(Part 1 of Careful,)
The worldās a little quiet today, or maybe she thinks this way because the AC is on full mode. Her earphones are pressed on her ears, and her fingers are running over the laptop keyboard in light speed. Everything sheās doing is an example of tranquility. Sheās trapped in this sphere of solitude, and she loves it. The library is entirely empty, too, considering itās early in the morning for torture. But whatever, she likes when things are clear and monotonous.
Of course, every good thing is bound to the burden of decomposition, and so her quiet is disturbed. At first, itās just a body thatās hovering over her table. A large body. Enough to darken her desk and wide enough to block the cool air of the AC gushing over her. Sheās intending to ignore it, but sheās not exactly good at that. So she takes off her earphone and pauses her monstrous clicking. She looks up, glare taking place over the dead shapes of her bitch face, ready to confront the person stripping her of her cocoon. Only, she doesnāt see a stranger.
Itās a man, and sheās not familiar with men - usually sheās just a virgin in all aspects of the opposite sex - but heās not a face well forgotten. Heās one of the dudes that people whispered about in the hallways, and even her, an antisocial not-give-a-shit girl has heard about him. Sheās a bit mortified about his sudden station over her table, but she forgets about her curiosity to resume her glaring. He winces a little because of her harsh glaring, especially when she pulls her earphones so she can hear the sound of her eyes going absolutely still in the dangerous motion. Besides him stands another man, a taller one, and he, too, sparks recognition in her well-organized mind. But she doesnāt give this other man attention; she only looks at the shorter guy.
āI have a proposition.ā He says, trying to keep his voice steady. Sheās a little - a lot - annoyed about his demanding tone, as if heās used to dropping requests that take no for an answer. So, she scoffs.
āNo.ā
His eyes, which were narrowed down in a way to intimidate her (as if) widen a little, and he splutter. āYou didnāt even hear what I have to say!ā
āDonāt care, still no.ā She returns back to her speedy typing, just to have something to do and to irritate the guy. God knows how well-versed she is in the effects of ignorance. She hopes he too, is immensely annoyed by it.
His narrowed eyes go a little wide, before he narrows them again. He looks down at the unoccupied chair across her chair, then at her, whoās still pretending to be immersed in her ridiculous writing, before pulling the chair out from under the table and plopping his pretty little butt over it. She doesnāt give him the attention he desires, not even when he releases a big sigh of relief. She keeps on clicking on her keyboard, completely unbothered. This makes him annoyed for some reason. No other female has ignored him like that when he graced them with his pretty, dark presence, and no other person has taken it so far to pretend he doesnāt exist, either. Heās damn well-aware of what he does to people, both genders, whatnot with his beautiful kohl-ridden eyes, his thin, pink lips that perfectly curl into a pout thatās deadly, and his killer body. Whatās wrong with this woman? He actually came here by the stupid, stupid convincing tactics of his friend to beg for help, and heās being swiped off like dirt? Ridiculous!
He curls a fist over his mouth like a fake posh man and clears his throat, making her look at him with her deadly, iridescent eyes. āWhat if I offered you ten thousand dollars for catching a mice trap in the Dark Dungeons?ā
The Dark Dungeons is a place in the universityās library where everyone just pretends doesnāt exist for some reason - probably because of all the boring past researchers of the graduated students stacked there - and ultimately ended up being deserted. A lot of students are scared to venter there alone, recapping fake tales about pale ghosts and demons that are there to hunt them. Sheās not afraid of such stupidity.
āOkay,ā she shrugs casually, pausing in her rapid typing and closing her laptop. The student blinks at the quick gesture. āPay it in cash?ā
Heās dumbfounded; of course he is. He hadnāt anticipated his dumb proposition (which isnāt even real) to be met with such ease. He continues to blink, āBut you just said no.ā
She shrugs again, crossing her fingers over her laptop like a CEO waiting for a colleagueās destruction. The fist heās holding against his mouth is put down on the desk. He wipes his expression clear of his flabbergast. She doesnāt allow him to say anything, though. āIt depends on the proposition, really, and my capabilities in doing it. I can catch a mice trap in the presumptuous Dark Dungeons, and I will agree on it for ten thousand dollars. This is, knowing you, the only good offer youāll be willing to give. I donāt want to hear the rest, because I know the rest, and I refuse the rest beforehand.ā
āSo you know who I am?ā He sounds delightfully surprised. Itās the only thing he caught from her monologue, the fact she knows who he is despite only discovering about her recently.
She gives him a look as if heās an idiot. Then, she returns to her work and opens the laptop. His cheeks flush at that look, still surprised that sheās not even remotely affected by him. He finally gives his companion, a tall guy who casually slipped on the seat beside him and practically occupying the entire space with his large body, a helpless look; and his friend merely shrugs disinterestedly.
āHey,ā he changes tactics by knocking on her desk with his knuckles, his eyebrows slightly growing narrowed as he frowns.
The manās a little bit upturned by the mischievous twinkle that goes on like a bell on her eyes as she ignores him, a spark that would have gone unnoticed if he hadnāt been sitting close to her. But itās strange nevertheless to see her, a woman so poised, a woman full of confidence and empathy, show such molecular emotion. Mind blowing
āLook at me. Hey!ā
She looks up at him, the twinkle shifting into deep, rooted annoyance. āYes? Is there anything of significance that you want to tell aside offering a proposition to a complete stranger?ā
Heās dumbfounded yet again. āIs that a way to talk to someone? What a potty mouth you have! Do you use it to kiss people?ā
Sheās the one dumbfounded now, fooled at her own game of ignorance. āExcu.. excuse me! Potty mouth! Me? Iām a polite person, thank you very much. Iām just in tune with reciprocation at the moment.ā
He sounds extremely frustrated when he says, āWhat the fuck does that even mean?ā
The companion of the rotten boy clears his throat before she can retaliate, and she gives him her attention for the first time since he sat himself next to his friend. His face is long and droopy, lazy, and his eyes are squinted as if heās trying to make sense of her tiny figure sitting across. When he speaks, his voice is husky. āYah, donāt yell. Weāre in a library.ā
They glare at him, their eyes holding icicles. He huffs. āThe last time Iāve been here, the librarian kicked me out for knocking one of his shelves. If he knows that Iām here again, which he will by your loud voices, Iām going to be staked. I donāt know about you guys, but Iāve seen a lot of vampire movies. Staking seems really hurtful.ā
They shoot him disbelieved eyes. He puts a hand over his chest. āI have a sensitive heart. A wooden stake will make my delicate organ scar. Thatās not good on my resumĆ©.ā
The first guy gapes at his friend, whereas she shakes her head in disappointment of being a part of this conversation. She goes back to her work while poking her tongue on the insides of her cheek, trying to restrain her growing fury.
āWhat?ā The tall companion looks at his friend weirdly, āYou havenāt seen the resumĆ©s Iāve seen online. They have applications out of this world. What if my beautifully intricate heart is required? Donāt want it marred!ā
āWhy the fuck would anyone ask for an image of your heart, Yeol? What job even requires the internal lookout of your organs?ā His friend rebuts.
āHowād I know? Iām not logged in to alljobs.com!ā
āMaybe you should, so youāll be prepared to have a reasonable answer to your dumb shenanigans!ā
āWill you both just shut up!ā She snaps, smashing her laptop closed (again). They turn to her, blinking. āWhy the fuck youād even sit in front of a person you donāt know and have this conversation while theyāre listening?ā
They look scorned, cheeks going red. They regretfully look down at their laps, fiddling with their fingers.
āNow,ā she exhales from her nose angrily, resembling a red-faced dragon (she doesnāt actually blush, but the running fury thatās gobbling her up leaves her face looking like a swollen tomato). āWhat the fuck do you want?ā
The smaller man opens his mouth to say his demands once again, but she rudely raises an open palm up, squinting. āSpeak gently. And slowly. And politely.ā
He glares but complies. āI have something to ask of you, a proposition. Actually, youāre not a stranger, at least not as if now. I know who you are.ā
She quirks a sharp eyebrow up, unrelentingly and very judgmentally. Sheās not the type of person to be swayed over anything, definitely not over this man, too.
He rolls his eyes. āYouāre one of the smartest students in our batch, and I kinda have been going through a lot with one of my assignments, so this idiot here told me to ask you for help.ā He points to his companion, who salutes mockingly using two of his fingers. āItās about the aftermath of war, and the effects it leaves on the intermingled classes of eighteenth century China. Iām very bad at writing shit. I confuse my statements; I fail at rearranging my paragraphs; I suck at choosing intellectual perspectives; and I most definitely canāt be on the neutral side to the point of sounding extremely radical. Would you help me write my research? Itās worth a bit of my marks considering I didnāt take the midterm for, ahem, certain reasons,ā thereās a soft hue of red that glows in his cheeks, and feeling his blush, he scratches them with his long nails awkwardly.
āNo.ā The cute color doesnāt deter her at all, and she begins to collect her laptop and books to leave. Or, pretending to. She does not have any thought about leaving, not even when thereās a handsome stranger trying to invade her tranquil space. But, regardless of her wants, such gesture made the man nervous. He snaps his head up, eyes wide, and pushes himself to his feet quickly to stop her from leaving.
āWhy not?ā He begins to be angry. āIs this because you know who I am? Does my... Does our reputation precedes us?ā
She gives him a cooly leveled look. āI only give favors to friends. Youāre not a friend. Very simply. I couldnāt care less about your reputation, which does in fact precedes you. People tend to talk about things they donāt understand. The juiciest the gossip, the more people want to talk about it.ā She pauses a little, confusedly staring at them. āDonāt you guys know that? When you wear these clothes, pierce all parts of your body, flash all of your tattoos, and walk around intimidating people, they will talk badly about you. Huh, I thought you guys are smart enough to discover this much about the nature of people.ā
Whereas he looks startled out of his way with the sincerity in her words, Itās the companion who takes the time to speak. He asks her, his eyebrow raised. āWhyād you think weāre smart?ā
She smirks at him, and heās surprised that itās actually playful, not malicious. āItās only those that rebel the constant demands of society that have their heads teetered towards either intelligence, or insanity.ā She slings her bag on her shoulder, her face going back to its previous expressionless slate. āBye now.ā
She doesnāt leave. She merely just stands and watches them watching her. It takes the two university boys a second to understand the implications behind her words, and when they do, they groan. They stand up, albeit slowly, and the shorter one dares to shoot her a grumpy, malicious glare, before walking away. The taller one simply tilts his head downwards in a respectable nod before following his friend.
Once they leave, she smiles, and the curl of her lips makes her face radiant, a whole lot flowery than the actual blanket of monochromatic nothingness that usually sticks on her all the time. She sits back down on her seat, opens her laptop, and begins to type again.
-
Oh the long road. Oh the long road. She sighs in her head, her legs heavy and unbalanced, almost sending her to the ground with how weak they feel. After almost six hours in university, with three classes and breaks in between, sheās finally done with all the nonsense that she, daily, has to face. Actually, university hasnāt been on her mind before in high school when she was in her senior year for this exact reason. She is too lazy for something overloaded like university. But, if she is being honest with herself, she doesnāt see herself in any place besides university, especially if she wants to have a ādecentā job. So, she tries to succumb to the voice compelling her to move forward, and ignoring the one that tells her to fuck everything and flop on the ground, dead.
A sound calling her name stops her in her long, angry strides, and she turns to the back to see her friend, Sami, waving for her, smiling so preciously that actual stars appear on her eyes. Sheās not oblivious to the crowd gathering behind Sami, all males (and some females) staring at her with eyes twinkling with hearts. She reluctantly wave back, and Sami comes running towards her, beaming once sheās standing in front of her.
āYouāre heading home?ā Her friend asks.
She hums without a verbal consent. Her friend beams again.
āGreat!ā Sami loops their arms together. āLets go together, and while weāre on the way, buy me a cocktail.ā
āAlcohol this early? And why should I buy you one?ā She raises an eyebrow up in ridicule, even though she already knows the answer to her rather dumb question.
Sami rolls her eyes. āNo, an actual cocktail, with fruits and all. And you should buy me one because Iām your humble friend who asks nothing of you at all.ā
āYou ask for things all the time,ā she narrows her eyes, and points at Samiās earrings. āI bought you those earrings,ā she points at her bag. āAnd I bought you this bag. And those shoes. I might as well buy you a house to live in if Iām already this much husband material.ā
Sami grins, beaming, and her grip over her arm tightens. āItād be so great if my future husband actually pays for all of my things. Iāll be a pretty, studious, working housewife that do things for him and accommodate all of his precious needs. Aw, I miss him already.ā
āYou should be careful not to say this in front of another woman that isnāt me.ā
Sami blinks cluelessly. āWhy? I didnāt say anything infuriating, did I?ā
She pats her head sympathetically, her hand calloused despite the gentle, sardonic gesture. āNot at all. Not at all.ā
They walk out of the universityās large grounds with Sami the one doing most of the talking, the bouncing, and the gleeful intervals; her grip tight around her arm, and her soft laughter surrounding them whole. She wouldnāt say that she was entirely comfortable about the concept of having a friend, but it has been two years now since she knew Sami, and she began to understand that in order to enjoy something beautiful, you have to watch it burn first, whichās why she, despite not liking it, disposed herself of her antisocial behavior, and stuck around with Sami.
Upon the huge gates of the university, she catches sight of the two students who had interrupted her morning study with their obnoxious presence. Theyāre standing in front, one of them - the tall one - is leaning against the large beige wall beside the gates, and the nuisance - the one requesting - is crouching on the floor right beside him, a fake cigar made of paper in between his fingers. Theyāre already staring at her, anticipating her exit. When her eyes meet the dark ones of the crouching guy, he smirks, his pink lips thin and inviting. He puts the fake paper in his mouth, pretending to inhale, and then pulls it off to exhale loudly, his eyes suddenly half lidded. Heās staring at her. She stares back, then she narrows her eyes, ticking her chin to the side in a silent request for him to look away. His smirk widens, and he doesnāt look away; his eyes invading her soul to the point she feels something scratch at the surface of her skin, begging to be released.
She scoffs. And almost as if heās hearing her, he waggles his eyebrows teasingly. She blanches, disgusted, and her facial expression catches Samiās attention.
āWhoāre you looking at?ā Sami turns to follow her friendās eyes before she can look away, furrowing her eyes upon seeing the two boys. She turns to her friend curiously; nervously. āDo you... do you know them?ā
Sheās quick to shake her head, āNah, I donāt know them outside the rumors that I heard circulating about them. I think one of their names starts with a B? Or an H? Anyhow, I donāt know who they are.ā
āWhy are they looking at you?ā
She shrugs. āBeats me. Probably think Iām a visible, touchable time loop or something. Thatād be cool. Have you ever seen Doctor Strange?ā
Sami stares at her as if sheās an alien. āWhat on earth are you talking about?ā
She shakes her head. āNever mind. Letās quicken our pace. Maybe weāll lose them in the crowd.ā
As if hearing their words, the two boys jump to their feet (the one standing merely bouncing around) and they follow after them like two little creeps. They donāt say anything for a while, like announce their already large presence, and she ticks her head backwards with raised eyebrows, meeting their amused - yet frustrated - faces. She tilts her head, silently asking them about what the fuck theyāre doing, and the shorter one of the two shrugs, the taller one smirking a little, the cigarette roll that was wrapped around the otherās mouth now in his. She looks away.
Sami notices her friendās head going forward and backward, and turn around to give them a funny look, a little nervous for some reason. She looks back at her friend and pulls at her sleeve, a frozen smile on her face. āTheyāre following us.ā
āIf thereās an ice cube, large enough to have legs and is following me, and the world is so flabbergasted by itās appearance, but youāre only concerned about taking your way home without interruptions. Would something happen if I gave it attention? No, you know why?ā she leans closer to Sami and with her big, wide eyes, she whispers. āBecause itāll melt away.ā
Sami shakes her head in exasperation. Even after two years of being friends with her; sheās never getting used to her random thought processes. Either-way, Sami doesnāt feel entitled enough to say anything against that, and although she releases a little grumble from her chest in irritation at the skin contact, she doesnāt remove her arm away. Smiling, she leans her head on her shoulder.
āYah. You canāt just pretend we donāt exist.ā The shorter one says, or yells really.
His friend scoffs, and itās strangely shudder-inducing because of his low grating voice. āWeāll follow you home if destiny calls.ā
Sami lifts her head to peek at them, then quickly looks at her calm, astute friend. āAre you not going to answer?ā
āA bird could constantly peck on my window and I wouldnāt shoo it away. Iām too lazy.ā
Samiās eyes mellow down, and her lips smile. āBut thatās exactly what you do, sweetie. You canāt handle disturbances, especially when it affects your general surroundings.ā
āYouāre right. Iām going to kick their ass.ā She stops in her gait, turns around, and glares; Sami stopping next to her. The two university boys pause in their strides, blinking.
āQuestion, exactly why was I chosen among the high grades receiving bastards in our class?ā She raises her eyebrows up. āIs it because you think Iām easy? Or Iām a woman? Is it because you think Iām nice?ā She says nice as if itās a heinous word created for her personal offense.
The boys share a confused look. Then, the tall one clears his throat, readying himself for the paragraph heās about to spout. āIāve never once thought youāre easy, and neither have Baekhyun. Weāve seen the way you talked back to the teachers, and man, do you have a temper. Iām actually a bit shaky right now because Iām asking this favor of you. Iām not a misogynist, man. Whyād you make me something Iām not. love women. I love all wonen. Perhaps a little too much,ā Baekhyun, the short guy beside him, is nodding his head sadly, āIād have told Baekhyun to choose Dahyeon if I thought she was as responsible as you are. But the girlās a klutz. She ruined a paper of mine once. Wonāt let her do it again,ā he then tilts his head, his confused face getting graver. āIām sure as fuck youāre not kind, or nice. I wouldnāt have already been going through emotional trauma just by the thought of approaching you, yet, here we are.ā
āHere we are.ā Baekhyun spreads his arm with a surrendering look flashing on his handsome face.
Sami turns to her friend and analyzes the stone cold expression on her face. She hesitates, for a second, before she says. āThey do have a point. Youāve traumatized half of the population in this university.ā
āWe still have two more years for you to traumatize the rest.ā Baekhyun comments cheekily. When she shoots him a glare, he winks. Sheās a little surprised. She hadnāt met anyone who winked at her deadly stare-offs. People are terrified of her, not amused of her.
āHow many pages do you want your assignment to be? Mineās going to be a minimum of eight, considering itās only a meager homework, so Iāll try to shove your own pages between my breaks to save time.ā
Their eyes go wide. Baekhyun actually gulps, unprepared for the challenge. āYou write eight pages for an assignment worth ten marks?ā
She raises her eyebrows. āYouāre here begging for help for this stupid assignment, so I guess weāre both pulling up our shits, right?ā
He shuts up.
Itās the tall one that answers. āAny page number is fine. Take your pick.ā
She nods, āYouāll have five pages, then. I take breaks in between my classes. I have two-to-three classes for five days aside Saturdays and Tuesdays, so weāll write two pages every week until its due date in three weeksā time,ā she takes her phone and shoves it in the chest of the short guy. āGive me your number so I text you the hours Iām free on. I donāt give a shit if our schedules overlap. When I tell you to come, you come, with your laptop and all of your writing necessities with you. One mistake and youāre out, get it?ā
Baekhyun sweats, especially since her expression is deadly serious and her hand, which is still clutching her phone on his chest is cold, deadly so. He gulps anyway and nods. āThank you, really. Appreciate it. Is there anything I can do for you to repay the favor?ā
She smirks, and pulls her hand off of his chest after he accepts the phone. āA bad boy who knows how to say thank you? Thatās a new one. And keep the favor until after you deliver your assignment. Iām not sure youāll wanna give me any favors after Iām done with you. Say, are you willing to pay money?ā
He pales. āIām poor as fuck, maāam, expected of a university student, right? Please say yes.ā
She smirks again, amused of the panic in his eyes. āRelax, idiot. Just wanna check something.ā She turns to the tall one. Heās staring right back at her, eyes wide and brown hair fluffy. For a bit, sheās taken aback by the actual fact of how gorgeous he is. Wide, almond eyes, soft hair, tall girth like a skyscraper, and she fucking loves skyscrapers, the taller, the better. Heās wearing a weird mesh of jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket, but heās also wearing a sweater on top. He must be sweating in there. His wide eyes turn a little confused when she merely gapes at him, and she notices. She clears her throat, and rolls her eyes so the spectators donāt notice sheās a weird bitch.
āWhatās your name?ā She asks coldly. Thereās a strange warmth circulating her body, but of course, she ignores that.
āSorry?ā He splutters.
She lifts a sleek eyebrow up, holding herself from smirking widely. āYour name,ā she points at Baekhyun, whoās blinking down at her phone like itās a foreign industrial scam. āThis moronās Baekhyun. Kinda noticed you mention his name. Whatās your name? Iām a bit curious to know about the chaperoneās name, considering theyāre always so ignored and unappreciated in movies.ā
He looks a bit flustered, as if he hasnāt noticed he has been a chaperone all this time. He wipes the slight vulnerability that flashed earlier, twirls the paper stick in his mouth, and gives her a mock salute. āChanyeol, maāam, but donāt bother memorizing it. We wouldnāt be seeing each other enough for the need of that.ā
She doesnāt comment on his words even though sheās curious. She merely tells herself heās as weird as she is, probably a little arrogant, but of course not as her. No oneās as arrogant as her. She sits on the throne of arrogance. Her parents once thought she had narcissistic syndrome, those assholes, but dismissed it later on when she gave them enough evidence she wasnāt. She pays attention to Baekhyun, coughing to alert him of the actual fact he has been taking too much time typing gibberish on her phone, and not his phone number. She swears to God he probably failed to reach her contacts. He looked like a dumb loser up close like that, but she didnāt want to judge him so severely. A guy who winks at her instead of shit his pants must be a dumbass, but again, she doesnāt want to judge.
Baekhyun looks up from her phone upon her cough, smirks his annoyingly attractive smirk, and juggle the phone towards her (after locking it, for some reason) she tries catching her phone, and thankfully she succeeds. She glares, about to scold him about the degrading act of her precious gadget, when he all but announces.
āWeāll go see our own way now. Thank you for such precious moment. Perhaps weāll be able to create more while avoiding chopped heads, from your part, of course. May the grounds open up to present you with a fortunate gift,ā he does a whole theatrics of bowing, while simultaneously taking a step back, bumping into an unamused Chanyeol. āAdios, my lady.ā
He turns around to Chanyeol, who whispers something to him. They begin to walk away, and Baekhyun says something to the taller guy, in retaliation, which earns him an eye roll. Not taking this lightly, Baekhyun jumps - to reach the tall giant - so he can wrap his arm around his neck, and pulls him into a headlock. Chanyeol doesnāt fight. He lets himself be dragged like a deadweight doll, like heās used to such abuse, and she shakes her head. Chanyeol seemed cool with his indifference, but perhaps he isnāt the one in total control here.
Sami calls her softly, and forgetting her only friend for a bit - the two boys have extremely large presence - she turns to her. She offers a small smile, showing a dimple to her left side, and Sami beams.
āIām not even going to ask what the heck just happened,ā she offers her a hand, Sami; and she looks at it weirdly. āReady to go home?ā
Sighing, she accepts the hand, and agrees to be dragged home. Sami looks down at their hands; and thinks a little, her brows going all intersected. She shrugs, cooly intertwining their fingers together. She doesnāt even blink at the gesture, having been used to it. Out of character, the only thing on her mind at the moment is those two, strange university men.
-
Author Note:
So?
We havenāt got anything grounded yet. We still have a lot to cover! The personality of ChanBaek is beautiful, stick to see our dumb yet gorgeous boys.
Also, if you havenāt noticed already, our OC is freaking DANGEROUS! Chanbaek are in for a ride!













