Irritating. 

The word wrapped around Seungcheol's tongue. He was leaning on to the wooden table in Potions class, dreading every second of it. He wasn't good with the subject itself but also he didn't like the company that came along with it. Being a proud Gryffindor, he would always flaunt his house's colors and he would also talk about his achievemnts as a Quidditch player. And being a red and gold blooded as he is, he also hated having classes with Slytherins.

Slytherins were elite, smart, condescending and most of all, bullies. Seungcheol never liked the opposing house's values and most of all, he never liked the people in it. Sure, he can get along with Jihoon, but there is one person in particular that he practically hated. He looked over to his right, across the aisle that parted the two houses like the red sea and he could see the very person he was dreading.

Xu Minghao.

He looked at the chinese boy carefully. Minghao had messy brown hair that looked wet most of the time, piercing eyes that judges, a stoic face that is uninterested with everyone and an attitude that he's better than everyone else. Seungcheol doesn't know him personally, and he's not planning on ever doing so but they sometimes cross each other's paths especially when their circle of friends hang out from time to time. The Gryffindor clicked his tongue, what a way to ruin his mood. There was just something about Xu Minghao that made his blood boil and his eyes woll back back to Fluffy's cage.

At first, Seungcheol thought Minghao was just shy, especially when he came all the way from China and the language barrier may seem to be in the way, but it turns out, Minghao was very fluent in their language and opted to ignore everyone who he doesn't see as a friend. Seungcheol rolled his eyes, he hated how Minghao would also take education lightly. Seungcheol would always see Minghao distracted in class or sleeping in between Herbology and Defense of the Dark Arts, but somehow he would always ace his exams and that ticked him off. 

Once again, he observed the Slytherin across the room, but this time he propped his elbow on the wooden table as he rested his chin on his hand. He watched Minghao, doodle on a piece of a per with his quill. He hated how nonchalant that Slytherin is and how he treats everything like a game. He knotted his brows together, unsure of what Minghao was doing. Minghao immediately took the paper he was doodling on and crumpled it.

Minghao snickered as he threw the crumpled piece of paper on the other side of the room, hitting Seungcheol's face with it. Outraged, Seungcheol glared at the mischievous Slytherin and immediately got the paper. He smoothened it and immediately looked over to find something written on it. Seungcheol read it discreetly as the note said, "If you stare any longer you will drool on your Potions book.... Well, it's not like you're going to need it." 

As soon as Seungcheol finished reading the note, he mushed it between his palms and shoved it down his robe's pocket. He was about to shoot a glare at the slytherin when their eyes finally meet and Seungcheol sat there frozen. His big eyes laid upon a mischievous looking smile from the Slytherin, something he had never seen before. The Gryffindor could feel his whole body go cold as he sat there without retaliating to Minghao's mocking yet charming gaze. 

Maybe hate is a strong word.

AN: Tell me if you guys want another stand alone story/chapter :) upvotes and reviews are greatly appreciated! thank you for reading btw !