Chapter Text
Opening his eyes heavily, Huening let out a weary sigh as his gaze landed on the clock beside him, realizing he had once again woken up earlier than necessary. His body completely ignored the exhaustion caused by going to bed at two in the morning after a sudden surge of inspiration for a composition. Still, being awake wasn’t entirely a bad thing—he could mentally prepare for the day; reread the sheet music scattered across his desk; take a longer shower without his younger sister banging on the door, insisting she needed to get ready; and most importantly, figure out how to tell Yeonjun and Soobin that this time, he absolutely did not want to help with welcoming the new students who were arriving for the second semester.
It wasn’t that Kamal didn’t want to help or that he was too lazy to support his friends—who were both so active in student life—it was simply that talking to new people had never been his strong suit. He had tried at the beginning of the year, and all it led to was him being more of a burden than an actual help, awkwardly smiling and trying to hide behind Taehyun—though that wasn’t very effective, considering the Korean was at least ten centimeters shorter than him. Every time a new student tried to start a conversation, Kai would freeze up. Last time, one girl had even flirted with him, which made him stutter and lock up completely, earning nothing but an annoyed look and a rude turn of her back. Even knowing all this, the older boys were absolutely determined he would help again. Yeonjun had said, “It’ll be good for you, Kai. You need to learn how to deal with new people. I know how much you want to share your music, and I know your shyness holds you back. Come on—if you feel too awkward, Tyun will just take you away and buy you some ice cream.” Kai remembered Kang grumbling “why me?” with a sulky face before laughing and eventually agreeing with the elder Choi.
And that was exactly why Kai now stood in front of his bathroom mirror, bitterly regretting staying up so late to write instead of listening to his older and wiser sister Lea, who had told him to rest and avoid the dark circles under his eyes. Now, he’d have to beg Bahiyyih to cover them with a light touch of makeup, already bracing himself for her complaints about being late because of him. Realizing there wasn’t much he could do about the storm brewing in his head, Kai took a deep breath and stepped into a hot shower.
(.....)
On his way to campus, Kamal’s restless mind only thought of ways to disappear from his friends’ sight. He could hide in one of the music rooms, but Taehyun would probably check there first. He could run to the dance studios, which were usually quieter than the others, if not for the fact that Yeonjun, being the department’s representative, seemed to know every single student there and could easily find him with a quick word from some girl eager to help him. The administrative wing was out too, since Soobin was likely to be passing through to assist with organization. And Beomgyu… Beomgyu had an uncanny talent for showing up exactly where he wasn’t supposed to, which meant he would probably stumble upon Kai by pure accident.
As if his day wasn’t already cursed, he didn’t even need to think of a hiding spot. The second he stepped out of the car, he heard his sister greeting Choi Soobin before walking away, laughing and glancing back at him. That brat—she had probably texted his friends to say they were on their way. He should have known better than to give Beomgyu her number just because the two wanted to share haircare tips. Now there was officially nowhere to hide, not when the older Choi was already standing there with his arms crossed and an amused look on his face.
— Heading somewhere, Mr. Kamal? As far as I know, you’ve got an important appointment today. And as a member of the student council, I’m afraid it’s my duty to make sure you keep it - Soobin said with a near-devilish smile, slinging one arm around Kai’s shoulders.
Kai sighed in defeat. “You say that now, Soob, but I’m a total social disaster. You should know that better than anyone.” He reminded Soobin of the day they had first met, when Taehyun had dragged him along to introduce him to the older boys. Kai had frozen on the spot, barely able to look them in the eye, and had even managed to fumble his own name. Thankfully, those boys were kind and patient enough to give him space until he slowly opened up, and eventually, they became inseparable. But not everyone was like that, and Kai knew it well. There were plenty of people who would laugh in his face and think him pathetic, and that was one of his biggest fears. – I don’t have your charm or Yeonjun’s natural charisma.
— You don’t need any of that, idiot. You’re you—and that’s why we adore you - Soobin answered softly, trying to lighten the tension gathering around Kai. – You’ll be fine, I know you will. Come on, Beomgyu already said we’ve got the list of transfer students we’ll be welcoming.
Kai nodded faintly and let his friend guide him inside, listening as Soobin explained that this time they wouldn’t be greeting brand-new freshmen, but rather transfer students from other universities. That information calmed him a little. Transfer students usually asked fewer questions, were less eager to strike up random conversations, and generally weren’t as dazzled by everything around them. Fewer words to say, fewer people to impress—better odds for him.
It didn’t take long before the usual chaos of the semester’s first day surrounded them, mostly caused by excited newcomers or freshmen still adjusting to college life. If not for the commitment he had made to his friends—and the fact that he was his sister’s ride—Kai might have shown up late, skipped class, and hidden away with his guitar. He wasn’t the only one who would do that either; his class would almost certainly be half-empty today. He shrank a little at the noisy atmosphere, wishing he could just lock himself away somewhere with music, or drag Taehyun off to explain a new set of lyrics he was writing.
And as if the general buzz weren’t enough, Kai nearly forgot how to breathe when he saw the crowd gathered at the administrative building’s reception. Dozens of students clustered together, chatting animatedly. In the whirl of bodies, he quickly spotted his friends laughing as they organized some papers—it wasn’t hard to notice Yeonjun’s new two-toned hair or Beomgyu’s hair now long enough to brush his shoulders. As he approached, he overheard Beomgyu excitedly telling a story. From what Kai understood, one of the transfer students was an old friend of his.
— Beomgyu, we get it. Haechan’s great and you torment him all the time. You’ve been going on about him for half an hour. - Taehyun sighed, rolling his eyes before turning to Soobin and Kai. A wide smile spread across his face as he pulled Kai into a side hug. – You came, Kai. I’m really proud of you, seriously.
Kai melted into his best friend’s arms, leaning down slightly because of their height difference and allowing himself to relax. Kang was by far his oldest and closest friend, and he knew just how difficult it was for Kai to deal with people. He had often told him he might be struggling with social anxiety and should seek help, but Kai stubbornly believed that if you don’t look for it, you don’t find it, and he didn’t want a diagnosis to deal with.
— First of all, screw you, Kang Taehyun. I didn’t talk that much about him. - Beomgyu retorted with a pout, sticking out his tongue.
— Oh wow, he knows how to swear. - Taehyun teased.
Beomgyu only huffed, then added with a grin, “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here too, Hyuka. At least I won’t have to deal with the campus power couple and Mr. Eternal Bad Mood all alone.”
— We weren’t even part of this discussion and somehow we’re the ones getting dragged? - Yeonjun raised a brow, flicking the younger Choi lightly on the forehead. – It’s really good to see you here, Kai. I know you’d rather be anywhere else on a Monday morning, but it means a lot to all of us that you came. If it gets too hard, or too uncomfortable, you can tell us, okay?
Kai smiled warmly at the words and nodded, letting go of Taehyun’s hand only to grab it again and tug him closer to help with the student files. Around him, his friends filled the air with chatter and laughter, making silly comments about the day in an effort to ease his nerves, and Kai could only feel grateful. He knew that, in the end, Yeonjun was right. He did want to show the world his art. He wanted to be brave enough to share his compositions and songs beyond the four walls of his room and the handful of professors who saw potential in him. He wanted to join the ensembles his classmates kept inviting him into, like Beomgyu often did.
But he was afraid—afraid of failing, afraid of being laughed at. So for today, he would simply stay by his friends’ side, and at least try to smile a little more genuinely at the new people around him.
(.....)
About forty minutes into the reception, everything had gone smoothly so far. Just as he expected, transfer students were much easier to handle than the overly excited freshmen. All Kai had to do was stand there smiling while the Choi duo handed out pamphlets and explained the main campus rules, Taehyun went over the building layouts and room assignments, and Beomgyu… well, Beomgyu filled the air with endless chatter for anyone willing to listen. At that moment, he had been talking for at least ten minutes straight with the boy Kai soon learned was Haechan—or rather Donghyuck, since Haechan was just a nickname. The boy, about Beomgyu’s height, had a warm-toned complexion and was apparently studying Accounting due to his father’s pressure, even though he truly loved singing.
Kai hadn’t asked a single question, of course. He was just standing quietly behind the two while they talked. Still, he had managed to introduce himself to Beomgyu’s friend without stuttering, offering a smile he hoped came across as kind enough. Both Haechan and Beomgyu had smiled back at him, which made his chest feel lighter.
Everything was flowing better than he’d expected, calming his nerves. One name after another, students were welcomed—now even with Haechan joining in for fun—then they moved on. They didn’t linger on Kai, didn’t try to talk much with him, didn’t even glance at him for long. And honestly? That was fine with him. Better to be invisible than to be seen and disliked.
But things changed when he let himself drift off into thought and only realized the next student had approached when he heard lively conversation in the background. He’d missed the introduction entirely. Preparing to give another awkward smile, he turned to face them—
—and froze.
In front of him stood a boy much smaller than him, dressed with striking elegance, his hair a soft shade of pink that reminded Kai of cotton candy. He was chatting with Soobin and Yeonjun as if they had known each other for years. But the moment he turned to speak with Taehyun, Kai caught a clear look at his face—and suddenly, even the idea of smiling seemed impossible. He was sure he would mess up even something that simple, not knowing how to act in front of someone so beautiful. His features were fine, delicate, with sharp, expressive eyes that seemed just as elegant as his clothes.
And then those sharp eyes landed on him.
Kai’s body tensed so much it felt like the ground beneath him was sinking. He silently begged the boy to look away, to turn back toward Taehyun—but he didn’t. He kept staring. The gaze was so intense it made every hair on Kai’s body stand on end. It didn’t strip away his clothes, but something far deeper: the fragile shield he had spent years building around himself. It felt as though this boy could read his thoughts, anticipate his every move. As if he was being seen—truly seen—for the first time.
— Oh, Renjun! Hey, I thought you weren’t coming to the reception. - Donghyuck’s voice broke through the moment. Apparently, he knew the boy.
Even when called, Renjun’s eyes didn’t leave Kai’s. And Kai understood, because even though his mind and body screamed for him to look away and run as far as possible, he couldn’t. He stayed rooted there, caught in those sharp eyes.
Then came the voice—the voice Kai was sure would haunt his dreams.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Huang Renjun.”
Hueningkai simply froze, stopping in his tracks as he stared at the boy with wide eyes. He wanted to say something—his name, a polite reply, any nonsense about welcoming Renjun to the university—but nothing came out. Fear took over his body, panic flooding his mind; he just couldn’t. God, he couldn’t handle it if he stuttered or made a weird face and the handsome boy in front of him reacted the same way the last guy he’d tried flirting with had. He wouldn’t survive seeing him laugh at him.
So Kamal’s brain made the most illogical decision possible, but at that moment it felt like the only right one: he turned around and walked away as if he had no idea Huang’s introduction had been directed at him, pretending not to know that the Chinese boy’s eyes had been locked on his own when those words were spoken. To his friends, he could always pretend he thought Renjun had been talking to Taehyun, play dumb, act clueless. But as for the pretty boy with pink hair? He’d never look him in the face again. How could he? His mind realized far too late that what he’d just done had been so rude and disrespectful it couldn’t be erased, not even if he apologized on his knees; stuttering would probably have been less humiliating.
But Kai tried to convince himself that at least this way he wouldn’t have to deal with the shorter boy’s reaction, wouldn’t have to overanalyze every flicker of his expression and then torment himself with the thought that he’d been hated. And honestly, it was almost certain he had been. Unfortunately for him, the relief of escaping a social interaction with someone who had looked at him so intently his knees nearly gave out did nothing to soothe the anger bubbling inside him. It wasn’t the usual frustration he felt when panic ruined his social skills—embarrassment at himself, or resentment for his inability to hold a simple conversation. No, this time he hated himself for a different reason: because he had wanted to talk to him. He had wanted to say his name, tell him his major, wish him a good start at the university, maybe even add that someone with a face so beautiful shouldn’t have to know exhaustion. The problem was, now he’d never be able to say any of that, because he’d do everything in his power to avoid running into him again—and he firmly believed Huang would do the same after being ignored so bluntly. Lucky for him, the campus was huge, and he barely left his classroom anyway.
The Hawaiian’s mind was so focused on escaping the interaction that he didn’t even hear his friends calling his name in confusion, trying to understand what had just happened. He didn’t notice that Renjun’s eyes hadn’t strayed when he turned and walked away—if anything, they had fixed even more firmly on his broad back. And he didn’t hear the soft Chinese voice cast a single question into the air, finger pointing discreetly in his direction.
— And who is he?
(.....)
Kamal tried to focus on getting the relatively simple chords right, but at that moment it felt like the hardest task he’d ever faced; his mind refused to settle, unable to focus on anything, and he blamed the situation from earlier entirely. Hell, he cursed under his breath every time his fingers slipped into the wrong chord, off rhythm, the sound screechy and unpleasant, downright ugly to his ears. Playing had always been his escape, his safe outlet, but not even that was working on this cursed day.
Grumbling louder than he meant to, he set the guitar aside and pulled out his phone, scrolling for a different song to distract him. A flood of missed calls and unread messages filled his screen, his friends probably fainting from worry by now. Guilt surged through him—he knew they must have combed the entire campus looking for him, asking anyone if they’d seen him. One message in particular, from Taehyun, squeezed his heart until it nearly cracked: a simple apology, saying his best friend had failed to protect him. God, if Hueningkai had felt like a monster before, now it was worse. This was his fault—why should Taehyun feel guilty?
Sighing, he gave up on running from the mess he’d caused for himself and his friends. He got up from the grass, brushing off his pants, slid the battered guitar back into its case, and drew a deep breath of the fresh park air. At this hour the place was satisfyingly empty, most people stuck at school or work, and Kai was grateful—he was sure anyone nearby could feel the bitter aura radiating off him. Leaning against a tree trunk, he pulled a small pack of cigarettes from his pocket, cursing himself for smoking again after months of avoiding the habit. He’d picked it up back in high school, when Taehyun had to take on a part-time job and they barely saw each other, the stress knotting his stomach every single day until cigarettes had become his only way of loosening it.
His fingers dialed Yeonjun’s number without hesitation—he was the one Kai could explain himself to right now, the calmest of the group, the one with that “matriarch” aura that always kept them together. The phone barely rang before Choi picked up, his voice tight and worried.
— Where are you, Kai? — The elder’s tone wasn’t angry, but low, as though he was walking quickly. — We’re all worried, Taehyun hasn’t stopped pacing for an insane amount of time. We searched every corner of the campus.
— Hyung, I’m sorry. Really, I… I don’t know what came over me, I don’t know how to explain without saying it in person. — He sighed audibly, blowing smoke away from the receiver. — I’m at the park near my house, I’ll come back.
— You don’t have to if you don’t want to, darling. We can come meet you, if that feels easier.
— No, no. First, I’ll ignore Bahiyyih, because if she hears about this she’ll nag me all week. Second, I’ll head back with Tae and probably buy him ice cream to make up for worrying him so much. — He dropped the cigarette butt, grinding it under his heel as he headed toward his car.
— See? I raise you, I take care of you, and yet the boyfriend’s the one who gets ice cream! Mom’s good for nothing. — Kai laughed, rolling his eyes as he started the engine.
— I’ll buy you a tub too, hyung, no need to be jealous. But you know how overprotective my best friend is—he’s probably ready to kill me right now. — He could practically see Yeonjun’s mocking pout through the line as the older hummed in response. — I’m coming, okay?
(.....)
By the time he parked the car, his friends were already waiting impatiently at the entrance. Yeonjun had an arm draped lazily around Soobin’s shoulders, Beomgyu was waving enthusiastically, and Taehyun stood at the front, his wide eyes somehow even bigger than usual. He’d barely stepped out when the shorter boy charged forward, smacking his chest with a series of not-so-hard slaps, insults spilling from his lips without a shred of true malice.
— Idiot, bastard, dumbass! I’ve been your friend since the womb and you can’t even answer a call? — Kang’s voice cracked with exasperation, pulling him into a tight hug right after. — I was worried sick. I’m sorry I didn’t notice your discomfort earlier, Kai.
Huening’s chest ached painfully as he hugged him back, resting his chin on the other’s head while the rest of the group approached with relieved chuckles. Beomgyu gave him a pat on the back, ruffling his hair, his face openly showing his relief.
— I’m sorry, Tyun. I wasn’t upset until that moment. Not really. It was… something else, actually. — Kai admitted after placing a light kiss on his friend’s forehead, pulling back just enough to meet the others’ eyes. — It was that boy, Renjun. He stared at me too much, and he was really pretty, and I don’t know how to explain it, but my brain just stopped working because his eyes on me were too much to handle.
He spent the next few minutes trying to explain the shock of seeing the smaller boy, how his words had abandoned him, how the panic had overwhelmed him, and why he’d bolted.
His friends listened carefully—the Choi couple grinning like they were watching a puppy try to bark, Beomgyu red-faced as he tried not to laugh outright, and Taehyun, serious as always, observing closely.
— I can’t believe you ran away just because you thought the guy was hot, Huening Kai Kamal. — The younger Choi finally burst out in loud laughter, smacking his back again. — This is so you, I don’t know how none of us thought of it first. Tae here was ready to throttle the poor guy, thinking he’d hurt you.
— Stop laughing, idiot. It was humiliating. I’ll never be able to look him in the face again, and for once I actually wanted to talk to someone new. — Kai grumbled, shoving the older boy lightly.
— Hm, maybe it’s for the best. He had that “I know I’m a star” vibe. Everyone kept saying he was the big shot of his old Fashion program—bet his ego’s massive. — Kang crossed his arms with a roll of his eyes. Kai frowned; how rude! From what little he’d seen, the Chinese boy had seemed gentle, and Taehyun rarely said things like that.
— Beomgyu, leave Kai alone. It may sound funny, but you know his fear isn’t a joke. Kai, don’t be so dramatic. The boy even asked who you were, and honestly, the way he looked at you would have left me dizzy too. He was practically devouring you. — Yeonjun smirked as Kamal’s face turned so red it looked feverish. — And you, Mr. Jealous Best Friend, stop sulking. You know as well as I do that Renjun’s a sweet guy. We can’t always be by Kai’s side—you know that better than anyone.
— I’m not jealous, I’m just worried about him. — Taehyun muttered, turning away with a pout.
— He… asked about me? What did he say? Was he really mad? — Kai bombarded Beomgyu with anxious questions, heart pounding.
— He laughed, a lot. But then we explained you were really shy and we had dragged you along, otherwise you wouldn’t even have shown up. Hyuck backed us up—they seem pretty close. — Beomgyu added with a raised eyebrow. — Honestly, I think you still have a shot with the pink-haired one, man.
It was probably for the best that Kai had nothing in his hands, or Beomgyu would be dodging flying objects by now. Instead, he just turned to the others, desperate to know more about the boy who’d left him so undone.
He learned that the adorable shortie’s name was Huang Renjun, that he was majoring in Fashion, and had transferred to the Seoul campus because he’d landed an internship at a big-name brand in the city. He was two years older—a detail that, for some reason, made Kai’s stomach flip; he’d always preferred guys a little older. He’d moved from China as a child with his parents. And apparently, he’d called him “cute” when talking to Beomgyu before dragging Haechan along. Kai honestly didn’t know how to process that last bit—why would Renjun think he was cute, when surely he hated him by now?
They talked a bit longer about the day, Kai apologizing for bailing on them during the reception. He endured Soobin’s heartfelt monologue about how proud they were of him for at least showing up, and Beomgyu’s over-the-top performance of fake tears. After saying goodbye, he texted his sister to check if she needed a ride home—when she didn’t, he called Taehyun to join him for ice cream.
On the way to the parlor, they talked about life and their weekly troubles. Taehyun complained about his schedule including Biostatistics this semester, a subject he hated with a passion. Kai shared how poorly he’d slept and showed him the arrangement he’d stayed up all night working on. They debated the guy Taehyun was casually seeing. But honestly, Kai’s head wasn’t entirely there. Quietly, it kept circling back to a pair of eyes that had burned themselves into his memory.
He was probably screwed.
(.....)
It had been almost two weeks—almost two weeks since he had met Huang Renjun and never seen him again. Well… he had seen him, but not in the way he expected. Just a few days after his arrival, the Chinese boy and his friends had already become the sensation of the moment, both for being close to Mark Lee—a talented singer and rapper who performed regularly at the bars near campus and shared classes with him—and for the elegant clothes Renjun always wore as he strolled through the halls of the institution. One day, Huang wore a satin shirt that draped so beautifully over his shoulders and gave him such a graceful air that Kai genuinely thought he could die for him right there.
But now that the older boy was well-known and admired, there was no reason for him to come over and talk; who was Kai, anyway? Among so many people, why would Huang ever seek him out? Fine, maybe it was partly his own fault, since through Beomgyu’s closeness with Donghyuck, their friend groups had naturally grown closer. Yet even so, he kept trying to avoid both the older Chinese boy and his friends at all costs, always walking the other way whenever he saw his friends with the new group—something that was happening more and more often. He constantly saw the younger Choi hanging out not only with his longtime friend but also with Mark and with a boy he thought was called Chenle. Yeonjun had gotten very close to Renjun because of their shared passion for fashion, to a boy who seemed just as shy as him—Jisung, if he remembered right—and to Mark as well, with the older Choi even remarking that the two had similar personalities. Soobin had grown close to Haechan, and even Taehyun had ended up bonding with two guys from the group he now trained with, though Kamal couldn’t quite remember their names.
So in a way, Huening had every possible chance to strike up a conversation with Renjun and get closer, maybe even apologize for that first day and finally introduce himself properly. He simply didn’t do it out of embarrassment and preferred to blame other things for his incompetence. It was easier to shift the blame anyway. But his friends had already noticed how Kai was spending less and less time outside of his classrooms, how he now always texted to ask where they were and if they were with someone else, how he would never answer if they called his name while surrounded by the new group. In those moments, the Hawaiian boy just shut himself down.
And that’s exactly why he was now sitting in front of Choi Yeonjun, who had a huge scowl on his face with arms crossed, and beside him, Choi Soobin, who looked at him with the expression of a puppy just kicked out of the house. Another lecture. Great.
— Huening Kai Kamal, what’s going on? Like, I know about your issues, and you know we respect you more than anyone in this world, but this is worse! You used to at least try not to look rude, but now if one of the new guys shows up while we’re talking, you just turn your back and leave. — It was his turn to cross his arms, bad mood seeping into his body as he rolled his eyes. God, how he wanted a cigarette. — They’re great people, and they’re a great chance for you to expand your circle of friends. And I’m saying this as one of your best friends, Kai.
— What this annoying guy is trying to say, Kai… — Soobin started, his voice so soft he had to lean closer to be heard. — Is that maybe if you just opened up the tiniest bit, even just said hi or introduced yourself, it might do you good, you know? You don’t have to get close to them, but it’d already be a big step. Anyway, if you look me in the eye right now and tell me you really can’t handle it, I’ll talk to Haechan and his friends so we can hang out more outside of school. I know Tae would do the same too.
Kai stared at him in disbelief, guilt and sadness weighing on his chest again. Lately, he had been feeling that way all too often. Was it really that bad? Soobin couldn’t just distance himself from his new friends for him—Kai would never forgive himself for being so selfish if he did. He knew he was being childish, but he hadn’t realized it was so obvious to everyone else.
— Soobin hyung… No, of course not. You can’t do that. That’d be unfair—not only to you but also to your new friends. — His expression wilted, his fingers absentmindedly twisting a strand of hair. — Yeonjun hyung is right. I’m being childish and cowardly. I know I’m better than this too. I just get so scared they won’t like me—or that Renjun won’t like me—and that maybe you guys would stop liking me too.
He felt his eyes sting as tears threatened to form, and he dropped his gaze to the floor, feeling even more stupid for being shaken over something so small and ridiculous. Maybe if he had listened to his friends and started therapy earlier, he wouldn’t be so haunted by the ghosts of his past. Maybe he wouldn’t be so afraid of being rejected or disliked, or so desperate at the thought of being laughed at.
Lost in his own head, he was pulled back when he suddenly felt Yeonjun wrap an awkward arm around him and Soobin’s hand gently ruffle his hair. A small smile tugged at his lips.
— We’re sorry, Kai. We didn’t even ask if you were comfortable with this. I swear we didn’t mean to make you feel this way, my God. — Yeonjun’s voice was heavy, his eyes locked deeply on his face. — I feel terrible for making my pup want to cry.
Huening chuckled softly, resting his head on the older Choi’s shoulder.
— You guys are right in the end, hyung. The boys really do seem nice. I do want to get to know them, I’m just really scared too.
So for the next few hours, the three just sat together, talking and planning the best situation for Kai to introduce himself to the new group without it being too uncomfortable. They thought of every possible scenario: going out to eat together, a concert where Mark would perform and Beomgyu would play, a fashion showcase organized by Renjun’s class. In the end, Yeonjun decided to host a small get-together at his house and invite the new friends, so Hueningkai wouldn’t have to face a crowded place and could feel more at ease in a familiar environment.
After saying goodbye to his friends, he started down the hall to grab his things and the sheet music he was working on when he suddenly collided with someone while turning a corner. The impact was light but noticeable, and Huening’s face instantly flushed with embarrassment. When he looked up and saw who he had bumped into, he was certain the heavens had cursed him.
— Hi, Hueningkai… right? Nice to meet you, I’m Huang Renjun.
It was him. And he was talking to him again, those sharp eyes piercing into him once more, now paired with a small, gentle smile on his lips. Up close, he was even more beautiful. And this time, there was no escape—he had to answer, even if it came out in the thinnest, most broken voice possible.
— Ah, yes, hi! Nice to meet you, I’m Huening Kai Kamal, and I’m friends with Yeonjun and Beomgyu. — His voice cracked slightly at the end, thinner than usual, but it was the best he could manage. — Sorry about that day… I think the guys mentioned I’m a little shy, right?
The older boy’s smile widened, and a soft laugh escaped his lips—not mocking, but as if he had genuinely found Kai’s words endearing.
— They did, yeah. I was curious because for someone so tall, you really do seem like a scared kitten. I even thought you were avoiding my friends and me, but that’d be ridiculous, wouldn’t it? — Kai thought he might actually die when Renjun’s voice dropped lower, his hands resting on his waist, framed perfectly by his tailored trousers. — Heading home now?
— Ah, yes… Ridiculous, right? I’ve just been a bit busy lately. — He let out a nervous laugh, his burning red cheeks only deepening in color. Honestly, at this point, I should just die already. — I’m just going to grab my things from the classroom. The guys called me to talk, and I forgot to bring my sheet music.
— You’re in Music, right? Mark mentioned he’s had a few classes with you.
The younger boy nodded—maybe a bit too forcefully—his face so hot now that even his ears burned.
— Not sure if Beomgyu or Yeonjun told you, but I study Fashion. Tomorrow we’ll have a sketch presentation that’s open to the public. My friends will be there, and I’m pretty sure yours will too. Gyu said he was going to drag you all along. I’d be happy if you showed up.
— I… Of course! I’ll be there, Renjun-ssi. You can count on me. — He stammered awkwardly, his fingers so tightly intertwined that his knuckles ached. Renjun’s smile grew even brighter—showing teeth this time—and he looked genuinely pleased with the answer.
— I’m really glad to hear that, Kai. And no need to be so formal—I feel old when you do that. You can call me hyung if you like.
And then the older boy stepped away, throwing him a discreet wink before leaving, while Huening stood there completely dazed and dizzy. At that moment, Kamal was certain of one thing: he was going to that presentation no matter what.