reads. "I'm late, I hope Professor Choi is still in his room."

The university usually filters out by this time, only a few students and professors stay back to complete their work or practice their sports in the campus field.

Sehyuk jogs towards the general affairs building, using the stairs instead of the elevator. He has to meet Choi Jaeyeol to ask him to let him attend his statistics class in the morning, even though he registered for the one in the afternoon as the former has no spaces left. It is just the change of timing so it wouldn't matter much.

The hallway is quiet, the sound of Sehyuk's shoes audible as he saunters through it. He slings the strap of his bag across his chest, the piece going from his right shoulder to his left hip, the bag moving with every step. He stops at the professor's door, ready to knock but he hears someone talking. He must be with a student.

"I'll be generous when I recheck your paper." Sehyuk hears Choi Jaeyeol say in a low voice.

"Pl-please...don't—"

The blond boy tilts his head, looking through the crack between the almost shut door. Then he sees it, Professor Choi standing too close to a female student, caging her between him and the wall behind her. The girl's eyes are wide open, her cheeks tear-stricken. He knows her, Im Mina, she was in his math class last semester. Sehyuk swallows on his spit, waiting for a moment to pass, hoping he's wrong. But as soon as Choi Jaeyeol raises his hand towards the girl's shirt, he sees red.

He pushes the door open with a loud bang and lurches at the professor with a second thought. He doesn't know when his fist first collides with the man's jaw, repeatedly hitting him as the man writhes in pain under him.

Choi Jaeyeol pushes Sehyuk but the boy is stronger, he pins him back to the floor and punches him again. "How dare you!" Sehyuk yells, his vision zeroing on the blood that tears out of the professor's lips and nose, mind too occupied to think about the consequences. Professors are supposed to teach and protect their students, not assault them.

His fist hurts with the force he's clenching his fingers together, the professor's blood smearing over his knuckles. He doesn't stop even when the man stops struggling as the feeling of knuckles crashing against flesh wakes up a dormant part in Sehyuk, something he had last locked two years ago. It's exhilarating.

"Stop it!"

It's not until two strong arms wrap around his chest and the said person pulls him away, does Sehyuk breathes back to his senses.

"What in the world are you doing!"

Sehyuk whips his head at the intruder, the furious eyes of Professor Park Dae Ho drilling holes into his very being. He pants, choking when he sees the unconscious man lying on the floor. "Professor Park! It's not what it looks like! Mina can tel—" he looks at where Im Mina had been standing, only to find the spot empty.

"I don't care what happened, you cannot beat up a professor at the very university you study in." Park Dae Ho's words are a wake-up call for Sehyuk. "You would've killed him if I wasn't passing by!" The older man crouches and taps on Jaeyeol's cheek but gets no response.

"I will have to take you to the president of the university for the matter. You can give your explanation to him and then he'll decide what to do." The professor stands up and throws a glare at Sehyuk before fetching his mobile phone from his pocket and putting it to his ear after calling someone. "Hey, Han," he says when the person at the other end answers his call. "We have a bit of a situation here, can you send an ambulance to the university but keep it under wraps?" He winces, crinkling his nose and moving the phone away when a man's voice booms, even audible to Sehyuk who's a few feet away.

"Are you okay!"

"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry."

"Oh my god! Did you kill someone and need me to hide the body now!"

Park Dae Ho groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, I'm not a savage. Stop assuming the worst when I ask for a favor. It's just that the university wouldn't want to involve the law in this matter."

"Park Dae Dae asking for a favor is a rarity so I have to prepare for the worst-case scenarios."

Sehyuk blinks, his mouth slightly parting in awe as he watches the professor banter with the man on the phone. They have an unconscious guy lying on the floor, face bloodied, and Park Dae Ho's priority is clearing his name first.

"You're so dead the next time I see you."

Sehyuk manages to crack the smallest of smiles, the inner turmoil in him somehow taming itself with the distraction. So he welcomes it, forgetting for a moment about the predicament he's put himself into.

The paramedics soon arrive and take Choi Jaeyeol to the hospital and Park Dae Ho takes Sehyuk to the president's office.

Sehyuk's hands are sweaty by the time he's standing in front of Choi Bangwon, his gaze not meeting the older man's sharp one.

"I can't believe such a violent student is studying at my university." He snarls, intertwining his fingers together on the desk. His office is large, a round conference table facing the desk Bangwon is sitting at, with leather couches in the middle, and file cabinets tucked in the corner behind the president's back.

"Professor Jaeyeol was taking advantage of a female student so I stopped him on instinct," Sehyuk explains, momentarily glancing at the grey-haired man, feeling Park Dae Ho straightening at the admission.

"Advantage in what way exactly?"

"You know what I'm talking about, sir," Sehyuk grits with an almost glare.

"And who might this student be? Can you call her here?"

Sehyuk doesn't want to take her name but the situation forces him to. "Im Mina, she was a student in my math class last semester."

"You will have serious consequences if we find you're slandering the name of an innocent man." Bangwon leans in his seat and relaxes as if the issue isn't concerning at all.

"Of course, I—" A hand slapping on his shoulder stops Sehyuk.

"Sehyuk are you sure about what you saw?" Dae Ho asks with a hint of worry mixed with anger.

"I have no reason to lie, Professor Park. You have to believe me. I know what I saw."

Dae Ho hums, "Alright. I'll call Mina and she can vouch for what you're saying." He nods, calling the girl. After a few rings, she picks up. The professor puts the call on speaker. "Hey, Mina. This is Park Dae Ho. Can I ask you where are you right now?"

There's silence for some time before Mina speaks. "...I'm at home, why?"

"There is nothing to be afraid of but I want to ask something. Please, speak the truth." He clears his throat. "Min Sehyuk claims he beat up Professor Choi Jaeyeol because he wanted to help you. He—"

"I don't know what he's talking about! Please, don't involve me in this!" She cuts the call right after it.

Sehyuk freezes, staring at the lighted screen going black, reflecting his surprised face in it. How could she lie to save herself? He shuts his eyes and braces for what's to come.

"You have no proof or witness as to what you're saying so there's nothing I can do but suspend you indefinitely."

"But President Choi!" The blond gapes at the punishment. "That's not fair! I was just trying to help."

"Until further notice, refrain from coming to the university. You will be given a final verdict after Jaeyeol wakes up." Choi Bangwon declares with finality, folding his arms over his chest.

"President, I think you should reconsider and withhold the punishment until he wakes up." Dae Ho expresses from Sehyuk's side.

"I make the rules here, not you. And my words are final."

Sehyuk sees Dae Ho poke his tongue on the inside of his cheek as he clenches his fist. "Of course, president." He smiles with tight lips.

"Min Sehyuk, do you regret what you did?"

"No." The firm denial slips out of his mouth before he can contemplate them, cementing the situation against him even more. It's his this habit of leaping before thinking that had pulled him into bullying others in the first place. It's a blessing and a curse, speaking his mind without calculating the weight of his words.

"Get out of my office."

The two bow and leave the room as they are ordered to.

"I need all the details about what exactly happened." Dae Ho says as soon as they walk out of the building. It's already dark outside but they take a seat on the wooden bench in front of the university gate and the student does what he asks.

"The way Mina disconnected the call, I knew then you were telling the whole truth." Dae Ho nods, drumming his fingers over the smooth wooden surface.

"But why didn't the president believe me?"

"Do you know the full name of the president?"

"Yeah, it's Choi Bangwon. Why?" Sehyuk's eyebrows draw together in confusion.

"What is Jaeyeol's name?"

"Jaeyeol. Choi Jaeyeol. So— oh..." He rubs his temples at the revelation.

"Yeah, oh. Jaeyeol is the president's nephew. They will most probably fault you for the assault and dust the main issue under the rug. I'll try to find out if the CCTV camera in the hallway caught anything. Go home for now." The professor pats his back, urging the boy to get up.

Sehyuk stands, slips his hands in his pockets, and walks a few steps. "Professor Park," he says, earning a hum in return. "Thank you, for what you did today."

"Of course. Your way may have been violent but the cause was noble. I would have done the same in your situation."

"Thank you, for believing in me." Sehyuk bows. 'Because I don't believe myself.'

Yes, just like Professor Park said, his cause was noble. But the thing is, when he initially hit Choi Jaeyeol, it was to protect Mina but other punches came in because he enjoyed them. Flesh and against flesh. An electric thrill seeped into his veins like an old lover, reminding him how it felt to have power over someone.

Sehyuk is scared of what he may become in the near future.