Chapter Text
Year 2001
“Thank you guys, you all did great! This was a great session!” Ikjun says while he puts his guitar away. It was the end of another band practice, and it was surprisingly good, considering they haven’t had one in a long time because of their busy schedules. In fact, it was the first time the group saw each other the whole week. For students of the same year and the same program, it is very rare that this happens.
“Yah, you guys did well. How are you all anyway? Are you all eating well despite the deadlines?” Songhwa concerningly asks them as she settles her bass guitar in the rack. She is a little out of practice due to the lack of their sessions. Good thing Ikjun was there to guide her.
“I am eating well, that’s the only thing I’m good at right now. I should probably change my degree. I’m not sure about these saekkis.” Junwan smugly answers, as he gathers his stuff from the couch. The group roars into laughter with Junwan’s joke. These times have been really tough, and everyone is just so busy. They all need support from each other, even though no one wants to admit it. Their exchange of jokes and stories continues as they ascend from the basement.
“I’ll see you guys again soon, okay? Take care on the way home!” Songhwa greets the guys when they reach the gates of Seokhyeong’s house. “Yah, Chae Songhwa, where are you going? Aren’t we gonna walk together to the dorms?” Jeongwon protests. It has been their tradition to walk back to their dorms together after their practice.
“Uh, no. I still have a class, I’m going back to the campus.” she replies, while pointing to her back. The guys’ jaws just dropped open. Why didn’t she tell them she still had a class? “Okay, I’m sorry for not telling you guys, I just don’t want to cancel practice today.” She tries to explain. Ikjun looks at her, softly. Songhwa probably just wanted to see them badly.
He took a brief glance to the sky. It was a beautiful shade of purple-pink. But he knew that by the time she reaches the university, it’ll be pitch black.
“You two, go ahead.” Ikjun walks past Junwan and Jeongwon, heading up to Songhwa. “Come on, I’d walk you to class.” He takes the books she is cradling on her arms. Taken by surprise, Songhwa almost trips, if not for Ikjun being there again to support her.
“Yah, be careful, don’t worry, I don't have anything to do. Don’t rush yourself.”
“Thank you, Ikjun-ah... You know, I’m having this class on the old building by the oval. I really don’t wanna walk there alone, you know the stories right? Especially now that it’s already getting dark.” Songhwa confesses to Ikjun as she breathes a sigh of relief, now that she doesn’t have to walk back to class in the dark, alone.
“Don’t mention it. I know how scary it is to walk around the campus when it’s nighttime. I’ve had my fair share of night classes. You know, I just noticed how our university offers a lot of late classes yet they don’t make the effort to keep the place well-lit. It’s very confusing.” He complains, to which Songhwa only replies with a trail of chuckles.
They reach the campus minutes later, and by that time, the moon is already peeking behind thin clouds. They arrived at the said old, scary building which by the way, is living up to its name, with the ambiance alone. Ikjun hands Songhwa her books back, before giving her a pat in the head. “Ikjun-ah, gomawo… Walk back home safely.” She tells him softly, before climbing the stairs up the building.
When she reached the top though, Ikjun called for her. “What time does your class finish?”
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Songhwa sees a familiar figure in the dark as she exits the building. She isn’t expecting it but she’s not surprised that Ikjun is here waiting for her. When he asked about her class earlier, she already knew. But then she started to worry, did he wait for her here, alone in the dark?
“Yah! Did you wait here all this time?” She jokingly smacks his arm when she reaches the bottom of the stairs. Ikjun’s head flies to her direction, a frown forming on his forehead. “Of course not, I was in the library. I don’t want to walk home alone, I accompanied you here, so now you have to accompany me back home.” Just like earlier, Ikjun takes the books she’s carrying and they start to walk.
“What, are you scared?” Songhwa teases, giggles escaping her.
Ikjun tears his gaze away from the path ahead of them and looks at her softly.
“I'm not. But the thought of you, walking back home alone at night? I'm scared of that.”
--
fin.