Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“There’s a bug bite on your neck.” Cheongryeo said, gesturing to a fresh and red mosquito bite placed perfectly misunderstandable on the side of Moondae’s neck. 

They had just left a lecture and Moondae was on the way to his campus job at the library, while Cheongryeo was just… there. Moondae recalled something about the elder being bored and walking to walk him there. Didn’t that freak have things to worry about like graduating? 

Moondae didn’t even bat an eye to his sunbae and simply pulled his hoodie up enough to cover half of the puffing wound. So that’s why people were staring at him on the way out from he and Cheongryeo’s organic chemistry class…

“That’s not helping.” Cheongryeo spoke with a slight tease to his voice, “I do have a bandaid…” He trailed off, as if waiting for Moondae to ask for it. 

Moondae deadpanned, “I don’t need your help.” He insisted coldly. 

Cheongryeo raised an amused brow, “You don’t? So you want people to think that you had–”

Moondae elbowed him discreetly in his side. 

“Not everyone has a dirty mind like you.” Moondae replied, adding another hit for good measure. 

Cheongryeo doubled over into a squat, groaning and holding his side as he waited for the pain to pass. In the middle of campus, mind you. Moondae grimaced as concerned onlookers faced their way. They probably thought Moondae was some abusive piece of crap, or that Cheongryeo was a weirdo (in which he was but the man was attractive enough for no one to notice his weird qualities).

Cheongryeo huffed and looked up at Moondae, “Since when was my hobae so mean?” He spoke, pushing himself up when he did. He swung an arm to reel Moondae in shoulder to shoulder, “Aren’t we friends?” He asked, taunting for the small crowd of nosy onlookers trying to look anything but. It was all because of Cheongryeo’s handsomeness. 

“No.” Moondae replied, using his hand to push Cheongryeo’s clear-skinned face away as it leaned in at the question.

Cheongryeo looked up and around for what Moondae knew to be crowd interaction. The elder pointed towards a poor blushing girl, “Isn’t he so mean? Who could resist me?” He asked, making the girl get redder and redder. 

“I– I– Uh–” She stuttered, only calming when Cheongryeo threw up a hand to signify his joking. 

“Stop scaring her, shithead.” Moondae cursed. 

Cheongryeo got bold then, pressing a finger into the fresh bug bite, making it more red looking.

Moondae could only wince, eyes on them like glue. 

“Now you’re just trying to get reactions…” Moondae scoffed, shoving Cheongryeo away stumbling.

He walked off with his face red to the curious eyes following him. It wasn’t even many people, maybe like seven or ten or whatever. Cheongryeo was just being weird, as always. Moondae knew better than to lean into it.

–+–

“That’s who you’re crushing on bro?” Big Sejin asked, looking at the photo Ahyeon presented him with. 

It was Park Moondae, one of the most fawned over boys in the small section of their campus where they lived. Only behind who many presumed to be his boyfriend, Cheongryeo. But they were different. Girls gushed over both of them, but Moondae was pretty. He pulled both sides with ease, in Sejin’s opinion. Cheongryeo was too much of an ab-bearing whore to pull or keep a man. 

Ahyeon nodded as if to confirm, looking away to hide the red filling his pale face. He wore a mask out regularly. To class, around campus, anywhere where there was someone he didn’t know well. 

Sejin let out a sad chuckle, “Well, there’s gonna be a bit of a line. He’s already got Cheongryeo sunbae too.” He reasoned. The relationship between the two was never a sure factor. In Sejin’s theory, they were old evil exes and Cheongryeo was the one still hung up and chasing. 

“I know. That’s why I won’t ever talk to him…” Ahyeon whined, sounding sad in his quiet voice.

Sejin shrugged, “You might be able to catch him at the library, Raebin said they work there together.” 

Ahyeon was a bit of a reader, sometimes, if you counted class readings. Despite that, could he really pass as a reader? He was tall, about six foot, blonde, and had a long lanky build. He was a dance major, and his physique reflected that. He looked like a model of sorts, similar to probably Moondae or Cheongryeo or maybe even Sejin who got street casted weekly.

“But… I can’t– I’d be super awkward and stumble over my words— and—” Ahyeon’s rant was cut off by Sejin slipping a pair of faux glasses he often wore over Ahyeon’s eyes.

“Take off the mask.” Sejin instructed.

Confused, Ahyeon still obeyed. He took off the medical mask and revealed pretty androgynous features. A sharp nose, less defined cheeks, lips in the shape of cupid’s bow. 

“And the hat.” Sejin continued.

Ahyeon did as told, removing his cap to reveal fluffy blond hair that was slightly scruffy and long. 

Sejin nodded, looking at Ahyeon as if some treat. 

“Perfect.” Sejin smiled as if proud of himself. He placed his hands on the shoulders of Ahyeon and turned his friend towards their dorm door.

Ahyeon’s face twisted and twisted. Did Sejin think he was some cupid? He felt himself get redder and redder. The idea of talking to Moondae scared him. This was the Moondae, not just any person. Though the man appeared to have no social media, you would still find his face somewhere. And he was pretty. And hot and gorgeous and pretty. Did he mention hot?

“I’ll go tomorrow! I can’t do it now, Sejin, I can’t.” Ahyeon felt the nerves. He would sound like a fool if he went up to Moondae like this.

Sejin huffed.

“But tomorrow Cheongryeo might have Moondae off his feet. You can’t lose!” Sejin exclaimed like this was all some game. This was Ahyeon’s love life!

Ahyeon shook his head, “Tomorrow, I promise.” He insisted.

–+–

Tomorrow came like a foreign breeze, and Ahyeon felt all queasy.

He woke up to the smell of fire, or burning. He wasn’t sure until he exited his room to find Sejin trying (and failing) to cook a breakfast of eggs and spinach. He even wore an apron! Ahyeon shook his head, knowing he would just make it worse if he helped. 

Sejin eventually turned around to face his bandmate. 

“Oh, Ahyeon-Ahyeon! I’m making you a pre-game breakfast.” He explained, holding up an ungreased pan with egg sticking to it like glue. Even Ahyeon knew you had to oil, butter, or at least grease a pan before making eggs…

“Pre-game?” Ahyeon questioned, “I don’t need pre-game. ” He replied with quiet sass in his voice. 

“Yes you do. You’re talking to Moondae today and that requires strength and power.” Sejin replied, “Before you get ready and go, a good breakfast is necessary. ”

“Is that what you consider a good breakfast?”

Ahyeon gestured towards the burnt pile of eggs in the pan.

“I’ll just order something then.” Sejin rolled his eyes, turning off the burner. Ahyeon had to stop him before his roommate got too carried away. He knew from Cha Eugene’s last party how crazy Sejin could get…

Quickly, Ahyeon shook his head and said: “No, it’s okay Sejin-ah, it really is. I think… I should just go for it and if it doesn’t go well, it doesn’t go well.”

Sejin seemed surprised, stopping in his tracks on Doordash.

His face lit up for a moment and before Ahyeon knew it, he was stuck in a forceful hug.

“My son! My Ahyeon!” Sejin cried, “I’m so proud of you…” He exclaimed, wiping fake tears from his face. 

Ahyeon, in his shock, just took it. What else was he to do? Sejin was a physical education major and though they were about the same height it didn’t mean much in their upper strength difference. 

“...” Ahyeon cleared his throat, “Sejin-ah…” 

Sejin let go on his own accord, leaving Ahyeon’s pyjama’s wrinkled. He was lucky Ahyeon wasn’t yet ready.

–+–

Moondae awoke to his pants on the floor and his back slightly sore. He knew the culprit. All he had to do was look up and see a ready-for-the-day Cheongryeo brushing his hair and checking his make up at their shared vanity.

He groaned, “Hey, prick, have you ever heard of taking it easy?”

Cheongryeo turned around with an innocent smile, like they didn’t have an unplanned hookup for the umpteenth time, like Moondae wasn’t half paralyzed into dirty sheets. 

Cheongryeo shrugged, “Did you hear yourself last night? Why’re you complaining now?”

Moondae shook his head as his cheeks filled with red. 

“Don’t say that. You better’ve not fucked up my neck this time.” Moondae threatened, feeling his neck for wounds.

Unfortunately, there were wounds, bruises, littering his neck. Cheongryeo was silent, humming a tune as he touched up his hair.

“I’m gonna fucking kill you.” Moondae said, voice low and threatening.

“You wouldn’t do that to your dear Sunbae, would you?” Cheongryeo asked, not even looking or caring or doing anything at all. 

Moondae imagined running Cheongryeo over with a fat semi-truck then. Maybe going to America just to bring back a gun and shoot him. Maybe lacing his elder’s next meal with rat poison pellets. Maybe Moondae could even strangle him. That would be nice. 

“I have an early shift.” Moondae said, “And your foundation is too pale for me.”

Cheongryeo took a break from his routine and rummaged through one of the vanities. In it, he pulled out a shade of concealer that almost exactly matched Moondae’s. He swore that this guy was some kind of serial killer. 

Moondae grimaced, catching the make-up when Cheongryeo tossed it his way. 

“You’re a fucking freak.” 

–+–

“Hyung, was that your boyfriend?” Moondae’s co-worker, Kim Raebin asked. 

Cheongryeo had insisted that he take Moondae to his job again. How unemployed was he? It didn’t help that the other planted a possessive peck to Moondae’s cheek before he left. Did he want everyone to think he was gay? Moondae was out, but Cheongryeo didn’t even have a label.

Moondae sighed, “No. I don’t have a boyfriend.” He replied, placing his bag on the counter and setting up shop.

“But…” Raebin gestured to Moondae’s neck with shy hands. It was mostly covered, but you could only put on so much before it seemed cake-y.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Moondae lied, standing and going to restock books. The library had many rows of shelves to be restocked. The people here liked to read, unfortunately for Moondae and Raebin. “I’m gonna restock the thriller section. You’ll find me there.”

Raebin nodded, noticing Moondae’s slight intensity.

Moondae went. Through rows and rows of bookshelves taller than him and the sky. Romance, textbooks, horror, fantasy. Each genre lined the walls like paint. It smelt good in the library. Like coffee and paper. It was his comfort place. Cheongryeo didn’t care much for books, so he never persisted inside to bother Moondae. It was his safe place away from Cheongryeo and his antics, away from all the attention he got and really wasn’t into. 

He rolled a cart of thrillers into the two shelf section labeled “thrillers” and picked up a book with a last name beginning with “E”. He went through the process like an ant, over and over again until his mind calmed down and his mind wasn’t screaming at him with regret over the previous night. He had sworn to stop involving himself with Cheongryeo that way. It would only lead to more rumors. 

Eventually, his thoughts cleared with the rack of books. It was a job he enjoyed. 

Moondae had worked many jobs in his life. Too many, in Cheongryeo’s opinion, but Moondae didn’t care. A convenience store worker, a line cook, an idol photographer, even behind the scene’s jobs for various ad or show shoots. Cheongryeo had always said Moondae could be the one in front of those cameras, but by that logic, so could Cheongryeo and any other half-pretty person on this campus. 

He snapped out of his thoughts when the doors to the library cracked open and in came the study bugs and Cha Eugene. Caffeine addicted nerds filtered into the study seats with stacks of homework and overdue papers. University was anything but easy. Cha Eugune, however, probably thought it was.

He was Raebin’s childhood friend, here on some American-based scholarship, yet fooled around like a child. His grades were… phenomenal, but his attitude towards school was so light anyone would assume anything but. It was like he was some undiagnosed terribly American genius. You could hear him from a mile away:

“Raebin-ah! What are you doing? Huh?” He asked, loud and American and tall. The study bugs of their campus were long used to him, but it doesn’t mean it annoyed them any less.

Most of the people Moondae knew were tall. They could’ve been idol trainees in some other other life with heights like that. It made him feel small, though 5’9” was well average for someone of his race and height.

Raebin shushed his friend, embarrassed. Raebin was far more introverted and quiet. They were a good pair like that, balancing out each other’s energy almost perfectly. Moondae supposed it was the result of being friends for so long. Or maybe they were just meant to be friends, Moondae wouldn’t know. 

All honesty, Moondae was quite lonely. He never had any long time friends, not many friends at all. It was like people were scared to approach him, and he wasn’t sure why. Was it because he was orphaned? The director always said he was pretty and handsome, so it confused him as a kid, why no one approached him. 

Cheongryeo was the one who finally spelled it out for him. 

His hair was long and unkempt, he was too skinny, too moody. Everything about Moondae made him unapproachable and he was okay with that. Cheongryeo always offered to pay for a haircut or cook good food so he could put on a few pounds, but Moondae knew how to cook. If he put more effort into his appearance it would just be troublesome. 

It didn’t stop him from feeling lonely. 

As he placed a book into its slot, he felt a gaze, a tall one. 

His stomach churned. Cheongryeo? Cha Eugene? He supposed, turning around cautiously.

Instead of the vaguely threatening Cheongryeo or the annoying Cha Euguene, there was someone else. Tall, as everyone around Moondae seemed to be, blonde, and pretty. The man staring at Moondae like he was some celebrity, became a stuttering mess the moment Moondae looked at him. 

“Can…I help you?” Moondae asked, zoning on the long light eyelashes of the tall man at his will. “Do you need help finding something?” 

The blond shook his head, “N-no– not that…” 

Moondae tilted his head like a puppy. So what did this guy want with Moondae of all people? This guy seemed like he would have a photoshoot to attend with his looks. Then it clicked.

A job?

University kids were broke, the library was hiring, didn’t that make sense?

Moondae cleared his throat, feeling like he was some museum piece with the way this guy was looking at him, “Are you looking for a job?”

The blond’s eyes widened, but he didn’t shake his head no. He seemed highly flustered. 

Moondae waited awkwardly for a response. He had books to put away, could this guy just say what he wanted and go on? 

“U-uh, yes…A job…” The blond replied after at least a minute of just silence.

Moondae felt that he was dying like this, but it was fine. The job didn’t require much talking and they were always understaffed. He would have to ask the librarian when she came for her afternoon shift. 

“Okay. I’ll ask the librarian when she comes, may I have your name and email?” Moondae asked, putting on his professional face.

The blond nodded, face slightly defeated, for some reason. 

“U-um… Seo Ahyeon…” He said, stalking Moondae as he wrote his name down on a notes app. 

“And email?” Moondae followed up. 

Seo Ahyeon thought that he was gonna drop dead there.

–+–

Moondae deadpanned, looking at Cheongryeo’s sly pleading eyes. 

“I’m not going to this party.” He said crossing his arms, “There’s a lot of people and too many of them think that we’re dating or whatever.” 

Cheongryeo shrugged, “But people’ve stopped hitting on you since I’ve been more outward, no?” 

Moondae grimaced, “So? If I said no, they backed off, unlike you. He replied, “Final answer; no. I’m not in the mood to be wasted.” He reasoned, flipping the page to the book he was reading. He had borrowed it on the way out of his shift, his quite weird shift. 

Cheongryeo frowned and clicked his tongue. Like he was holding his words back, he looked at Moondae, his book, then to their dorm’s door. His eyes were pacing out of character. Moondae noticed, but he could care less. If Cheongryeo needed his help he would have to ask straight up. 

After taking a long breath, Cheongryeo spoke, “My stalker is going to be there, I think.”

The news made Moondae finally look at Cheongryeo and away from his book. 

“I thought she got expelled.” Moondae replied, “They let her back in?” 

Cheongryeo nodded, “Her dad paid off the dean.”

Moondae thought for a few seconds. He was there for the brunt of the stalker incident. Cheongryeo had acted as if Moondae was his boyfriend randomly during Moondae’s late campus walk a few months ago. Some girl was trailing behind Cheongryeo, mask up, and hair hidden by a hat. 

There was a lot to unpack in the following weeks after, and Moondae was the poor bystander to get pulled into it. But the stalker had been purged long ago now, so Moondae hadn’t thought of her in weeks. 

Moondae huffed, “Fine. But don’t push me to drink and keep your hands to yourself.”

Cheongryeo smiled a successful smile.

–+–

Kuen Sejin stared at Ahyeon with doe-like enraged eyes. Ahyeon had to return to the dorms, slightly unsuccessful… Why had he said he was looking for a job? Was he stupid? He couldn’t name ten books if he tried. He would be closer to his crush, but getting a whole job to be closer to someone? That seemed so stalker-ish. 

Sejin seemed to agree, his eyes narrowing at Ahyeon like lasers. 

“I trusted you, you know.” Sejin said, “I thought I could let my Ahyeon-Ahyeon go out into the world and pursue a love life but no…” He crumpled onto their torn up couch with a faux disappointment in his eyes. 

Ahyeon shuffled with his hands nervously. He did try, but Moondae up close was so much different from seeing him yards away on campus. He seemed less glorified and normal under the library light. He seemed less uptight and on guard. It was so different from seeing him annoyed and tense under Cheongryeo’s sharp gaze and name. He looked prettier when he was calm and it flustered Ahyeon endlessly. 

He didn’t say anything to Sejin, just stared at the ground, ashamed. 

Sejin sighed after beats of silence. 

“How about this,” He suddenly proposed, snapping Ahyeon’s attention back like some rubber band. “Chungwoo hyung’s doing another party thing to, I guess, celebrate winning Archery states and Moondae-ssi might be there.”

Ahyeon’s mind filled with cliche images of how they went. Alcohol, so much alcohol, cops called, people arrested, someone with… pot… He looked at his roommate with deer-like eyes, like a deer in the headlights. 

“I’ve never… Uh…” Ahyeon was embarrassed to express it. 

Sejin used his head to gesture Ahyeon to continue.

“Been to one…” Ahyeon finished. 

“A party?” Sejin asked to clarify, and Ahyeon nodded. “Well I haven’t either, not here anyway.” 

Ahyeon’s super cool friendful roommate had never been to a college party? Kuen Sejin, tall, friendly, handsome, and social friend who had never been? Ahyeon’s surprise seemed to amuse Sejin, or offend him. His roommate did have the expressions of a highschool bully sometimes

“Don’t be so surprised, it’ll hurt my feelings.” Sejin said. 

Ahyeon nodded. 

“But we’re still going. And this time I’ll make sure you don’t fumble. And I’m choosing your outfit.” Sejin continued.

Ahyeon nodded, like an obedient dog. 

–+–

It was loud. 

It was so loud, Moondae thought his ears were going to fall off. He would go deaf by 25 at this rate, and maybe then Cheongryeo would go deaf sooner than Moondae with all the parties he attended.

Cheongryeo, per Moondae’s request, had made a quieter entrance than usual. Perhaps the fear of his past stalker contributed to such compliance, but Moondae wasn’t complaining. But even with a quieter entrance the speed in which his pretend boyfriend got whisked away had to be record breaking. Wannabes and womanizers filtered Cheongryeo away into the air reeking of too much to drink and pot. If the cops were to come, they’d be screwed, basically. 

Moondae sat in an awkward couch corner, playing sudoku on his phone like a loser. He watched as girls in skimpy comfy outfits and boys in grey sweats passed him. Some waved and smiled, like they knew him, but they didn’t. They knew his name through campus chatter all involving Cheogryeo and that’s all they knew him from. He gave curt awkward nod in reply more than he cared to. He was here for Cheongryeo tonight, he could at least seem a little friendly. 

Some Spacer song blasted from a distant speaker as Moondae’s vision clouded with overwhelm. With every passing moment, he felt fake. How did Cheongryeo do this everyday and not get increasingly depressed?

A tall presence squished next to Moondae. Typical. 

He turned to be faced with a name he barely knew. Ryu Chungwoo. 

The man was the host(?) And was celebrating some archery achievement he had won for the university. If the man was the host as Cheongryeo had said, why was he here? 

Moondae slightly faltered in his game, placing a one in a box where there already was. The whole couch was available, yet the man and his large archer biceps chose to sit oddly close to Moondae. He cursed under his breath. 

“If you’re looking for Cheongryeo, he’s in the kitchen getting a drink.” Chungwoo said, annoying Moondae shitless. 

He thought someone as notably observant as Chungwoo would notice he and Cheongryeo’s lack of affinity for each other. He grimaced, forcing a reply out of his lungs, “Thanks. Sunbae.” Moondae replied, still tapping away at his phone.

Chungwoo, however, remained by Moondae’s side like a clingy dog. 

“He asked me to get you, Moondae-ssi.”

Moondae hummed. That made sense. 

“Okay. Thank you Sunbae.” He replied, quickly standing and shuffling to the kitchen with an urgency. Slipping through drunkards and people that stared too hard, Moondae was almost out of breath by the time he reached the large kitchen.  All the cabinets were locked, of course, and a hired bartender was handing out drinks on the marble counters with probably thousands of dollars worth of alcohol behind him. 

Moondae spotted Cheongryeo at the kitchen’s island, chatting with Chaeyul, a friend of his. He looked around for the same hooded woman he remembered, but found no one of the same stature. 

He trusted Cheongryeo to an extent. The man must’ve seen something, so Moondae took the empty seat next to him, making his presence known. 

Cheongryeo’s face grew a small, but fake smile, “There you are.” He said, wrapping an arm around Moondae’s shoulder and pulling him in like a ragdoll. 

Moondae hid his grimace. 

“Yeah.” He replied, staring at the drink in Cheongryeo’s grasp to avoid the curious gaze of Chaeyul. 

Chaeyul nodded as if he’d figured out a puzzle, “I knew it!” He shouted, too loud for onlookers who flinched. “I knew you two were dating!” He exclaimed, pointing at Cheongryeo with an accusing finger. 

One of Cheongryeo’s other friends, Ju-Dan, chipped in with a fresh shot of soju in his hands, “I thought that was already obvious.” He shrugged, red-faced from the alcohol. 

Cheongryeo hummed with that terribly convincing fake smile. 

“Well, I guess I made it pretty clear…” He chuckled, pressing a sudden and unconsented peck to Moondae’s cheek. 

Moondae’s expression shifted drastically. 

They had agreed not to anything like that, even an arm around his shoulder was pushing it. Chaeyul eyes drunkenly widened at the action, and for a moment, Moondae felt as if every single person in this too big house was staring at him. Through the walls and through the whole damn door. Looking at him like some accessory to a bighead, like a doll.

Shit, Moondae cursed to himself, he felt like shit. 

As if realizing Moondae’s discomfort, Cheongryeo in his Cheongryeo nature pushed further. He took his hand and his stupidly thin fingers and placed a casual hand on Moondae’s thigh. 

Then it hit Moondae.

Where was this stalker?

Moondae slapped the hand away as fast as it came, less discreetly than Cheongryeo would’ve liked. The tension was thick around them, but the space around them was too off the ground to feel it. 

“Cheongryeo,” Moondae dropped honorifics with dark eyes, “Is the stalker even here?”

Cheogryeo sighed and whispered into Moondae’s ear, pulling Moondae closer as someone else he probably knew walked by, “Somewhere.”

Moondae chuckled, angry. He agreed to help someone he owed nothing to with the simple boundary of hands off, yet that couldn’t even be respected? The stalker in question wasn’t even here, in the room, at the moment!

He shoved Cheongryeo with an eye catching force and stormed away uncaring. He wouldn’t take that like some pushover. He scoffed, feeling Cheongryeo’s cold gaze on his back and Chaeyul’s confused one as he walked away. Moondae wasn’t a pushover, and maybe he had to go and remind Cheongryeo of that.

–+–

Kuen Sejin watched a k-drama-esque scene with wide, wide eyes. He was relieved Ahyeon didn’t have to witness the scene, and was too busy being whisked away by his overjoyed dance friends that were over the moon to see Ahyeon attending a party of all things.

He had just witnessed Park Moondae very forwardly reject the Cheongryeo’s heavy and suggestive advances. It was good to know that Moondae was single and all, but seeing it go down in real time was heavily entertaining. He watched Cheongryeo follow after Moondae with amused and unsatisfied eyes. They were slightly chilling, the Sunbae’s eyes, and Sejin wondered how you wouldn’t feel eaten alive with a single glare. Not that it was his problem, though. 

He was slightly worried for Moondae, only under the intense guise of Cheongryeo, of course. But he knew he had to find a way to make this moment for Ahyeon, as shitty as it sounded. Ahyeon could be a knight in shining armor for Moondae, if he even needed it.

Sejin began to stroll around in search of his tall blond friend. 

It wasn’t hard, however, as Ahyeon had the visuals of a top model in a socially anxious yet towering body. And Sejin could spot him from miles away from just the sparkles that exuded from his face. 

“Ahyeon-Ahyeon!” He called, using his hand to summon his friend. 

The group of dancers around him sent him off, waving to Sejin as they had most likely head of him from Ahyeon in his rare times of input. And that left them two, and a plan to snag a man. 

Ahyeon looked at Sejin with an anxious awkward stance. If Ahyeon were a model, he wouldn’t be good at the camera aspect for sure.

“What… Did you think of something?” He asked. 

Sejin nodded, “Go to the bathroom. You’ll see what I mean.” He suggested with a wink. 

Ahyeon blushed, nasty images filling his mind. 

“What?” 

Sejin scoffed, “Just go, I promise you can get the number like this.” 

Ahyeon gulped, “But–”

“GO!” Sejin shouted into the music of the night. 

Ahyeon hesitated like a rock. He sent Sejin a frightful stare before walking off into a crowd of enamored people.

–+–

“–hat was our agreement, Sunbae. I go to this fuck-all party and act close and in return you kept your hands to yourself. Don’t come in here storming and get all mad at me for standing my own damn ground.” Moondae cursed, the dingy bathroom enveloping them like a penthouse. 

Cheongryeo shook his head, washing his face with slightly yellow tap water, “You’re overreacting. I thought I saw her– my stalker– I swear.” He seemed slightly flustered, if not irreparably angry and embarrassed.

Moondae shook his head in disbelief, “So you kiss me?”

Cheongryeo paused, scoffed, and stared at Moondae like he was an idiot. 

Moondae wasn’t having it. 

“You could’ve faked it, you could’ve just hugged me or something, or held my hand. But the logical route is kissing me and grabbing my thigh like this is some crappy gay porno?” Moondae asked. 

Cheongryeo crossed his arms like a stubborn toddler, “It just seemed like the most obvious and logical thing to do.”

Moondae huffed, “So logic over the boundaries that you agreed to? You’re always like that, putting logic over everything.”

“Like you’re any better?” Cheongryeo snapped back, “Forgive me if I want to get a stalker off my trail as quickly as possible. 

“How do you even know she’s there? Are you even sure? I read about it, stalking can cause PTSD symptoms like paranoia.” Moondae reasoned to a wall made of concrete and brick. 

Cheongryeo’s eyes darkened, the typical and teasing amusement leaving his eyes. 

“I am not paranoid.” He said coldly, “Don’t you dare accuse me of that.” 

Like in some manic episode, like something had snapped and the bucket spilled over, Cheongryeo felt different. Moondae inwardly gulped, putting on a strong front. 

“You need help.” Moondae replied, “You need help and I can’t help you.” 

Cheongryeo took a vaguely threatening step towards Moondae, his shadow casting a darkness to the tips of Moondae’s toes.  He took another, and another, and Moondae refused to show fear. 

“You need the cops, a good lawyer, and–” Moondae went on to go on, only to be cut off with aggressive hands at his collar. 

He felt for a moment suffocated by shock, before he fought back. 

He looked Cheongryeo dead in the groin before putting full force into his foot and slamming it into Cheongryeo’s crotch.  It wasn’t flight or fight, or maybe it was. Maybe Moondae knew hand-to-hand Cheongryeo was taller and bulkier and had broader shoulders. 

All he knew for sure is that Cheongryeo was likely drunk even if just a little, and scared. Moondae wasn’t used to seeing the man scared, though he was likely the only one to ever. This Cheongryeo wasn’t the one Moondae knew.

Cheongryeo doubled over in pain as Moondae stood over him and said: “Come back to the dorm when you’re not a mess.” 

He didn’t see Cheongryeo’s expression, but the color of the world came back finally then, and Cheongryeo didn’t matter much in such a vulnerable state. At the bathroom door, standing like a deer in the headlights was the almost-new-hire. 

Seo Ahyeon, was it?

Moondae flustered a terribly fake smile and greeted the man like Cheongryeo wasn’t there and recovering from the brunt while leaning on the wall. 

“Hi Ahyeon-ssi.” Moondae greeted. 

Ahyeon had his eyes locked on Cheongryeo with his dark face. 

Moondae scoffed, turning to Cheongryeo with his cold gaze again, “I’ll call an uber to the dorm for you. Stay in your bed and leave me alone.” And as if Cheongryeo was a grain of sand on the beach, Moondae turned back to Ahyeon with that same deadpan expression and asked: “Don’t tell anyone about this, please?”

Ahyeon nodded, “I-It’s safe with me…” He replied, “I promise…”

–+–

“I-Is everything okay?” Ahyeon asked Moondae, sitting on the same couch Moondae had been sitting lonely on prior. Company was nice, espcially after Cheongryeo’s stunt. 

Moondae confirmed such. He had sent Cheongryeo home to get his head straight, and the looming threat was now out of Moondae’s head. The relief was immeasurable, but Moondae was still slightly worried what was waiting for back at the dorm

“Yeah, it’s nothing to worry about.” Moondae replied, truthful.

Ahyeon, probably thinking back to the scene of Moondae held aggressively by the collar, didn’t seem to believe him. His worried face didn’t slow. His hands were in his lap hesitant.

“B-But…” Ahyeon trailed off in confusion. 

“He won’t put his hands on me again. He knows better.” Moondae reassured, “Are you okay, though? But of an intense scene without context…” He tried to lighten the mood, but this kid seemed to be an anxious cute mess. 

Moondae found it endearing. 

Ahyeon nodded like he had just called his teacher “mom” or something, his hand covering his mouth like something was missing. But nothing was. 

Ahyeon was truly a pretty person. He had long naturally blonde eyelashes, well kept hair (unlike Moondae’s), and had all the features an androgynous idol needed. His cheeks weren’t gaunt, but his jawline still seemed tight and natural. His nose was soft and sharp, and someone had put some fake freckles to really show that around his nose and upper cheeks. 

“That’s good.” Moondae replied to the nonverbal nod, thinking of a way to fill the silence. 

The job, Moondae remembered. Maybe Ahyeon had come to inquire about that? Why else would the other approach him?

He cleared his throat, “Oh– The librarian said she’d love to have you around. You just need to email some tax forms to her and come in for training in two days.” Moondae explained, “I can give you her and my email.” He offered like options. 

Ahyeon paused his anxious behaviors for just a split second. Moondae caught it and noticed a bulb light up in the shy man’s head. 

“Can I get your number too?” Ahyeon asked. 

Moondae’s mind took a moment to get the subtext. Smooth. He thought, choosing not to indulge in the shy man more. It felt cruel. Moondae feared that if he were to continue, Ahyeon would melt into the floor an Easter pink goo.

“Of course.” He replied, watching the blond try to play off his strategy nonchalantly. 

It was cute, Moondae supposed.

Seo Ahyeon was cute.

–+–

When Moondae got home, the dorm was dark. It was past their curfew, so he had to sneak in from the not-so-secret entrance that the security guards had long given up on. The dishes were done, couch pillows arranged neatly, the TV remote was on the coffee table in its correct bowl, and the trash was taken out. 

It wasn’t like that when He and Cheongryeo had left the place hours before. Cheongryeo must’ve tidied the place up. They were both neat freaks, Cheongryeo was just more so.  

Walking farther in he found he and Cheongryeo’s beds and nightstands organized like a hotel. Moondae’s sheets were rolled up and wrinkle-less in the dark, his nightstand properly set for an easy morning. 

He looked to his right, where Cheongryeo’s bed sat adjacent to his. He found his senior was asleep, maybe. His head snuggled between a blanket and a singular pillow. 

Cheongryeo slept facing the ceiling to keep his face pretty, and a sleeping mask over his eyes like a princess. Moondae saw such and scoffed. He didn’t get people who put so much effort just to maintain appearance. 

He found himself tired, however, if not exhausted. Getting threatened by Cheongryeo, infatuated with a tall blondy, and of course, classes, was hard on Moondae’s eyes. 

When his roommate was ready to take police action and leave Moondae out of it, he was waiting. Moondae would wait until Cheongreyo was broken down and sobbing if that day were ever to even come. Moondae didn’t think Cheongryeo could cry at his own mother’s funeral. 

That’s all he needed to fall asleep with. 

(And maybe one last thought of how Seo Ahyeon sleeped. Would he sleep like a perfectionist? Like Cheongryeo?)

–+–

Like two tween girls at a sleepover, Kuen Sejin and Seo Ahyeon sat criss-cross on Sejin’s bed in pijamas, clutching pillows over their chests, and discussing boys and drama like they were 12. 

Sejin’s hand clapped over his mouth multiple times, listening to Ahyeon speak. 

“A-And then— Moondae-ssi just like—” Ahyeon used his hand to gesture a leg going up, “Right to where it hurt…” He explained, “Cheongryeo Sunbae just doubled over, a-and then Moondae-ssi saw me…” 

Sejin gasped, “He saw you?”

Ahyeon nodded, “I was gonna leave, but then h-he looked at me—” He had to pause, waiting his words to catch up with his brain, “A-And he asked me to not tell anyone, but I-I didn’t even hear what the f-fight was about!” 

Sejin was attentive, hugging his pillow as he sulked and leaned in for more.

“What else?” He impatiently asked, watching Ahyeon seem so captivated in the moment he was recalling. It was nice to see his friend so happy. 

Ahyeon cleared his throat, “Then… W-We talked…” He began—

“Did you kiss him?” Sejin butt in, breaking into a laughing fit when Ahyeon turned into a tomato. 

“No… Not that. We just… talked about the library job and formally introduced each other a-and then… I… Uh—” Ahyeon winced, “I asked for his number.”

Sejin’s smile grew. 

“You did?!” He exclaimed, “Did he catch on?” 

Ahyeon stuttered for a moment, “I-I don’t know… He didn't verbalize it…” 

“But you have to look for it in his face.” Sejin huffed, “Did you look at his face? You always need to look at their faces.” He spoke like he had miles of experience, and Ahyeon would’ve believed him if it weren’t for the fact his roommate had a large loser side to him.

Ahyeon shook his head. He didn’t look at Moondae because he was too pretty. If he looked at Moondae for too long he felt that he would just simply pass out or melt or complode into a million pieces. That’s how he even knew he had a crush on the man. 

“I can’t.” Ahyeon said, “I-I can’t look at his face…”

Sejin sighed and patted Ahyeon on the shoulder. 

“I never thought my kid would be this far gone for someone…” He replied, looking at Ahyeon with fatherly eyes.

–+–

Moondae’s life fell into autopilot after it all.

He would wake up, get ready in a clean bathroom, eat breakfast in a cleaner kitchen, slip his worn shoes off of an organized shoe rack, and got into Cheongryeo’s car for free rides like a prince. 

He would go to the same classes he had every week, get loaded with homework, fry his brain into bits, and then go to his job in the library. The past two days were as quick as they were slow. He felt as if his brain was foggy and he knew his memory was spotting. The worst part was he didn’t know why.

He would swear he forgot to take out the trash when it was his turn, yet it would be taken out when he got to it hours late. He lost a shoe yesterday night and found it placed on the show rack like it was always there. 

Cheongryeo was still giving him some sort of silent treatment. He was at least getting the police involved in the stalker situation, though. Moondae had heard the man talking on the phone with lawyers and collecting evidence in text messages and creepy mail.

He didn’t mind being ignored by Cheongryeo, though, he really didn’t. It was more peaceful. There was no wasp by Moondae’s side, stinging him more and more like he was some popularity prop. People looked at Moondae less when Cheongryeo wasn’t wagging his tail behind him like a service dog. He also appreciated not having to do any chores or driving. 

But he couldn’t help but feel a little queasy when his mind was too tired. 

Raebin had noticed yesterday, after Moondae almost fell off the tall library stool. He had lost his balance and sight for a moment, and he had tried to explain such to Raebin, but the younger wasn’t having it. 

He put Moondae on desk duty for the rest of the shift. He was caring like that.

Moondae felt bad, but eventually let the younger figure his way around. He had more time to look out for the tall blond, who seemed to be basically invisible during the day. You’d think you notice a six foot, blond, and slim Seo Ahyeon around campus, or at least hear about him, but Moondae didn’t. 

That was another thing he felt crazy about. 

Seo Ahyeon was far too pretty to not be known as much as Cheongryeo. Not to mention the shy man had a much better personality that Cheongryo. He had better hair, a better face, even a nicer voice.

Walking out of the library as the clock hit nine, Moondae waved the sweet librarian goodbye. She had noticed his dazy expressions and zoning out too, and checked on him far too often in Moondae’s opinion. Luckily, tomorrow was the day Ahyeon was supposed to come in to be trained and interviewed. Moondae had volunteered to do both jobs. No one would be on his ass, worrying about him or questioning him like he was hiding something.

Not to mention Ahyeon felt like a rip in Moondae’s patterns. Like a shift he needed to keep himself from getting bored. To get away from whatever the fuck he and Cheongryeo had going on and the repetition of his days.

Now that he thought of it, Moondae didn’t really know anyone else. 

He knew Kim Raebin, Cha Eugune, and Ryu Chungwoo had lately made a pattern of waving to Moondae whenever he saw him around campus through passing classes. He thought that maybe it would be nice to get to know someone in a different light than before. 

It was like whenever Moondae was around Cheongryeo, people were scared to approach Moondae. People usually were anyway, but it felt heightened with Cheongryeo. It was like they thought he was already “claimed” by some uber-controlling freak. He didn’t like it.

As he walked to the bus stop, music engulfed his ears over the quiet chatter of friends and trios. Maybe he wanted something like that. Maybe he wanted something like Raebin and Eugene had. Maybe he wanted something more. Or maybe Moondae was selfish and just tirelessly bored. He didn’t know. 

The bus pulled up and the same cranky old woman opened the bus doors. 

Moondae and his peers, probably, scanned their student IDs and found quick seats before the bus got a move on. The same old, same old campus awaited him. The same dead trees, same road signs, same dents in the road the bus shook over. 

Moondae wanted something to free him from the cycle he was getting himself into, and maybe Seo Ahyeon would be just that. 

–+–

Moondae ate dinner that night. He never ate dinner, not unless it was a birthday or holiday.He could cook and cook well, he just never felt like it. Cooking felt like an activity for two, not to mention he just felt like a loner making full meals that only he would eat at the end of the day. Cheongryeo was surprisingly picky. He prepared himself some cucumber salad over kimchi. He wasn’t that hungry. His appetite had also been poor lately. The librarian claimed Moondae seemed to have lost weight again. He didn’t mean to.

Cheongryeo was on the couch, watching some idol survival show with that same stupid smug expression. He would make little comments like an old person watching Wheel of Fortune, shouting the word puzzle’s answers like the tapes weren’t years old.

That was when his Sunbae spoke to Moondae for the first time in days. 

“Her dad got caught embezzling funds.”

Moondae perked up like a puppy, “ Her ?” 

Cheongryeo nodded. 

“They’re looking into the hush money situation now.” 

Moondae hummed, “That’s good, Sunbae.” He replied. Maybe now Cheongryeo would be less of a nuisance to Moondae, less of a douche. No more weird unwanted physical contact, no more teasing, no more convincing the whole campus they were a couple. 

Cheongryeo seemed unsatisfied by Moondae’s lack of reaction, however, narrowing his gaze on Moondae with an immature frown.

“Shouldn’t you be happier for your sunbae?” He asked, turning down the volume of the TV, but never looking Moondae’s way. 

Moondae shook his head, “You still haven’t apologized.” 

“To who?” 

“To me.” Moondae snapped. 

There was a long silence before Cheongryeo turned the TV volume back on. Loud. And Moondae seethed in lowercase where he sat, regretting ever agreeing to room with Cheongryeo, ever involving himself in the egotistical man. He wondered if Raebin or Eugene would be like that. Or Ryu Chungwoo or Seo Ahyeon. If he could go back in time, he wouldn’t have given Cheongryeo his number, especially if this is what it led to. 

That’s the philosophy Moondae fell asleep to that night, tucked tight into his own sheets a slightly angry mess. Maybe he would revert back to the first-year housing just to escape Cheongryeo. Maybe.

–+–

“He did what?” Raebin and Eugene asked basically in-sync, shocked expressions clear on their faces. Maybe they were mad, Moondae couldn’t tell.

Moondae knew if he kept his emotions to himself, he would boil over. He would get overwhelmed and he knew that never ended well. He wasn’t dumb, so he confided in Raebin (who called over Eugene like he couldn’t handle the talk without him). Their close friendship really grossed him out.

Moondae pursed his lips and nodded, the silent and empty library echoing around them. It was yet to be open and Moondae was grateful for that. He didn’t want more than two people up in his business, especially the dirty part of it. 

“Yeah, so, I sent him home in an uber and told him to think about what he did.” Moondae explained, leaving Seo Ahyeon out of it. The man seemed to hate attention, or maybe it just found it hard to deal with. Ahyeon seemed to be cursed with a face too beautiful to not catch glances. “But all he’s been doing is ignoring me and cleaning everything…” 

Cha Eugene shook his head, “Hyung, you should beat him up. I would’ve called the cops on someone if they did that to me.”

Moondae chuckled lightly, it didn’t work like that, but he wished it did sometimes. Eugene calmed him like that. Moondae would’ve liked an attitude like that in dire times. Raebin looked at Moondae with sympathetic empath eyes. 

“You should report him, hyung. He can’t lie his hands on you like that. That’s domestic abuse.” Raebin said, Eugene nodding along. 

Moondae paused. 

Domestic abuse?

Did these guys seriously think he and Cheongryeo were actually dating?

“Uh… We aren’t dating, you know. As I told you, I went to the party as a fake boyfriend.” Moondae insisted. 

Raebin narrowed his eyes on Moondae suspiciously. He exchanged a cliche-esque glance with Eugene. 

“You don’t have to lie, Hyung, it’s okay to be gay.” Eugene said with a supportive smile.

Moondae stared dead eyes into the library carpet below him. He knew that. He wasn’t ashamed of that. He looked at Eugene, trying to see through his brain and see what was wrong. He’d never once hated himself for that, and he was yet to get close to someone who opposed homosexuality. 

“I’m not lying…” Moondae insisted. 

But Raebin and Eugene seemed unconvinced, humming and giving Moondae suspicious looks. 

“If I ever agree to date that moron you can shoot me.” He continued, “Right here in the head.” He gestured to his temple, face fully serious. 

Raebin especially looked terrified.

“Hyung, I think I’d rather shoot him.” Eugene spoke for his speechless friend. 

–+–

Seo Ahyeon went to open the library door after pacing at it for a few long minutes. He was wearing what Sejin called the “nerd fit” (a black tight-fitted turtleneck, fake glasses, flattering pants, and weird fashionable(?) shoes). He had mentally prepared himself as best as he could. When he saw Moondae, he wouldn’t get flustered or overreact. He’d be normal. He’d introduce himself, his major, his age. 

But as he grabbed the handle of the door he heard the conversation that had only been distant mumbles to him in the minutes he paced.

“You should report him, hyung. He can’t lie his hands on you like that. That’s domestic abuse.”  

His ears spun as he heard Moondae’s voice(?) reply something. Ahyeon took a step back, not fully hearing the reply. Domestic abuse? To who? Moondae? His vision spun for a few moments, before he felt a tap to his back.

He turned around to find a short sweet elder-esque woman. 

“Are you Seo Ahyeon?” She asked in a low calm voice. 

She wore a grandma sweater, though she seemed to not be aged enough to be a grandma just yet, she wore small-rimmed glasses, and embroidered capris. She seemed enamored just looking at Ahyeon’s face. 

Ahyeon nodded shyly. 

“Ahh–” She cooed, leading him into the library naturally, “You’re so pretty…” She said, “A pretty person like you reads?”

Ahyeon felt guilty that he hadn’t picked up a book on his own accord since he was in middle school. 

“Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. Moondae is quite pretty too.” She reasoned with a shrug. 

Now Ahyeon could agree with that one.

In the library, the smell of paper filled his nose like coffee. The art and architecture around the establishment was incredible. It was magic. He didn’t read, but the art alone could get him to stay. 

“You’ll meet Raebin-ssi and Eugene-ssi too. They’re more handsome. Maybe I’m just destined to hire so many good-looking men, huh?” She talked over Ahyeon’s silence. 

Eventually they made their way to a front desk where three people stood. A tall, but not taller than Ahyeon, Cha Eugene(?). Ahyeon had seen the man on campus and the party go-er wasn’t exactly unknown. Next to him was probably the Raebin the librarian had mentioned. And next to Raebin was Moondae. 

Ahyeon held his breath for a moment, shifting his gaze onto the carpet patterns at his feet. Though Moondae seemed a bit tired and maybe down, his eyelashes still looked perfectly long and his eyes and nose and mouth were just so perfectly lined. He blushed in his ears and Ahyeon hoped they could chuck it up to him being shy. 

“Are you Ahyeon sunbae?” Eugene asked. 

Ahyeon nodded, “Yes, nice to meet you Eugene-ssi.” He spoke stiffly. 

“I’m Kim Raebin, sunbae…”Raebin introduced, black hair flopping over his face slightly. 

Ahyeon did a small wave, his attention falling onto Moondae. 

“Good morning Ahyeon-ah.” He greeted with a small, likely fake smile.

It was different from the one Moondae had a few nights ago, while talking to him. Had something else really happened? Ahyeon had seen part of the Cheongryeo incident, but after talking to Moondae, he chalked it up to man-to-man beef. Was something else going on? Ahyeon thought Moondae and Cheongryeo weren’t even dating for real…

“Moondae-ssi here, will be training you… ” The librarian explained, but her words trailed out of Ahyeon’s ears like water. 

Moondae’s eyes seemed too heavy to be on his well-sculpted face. Ahyeon thought back to what he had heard (or eavesdropped) a few moments ago. Was there something more, as far less than innocent as Moondae had described? Ahyeon was half there, nodding along to the librarian’s instructions. It was only when Moondae stood and gestured for Ahyeon to follow him, he could fully gather himself back.

–+–

“These blue carts have the books that are ready to be put back.” Moondae showed quite literally a deep blue colored cart about half the height of Ahyeon with various library-wrapped books on it. “The grey ones are for the books that have to be re-accounted for before we put them back out.” Moondae explained, gesturing towards a grey cart of the same traits of the blue. “They both have wheels, so they’re easy enough to push around. In my opinion, it’s the putting away of the books that’s the hardest.”

Ahyeon nodded like an obedient deer, hands together by his thighs. He listened to Moondae’s words like they were gospel, unlike his directions from the librarian. Moondae had a pretty face to back up his words or maybe Ahyeon was just gay. 

Moondae grabbed a blue cart and began to roll it towards one of the many tall shelves of books. He gestured for Ahyeon to follow with his head, “I’ll show you how to put them away now.” 

The two took yards of steps towards a bookshelf with the sign ‘textbooks aug-zom’ labelling it. The cart got stuck on the corner, Ahyeon was hesitant to help and he let Moondae fix it himself. Moondae seemed effortlessly put together like that. Like Ahyeon’s presence was just a bug looking at bug-killing spray,

Moondae picked up a book and walked around the cart to stand in front of Ahyeon. Looking up to see the blond, Moondae held what appeared to be the spine of a math textbook. He used a thin finger to point to where a library label sat. 

All Ahyeon could think was how close Moondae was. How if Ahyeon was to look down and close the distance he could score Moondae for himself. 

“This label here,” Moondae began, clearing his throat to get a distracted Ahyeon’s attention. “Shows the genre and the place in the alphabet the author’s last name sits in. This one is labelled ‘bac’, so this will go—” Moondae looked around the shelves surrounding them, narrowing in on the very end. 

Moondae’s eyes lit up and Ahyeon trailed slightly behind. He felt like every step he made was faltering. He felt as if Moondae could smell the crush off of him like a beagle. 

Moondae gestured to where there was no gap between two other textbooks, likely from the same author considering the same last names on the spines. “Raebin-ah must’ve misplaced this one, or Eugene. You’ll probably have to clean up after them a lot.” He sounded fond of the two as he spoke, despite the fact he was complaining. 

Moondae pulled a misplaced textbook from the shelf, his hands momentarily full. Now was a good time to mention that the textbooks were about as big as Moondae’s head, hardcover, and about five pounds a piece. So when one of the neighboring books stumbled down with the one Moondae went to pull, Ahyeon went into panic mode. 

Quickly, Ahyeon offered his arm above Moondae’s head, catching the falling textbook just before Moondae’s flinching forehead. Like a gentleman, Ahyeon also took the correct text book from Moondae and placed it accordingly with the one that had almost fallen. 

Moondae turned away from Ahyeon’s face and arms and whole. His ears were red, but he was hoping Ahyeon wouldn’t notice due to his long overgrown hair. 

“Thank you…Sorry.” Moondae quickly apologized, taking a step back from Ahyeon to create space. There was no second-hand high like at that party. No alcohol. 

Ahyeon only realized what had really happened a moment after it was over, “Y-You’re welcome, sorry.” He replied, feeling like he had just totally accidentally made a move. 

Moondae nodded, “Um… I think you get how to do it.” He changed the subject, “If you can, help me put away the rest? The library will open in a few minutes.”

–+–

Moondae always forgot the miserable dorm situation he had going on after being at work. Raebin and Eugene were fun to be around, as always, and though it was slightly awkward Moondae still enjoyed Ahyeon’s presence. 

Ahyeon had an aura of both mass anxiety and comfort that Moondae found intriguing. His face was pretty too, gorgeous . But Moondae wouldn’t say such unless held to gunpoint, not in front of Ahyeon, definitely not. 

Even Ahyeon’s roommate had come to the library at some point when they were all there and had no classes, Kuen Sejin(?). Moondae knew very little about the man, but he seemed to be a class clown type of person. He often teased Ahyeon for small things, but not really in a mean way. Still, Moondae wouldn’t be surprised if he was mistaken for a bully. 

The usual crowd that came to gawk at Eugene and Raebin, seemed double attached to Ahyeon. Moondae felt bad for the dance major, but liked that he too, had less people up his ass. 

Before he left for his dorm, Ahyeon had handed Moondae a Sejin-funded banana milk. The roommate was watching with heart eyes from a nearby corner, watching Ahyeon and Moondae like a fangirl. Moondae of course found it weird, but he had long figured that Ahyeon probably had some sort of attraction for Moondae. It took him longer than it should’ve to realize, but what did you expect from someone like him? 

He took a small sip of the milk before deciding it was too sweet for his liking. He had never particularly enjoyed that brand’s flavored milk. One time Cheongryeo brought it back and had a whole one month phase where he drank it like water. Moondae was grossed out, as he usually was, by his Sunbae. 

Speaking of the man. Where was he? Moondae knew a mini-case was opened about the stalking incidents, but he didn’t think that it would convert Cheongryeo into a work-skipper. He hadn’t seen his usually studious Sunbae study all week. He had even missed their shared class today.

He yawned, well tired from work, homework, and his crazy class workload. The dorm was still cleaned spotless from Cheongryeo’s probable OCD, so Moondae saw no chores to be done. He entered their bathroom with but a second guess.

 Just a beat too late to hear the sharp rattling of their dorm room door knob and perhaps, just a beat too late to hear sound of metal lock breaking.

–+–

Over late night ramen, Sejin was doubled over laughing at Ahyeon’s probably pathetic attempts to hide his raging crush on his classmate. 

“You couldn’t keep your eyes off of him, Ahyeon-Ahyeon…” Sejin said, “You followed him  around like a wet puppy— no! Like a deer in the headlights.” He spoke through broth-breathed laughter. 

Ahyeon frowned, “I-I know I was…” He replied truthfully. He had really tried to help himself this time, but what could he do when Moondae was just so… Moondae?

Sejin was about to speak again, probably to tease Ahyeon again, when Ahyeon’s phone lit up. 

“Speak of the devil.” Sejin cooed, gesturing the contact reading ‘Moondae-ssi’ flashing on Ahyeon’s phone. 

Ahyeon’s eyes widened, the gulp of ramen noodles falling back into the single-use container. 

Moondae was calling him ? He hadn’t even mustered up the courage to shoot a text to the shorter man yet!

“S-Should I-I take it?” Ahyeon asked, nervously taking his phone into his hand. His finger hovered over the options.

Sejin nodded, placing his head in his hands as he watched like an amused devil. ‘ On. Speaker.’ He mouthed, making Ahyeon shake his shy head fast.

Ahyeon took three deep breaths before clicking the green button, accepting the call. 

“M-Moondae-ssi..?” Ahyeon greeted awkwardly. 

An unnaturally heavy breath was audible from the other end. Moondae’s breath. Ahyeon recognized it from when Moondae was almost hit by that textbook before.

“ Ahyeon .” Moondae’s voice was hushed and quiet from the other end, but it seemed… frightened?

Ahyeon shook his head when Sejin requested to put it on speaker again. He felt as if something was off, this Moondae wasn’t the Moondae Ahyeon had so closely observed. So he stood and walked a few yards away despite Sejin’s protests. Moondae’s voice didn’t seem fitting of his usual demeanor and tone. 

“ I need you to call the campus security to my dorm.” 

Ahyeon gulped, “O-Okay… which is it? I can call, I-I can.” 

There was a loud shatter from Moondae’s end. Ahyeon could hear the shuddering breath Moondae took in reply. It was hard to listen to. 

“ I… I texted it to you. Just call them as soon as possible. I’m… I don’t think I’m safe right now.”