Soulmate

Invincible

CHAPTER 1:

The scorching morning sun beat down on the sprawling grounds of Elite University, reflecting off the massive glass facades of the engineering buildings. The central plaza was a chaotic sea of white and black-hundreds of students rushing toward their morning lectures, clad in the university's official uniform. For most, it was just the start of another standard semester of heavy credit loads, rushed iced americanos, and meaningless campus gossip.
​But for Por, the university felt less like a place of higher education and more like a crowded room where he was entirely invisible.
​He moved through the crowded corridors of the Faculty of Engineering like a ghost, his shoulders slightly hunched, his eyes fixed firmly on the worn straps of his backpack. If I don't look at anyone, no one will look at me. That was the rule he lived by. After finally managing to transfer out of the Faculty of Science to get away from his past, he had hoped for a fresh start. Over the years, he had mastered the art of shrinking into the background, blending so seamlessly into the campus scenery that people often forgot he was even standing there. It was safer that way.
​He quietly slipped into the tiered lecture hall, bypassing the rows of social groups and choosing a lone desk tucked far into the back corner-as far away from the front podium and the center of attention as humanly possible. He pulled his tablet out, staring blankly at the digital syllabus.
​Then, the atmosphere in the lecture hall shifted. It always did when Teetee arrived.
​Even from the back corner, Por didn't need to look up to know he had walked in. The sudden cascade of giggles, the shifting of chairs, and the immediate hum of excited whispers gave it away. Teetee was a magnet. As the Faculty's top engineering student and a well-known campus figure, he possessed the kind of effortless charm that made people gravitate toward him like moths to a flame. He clearly liked the attention-anyone could see that-but he handled his popularity with a practiced, easygoing grace.
​Right now, a small cluster of girls had already blocked the front aisle, hovering around Teetee's desk with their advanced engineering mathematics modules clutched tightly against their chests.
​"Teetee, we're really stuck on this advanced calculation topic," one of them pleaded, her voice practically dripping with artificial helplessness. "Could you please explain it to us? We've been trying to figure it out since yesterday."
​Teetee offered a polite, blinding smile, leaning forward over his desk. "Me? I'm just helping out with this formula, what's it to you?" He pulled the worksheet closer, his fingers casually running through his hair, lifting it slightly from his forehead in a habit that drove his onlookers crazy. "Ah, look, you just missed a step in the formula derivation here. See? If you calculate this part first..."
​A few feet away, Patji sat with his arms crossed, watching the entire display with a mixture of amusement and sheer disbelief. He knew his best friend was genuinely brilliant, but he also knew the girls hadn't come over for a peer-tutoring session. They just wanted an excuse to breathe the same air.
​Patji sighed loudly, pushing himself out of his chair and sauntering over. "Hey, Teetee, what are you doing there?" He leaned against the desk with a smirk. "Just wondering why you've suddenly decided to do something that's totally against the school rules, huh?"
​The girls giggled nervously, exchanging glances.
​Teetee rolled his eyes playfully at Patji. "Do you want a good kick?"
​"Sorry, sorry," Patji laughed, totally unfazed by the threat.
​Teetee turned back to the problem, muttering under his breath, "Whatever. Isn't it hot in here?" He lifted his hair back from his forehead once more.
​"Woah..." one of the girls whispered, practically swooning at the casual movement.
​Patji decided it was time to play savior before the crowd grew any larger. "Well, girls, I think you should all head back to your seats now. We actually need to talk about something important."
​The girls deflated instantly, murmuring a collective, disappointed "Okay," before dragging their feet back to their own rows, whispering to each other about how attractive both of them looked.
​As soon as they were out of earshot, Patji dropped into a chair across from Teetee, looking thoroughly amused. "Do they come here to actually learn, or just to stare at us?"
​"What?" Teetee asked, blinking innocently.
​"What?! You asked them to leave because you needed to talk to me, so let's hear it," Teetee countered, a smug grin forming on his face.
​"Well, I was kidding, otherwise they would never leave you alone," Patji chuckled, leaning back. "Hey, let's get focused. Don't forget you are the faculty president, hm?" He stood up, teasingly running off toward his seat.
​"Huh..." Teetee murmured, shaking his head at his friend's antics.
​Sitting a few rows away, Ghlai pulled a chair out and slumped into the row next to Teetee, tossing her tote bag onto the desk. Ghlai was technically a student in the Faculty of Science, but she routinely ditched her own classes to come hang out and sleep in the Engineering building because her best friends were here.
​"Ugh, you guys," she sighed heavily.
​Teetee looked over, slightly surprised. "Oh, what are you doing here?"
​"I'm just gonna sit here while you guys continue your class," Ghlai mumbled, pulling out a pair of wireless earphones.
​Patji, who had just walked back over, frowned. "But you're not even enrolled in this class, right?"
​"I don't want to take Mr. Choi's class. It's a nightmare," Ghlai replied flatly. She slipped her earphones back in, offering a lazy wave. "Bye~"
​Teetee merely smirked, turning back to his tablet.
​But the lighthearted energy in the room didn't last. From the dark, quiet corner where Por sat, the shadows suddenly felt violent.
​Before Por could even register the movement, a rough hand clamped down onto the collar of his white university shirt, dragging him backward out of his seat. His breath hitched in his throat, a cold spike of panic piercing through his chest.
​"Yah, are you ignoring us, oh?"
​It was Pete, grabbing him roughly. And right behind him stood Ryujin, his face twisted into a cruel, mocking sneer. They shoved Por hard toward the back lockers, the sharp clatter echoing dully through the corner of the room.
​"You've got a lot of guts to transfer here, huh?" Ryujin hissed, stepping directly into Por's personal space. "Yah, bring us the money tomorrow, okay?" Without warning, he delivered a sharp, humiliating slap across Por's cheek.
​Por didn't fight back. He never did. He just stood there, staring blankly ahead, his eyes completely hollow.
​"Oh, look, he is staring," Pete laughed, nudging Ryujin.
​The lack of reaction only infuriated Ryujin more. He reached out, his fingers wrapping tightly around Por's throat, choking him against the lockers. "Don't you dare stare at me like that, you piece of shit. No one even knows you exist. Even if you die right here, no one is going to care."
​"Yah, Ryujin, leave him. The teacher is coming," Pete suddenly called out, checking the door nervously.
​Ryujin released his grip, letting Por stagger backward, breathless and trembling. "Consider yourself lucky," Ryujin sneered as the two walked away.
​Around the lecture hall, a few students whispered, keeping their voices low. "Look, they're doing it again..."
​Patji, witnessing the tail end of the commotion from across the room, frowned deeply. "Who are those guys?"
​Teetee looked over toward the corner, his brow furrowing tightly. A strange, inexplicable tightness suddenly squeezed his chest. "I don't know. I've never seen them around before."
​Ghlai pulled out one of her earphones, glancing back at Por with a sad, heavy sigh. "Well, he was my classmate back in Science. He transferred because he faced the worst bullying over there... but unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be the exact same story here. Poor guy."
​Teetee didn't reply. He just kept staring at Por, a heavy, unsettling feeling settling deep in his gut.
​The heavy doors of the lecture hall swung open, and the professor marched in, instantly silencing the room. "Alright, let's start the class. First of all, we have a transfer student joining us today. This is Por. He changed his major and became a part of our class now." The professor patted his shoulder gently. "Say hello to everyone. It's okay."
​Por swallowed hard, his throat still burning from Ryujin's grip. He stepped forward into the harsh light of the lecture hall, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "Hello... I am Por."
​The professor nodded, scanning the tiered rows for an open seat. "Teetee, as the president, your duty is to look after him."
​Teetee let out a surprised, exhausted sigh. "Me?"
​"Yup, your grades are excellent, so help him catch up. Por, go and sit over there."
​Por kept his head down, walking with stiff, hesitant steps toward the empty desk right beside Ghlai, which placed him in the row adjacent to Teetee.
​As the professor turned to start the lesson, Ghlai leaned over. "Oh, hey, Por. Do you recognize me?"
​Por turned his head slightly, his eyes wide and blank. "Pardon...?"
​Patji, watching from a desk away, let out a soft smirk. "I guess you're not as famous as you think, Ghlai."