Chapter Text
One: A Neighbor from the Past
"Here, Room 816 is now yours."
Finally! Passing the CSAT for your dream school, getting independence from your strict household, and having a dorm unit of your own where everything you've imagined as an incoming University student. No more curfews or eating dinner at 8 PM. You took a deep breath of freedom into the nose as the landlady left you to settle down.
The dorm unit you've just purchased was a street away from the university grounds. As a late riser, you are complacent to run if you ever get late. Good thing the liberal arts students take their classes on the first & second floors of the Silla Building.
As you opened your luggage to unpack, you decided to open the windows first to take a look at the view outside. The caretaker did tell you that they have a neighbor building of a boy's dormitory, so you were kind of curious how far it is.
To your utter surprise, the next-door dormitory was pretty close. If you raise your voice around 60 decibels, the window next to yours will surely think "Why is she reciting the Korean dynasties at 3 am? Jesus,"
But what surprised you most was the person occupying the room with the open window, just right next to yours.
"Felix?!"
The guy who seemed to be pretty absorbed in his book, laid-back in his chair, turned to look outside his window and saw you. He was wearing gold-lining specs, a dark blue knitted vest with a white shirt inside, and light denim shorts. His face was thinly defined, with brown freckles sprinkled around his cheeks, and his blonde hair glows like that of the sunset. Lee Felix, your childhood friend, was also your boy next door.
"Oh hey, did you just get here? About time," He smiled, putting his book away and taking off his specs to lean out of his window.
"What the hell are you doing here? I mean, there?" Felix pouted, playfully looking around his room.
"What do you mean? I'm here because I need a place to stay that is near our university," He smiled again as if his honesty was enough to cover up the loophole in his explanation. Both of you were raised by your grandma; your mom and his mom were college best friends until Felix's Mom had breast cancer. Your family took Felix under their wing and have often been close since childhood. Not until you went on separate ways during high school.
Despite that, Felix was often called by your mother and grandma to help them bake pastries and bread for your family's bakery.
"So, are you taking the CSAT to get to Hanseong?"
"Uh yeah," That was the first time again since high school when both of you interacted.
"You?"
"Hmm, I don't know yet. Still thinking about what course to take."
"You should at least try?" Felix, unloading the tray of packed croissants to the counter looked at you for quite a long time. You felt conscious.
"Um, I'm not imposing anything, I just–"
"Sure,"
"What?" You blinked hard hearing his reply.
"I'll do it. The CSAT."
"Oh, really?"
"Mm-hmm, just don't complain if we end up in the same class."
The grin Felix made back then was carved in your core memory. He sounded complacent all of a sudden as if he wasn't really undecided about his college plans. He just wanted to bait you and encourage him.
But Felix was more of the innocent guy type. He's hardworking and kind. Yet not to the extent of being smart enough to pull off the required Hanseong CSAT score. This is what you've known him to be all this time.
Or was it a fluke?
Especially now that you are seeing him as the next dorm guy. Now that he is actually in the same university as you. You are curious, what is he thinking at the moment behind that sweet smile?
But wait, maybe we differ in majors?
You cleared your throat and asked him, "What course are you taking, by the way?"
Your mind began to chant repeatedly inside "PLEASE DONT BE A HISTORY MAJOR, PLEASE DONT BE A HISTORY MAJOR, PLEASE DONT BE A HISTORY MAJOR," as you nervously await his response.
"Me? Well, you know, culinary arts."
CULINARY ARTS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Your mind just snapped. The outcome was worse than expected.
History and Culinary Arts have the different minimum required CSAT scores. To qualify as a culinary student in Hanseong, you have to score at least 80%, whereas History students need at least 73%. Thinking about how this innocent-looking, quiet guy might have beaten you in the CSAT was enough to make your eye twitch.
"Ah, I see," was a very bland response on your end as you try to calm your inner chaos.
"You see, it's Grammy's bakery that inspired me to take culinary. I really like to bake and cook,"
"Really?" You sounded so unconvinced. You were surprised by how apathetic you just sounded so you had to cover your mouth. Felix seemed to catch you, but he didn't say a word.
"I'm sorry, I'm just–"
"Pissed that you are seeing your Mom's right-hand guy in college?"
Fuck. Right on. You thought. He caught you so quick, it's no wonder he might have scored higher–
"But you're not wrong there," Your train of thoughts was interrupted by Felix as he had his back turned from you.
"Excuse me?"
"I said," Looking back at you, Felix was grinning. The same one he had on his face when he said he'll try taking the CSAT.
"You're right. I did come to Hanseong for another reason,"
"Which is?"
"You."
Right then, a new core memory of Felix grinning was added to your brain's 3 AM thoughts.
It's d-day. Today is finally your first day as a freshie.
The ray of sunshine was shining through the curtains. The warm, golden air of spring fills your room as you stretched out of your bed. It was relatively quiet. Maybe you were early to rise and the others are still in their beds.
In fact, it was a miracle that you were able to sleep after what happened yesterday.
"I have another reason,"
"Which is?"
"You." Confounded by this sudden confession of intent, you asked Felix to clarify whatever he meant.
"Uhh, meaning?"
"It means, your mom took me as her scholar in exchange for being an undercover agent to look after you. You know, just in case,"
"Just in case, what?!"
"Um, things?"
"ARGH!"
You were so irritated by everything that you shut your windows tight the whole evening. As expected, thinking about Felix's ulterior motives and how he may 'ruin' your college student journey kept you up late. You feel as if your mother is there trying to control your actions through Felix. That she still doesn't trust you on your own despite how brilliant of a student you are.
"What time is it anyway?" You thought as you brushed your teeth. The moment you grabbed your alarm clock, you had to spit the foam out of your mouth.
You finally woke up from your daydream of being an early bird.
"IT'S 8 O'CLOCK ALREADY?!!"
Shoot. You've slept in. The alarm didn't ring. The assembly starts at 8:05 AM in the Theater of Arts. And here you are, still in your nightwear.
"SHIT!"
This is all their fault! You cursed your Mom and Felix's compliance in your head. In the next three minutes, you've become the world's fastest person with your ability to dress yourself up. Unfortunately, you had to give up on taking a bath. It's a half-day anyway, so you thought, you'll wash afterward.
By 8:05 AM, you were already dashing downstairs with your hair tied up and backpack on one shoulder. As you ran out of the dorm entrance, you saw the figure of your most dreaded neighbor wearing a helmet and a bike behind him.
"Late on your first day, huh?"
"Shut up, Felix." And you passed by him as soon as you cut the conversation. Mounting his bike, Felix followed you while pedaling slowly to match your strides.
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, running? Obviously, because I'm late!"
"Get on,"
"No way," The stoplight just turned red at the moment you were about to cross the pedestrian. You felt a hard, round thing touch your forearm. It was Felix's helmet. He has taken it off his head and offered it to you without any word—just that flat smile and a stare that waits for you to accept the gesture.
"You know wheels are faster than feet. Laws of physics?"
"Argh, fine!" You snatched the helmet from his hand and wore it. You positioned yourself behind Felix's back and sat in the backseat.
"You good?"
"Mm-hmm,"
"Next stop, Hanseong University!"
After checking the lanes, Felix began to pedal into the road with all his might. Felix's body frame was very slender, yet his legs are not that long. You could tell that he was really exerting a lot of effort on pedaling swiftly, balancing you and his weight on the bike, and observing the traffic.
You felt a pang of guilt. AH! No, No. You're not gonna go all empath on Mom's snitch? You shook your head.
If this is part of his job of looking after me, then suffer the consequences!
The moment you've set your heart into stone about Felix, he was already making way inside the campus's brick stone path, straight to the Theater of Arts. "Excuse us! Out of the way! Thank you, Seniors!"
The university grounds were the same as you've pictured from their brochures. Their pathways do look like ecological parks. Various of ornamental and floral trees cover the brick path with shade against the sun. There were mini fountains here and there, and many wooden benches and tables for students to sit at.
It was somewhat a peaceful view to marvel at.
That is if you weren't in a hurry. With a loud screech, Felix stopped just right before the front porch steps of the theater.
"Here we are, go in!"
As you unmounted the bike, you dashed up the steps and hurriedly removed Felix's helmet. "CATCH!"
"Oof!"
The helmet landed on Felix's stomach just on time, though it seemed that your throw was too powerful to hit him. Of course, you pretended not to see that.
"See you, never!"
And so, you have officially begun your first day.