Novocaine

Chapter 7: Stereotypical Badboy

high school.

A building filled with hormonal teenagers all still suffering through their years of puberty as their skin is tackled with acne and their bodies undergo changes left and right that will either be a pain or a blessing.

Jeongguk was one of the lucky ones. Although he was no stranger to the occasional pimple or the heavy amount of sweating he endured on warm days, it all didn't really matter, because as long as you're blessed with a face as good-looking as a blemish, people don't really pay attention to the small blemish on your skin

Being labeled as the 'hot funny badboy' is basically being labeled as the best chick magnet of the entire student body.

Jeongguk was honored with the title at his school.

Everyone's mouths watered at the sight of the teen's bulging and well-built muscles as he strode through the hallways. Hands screamed in his front pockets with a bored expression on his face that screamed I-don't-give-two-f***s. It is slung over one of his shoulders that only carries his computer and nothing else because, of course, he is too cool to be carrying his school books around. Not to mention the way he hung with his friends outside at the back of the building to smoke during the breaks, and sometimes even during class. How he would ignore his teachers and sit on his chair with his feet propped up against his table, how he'd sleep through lectures and talk back to any adult that would try to get authority over him.

Everyone at school knew who Jeongguk was, and the chances were high that he would have no idea who he was, and he would not care.

So it came as a complete shock to see Jeon jeongguk being escorted to class, a much taller and more sophisticated male following behind him with a palm spread across jeongguk's smaller lower back. Of course, no one missed how jeongguk was scowling the whole time and looked like he was two seconds away from turning around and punching the older man square in the face, but for some unknown reason, the teen just gritted his teeth together and let the male do whatever he pleased.

Boys and girls swooned as they hungrily eyed Jeongguk's company, everyone seeing the epitome of their dream man walking by.

Taehyung guided Jeongguk all the way to his classroom until he finally lowered his hand.

"I don't want to hear a single complaint about your behavior today, you understand?" Taehyung's eyes bore into Jeongguk's own pools of onyx, asserting his power over the younger as his orbs practically swallowed his figure whole.

Jeongguk meekly nodded, gulping down a stuck lump in his throat as it ran dry. But Taehyung wasn't satisfied with the non-verbal response.

"I said," the older person's voice dropped, turning into a low whisper that hissed through his teeth. It made Jeongguk's knees almost buckle as his mind flashed at what had happened the day before, how long he had been restrained and how horrible the treatment was. "Do you understand?" the tone was more demanding, words drooled and slicked with dominance as they slipped from taehyung's set of thick lips.

"Yeah– i m-mean... ye-yes h-hyung." jeongguk dropped his head in utter embarrassment, knowing that a few students that passed by heard him. He hadn't used an honorific in god knows how long (in public).

On the other hand, Taehyung was feeling a huge wave of satisfaction upon seeing the boy behaving much better than the first time they'd met. Although he was not near what Taehyung wanted him to be, it was still a big improvement.

Baby steps, baby steps. Taehyung ruffled the teen's hair, smiling fondly– which was very obviously fake to Jeongguk but looked very real to everyone else– down at the boy.

"Okay then, have a good day. I'll pick you up later." after Jeongguk gave another verbal response, Taehyung walked away and left the building, leaving Jeongguk to face the absolute mind-blown expressions of his classmates all on his own. Because who the hell has ever seen Jeon Jeongguk use an honorific? Or even nod his head– genuinely? Or just NOT BE A COMPLETE ASSHOLE?!

no one.

So even his teacher was standing there, mouth-agape and wide-eyed as Jeongguk nervously and shamefully shuffled his way to his seat.

His cheeks were burning. Never had he ever felt so humiliated. It didn't help that he was painfully aware of his reputation, which he normally didn't really care about, but for some reason, all this staring and whispering was getting to him.

He finally reached his spot, shrugging off his bag and letting it land on the floor with a loud thud as all the books clattered against the floor. You see, Taehyung had forced the younger person to pack everything required at school. Jeongguk realized his mistake when everyone shifted their gaze to his stuffed backpack– which was never full and usually was as light as a feather.

Jeongguk was ferociously sweating. He knew to himself how strange this was, how out of character it was for him, and he hated how everyone else noticed it too.

He took his seat, trying to seem cool even though he could feel small droplets of his nerves forming on the surface of his forehead underneath his thick raven locks. Thank god his hair covered anything suspicious, and he could hold onto his dignity a little longer. But slowly the after-effects of taehyung were wearing off, and Jeongguk's building anxiety was completely crushed by the impending rage that replaced it.

He slowly transformed into a very dangerous ticking time bomb.

And– unfortunately for the guy– it was his seatmate who set him off.

"You, jeon. What's wrong with ya?" the boy next to Jeongguk asks. They were Travis and Jeongguk, and they were actually considered friends. Both hang with the same group and smoke together. But that's about it, really. Jeongguk doesn't know if he actually has any real friends. "Why ya being all p***y n' s**t?"

Jeonggu's fists clenched tightly, so his nails dug into his palms, he cracked his neck to the side before moving to face his friend.

"How 'bout how to beat your face, and then we see who's more p***y?" the younger quirked up an eyebrow, challenging the boy next to him. Travis nervously just cleared his throat and muttered a 'nevermind.' People knew not to mess with Jeongguk, he'd have their face plowed into the concrete floor in seconds.

Having enough of everyone's eyes fixated on him, the raven-head made sure to remind everyone who they were messing with.

"What the f**k all of you staring at me for?" he stood up from his chair, banging his palms against the table while eyeing the room menacingly. "Better turn the f**k around if ya know what's good for ya."heads quickly whipped back around, turning to face the teacher at the front.

"Mr Jeon, do I have to remind you about using profanity here–?" the teacher tried speaking. How had she not given up yet on trying to tame the badboy? Her attempts were always futile, since either Jeongguk cut her off by flipping her off with his middle finger or by just raising his palm to silence her and then continuing to roast the f**k out of her, making the whole class rumble with laughter.

But this time Jeongguk didn't have the energy to conjure up some sort of joke, so he simply told the teacher to "shut the f**k up." and that was that. He laid down his head and buried his face between his arms, hoping to squeeze in a nap during this class.

It was less than 10 minutes and somehow Jeongguk had already forgotten what Taehyung had told him before he left.

Boy, was he in trouble?