Han rushed forward, pushing him back with a hand on his chest.
"Are you f*ing crazy? Why did you do this to me?" he shouted.
The junior tried to stop him, but Han kept pushing.
"Please, can you listen to me first?" the junior pleaded.
"Why should I f*ing listen to your absurd excuses? You kissed me while I was sleeping, pervert!" Han retorted.
"Yes, I did," the junior admitted.
"See? You accepted it!" Han scoffed.
"No, please hear me out! I just slipped—"
Han cut him off. "Wow, great! And you landed on my lips?"
As they argued, Han's pushing forced the junior back against a locker. There was no escape.
"I'll sue you for harassment!" Han shouted, his voice suddenly shifting from angry to heartbroken. "How can you just kiss someone without their consent. This is sexual abuse."
The junior looked down into Han's eyes. With the height difference between them, his gaze was sharp. "Why are you acting like it's your first kiss? While it was my first kiss and I have wasted it on you."
Han's anger flared again. He grabbed the junior's collar and glared into his face.
But as he was about to speak, something about the junior's face caught his attention. It was strangely familiar, yet a little different. Suddenly, everything went still. They locked eyes for a brief, silent moment.
Then Han finally spoke. "By any chance… are you Chaewon from NEXON?"
Chaewon was shocked. "Wait, you know me? Are you a Nextie?"
Just then, Jun walked in.
"Hey, Han, leave him! What are you doing?" Jun ordered, moving quickly toward them.
Han refused to release Chaewon. Jun had to grab his hand and pull him away.
"Han, why are you treating your junior like this? Watch your attitude," Jun scolded.
Han didn't want Jun to know the truth. He shot Chaewon a sharp glare. "He was just getting on my nerves," he muttered.
Chaewon stayed quiet, expressionless.
Jun stepped closer to him, gently fixing his collar and brushing dust from his shoulder. "Are you alright? Do you want me to take you to the nursing room?"
"No, hyung, I'm fine," Chaewon said with a small smile.
Han was still standing there, his face twisted with anger, when Jun walked over and put an arm around his shoulder.
"Han," Jun said, "he's your junior. He's even in your line."
Han looked at Jun, then at Chaewon, shocked. Chaewon also looked surprised.
Wait… he's that senior? He's a monster, Chaewon thought.
Before he could process it, Han answered sarcastically, "So what? Should I adopt him?"
Pulling Han a little closer, Jun whispered, "Han, he's Chaewon—the idol you like. Aren't you a fan?"
Han glared at Chaewon with disgust.
"Yes, I liked him. But now I f*ing hate him!" Han spat. "I would never like someone perverted—someone who only knows how to assault people. And after what he did to me today, it's confirmed. He's disgusting. I hate him. Everyone hates him! I don't even know how he got admission here."
Chaewon's face fell, his glare softening as sorrow filled his eyes. The person he had hated all this time without even knowing who he really was — now he finally knew. And even though that person was treating him badly, Chaewon couldn't bring himself to hate him. Instead, he only began to hate himself even more.
"Really, Han?" Jun laughed. "You're kidding, right? You're literally wearing a custom jacket with his name on the back! And you wear it almost every day. How can you say you hate him?"
Han shot Jun a sharp look, as if to say that wasn't necessary.
Jun gave an awkward, apologetic smile.
Han ripped himself free, pulled off the jacket, and threw it on the ground. "It's just a sports jacket. Nothing special." He looked at Chaewon with burning eyes. "I hate you!"
Then he stormed toward the door, shoving his shoulder roughly into Chaewon's as he passed.
But suddenly, he stopped. Someone was holding his hand.
He turned back. Chaewon was gripping his hand, looking straight into his eyes.
Chaewon couldn't stand the idea of Han hating him. It felt as if his whole world would collapse if Han turned fully against him, and he couldn't understand why it hurt so much. People had insulted and rejected him before, but this felt different — deeper, more personal — and that scared him.
"I don't care if others hate me," Chaewon said firmly. "But I will make you love me again."
Han pulled away and left the room.
Jun stayed, watching Chaewon's sad expression. He guided him to a bench and handed him a water bottle.
Chaewon couldn't tolerate Han hating him. He felt like if he will hate him. His world will end.
Chaewon took it and said softly, "I'm fine."
Jun blinked. "I didn't even ask if you were fine…"
Chaewon noticed his confusion and smiled faintly. "Oh, I was saying it to myself."
Jun sat beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You know… when those rumors spread, Han was the only one who trusted you. Whenever people spoke badly about you, he was the first to shut them up. But when the news came that you were kicked out of the company, he broke. And since you didn't defend yourself, and disappeared. He started believing you really did assault that manager. I hope you understand him. He doesn't hate you—he's just angry."