Chapter Text
Hyunjin couldn’t count the amount of caffeine he drank in a span of a week. It wasn’t even the finals week yet, just everything had been too tough for him. Who even asked for the torture in the form of strict lecturers and short deadlines that he needs to catch up at the first place? Black circles began to form under his eyes, eating out his entire demeanor. He looked terrible, like someone who had just decided to walk on the street straight from the grave. It seemed he’s not alone in this, as the others are struggling too. Chan and Minho are constantly pulling an all-nighter too, joining him in desperation to ace the semester.
He was in the middle of smudging and adjusting the texture on his drawing using a charcoal stick, too immersed in getting the details right that he didn’t notice people began to gather at his desk. He only took notice when his lecturer called his name out and the next thing he knew, his still life drawing of a starfruit had been an example piece in his class.
Hyunjin dislikes attention. Yeah, we had established that.
Ever since his work garnered attention from everyone, he became quite popular with his classmates, even coursemates. Some of the students began to approach him to ask for guides and opinions on their works, trusting his insights in art. Words travel fast and the last thing that he wanted to do is just to get back into his small bubble of isolation. Back from the start when he was just a nobody.
Yes, he disliked the attention. He felt trapped when the needles tried to prick the small bubble that he hides in ever since he stepped foot in the university. He’s determined to stay away from all the social life as much as he could. He doesn't need friends, he’s a strong believer in his own principles that won’t be swayed easily. He can get through his university life alone. Others are just acquaintances, they won’t stay anyway.
He saw everyone is getting closer to each other, some even formed a clique of their own. There it goes again. As usual, birds with the same feathers flock together, and then there was him. An ugly duckling who doesn't even fit in the society. Nah, not that he even tried to fit in the first place anyway. This is Hyunjin’s life, he’s just a wallflower. The side character that people never bothered to even know how they ended up. He doesn’t deserve the spotlight anyways. So there he is, standing at the sidewalks, watching from the corner of the room. He had long enough accepted the fact that the world never revolves around him, he sometimes ponders as to why he was born as a human and not a goldfish.
When his classmates began to act all friendly and asked him out to have lunch with them, he just declined the offer. He doesn’t want to appear rude, it’s just his social battery is most likely to run out too fast for his own good and he doesn’t want to get attached to anyone. So, when the class is over, he just packs up all of his things, put on his headphones, grab some lunch from the cafeteria and heads straight back to his room.
Hyunjin didn’t realize that it was past midnight when he woke up at the sound of people chattering under his bunk bed. The lights are switched on and some of the reflection bore through his eyes. Whilst adjusting to the current lighting, he stretched his limbs, feeling quite stiff and sticky too. The heat is burning him down, which made him throw his blanket away and just straight-up sitting on his bed. Still feeling dizzy because apparently, he’d taken a nap for almost 5 hours, he rubbed his eyes before deciding to take a look at whatever that’s happening inside his room.
He took a peek at the sight of the people around him and guess what? He saw papers scattered on the floor with four people on the mat. He couldn’t figure who’s who other than his two roommates, guess he needs to get down first. Besides, he really needs to pee and wash his face, maybe he needs to take a shower too -
“Hyunjin! You’re awake, uh sorry are we being too loud?” Chan waved in his direction while another hand was holding his pen.
That is when he saw a mop of black hair turned his head towards his direction.
Han Jisung.
What is he doing here?
-
Coffees, smeared charcoal all over the places, frustration.
Yep. This is normal. This is fine.
-
“Hyunjin! Join us for lunch?”
There he is, standing in front of him with his signature smile plastered all over his face. No wonder he’s quite popular. Well, he’s the lead guitarist and vocalist of a band, of course, he’ll be people’s favorite.
Han Jisung.
He never met someone as persistent as him. He kept on pestering Hyunjin at every second he had, convincing him to be his friend.
Hyunjin tried to avert his eyes from the latter, mumbled something like “no, thanks I wanted to be alone” along the line but Jisung wasn’t really paying any attention to that. His bluntness and persistence can overcome everything.
That’s how Hyunjin ended up being sandwiched between Jisung’s friends at the cafeteria. Well, technically it’s his classmates but he won’t refer them to that. They’re just acquaintances. He just wanted to go away but he can’t. Not when he’s practically stuck between Jinri and Daehyun. He just munched his sandwich silently, avoiding eye contact with them, and started to drown in his thoughts. They are talking about a cafe which will be opening soon, but Hyunjin paid no care.
It is loud. They are loud, as expected from a bunch of college kids.
He just needs to finish his food and he can run away from this. Maybe excusing himself that he has to go the toilet or-
“Hyunjin, hey how about you? Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla?”
That snapped Hyunjin from his thoughts. It is too late because everyone’s looking at him right now. In front of him sat Jisung, looking at him with sparkly eyes, waiting for him to say something. He seemed intent and Hyunjin didn’t want to let him down, not when all eyes were on him.
“I think I prefer chocolate. There’s something about vanilla that made it taste bland on my tongue, well maybe it’s just me. I don’t know.” Hyunjin blurted out without giving any second thoughts. That gave him several responses from the people on the table, some agreeing while some of them protected the flavor as if their lives depended on it.
Hyunjin slowly got invested in their conversation ever since as he slowly felt the awkward air dissipated. He noticed that whenever he almost drifted away and was ignored by the group of people, Jisung was there to keep him grounded. He would be the one to pull him back into the conversation, making sure he wasn’t left behind.
It was a long, exhausting day. He needed a recharge time. Alone and by himself. Thank god Minho and Chan are out all day long, at least that’s what they told him.
Fresh from the shower and ready to plop on his bed to get a nap before he decided to be productive again, his phone buzzed.
“Heyya, it’s Ji. Want to join me to grab dinner later?”