Chapter 24: Deception
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After seconds of visible hesitation, Chanyeol went against his better judgement and relented. Stepping aside, he watched as Baekhyun walked into the room with confidence in each stride, hands loosely by his side. Without wasting another moment, the athlete shut the door to avoid cause further disruption down the hall.

His eyes carefully followed the brunet as he walked down the room, only to stop in the middle before turning around. For a brief moment, Chanyeol could've sworn the expression on the latter's face softened, but it quickly disappeared as Baekhyun reverted back to his facade.

"I heard Jeonghwa took a little trip to the football team's physician." Glancing at Chanyeol's knuckles, Baekhyun cocked his head. "So did you, but yours wasn't that serious."

"You came all this way to talk about some hand injury?"

"Maybe."

"Could've just asked Jeonghwa about it," Chanyeol muttered, easing the disgraced teammate's name out of his mouth with disgust. And yet, he held back when directing his anger. "No point in wasting your time walking over here."

"Then maybe I just needed an excuse to see you."

Baekhyun cocked his head slightly to the right, crossing his arms tightly. The looseness in his smile contradicted his stiff and protective body language, but Chanyeol made no comment about the matter. It was merely an observation.

"And why would you want to see me? Thought our business was finished."

"It is." The half-hearted shrug given didn't project an ounce of certainty. "Or, at least, I thought it was— until I heard about your hand."

Irked and frustrated, Chanyeol leaned back against the door. "What's your point? Spit it out," he said harshly. "Unlike you, I can't buy my grades. So the faster you get out, the sooner I can get back to studying—"

"Why'd you hit him?" The look in Baekhyun's