"That tree leans! It's rotting!"
"So am I, emotionally." Si Kyo shrug.
"Someone could've seen you!"
"Bold of you to assume I care."
"You're gonna get me expelled!"
"Worth it."
Si Kyo pupls out a lollipop from his pocket.
"Do you ever wonder... what it would feel like to scream mid-lecture?"
"What is wrong with you?!"
"That's... a loaded question."
Jiho panics. "Look — just go before the professor—"
"Eyes forward!" The professor call out.
Jiho jerks upright while Si Kyo casually spins the lollipop in his mouth.
Jiho sweats. Si Kyo smirks and leans closer.
"Tell me something deep and existential... or I start beatboxing."
"Oh gosh."
"Eh, Wrong answer."
Si Kyo clears his throat — Jiho SLAPS a hand over his mouth, eyes wide.
"Stop. Just— please. Please!"
Si Kyo peels Jiho's hand off like it's dirty.
"No I won't."
"That's why I blocked you on four apps."
"Five. I checked. Rude."
"Do you have no shame?"
"Shame is a tax poor people pay."
Jiho almost screams.
Si Kyo grabs a paper from Jiho's desk and flicks a paper airplane toward the front of class. It narrowly misses the professor's head.
Jiho ducks. Prays. "This is my villain origin story."
Si Kyo casually stretches, with a smug shot expression. "You're welcome."
The professor at the front straightened a thick stack of papers, glasses slipping down his nose.
"Now then— you'll be receiving your project results. Grades are final. Don't beg."
Jiho perks up, eyes gleaming. "Yes! Time to finally see the fruits of my excruciating labor—"
Si Kyo cuts in, deadpan. "You probably cheated."
"Shut up!"
The professor adjusted his collar, then cleared his throat dramatically.
"I'll call your names. If you hear yours, come up and retrieve your graded project. Try not to trip on your way down. We've had enough casualties this semester."
(reading off the sheet)
"Min Jae... Soojin... Daehyun..."
Each student shuffled to the front as their name was called. Some hopeful, some walking like they were heading to their execution.
"Jiho..."
Jiho emidietly sits up excitedly. "Finally!"
He walks off, but paused mid-step to eye Si Kyo with warning.
"Do not do anything funny."
(mock halo gesture)
"I won't."
Jiho walked down the center aisle, nerves kicking in as eyes followed him. The professor handed him the folder.
"Excellent work, Jiho. Well done."
Jiho cautiously opened the folder.
SHIMMERING ANGELIC CHOIR
An A+. His eyes sparkled with stars in his eyes.
"Oh my god... I did it."
He returned to his seat, clutching the paper to his chest like it was holy scripture. Outside the window—
"So... what'd you get?"
Jiho is grinning without looking up. "An A plus."
"Tch. Could've been an A plus plus, but whatever. Congratulations."
Jiho frowned at the jab— until the last word sank in.
"...Thank you."
"Should I clap?" Si Kyo randomly ask.
Jiho is distracted, eyes still on his grade.
"No. Did you forget your unspeakable supernatural power? You could literally blow this whole building up. You're not allowed to clap."
Si Kyo smirks. "Right... but what if I only use... five percent?"
Jiho brows furrows, the commentary catching him off guard. "What?"
Too late.
"Congratulations!!!!"
He brought his fingertips together and tapped— just a polite little clap.
BOOM.
The air split open. A gust— a sonic hurricane exploded from the window like Si Kyo had just summoned a storm god. Desks flipped. Windows cracked. Walls shuddered. Papers erupted like academic confetti.
One student flew backwards across the classroom.
"What the actual hell—?!" Soojin utters in terror. "Is this a nightmare?!"
A girl's skirt flipped upward— Soojin's smirk twitched into a visible red blush.
"No comment!" He shouted.
"MY LAPTOP!" A student shout.
"MY EYES!" Another rearate.
The professor stood frozen like a deer before thunder, shielding the graded folders.
"EVERYONE UNDER THE DESKS! NOW! DUCK AND COVER!"
Students dove under, some dragging others with them. Everyone obeyed. Except Jiho— who simply stood, unblinked, paled, still holding his A+ like a talisman.
Then silence. The wind finally stopped. The papers drifted like snow. Someone sniffled. A few seconds passed.
Daehyun muffles under a desk annoyingly.
"Wait... isn't ducking under a desk for earthquakes?"
Heads peeked out. Students slowly crawled from their hiding spots, blinking like they'd emerged from a bomb shelter.
The classroom was wrecked. Chairs upside down. Test papers plastered to the walls. A trash can had fused with the radiator.