Chapter Text
College was a lot more freeing than Yeo Sang had expected.
His classes were hard (though he couldn't say he wasn't expecting that as a pre-med major) and he'd actually come to be good friends with the other Gifted’s (minus San who hadn't opened up to any of them too much).
The same friends, however, tended to get on his nerves a lot.
Especially one Jung Woo Young.
"Repeat your question, Yun Ho."
"I can't be the only one who thinks that Hong Joong hyung and Kyung Moon would make a terrible couple."
"Where is this even coming from?" Min Gi asked.
"It's all anyone ever talks about in the fine arts building. People are acting like they're already together."
"Are they?" Woo Young paused, twirling his pencil in thought. "I mean…they are together a lot. Like a lot ."
"There's no way though," Min Gi countered. "I thought hyung liked Seong Hwa."
"Okay, now where is that coming from?"
"Seong Hwa hyung likes Hong Joong. It's so obvious."
"The other way around, yeah," Woo Young started. "But I don't know if Hong Joong hyung likes Seong Hwa hyung. What do you think, San?"
The ravenette looked a little startled to be directly addressed. "Um…I don't know. I see Seong Hwa hyung staring at Hong Joong a lot when we're together."
"Okay, we've established that Seong Hwa hyung likes Hong Joong hyung," Yun Ho relented. "But that doesn't change the fact that the entire fine arts building thinks that Kyung Moon and hyung complement each other. Do rumors spread like that in college?"
Min Gi shrugged. "I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. Still, you really think that Hong Joong hyung likes Kyung Moon?"
As if on cue, all five of their phones simultaneously went off.
KQ Gifted’s
Hong Joong: it's dye day! we're splitting between yun ho and kyung moon's cars
The group went silent after they all read the text.
Kyung Moon had been to a few outings with them (always invited by Hong Joong, of course), but this was the first time he’d been to the second year's apartment with them.
Woo Young sighed. "Honestly…I don't even know anymore." He then smirked. "You know who could figure it out though?" He looked Yeo Sang's direction and the older immediately shook his head.
"I'm not gonna read Hong Joong’s mind."
"No…you're gonna read his and Seong Hwa hyung's."
"Absolutely not-"
"You're the only person who can figure it out for sure. Please, Sangie?"
"I'm not interfering with their love lives."
"But it's so obvious that they like each other!"
"If anything, do it for Seong Hwa hyung." Everyone turned to San, urging him to continue. "Whenever he sees hyung and Maddox together, he always looks so sad."
"...Sannie's onto something," Woo Young said before turning back to his best friend. "I think Seong Hwa hyung might be jealous of Kyung Moon." Their professor walked in. "Can you please ask him, Yeo Sang? We should help them if we can."
Which is how Yeo Sang found himself in the backseat wedged between Seong Hwa and Woo Young.
The former kept nudging him in the hip and the older contemplated murder rather than helping him fulfill his silly request.
He sighed. "Hyung, can I ask you something?"
The ravenette's eyes widened just enough for Yeo Sang to know he heard him. "Of course, what's up?"
"Did something happen between you and Hong Joong hyung?"
He shifted slightly. "No…why do you ask?"
"You just seem…hesitant around him now. I thought the two of you were good friends."
"We are…why? Did Hong Joong say something?"
Yeo Sang tried his best not to sigh. He could tell the older was deflecting. "No. Don't worry about it. I tend to overanalyze people sometimes. Neither one of you has done anything wrong."
Seong Hwa patted his knees. "...Alright. Thanks for caring though."
Yeo Sang switched that communication channel before he looked at his best friend.
"So?!"
"I didn't get anything out of him. He deflected."
The ravenette sighed. "I guess we'll figure something else out then."
Yeo Sang smirked. "...He almost sounds like you when I asked you about a certain someone-"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
The older had to try not to laugh. "Denial doesn't look good on either of you." He then turned off that channel before laying his head on Seong Hwa’s shoulder. When did I suddenly become the matchmaker?
Are you sure you don't want anything done to your hair, Sannie?"
The boy shrugged on his stool, having been adamant about watching Hong Joong dye everyone’s hair. "...I want a change, but I don't know what I want."
He dried his hands on a towel before opening his cabinet. "Why don't you take a look while I finish up with Yun Ho."
There was a brief silence before the youngest spoke again. "Can I ask you something, hyung? Both of you."
Yun Ho and Hong Joong turned to look at him. "What's wrong?"
"...Do you know why Woo Young is so adamant about talking to me?"
Yun Ho was the first to respond. "I think he just wants you to feel included, Sannie. Same as the rest of us."
"...Does he know?"
"He's good at picking up on social cues," Hong Joong replied, running his hands through Yun Ho’s lightened hair before grabbing the brown dye. "I think he can sense when you feel uncomfortable and he just wants to help you. No one knows but Seong Hwa and me, Maddox and Eden, and whoever else you've told."
"...He wants to help me?"
Hong Joong let out a sad sigh. "Yun Ho, can you step outside for a second? Ask Yeo Sang and Woo Young how long they've had the bleach in their hair."
“Yeah, sure.”
The brunette waited til Yun Ho left before he patted the stool for San to sit. The younger didn’t say a word—simply put a box of green dye on the sink before sitting down. Hong Joong began to part his hair. “Is Woo Young bothering you?”
“...Bothering isn’t the right word. He’s always bugging me and trying to include me, but I don’t hate it…It’s nice that he cares that much actually.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
“I don’t know how I feel about it.”
Hong Joong stopped in the middle of clipping San’s hair, smiling at the boy through the mirror. “How do you feel when Woo Young tries to include you in stuff?”
“It makes me feel happy. Like…I know you all tread carefully around me but Woo Young doesn’t really. I should be mad at him for it, but I can’t be.”
The brunette squeezed his shoulders. “I won’t say anything since I don’t wanna jump to conclusions and you should sort out your own feelings. “But know that that’s not a bad thing—how you feel, I mean.”
“Hyung! Kyung Moon is here.”
The brunette sighed. “Tell him to put the food on the counter!” He then turned back to San. “You sure you want green?”
The younger nodded. “Should I not?”
“No, it’s your choice. I just thought you would’ve picked your favorite color if you wanted something fun.”
He shrugged before getting off the stool. “I don’t think purple would look good on me.”
“I get that.” He looked up as Woo Young rounded the corner. “I’ll wait til we all eat to start on your hair. Lemme just wash out Woo Young’s bleach then I’ll join you all.”
The younger sat down as Hong Joong began to take off the foil. "...I know you told me that you wanted to do silver but I think I have just the color for you."
"What?"
"I think you'd look amazing with purple hair."
Yeo Sang didn't need to use his powers to know that Seong Hwa was sulking from across the room.
The boy dared to call it a pout.
Though he couldn’t blame him when Hong Joong had practically been talking the Kyung Moon nonstop since he’d arrived.
He sighed, causing his best friend to look at him. Yeo Sang simply shook his head. “Seong Hwa hyung has a classic case of jealousy.”
Woo Young raised a brow, chewing on his pizza. “For who…Kyung Moon?”
“Isn’t it obvious? He’s been talking to him nonstop. And Seong Hwa hyung’s just been looking at them with this faraway look in his eyes.”
The younger shrugged. “Maybe they’re talking about a project or something.”
“A project about pepperoni pizza? C’mon, Woo Young. You were the one who said that Seong Hwa hyung was jealous of Kyung Moon.”
“I didn’t think he actually was!”
“Hyung, tell Seong Hwa that he should dye his hair!”
The duo looked up as the second oldest suddenly spoke up.
The eldest shrugged. “...It’s a nice change of pace.”
“I think he’d look good and he doesn’t believe me.”
“Joong, we’ve been over this. I don’t really feel like making any big changes right now-”
“But you’d look so good ! Don’t you agree, hyung?”
Yeo Sang could feel Seong Hwa’s whole mood change.
“I said no, Hong Joong. And frankly, I don’t really care if Kyung Moon thinks so or not.”
“Seong Hwa!”
“If his opinion matters so much, then why don’t you dye his hair?”
“Because he doesn’t want to-”
“But you’re forcing me to.”
“I’m not forcing you to do anything.”
“Whatever, it’s fine. I have a test to study for. I’ll be in my room.”
“But everyone else-”
“Is getting their hair dyed. I’ve been sitting out here by myself the majority of the time anyway. I might as well be productive.” He stood, throwing his trash away before finally turning to Maddox. “Thank you for buying dinner.” He then walked off without another word.
The room went silent before Kyung Moon spoke. “...I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. I’ll let you all get back to what you’re doing. I don’t want you guys to be up too late, even if tomorrow is Saturday.” The brunette began to object. “I’ll text you later, Hong Joong.”
Hong Joong waited til the older left before he addressed the rest of the group. “He’s right. You all should get back to campus. San, do you wanna stay the night since it might take me longer to finish?”
“Sure…I still wanna talk to you anyway.”
“Yeah…” Hong Joong looked towards his roommate’s closed door before he sighed. “Alright, let’s get you guys out of here."