“Why are there police in here?”

That’s the question Soobin blurted the moment Taehyun parked their car and went outside. “I heard they’re looking for a missing student,” Taehyun answered while wearing on his bag.

“Woman?” Soobin asks.

“I’m not sure?” Taehyun shrugged his shoulder off. “Oh, someone’s approaching us,” he muttered when noticed a probably police officer coming towards them.

“Greetings students,” the man greeted them and Taehyun head falls lowly for a second while Soobin remained straight. “Does this school doesn’t teach college student to be respectful?”

Soobin just blankly stares at him and Taehyun walks forward, covering Soobin. “W-what’s the matter, sir? How may I help you?” Taehyun asks politely.

“I’m Detective Jeon of District Police,” he introduced. “Perhaps, have you seen this woman?” he presented two pictures, one is up to shoulder and the other is a full length image. “She’s been missing for three days now,” he added information.

“Oh, Lee Minji,” Taehyun muttered a name.

“Do you know her?” Detective Jeon asks.

“Of course, who doesn’t know her? She’s the queen bee of Engineering,” Taehyun answered. “But we don’t have any connections with her. We’re really sorry.”

“I see,” Detective Jeon nods but noticed Soobin intently staring at the pictures presented. “But your buddy behind you seems so invested,” he observed.

“I’m not,” Soobin blandly reply and casually walks away.

“A-ah, please excuse us,” Taehyun bows before following Soobin.

“Aigoo,” Detective Jeon scoffs as how he saw Soobin glances at him while walking away. “Did that kid just smirk on me? Red-tagged.”

“You’re not going to visit Yeonjun today?” Taehyun asks as they walk side by side.

“Nah,” Soobin shook his head. “Kinda hate him for now. He’s too kind it’s making me mad.”

“You just got rejected,” Taehyun chuckles lowly and he purse his lips when Soobin glared at him. “I’m sorry,” he quickly apologizes.

“That’s why I hate it,” Soobin rolls his eyes and went to his building.

Yeonjun’s randomly scribbling on his notebook and he sighs as he lean on the chair. His thoughts are scattered by what happened the other day. He’s feeling guilt for making Soobin felt that way although Soobin’s actions aren’t valid at all. But at the same time, he can totally understand why Soobin acted that way. It’s his disorder afterall.

“Argh! This is so annoying,” he groans and rest his head on the desk.

“What’s annoying?” Park Eric butts in as he heard Yeonjun’s sigh.

“Nothing. I just hate it sometimes when I can understand and feel most feelings,” he reasoned and leans on the chair.

“That’s why kind people are miserable,” Eric teases and they both laugh. “Get away from Soobin, for real bud. Like, the whole faculty of Arts is already talking about what he did and none of the counselor decided to take action. Fucked up, right?”

“We can’t blame them. It happened so many times,” Yeonjun replied and he suddenly stands up. “I should apologize to him or my soul won’t sleep,” he stated and went out of their lecture room because he has still vacant time.

He started walking across the hallway until he reached Soobin’s classroom. He looked for him and everyone pointed him at the same room, “Studio 3.”

Yeonjun knocks at the door and speaks, “Soobin, it’s me Yeonjun. May I enter?” he asks for permission but there’s no response so he knocks again and waits before he finally decided to enter.

He found Choi Soobin sleeping on the couch that is placed on the back corner of the room. He roams his eyes and saw several of arts materials, standing easel with unfinished sketches and canvas. Choi Yeonjun concluded that Soobin hated colors because none of his arts has it.

He walks closer towards Soobin and he smiles while staring at him. “You look so innocent when you sleep,” he muttered and gently tap his head. “Are things hard on your side?” he whispers.

Soobin gently open his wolf eyes and long lashes as he heard Yeonjun’s voice and their eyes meet. Soobin’s cold and empty stares meeting Yeonjun’s warm and bright eyes.

“No,” Soobin replied. “I am only doing things what I want and that are the easiest way of living,” he stated.

Yeonjun chuckles and nods, “You’re right… I envy you then,” he smiles.

Soobin frowns for second before taking a seat and face Yeonjun. “Why?” he asks.

“Because you can do anything that you want without any conviction at all. You aren’t caged, you aren’t limited, and you’re basically free— boundless,” Yeonjun reasoned out.

“Are you implying that I’m also carefree?”

“Silly, no,” Yeonjun chuckles and take a seat beside Soobin, leaving a gap between the two of them. “Is this your escape room?” he asks instead.

Soobin looks around the room. “Why do I need to escape? This is my art room, nothing at all,” he answered casually.

Yeonjun nods, “I’m sorry about what I did yesterday, Soobin,” he apologizes. “I should have given you even little of time. It was a group work and I know they can do well. I’m really sorry. It was my fault,” he explained.

Soobin took seconds of stares at Yeonjun. He’s calculating something in his mind. Assessing Yeonjun’s statement and then he nods after. “Of course it’s your fault,” he blamed the other. “And besides, I don’t feel sorry at all. That woman deserves it somehow.”

“But hitting someone isn’t a right thing to do, Soobin,” Yeonjun confronts him in a soft voice. He’s looking at Soobin with his soft eyes and little smile as well. “What if they’ll do worst at you? I know it’ll be hurt.”

“There’s always revenge in everything, equal and opposite reactions but will I allow myself to be attacked? No,” Soobin stated and stand up. He walks away from the couch while speaking, “One of the factors why human get hurt is because they allow others to hurt them and pretend it’s natural to happen— which is not,” he continued and pick up a brush near an easel. “What natural is you protect yourself when you know you’re a prey and you attack when you know you’re a predator,” he pauses and pierce his gaze at Yeonjun. “And it's the cycle, the predator always hunts.”

Yeonjun was taken aback for couple of seconds. This is the first time he heard Soobin speaking in calm and stating a lot. Soobin has words of wisdom, that’s a thought that came to him. Yeonjun smiles upon realizing that diagnosed mentally ill people are actually special and are intelligent.

“You sure know a lot,” Yeonjun commented and chuckles. “And you’re right by what you have said. Then, I shouldn’t get worried if they get back on you, right?”

Soobin nods. “Yes.”

“Can you gift me one of those?” Yeonjun asks politely.

“10 million won, you have?” Soobin asks back that made Yeonjun laughs. “You don’t have?”

“Not yet,” Yeonjun replied. “I didn’t know it costs a lot,” he commented. “But worth of price. Anyway, to make up with what happened yesterday, may I ask you out for dinner after school?”

“No,” Soobin quickly replied. “I’m busy and I have night class,” he answered. “Close the door after you leave. Bye,” Soobin picked up his bag and went out just like that.

Yeonjun gasps by how the other acts just like that and laughs at himself. “He sure is different,” he comments and stands up. He looks around for the last time and saw a part of a canvas that has colors.

He walks near the wall where old canvases are placed and he removes the others that are covering the colored one. “What is this?” he mutters while looking intently at the said painting matching with his frown trying to decipher what it conveys.

Yeonjun just admired how it looked like and place it back then went out of the room and close the door. He still has class to go and he remembers how Soobin casually rejected him.

“It’s not like he’s sulking, right?” he talks to himself before proceeding on his desired room.

After Choi Yeonjun’s class, he proceeds at hall 4 of arts and sciences for their meeting for the upcoming grand rally. He’s under the partylist of Choi Beomgyu. While waiting for the other students that have still class, Yeonjun decided to offer a hand to the other student.

“Beomgyu’s not here yet?” Yeonjun asks one of them.

“Yes, his class will end in 30 minutes,” she answered. “I really hope he’ll win the election,” she wished after.

“Me too,” Yeonjun agreed. “His platform looks so nice and I know he can get any fund and support,” he supported.

“And I also heard that if he wins, mentally ill like Soobin will be punished fairly if ever he acted violent again,” she stated. “That’s a good thing, right?” she asks Yeonjun while smiling.

“Well… maybe…” Yeonjun replied hesitantly.

Choi Beomgyu appeared at the expected time of his arrival. The usual, he’s giving an academic leader vibes. He’s calm, he’s organized, he speaks well, and he listens to other’s suggestion. He’s a natural born leader, if we put it in a simple manner.

The meeting about their plans for tomorrow’s parade and rally, ended.  Beomgyu rooted for everyone and promised to treat them out once the election is done.

“You keep on looking at your watch, are you waiting for someone?” Beomgyu asks Yeonjun as he noticed his actions.

“Ah,” Yeonjun awkwardly laughs. “Not really… but do you know what time fine art students usually clock out at night class?” he asks.

“It’s 11, if I’m not mistaken. You have a friend in there?” Beomgyu asks back.

Yeonjun shake his head, “None,” he laughs. “Anyway… Ah,” he is being hesitant and Beomgyu’s just waiting for him to speak his mind. “About your platform… Are you really going to punish Soobin if ever?”

“Choi Soobin,” Beomgyu mention. “Somehow I should but the word isn’t punish,” he points out. “He needs to be accountable with his actions. The students can adjust and adopt to his personality everytime. Both student and him should adjust since we’re in the same ground,” he corrected. “Don’t worry, it took me a lot of consideration,” he smiles with assurance.

“I knew it,” Yeonjun chuckles. “You’re really going to win, Beomgyu. I know that,” he smiles.

“And you too,” Beomgyu cheered him back. “So, is Soobin the one you wait?”

“H-huh? Uhm…”

Beomgyu chuckles, “But I have a friend that is on the same class as him and heard he didn’t attend their night class,” he stated.

“O-oh,” Yeonjun gasps and bit his lower lip. Suddenly felt a little bit disappointed by what he heard.

“How did you become friend with him?” Beomgyu wonders.

“It just happened,” Yeonjun smiles. “Anyway, I should probably go home now,” he said after.

“Ah, aren’t you scared of befriending Soobin?”

“Should I?” Yeonjun frowns a bit in confusion because he often hears it. Now hearing it from Beomgyu, who understand so much well and a philosophy student, makes it a bit serious and cautious.

Beomgyu smiles while shaking his head, “Nothing. I suggest knowing him well first. He’s a predator, Yeonjun.”

“How can you say that?” Yeonjun slightly frowns.

Beomgyu sighs in low, “You know this people’s attitude when you want to condemn them with how bad their actions were but ended up being condemned instead because what you were saying is false and their action were actually valid? That’s one of Soobin’s ability that you needed to be careful with.”