"consider this a project, alright?" the principal cheerily explained as though this whole situation was far easier than it really was. "if you can just get that boy to settle down for once, you'll get all the extra credits you need for college. simple as."

"yes, except that four students have already tried to do this before," ten complained, leaning over the man's desk confidently and wearing a strong expression. "what makes you think that i could get johnny seo to focus, sir?"

"this is why i called it a 'project'. sometimes they fail, and that's just unfortunate. look, ten, if you can't do it or simply don't want to...then that's fine as well," he hummed. "i just had a bit of faith. he's not dumb, nor is he untalented. he's just..."

"immature," the teen scoffed, standing back and folding his arms. his white, princely uniform hugged his body and told the school that he was a member of the ivory class. the black button-up shirt underneath the pristine jacket was hidden as he kept it clipped shut, his cuffs were folded back and fastened with silver buttons, and his white slacks ended at his ankles where they met his black shoes.

the ebony class wore very similar attire, though theirs was reversed. black jacket and slacks, white shirt underneath, and the addition of gold buttons to tie the look together. all in all, they were very regal appearing students....and the opposing classes absolutely hated each other.

"what if this endeavour hinders my studies?" ten proceeded to quiz, flicking his long, black hair out of his eyes and pursing his lips with uncertainty.

"we can work around it. remember, you're ivory's president. this is an opportunity to act as a role model."

or fail entirely and lose the trust they have in me, he inwardly wanted to bite back. but he didn't...and he knew that this was an opportunity to do good things in disguise. perhaps he could just give it a go and see where it took him. after all, johnny wasn't known for being rude or underhanded in anyway...just fun-loving.

"fine, sir. i'll do it."

"oh? that's great!"

"mhm, but if i can't change his ways within three months, i'm giving up. i don't have the time nor the patience to teach a grown boy how to sit down and focus alongside presidential duties and classes. this could go horribly wrong, and i simply hope you're aware."

"it'll be fine."

"i hope so," ten murmured, bowing respectfully before promptly leaving the office and rejoining civilisation in the school hallways. he was a third year, and it was his final year to survive through before graduation. he needed this 'project' like he needed a bullet in the head. it just wasn't the time.

never mind, he thought, running his fingers through his hair once before groaning at the sight of another war breaking out in the canteen. i can do this.

i can't do this, he tsked while knocking on the dormitory door. it was after dinner time, and johnny hadn't been there for the meal so he couldn't exactly approach him there. "excuse me? please open up."

jaemin, the ivory dorm's respected hall monitor, noticed him and tilted his head in confusion. "what's up?"

"oh...i was looking for johnny suh? i have to speak with him."

"that's fine, though i'd recommend trying somewhere else...he tends to disappear for parties."

"and you let that happen?"

"i can't bust them if i don't know where they are..."

"point taken," ten blinked lazily before preparing to leave, though he stopped when the door he'd been abusing opened up.

"uh, hi?" the student raised their attention. "i was told to give you this if you came by....ten, right?"

"you must be a first year," the older sighed and took the piece of paper from the boy's fingers. "what's your name, kid?"

"yangyang. sorry i didn't answer before, i was asleep and needed to get dressed.

"fine."

jaemin suppressed a chuckle and wandered onwards down the hallways, leaving them alone since things seemed to have been sorted. ten's feline-like eyes flicked over the note briefly before he scoffed with irritation.

"what does he mean 'come and find me'?" the entirety of the scrap of paper said 'hey pres, if you've been given this, then i'm probably not in my room. come and find me where the peace has disappeared'.

"i don't know what it means either," yangyang yawned, covering his mouth in the process. "it's a hint of sorts. he loves games."

"please speak up if you're in on this."

"definitely not. i haven't gotten a decent sleep in ages 'cause he usually has drinking games going on in here. i am loving this change."

ugh, how am i supposed to find him? the ivory president grumbled bitterly under his breath and scrunched the note up in his hand. "thanks for giving me this. have a good sleep."

"you too."

with that, ten started his highly unnecessary journey through the school. he was around here somewhere, and that boy had a huge storm coming if he thought this was ten's idea of fun.

he wanted to play games?

fine.

lee ten could play those games.