You and I |work In Progress

The crisp November air carried the faint scent of roasted chestnuts from a nearby vendor as Joong stepped out of his family's private car. His chauffeur hurried to open the door, but Joong was already halfway out, impatient and preoccupied. The sprawling university courtyard buzzed with activity,students cramming for exams, lounging in clusters on the manicured lawns, or hurrying to their next classes.

But Joong's focus was singular. Dunk. He'd spent most of the night tossing and turning, his thoughts caught on the quiet yet unyielding resolve Dunk had displayed during their last exchange. Something about the other boy,his composure, his intelligence, or maybe the way he seemed utterly unimpressed by Joong's usual charm,was digging under Joong's skin.
"Good morning, Joong!" Joong turned to see Fourth jogging up to him, his casual attire a stark contrast to Joong's meticulously pressed blazer and polished loafers. "You're unusually cheerful," Joong remarked, falling into step with his younger brother. Fourth smirked. "Unlike you, some of us actually enjoy being on campus.

Besides, I heard a little something about your favorite person." Joong rolled his eyes. "If you're going to say Dunk—" "I am," Fourth interrupted with a grin. "Word is, he's tutoring a couple of students in the library this afternoon. You should drop by." Joong scoffed, adjusting his watch as they walked. "Why would I do that?" Fourth shrugged, his grin widening. "You know, to show him who's really the smartest person on campus. Or... maybe just because you can't stop thinking about him." Joong's steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but he quickly recovered, giving Fourth a sharp look. "You're insufferable." "True," Fourth agreed, unbothered. 

Across campus, Dunk was deep in conversation with his twin brothers, Gemini and Phuwin. The three of them sat in the shade of a large tree, Dunk with his notebook open on his lap, while Gemini and Phuwin worked their way through a stack of practice problems.
"You're sure this is right?" Gemini asked, holding up his sheet of calculations. "Yes," Dunk said without looking up. "You just need to simplify the last term." Phuwin leaned back against the tree trunk, squinting at his own paper. "How do you do this without even thinking? It's like your brain's a calculator." Dunk shrugged. "Practice." "Or obsession," Gemini teased, earning a light shove from Dunk. "Why do you guys even need my help? You're both just as capable." "Because you're the perfectionist," Phuwin replied, grinning. "And perfectionists make the best tutors." Before Dunk could respond, a shadow fell across their table.

All three looked up to see Joong standing there, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. "Dunk," Joong said simply. Dunk frowned, closing his notebook. "What do you want?" Joong gestured toward the library behind them. "I heard you're tutoring today. Thought I'd sit in." Gemini raised an eyebrow. "You? Need tutoring?" Joong smirked. "Hardly. I'm just curious to see what all the fuss is about." Dunk stood, slinging his bag over one shoulder. "I don't have time for games, Joong." "It's not a game," Joong replied, his tone calm but firm. "I'm genuinely interested." For a moment, Dunk studied him, as though trying to determine his true motive. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But if you're just here to waste time, don't bother." Joong followed him inside, leaving Gemini and Phuwin to exchange bewildered glances.

The library was quieter than usual, the soft rustle of pages and muted whispers creating an atmosphere of focus. Dunk led Joong to a small table near the back, where two first-year students were waiting nervously. "This is Joong," Dunk said as they sat down. "Ignore him if he gets distracting." Joong raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, opting instead to observe as Dunk began the session. Dunk's teaching style was straightforward and patient. He explained concepts clearly, breaking them down into manageable steps, and encouraged the students to ask questions. Joong found himself unexpectedly impressed. "Now, try this problem," Dunk said, sliding a piece of paper across the table. One of the students hesitated, glancing nervously at Joong. "What if I get it wrong?" "That's the point of learning," Dunk replied gently. "Mistakes are just part of the process."

Joong leaned back in his chair, watching as the student scribbled on the paper. He hated to admit it, but Dunk had a way of making people feel at ease,something Joong often struggled with, despite his charm. When the session ended, the students thanked Dunk profusely and hurried off, leaving the two of them alone. "You're good at this," Joong said after a moment. Dunk looked at him, surprised. "At what?" "Teaching. Helping people. You make it seem... easy." Dunk shrugged, gathering his things. "It's not about being easy. It's about trying." Joong frowned, uncharacteristically unsure of what to say next.

Later that evening, Joong found himself in the family dining room, seated between Pond and Fourth. Their parents were absent, as usual, leaving the three brothers to share a quiet meal. "How was your day?" Pond asked, his voice soft. Joong poked at his plate, his appetite unusually subdued. "Fine." Fourth grinned. "He spent the afternoon following Dunk around." Joong shot him a glare. "I didn't follow him. I observed." "Same thing," Fourth teased. Pond tilted his head, studying Joong thoughtfully. "What is it about him that bothers you so much?" Joong hesitated, his fork hovering over his plate. "He doesn't care who I am. He doesn't... need me to like him." "And that's a bad thing?" Pond asked gently. "It's... different," Joong admitted, his voice quieter than usual. Fourth chuckled. "Sounds like our princess is finally learning how to deal with people who don't fall at his feet." Joong sighed, setting his fork down. "You're both impossible."

Meanwhile, in the small apartment he shared with his brothers, Dunk sat at the kitchen table, lost in thought. Gemini and Phuwin were arguing over what movie to watch, their voices, a comforting background noise. "Hey, Dunk," Gemini said suddenly, leaning over the back of the couch. "Why was Joong at your tutoring session?" Dunk shrugged. "He said he was curious." Phuwin smirked. "And?
"And he sat there quietly for most of it," Dunk replied. Gemini grinned. "That's a first." Dunk didn't respond, but the memory of Joong's quiet attention lingered. For all his arrogance, there was something about Joong that Dunk couldn't quite ignore.

That night, as Joong lay in his bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling, he couldn't stop replaying the day's events in his mind. Dunk's patience, his quiet strength, the way he treated everyone with the same level of respect,it was all so foreign to Joong. For the first time, Joong wondered if there was more to their arranged marriage than just an inconvenience. Maybe, just maybe, Dunk was someone worth getting to know.