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Chapter Text

January 20

"Our next contestant is... Han Jisung!" He makes celebratory noises with his mouth that just turns into inaudible blabbering. He exhales while smiling before he glides onto the frozen lake, he practices his routine over and over again to perfection.

He always chooses this lake to skate cause the valleys frame the sun perfectly, making the ice reflect so he can see the way he skates and ensure that that's the way he wants to skate. It's winter so now he gets the chance to skate on this lake like he's always done before a competition.

His dark blue hair is slicked back to make sure his hair doesn't go in his eyes.

The sky turns dark and he notices his phone ringing on the bench opposite where he is, knowing it's Changbin calling, he skates towards the bench when suddenly he hears the ice crack below his feet. He stands still for a second, unsure whether to make another move to make the crack bigger. Slowly, he glides to get near the bench but with every step he takes the ice's cracks extend beyond where he is. His options right now are to either run as fast as he can before the ice breaks below him or stay there forever like an abandoned seal until the lake melts.

The first option wins. 

He hesitates before sprinting to the bench, the cracks chasing after him and like some cruel joke, he falls through the ice into the freezing river right in front of the bench. His body gets dragged deeper into the river. Jisung never learned how to swim so he couldn't try to swim up to at least get some air, he flails his arms in desperation to escape the burning pain of the freezing temperature, almost passing out.

A few minutes pass until a figure approaches him and drags him out of the river. He lays Jisung upright using a tree as support, far away from the river.

"Han? Hey, buddy listen to me, you're okay now." It sounds like he was reassuring himself more than Jisung. "If you leave me right now, I'm not buying you those expensive skates, 'kay?" He cries, unable to fully finish the sentence. "Please."

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

September 14

A few months passed, and Jisung hadn't gone to ice skating competitions after what happened.

He can't bear anything cold touch his skin. He couldn't step into the ice rink ever again, the ice below him, hearing those cracks race him but even if he won't skate again, he visits the ice rink near his college where he used to compete, sometimes clearing his schedule just to be near the rink. The memories fill him with triumph, remembering all the medals he's won and the routines he's executed. He sits at the very back thinking about how the audience felt, he gained so many fans and popularity but he never knew why they chose to watch him, why they cheered him on, or why they loved him.

He was deep in his thoughts until a noise made him snap out of it, the door opened and a young man walked towards the ice rink.

Jisung immediately knew he wasn't staff.

He put on his skates and finally stepped onto the ice, he glided on the ice for a while.

"He's pretty." He comments about the guy.

He's tall and slim and has a full-on black outfit with a black beanie. The guy takes off his black beanie and jacket revealing his black sleeveless shirt and his bright blond hair.

"Woah, his body looks great, too."

The blond stretches- like a cat before practicing his routine, Jisung assumes.

The blond does his routine, his aura exuding elegance and smoothness. Jisung is entranced by him, the guy executes his moves in such a beautiful way that you can see his love for skating and this routine which looks like he made it himself, it makes him forget his problems for a while.

The guy then ends his routine and suddenly, he spots Jisung from a distance and they make eye contact. He panics, puts his mask on, and scurries down to leave, almost tripping. He almost leaves when he hears-

"Hey, wait! Who are you? What're you doing here?" The blond yells.

Jisung's hand was already on the handle but his guts told him to look at him, who was calling out to him. He just felt guilty, despite doing nothing wrong; he just felt like he should explain himself. He looks back, facing the guy as he swats his hands in a way to surrender. "Listen, I didn't mean to watch."

The guy's eyebrow burrows and tilts his head in confusion.

"I-I'll just leave."

"Wait." The guy pauses. "Jisung?" His voice was slow and confused at the sight of him.

This pretty guy knows my name? Damn, I didn't know I was that famous. Wait, is he a fan? Please, please, please, don't ask for my signature; I don't have a pen with me!

"I'm sorry but who are you?" Praying he hears a name he knows.

"Hyunjin, Hwang Hyunjin." The expression on his face turned unreadable and it felt like he was angry at him.

He felt guilty since he couldn't exactly remember why that name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t exactly say that, or else it would be rude.

"Uhm- about earlier, I didn't intentionally try to watch if you're worried about that." His hands were now off the handle and grabbing the rim of his hoodie.

Hyunjin sighs before running his fingers through his long hair. "Don't worry about it. Just- don't tell anyone I was here or that you saw me."

Jisung nods in agreement and sees this as the perfect chance to run away.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Panting from running and ignoring what he saw at the rink, he weakly opens the door to his dorm. The door opens and he spots Changbin on the couch. "Oh, you're home. Why's it so dark?" He turns on the light.

"SURPRISE!"

Jisung shrieks, his arms flailing as he almost hits himself in the eye. After calming down, he sees Seungmin and Felix carrying a cake, weirdly decorated but you can tell it was made with love.

Changbin's carrying a pink box, smiling at him like a puppy that's just been adopted.

They say in unison: "Happy Birthday!"

"Birthday?" Jisung says confusingly as he tilts his head to the side, his eyebrow raises.

Suddenly, They're expressions morph into sad faces, all looking at him, feeling bad.

"Bro... It's your birthday today." Felix clarifies.

Jisung's shocked, he takes out his phone and checks the date: September 14.

It is his birthday.

"A surprise birthday? You guys..." Eyes shining bright, lips curving downwards as he pouts. Any nice gesture— or just any gesture at all— that his friends do just makes him feel even more special.

"Don't cry," Seungmin teasingly exclaims trying to calm him. "Are you seriously gonna cry on your birthday right now?"

"Hey, don't make it worse." Changbin cuts him off, lightly gitting his shoulder to stop him. "Happy birthday, Hannie." He says calmly trying not to make the younger one more sentimental. "But-! before you open your gifts, let's eat your birthday cake!"

The cake tasted better than it looked and it was filled with sweet and creamy chocolate.

Felix springs up from his chair and runs to the couch with gifts. "Changbin and Seungmin bought those," Pointing at the pink and red gifts. "And I bought this!" He brings out a small blue box.

Jisung opened it and inside were headphones. "Felix, Headphones? You actually bought it? I was just joking!" 

"Too bad, you deserve it! I know how much you love listening to music and- they're noise canceling too!" He flexes.

Jisung then opens the red gift, it's a normal hoodie but it's decorated with characters from My Neighbor Totoro. "Who got me this? It's so cuuute!" 

"Me!" He politely raises his hand. "I saw it and immediately knew you'd love it." Seungmin chuckles, praising himself as he watched him admire the hoodie.

Finally, Jisung opens the pink gift. He opens it expecting so much since it's from Changbin, his best friend. He removes the ribbon and lifts the cover.

It's the skates he's always wanted, so brightly and beautifully blue.

"How did you know...? These are expensive."

Something in Jisung's stomach churns. He remembers what the person who saved him from the river said, and now Changbin knew he wanted these. He's filled with guilt since he also never told Changbin he didn't want to skate anymore, so what's he gonna do with these?

Chapter Text

September 15

Jisung keeps thinking about Changbin's gift for him.

The skates he's always wanted.

He never told anyone that he wanted those, so how did Changbin and the person who dragged him out of the river know? He shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts before trying to remember what he was doing.

It's Sunday, all his professor gave the class were pictures of his dogs. He walks out of the classroom and loads most of the stuff he couldn't bring in his bag into his locker. He goes up to the roof and finds a spot where no one can bother him, he sits on a broken ventilation system and listens to music with the headphones Felix gifted him.

Suddenly, someone catches his eye.

It's Hyunjin.

His hands in his pockets while approaching Jisung, looking at him like he had done something wrong. It was a very sharp yet simple glance that made him feel a bit guilty, for no reason. He says something but he doesn't hear him due to the music.

"Wait, what? I couldn't hear you." He takes one of the muffs off his ear.

"I didn't say anything." He mockingly sneers at him.

He definitely did. He didn't have to be mean about it.

Hyunjin sits next to him and puts his duffel bag on the floor. He doesn't start a conversation, he just looks up to the sky and relaxes his nerves. 

Jisung can't help but stare and admire him.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

September 14

Hyunjin comes home and plops his bag onto the couch, enters his room then falls onto the bed and shuffles through his pockets for his phone. He opened his phone and was suddenly blinded by the brightness. He hears footsteps behind him but he was too slow to react.

"Ow!"

Hyunjin looks back and sees his roommate, Minho, laughing at him like a window wiper. Minho lays on him, hoping all his weight pushes Hyunjin down.

"You slap my ass and lay in my bed, you didn't even take me out to dinner." Hyunjin bickers. "Oof- and get off of me! I thought you were asleep." Hyunjin wiggles and shakes to get him off in any way possible.

Minho falls off the bed, falling face-first on the carpet. He looks up and yells. "Ya! I make you dinner every day. You're so ungrateful!"

Hyunjin laughs at his disheveled hair and pushes him away by the face.

"I was asleep until I heard your bag fall off the couch with those heavy skates of yours." He hisses. "I should just burn those skates so you won't come home late and wake me up at-" He looks at his watch. "3:25 A.M. Also, when am I ever gonna see you practice?"

A younger one barges into the room, rubbing his eyes. "You guys are so loud, there are people here actually sleeping."

Another one silently stands by him looking like he just got into a fight, both of the boy's hair standing up, obvious that they're desperate for more sleep.

"Then go back to sleep?" Minho teases. He eventually stands up and guides Chan, another roommate, to his bed. "Especially you."

Now the only one in Hyunjin's doorframe, Jeongin, another roommate and his best friend, approaches Hyunjin and lies by his side. "You're finally home. How was your practice?" His voice slurring like he's drunk.

"Mmm, I bumped into this guy at the rink." He says blankly.

"Oh, that's nice. Do you know him?" Jeongin says calmly, he could fall asleep at any second now.

"It's Jisung."

"Wait, isn't he that cool skater we saw back then?" Jeongin jolts up to look at Hyunjin, eye to eye. "Where's he been?" Waiting for a response, he sees Hyunjin's eyes flutter open and close trying to keep up the conversation.

"Never mind." He dismissively waves his hand. "You could tell me tomorrow. You should rest and I should go back to sleep too." Jeongin leaves the room and back into his own.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

September 15

"You never told anyone, did you?" Hyunjin asks.

Jisung jumps from the sudden question, "Yeah, I didn't. Why, what's wrong if I did? Not that I did I'm just really curious on why-" He cuts himself off before thinking he might offend the guy.

"I'm just not comfortable with people seeing me during practice."

"But don't you compete? I mean there's a reason you practice so people see you all the time."

I think.

"Of course, you wouldn't mind." Hyunjin blurts out without thinking. He cuts himself off immediately before he says something he doesn’t wanna say.

Jisung looks confused, his lips pointing outwards, interested in what he meant by that.

He immediately tries to think of what to say next. “Who wouldn’t love seeing me skate?”

Nice.

Jisung shifts his expression, smiling at his response. "Sure, I guess I’m lucky to be the first to see you skate.”

They both chuckle, smiling even more.

“Can I still stay? I promise I won’t tell anyone about it or bring anyone with me.” His hands, now in a praying position rubbing together, and he begs while looking up at him.

Hyunjin pauses, gears turning in his head as he considers if he should accept.

There’s not much going on in that head but he’s trying.

“I-” He hesitates, but he sees Jisung’s glimmering eyes looking back at him. “Fine, you can watch. You’ll be my only audience.”

Jisung’s mouth widens into a hearty smile. “Really?” He yells which makes Hyunjin jump. He sits back down properly like he didn't just yell from the top of his lungs. “Thank you.” His voice drops an octave lower.

Hyunjin stands up and picks up his bag from the floor. “See you then.” He leaves without letting him say something back.

He watches him, til he opens the door and walks down from the roof. Jisung stays for a bit and thinks for a while before leaving the roof. He walks to the café next to the school and orders an Espresso. He goes to the mall next to buy something special for Felix.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

He opens the door to his dorm and heads in, he sees Felix’s black hair pop out of the white couch watching TV. He smiles at the sight and sees that the TV is just randomly showing a video of an animal documentary, which might not be what he was originally watching.

“Felix, what’re you doing here?”

No response.

He goes to the front of the couch and there he is, asleep. He softly chuckles before noticing that he had a 'birthday boy' sash on him as he was basically passed out on the couch. He pets his head before leaving Felix a gift by his side and goes to his room. 

Hours passed, and Jisung dressed up in a black hoodie and pants to head out.

Changbin catches him and wonders why he’s going out so late. He was still up since he was weirdly craving food, something spicy but not too much, something good but not hard to cook before just settling for Buldak.  “Where are you going?” He said, suspicious of why he would head out so late at night and with everyone else asleep.

He freezes. He couldn't tell him about watching some guy he wasn't close with skate, so he didn't. He slowly turns his body, almost uncanny as he faces him. “Oh, it's nothing. I was just going to the rink.” He smiles while avoiding eye contact.

“Alright then, just don’t stay out for too long. Tomorrow’s Monday, so you and Felix have Gen Math.”

“Oh! Speaking of Felix, did he get my birthday gift?” Jisung asks, noticing the birthday boy and his gift left the couch.

Changbin looks at him and thinks for a while. “The ceramic keys or something? Yeah, he jumped in joy when he saw those.” He said playful as he remembered Felix really bouncing in joy when he woke up and found it next to him. It took him a few minutes to understand why he was so ecstatic when he already had different versions of keys for his keyboard.

Then he remembered, he gently dropped the fork into the foil container before fully facing the younger one. “Speaking of birthday gifts, are you gonna use the skates I bought you?”

Jisung looks back at him and nods.

He’s lying.

He immediately shuts the door behind him and heads to the rink. 

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Jisung opens the doors to the rink and sees Hyunjin putting on his skates.

“Huh, you actually came.” He remarks as he raises his head to look at him. It wasn't like he wasn't expecting him or wanted him to come, he just thought it was weird he was up so late; but so was he, so does it really matter?

“I mean, you did say ‘see you’, so I might as well.” Jisung smiled before sitting in the front row this time so he could get a better view.

Hyunjin hesitates before going on the ice, now that someone’s watching him practice. He glances at him before skating for a bit before taking off his jacket and cap, revealing his long smooth blond hair.

A few hours and a very cold but happy boy watching him skate later. Once he stops and pauses on the ice, Jisung applauds him. He immediately turns to him before lowering his head down, feeling flustered and shy at the gesture. He wasn't used to people watching him, or even cheering him. It felt weird, in a good way.

“Woah! Hyunjin, you did so well! You could work on it some more but it looked great!” His eyes glimmering. For some reason, complimenting him just felt right, like it should be second nature at this point.

A faint pink flush colored his cheeks. It was embarrassing hearing him compliment him, but that didn't mean he wanted it to stop. It was a huge ego boost to have him cheer him on out of all people. “It was nothing, I just do random tricks for fun when I practice.”

A couple of more hours pass, and Hyunjin’s practice ends. Jisung endlessly compliments him which results in him turning even more red as his words keep going. They hang out for a moment more before saying their goodbyes and parting ways for the night. 

Chapter Text

December 3

 “Well, that wasn’t that hard.” Jisung's sing-song voice echoes as he pops, locks, and moonwalks into the hallway.

Behind him, Felix walks out with a blank stare, reminiscent of that one time he repeatedly got blue shelled in Mario Kart. 

“I-I need coffee," He says slowly. "I can't give up—not yet." He drags his hands over his face and hits himself. 

“Oh, nice! Could you get me something too?" He says, smiling, oblivious to Felix's apparated soul. "An Americano and make sure it’s hot.”

Felix slowly turns his head towards his best friend's bright aura, unsure if he should curse at him or cover his eyes from his annoyingly shimmering cheerfulness. Instead, with a grunt, he drags his feet to the café, his hands still clawing at his face.

While Felix goes to do his bidding, Jisung exhales, content. All the lessons were just a piece of cake for the blue-haired sophomore now that he's finally motivated to attend his classes.

As he walks past a nearby classroom, he pauses his popping and locking when he spots Hyunjin through the door window, seeing his eyebrows furrowed and clearly busy with something. 

He doesn't really know what Hyunjin's major is, but he has seen him catch up on some homework after practice. Jisung would sneak a glance once every few times, but would immediately get disinterested when he sees it's an 8000-word essay.

Unbeknownst to him, he finds himself staring at the blond. Jisung has no clue as to why, but ever since they've started to hang out, he finds everything Hyunjin does extremely...

What's the word?

Graceful? Elegant? Sophisticated? Whatever the synonym for pretty is, geez.

Usually, he would find it annoying whenever he sees attractive people do anything, but Hyunjin felt different somehow. Maybe it's like the Pavlov experiment—he got used to praising him so much in training that whenever Hyunjin does a completely basic human act, Jisung feels the need to cheer him on for that too.

God, I think I'm starting to understand fansites now.

Jisung almost calls out to him but he stops himself. He would probably end up disturbing him, so it’s probably best to leave him alone. He could wait for him but he can't entertain himself for that long. He shrugs, unanimously deciding to go back to popping, locking, and shimmying away from the classroom and towards the café.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

The misty blue colored café right by the college is a family-owned establishment by the Bahngs. Jisung loves going here to either relax, play games, help out, or just order coffee; Since then, he's become a regular, though the Bahngs have had some difficulty adjusting to his new taste in coffee.

He peeks into the window and sees Felix talking to a pretty pink princess, he then steps into the café. 

The door chimes ring and he spots him. “Jisung over here!” Felix yells, grinning from ear to ear while recklessly flailing his arm in the air. 

It catches Jisung's attention and he responds with another grin as he strolls over.

“Wait, Jisung?” The pink-haired boy's expression turns shocked and excited, evident in his big smile.

“Why, are you guys friends? How do you know him?” Felix gasps, and his smile drops. His tone turned serious as the octave went lower. “Are you a fan?”

“Oh well, a bit-" He smizes his eyes and tilts his head happily. "-but my friend knows him more.” He smiles.

Jisung pulls out a chair and sits facing them, he slides his drink to him and inserts the straw.

The pink one turns to him, his eyes and lips smile at just the sight of him in front of him. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Jisung.”

He's stunned by the pink's greeting and sudden shout-out. He feels embarrassed that he knows his name but not vice versa even though they've never met before.

“Nice to meet you too, uhm- I don’t know your name.” 

He chuckles. "My name’s Jeongin.”

Indirectly, he's made him state his name without Jisung actually asking to or making him feel awkward.

Sometimes my genius is almost frightening.

Felix slides behind pinkie and makes an ‘01’ with his hands, implying that he's younger than the both of them.

Jisung, delighted by the pinkie pie in front of him, nods and makes an 'okay' gesture while mouthing 'Ah, okay'. “Well then, Jeongin. Let your friend know I said ‘Hi’ too.”

Jeongin, amused, his eyes twinkle. He already knew Hyunjin met him, but it was still a nice gesture.  “Will do!"

The three quickly bond over shared hobbies and interests, they stay in the café till it turns dark.

Jeongin says he met Felix when he was trying to open Jeongin’s locker for 10 minutes just to realize it wasn’t his, Jeongin eventually had to tell him when Felix called a mechanic to break it open; And since then, they’ve been hanging out more often. Jisung says he met Felix through Changbin during spring break and they bonded over the fact his and Felix's birthday were right after each other so they were 'twins'.

Hours passed, almost all the customers had left and the café started to close so they had to pack up and leave.

“I’ll go first." Jisung springs up while sipping his now warm coffee. "I gotta go drop off my stuff at the dorm.” He grabs his jacket and bag from the chair before slinging it up to his shoulders. “I’ll pay you back, Felix. And–" He points to the younger one, happily smiling at how cute the younger one was. "–Jeongin, it was nice meeting you.”

They say their goodbyes and he rushes out with his stuff about to fall off.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Jisung goes to his dorm first to drop off his bag then something sparkling on the ground catches his eye, he turns, looking for the source of the bright light blinding him.

The skates that Changbin gave him.

He's never used them, it's just been collecting dust and watching the days pass by. Looking at them makes him feel like they're staring back at him, judging, hating, loathing, and wondering about their purpose in life. A sense of remorse floods his mind and he ends up bringing the skates along with him.

Maybe Hyunjin could use it.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Jisung arrives at the rink and it weirdly feels empty. Eerily empty...

“Hyunjin?” His voice echoes the arena, making him feel smaller than he really is. He shivers at the thought.

No response.

“I guess I’m early.”

He puts his Americano on a chair then the skates on another. He looks at the ice and feels nostalgic. It’s almost been a year since the accident happened, yet he wants to try again, just for old time’s sake. He hesitantly puts on the skates, and to his surprise, they fit perfectly. He takes his jacket off and slowly goes on the ice, feeling a little uneasy. He takes a while to get used to the feeling of the cold, his breath shaky and his hands sweating from the anxiety.

Inhale. Exhale.

For old time's sake.

He glides for a bit.

This is good exposure therapy. Sorta.

He recounts his old routine and tries to execute it again. He can feel the adrenaline running through his veins. 

He feels alive again.

He starts tearing up but he doesn’t feel sad— no, it's the opposite —he forgot how much skating made him so happy and how those constant programs and rushed interviews ruined his childhood dreams. His faded blue hair with out-grown roots flows as he skates. He ends by doing a Quadruple Axel. He lands and strikes a pose, ending the routine. Then, he lets out a deep exhale, his hair getting in his face as he ducks over. With a huff, he pulls his hair back with both of his hands, laughing for a bit, and looks to the side.

A loud thud echoes from the arena walls.

Hyunjin.

He looks at him like he’s seen a ghost.

Jisung stares back at him, all the movement in his body ceases and he's left there standing like a mannequin. His eyes widen and his hands tremble. He's unsure what to do next, his head's in a daze with no coherent thought. All he could think about was the cold and Hyunjin's gaze. He can't look away but he wants to run.

“Ha-”

Jisung steps back but slips, he falls on his rear but keeps himself up using his arms. The voices in his head scream at him, begging him to stop the sudden attention on him. His heart beating like a ticking clock in a cathedral.

Badump Badump. Badump Badump.

Hyunjin's still staring at him, a pang in his chest as he was watching him look at him like he's some circus attraction. His guts tell him to get to him and make sure he's okay. He steps forward and reaches his hand out.

Badump Badump.

Jisung arose and darted to the other exit, immediately grabbing his bag like what Cinderella should've done. When he steps onto the carpet, he unties the lace and stumbles trying to take off the skates. 

In the distance, Hyunjin yells his name over and over. It felt so... familiar, it hurt. The more he hears his name, his ears ring, blocking out his voice. 

Badump Badump.

He runs through the doors and sprints to his dorm, his feet hurting with every step he takes as his bare feet made contact with the sharp gravel. He never once looked back.

Badump Badump.

He opens the door and trips over the door frame. He marches to his room, ignoring Changbin. He closes and locks the door behind him, he falls onto the door, still panting.

Badump Badump.

Jisung jolts up, still by the door. He opens his door and peaks through, no one outside. He brings out his phone: 4:19 A.M.

I didn't mean to fall asleep all of a sudden.

A wave of regret filled his mind looking back at what happened. He runs his hands through his hair and grips it, mumbling to himself.

Why'd I leave? I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Gosh, I'm so stupid. I could've just explained. I can't believe myself. What does he think of me now? He must think I'm some weirdo...

We're not even friends.

He reasons with himself, making excuses with every minute that passes. He wasn't thinking, he just...ran. Suddenly, his memory flooded with questions and reason on why he did all that.

Chapter Text

December 10

The dorm has been unusually quiet for a week that the three turn delusional without their walking record player.

The only reason Jisung's still alive, even though he hasn't seen the sun in a week, is because of his lovely—ew—best friends:

Seungmin always texts to check up on him and does his chores, Changbin buys him food and drinks, and Felix sits by his door and talks to him so he can have company. 

This isn't the first time he's done this. It's the third. But the three of them never scold him or anything, they sit him down and make him explain everything, they try to understand and watch him apologize too many times with the saddest face humankind could ever form.

They love him. Maybe too much.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Knock, knock, knock. 

“Hey, how're you doing? Have you been eating well or is he spoiling you?” Felix slouches between the door frame and the wall, he stirs a conversation with Jisung so he doesn't lack vitamin socializing.

The door suddenly communicates, a random bang coming from the other side.

“Mmm, I brought someone with me”

“Hi, Jisung~.” Jeongin cuts him off, his voice excited and sweet, you could hear his big smile as he said that.

Felix’s phone buzzes, already right beside him as he picks it up and opens the notification.

“He says ‘Hey, how are you?’.” Felix acts out while dramatically impersonating his best friend, flailing his hands to enact him. 

“Oh?” Jeongin looked down at the black-haired boy, he was just wondering how casual he was about this. “I'm doing well... You?” He stutters.

“He says ‘OK’.” Felix smiles softly, leaning his head back on the door as he looks up at his friend. It’s been a while since Jisung has stepped out and he’s hoped it wasn’t as worse as back then.

Jeongin hesitates a bit before dropping the question, double-checking his words to make sure he doesn't accidentally make him stay in longer. “Do you know Hyunjin?” He randomly asks, praying for an answer.

No response. Just silence.

As expected. The door seems offended too.

“Why, who's Hyunjin?” Felix is so perplexed by such an oddly specific question that he doesn't even register the person they're talking about. They scoot away from the door, making a lengthy distance from the door so Jisung doesn't hear the conversation.

“Okay, so, he’s my best friend and he's been feeling down since last week, and, I think, it has something to do with him,” Jeongin whispers badly, pointing at the door with his thumb. “He was also always talking about some blue-haired guy but then all of a sudden–” He gestures a ‘poof’ with one hand and makes a ‘pop’ with his mouth. “–he just stopped.” He paused, and peered at Felix; A look of puzzlement on his face.

“I can hear you, guys,” Felix’s phone buzzed, the silence after was so deafening that you could hear the bubbles from Changbin’s bath pop.

Jeongin clears his throat. “He's just been a little…” He looks up to try and find the right words. Jisung could practically hear him trying to come up with a term that wouldn't ruin his best friend's image. “...frustrated recently.”

Seems about right.

“Look, can’t you just talk to him? It's getting really awkward back in the dorms.” Jeongin heavily sighs, that one sigh explains everything he never said.

If Jisung felt bad before, he definitely feels even worse now. What would he even say? I’m sorry I ran away from you? I just don't wanna see you? Yeah, right...

Jeongin placed a hand on the door, inching closer so Jisung could hear his soft, gentle voice—as if he knew one wrong move could make him even more anxious. “Maybe meet us at that café? I’ll bring him with me as long as you come. Only if you want to.” 

“Mmm, and I could come with you! You don't have to do this alone,” Felix smiles reassuringly, he can't see it but he could tell. ”And please explain everything.”

All of a sudden, he gets a call. Jeongin looks down at his phone buzzing with ‘드라마’ showing up, and he rises up immediately. “I… Gotta go. Just… take care of yourself, Jisung.” He said blankly, like he wanted to say more but couldn’t.

Kinda sounded like an insult to him.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

A few hours passed and Jisung comes out of his room dressed in a créme blouse with blue jeans, completely different from the person he was an hour ago. He calls Felix and asks him if he could join him in the café, he agrees but he's going to be a bit late.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

While heading to the café, he tries to calm down while anxiously looking at all the stalls and decorations. Jisung gets a text from Jeongin, they exchanged phone numbers because Jeongin kept losing his phone and needed someone to call.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

핑키

you here yet? 

너

yeah

im right outside

핑키

i hate u so much

Unsent a message.

wait no 

ignore that

that didnt happen

please dont come in ywt

yet*

너

why

???

hello?

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

Blinded by his confusion and the sudden hate comment, he ignores what he said. He peeks into the café’s window only to see an Oreo Mcflurry sighing with his head dropped to his hands, he quietly sneaks up to him until the wind chimes rat him out and blows his cover. He looks back and sees him staring at him, it’s just Jeongin with a new hairstyle.

Should I change his username now?

“Oh, you're here!” Jeongin turns away from the counter and almost trips trying to walk over to him, he puts on a wide forced smile. “He couldn't- uhm… Make it sooo... I don't really know what to do now…” He places a hand on Jisung’s arm and tries to shun him away when suddenly, he gets a text message.  His phone screen lightens his face as he opens his phone.

“Tsk.”

I shouldn't be here.

He stands there like an NPC, clueless, and reads his expression. He wishes he listened to his text. “Should I leave?” 

“No. Sit.” Jeongin’s voice drops and he sounds pissed. His hand tightens on his arm, making him scream silently but the younger one doesn’t see.

I really shouldn't be here.

Jisung rushes to a couch, falling face flat, now scared of the once strawberry, now cookies and cream in front of him.

Jeongin and his phone seem to be in a heated argument, his brows burrow and he starts mumbling swear words in three different languages. The sexual tension between that phone and a busy road just keeps increasing every second.

“Erm– Jeongin, who's on the ph–” 

He turns his phone off, the notifications still gushing. He sits opposite him and puts his phone face down.

“Jisung, I'm sorry. Thanks for actually wanting to talk but he's being a little-” He eyes the kitchen. “He's being immature.” He loudens his voice while still eyeing the kitchen. 

A loud ‘pang’ responds from the kitchen.

“I get it. He doesn't need to show up, just tell him I'm sorry I panicked and ran away. That's all.”

Jeongin feels bad for him. His phone pauses then buzzes once, he looks at it and squints his eyes in disbelief. “Jeez, he wants me to say this." He pauses and reads the text first. “Why’d you do that then? I'm willing to hear you out but don't expect to be forgiven so easily.” He says sassily, imagining that’s how Hyunjin felt typing that out.

Jisung's surprised when he replied to what he said, he didn't think about how or why that happened and just corrected his posture and weakened his voice. He inches closer to look at the text but he hopelessly fails. “I know how he feels.”

Another buzz. “You even stopped going to the rink-” A pause, he reads it over and over again, trying to make sense of the long-distance argument. “It feels lonely now.” He looks up to Jisung but they don’t make eye contact.

“Sorry…” He looks down at the table and fiddles with his thumbs. He wants to say more but he chokes up, he gets even more sentimental. He looks away, feeling awkward and his lips keep curving downwards as he pouts but he tries to prevent it. 

Three notifications buzz but Jeongin doesn't open his phone. He closes his eyes and sighs, to avoid looking at the sad blueberry in front of him. “Why don't I just give you his number, I don't wanna be in the middle of this–” He gestures his hand in a circular motion, circling the phone and Jisung.

The wind chimes ring, and Seungmin steps into the café. He feels lost and out of place, not matching the same vibes they have. 

Something happened here.

“Hey, you guys okay? You both look so-” He approaches them and hovers over their table, concerned.

Jisung wipes his tears, he looks at him in surprise. “Seungmin? W-what are you doing here?”

The blond put his hands in his pockets. He tilts his head and pouts, trying to travel to the back of his mind to pull out what he was just told 10 minutes ago. Even though Felix said this was important, he just didn’t listen. 

Oh, yeah. Felix.

“Yongbok told me to be here for him, for you. He said you needed company and that he was insanely busy. I was already going here to see you then he called me.” After saying all that, he stands idly and smiles politely.

Jisung looks up at him and tries to stop making his lips go downwards by biting his underlip till it bleeds.

He heads to the counter to order, and something pops out in front of him and he jumps and screams. “What the-!” His wallet flies to the other side of the counter like it was jumpscared too.

Suddenly, a very built but short man comes out and weirdly smiles at Seungmin.

“H-heeey! Hi, how're you doing?” He rushes to the counter.  “So- uhm, what would you want- like?” His voice sounds awkward and it cracks. He pulls his hair back and keeps glancing back into the kitchen. He ducks down and picks up the wallet, he accidentally opens the wallet and sees his ID. His expression, is surprised, as he looks at Seungmin like his name is on the tip of his tongue. “You seem… familiar. ”

“Really? You don’t.” He sneers and smirks. “Hey, you two. What do you guys want? Yongbok told me to buy you something.”

Jeongin walks over and orders, Seungmin orders three drinks and one for Jisung. While the blond takes their orders, a loud ‘clang’ echoes and they all look into the kitchen. The four peek like meerkats, and then a yell is heard.

“Channie!” A high-pitched whistle pierces their ears, they could feel it bleed.

The blond, Chan, stands there and sighs so heavily, that all the air leaves his lungs. His deep exhale puts pressure on their shoulders, their imaginations go wild, and imagine what could be on the other side.

“Ganbatte Chan-san!" Jisung says like a high school anime girl. He cheers him on as Chan takes slow steps into the kitchen and someone peeks out to take his place.

“Hey there! I see Chan has already taken your orders. Five orders…” He looks at the screen on the counter and doesn't once glance at the three.

“Hello, Minho~,” Seungmin says politely, he looks at him kindly and smirks.

Minho looks up at him blankly and blinks at him repeatedly while mumbling under his breath.

Oh, it’s serious.

He walks out and joins Chan in the kitchen, Jeongin excuses himself and leaves too.

“Chan, Minho, Jeongin, and Hyunjin…” Jisung looks up to the ceiling, trying to connect the dots. “Aren’t they all roommates? I remember Jeongin told me stuff about them.” He sits back on the couch and Seungmin follows him while listening intently like he’s found a new species of mammal. “Chan owns this café and Minho is…” He pauses motioning his fingers in the air and slowly turns to Seungmin.

He’s creeped out by the owl-kind of turn he’s doing and holds his head by his cheeks. “Oh, God. Why do you turn like that, stop it.”

“How do you know Minho?"

“Minho’s a friend, you could say.” He grins maniacally. “Anyways! Yongbok told me I needed to be here, so spill.” He holds his head up and plays with his doughy skin.

Jisung’s confused, and every single feature on his face shows it.

“Please. You like being alone. If you needed company, it’s probably cause you’re in trouble or bored.” He pats the older one and fixes his long blue hair.

“I-I’ll tell you on the way.” 

They both stand up and take this as a time to leave. He feels much better now, he still feels guilty but at least he doesn’t wanna reenact a deflated tube man at those car dealerships.

“Hey, wait!”

Minho chases after them before they’re out the door. He faces Jisung, fully ignoring Seungmin.

“I’m sorry about Hyunjin. I’m really grateful for you being here and wanting to see him.”

He smiles fondly.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t reciprocate.

He hands them their drinks with a special snack Minho made himself and they walk away waving goodbye and smiling. He heads back inside and sees Jeongin and Chan surrounding Hyunjin, who’s sitting on a kitchen counter.

He blankly stares at his phone, and the chat opens. Dread fills him as he stares into his phone with a stunned look on his face. One chat bubble of an emoticon: a cat waving 'hello'.

It’s Han Jisung’s number.