chapter 10

J-Hope’s face was at its final stage of anger, jaw clenched, eyes burning. He took a heavy breath and was about to step closer to Vernon when—

Ding… Dong…

The sound of bells filled the courtyard, their melodious rhythm echoing across the air. Both J-Hope and Vernon froze, their attention pulled away from their heated moment. Slowly, their eyes scanned the surroundings… until they landed on Seungkwan.

Still kneeling in front of the tall statue, Seungkwan hadn’t moved, his prayer calm and unbroken, untouched by the chaos that had shaken everyone else.

For reasons they couldn’t explain, a strange sense of purity and peace stirred in J-Hope’s and Vernon’s hearts. Almost unconsciously, they stepped forward until they were just two paces away from him… and then, as if drawn by an invisible force, they both dropped to their knees and joined him in prayer.

Seungkwan finally finished, exhaling softly as he rose to his feet. With a faint smile tugging at his lips, he spoke with simple wisdom,

“Anger only causes loss. Love brings happiness.”

The words carried like a gentle breeze, and both J-Hope and Vernon—still on their knees—responded in unison,

“Yes, saint, you are right.”

Seungkwan blinked, confusion spreading across his face.

“Saint? I’m not any saint… I’m just a fresher. I was only praying to God for my first day here.”

Both Vernon and J-Hope scrambled to their feet, equally baffled at their own words. Why did they call him a saint? They didn’t know themselves.

J-Hope’s brows furrowed as his memory snapped back. He turned to Vernon, irritation returning to his expression.

“VERNON! You came late again!”

Vernon’s eyes widened, and he gulped, silently crying out in his head,

God, please save me… please save me…

J-Hope was just about to unleash his punishment when suddenly—

“Excuse me, sir!”

The voice echoed through the courtyard, cutting the tension cleanly.

All three—J-Hope, Vernon, and Seungkwan—turned sharply toward the direction of the sound.

And there A young boy had called out, and now all three—J-Hope, Vernon, and Seungkwan—looked at him in confusion.

J-Hope: “You called me?”

The boy nodded.

J-Hope: “Then… why did you call me? Do you need help with something? And… who are you?”

Boy: “I’m Wonwoo, sir. I wanted your help. I’m a fresher, and I can’t find my class.”

Seungkwan hesitated for a moment, then piped up softly,

Seungkwan: “Sir… me too. I’m a fresher as well, and I can’t find my class.”

J-Hope turned to Seungkwan with a raised brow.

J-Hope: “And… what’s your name?”

Vernon, flashing a bright, mischievous smile, added,

Vernon: “Yes… angel, what’s your name?”

Seungkwan’s cheeks flushed slightly at the word angel, his shyness obvious. Wonwoo looked at them, completely puzzled by the odd exchange. Vernon’s smile faltered the moment J-Hope shot him a deadly glare.

Seungkwan: “Sir… my name is Seungkwan.”

Vernon, in his mind, couldn’t help but think, What an angelic name…

J-Hope opened his mouth to say something, but then his eyes caught Dino, the science teacher, walking toward the main office building.

Without hesitation, J-Hope moved to follow him—but first, he needed someone he could trust to help the freshmen. His gaze swept the courtyard until it landed on a familiar figure dressed in black.

J-Hope: “Mingyu, come here.”

At the sound of his name, Mingyu approached, calm and collected.

Mingyu: “Yes, sir?”

J-Hope: “I want you and Vernon to help these two freshmen find their classes. Got it? I have important work to do.”

And with that, J-Hope ran off toward the main office building.

Mingyu turned toward Wonwoo and Seungkwan, his eyes briefly meeting Wonwoo’s. They shared a quiet, almost awkward moment before looking away, each unsure of what to make of the other.

Vernon, never one to waste an opportunity, grinned cheekily.

Vernon: “Mingyu… he,”—he pointed at Seungkwan—“is mine. But you can take him,”—he gestured toward Wonwoo—“if you want.”

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