Falling For The Nerd

sharing proximity

Monday morning settled over the school with its usual hum-lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking across the hallway tiles, chatter spilling from every corner. Jisung sat slouched at a table near the windows, a half-open notebook in front of him. His pen twirled aimlessly between his fingers.
Then a sudden drop of a backpack onto the chair beside him broke his haze. Felix slid into the seat, grinning like the weekend hadn't ended at all,Jisung was relieved not to share a class with Minho that morning. He knew he'd have to face the consequences of ignoring him all weekend sooner or later, but at least not right now.

"Yo, Ji, guess what I just did?" Felix's voice snapped him out of his fog. That grin plastered across his face was dangerous.

Jisung's pen paused mid-stroke. He glanced up warily. "Do I even wanna know?"

Felix leaned closer, elbows braced on the desk, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Remember when you told me you skipped tutoring this Friday?"

Jisung's stomach dropped. His chair creaked as he shifted upright, alarm flashing across his face. "Felix!! What did you do again?" His voice pitched higher, panic bleeding through as his fingers tightened around the pen.

Felix puffed himself up, clearly proud. "I went to Mr. Lee's office and told him you didn't have tutoring on Friday."

Jisung felt his pulse skyrocket. Heat crept up his neck as the words hit him. "Wait, what?? Please tell me this is a joke." His throat constricted, every syllable heavy. Felix meant well-he always did-but he had no idea what kind of mess he'd just thrown him into.

"Thank me later, Sungie," Felix said with a wink, nudging him like it was all a game. "Our plan is working perfectly."

Jisung went completely still. His breath caught, chest refusing to rise.

Then the intercom crackled, sharp and loud, slicing through the chatter of the room.

"LEE MINHO, YOU'RE ASKED TO THE PRINCIPAl OFFICE NOW."

The intercom clicked off, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Jisung's whole body went rigid. His pulse roared in his ears, drowning out the buzz of whispers around the room. Before Felix could even process what was happening, Jisung snapped his notebook shut and shot to his feet, his chair screeching across the floor.

"Ji-wait, what are you-?" Felix called after him, confusion etched all over his face.

But Jisung didn't look back. He yanked the classroom door open and bolted into the hallway, sneakers pounding against the tiles. The sound echoed through the corridor as he sprinted past startled students, his breath coming fast, his chest tight. He didn't slow down a second
______
Minho stepped into his father's office, fingers twisting nervously together. His eyes dropped to the floor, tracing the carpet as if it could somehow shield him. Deep down, he knew what was coming-but every time he walked in, a small, foolish hope flickered: maybe if he stayed calm, obeyed, didn't resist, his father would feel pity and let him go. Even after years of punishment, part of him still clung to the idea that his father might love him, that one day the anger would stop. But the moment he crossed the threshold, the weight in the room pressed down hard, and he knew-this day wasn't today

"Y-you wanted to see me?" His voice trembled, barely audible, and his fingers twisted together tighter as he tried to steady himself.

"I heard you skipped tutoring again?" His father's eyes were sharp, unforgiving.

"No, Dad, I-I didn't. I went... it's Jisung, he-" Minho stammered, trying to explain, shoulders shrinking, trying to make himself small.

A sharp, vicious slap cracked across his cheek before he could finish. His head jerked violently to the side, lips parting in a pained gasp. Heat and sting burned across his skin as a hot tear slipped down, and his fingers flew to rub the cheek where the blow landed.