Wanderline

The next morning, Minhyuk slung his guitar over his shoulder and headed to school with Sangwoo, Joonseok, and Taehyun. The group walked together, their banter filling the air as they neared their classroom. Laughter echoed down the hallway until they came to an abrupt halt right before stepping inside.

Their attention was drawn to a striking figure standing in the hallway—a man who seemed completely out of place in a school environment.

It was Mr. Choi, the CEO of Choi Enterprises, a company that was a major sponsor of the school and a well-known pillar of the community. He stood tall and imposing, dressed in a sleek black suit that fit him perfectly. His dark sunglasses added an air of mystery, and his confident demeanor was undeniable. His muscular frame and the effortless authority in his stride made him look more like a movie star than a businessman.

The hallway buzzed with murmurs. A group of girls nearby giggled, stealing glances at him, their cheeks flushing.

Minhyuk and his friends stood frozen, watching the man in silent awe.

"That's Mr. Choi, isn't it?" Taehyun whispered, nudging Sangwoo with his elbow. "The CEO of Choi Enterprises?"

Sangwoo nodded, his voice low. "Yeah, that's him. I heard he's one of the biggest donors to the school. Why is he here, though?"

Minhyuk tilted his head, squinting as if trying to confirm something. Then, with a sudden spark of recognition, he muttered, "I've seen him before."

Joonseok turned to Minhyuk, raising an eyebrow. "Where?"

"At the police station," Minhyuk said casually, his expression unreadable.

Joonseok's eyes widened in disbelief. "What were you doing at the police station? Don't tell me you got into trouble again!"

Minhyuk smirked, his mischievous side showing. "Relax. It wasn't about me. A few days ago, I caught Sunho bullying someone in our class. So, I… let's just say I made sure he won't be doing it again."

"Wait, you're telling me you fought Sunho?" Taehyun asked, his voice rising slightly. "Are you serious right now?"

Minhyuk nodded, his grin widening.

Sangwoo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable. You're such a troublemaker." Without warning, he smacked the back of Minhyuk's head. "Do you ever think before you act?"

Joonseok groaned, rolling his eyes. "You're the reason we can't have peaceful days. You're always stirring something up, punk."

Taehyun chuckled and joined in, lightly slapping the back of Minhyuk's head as well. "Honestly, do you ever stop?"

Minhyuk ducked, laughing as he rubbed the back of his head. "You guys are overreacting! I was just doing what needed to be done."

"Yeah, right," Sangwoo muttered, shaking his head as he stepped into the classroom, followed closely by Joonseok and Taehyun.

Left standing alone for a moment, Minhyuk glanced back toward the hallway. His gaze locked with Mr. Choi's for a fleeting second. The man's sharp, intense eyes seemed to pierce right through him, even behind the sunglasses. It wasn't just a casual glance—it felt deliberate, like Mr. Choi was sizing him up.

Minhyuk quickly lowered his head, a strange unease washing over him. His playful demeanor faltered for just a moment before he hurried into the classroom to join his friends.

Behind him, Mr. Choi continued walking, his steps measured and his presence commanding. The giggling girls parted to let him through, still whispering excitedly. Whatever reason he had for being at the school, one thing was clear: his visit wasn't ordinary.

During recess, the cafeteria was bustling with students chatting, eating, and laughing. Minhyuk sat with Taehyun, Joonseok, and Sangwoo at their usual spot, enjoying their meals. The atmosphere was light and carefree as the group shared jokes and stories from class.

But their peace was short-lived.

Sunho and his gang barged into the cafeteria, their presence instantly changing the mood. Conversations grew quieter as they approached Minhyuk's table, their eyes locked onto him like predators eyeing prey.

Minhyuk, as usual, seemed utterly unbothered. He casually took a bite of his food, not even glancing up at them. Taehyun, however, was quick to notice the tension. He frowned, putting down his chopsticks as Sunho loomed over their table.

"Hey," Sunho growled, his tone dripping with hostility. "You think you're tough, huh? What you did the other day—you embarrassed me."

Taehyun didn't miss a beat. With an annoyed sigh, he turned to Sunho and retorted, "Do you have no manners? Did no one teach you to respect people when they're eating?" His tone was sharp, almost scolding, as if Sunho were a misbehaving child.

Sunho's face twisted in irritation. "What did you just say to me?"

Joonseok stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He wasn't the tallest or the most intimidating, but the fire in his eyes made up for it. "You heard him," Joonseok said, his voice steady. "Back off, Sunho. Unless you want another lesson."

The cafeteria fell silent, all eyes turning to the confrontation. Some students whispered, while others watched with bated breath.

Sangwoo, ever the peacekeeper, quickly stepped between Joonseok and Sunho, raising his hands in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. "Hey, hey, calm down, guys. Let's not do this here. It's just recess."

Minhyuk, who had been quietly eating this entire time, finally looked up. He sighed, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood. His calm, nonchalant demeanor only seemed to irritate Sunho further.

"Are you done?" Minhyuk asked, his tone casual but laced with a subtle challenge.

Sunho's patience snapped. "That's it!" he shouted, lunging at Minhyuk.

Chaos erupted. Minhyuk moved quickly, dodging Sunho's first swing and retaliating with a shove that sent Sunho stumbling. Joonseok jumped in to back Minhyuk up, and Sunho's gang joined the fray. Taehyun tried to hold one of them back, while Sangwoo yelled for everyone to stop.

The fight escalated, with tables and chairs being knocked over. The cafeteria staff frantically called for teachers, and within minutes, the principal arrived, furious and ready to intervene.

In the Principal's Office,Minhyuk and Sunho sat side by side in front of the principal's desk. The principal, a strict but somewhat comical man with glasses that kept slipping down his nose, paced back and forth, scolding them.

"This is completely unacceptable! Fighting in the cafeteria? Do you think this is some kind of wrestling match? Huh?" He pointed at Minhyuk. "And you, Minhyuk. Why is it always you? I swear, you must have a secret subscription to trouble!"

Minhyuk tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Subscription? Is it monthly or yearly?"

The principal paused mid-rant, momentarily thrown off. "What—no! That's not the point!"

Sunho glared at Minhyuk, his fists clenched. "He started it!"

Minhyuk raised an eyebrow. "Me? I was just eating my lunch. You're the one who can't handle a little embarrassment."

Sunho's face turned red with anger, but before he could respond, the principal intervened. "Enough! Both of you, quiet!" He took a deep breath and continued, "Minhyuk, why is it so hard for you to stay out of trouble? You're like a magnet for chaos!"

Minhyuk leaned back in his chair, shrugging. "Maybe chaos likes me."

The principal rubbed his temples, clearly at a loss for words. "You're impossible."

Meanwhile, Sunho shot Minhyuk a glare so intense it could've set something on fire. But Minhyuk simply gave him a sly smile, as if daring him to try something again.

"Sunho," the principal said, turning to him. "You're no better. As a senior, you should set an example, not pick fights."

Sunho remained silent, his jaw clenched.

The principal sighed heavily. "Both of you will be cleaning the gym after school for a week. Maybe some manual labor will teach you to think before you act."

Minhyuk grinned. "Can I bring my guitar? Might make cleaning more fun."

The principal threw his hands in the air. "Out! Both of you, out!"

As they left the office, Minhyuk couldn't resist throwing one last comment over his shoulder. "Thanks for the life lesson, sir!"

Sunho trudged down the hallway, his shoulders tense. He didn't say a word, but the look he gave Minhyuk spoke volumes—frustration, anger, and a hint of defeat.

Minhyuk, on the other hand, walked away with his usual carefree attitude, whistling a tune as if nothing had happened.

Minhyuk walked back to class, slinging his guitar over his shoulder, his thoughts still replaying the scolding he had just received. He opened the door to his classroom, only to find that Joonseok, Taehyun, and Sangwoo were missing. Their seats were empty, and the atmosphere was unusually quiet.

"They must be practicing already," Minhyuk muttered to himself, quickly realizing he was running late. Without a second thought, he turned on his heels and dashed toward the band room.

As he hurried through the hallway, his mind focused on the song they needed to perfect for the upcoming festival, he suddenly collided with someone.

"Ah!"

Books and papers went flying as the impact caught him off guard. Minhyuk quickly steadied himself, his guitar bumping against his back. He looked down to see the person he had accidentally run into.

It was the same girl he had met the other day—the one with the soft smile and the piercing gaze that seemed to linger in his mind. She looked just as surprised as he did, her books scattered across the floor.

"Oh, it's you again," Minhyuk said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"You really need to watch where you're going," she replied, her tone mildly annoyed but not entirely harsh.

"Sorry, my bad," he said, crouching down to help pick up her books. He handed them back to her, their hands briefly brushing against each other. For a moment, they locked eyes. Minhyuk quickly averted his gaze and stood up.

"Uh, I gotta go," he said, pointing toward the direction of the band room. "I'm late for practice."

She nodded, watching him dash away. "Try not to run into anyone else," she called after him, a small smile playing on her lips.

Minhyuk burst into the band room, slightly out of breath. Joonseok, Taehyun, and Sangwoo were already there, setting up their instruments.

"You're late," Joonseok said, tuning his piano without looking up.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Minhyuk replied, slinging his guitar around and plugging it in.

Sangwoo looked up from adjusting his drum set. "Did you get into another fight on the way here?"

"No," Minhyuk replied, strumming a quick chord to test the sound. "But I did run into that girl from the other day."

Taehyun raised an eyebrow, pausing as he adjusted the mic stand. "The one you wouldn't stop talking about after the first time you met her?"

Minhyuk glared at him. "I didn't talk about her that much."

"You mentioned her at least five times," Sangwoo said with a smirk.

"Whatever," Minhyuk grumbled, shaking his head. "Let's just start practicing."

With that, the room filled with the sound of their instruments. Joonseok's piano notes danced in harmony with Minhyuk's guitar, Taehyun's bassline added depth, and Sangwoo's drumming tied everything together.

As they played through their first song, Minhyuk felt a renewed energy coursing through him. The music drowned out everything else—the scolding, the fight, even the fleeting moment with the girl in the hallway.

For now, it was just him, his band, and the rhythm of their shared passion.

That evening, as Minhyuk was walking home through a narrow alleyway, he noticed a group of shady-looking men huddled together. His instincts told him something was off, and upon closer observation, he realized they were in the middle of a drug deal.

"This is big," Minhyuk whispered to himself, quickly pulling out his phone to record the scene. But as he adjusted his angle, one of the men spotted him.

"Hey! That guy's recording us!" one of them shouted.

Minhyuk froze for a split second, then bolted down the alleyway as the men started chasing him. "Of course this happens to me!" he muttered while running.

The chase was almost comical. Minhyuk's bag jostled with every step, and his guitar strap kept slipping off his shoulder. He nearly tripped over a stray cat but managed to regain his balance. Behind him, the group of men shouted threats as they struggled to keep up.

After a few turns, Minhyuk found himself cornered in a dead-end alley. The men closed in on him, their expressions menacing. One of them stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.

"You think you're funny, huh? Hand over the phone," the man demanded.

Minhyuk, panting heavily, wiped his forehead and smirked. "Alright, alright. But if you want this video, you'll have to pay me first. How about we start with, I don't know, a hundred bucks?"

The men looked at each other, confused and irritated. "What kind of idiot are you?" one of them growled.

Before things could escalate further, a tall, muscular man appeared at the mouth of the alley. He wore a hoodie and a mask that covered the lower half of his face, his presence imposing.

"Leave this kid alone," the man said in a deep, calm voice.

The group turned toward him, momentarily startled. "Who the hell are you?" one of them asked.

Ignoring the question, the man walked straight up to Minhyuk and held out his hand. "Give me the phone," he ordered.

"What? No way!" Minhyuk protested. "I need this video as evidence—"

The man gave him a sharp look, cutting him off. Reluctantly, Minhyuk handed over the phone. The man quickly navigated to the gallery and deleted the video right in front of the group.

"There. It's gone," the man said, his voice steady. Then he turned to the group. "This ends here. If any of you even think about threatening him again, I'll make sure you regret it."

The men hesitated, clearly intimidated by the stranger's size and confidence. After a tense moment, they backed off and disappeared down the alley.

Minhyuk, now furious, stomped his foot. "What the heck, man? I had them right where I wanted them! You just ruined everything!"

The man turned to Minhyuk, his eyes narrowing. "You're reckless. If you don't want trouble, don't go looking for it."

"Trouble finds me, okay?" Minhyuk retorted, crossing his arms. "And who even are you? Batman?"

The man didn't respond. He simply pulled his hood further over his head and walked away, disappearing into the night.

Minhyuk stared after him, muttering to himself. "Great. Just great. Now I'm a broke, video-less hero-wannabe. And I didn't even get his name."

Shaking his head, Minhyuk adjusted his guitar strap and started walking home, grumbling about how nothing ever went according to plan.

That evening, during dinner, Minhyuk sat at the table with his uncle and aunt. The aroma of freshly cooked stew filled the air, but Minhyuk's mind was still preoccupied with the alleyway incident.

"Something crazy happened today," Minhyuk said, breaking the silence as he poked at his rice.

His aunt glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What now?"

"I saw some guys dealing drugs," Minhyuk began, his voice almost casual. "So, I tried to record them, but—"

"You what?!" his aunt interrupted, her chopsticks clattering onto her plate. "Minhyuk, how many times do I have to tell you to stop meddling in dangerous things? What if they hurt you?!"

Minhyuk waved his hand dismissively. "Relax, I was fine. Some weird guy in a hoodie showed up and saved me."

His aunt's eyes widened. "This is not something to joke about! Do you think this is a game?" She leaned closer, her tone turning stern. "Your father isn't here, Minhyuk. We're the ones responsible for you now. Do you have any idea how worried I'd be if something happened to you? You're supposed to focus on school, not play hero in the streets!"

Minhyuk's uncle, who had been silently sipping his soup, let out a long sigh but said nothing. The tension in the room was palpable.

Minhyuk looked down at his bowl, stirring his rice with his spoon. After a moment, he muttered, "I wasn't trying to cause trouble… I just thought I could help."

His aunt softened slightly but still looked concerned. "Helping doesn't mean putting yourself in danger. Promise me you'll stay out of this kind of trouble from now on."

There was a pause before Minhyuk finally mumbled, "I'll try."

His uncle finally spoke, his voice low but firm. "Minhyuk, your aunt's right. Life's not a movie where you can just act without thinking. You're smart, but sometimes you need to think things through before jumping in."

Minhyuk sighed, his rebellious streak kicking in. "I get it, okay? No more trouble. Can we just eat now?"

His aunt shook her head but didn't push further. The family returned to their meal, though the atmosphere remained a bit tense.

Inwardly, Minhyuk couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and guilt. He wasn't trying to cause problems; he just didn't like standing by when something wrong was happening. But as he glanced at his aunt and uncle, he realized they genuinely cared about him—even if their ways of showing it sometimes felt stifling.