Chapter Text
Beomgyu is never going to drink again.
"You know that's a lie," Kai deadpanned.
Beomgyu groaned, leaning back against the dining table chair. "Ning, you don't get it, my head hurts like death has warmed over."
"Oh, I bet it does, but that's not stopping you, is it?"
"I hate it when you're right," Beomgyu said, his voice muffled from behind his hands.
His housemate snorted, pouring coffee for both of them.
Partying on a Tuesday was the worst decision of his life. His hookup of the night didn't even make it to his top 10. Maybe in the lowest 10. Who the hell parties on a Tuesday, anyway? Jeongin, apparently. It was barely even a party, more like a get-together trying hard to look fun.
Wrapping his hands around a warm cup of coffee felt like heaven, his shoulders slumping. He drank it slowly, watching Kai fall half asleep on the kitchen table.
Last night's unfinished homework lies on the table. Beomgyu had been in the middle of completing it when he got the call from Jeongin inviting him to the party and, well, Beomgyu needed an excuse to let out pent-up frustration. And so lay the Physics homework, still on their kitchen table, sad and lonely. Thank God it's not due till Monday. Beomgyu didn't work so hard all these years (1 year) just for a single assignment to be his demise to a lifetime of teasing.
"You're not gonna take a day off today, right? I still need my ride to campus."
Beomgyu rolled his eyes. "You should learn to drive. And speak with respect, brat."
"Sorry, hyung," Kai grumbled. He disposed of the empty mug in the sink. "Come on, get up, we'll be late."
"There's still an hour!" he huffed but obeyed anyway.
♡
"Taehyunnie!" Kai cheered, bounding up to his boyfriend like an overgrown puppy.
Taehyun turned around at hearing his name being called and was promptly attacked by a hug. Kai leaned down to kiss his cheek.
"Good morning to you too, Hyuka." Taehyun grinned, pecking Kai's lips.
Beomgyu entered his line of vision. Taehyun rolled his eyes at his disheveled state. "Had fun last night?"
"So much fun." Beomgyu pressed his forehead against Kai's back. "My head is hurting again."
Taehyun reached up to ruffle Beomgyu's hair fondly.
"Choi Beomgyu!"
Said person's face immediately dropped into a scowl as he turned around, Kai and Taehyun long forgotten. "What do you want now?"
There stood Choi Soobin in all his glory, wearing the nerdiest glasses but smirking like fucking player.
"Oh, just wanted to ask how you were. You know, after I got first place in class for the quiz yesterday. Must've stung like a bitch."
It did, but Beomgyu wasn't about to give Soobin the satisfaction of knowing he got to him. He stepped forward, his arm getting held back by Taehyun. "Have you ever heard of this wonderful little thing called a party? Clearly you haven't, because it's a gathering of friends, something you lack."
Beomgyu gloated internally about Soobin's smirk being wiped right off his face. "A party on a school night? How much more irresponsible can you be?"
"Maybe I can go out and party because I have actual friends to party with, unlike you."
"I do have friends, for your information!"
Beomgyu scoffed. "I don't know how Yeonjun stands you, you're so annoying."
Soobin looked so mad, that Beomgyu was half expecting him to lunge at him. But of course, Mr. goody-two-shoes would do no such thing. He only gritted his teeth. "This annoying person right here just won first place instead of you, so yeah, I see why you think I'm so annoying."
Taehyun glanced back and forth between them and tugged Beomgyu's arm before he could retort. "Right. Beomgyu, you come with me."
He grabbed Beomgyu's wrist before he could protest and pulled him away, Kai following behind. But not before Beomgyu could stick his middle finger up at Soobin, a gesture that was promptly returned.
✿
And you might be wondering, where did this whole shitshow even start?
It starts like this—a disastrous partner project.
When Beomgyu was fresh out of high school, he didn't know which college to choose. He merely followed his best friends, Kai and Taehyun, to their chosen college. As a result, he also chose the same classes because if he screwed them up, at least he wouldn't be alone.
Chemistry was his absolute worst subject. It also happened to be Taehyun's favorite, and he offered to help him in classes, so Beomgyu reluctantly chose Chemistry as well.
The Professor assigned them all a partner project. His prayers didn't manage to make Taehyun his project partner. Instead, he got stuck with—you guessed it—Choi Soobin.
Beomgyu watched Soobin pull his glasses back on his nose for the tenth time in a row. He had been running low on sleep that day so, irritated, he snapped, "How many times are you gonna do that?"
Soobin looked away from the bleaker and up at Beomgyu, confused. "Do what?"
"Push back those glasses. Could you seriously not find glasses fitting your face?"
Soobin's lips formed a tight line. "Well, excuse you, Choi Beomgyu, some people aren't born with nepotism with their daddy buying shit for them."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Soobin gave him a nasty look, and Beomgyu held his tongue back because, in the end, it was going to be Soobin who did most of the project. Anyone would be a fool to let Beomgyu do work in chemistry.
Soobin is a fool indeed.
"And now, we're to add the blue liquid to the bottle." Soobin looked at him expectantly.
Beomgyu stared back. "What?"
"Seriously, are you not even going to try to look like you care?" Soobin rolled his eyes. "Rich people, I swear..."
Now that got on Beomgyu's nerves. "Excuse you? I do care about classes, I'm just not good at Chemistry, is that a crime now?"
"I don't think you care, Choi Beomgyu, because you would at least obey my instructions, even if your thick skull can't understand any of this on your own."
"Fine!" Beomgyu grabbed a beaker full of dark blue liquid and poured it until it filled the container.
"NO, BEOMGYU—"
BANG!
All the students stared. Professor Min slowly turned to the two students covered in soot, thoroughly exhausted. "What the hell did you two do?"
They both pointed at each other. "It was his fault!"
Yoongi sighed as the two students continued to blame each other.
That was the start of the classic rivalry. Beomgyu had never cared for academics, but Soobin flattening him in Chemistry that year was a serious hit to Beomgyu's pride. He vowed to study hard and win over him in every test, dropping Chemistry the next year.
They've had a pretty equal track record, actually. Beomgyu scores highest on one test, Soobin on another. They aced the exams in their sophomore year, both of them tying for no.1.
The energy is carrying well into the Junior year so far, it will probably carry into senior year too.
✿
"Changbin's throwing a party this weekend? Why?"
Yeonjun shrugged. "He said he felt like it."
Soobin snorted. "Typical." Soobin watched as Yeonjun took out his notebook. "You're going?"
"Of course I am, it's Changbin."
Soobin nodded. "I want to go too."
Yeonjun choked on air.
Soobin thumped his back, thoroughly disdainful. Yeonjun finally stopped coughing, taking a deep breath. "Sorry, I think I heard you wrong. Can you repeat that?"
"I know you heard me alright!" Soobin huffed. "I want to go to the party."
"Okay, who are you and what have you done to my best friend?"
"Could you be any more dramatic?" Soobin said. "I just want to go to a party, like everyone in university does."
"You don't go to parties like Changbin's, where people get drunk and kiss strangers."
Soobin grimaced. That sounds like the exact opposite of how Soobin would like to spend a Friday night.
His definition of a perfect Friday night is to stay inside his bedroom, watch movies or anime on his laptop, eat unhealthy snacks, and maybe text Yeonjun or his online friends. He likes his predictable life. He likes his comfort.
He's the exact opposite of Choi Beomgyu, who has fun drinking at parties, who's unpredictable and likes to brag about hookups.
Soobin isn't like that, but it can't hurt to be in Beomgyu's shoes for one night, right?
"I don't," Soobin confirmed, realizing Yeonjun is still waiting for an answer. "I just want to go once, is that really such a bad thing?"
"Of course not." Yeonjun reached up to ruffle Soobin's hair. "I was just surprised. Don't worry, I will dress you up perfectly for it."
"I can dress myself."
"And let you show up looking like a librarian? Never." Yeonjun's eyes sparkled—this is his area of expertise. "Don't worry, you'll look hot."
Soobin really, really doubts that.
♡
Usually, when Beomgyu goes to parties, he makes sure to drink within his limits. But it's Friday! Being a college student is fucking hard, okay? He deserves one night of fun.
That's what he told himself as he got through his third bottle of alcohol that night. It burned his throat, leaving a sweet aftertaste in his mouth. His vision was growing blurrier as he laughed at nothing in particular, sitting in a circle with random strangers.
"God, why did I let you drag me here with you?" someone nearby muttered.
Beomgyu grinned at the small blob. "Aww Hueningie, try to have some fun!" He tried to reach up to pat his hair, but he couldn't quite feel it at the usual height.
"I'm not... whatever. We should get out of here."
"Nope," Beomgyu sang, standing up to float over to wherever his feet took him.
He grabs another glass of soju, downing it quickly. His eyes swept over the dance floor.
And oh.
A boy with blonde hair, wearing an all-black outfit, his jacket glittering in the dark room. He's standing next to a ginger, moving his hands while he talks to him animatedly.
He is fucking gorgeous.
'He' being someone he doesn't recognize, but whatever, isn't the point of parties to kiss pretty strangers?
Beomgyu ran a hand through his hair, walking up confidently to the gorgeous blonde boy.
The boy noticed him, looking surprised at seeing him. Beomgyu smirked at him. "Hey pretty."
The boy's eyes widened. He looked around himself before pointing at himself. Beomgyu resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Stupid. So, so cute. "Yes, you, there's no one else pretty like you here," Beomgyu flirted, bringing his hands up to the boy's face.
The boy didn't pull away. "Oh, really?"
Oh, his voice is so nice, I didn't expect— "Yes, really. And it'll be great if I could get a kiss from such a pretty boy."
The boy's eyes widened again cutely. Beomgyu wanted to tease him about it and was about to do so, if only he didn't feel someone interrupting them, tapping his shoulder.
Beomgyu looked at the source, annoyed. "What?"
"I don't think you realize you're talking to Choi Soobin right now."
Beomgyu looked back at the pretty boy, blinking twice, slowly.
Oh.
His brain slowly dug out the memories associated with the face of the blonde boy. The annoying (sweet) voice, his infuriating (adorable) dimples, his aggravating (fun... sometimes) presence.
Choi Soobin, the so-called bane of his existence.
Soobin smirked at him, the shyness from seconds ago vanished. "So, do you still want a kiss?"
Ah, fuck it.
"I mean, maybeeeee," Beomgyu sang, cupping Soobin's cheeks, feeling how warm they were under his fingers.
"Nope." Someone—Taehyun, as he realizes now—grabs Beomgyu by the arm, pulling him away. "You'll regret it in the morning. We're leaving now."
"But Tyun..." Beomgyu couldn't protest much, letting Taehyun take him away.
He looked back as he left, and didn't miss the smirk on Soobin's lips. He wondered how it would taste against his own.