K Y U N G S O O

Kim Jongin obviously wants Byun Baekhyun gone right away but I wonder why the brown-haired, disarmingly pretty guy won't budge even after the numerous threats my roommate throws at him. He seems determined to stay with us, hooking his arm loosely around mine as we exit the cafeteria and walk down the corridors pass stumbling students heading to their courses. A lot of them throw us judging glances—probably because the resident freak is now miraculously hanging out with new students. Staying in the shadows is hard when you have a bad reputation to begin with.

"So, where's your first class today, Kyungsoo?" Baekhyun asked me, eyes wide and excited. He knew my name by snooping through my bag and finding my wallet. My head snapped back to look at him and I pretended I am not being watched by a dozen pair of eyes. I would also be lying if I say that Baekhyun's presence do not calm me in an unexplainable kind of way. It sure is weird. But very welcomed.

I scanned my brain quickly. "Zoology," I answered.

"Oh! That's my first class, too!" Baekhyun beamed and I swear his eyes almost glowed against his perfect face. Then he tipped his head to look at Jongin who is walking on my other side, busy scowling at everyone within sight like they did him bad personally. I have no idea what had gotten into him. He and Baekhyun seems to be really close—like in a love-hate kind of way—but it's like Jongin is being a jerk deliberately. "What about you, Kai?" Baekhyun asked him. "What's your first class?"

Jongin didn't answer, acting like he didn't even hear anything, so I just took my chance and gave Baekhyun a wondering glance. He doesn't even look the littlest bit pissed by how Jongin is behaving. Like he's used to being ignored and didn't really expect my roommate to answer to him.

But I'm curious about one thing, though. "'Kai'?" I asked, raising my brows.

Baekhyun's smile seemingly faltered a bit. "Um. That's how I usually call him," he explained. "Like a nickname." He gave me another grin before throwing Jongin a worried look. I wonder how long these two people know each other, because they obviously go way back. Maybe Kim Jongin didn't come to this university blindly and without any acquaintances like I originally thought. He just appeared so alone and aloof that I assumed that.

Suddenly, Kim Jongin stopped on his tracks and Byun Baekhyun seems to stiffen beside me, his fingers gripped my arm so tight it made me gasp. When I threw Jongin a questioning glance, I realized he already abandoned staring daggers at strangers and is now staring straight ahead where a group of students are also walking towards our way. It is actually peculiar how the people around them seem to shrink against their presence, dispersing to create a path like they're afraid to even make the slightest contact. They are a group of five with only one girl, her hair strikingly white against her black leather dress. They also look familiar, but I can't remember where and when I saw them.

And even though I try to ignore it, I could tell that there is something dangerously similar with Kim Jongin's aura and theirs. But I can't seem to put a finger on it.

I half-expected them to walk pass us, because they seem to be engrossed in their own little conversations as well. But they didn't. Instead, they stopped in front of our frozen figures, and Jongin rolled his eyes in annoyance. One guy with jet-black hair smiled widely at Jongin, hooking one arm around his neck. He's pale and very young looking. "Hey, it's been a while, Kai," he grinned and there's that name again. "We didn't even get to chat when Chanyeol and I messed with that school bus." And with that, his eyes seemingly darted to Baekhyun. But maybe I was just imagining things.

Jongin removed the arm around him almost forcefully. Are these people not in good terms? "I just didn't want to talk, Sehun," he hissed, glaring. "Aren't you supposed to be in class now?"

"We're just heading there," the Sehun guy seems unshaken by the threat in Jongin's voice. He's still smiling widely. "Unless..." he murmured and then somehow, that grin he's been wearing slowly turned to a menacing smirk as his raven colored eyes gave Baekhyun a sharp glance. "Someone wants to destroy our plans again."

Beside me, Baekhyun unmistakably flinched. What the hell is happening here?

Another guy from the group suddenly stepped in, grabbing Sehun by the back of his collar like a child. He has this messed-up silver hair that amazingly looks good on him. "Come on, Sehun," he muttered in a very deep and firm voice. "We're going to be late." I watched as his tall figure take Sehun away and then noted how everyone of them has that certain perfectness in their features—Even Baekhyun. Their aura and their looks—They almost seem unnatural. But weirdly captivating.

The silver haired guy just gave Kim Jongin a nod before walking away, dragging Sehun rather strongly while the younger complains about not being able to bully Baekhyun whenever the taller is around. Huh. Does that mean they all know each other? Just how many people in this university does Kim Jongin know? And why does it look like he's angry at every one of them? I have so many questions in my mind right now, but I have this strange feeling that my roommate won't answer them all.

"Kai," a cold voice suddenly spoke, and my attention was drawn back to the group. The owner of the voice has sharp, handsome features and a gaze that felt like razors. He fixes Jongin with a deadly stare, but the latter almost looks so bored and unfazed. "Where are you going?" the stranger asked. "Aren't you supposed to have class with Lisa?"

The only girl in the group scoffed, unamused, at the mention of her name. When I looked at her, I realized she's glaring at me and Baekhyun, and her eyes are so knifelike I can't help but avert my gaze. I felt blood rush to my cheeks and the air suddenly feels chilly. Why does their presence scream danger so loud?

"I'm sending Kyungsoo to his class, Taemin," Jongin said, and the answer made me look at him, surprised.

"You are?" I can't help asking because I seriously thought we're just heading to the same direction.

Kim Jongin just nodded.

The other guy, Taemin, frowned a little and his eyes slowly traveled to my face. They aren't threatening. But they are not friendly either. He turned, as if to approach me, and what happened after that was so fast my mind barely had the time to register anything. I am suddenly behind Kim Jongin, his hand wrapped tightly around my wrist as he stood menacingly between me and Taemin. I cannot see his face, but I could tell he isn't happy.

For a second, Taemin's eyes went slightly wide and they flickered to mine when I peeked from over Jongin's shoulder. And then Taemin let out a small, bitter laugh. "Well, then," he smirked. "We'll see you around." Without waiting for Jongin's answer, he walked away. The other guy followed him—a good-looking man with honey colored hair—leaving the beautiful girl, Lisa, standing before us with her slender arms folded against her chest. She looks disgusted beyond comprehension as she stared at Jongin's hand holding my wrist.

"What now, Lisa?" Jongin asked in a hushed, controlled voice.

Lisa licked her blood-red lips before smiling a bit, her eyes shifting back to my roommate. "Party tomorrow night," she said, and I didn't expect her voice to be this light. "My sorority is throwing huge one. And... I don't think you should miss it, Kai." Her smile widened and, judging by the way her eyes seem to dance, I'm pretty sure there is more to her words than what she just said.

The hand around my wrist tightened. "Sure," Jongin nodded once. "I'll be there."

"Great," Lisa's smile is really unnerving. It looks so evil I didn't know girls like her really exist until she's here in the flesh. Lisa then turned to Baekhyun and her eyes almost blazed in anger. This time, she isn't talking to Jongin anymore. "Even Chanyeol and his introverted ass will be there," she cocked her head to one side before sizing Baekhyun up, obviously sickened. "Shouldn't his bitch attend, too?"

Right. She is evil.

With what she just said, I really expected Baekhyun to snap back, but instead, he smiled a little at the woman. "Thanks for the invitation," he said calmly. "I'll think about it."

Lisa doesn't seem pleased with the lack of drama, but the bitchy look didn't leave her face. She flicked her pearly white hair back, gave Jongin a friendly nod, then walked away gracefully. Finally. With their presence gone, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and let the truth settle in my brain for a while. Those people... They're dangerous. One does not have to be a genius to realize that.

Kim Jongin gave my wrist a gentle tug. "Let's go," he muttered under his breath. "You wouldn't like to stay here."

Even with Byun Baekhyun and his calming presence around me, I still do not quite understand why watching Kim Jongin walk away after sending me to my first class is troubling. I tried ignoring it before—the mysterious feeling that dawned on me the very first time I saw him standing at the center of our dorm room. It was chilly, but warm at the same time. The truth is, ever since the accident, I've been able to see entities a normal person couldn't and feel people's presence. I could somehow tell if they're harmless or dangerous.

Bad people make me feel cold to the toes and the opposite when I'm around good-hearted ones.

My aunt told me the car crash might have awoken something inside me. A sixth sense perhaps. But I didn't really believe her. Maybe she thought rationalizing things would make me feel better about myself and this newfound 'ability'.

And then came Kim Jongin and Byun Baekhyun... And that mysterious group. Their presence made me feel something I have never felt before. I cannot say for sure if it's supernatural because I am not socializing much to have comparison. But they are different. That I know for sure.

It's just that, there is something far more distinct with Kim Jongin.

I just don't know what that is yet.

Zoology passed in a blur and I don't think I really paid any attention. I was busy staring out the window, wondering why my chest suddenly felt so hollow again—Like it always did in the past. I haven't felt the emptiness in a while and I don't know when I started becoming numb to the pain, but maybe sitting uncomfortably in a room full of strangers and judging eyes triggered it. For a millisecond, I was hoping aunt didn't die early and left me all alone.

That thought didn't last long.

"Why the long face?" Byun Baekhyun asked when we exited the room. I still don't know why he chooses to hang out with me when he could obviously be friends with anyone else. "You don't like Professor Jang?"

I gave him a small smile. "He's fine, I guess," I said. "I'm just... lost in thought."

Baekhyun looks worried and it's too genuine it surprised me. "Are you okay?" he asked in a gentle voice. "Do you need sometime alone?"

Well, I didn't really know what I need until he suggested it.

"I think I'm gonna go wash my face or something," I mumbled and Baekhyun immediately understood.

"Sure," he smiled kindly. "I'll see you around, Do Kyungsoo. And please! Do say 'Hi!' to me."

When Byun Baekhyun left, I headed towards the nearest comfort room, hoping to maybe throw myself a glance on a mirror and finally understand what the hell is wrong with me. But instead of peace, I found a familiar guy in the room, standing alert in front of one cubicle. His eyebrows are knitted in concentration and his lips seem to move in amazing speed—Like he's murmuring something I cannot hear.

Taemin. That's his name, if I remember it right.

The door of the comfort room closed behind me loudly and Taemin looked up, startled. His eyes seemed to change to something darker and he sneered, glaring at me so hard, before walking fast and out of the room.

What the fuck was that?

Confused at the abrupt turn of events, I cautiously walked towards the cubicle Taemin was staring at, my steps slow and small. The door is closed and when I gave it a gentle push, it won't budge. Is it occupied? Why the hell was Jongin's friend staring at and standing before an occupied cubicle when the other ones are empty?

Deciding to ignore what happened, I was about to turn away and proceed to the sinks when something by my feet caught my eye.

I gasped loudly, stepping back as thick red blood started to flow from under the cubicle door. It took me a few long seconds before I moved forward and started pounding on the wood. "Hello?! Is anyone there?!" I shouted, my palms hitting the door so hard they sting. "Please, open up—!"

And then I heard it. The crying.

"I-I didn't mean it—" someone inside the cubicle sobbed. "I-I don't know why I did it... H-Help me—"

I took a few steps back and ran before throwing my body against the wooden door. Finally, it gave away and what I saw inside sent chills throughout my entire being I went completely numb. I couldn't feel my fingers or the pain on my shoulder. I can't even find my own voice to scream for help. A boy—someone I take classes with before—is sprawled on the floor, face abnormally pale and wet with tears. There's a small, silver blade beside his fallen hands. And his wrists... they're deeply cut.