Chapter Text
Loud squealing jolted Wooyoung awake and the bed shook as the two children climbed on. “Wake up! Wake up!” Dal chanted as he giggled loudly and a smile grew on Wooyoung’s lips. He groaned when his sister climbed on top of him and the brother followed. His twin siblings were 7 years old and Wooyoung was 17.
”I’m awake, I’m awake,” he groaned and sat up causing the two to topple over, laughing hysterically when their big brother started tickling them.
Once dressed and his teeth were brushed, Wooyoung made his way downstairs to have something to eat before leaving for school. Yunho, his older brother smiled—well, step-brother, but Wooyoung never addressed him like that—and ruffled his hair.
“Hey, Woo, you ready for that test today?”
Wooyoung groaned which made his step-father and mother chuckle. “No, I'm so going to fail. I didn't study enough to memorise everything.”
“I think you’ll do good. Don’t stress,” Yunho smiled widely and gave a light punch to the younger boy’s arm.
Wooyoung and Yunho sat down next to each other, beginning to eat. The twins were loud as they always were, but they always made the morning cheerful.
“Yunho-hyung, you think too highly of me.”
“You’re smart, Woo. Don’t ever doubt yourself, and if you do fail the test, it doesn't matter,” Yunho gave a closed-lip smile. They weren't in the same classes, so Yunho didn't have to do that stupid Science test. Yunho was such a great brother and friend. He always tried to be there for Wooyoung whenever he needed someone to talk to about his problems or just a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes Wooyoung was sad that his father left him and his mother, but then if he didn't, they wouldn't have moved to this small town. He wouldn't have met Yunho who was a good influence in his life. His mother had met Yunho's father 2 years ago and the older man decided that Wooyoung's family should move in with them just over a year ago. Yunho was an only child, his mother passed away when he was only a toddler, so it had just been him and his father for a while until Chunsoon met Iseul.
"So, mum," Wooyoung spoke up and his mother happily hummed, a closed-lip smile growing on her lips as she glanced up at her son. "When can I go driving?"
She hums in thought. "I don't think it's a good idea to be out driving when your seizures have been a bit more active lately, hun."
Wooyoung pouted, whining out a, "but mum—"
"Jung Wooyoung," Iseul gave him "that" look and he sighed, slumping back in his chair. The twins were now eating quietly, their attention is drawn to their older brother, watching him with wide, curious eyes. "If this is about Yunho always driving you to school—"
"No, well, maybe. I don't wanna be annoying,” the younger teen muttered.
"I don't mind driving you to school, Woyoung. It's no problem." Yunho put his arm around his shoulders, pulling him into a side hug and Wooyoung's cheek squished against his chest. "Thanks," he muttered.
In the car, on the way to school, Yunho was humming along to the low playing music as he tapped his fingers to the beat on the steering wheel while Wooyoung had his elbow propped up on the door, cheek resting against his fist and he stared out the window, eyes half-closed. It was cold, snow covering the ground and Wooyoung felt a slight shiver go through him even if it was warm inside the car, just looking at the white iciness covering the ground made him feel cold.
They pulled into the car park and got out, walking towards the school. Wooyoung and Yunho parted ways, Yunho saying he’ll see him later as they went to meet up with their friends. Wooyoung went to his locker where he saw Yeosang leaning against the one beside it, scrolling through his phone but he looked up when he noticed someone walking toward him.
”Hey, ready for that test today?”
Wooyoung put in his code and then opened his locker door with a sigh leaving his mouth. “I am so going to fail,” he sighed and Yeosang snickered.
"I think you’ll do good.”
"Yunho also said that! Why do you two think I’ll do good?” His brows furrowed and he leaned back to look at the other male who was giving him a closed-lip smile.
”Because you’re smart, Woo.” He patted him on the shoulder.
”You’re too kind to me, Sangie,” Wooyoung said as he closed the locker and turned to sling an arm around his friend’s shoulders, the two making their way down the slightly crowded hallway.
Currently sitting in his third class listening to the teacher drag on and on about boring Maths was slowly lulling Wooyoung to sleep until a student started accusing someone of taking one of his pens and he stood up, catching everyone's attention. Wooyoung frowned, feeling a little upset for the boy, but the teacher wasn't dealing with the teen's outburst.
"Hyundae, sit down."
The boy ignored his teacher, staring around at everyone and glaring. "Someone took my pen! My blue pen! I-I know someone did because I am a very responsible person."
"Hyundae! Sit down!" Wooyoung scowled at the teacher when he got in Hyundae's face and the overwhelmed teenager sat down, fidgeting with his fingers. "Retard," Mr Atlas muttered under his breath which no one but Wooyoung heard and it made him angry. Just as Mr Atlas was about to continue with the lesson, Wooyoung put his hand up, getting his attention along with all the other students.
"Sir, I think you should apologise to Hyundae. You know he has a disability and you have no right to treat him or anyone like that." Everyone was now turned to Wooyoung who was sitting at the front and Hyundae looked at Wooyoung in surprise.
"Excuse me?" Mr Atlas said with an eyebrow raised and he stepped towards the teen's desk.
"You heard me. Or maybe you need to have your ears checked, old man."
Snickers went around the classroom and the older man looked at Wooyoung with a dumbfounded expression before it hardened into an angry look. "Right, out of my class, Mr Jung."
Wooyoung scoffed, a chuckle leaving his mouth in disbelief. Just because he was a teacher, an adult, he thought he could get away with how he treated students. He showed no respect sometimes and it really got on Wooyoung's nerves. He just wanted to grab his chair and then throw it at the piece of shit. "You're kicking me out for trying to stand up for a kid with Autism who has a hard time trying to defend himself! It's not easy for him to deal with certain things, and you calling him a retard is fucking rude!"
Mr Atlas' eyebrows pinched together, eyes narrowed at the 17-year-old who was talking back and not doing as he was told, which he didn't like, Wooyoung knew this, but he didn't give a fuck. "Jung Woooyoung, out of my class, right now!" He pointed to the door but Wooyoung gave no hint that he was moving.
"I don’t know how you still have this job when you treat students like shit!” The older man roughly grabbed Wooyoung by the arm, pulling him from his seat and he began struggling against him. "Let me go!"
"Take your rudeness, and get out."
"No! I have a right to be in this classroom and I have the right to stand up for students who can't stand up for themselves, you fucking bully!" Wooyoung tugged on his arm to free it but Mr Atlas just tighten his grip which was starting to hurt.
"Get out."
"Don't fucking touch me!"
Wooyoung was hit with this weird sensation and all of a sudden, his body tensed, eyes rolling into the back of his head as his body began twitching slightly. "Mr Jung? Mr Jung!" Mr Atlas was shocked and slowly laid the teenager down on his side. Some students stood up to get a good look at the unexpected scene. Wooyoung convulsed slightly, his arms stiffened by his sides and his eyes fluttered. The teacher called out for someone to get the nurse.
———
"So, Wooyoung is going to be okay. He's fine," the doctor smiled at Iseul who let out a sigh of relief and the two briefly looked at the teenager. He was slouched back in a chair, hoodie pulled over his head with his hands hidden in the pockets and he had his legs straightened out, ankles crossed. "I was wondering," the doctor began and Iseul looked at him. "How many seizures has he had in the last week?"
"Oh, um, this would be the second time."
"Third," Wooyoung muttered in a monotonous tone, getting the two adults' attention and Iseul frowned.
"Three?” She questioned and Wooyoung glanced at her for no longer than 5 seconds.
“Doctor, can I still drive?” He asked, looking over at the doctor who looked over at him.
"I’m sorry, Wooyoung, but if you’ve had three seizures in the last week, I wouldn’t get behind the wheel right now.” The doctor said with a slight frown and Iseul thanked him before he left. The teen let out a sigh and his mother walked toward him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder as she smiled down at him.
”Come on, let’s get you home.”
While on the way home, Wooyoung was just waiting for his mother to bring up what happened at school and he noticed her occasionally side-eyeing him. “Do you have something to say?” He asked, not once taking his eyes away from looking out the door window and Iseul sighed through her nose, staying quiet for a few minutes longer.
”While on the phone with one of the ladies at the school’s front desk, she asked me to come in after school, today, to meet with the principal to talk about what happened to you. What Mr Atlas did was horrible and he should be fired.”
When Wooyoung said nothing, Iseul glanced over at her son with a frown but said nothing more, knowing that if Wooyoung wasn’t replying, that meant the conversation was over and she shouldn’t push him to talk.
While on the way home, Wooyoung got his phone out to message Yeosang to tell him what had happened and the boy was glad Wooyoung was doing okay. Wooyoung grinned when Yeosang started ranting about how Mr Atlas was such a cunt and should be fired.
———
The next day at school, Hyundae shyly approached Wooyoung at his locker, clutching his backpack straps and Wooyoung looked up at him when he noticed him in his peripheral. “I would like to thank you for what you did yesterday. No one has ever stood up for me before and for that, I am very grateful for your kindness,” he smiled and Wooyoung sent a small smile back.
”I wanted to. You shouldn’t be bullied just because you’re a little different than others, Hyundae.”
The other nodded and looked over Wooyoung. “That seizure was very unexpected. Are you okay?”
”Yeah, it happens randomly, but it didn’t last longer than 30 seconds.”
Hyundae smiled widely and nodded once again. “That’s good, ‘cause a seizure that lasts too long can damage your brain.”
Wooyoung gave an appreciative smile as he closed his locker. “Thanks for checking up on me.”
”No problem. I like you, Wooyoung because you’re kind and you stand up to things that aren’t right. You were and are always nice to me even if I have autism. Now, excuse me, I have to get to class. Bye.” He quickly walked away and that's when Yeosang came up to him, eyeing Hyundae until he turned a corner.
"What did Hyundae want?"
"He just wanted to thank me for yesterday. Come on, let's go."
They hadn't walked far when a teacher stopped them. "Jung Wooyoung, the Principal would like to see you right now, please."
He sighed and nodded, following her to the office while his friend kept walking. He was curious as to why Wooyoung was needed in the office.
Wooyoung walked into Mrs Park's office but froze for a second when he saw Mr Atlas sitting across from her and the two looked over at the door when they heard it open. She smiled and motioned for him to sit down. The teenager tossed his bag down before sitting, though, he shifted the chair to his left to distance himself from the asshole teacher. He leaned back in the chair, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket and stretching his legs out, sitting in a relaxed position.
"Wooyoung, I heard what happened yesterday. I hope you're okay today."
He shrugged and side-eyed Mr Atlas who was already looking at him with a slight smile on his stupid face. "I think we were both shocked."
"I don't think it would have happened if he hadn't put his hands on me," he muttered, but loud enough for them to hear. The older man frowned and Mrs Park glanced at the teacher then focused on Wooyoung.
"What exactly happened?" She looked back and forth between the two males seated in front of her. She leaned back, a leg crossed over the other with her hands rested in her lap. Mr Atlas opened his mouth to respond but Wooyoung beat him to it.
"He insulted a student, which, might I add, has autism and I was standing up for him. And yes, I am speaking of Hyundae because we all know that kid has a hard time standing up for himself."
"I didn't insult Hyundae—"
Wooyoung whipped his head towards his Maths teacher, sending him a nasty glare and a frown pulling at his lips. "You called him a fucking retard!"
"Wooyoung—" Mrs Park tried to gently call him out on the language but the teen ignored her as he looked back at her.
"Just because he has a disability and he was upset since someone took his pen, this asshole sitting beside me decided to handle the situation in the worst way!"
"Excuse me!" Mr Atlas shouted and Mrs Park held her tongue this time even when Wooyoung swore again. She could clearly see the boy was upset over another peer being talked to like that. He glared back at Mr Atlas who was glaring back at him. "You’re excused!” Wooyoung said sarcastically and Mr Atlas just stared in disbelief at the teenager. “Hyundae becomes upset when there is change, all teachers who have him in their class know this as well, and instead of you trying to calm him down and help him find the pen, you force him to sit down and try to continue on with the lesson you think is more important than an upset student! Yes, you're a teacher and that's what you're paid to do, but it wouldn't kill you to help students when it isn't school-related, you piece of shit!"
Mr Atlas stood up from his chair and pointed a finger at the boy. "You're 17! You have no right to talk to me like that and you should respect your elders, boy!"
Wooyoung shot up from the chair. "You will earn my respect when you deserve it! By the way," he looked at his principal who was still sitting quietly, observing the two. "He still hasn't apologised to Hyundae," he turned back to the older man. "And I deserve an apology."
"I did nothing to you!"
"You grabbed me and forced me out of my seat! I told you to let me go and not to touch me but you didn't listen to me. You do not put your hands on minors, or in fact, anyone without their consent! I think if I was a girl, this whole situation would be different!"
Mr Atlas went to speak up but Mrs Park interrupted him. "Mr Atlas, I want you to apologise to Wooyoung," she sent a stern look at the man who was surprised by her words.
"But―"
"Apologise, right now. I will not ask again."
Mr Atlas glanced at Wooyoung who had a smug smirk and he muttered out an apology. "Now sit down and Wooyoung, you may leave. Thank you for your time." She sent him a sweet smile before narrowing her eyes at the teacher. Wooyoung snatched his bag off the floor next to the chair he was sitting in before taking his leave.
At recess, Wooyoung told Yeosang what happened in the office and his friend smiled. "I just hope he's fired, or if he's not, I just hope the principal does something about his behaviour," Wooyoung said and Yeosang hummed in agreement.