Chapter Text
Two years.
Two years since Seokmin broke up with his first boyfriend.
It hadn’t been his intention — the breakup — but sometimes, memories crept back in, uninvited and sharp. They clung to corners of his mind, tugging at old feelings, stored away like souvenirs from a trip he never wanted to return to.
He really believed they would last. Then again, he thought that about every relationship.
Today, he walked onto campus, ready — or pretending to be — for a new school year. After a year of his class being isolated in a separate building, the school finally decided to bring them back to the main building, closer to the rest of the students. Closer to familiarity. Closer to the past.
To be fair, Seokmin didn’t always know he swung that way. His first relationship had bloomed from a quiet curiosity — an innocent fascination with his best friend in high school that grew into something more. That year had been full of firsts. First touch, first kiss, first heartbreak.
“Seokminie! You’re here already!” Soonyoung called out, arms flung open for a hug. His smile was loud, comforting. Last year, Seokmin had been lucky enough to find real friends in his new class — people who helped him survive. And this year, he’d be relying on them again.
“I wonder if any of our friends are in the neighboring classes…” Seokmin mused aloud, half-curious, half-dreading.
“I just saw Jeonghan in the class next door,” Soonyoung replied, tilting his head thoughtfully.
Jeonghan. The name hit harder than it should have.
He used to be Seokmin’s classmate — smart, sarcastic, always top of the class. Seokmin had nothing against him, really. But hearing his name meant one thing:
His ex. His first love. His heart tightened.
If Jeonghan was in the next room… then Joshua — Shua — couldn’t be far. Five meters. Maybe less. Just a wall between them. That small space felt suffocating.
Was it anticipation? Was it leftover anger from two years ago? Seokmin wasn’t sure. He didn’t want to know.
“What the f—” he muttered under his breath.
“Hm? What is it?” Soonyoung asked, already picking up on the shift in his tone.
“Nothing. Just... remembered something. It’s nothing,” Seokmin replied quickly. His mind was already miles away.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not this year. Not when he’d finally started moving on. He was already tiptoeing around awkward reunions with old classmates — the last thing he needed was this. How was he supposed to avoid Joshua? They shared hallways. Bathrooms. Maybe even electives.
How was he supposed to look him in the eye if they ever made contact?
Seokmin ran a hand through his hair, trying to ground himself as they walked past the classroom. He sneaked a glance through the glass panel of the door.
There was Jeonghan.
And next to him, arm casually slung around his shoulder, laughing about something —
Joshua.
A new haircut. Curls. Still devastatingly familiar.
Seokmin’s heart stopped.