#want me a nagging cheol so i don’t overwork :((

[qvestchen]

Nemesis // Soonwoo SVT

Summary: It was really laughable. The idea that Jeon Wonwoo had a nemesis. And yet there it was. The clear proof that all his life, like a nagging dull ache, Kwon Soonyoung had stepped all over his plans without ever really acknowledging him.

And maybe it was wrong for Wonwoo to seek him out but all he wanted was answers at first. He had never imagined they would stand opposite each other, fingers on triggers, his death in his nemesis’s hands and vice-versa.

Author: qvestchen

Status: Ongoing

Chapters: Home, Previous, Next.

Nemesis // Soonwoo SVT

Chapter 5: You can just date me

Avoidance.

Soonyoung had woken up at the medical center to find the Dean, Mr. Lee Yu Jin, waiting for him. 

“Ah, Kwon Soonyoung, is it? You had us all worried for a bit there, my boy,” Mr. Lee said, his smile not really warm.

Soonyoung tried sitting up and felt a drip attached to his hand pinch slightly.

“Oh, no need to greet me. Take rest. The nurse told me you’re exhausted. The second student from drama club to end up here in the past couple of days I have been told. As President, you should really tone the drama club activities down a bit. We don’t want our rising club to fail because of overwork, right, my boy?”

Soonyoung nodded slowly, not really understanding why the Dean was here at all.

“You all should have fun too. Rest, have fun, study, and so on. I must say, I would appreciate it if you don’t party at my house in the future.” Mr. Lee laughed, seeing Soonyoung’s panic at the revelation. “Don’t worry. I know my son, Chan, hosted the party. He doesn’t listen to his father at all.” He got up and handed Soonyoung his card. “Let me know if there is anything you need. I feel responsible for what happened on Chan’s behalf.”

“It’s no problem. He wasn’t involved,” Soonyoung said.

Mr. Lee muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “It would do him well to not get involved, for once.”

Soonyoung’s curiosity was piqued but he didn’t ask further. 

Avoidance.

His friends asked him all sorts of questions. He chose to laugh it out.

“Really, I have no memory of what happened after entering the party. I had taken a shot of some weird tasting drink from Jihoon earlier so that must be it.” He laughed. “I really shouldn’t trust Jihoon’s wine cabinet from now on.”

Jihoon made a move as if to choke him. “Hey, my wine cabinet is exquisite, okay?”

Seungcheol laughed. “Didn’t you buy it off someone’s garage sale? It must have lots of expired items in it.”

“Wow, you had food poisoning? Cheol here nearly murdered a guy over your food poisoning, dude,” Junhui said.

Soonyoung’s smile dropped. Wonwoo. “You what?”

Junhui continued, “And that too when I was about to exchange numbers with that guy’s friend. Now, I have no date.”

Jihoon pushed Junhui. “Oi, priorities?”

Soonyoung tried to joke and smile again. “You can just date me, Junnie.”

Jun made a gagging sound. “I’m not that desperate, ugh.”

Joshua looked unconvinced by the banter. Soonyoung knew he wasn’t buying any of this. He also knew his friend had been crying. It hurt him to see the pale redness at the edges of Joshua’s eyes. He wanted to talk to him, to thank him…he didn’t.

Avoidance.

When he was fourteen, his therapist had told him he had trouble with facing his problems. 

“Soonyoung, you can’t avoid your problems forever. Avoidance breeds toxicity.”

What was he supposed to say?

Facing his problems had led him here.

“Now, will you tell me what is bothering you?”

He didn’t.

Avoidance.

When he was discharged from the medical center and alone in his dorm room for a bit, he opened his inbox to see if he had contacted him.

There were several messages.

There were messages from his drama club members.

“Hey, I’m sorry you fainted. Hope you’re feeling better now, Hoshi. Wonwoo wouldn’t have hurt you. He’s a nice guy. He just looks scary.” --Seungkwan.

“Hoshi! Please get better soon. We need our Tiger back.” --DK

“Wonwoo got off on the wrong foot. He’s a friend. I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm.” --DK

And messages from random people.

“HEARD YOU GOT BEAT UP?”

“Are you okay?”

“You owe me 15 dollars! Don’t die yet!”

And calls from his parents.

He wondered who had told them. He sighed. There was a part of him that wanted to call them right now and tell them that he had been right all along. Jeon Wonwoo did exist. He was here in the university where he was studying. They, apparently, even had common friends. He wanted to shout and scream. He wanted to be comforted because he had been wronged all these years. 

Instead, he messaged, “Mom, Dad, I’m well. Don’t worry. I’ll call in the morning.”

Avoidance.

Wonwoo was walking beside Mingyu as they made their way to the language building for their respective electives. The crowd was louder than usual today. There were still whispers but they seemed to be more about Wonwoo than Mingyu today. 

Did you see him--yes, that one there--he beat up Hoshi--yes, the dark haired one--he beats up kids often--what’s Mingyu doing with him--oh, he even blackmails people--yes, he beat up Hoshi over nothing--the boy was hospitalized--he’s going to be expelled--his parents must be rich--he doesn’t even feel guilty--look at him--he beat up Hoshi--stay away from him--he’s a punk--poor Mingyu, for having such friends--he needs some sense knocked into--

Wonwoo tried to grin. “I don’t think you’re the center of attention anymore, Mingyu.”

Mingyu didn’t smile back. “They’re all so wrong. How can people spread lies like this?”

“You shouldn’t wander around with me or your reputation will get tarnished too.”

Mingyu slipped his hand around the crook of his elbow. “Then, let it.”

Minghao appeared from nowhere. His windswept hair suggested that he had been running. He wordlessly placed his arm around Wonwoo’s neck. 

“What?” he asked, looking at both of his protective friends.

Minghao rolled his eyes. “At least Mingyu and I are just doing PDA. Seungkwan is fighting everyone and Seokmin is trying to get Hoshi to tell everyone you’re innocent.”

Wonwoo decided he liked the name Hoshi better. It didn’t knock the air out of his lungs every time it was uttered. Hoshi...he could nearly pretend Hoshi wasn’t Soonyoung. 

Avoidance.

When Wonwoo had got a call from the Persian Department, he had been surprised. 

“Wait, does that mean I’m in?” he had asked.

“Yes, someone backed out of the course. We have one seat open. Do you want it?” the clerk sounded just as bored on the phone as he did in person. 

Wonwoo was beyond grateful. He didn’t have any elective as a back-up. “Yes, yes, I’ll take it. Thank you.”

“Come to the office and collect the syllabus and course materials.”

But when he dropped off his friends at their electives and finally reached Room 67, he was met by a commotion.

“What do you mean you gave my seat to someone else? How can you do that?” 

Wonwoo frowned. What was happening?

The clerk was explaining coldly, “Your name was crossed out. There was one person in the waiting list so we gave it to him.”

“How am I supposed to find a new elective now? All courses are probably closed. Besides, I didn’t cross out my name. So, why should I suffer?” the student said.

“We can’t help you, I’m afraid. The other student was already informed--Oh, there he is! You can ask him if he can give you his seat? It’s really not my problem anymore.” The clerk yawned to emphasize his point.

The student turned around and his mouth dropped on seeing Wonwoo. 

Wonwoo recognized him immediately and took a step back. 

Soonyoung’s gaze went cold after the recognition. He closed his mouth and sighed, mumbling, “Of course, of all people...it had to be him.”

“H-Hoshi,” Wonwoo finally said.

“Never mind,” Soonyoung told the clerk. “I’m not interested anymore.”

“What is happening here?” 

Both of them turned to look at the newcomer.

The clerk stood up quickly. “Oh, Professor Nusrat. Uh there has been a small misunderstanding.”

Professor Nusrat was middle-aged and stood remarkably straight. Her clothes were beautifully embroidered and complemented her nails and jewellery. She quirked an eyebrow and asked in a dangerously strict voice. “Really?”

Soonyoung was the one who spoke up. “This guy stole my seat for the elective and now I’m left without an elective even though I signed up earlier. The clerk refuses to help me now.”

Wonwoo gaped at him.

He stole so much from me. This is the least I can get back, Soonyoung was thinking, suddenly seething with anger. All those years spent searching and doubting himself. Those years, Wonwoo had stolen from him. And now suddenly, he was here stealing his life again. I’m not going to let this happen. 

Wonwoo said, “Professor, I don’t know what his problem is but I got a call from the office that I got the seat. I didn’t steal anything.”

He was so annoyed. He had been patient with the rumours. No, he had been patient all along. He had avoided all the signs. He had patiently let go of everything that had been poisoned by Soonyoung but as the scar on his knee itched again, he couldn’t help but think no more, I’m not going to settle anymore.

Professor Nusrat looked at both of them. “Are you sure this is about the seat?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Anyway, I didn’t know our elective was getting so famous suddenly. I can’t believe people are fighting to join it. Pleases me no end. You both can join. It’s not an issue.”

The clerk made a protesting noise.

Professor Nusrat repeated. “Not an issue. Come along. The class has already waited long enough because of the noise.”

There was, however, only one empty seat at the back of the class. 

“Minseok, get a chair from my room. Woojin, come to the front. You both,” she said to Soonyoung and Wonwoo, “can take those two at the end.”

Wonwoo was making his way to the freshly vacated chair, followed by Soonyoung, when he tripped over someone’s bag. He grasped at air, feeling himself fall forward, eyes widening--

And then suddenly, he wasn’t falling anymore. A strong hand caught his arm and pulled him back. Still, unable to balance, Wonwoo fell slightly back, into Soonyoung’s chest. 

He was already apologizing when he turned to look at Soonyoung and his heart seemed to clench almost painfully. 

He was so close to Soonyoung, he could see the flecks in his eyes, the slight quiver of his lips forming a word, his breath catching sharply, the way his skin was reddening so perceptibly as he felt Wonwoo’s gaze upon him. 

Someone coughed and now, Soonyoung was pushing him slightly. 

Wonwoo regained his balance and wordlessly moved ahead. He knew his ears were burning hot, he could feel his heart hammering in his chest and there was an almost hysterical laugh building in his throat. 

Because, in that moment when Wonwoo had stared back at Soonyoung, feeling him so close to himself, he had nearly done something he could have regretted later. He had nearly said, “You’re beautiful.” He had no idea where the thought had come from. It was certainly not his usually level-headed brain. 

He was glad he had avoided the silly statement. 

But he didn’t know.

He didn’t know that in another classroom, Joshua was tugging at his burning bracelet which was warning him of something.

Something that Joshua knew but tried to ignore, something that Soonyoung and Wonwoo still didn’t know.

Jeonghan was on the terrace of his dorm. He wondered when they would find out that no one could avoid fate. 

Thank you for being so patient! Hope you enjoyed the update. The next chapter will have a few revelations so please look forward to it :)