Chapter Text
Whoever said that you’ll be friends with the person you’re supposed to share your dorm with—well they’re a fucking liar.
Such a goddamn liar.
Kai decides this only seconds after locking eyes with his supposed new roommate for the school year.
Of course the school just had to put him with his one and only rival.
Just his luck.
As usual.
Maybe in another universe he could’ve gotten a friend out of his roommate, but with who he’s looking at right now, he knows that sure as hell won’t happen.
No matter what, this person will never be someone he can call a friend, much less anything else.
(He was so wrong.)
“Kang Taehyun.” Kai growls, the name burning bitterly in his mouth.
Taehyun meets his eyes, a hostile expression flickering over his features. Despite that, his eyes still shine brightly (and cutely) as usual. Kai hates that, someone so caged and volatile doesn’t deserve to have such big, beautiful eyes.
“You’re my roommate?” Taehyun scoffs after a moment, a disgusted expression masked on his face. “Is this some sort of fucking joke?”
“I wish it was, babe.” Kai says cooly, closing the door behind himself.
He throws his bags onto the floor in childish defiance, happy to annoy Taehyun more. He smirks, catching how tense Taehyun is as he watches Kai make his way into the dorm.
Taehyun turns away, making another sound of annoyance as he walks further into the room and away from Kai. Well, as far as he can really get in the little dorm room.
It’s really only one room with a kitchen and bathroom somehow tucked into the place. They don’t have seperate bedrooms, instead beds at the end of the room, one on the left and the other on the right…far too close for comfort.
Kai’s definitely not used to living like this…he’s never lived somewhere so small and invading before.
Maybe with another person, living in such close quarters wouldn’t be too bad. But Kai and Taehyun have been at each other’s throats since their first year, both hating each other’s existence for more reasons than one. So really, there’s no way this will go well for either of them.
For generations, their families have been rivals due to one too many business feuds between their highly established companies.
Despite this, the two sons of the families only officially met each other very recently in their first year of college.
Before that, Kai had only heard stories about the infamous Kang Taehyun—the Kang family's illegitimate son. He was a bastard child born from his father having an affair with another woman. Some say they only kept Taehyun due to their first son having passed away years prior and being in need of a possible son to be the heir of the company, they let Taehyun stay.
In any case, he isn’t viewed as highly by the family, but still holds some importance nonetheless. Kai has heard that he is very loyal to them too, almost like a dog that’s trying to show his worthiness to them.
Those are all only rumours though, Kai doesn’t really know much about Taehyun except for the talk he’s heard among his family and those around the school. Though, he feels that the rumours probably aren’t very far off.
Nonetheless, due to all this, they had both instantly recognized each other when they first met.
Taehyun has more presence due to all the rumours, but what Kai lacked in that, he made up for in the sheer power and status that he radiates.
When they met…they knew to stay away from each other…and to hate each other.
However, it didn’t quite start off like that.
Kai being generally friendly to everyone that he meets, he didn’t instantly choose to fight with Taehyun. Even to someone he’s meant to rival due to generations of conflict, he still chose to attempt friendship rather than start as enemies.
Then it all went downhill.
In all honesty, Kai can’t really remember why they started fighting in the first place. He remembers it being good between them…then a sudden shift.
Maybe their families had been the catalyst, but he really isn’t sure. Maybe it was something on Taehyun’s end that had sparked their hatred. His memories of those days are strangely hazy…even though it was only a year or less ago…he still can’t remember.
In any case, Kai knows that he very much can’t stand Taehyun anymore and that it runs both ways.
Really, there’s plenty of other reasons Kai can pin to Taehyun that leads to his sheer dislike. The jaded Kang Taehyun is not pleasant to be around under any circumstance, so maybe that’s it.
“My bed is on the right, don’t even think about touching my stuff.” Taehyun says slowly, breaking Kai’s train of thought. He turns to Kai again, his eyes darker than before, their prior shine a little faded.
“What happens if I do?” Kai tries, a smug expression playing on his lips.
Taehyun only glares, failing to look intimidating in his oversized sweater that only makes him appear smaller. If anything, it’s endearing how hard he tries to size up Kai when he’s as tiny and adorable as a little kitten.
“I’ll beat the shit out of you.” Taehyun spits, only making Kai giggle.
“You might have some muscles, Kang, but I’m a lot bigger than you—“
Taehyun doesn’t let Kai get another word out, swiftly shoving him to pin him to the wall instead.
Kai gasps out, his eyes widening when he finds Taehyun had his hands pinned above his head while digging an elbow into his chest.
“Don’t fuck with me.” Taehyun hisses, pressing his elbow harder into Kai’s chest, his breath ghosting over Kai’s cheek as he speaks.
Kai blushes, not having expected Taehyun to so quickly retaliate like that. It seems the Kang’s illegitimate son has some fight in him after all…this should be fun.
Kai shoves Taehyun off himself when Taehyun loosens his grip a little.
Taehyun still sends him daggers even as they make a distance between themselves, anger still swirling in his eyes.
“So the little kitten is stronger than he looks.” Kai sing-songs, knowing he could easily overthrow Taehyun if he wanted to. “That’s cute.”
Taehyun rolls his eyes. “Go to hell.”
“Unfortunately, angels can’t go to hell, Taehyun.” Kai smirks.
Taehyun bristles at how easily his name slides off Kai's tongue. He hates that he almost likes the way Kai says it.
“You’re far from an angel—and don’t say my name.” He growls, his frustration growing the longer Kai looks at him.
“Why? Does it give you butterflies when I do?”
“What if I said that it does?” Taehyun challenges, turning to face Kai in a sudden bold display. Though he immediately regrets it, Kai’s coy expression already sending him down a rabbit hole.
Kai scoffs, licking over his lips. “Then I’ll make sure to get you drunk off your own name, Taehyun.”
Taehyun flushes at that, Kai instantly perking up at the sight of his cheeks coloring. Somehow, his expression only becomes more smug, sheer confidence dripping from his aura.
“Too bad I don’t drink.” Taehyun says, biting back against Kai’s natural effect on him.
“As your new roommate, I’ll make sure to drive you straight to alcoholism during your stay with me.” Kai laughs. “Good luck, Taehyun, I can really be a menace when I want to be.”
This is a promise.
This ‘angel’ will surely bring Taehyun hell.
—
“You’re rooming with Huening?” Yeonjun laughs, nearly doubling over in tears. “Oh this is fucking amazing.”
“Shut up.” Taehyun groans as he walks with his best friends, having needed to escape Kai. “This is the literal worst possible roommate match—how the hell did they come up with this? Literally knows our families hate each other.”
“Who the hell is Huening…?” Beomgyu asks, frowning as he tries to figure out the name that he’s definitely heard somewhere before.
“The son of this family that the Kang’s have beef with for whatever reason—I guess it just runs in the family.” Yeonjun explains (badly). Beomgyu only transferred recently from Daegu to Seoul, not knowing everything about everyone quite yet. Especially things like the true power and status of Taehyun’s family…and Kai’s.
Yeonjun on the other hand has been best friends with Taehyun since middle school. They’ve been together ever since, nearly inseparable.
Beomgyu clicked with them instantly as well, easily making himself comfortable with them after a few months.
“It’s not fully that—he did something before that really pissed me off.” Taehyun says a few seconds later, thinking back to why he hates Kai so much.
Yeonjun raises an eyebrow. “And what is it then?”
“Nothing important now.” Taehyun answers quickly, deciding not to share that fact. “He’s just annoying.” Yeonjun narrows his eyes but doesn’t press on.
“I wish you were my roommate.” Beomgyu whines, changing the topic. He throws his arm around Taehyun’s shoulders, pulling him to his side before nuzzling his face into Taehyun’s hair as they walk.
“Who even is your roommate?” Yeonjun asks Beomgyu, raising an eyebrow at him wrapped up around Taehyun.
“Some guy named Soobin, he seems pretty cool I guess.” Beomgyu supplies, seemingly more interested in Taehyun.
“I feel like I’ve heard that name before.” Taehyun ponders, though, he can’t put a face to the name.
Beomgyu shrugs, pulling back a little from Taehyun as Yeonjun keeps shooting him weird looks.
“Right…well, wanna go get some food?” Yeonjun asks.
“Fuck yes!”
—
Taehyun stares up at the roof blankly a few hours later. He’s back in his dorm, desperately trying to sleep…but as always, it’s just not happening.
His eyes flicker back and forth in the darkness, his body restless as he tries to lay comfortably. He sighs, his mind too noisy in the quiet of the night.
Kai snores lightly a few feet away from him, peacefully tucked in a deep slumber off in his own bed unlike Taehyun. Taehyun envies him…he wishes he could sleep so easily.
For too long, Taehyun has struggled with falling asleep, or even staying asleep.
There’s no specific trigger for his insomnia, it’s always just been there, a sort of on and off thing.
He’s tried sleep clinics here and there, but they didn’t do much…or he got too impatient to keep going to them.
Though, he’s often found that when his friends are sleeping next to him, he can sleep easier. Not always, but more times than not…those times are nice, but he will never tell anyone that fact.
Taehyun sighs again, a heavy exhale of frustration falling from his lips as he shifts to lay on his side. His eyes find Kai as he does so, the faint moonlight seeping in through the window as well as his eyes since adjusted to the darkness.
Kai looks beyond peaceful, his lips slightly parted as he breathes quietly. His fluffy blond hair is fanned out onto the pillow, and if Taehyun didn’t despise him, he might think he looked like some sort of greek god. Perhaps the son of Aphrodite, surely he’s beautiful enough to be the son of someone like her.
In any case, that comparison makes sense for more than just his beauty. Taehyun knows well how sought after Kai is by everyone. No matter who it is, everyone easily falls for Kai’s pretty looks and charismatic charms.
Kai dates many of them too, no matter the gender, he easily can and does get whoever he wants.
Taehyun wouldn’t say Kai’s a player, but more so that he’s pretty and he knows how to get what he wants. He uses his beauty and soft smile to his advantage and everyone comes running.
Taehyun hates to admit it, but looking at Kai now in the careful moonlight, he understands their desire.
He still sleeps just as prettily too, annoyingly so.
Maybe it’s Taehyun’s sleep deprived brain, but the temptation to trace the perfect lines of Kai’s face rests heavy in his fingertips. Kai’s carved so perfectly, Taehyun just wants to touch, to make such perfection into his memory.
It’s wrong to think, but Taehyun has always been just a little bit fond of this boy named Huening Kai after all.
When they first met, he wasn’t consumed with hatred for him…but rather that very same desire everyone feels for him. Though, Kai proved himself as someone Taehyun could never truly fall for…or so he thought.
He doesn’t know if that’s true anymore, if it’s ever been. This whole enemies act…well, it is just an act…to Taehyun at least. He’ll sure as hell make sure it’s believable though, Kai doesn’t need to know that Taehyun is a liar.
Taehyun will lie until all his lies become truths—
“Watching me as I sleep? Am I that interesting to you?” Kai suddenly laughs, his voice rough with sleep as he opens his eyes.
Taehyun flinches, not having expected Kai to wake up—or to be awake. Is his vision really that faulty that he hadn’t noticed that Kai wasn’t asleep?
“Uh—I wasn’t…” He whispers, an internal panic at the thought of Kai catching onto his prior thoughts. It’s impossible, but it still scares Taehyun nonetheless.
Kai shakes his head, rubbing his eyes. “Mmm I could feel you staring…and I opened my eyes a bit to check and you were.”
“Oh,” is all Taehyun can say. He can’t really do much to justify himself here, it seems he was caught red-handed after all.
“Why are you even awake?” Kai questions, reaching to check the time on his phone. “It’s 5am.”
“I know.”
“If you’re worried I’m gonna jump you or something, I’m not.”
“I know.”
“Whatever.” Kai says, deciding that he won’t get anything from Taehyun. He flips over so his back faces Taehyun rather than his face. “Just stop staring at me.”
Taehyun says nothing, shifting to look back up at the roof rather than at Aphrodite's son. He feels a little bitter that he had been caught, but easily pushes that thought thought down.
He prays Kai won’t bring this up in the morning, he can’t deal with his smug smart-ass attitude. He also doesn’t want to mess up his false hatred, that needs to remain no matter what.
He doesn’t fall asleep after that…his mind is far too wrapped up in the idea of Kai.
—
“Guess what.” Kai says when he sits down with his two best friends, Soobin and Chaeryeong, after they order their drinks at a nearby cafe early the next morning.
“What?” Soobin questions as he sips his drink, his face still puffy with sleep.
“I’m roommates with Kang Taehyun.”
Chaeryeong splutters, nearly choking on her own drink as she looks at Taehyun with wide eyes. “No way?!” Kai nods, giving a dramatic expression as he slumps back in his chair.
“Maybe moving out really wasn’t your best idea.” Soobin laughs, shaking his head in amusement.
Kai scoffs, “maybe.”
Kai has been friends with these two since highschool, the trio ending up at the same college afterwards as well. They’ve been close for years, knowing practically everything about each other…well, except for a few things.
“Just move back in with your dads, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind—you’re gonna be visiting them every other day anyways, god knows how much you’re probably already missing them.” Chaeryeong reasons as she blows on her drink.
Kai shrugs, knowing his dads would happily welcome him back. “I could…but we already paid for these dorms and I need to learn some independence…so I’m just gonna suck it up and make Taehyun’s life a living hell instead.”
Soobin nods. “Valid.”
“You really save your evil side just for him, don’t you?” Chaeryeong adds, rolling her eyes at Kai’s cheeky expression.
“Absolutely.
—
Taehyun makes his way onto his family's estate, crossing over the perfectly tended grounds. He looks around, waving to the few of the groundskeepers. They happily wave back, always having liked Taehyun…he treats them like they’re human after all.
He shoves his way into the traditional house, the grand wooden door creaking to alert his presence.
One of the butlers bows to him as he enters, a careful smile wrapped up on his face as he greets Taehyun. Taehyun returns the man's smile before he’s led to the main room.
Earlier, Taehyun had been summoned by Hyejin, his fathers wife and his somewhat adoptive mother.
This morning, she had sent some drivers to fetch him from his dorms seeing as his classes hadn’t started yet. Why she had done so was a mystery, but it was a little worrying.
Hesitantly, he sits on the leather seat. Anxiety rocks through him, his mind racing as he waits for Hyejin.
“We heard you’re roommates with the Huening family's eldest son.” Hyejin says as she slowly makes her way into the room. Taehyun tenses at her presence, immediately sitting up straighter.
She places her glass down on the table, Taehyun eyeing the crimson liquid that sloshes around the edges of the glass.
She sits down at a nearby sofa, tucking herself dress beneath her neatly as she crosses her legs.
Hyejin’s eyes wash over Taehyun, sour judgment lingering on her tongue as she takes in his tired appearance. “At least try to keep yourself looking neat, you don’t need to embarrass us any more than you already have.” She says thickly, moving to take a sip of her drink.
Taehyun nods, staring down at the wooden table as her gaze burns into him. He clenches his fists, feeling uneasy in her presence.
She has never much liked him after all, seeing as he was born from an affair between her husband and another woman. Who that woman was…not even Taehyun knows to this day.
However, as much as she despises Taehyun, she still forces him to call her mother. He’s never understood it. She’s always made sure he knows just how worthless he is, but still, he has to call her mother.
“You planned us as roommates, didn't you?” Taehyun says after a moment, finally meeting the women’s eyes of venom.
“Perhaps,” She hums, tapping her pointed nails against her glass. “In any case, I think you can be useful to us for once this way.”
Taehyun blinks, perking up at her words. “How so…?”
“I think you know.” She smiles, shifting to sit closer to Taehyun. “Get close to that boy and get his family's secrets out of him—as much information as you can.”
“We hate each other though…how is that going to work?” Taehyun mutters, visibly deflating. He doesn’t want to pass up the opportunity though, he’s always looking for ways to please his family and become of value to them.
She rolls her eyes, setting her drink down, her expression nearing annoyed. “Figure something out, Taehyun. Get him drunk, kiss himself senseless until he confides in you. I don’t care how, just get us at least something, it’s not that hard…this is for your family.”
“Okay…”
“You know how hard it is to look at you? Every time I see your face all I see is the bitch that seduced my husband. So If you’re going to be around any longer, at least be useful to us and make it a little more bearable for me, please.
“I understand…I’ll do what I can to get information from him.”
She smiles. “That’s my baby.” She coos, her voice softer as she reaches to comb through Taehyun’s hair. “You know I love you, right?”
“Yes…I love you too…”
“Good boy.”
…
“Taehyunnie!” A little voice calls as Taehyun is about to walk out his family's estates gates. He turns around, smiling softly as he sees his little sister, Yuna, rocking back and forth on her feet behind him.
She’s the family's youngest child, only being 7 years old.
After Taehyun’s eldest brother passed years earlier, the family tried to have another child in hopes of having a new male heir seeing as Taehyun was illegitimate. Though, they ended up with Yuna, a girl and not a boy. They loved her nonetheless, much more than they ever did Taehyun.
Taehyun loved her as well, and for some reason, she is the most fond of Taehyun. She has always clung onto him more than anyone else...Taehyun doesn’t think Hyejin much likes it though.
“Hi baby.” Taehyun says, crouching down in front of the little girl. She holds her arms out, waiting patiently with her cheeks puffed out for him to pick her up. Taehyun smiles, immediately pulling her into his arms before standing up as she giggles.
“Why are you leaving again?” Yuna pouts, poking at Taehyun’s cheeks, her eyes as big and round as his. “I miss my Taehyunnie.”
Taehyun purses his lips, hating the sad expression on her face. He really wishes he didn’t have to leave her here, but he has no other choice, though he’s still bitter about it.
“I already told you I won’t be living at home anymore—I have to live in a different place for my school.” He explains partially, knowing that whatever he says, she still won’t fully understand.
Yuna frowns, her pout deepening in an adorable manner. “I don’t live somewhere else for my school?”
“Well this is a big kid school.” Her little face scrunches up in evident confusion, Taehyun’s heart pulls.
“I don’t get it.”
“I know…I’ll visit you every weekend though, okay?” Taehyun tries instead, praying he won’t ever break his promise to her.
She wraps her arms around Taehyun’s neck, hugging onto him tightly as she continues to pout. “Why not every day?”
He kisses the top of her head. “I wish I could.”
—
After a few hours of wandering around the city, Taehyun finally returns to the dorms, hoping that Kai is away doing something of his own.
Their classes start tomorrow so they won’t have to spend as much time around each other. Then again…they’ll have to see each other every night. That would be fine for someone who can sleep, but for Taehyun, that isn’t always an option.
He pushes open the door, pocketing his keys as he walks into the room.
Sure enough, Kai is standing in the kitchen and looking directly at him. Well he’s looking at him through a camera which is arguably…weirder.
“Why are you back already?” Kai says, placing the camera on the counter, frustration flashing over his features.
“Why were you pointing a camera at me…?” Taehyun counters, raising an eyebrow at Kai.
“I was taking photos?”
“Why?”
Kai stares at him briefly, picking apart Taehyun’s ignorance. “I like photography?” He says, his voice hinting that Taehyun should’ve already known that. “I’m literally a photography major you know.”
Taehyun blinks, his eyes widening at this new information. “Really? You’re not like a business major or something.”
For the son of the Huening’s who own one of the largest and most successful companies in Seoul, it doesn’t make sense that Kai would just be doing…photography? Isn’t he going to inherit the company eventually like those before him?
Kai only snorts at that, seemingly reading Taehyun’s mind. His lips curl up in amusement at Taehyun’s clear shock. “Please, my dads don’t push their family company onto me like yours do.” He pauses, narrowing his eyes. “You act as if you’ll be able to inherit your family's company—you’re not even their full blood.”
That strikes a nerve in Taehyun, and so does Kai’s casual and smug face as he says it. “You don’t have to remind me.” Taehyun whispers flatly, too angry to say anything more.
His entire life has been a struggle of proving himself worthy to them to make up for being born out of an affair. He’s his father’s only son, no matter his status, he still wants to be the one to inherit the company.
“Oh? Did I upset you?” Kai smiles, catching onto the way Taehyun stiffens before him. He watches him carefully, daring him to fight back.
“Just shut up and take your stupid pictures.” Taehyun manages to mutter between clenched teeth. He doesn’t have time for Kai to rile him up. He’s supposed to be getting information from Kai after all, but so far, their relationship is going in the very wrong direction for that.
Taehyun can’t fail Hyejin though…not after she asked this of him personally, he rarely gets chances like this. So for now, he’ll bite his tongue and back down.
Kai frowns a little, seeming to have wanted Taehyun to fight back a little more. Taehyun won’t give him that satisfaction though, and that in itself is satisfying enough.
Kai turns away, reaching for his camera again.
Except as Taehyun goes to walk away, a shutter clicks, the camera once again directed at him.
“What the hell?” Taehyun exclaims.
“You looked pissed—thought it would make a good photo.” Kai replies nochantaly, looking at his camera with a pleased expression. “I was right.”
“Oh? Want me to be your muse?” Taehyun teases, not realizing the weight of his words.
Something akin to excitement lights up across Kai’s face, a devious grin following. “Maybe I do.”
—
During the night, Taehyun slips out of the dorm, finding himself unable to fall asleep once again.
After tossing and turning one too many times, he finally sends a text to a particular person to meet up with. Someone just as confusing for him as his insomniac mind.
Choi Beomgyu.
.
.
.
His (secret) boyfriend.
…
Taehyun meets Beomgyu at a nearby park, the moon their soul witness as they find their way over to each other.
A bright grin spreads over Beomgyu’s face as they approach each other, fondness burning hot in his eyes as he looks at his lover.
He easily pulls Taehyun into arms when they get close enough, his hands flattening against his back and holding him tightly. Taehyun falls against him, letting Beomgyu encompass him like a sweet storm of chaos.
“Hey,” Beomgyu whispers, his voice gentle as he leans forward to plant a chaste kiss on Taehyun’s lips.
“Hi, Beom.” Taehyun sighs, smiling when Beomgyu presses in for another kiss.
This whole affair is relatively new to them, only starting this new (secret) relationship as of a few weeks ago.
Beomgyu had drunkenly confessed to Taehyun one night and Taehyun had kissed him in return. A few hours later, after sobering up, Beomgyu finally asked Tashyun out in a hidden corridor.
Out of guilt and a selfish need to be wanted, Taehyun had said yes.
Stupid.
Nonetheless, that’s how they ended up dating. Though, they still kept their relationship secret from those around them…like Yeonjun.
Why? Maybe because Taehyun had made a mistake in saying yes…maybe not.
For now, he’ll continue to pretend that he likes Beomgyu as much as the older boy likes him.
Perhaps Taehyun will delude himself into actually, properly falling for Beomgyu one day.
Though, as Beomgyu breathes against him, kissing him in heedy desperation under the stars, Taehyun’s mind flashes back to the memory of Kai’s beautiful sleeping face…
And at that moment…he can’t help but think of Kai instead as he kisses Beomgyu…
He imagines that Beomgyu’s mouth is Kai’s…unable to stop himself as he falls into his imagination of kissing Aphrodite's son.
The first red flag.
Taehyun still has feelings for Kai…