was it worth it?

Three days have passed since San had an encounter with Wooyoung's friends. He is currently at the comfort room, staring himself in the mirror. The man opened the faucet and scooped a right amount of water; he then buried his face into his palms.

"Fuck Calculus," He scowled, water droplets flowing down his face. His hair was sticking in his forehead; he just realized that it was already long. But is it really Calculus that stresses him? San fished out his handkerchief from the pocket of his jacket and wiped his face.

He sighed heavily, and the same scenario had played in his mind. The scenario where the lady was inches close to Wooyoung's face. "Fucking hell," he thought, folding his handkerchief, and putting it back to his pocket.

Sure, it's been three days since then, but he cannot stop thinking about it. There were some questions in his mind that never left. "Are they really that close?", "Is it necessary to do that?", "Is that normal for friends?"

Questions kept flooding his mind to the point where he cannot comprehend other things anymore. It bothers him. His hands curled in fists, looked at the mirror once again, and closed his eyes.

How can he even take Calculus test today, when in fact, all he did was to think and replay the scenario of Wooyoung and his 'close' friend. All he did was to ask questions to himself—which was never answered—while laying down his bed. He sat at the library, completely unaware of what he was even reading. He was not absorbing all the formulas and definitions that is in his notes.

"This is so bothersome," San hissed, unmoving, "Why can't you leave my brain?!" He yelled, his hands already in his hair. He was pulling his hairs out. The black-haired couldn't focus anymore.

San breathes in and out, trying to shrug off the memory slowly. He gripped tight to his bag and left the comfort room. Who knew that such friend would have an effect to him?

"Why am I even like this?" He thought, walking down the hallway. And there, he started contemplating where all this unusual feeling is rooting from. Is it from friendship? Or something else? San, once again, questioned himself.

He walked to his Calculus class, frustrated. Oh, how he wishes heavens would do something to stop the test or just postpone it. His mind couldn't handle Math, what more when something bothers him? He heaved a heavy sigh, at this point, he'll just pray that the test will be easy.

"Are you okay?" Asked a classmate who was sitting beside him. San smiled, "Yes." He answered, smiling at his classmate. The other just nodded in acknowledgement and continued reading their notes.

He squinted his eyes and breathed out. San tried to calm himself, instead of letting the fog take over his mind, he decided to get his Calculus textbook and opened the pages. Just as he was going to focus, he realized that something was wrong.

"Oh, for fuck's sake! Can't this day be any worse?" He scowled, wanting to throw out the book somewhere. Again, he breathes out, loudly. He got the wrong edition of the textbook, instead, he brought the one that his mother used in her 4th year.

He wanted to shout, pull his hair out, jump, and throw the book somewhere else.

"Hi, Yeji!" San called, his voice sweet, "Hi, San! What's up?" She asked. The man sheepishly smiled, "Is it okay to borrow your notes? I brought the wrong Calculus textbook," San requested, his voice kind of gentle, so it doesn't sound like he was forcing Yeji, "If you don't mind me borrowing it." He added. Yeji just giggled and handed him his notes.

She knows San from her Biochemistry class because he stands out the most. Not because he's noisy, but because he was often praised by their professor. The black-haired man passes his activities on time, works well and clean, answers in recitation, and sometimes volunteer as a group leader. Yeji adores the man, which is known to Ryujin, she aspires to be like him.

"Thanks!" San smiled, earning a nod from Yeji. He started reading and memorizing the formula and definitions, though he struggles visibly. He knows that he, San, isn't an academically inclined man, unlike Wooyoung who is a consistent honor student since pre-school.

Minutes later, Wooyoung entered the room, with a woman tailing him. Not a rare occurrence in their university. He is not just known to make pranks but is also a smart guy who tutor students who struggles in Mathematics and Science subjects.

Before Wooyoung could seat behind San, there was a brief moment that their eyes met. San was the first one to look away, his eyes went back to Yeji's note to review more.

"Youngie! Come on! Review me please!" The woman pleaded, whining like a girlfriend to her boyfriend when she didn't get what she want. Wooyoung 'tsked', rolling his eyes. His high-pitched whining is busting through his eardrums, and he hates it.

Wooyoung sighed, "I already gave you exercises to work with, that alone should be sufficient. Stop bothering me." He nagged, annoyed. Well, he placed an effort to make those questions, and she should've just study those, plus there was an answer key to base on.

Something raged inside San as he heard this. So Wooyoung gives equal effort to all? Were they together yesterday? Questions lingered in San's mind; they kept running as the lady whined more. He had his head hung low, not caring how people would perceive him.

"Shut up, shut up," His head screams, "Shut up, shut up," Those words replayed in his mind as the woman continued on whining, almost as if the woman's voice is embedded in his mind. Wooyoung's words were plastered in his mind, replaying like a broken song. "Shut up, shut up!" He screamed.

12 minutes later, Mr. Min arrived with thick papers wrapped around by his arms.

After the test, San left without looking back, which confused Wooyoung. Usually, San would come up to him and ask him what formula he used or the definition of this or that. Instead, he was met with cold shoulder.

"That's... unusual..." Wooyoung thought, dejected. He felt like San was distancing himself. Did he do something wrong? He recalls, but he did nothing at all. He is now baffled; it's like San transformed differently.

The woman earlier started to complain again, "Ah! The exam is so hard!" She complained, "I told you, Youngie! You should've helped me review!" She added, snaking his arms around Wooyoung's right arm. The latter immediately pulled away, annoyed.

He looked at him, "You should've studied what I gave you," He answered, annoyed, "There was an answer sheet with it." He added, placing his materials in his bag.

Wooyoung fetched his bag and runs to follow the other, to talk about it. He doesn't understand, why is San suddenly distancing himself? He sprinted through the hallway, not caring what happens to him as he placed all his power ins his legs to run.

"Why is he like this? Is he scared of me? Why can't he tell me about it?" He thought, sweat trickling down his forehead, "Does he not want to be my friend anymore?" His thoughts compile in his mind.

As he reached the back exit of the building, he saw San, unconscious and is held by Hongjoong and Seonghwa. His eyes widened in shock, his legs started to feel weak, not because of running but because of what he is witnessing right now.

The elder's face was full of bruises, his blouse, jacket, and beige trousers were covered in dirt. His materials scattered around, no one helping Hongjoong and Seonghwa to take care of San.

Wooyoung dashed towards the three, he immediately picked up San's books, papers, and pens. He wiped every single of them and carefully putting in San's bag quickly. He, then, followed Hongjooong and Seonghwa who was headed to clinic.

"Hyung! What happened?" Wooyoung asked, panicking, but the rage inside him ignites as he looked at San. Seonghwa shakes his head, "Some Year 3 assholes picked on him because San bumped into them," The elder replied, whilst carrying San in bridal style. Hongjoong, on the other hand, is making a report to the principal.

Wooyoung's eyes flamed, "Hongjoong-hyung, who are they?" He asked, his voice low. The brunette looked at him, "Minho, Suhyeok, and Donghyun from Year 3, section 3303." He replied, then continuing his report.

They finally reached the clinic; San was immediately laid down on the bed. The nurse quickly took care of his bruises. She asked several questions regarding the event and was answered by Seonghwa.

"Thank you, hyungs," Wooyoung spoke, his eyes screaming violence, but remained composed. Seonghwa smiled, "I know what you're plotting. Don't overdo it," He stated, surprising the younger. Hongjoong giggled, he knew that Wooyoung wasn't expecting it from them.

"Bullying is overlooked in this university, so I want you to handle it the way you like it," Seonghwa stated, his voice stern, "However, don't do too much. We will still report this." He added, smiling at the younger. Wooyoung smiled back, earning an assuring nod from both the elders.

Later on, Seonghwa and Hongjoong left to finish the report to be passed the day after tomorrow, so the younger can plot and execute his plan.

"Please wake up, Sannie," He called, sitting beside the elder who was still unconscious. Though the nurse told him that the bruises weren't severe and he'll wake up soon, he is still worried. What will San think when he wakes up? That the university he once thought was now a safe place for him?

His heart aches, at the same time, he is fuming mad. No, he will overdo what he will going to do. Seeing San in this state felt like multiple daggers are being thrown at him. So, he'll make sure that those men will suffer the way San and him suffered.

"They will pay. I'll make them pay," Wooyoung spoke, his voice deep with hint of anger. They do not want to mess with San. He had no other plan but to resort to violence. They can punch Wooyoung all they want, and he would not complain, because he knew that he is a person who did several things to them in the past.

The younger looked at the unconscious San, "They will pay, okay? I'm sorry if I had to do this," He muttered, caressing San's hair, "I won't do anything like this next time, because I will protect you from the dirt of this world. I promise." He added, his eyes not leaving San's face.

-

a/n: i live for protective wooyoung