Chapter Text
Jeong Jaehyun does not go out looking for problems. She doesn’t.
There’s enough of her sanity still intact to know that she is not someone who willingly wakes up in the morning and decides, ‘I’m going to find some shit to get into’, like some harbinger of chaos. She’s a pacifist, always the first one to avoid a confrontation, the first one to leave a situation if it gets a little hairy.
So, there was absolutely no reason for her to accept the position when it was offered to her. No reason whatsoever.
The position in question is called the Sweetheart for Kappa Neo, the second largest fraternity on campus. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be stuck in the emergency room with Yuta, bloodied and moaning about the pain on his hospital bed.
Let’s back up.
For her senior year, Jaehyun wanted to do something fun as a side…thing. It’s the last year of her undergraduate career, even though she’s planning on applying for the graduate program in the spring. This is going to be her final year to really enjoy college life before all her time is taken up again with her studies and work.
To make it clear, Jaehyun was thinking about something more along the lines of joining a club; a small, low-stress activity. Maybe chess, art, or music! There was even a creative writing club that called out to her when she saw the flyers on the humanities building.
She wanted something that would keep her busy while still getting to live out her college dreams.
Something that’s just not…this.
She glares at Yuta from across the hospital room they’re in.
How did this even happen, you ask? (The Sweetheart thing, not the Yuta thing. She’ll get to Yuta in a second.)
Jaehyun has known Taeyong, Neo’s president, since they were children. They grew up across the street from each other, practically joined at the hip from the moment they could walk. Even before that, she knew Taeyong was obsessed with simply watching over baby Jaehyun while she slept, ate, or played in her walker while their mothers fawned over them for the afternoon.
Taeyong helped Jaehyun through her first heartbreak, the start of a long list of things that eventually amounted to her own asexuality and aromanticity. He helped her when she broke her ankle on a trampoline, offering to carry her books to and from class for eight months. In her last semester of high school, Taeyong sat with her until the early hours of the morning reviewing for tests and exams, even though he was at the top of his class and already on track to graduate early.
They’re close, is the thing. Taeyong hasn’t ever led her astray, and Jaehyun keeps her friend’s best interests in mind.
Platonic soulmates, she thinks.
“We call it our Neo Sweetheart,” Taeyong had told her two weeks before the year started. They’d met up at her apartment for lunch before a trip to the mall for school supplies. “It’s essentially a friendly face for the organization.”
Jaehyun narrowed her eyes at him over the rims of her glasses. She paused writing in her journal and held the pen tightly between her fingers. “Can you elaborate on that?”
Taeyong grinned eagerly, leaning forward in excitement from his perch on the arm of the couch. “You would be attending events on campus, going on trips to other colleges with us, and helping put together some of our parties,” he relayed patiently. “During rush week, you’ll be there to act as a guide for stragglers and make sure no one ends up in the hospital.”
“So, you’re saying I’d be a glorified babysitter to a bunch of frat boys?” she asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow. “How does this interest me at all?”
“Well,” said Taeyong, pouting over at her terribly, “you said you wanted this year to be about living out your college dreams.” He paused to sip at his iced tea, and then he delivered the final blow. “Plus, being our Sweetheart would look really nice on your resume for grad school.”
Jaehyun scowled at him and chucked her pen at his head. He dodged it, of course, and laughed like he’d won something.
Which, really, he had.
On the first day of classes, Jaehyun was sworn in as the official Neo Sweetheart, welcomed by the friends she’d already met and the freshman who were vying for a chance to join the frat.
All in all, her job wasn’t so difficult in the beginning.
In the beginning…said like some goddamn rom/com cliche.
That’s all that needs to be stated, and it brings us to Yuta, in the emergency room at three in the morning, on one of the chillier nights in September.
Jaehyun rubs her left eye, glad she had the foresight to take off her makeup after she got back to her apartment. It was a late night at the convenience store she works at, but she’d been asleep for about two hours when the call came in.
Donghyuck had been the one to talk to her first, but Kun snatched away his phone and got her up to speed.
She’s now perched in a chair near the bed, dressed in her warmest pajamas; they’re a deep red long-sleeved sweater and jogger set with matching fluffy socks. Her slippers, a pair of bright green dinosaurs, are sitting beneath the chair.
It’s three o’clock in the morning, but damn it all if she doesn’t look cute.
Jaehyun hears a muted groan from across the room. She doesn’t lift her eyes away from her phone where she’s responding to text messages and update requests. “If you’re going to puke, please do it in the bag they gave you and not where I can see it.”
Yuta glares at her with watery eyes. She doesn’t see it, but the resounding silence is transparent. He whimpers, curling in on himself. “I’m not gonna puke.”
God, he sounds so pitiful. A petty part of Jaehyun thinks, Good. Her therapist will be hearing about this.
Jaehyun drops her phone in her bag and stands from the uncomfortable chair. She makes her way over to the bed, sliding under the blanket next to her friend. Being petty is not something Yuta needs right now, so she leaves her anger and frustration behind.
She cards gentle fingers through Yuta’s hair and finds the discarded towel to dab at the blood on Yuta’s cheekbone, gentle on the stitches. “What happened tonight?” she asks quietly. “Kun said you got decked.”
“That’s true.”
“But you guys normally handle shit like this at the house,” she continues. “Your jaw isn’t broken.”
“Still hurts like hell.”
Jaehyun rolls her eyes. “You’re drunk. Or, drunk enough. They can’t give you anything for pain with alcohol in your system.” Her fingers press a bit harder on his cheek but let up when he winces. “It’s clear you needed to be stitched up, but come on. Tell me the truth.”
Yuta leans into Jaehyun’s touch, giving her extra room to work despite the probable ache. “Some dumbass said some shit about a kid in my chem class.”
“Really?” Jaehyun hums, dropping the towel. Her fingers continue moving slowly along his scalp. “Do you want to talk about it?”
For a moment, Yuta stares resolutely at the wall behind her head, jaw working. He blinks rapidly, and Jaehyun sees his eyes well up. “Seungcheol is truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. They don’t deserve some of the shit they get. Neither do their friends.”
Ah, okay. Jaehyun understands. Seungcheol is Yuta’s age, one of the music kids. They’re double-majoring in chemistry, and Jaehyun only knows these things because Yuta’s had a crush on them since freshman year.
“What happened?” Jaehyun asks again, softer this time. She knows this is going to be a touchy topic for Yuta, so she’s treading as lightly as he can.
Seungcheol has been the light of Yuta’s life for three years now, and they’ve been skirting around the idea of dating since day one. As Seungcheol would say, ‘We’re great friends, but there’s potential to be a bit more one day.’ Yuta would say, ‘I’m obsessed with them and I’d like to marry them.’ Johnny would laugh and say, ‘You haven’t even landed a date yet, take it slow on the proposals, man.’
They're just about as close as two people who are dating-but-aren’t-dating can be, but from what Jaehyun can see, it’s only a matter of time. They’re a bit like Doyoung and Jungwoo before they got together—a feat only pulled off with Jaehyun’s and the entire frat’s help at the beginning of the year.
The room is quiet, save for their shared breathing, Yuta’s more nasal than Jaehyun’s. There’s a distant conversation coming from the hallway, and a baby is crying two rooms down. Loafers squeak past the door, hesitating, and then continuing on their journey.
Finally, Yuta shuffles around on the bed and turns his face to the ceiling with a heavy, shaky sigh. He moves over enough that Jaehyun can finally fit more than one asscheek on the mattress, which is nice of him.
It’s the least he can do.
“I invited Cheol to the party tonight, since it was our first campus wide event,” he starts, voice heavy. “Frat parties aren’t normally their thing, but they said they’d come if I was there.”
Jaehyun moves to lie down, propping herself up on her elbow. “So, you waited outside on the front lawn until they got there?”
“I waited outside on the front lawn,” Yuta confirms. His lips quirk up in a half-smile. “I’d been out there for, like, three hours when their group showed up.”
Jaehyun hums and settles in against his side. “How many people did Seungcheol bring?”
Yuta shrugs, saying, “I think I counted six or seven, but I was drunk so…”
With a fond giggle, Jaehyun kisses the side of Yuta’s head. “I’m assuming their friends went inside then. Did you stay outside all night?”
Yuta drops his head back with a bright smile. “We just sat on the front steps and talked all night, Jae.” His tone is wistful and happy. “They told me about this project they’re doing for music, and how they’re putting together a song with a few other students.”
“Singing?”
“Rapping.” He sighs dreamily. “The person of my dreams, man.”
After she giggles around a nod, Jaehyun rests her head on her fist and traces small circles on Yuta’s bicep with her other hand. “Are they still at the house?”
“Seungcheol?” Jaehyun nods again. Yuta shakes his head with a frown. “No, their friends took them home before the asshole even thought about starting shit. I just needed to calm down and leave, so I made Donghyuck call you.”
“How bad did you get him?” she asks next, reaching down to tap Yuta’s hand.
Yuta lifts his right arm up to the light, showing off his bruised and bloodied knuckles. He turns his head to Jaehyun, and he’s suddenly beaming. “Fucker’s lucky I was as drunk as I was or it would’ve been much worse.”
Jaehyun grins. “You know I don’t condone violence,” she starts, kicking Yuta’s ankle playfully. “I think this kid had it coming, though. At least he had the decency to wait until Seungcheol and their friends left.”
“Honestly, I’m glad they left when they did.”
“Why?”
Yuta bites down on his bottom lip and giggles. “Seungcheol packs one hell of a fucking punch.”
Jaehyun laughs loudly at that. She’s never seen them fight, but she knows they have their muscles for a reason. She’s heard enough to know the muscles aren’t just for show.
“Was anyone else involved?” she asks once she’s calmed down the giggles.
Sighing, Yuta shakes his head. “Johnny and Kun pulled the feisty ones inside when I took off my earrings.” He snickers and adds, “When the earrings come off, someone removes Doyoung from the scene.”
“Oh, god,” Jaehyun giggles. “Did anyone make sure he was alright?”
Doyoung has always been a protective kind of fighter, and it comes out when it involves something or someone he cares about. He’s gotten into far too many fights for someone with such a bleeding heart.
Yuta shrugs and winces when he sniffles. “I’m still too drunk to care about that right now.”
Jaehyun hums and scratches her fingers through Yuta’s bright blue hair again. “Want me to call and check on everyone? Let them know how you’re doing?” Yuta nods carefully and relaxes into the mattress, moving his left arm so the IV isn’t in an awkward position around him.
Once she’s sure that Yuta’s comfortable, Jaehyun gets up and steps outside the room, digging her phone out to call Kun. She’s got quite a few more texts from some of the boys, but she can respond to those later. Right now, she’d rather make sure everyone else is safe and unharmed. She didn’t get a chance to talk to anyone before she picked up and drove Yuta to the ER, aside from the rushed phone call before she left her apartment.
“Lemme guess,” Kun answers, laughter in his tone, “doctor checked his jaw and gave him stitches?”
Jaehyun snorts and leans against the wall behind her. “Right on the money. How is everyone?”
Kun sighs. “The party was already dying down when the fight broke out,” he says. “All the babies are home and in bed, the lightweights are passed out around the house, and your favorite lamp survived the entire night.”
Of course, the lamp made it out unscathed, she grumbles to herself. The stupid thing is mustard yellow and burns up lightbulbs like Yangyang smokes weed.
“Well, thank god for the goddamn silver linings.” Kun laughs hollowly. Jaehyun clears her throat and adds, “Did you see the fight?”
“Just the end of it,” he answers. “I didn’t hear what started it, but I did catch Yuta saying something about Cheol’s friends. The guy who started it was some senior, someone from business. His buddies left him to fend for himself, though.”
Jaehyun rolls her eyes even though he knows Kun can’t see her. “Pity. I’m glad it happened out in the yard, then. The trash has already been taken out.” Kun snickers. “From what Yuta said, it was bad.”
Kun hisses through his teeth. “Yeah, it wasn’t pretty. I think Yangyang said he heard the punches from the second floor.” He pauses. “It’s also important to note that he was in his room with his headphones on.”
“Jesus Christ,” breathes Jaehyun. “Doyoung okay?”
“Ask me when my balls don’t hurt.”
“Damn. He got by you and Johnny?”
Kun scoffs. “Scratched his way straight through,” he says. “But, on the plus side, none of the babies saw it, and administration opens soon so we can report the idiot that thought he’d win a fight with Yuta.”
Jaehyun groans loudly and with feeling. “Fuck.” She glances at a clock hung in the nurses’ station. It’s already almost 4 o’clock. “We all have class in four hours.”
“That, we do,” Kun snickers. “Doyoung didn’t drink anything tonight, so he’s driving the babies to breakfast. He’s still awake, by the way.”
Goddammit. Doyoung needs sleep and food that isn’t microwavable.
“Kun, I’m standing in the hallway with my dino slippers and my pajamas, running on two hours of sleep,” she says. “If he isn’t asleep by the time I get back to the house, I’m going to call in reinforcements.” Kun snickers, but doesn’t comment any further.
Jaehyun rubs her eyes again. She’ll need to put drops in them at some point. They’re probably bloodshot by now. She’ll also have to stop by her place to fix her makeup and deal with her hair.
“What’s the deal with Yuta, then?” Kun asks.
Jaehyun replies, “He isn’t going anywhere today. Doctors gave him some pain medicine to take later since he’s still drunk, so he won’t be worth anything to anyone. Do you wanna ride with me to class? I need to pick up his medicine from CVS and drop him back off at the house. I’ll stop at my place to get my makeup and a bra before that.”
Kun hums. “Sounds good. I’ll get you some clothes for the day.”
“Do not give me anything of Jungwoo’s,” she growls. “He acts like we wear the same size pants, but my ass cannot fit in his tight-ass leggings.”
Kun laughs happily and promises. “I’ll find something of mine you can wear. I have a pair of joggers that’ll fit, and Yuta always keeps hoodies around. You left a pair of slides here the other night, too. You’ll be fine.”
After she mumbles an affirmative, Jaehyun hangs up the call and shoves her phone into her pocket. She heads back into the room, only to find Yuta sitting straight up, eyes wide and mouth hung open.
“You okay?” she asks, her steps cautious.
Yuta snaps his head up and shakily turns his phone around. He deflates against the bed when Jaehyun takes it, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
From Cheollie
I heard what happened.
Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow?
My treat for our first date.
Finally
:)