Tangled Hearts

Baekhyun was halfway through his second year of university and knee-deep in assignments and exams. One particular assignment was so important that he’d been like a sleep-deprived squirrel working frantically on a model that was worth half his grade.

After weeks without sleep, and let’s be honest, more than a few meals consisting of instant noodles, Baekhyun finally had his glorious model ready. It was so beautiful that even Picasso would've shed a tear. Proudly holding his creation, he was on his way to class when his phone buzzed with a desperate summons from his best friend Jongdae.

"Hurry up! The professor is about to grade your life!” he whispered in a hurry through the phone and hang up.

As Baekhyun strutted down the hallway, his model cradled as if it were a newborn, he was suddenly blindsided by a walking tree. Or at least it felt that way when the guy crashed into him, sending Baekhyun sprawling to the floor, his model exploding into an 'artsy confetti'.

For a brief moment, everything went silent. "I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” the towering doofus exclaimed, scrambling to help Baekhyun up, who was glaring with eyes sharper than any of the wooden instruments scattered about.

“Are you insane? Baekhyun yelled, dramatically waving his arms at the wrecked model. “Look at what you did! I’ve poured my heart, soul, and probably a few brain cells into this!”

“Calm down, it was an accident." the guy shrugged nonchalantly. “You can just glue it back together, right?"

Baekhyun gaped. “Oh sure, let me just sprinkle some fairy dust while I’m at it!”

“Whoa there.” said the guy, now looking mildly entertained. “You’re acting like I just set your favorite pet on fire. It was an accident! I can pay for the materials or whatever.”

“Pay? Oh, how generous of you! While you're at it, why don't you pay my professor so I won't fail.” Baekhyun huffed, staring daggers at him.

As Baekhyun opened his mouth for what was definitely going to be another sentence full of insults, his phone rang. He picked it up, still feeling the world crumbling around him.

“Dae... my life is over!” he whined into the phone after he saw it was his best friend calling.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Jongdae's voice crackled with concern.

“My model is destroyed! Some ridiculous giant bumped into me and my baby fell and now it's scattered all around the floor.” Baekhyun blubbered while shooting dagger looks at his new not-so-favorite person.

“Wait, are you crying?” Jongdae asked incredulously, noticing that Baekhyun's voice was weak and cracking as if crying.

"Of course I'm crying. This project was my academic life! I'm gonna fail this class now. What am I going to do?”

“It's okay. I’ll explain to professor what happened. Just text me your location, I'll meet you there and see what we can do to save it." Jongdae assured him.

“Fine, see ya.” Baekhyun hung up, taking a dramatic breath and glaring at the giant still standing there, unaware of the storm ready to ensue. “You better brace yourself, because I'm taking revenge for my model and come for your sorry ass."

“Wow, chill.” he chuckled, that ridiculous self-assured giggle making Baekhyun's blood boil. “You’re the crazy one here yelling at me as if I just killed someone. You need to calm down you grumpy dwarf."

Baekhyun’s eyes widened, and he squared his shoulders in protest. “What did you call me?”

“Uh, grumpy dwarf?” the guy chuckled, barely managing to keep a straight face. “You know, one of snow white's little friends? Because you're little and angry." he lost it, bursting into laughter as Baekhyun’s face transformed into a tomato, radiating pure fury.

Baekhyun’s patience went from zero to punchy in record time; he was ready to throw hands when suddenly his best friends appeared.

“Baekhyun!” Jongdae huffed, as if he had just run a marathon. “I brought Seulgi! Maybe we can do something to help you with you model.”

“Hey B!” Seulgi chimed in, equally out of breath, her hair bobbing as she tied it up. "We came running after talking with professor." her gaze fell on Baekhyun, fist frozen in mid-air, contemplating a very one-sided duel. “What’s going on?"

"This asshole was the one that destroyed my baby." he stretched out his arms, pointing at his model sprawled on the floor. " And on top of that is insulting me." Baekhyun exclaimed, flaming.

"Whoa, whoa!" the tall guy threw his hands into the air, looking more like he was trying to surrender than defend himself. "You're the one yelling at me and throwing insults like confetti! I’ve apologized at least four times and even offered to pay for the materials! You just kept on rambling about how I destroyed your precious."

"BECAUSE YOU DID!" at this point Baekhyun had tears streaming down his face, he was overwhelmed by his own emotions.

Seulgi came in between them and smiled apologetically to the tall guy while Jongdae grabbed Baekhyun's arm pulling him behind. “Okay, okay. Before we turn this out of proportion, how about we all take a deep breath, use our indoor voices, and maybe—just maybe—talk like grown-ups?”

“Like grown-ups?” Baekhyun repeated, incredulous. “My academic life is at stake here! And he is enjoying this and keeps on riling me up." he snorted angrily. "I'm not a hero with magical powers who can just go back in time and resolve everything!"

“Right. You're more like a sidekick with anger management issues." the tall guy snickered, and that was the last straw for Baekhyun.