𝐃𝐄𝐌 [𝐓.𝐊]

Jungkook, 6:00 pm

He entered the auditorium after Leo, holding Emily's hand. The room was bustling with conversation and laughter, and few were in their seats as they tried to find theirs. The tables were not assigned, but for those at the front for the professors and other staff invited to the baquet, so all they needed were three empty seats one beside the other. When they finally found one, Leo rushed over to claim it, but Jungkook asked if he could find another table. This one was in the middle of the room.

Closing his black coat more around his neck, he let Emily guide him to his chair with his head hung low. There once was a time when he would look around to dare anyone to look at him for more than a few seconds, but that time didn't seem to wish to come back. Emily, as always, sat in the middle while Jungkook sat to her left and Leo to her right. The chairs were made with heavy wood painted white and gold and comfortably cushioned, but he felt out of place as he folded his arms over his chest and looked at the centerpiece. It was a bouquet of beautiful flowers that almost looked too pretty to be real, with white candles around it at a safe distance. The circular table was set for ten, as were all the others except for those on the second and third floors, which were for two or three people. As he stared at his left, he wished they would've taken one of those seats.

It wasn't long before his mother walked on stage, and everyone quickly rushed to their seats. She was wearing a white blouse with creme-coloured trousers and golden heels that accentuated her figure and made her seem more youthful than she was. She also smiled at the crowd as she stepped onto the podium, but something about it made Jungkook uncomfortable. Unlike Emily beside him and the female stranger on his other side, he was unenthusiastically slumped in his chair. He listened, without paying too much attention, as his mother presented his father, the Headmaster of Evanthe, and clapped halfheartedly with the rest, the note in his nightstand's drawer vivid in his mind.

He was looking down at the table and all its cutlery as his father began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, honored guests, and most importantly, the scholars of Evanthe University, both new and returning, it is with great pride and heartfelt warmth that I welcome you all to Evanthe University's Annual Welcome Banquet; a tradition that has stood for over five centuries as a symbol of new beginnings, excellence, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge." He made a pause in which he smiled broadly, brightly, warmly at the crowd. Some people clapped, but Jungkook didn't. "As you step into this new academic year, you are not merely joining a university; you are becoming part of a legacy, a legacy built upon the pillars of intellect, discipline, artistry, and refinement. Like the name Evanthe itself, which means 'to bloom, ' this institution is a place where minds flourish, talents thrive, and character is shaped into greatness."

For a moment, Jungkook thought of taking out his phone for something else to do, but he wouldn't have anything of the sort. At least Leo had games to distract him. Jungkook turned his head as his father continued talking to look at Leo's profile, but he noticed he was also looking boringly up at the stage. When he looked down, however, he found Emily holding down his hands on his lap as though she'd already stopped him from reaching for his phone. Grinning slightly at his friend's luck, he turned his head back to the front to stare at the candle in front of him, hoping the speeches would end soon so the banquet could begin.

"As we embark on another year of excellence, it is my great pleasure to introduce the newest members of our esteemed faculty and staff, individuals whose expertise, dedication, and passion will further enrich the legacy of Evanthe University. At Evanthe, we push the boundaries of intellectual and athletic excellence, but with such ambition comes the necessity of care and well-being. Therefore, I would like to welcome Dr. Lily-Anne Rennie, who joins us as the new resident physician in the hospital wing. Dr. Rennie will be a vital presence on campus, ensuring that every scholar, athlete, and artist here can perform at their very best, with health and safety as a priority. We are honored to have her join our community."

He made a pause so everyone could make their applause. Jungkook did the motion of clapping without much intention to join the noise as he curiously looked towards the front of the room. The woman his father was facing had stood from her chair and was looking around with her chin up, nodding here and there with a serious expression on her face in acknowledgement of their gesture. With her black hair held up in a tight bun and her perfect posture, she had the severe look of a ballet teacher. After a while, she sat down, and the polite applause ceased to let his father continue.

Jungkook went back to averting his eyes to the table.

"Next, I have the distinct privilege of introducing Professor Kim Taehyung, who joins our faculty as the new professor of History of Philosophy."

At the sound of his major, Jungkook looked up with interest, but his father hadn't finished his speech, and, therefore, the professor he spoke of hadn't stood yet. Regardless, Jungkook continued to listen, with an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach as though he needed to put a face to that name. Somehow, it had sounded familiar.

"Some of you may already be familiar with his name, as he is regarded as an academic prodigy, having earned multiple degrees and distinctions in philosophy, ethics, and metaphysics, all before the age of thirty. His research in classical and modern philosophical thought has gained international recognition, and we are fortunate that he has chosen Evanthe as the next chapter in his career. Professor Kim believes that philosophy is not just a subject but a way of understanding the world and our place within it, a guiding force that shapes leaders, innovators, and visionaries. I do not doubt that his teachings will challenge, inspire, and provoke deep thought in every student who walks into his lecture hall."

With a wide movement of his arm, he gestured towards the tables to his left, looked down at one table in particular, and a man -younger than his father had described- stood up in a rush as though he hadn't realised the applause was for him. Jungkook noticed Professor O'Connor seated next to him, clapping and smiling up at the young man. But the moment Jungkook's eyes landed on the new professor, everything slowly moved to the peripheries of his attention, losing what little importance they had on his mind.

He seemed uncomfortable as he absentmindedly straightened his dark green suit jacket, but he was smiling around the room nonetheless. His eyes darted from one side to the other as he nodded in thanks and acknowledgement; his applause was louder than Dr. Rennie's. Jungkook could hardly believe the man he'd walked into and almost tumbled to the floor with was a renowned professor. The way he'd looked at him that time came back into his mind, and Jungkook gulped, feeling his heart accelerating in his chest, almost like it wanted to go where he sat. But Jungkook couldn't do that, not when there were too many people watching. Not when he didn't even know what he would do or say once he stood in his presence. Especially not when the applause ended and his father continued his speech.

"Lastly, but certainly not least, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a returning pillar of our academic family, someone whose dedication to his students and field of expertise has left a lasting mark on Evanthe University." His smile has changed; it was brighter than before. Echoes of his visible excitement rang around the room from students who already knew whom he was speaking of. Jungkook frowned as he looked around and then up again to his father, puzzled. "An already cherished member of our law faculty has returned to us after achieving the highest academic distinction in his field: a Doctor of Law doctorate. This prestigious honor is a testament to his brilliance, commitment, and unwavering pursuit of knowledge." There was already applause, some students were already standing as they cheered. Jungkook watched, astonished, as his father didn't calm the room down but instead took in a deep breath to speak louder than the rest into the microphone. "Professor Alexander Evans!"

Jungkook jolted closer to Emily as people erupted with more cheers than he'd ever thought a professor would ever receive. His mouth had gone dry, his hands sweaty. Emily was laughing in his ear before she took a stand to cheer with the rest. Jungkook leaned forward on the table, sickened by the happiness of those around him. He was confused as to why he wanted to storm out of the place. His heart had fastened with the need to run away instead of the wish to get closer. Bewildered by his body's reactions, he still looked up at the front of the room. The man they cheered for, the man they loved, had stepped up to the stage and was now holding his father's shoulder as he, in turn, held his, and they smiled at the crowd like heroes and friends.

Jungkook slowly placed his left arm over his plate, rested his forehead on his forearm, and tried to close off the noise with his other arm. All his movements were slow; his face had no given way to any particular emotion. He was only tired of the noise, that was it, he was only tired of the noice, that was it.

His hair as dark as charcoal... his eyes a vivid blue...

Jungkook lifted his right hand and smalled it down over his own head. Thankfully, the noice of the room reentered his ears and he knew his odd actions had gone unnoticed. But with noice came the next words of his father, and he closed his eyes as though the dark could be kinder.

"Professor Evans, your students admire you, your colleagues respect you, and this institution is made greater by your presence. Welcome back, and congratulations on this outstanding achievement."

He could recognize Emily's touch on his back, tapping him to make him straighten back up. But he didn't want to. He wanted to go back to his old room, to his old closet, and hide in the dark corner where nothing could hurt him or go wrong. He did not live alone anymore; he could not allow himself a moment of oddness anymore if he didn't want to be judged. When Emily held him gently by the shoulder, he took a deep breath and straightened back up. But nothing else could grab his attention. Nothing else could make him want to look up from his empty plate.

"Here's to the scholars, the mentors, and the pursuit of excellence. May this be another year of brilliance at Evanthe University!"

Garrett, 6:30

He watched as the students at his table sat back down one by one. He didn't stand to cheer with the rest because he had no idea who that professor even was, but he did applaud with the rest. However, his eyes continued to linger on the new philosophy professor. He was the man with the dark green suit he'd seen that same morning in the hall. His energy had attracted a lot of attention, though he didn't seem to notice, and Garrett had wondered why his dormant energy reminded him of Luz's in a way. Now he knew it was because he was a genius; a genius's energy, even when dormant, attracts a lot of attention.

Now that everyone, including Professor Alexander, was taking their seats once more, Garrett looked around the room casually, continuing his search. It was fruitless for a third time, however. He wouldn't be able to find them if August didn't want them to be found, even if they were sitting at the table next to him. But they must be at that banquet, especially after knowing the university had caught wind of something odd going on within their walls; they would want to keep appearances.

Alex (Enyo), seated to his left, shifted uncomfortably again. He gently wrapped his arm over the back of her seat to hold her other shoulder and passed her calming energy to lower her anxiety. There was the faintest scent of mint in the air. Alex took a deep breath, and her tight hold on her arms loosened. He looked at her profile to make sure he did a good job. When she continued to look up at the stage, almost sleepily, he knew he'd done well.

It was when the headmaster announced the banquet to begin while they're seranated by a live band of string instruments that Garrett noticed something off. It didn't come from Alex, for she sat calmly by his side while servers in black and white suits served their meal. It came from the very air in the room, that which is invisible to the naked eye. He felt it in his aura, as if the temperature had changed from warm to lukewarm. It was a minimal change that he could've overlooked if he hadn't trained his senses to catch anomalies in every room he stepped in.

He lifted his gaze as his table lively began to share a conversation. Paying close attention to those tables, he could see clearly. He tried to find the reason for the change without permeating his aura. If he did, after spending a whole day giving energy to Alex, he could pass out before they served dessert. He looked for the quiet ones, those who'd zoned out for a moment or even people in verbal arguments, but he found none of the latter and very few of the former.

After they were served wine, Garrett looked down at their table, waiting to be served water as well. The servers worked in groups of four and made circles around the table; the first one served wine, the second served water, and the other two placed their plates of food in front of them. It looked expensive and unapeticing.

Taking the glass of water, he brought it to his lips, made sure Alex was busy grimacing at her meal, and whispered so only the water could hear,

"I know who it is."

Once he breathed his wish into the glass, he drank a gulp of water and his eyes felt immediately drawn to a person he couldn't see. They were blocked from his view by a table in between and two people who sat in the way. He thought of pretending to go to the bathroom to see who it was but caught himself before he did so, leaving the glass back on the table to start eating.

What would he even do once he knew who the person was? If this person's energy was big enough to change the temperature in a room even slightly, then he was another genius from the pile. Who cared if the change came because this person's energy seemed to have been hidden away? There were loads of people in that auditorium who were able to dissociate on command; that was just the reality of their country, and he couldn't go from person to person trying to heal away their trauma. He couldn't go finding troubles to fix.

So he stayed next to Alex and began to eat to show her that the gewey substance was indeed edible. Like any other young man his age, he had to focus on classes and his girlfriend. His heavy continence should be ignored.