Chapter Text
Ah yes, the new fresh air of university life. Everything feels so new, so surreal that Hyunjin couldn’t fathom the unfamiliar surroundings all around him. It almost feels suffocating, how the wave of new students passed through him in the hallway. Everyone seems to be on a rush in excitement for the new life that awaits them.
In the midst of the chaos and indistinct students chattering all around him, Hyunjin is lost in his deepest thoughts.
Not this again.
He took a step ahead, forcing his legs to move forward. He could not be feeling like this right now. Not right here, at the very least.
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After hours that felt like eternity, Hyunjin finally settles in a dorm room located on the second floor. He was told that he would be rooming with the other two people. He unlocked the old door, it must have been a long time since it had been repaired, concluding from the way he had to try multiple attempts just to twist the doorknob. He was greeted by the smell of old wooden furnitures mixing with the faint of rustic and unpleasant smell which might be caused by the amount of time the room had been left vacated.
Hyunjin finally opened the door, holding his breath in hope that he’s the only one that arrived in the dorm.
No one’s here, yet. Perfect.
After contemplating whether he should take the top or bottom bunk bed or even the single bed, he finally settled for the top, considering there’s more privacy for himself despite his lanky figure. It was a hassle at first, as his limbs tangled everywhere but he needs to get used to it. He needs his own privacy.
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Hours had passed when Hyunjin woke up from his supposed to be a short nap. He was greeted by the lights that almost blinded his vision.
Ah, I forgot I took the top bunk, the lights would be a huge problem. Stupid Hyunjin.
He stretched a bit before he finally had the courage to peek at his supposed roommates, he was startled when one of them suddenly greeted him with a smile plastered all over his face, looking so bubbly and friendly as he introduced himself.
“Hi, I’m Bang Chan, Christopher or anything but you can call me Chan!” He grinned while looking at a dumbfounded Hyunjin.
Seeing the latter who could only stare at him in utter confusion in his eyes, Chan rubbed his nape awkwardly, trying his best to keep smiling at the boy who just woke up.
“ Sorry for making you feel uncomfortable, we could introduce ourselves later then? I guess it was improper for me to greet you just like that.. Yeah.. haha..”
As Chan was left to continue packing up his things, Hyunjin cursed internally at himself for being stupid again. Damn, now he looked like a fool towards someone who would probably stuck to him the whole semester. He was about to sit up when suddenly his head hit the ceiling the same time he heard the front door opened. As he cursed under his breath, another guy approached him the same time as Chan, looking at him from below.
-
He learnt that his other roommate's name is Minho, and they instantly clicked even though Hyunjin was quiet the whole time. He was unsure of the things he should say or do, afraid that both of them would hate him. He was afraid of friendships, he had been scarred too deep from his past to form a new one.
In the end, he would be left behind. He’s the one who would be abandoned by his friends.
It happened too many times already and Hyunjin is not ready for another heartbreak. Losing a friend is more heart shattering than you lose a lover, is it? So, being a coward as he is, he turned down everytime Chan and Minho asked him to join them for lunch or even any college activities. This did not last long since the duo managed to includes him in their activities
Hyunjin’s daily life continues to be just the way he likes it to be. Alone. Out of reach from the people who approached him.
-
Class is starting and Hyunjin could feel the pressure started to build up again. Those typical deadlines and sleepless nights began to seep in his life. It’s not that he’s unprepared for all the workloads and stress, he literally signed up for college, what did he expect honestly?
He scrolled through his class group chat for the nth time for the day, hoping that there would be actually some useful information from the lecturers or whatnot. What he did not expect was his classmates were spamming the group chat with selfies and class photos that they took together as the class for the day ended. Hyunjin could not help but felt a pinch of jealousy as he looked at them.
Everyone seemed to be getting along so quickly.
But nah, he dismissed the feeling of being an outcast. It was his choice to not socialise in the first place, right? He, out of all people should be blaming himself for not even trying to fit in with anyone.
-
Hyunjin was struggling to finish his another piece of an A2 size drawing when Chan approached him inside their dorm room.
“Hyunjin?” Chan tapped his shoulder to gain the latter’s attention as he was immersed in his work with a pair of headphones stuck on his head.
Quite startled by the sudden intrusion, Hyunjin spun his head back, headphones now dangling on his shoulder.
“Yeah, Chan?” He tilted his head, trying to decipher the look on Chan’s face.
“Another piece of drawing? Hyunjin, that was like, the third piece you are working on today. Don’t feel tired yet?”
“Uhm yeah-” Hyunjin was about to cut off the conversation when Chan continued.
“Nah, don’t get me wrong I know how hardworking you are, Hyunjin. You are like, one of the best students in our faculty, you know? Lecturers are going around saying your name here and there saying your works are quite impressive for new students.” Chan smiled whilst putting one of his hands on Hyunjin’s shoulder, earning a confused look from the timid boy in front of him.
Seeing the boy could only look at him in utter confusion, Chan continues.
“Well, actually me and Minho would like to invite you to watch the Talent Night Show with us. Come on, I bet it will be fun! I know you like your personal space, but trust me it will be worth it. We are roommates and me and Minho would like to know you more, please~~”
At this rate, Chan was practically begging so that Hyunjin would join them for once, and who was Hyunjin to deny those sparkly eyes? He knew that Chan and Minho are great people and they meant no harm. For once, Hyunjin let his guard down and got out from the shell he had been hiding for a while.
-
Minho and Chan were very excited for the talent show that they already bought the tickets for Hyunjin too, beforehand. Chan had convinced Hyunjin that it was on them, and claimed that he got a discount for them because of said ‘connections’.
When the day came, Hyunjin wore a plain purple hoodie and washed out jeans with his black converse sneakers, not even bothering on planning his outfits beforehand like Minho. He had seen how the latter walked towards him from the reflection of the mirror, maybe trying to knock some sense of fashion into him when he saw Chan shut him out by complimenting Minho’s look instead. He could see how a blush crept on Minho’s face immediately.
Right. Like he did not notice how the two of his roommates are giving heart eyes towards each other whenever there is a given chance.
Great, now he’s feeling like third wheeling.
The talent show was so mediocre and bored Hyunjin to death. Well, at least he might be the only one who felt so as his two roommates are too busy admiring each other at the seat next to him. He almost zoned out during a terrible singing show when the girl on the stage sounded like she had rocks and needles for dinner when Chan tapped his shoulder.
He can hear some boos and laughters from the crowd as the performance finished when Chan suddenly whispered, “Hey, you know Han Jisung right? Heard he’s one of your classmates?”
Han Jisung?
Oh, that popular kid who always skipped class, acted all might and always got on Hyunjin’s nerves without him knowing.
The Han Jisung who would come in class late but somehow would always find a way without being scolded with by the lecturers. The Han Jisung who acts carelessly and always gives him his signature smile and greets him everytime he enters the class.
“Yeah, just some fellow classmate. You know I don’t really talk to people and stuff. Why?” Hyunjin sighed, as he quite unfavored the guy in general.
“Oh, well I didn’t tell you that we’re actually here to see his band perform, right?” Chan poked his shoulder this time.
That kid is also in a band? Great, he just added another point to dislike him.
“Really? I don’t really know him but guess we’ll just see how great his band is, considering this whole shitshow is not worth my time.” Hyunjin almost slapped himself on how harsh that sounded, and he swore he could see Chan’s crestfallen face upon hearing his words.
“And now, for the last show for tonight let’s welcome the band Trigger!” Some cheer can be heard from the crowd and Hyunjin just felt like swallowing himself into the ground when Chan flat out ignored him after the conversation they had. In his hindsight, he could see how both of his roommates cheered on the band. Well, this is supposed to be the band the Han Jisung would be in -
His train of thought was interrupted when he heard some muffled voice on the microphone from the stage. There, stood Han Jisung with a bandana on his head, wearing a sleeveless shirt with a guitar slinging on him with his other three bandmates. As the drums kicked in, Hyunjin could feel the excitement rising in him because damn, he knew the beat of Congratulations by Day6 by heart. It was his all-time favourite song.
I don’t even know how I can talk to you now,
The first vocalist sang the line, and Hyunjin immediately sang along. He did not realise that Jisung was singing too until the chorus where he stopped to drink some water.
Congratulations, great you’re doing great
Oooooh~
Congratulations, how are you okay
How could you be so fine
I can see it in your eyes
The same look that you gave me, that kills me inside,oh
Jisung was a great singer. On top of that, he played the guitar too?
Hyunjin was not done admiring the band until the song reached the rap part that his mouth fell agape because holy hell, he also raps well?
So hey, there's a couple of things I should
Say to you, I promise I'd be good if I could
But yeah, I'm sorry I'm not sorry
I can't be happy for you now
And hey, that's great
Must be nice to not feel anything
Cause I'm feeling just the same way, okay
I don't give a, ahhhhh
Hyunjin was blown away by the whole performance that he did not even realise the standing ovation and cheers the band received from the crowd.
Once again, holy hell.
-
The show ended and as expected, the band won first place but that was not Hyunjin’s main concern for now. He was about to stand up and maybe run away from his roommates, he was sure that Chan was still upset with his sudden outburst. However, Minho was fast enough to grab his wrist and said, “Hyunjin? Chan would like us to meet Jisung’s bandmates to congratulate them and... I guess you would like to say hi to Jisung because he talked about you to us too. Let’s go?”
Hyunjin could only nod his head and follow their lead, did not want to upset his roommates further. Chan also seemed to forget the whole situation since he’s happily talking about how funny it is to know Jisung from their music club even though they are actually taking the same course and he’s in the same class as Hyunjin. He kept on rambling despite the dispersed crowd and bumped with other students on their way. Hyunjin could not decipher his words and could only hear how proud he was with his friend.
They waited for another 15 minutes outside of the auditorium before Chan received a text indicating that Jisung’s bandmates are inviting them for a late night snack together and their other friend will pick them up from their current location. They were later on picked up by a white haired boy with his signature plastered all around his face. Jeongin , the guy introduced himself and Hyunjin decided that he already liked this person based on his Spotify playlist alone.
When the engine stopped indicating they had arrived at their destination, fear striked Hyunjin. He was terrible in human interactions and he definitely was not ready to meet Jisung and his bandmates at that time.
Well, Jisung had always been popular and talkative. He was the complete opposite of Hyunjin. He wished he could just disappear into thin air when he met the boy’s gaze.
“Oh come on, you Kim Seungmin out of all people-”
Jisung did not finish his sentence when Jeongin greeted them, signalling their arrival.
“Hello my fellow brethren! Chris, Mingo, Innie and - oh, Hyunjin! Wasn’t expecting for you to be here too!” Jisung gave them his brightest smile and gestured to them to take a seat. Well, unfortunately for Hyunjin, Jisung had pulled him to take a seat beside him before he could say anything.
“Yeah you know, my friend here Hyunjin is so hard to talk around with people, let alone attend this kind of friendly gathering. Tell me lovebirds, what are your secrets that managed to let this fella in joining us tonight? Hmm?” Jisung gave a skeptical look to both of his roommates while poking Hyunjin’s shoulder from his side.
“Nuh uh Sung, first of all we aren’t lovebirds and secondly, guess you need to be Hyunjin’s roommate then if you want to know my secret.” Chan replied jokingly but Hyunjin was 100% sure he saw how Minho’s face fell at his words.
The rest of the night passed by with Jisung’s bandmates - Seungmin, the vocalist and also the bass player, Felix as the keyboardist and Changbin, the one on the drums - throwing jokes on each other. They are obnoxiously loud for people who had just met a few months before.
At times like this, Hyunjin wished he could just vanish into the thin air.
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