Chapter Text
Ah yes, nothing better than waking up to the strong scent of weed wafting through the tiny apartment Donghyuck shared with his uncle, Jungwoo. Edibles being their main source of income, the two are pretty used to this morning routine. Donghyuck gets out of bed and stumbles to his bathroom.
His smudged eyeliner from last night still remains; he and Jaemin had gone out that night to a frat party. Despite showing up to the party together, the two barely had a chance to talk. By the end of the night, Jaemin and Jisung had already gone to Jaemin’s apartment and Donghyuck could be found in a secluded corner, making out with a guy he couldn't even remember the name of. This is it. This is what college is made for, Hyuck thinks to himself as he grabs his makeup wipes.
Not that he was really desperate or anything, he just really, really likes to kiss. Anybody, for that matter. He has probably made out with all of his friends, except Jisung, at least once. Not that he doesn't wanna kiss him, it's just that Jaemin dug his claws into Jisung the second he laid his eyes on him and hasn't let go since. Donghyuck never pictured Jaemin to be a clingy boyfriend but here he is, he's literally never not with Jisung these days.
His friend group started with Jaemin, who had been Hyuck’s best friend since the start of middle school. The two were basically attached at the hip for years. Basically, everyone in their school thought they were dating. Chenle and Jeno were the next addition to the group after they all were grouped together for an assignment freshman year. They all went to Chenle’s house to do it and they have gone weekly ever since then- they're all a super tight-knit group. The next addition was Mark in senior year of high school when he and Donghyuck had begun going out. It was perfect at first, they all got along and the friend group was just as close, even with this new addition. Until the last week of senior year came around…
Mark had begun getting distant and cold. With Mark and Donghyuck having planned on going to the same university, the breakup was more than messy. Donghyuck screams about how Mark is never around anymore and all Mark can seem to do is dismiss his feelings. They broke up the day before graduation and Mark ended up never even attending and picking up his diploma from the office a week later. Even after all this, Donghyuck still wants to go to Seoul University- his dream school, he is just sure to not take any classes a film major would take.
Jisung was the final addition to the group. After Mark had just disappeared, a week later Jisung was there. Donghyuck had suspected Jaemin was seeing someone for a few months now- and after a bit of bickering and arguing- he finally got his best friend to fess up.
Donghyuck finishes washing his face and walks out to talk to Jungwoo in the kitchen. Their apartment is pretty tiny, just one bedroom that they share with twin-sized beds in either corner and one main living area with a small kitchen.
“First day of college, my baby finally grew up,'' Jungwoo wipes a fake tear and puts his hand up to his chest as if he's crying.
Hyuck only rolls his eyes, “You're literally only 4 years older than me,” he responds while walking over to the coat hanger and grabbing his light jacket.
“I’m gonna go early to look for my classes, bye,” Donghyuck waves as he’s practically already out the door.
That was a complete lie, he had already walked around and found all his classes, he just wanted to be able to stop and smoke a quick cigarette. Obviously, Jungwoo knows he smokes, it's just one of those things he's embarrassed about when it comes to his uncle. He gets to campus and stops at the designated smoking area, near the vending machine. He takes out his pack of Marlboro reds and lights one. With Mark and him not being on speaking terms, he's officially friendless at this school. Hyuck takes a long drag and exhales, not immediately, but after a few hits that feeling he loves so much starts to come up. It's almost like the world slows down for him and he has time to just think.
Donghyuck looks up to see the prettiest boy he has ever seen, entering a number into the vending machine. Seriously, this guy is model-level attractive, Hyuck thinks to himself. Perfect round lips that have almost a pout to them, a well-sculpted nose, and fluffy black hair. This boy came out of heaven. Yeah, he has straight up descended from heaven. Hyuck’s breath catches in his throat when he sees his eyebrows knit up in frustration at the bag of chips that just almost got dispensed. Perfect. Damsel in distress, Hyuck has been waiting for this moment for an entire 10 seconds.
“Hate when that happens,” Hyuck chuckles and casually walks up- except it’s not casual at all. Vending machine boy’s eyes open wide, like a deer caught in headlights, and looks the other up and down.
“Here, let me help,” Donghyuck narrates as he proceeds to violently shake the machine with all of his strength. The chips fall and Hyuck victoriously grabs them, handing them to the shorter boy, who looks less than impressed.
Pretty boy just scrunches his face before bluntly stating, “You smell like shit,”
There are no words. Donghyuck is rendered speechless- and that’s saying something because Donghyuck never shuts his fucking mouth.
Pretty Boy instantly panics and backtracks. “I didn’t mean like bad bad, I just can't stand cigarettes or the smell of them, it's not anything personal, I swear it's ju- ''
He rambles on before Donghyuck cuts him off, “I get it! It's all good…”
Both of them are silent for an awkwardly long amount of time- which has probably only been a few seconds, but Donghyuck feels like it's been hours.
“I gotta go, I have plans to meet someone…” Pretty Boy stutters before quickly walking away.
Donghyuck takes only a few seconds to recuperate after that encounter. But he just shakes his head and goes to his only class for the day.
—---
Later that night, around 6, Hyuck meets up with Jaemin on their usual trail along the Han River. They've walked this path most nights since they were kids, and they still try to go regularly but life seems to get in the way lately. Jaemin runs up to Donghyuck the second he sees him approaching.
“Hyuck!! Jisung can't come, he has a contemporary dance class” Jaemin pouts.
It's so like him to bring up Jisung the second he sees him. But that's just what comes with being young and inlove, I guess. Hyuck thinks. He doesn't mind though, he loves that his friends are happy together. It rubs off on him, and everyone else for that matter.
Hyuck begins making cooing sounds at Jaemin and he slaps his arm.
“How's the big fancy university life treating you?” Jaemin asks, with a hint of teasing in his tone.
”I've had one class, dude. I did already meet the potential love of my life today though,” Donghyuck over exaggerates. Jaemin just rolls his eyes in response.
“What's his name?” Donghyuck just pouts his lips and whines.
“We didn't really talk for that long! He told me I smell.” He explains to an extremely puzzled but amused Jaemin, getting quiet- almost at a whisper- for that last part.
“Care to elaborate..?”
Hyuck recounts the story to Jaemin, but with many details that absolutely didn't happen. He told it as if he heroically saved this poor, hot, boy from starvation.
…Which was most definitely not the case, but what is storytelling for, if not exaggerating?
“So you did all that but couldn't ask for a name?” Jaemin giggles.
“He left super suddenly! Not my fault he had plans…” Hyuck trails off at the end when he sees the city lights starting to come on.
The sun had set since they got there. There's just something so serene and beautiful about seeing Seoul be lit up on the water like that. It's like seeing twinkling stars right in front of him, completely tangible. Donghyuck may have been on this trail with Jaemin more times than he could count, but the sight will never get old.
“How's no-school life treating you?” Hyuck questions.
Jaemin had decided to take a gap year to save up enough money to move out, always daydreaming about this perfect life he’s gonna have with Jisung in their own apartment.
“I scored a full-time position at the record store near the old cafe we used to go to. It's a pretty cool job but the pay could be better. My job is literally listening to music and alphabetizing records, and I have so much free time. So honestly man, it's been really good,” Jaemin genuinely smiles as he's speaking, it's infectious and makes Hyuck smile too.
It's hard not to be slightly jealous, but Donghyuck is mostly just happy for his best friend. He knows he genuinely deserves this.
“How are you and Jisung?” He wonders out loud. He highly doubts anything could tear them apart, they're literally made for each other. Donghyuck has a generally optimistic view of love, he thinks that love is everywhere. In simple gestures, in a quick glance, in a small text, in hugs, and in spending time together. There's someone for everyone to love. Needless to say, when Hyuck falls, he falls hard.
“Great! I spend the night at his house most nights and I sleep so much better than at home,”
Jaemin begins to whisper, “He would kill you if I told you, but-” Hyuck nods, eager to know.
“He's the little spoon,” Jaemin laughs.
“Jaemin, that is painfully obvious to everybody but him! That boy is needy.” Donghyuck starts to laugh along.
“Hey! Jisung is just shy, okay?” Jaemin defends, he and Hyuck continue bickering until they eventually reach Donghyuck’s apartment complex.
“This is me,” Hyuck humors literally only himself with that.
“I know where you live, dipshit,” Jaemin rolls his eyes and pulls him in for a hug.
They exchange goodbyes and Donghyuck goes into his apartment building, but not to his room just yet. He finds his way up to the roof and gets out a cigarette. After a few hits, he pulls out his phone and begins frantically scrolling through the people following Seoul University on Instagram. Alright, it’s only 63 thousand people, I will do anything to find the pretty vending machine boy. He gives up after a few minutes, though. He finishes his cigarette and goes down to his apartment to find Jungwoo and a few of his friends passing a joint in the living room.
“Hyuck! Wanna join us?” Johnny, a childhood friend of Jungwoos asks.
“Nah, not really in the mood. I’m kinda tired. First day of college things,” Donghyuck states, speed walking straight to his room, just wanting to lay down.
It was a good day overall. He's just exhausted and ready to sleep. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, Hyuck gets into bed and drifts off for the night.