Chapter Text
MOVE IN
Move in day finally arrived. The air felt warm and the hall felt alive. Doors open, music playing out from someone's speaker, and a faint smell of weed and cologne in the air. Wooyoung followed Yeosang down the corridor, dragging a suitcase that kept hitting his ankle. "Shit—is it always this freaking hot in here?" Wooyoung complained.
"Pretty much. The air conditioning works when it wants to." Yeosang had a set of dorm keys in his mouth.
"How comforting is that.." Wooyoung said under his breath. "What floor are we again?"
"We're on the third floor which is not too bad. I think you'll like it here."
"And who's all your friends' names again?"
"Okay!" Yeosang exhailed, stopping dramatically in the middle of the hallway as if he rehearsed this very moment. He pointed like a tour guide. "Across from us is San and Mingi. San's the quieter one who works out a lot—hes a boxer—but really chill once you talk to him! Mingi's the opposite, loud, funny, and kind of ACTUALLY allergic to silence." He moved his hand down the hall. "Next door to them are Hongjoong and Seonghwa. They are like the parents of the group. They're also in love.", he then lowered his voice a little. "They're also huge potheads, but like the 'get shit done' high functioning ones."
Wooyoung raised an eyebrow. "They're chill until the weed hits?"
Yeosang smirks. "Basically. They usually keep shit in check and since they supply us with all we need, we go along with it—BUT you'll like them. And right next to us you've got Yunho and Jongho. Yunho is really everyone's emotional support golden retriever, and Jongho's the one keeping him from doing something dumb...or teasing him for doing something dumb.. or adding to the dumb shit."
Wooyoung smiled. "A group of crazy men."
"Yup."
Wooyoung nodded slowly. "A bunch of names I've only heard in your texts."
"They're cool. You'll fit in."
"You said that last timeee."
"And you said you'd help me carry boxes, and I've been doing all your heavy lifting. How unfair is that, Woo?"
Wooyoung sighed and took the other end. "Am I being helpful enough for you princess?"
"Not really, but it's nice finally seeing you do labor."
They reached their door. The tag read Yeosang & Wooyoung in two different handwritings. Yeosang's neat small font, Wooyoung's in big red bubble letters.
"Home sweet dorm." Yeosang said, pushing the door open.
The room smelt so much better than the hallways. It was a light smell of detergent and a bit of peppermint. The room was medium sized and bright, sunlight hitting both beds bouncing off the white walls. Yeosang's side was set up with photos on the wall, plants on the window ledge, everything lined up perfectly. The other side was empty.
Wooyoung dropped his bag and stood there for a moment. "Damn.. it feels so weird." Wooyoung said.
"What does?"
"Coming back. It's been what, 2 years?"
"Almost." Yeosang said. He set the box down and leaned on it. "I'm glad you're back."
Wooyoung looked over with soft eyes. "Me too."
He tried to sound easy, but something in his chest ached. It wasn't the room, surely not. He was about to be roomies with his best friend—but it was being back in one. Going back to what life looked like before the passing of his older sister, Ha-rin, as if everything magically was okay. Yeosang finally broke the quiet, "Hey, come on, let's get your mattress set up." They lifted it together, lining it up on the frame. When they finished, Wooyoung flopped down on top of it and stretched his arms over his head.
"So remind me of who's the loudest one?" Wooyoung asked.
"Mingi. You'll know when he's home."
"And his roommate.. San?"
Yeosang paused. "San's the opposite, he's very laidback. it's ironic because once he gets lit enough with Mingi and Joong he's a whole different person. He's very cool once you get him talking though. He's a boxer so he works out a lot, aand he's also got a girlfriend, they met in his nutrition class, I think. It's still fairly new though."
"Ahh, those type of men." Wooyoung said, nodding.
"Don't judge too fast. They're both really cool guys."
"I didn't say they weren't." Wooyoung sat up and looked toward the open door. "So they all smoke?"
"Everyone smokes—well mostly when we have parties because the night security got on our ass."
"Ah really? I can smell that this floor is very well supplied."
Yeosang snorted. "Courtesy of Hongjoong and Seonghwa. Hongjoong finished a new track yesterday and decided it called for three fat joints and a late night music sesh."
Wooyoung grinned. "Sounds very productive."
"Depends who you ask." Yeosang laughs.
"I missed a lot.. I mean you met all these new people and experienced so many things while I was gone."
Yeosang presses his lips together, watching Wooyoung, "I promise you, not at all. Besides, you were healing." Wooyoung stayed quiet, eyes drifting to the floor. "Woo, I'm serious. I'm glad you're okay. After it all."
Wooyoung nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. Me too. It just—still feels weird talking about her."
"You don't have to." Yeosang said.
Wooyoung gave a small smile. "That's definitely what she'd say."
Wooyoung could still see her sometimes, sitting criss crossed on her old bed, paint under her nails, telling him the world wouldn't end just because he loved who he loved.
"Yeah.." he added quietly. "That sounds like her."
————
They played music while unpacking. Yeosang opened boxes, and Wooyoung came with many small questions.
"Does the hot water work well here?! Who broke the ceiling light—? Are we gonna get an air fryer, or are we living like cavemen?"
"Hot water's fine just don't flush the toilet! I don't know babe, the ceiling light's been flickering since last semester, and there's a microwave on the floor, it's dingey as hell though."
"We're really living in survival mode.. this will be an experience I can already feel it."
Wooyoung set his jacket on the chair and put his hair in a low ponytail. "When do classes officially start again?"
"Tomorrow."
"Ugh, I thought I had at least a few days to pretend I wasn't a student."
Yeosang laughed. "Welcome back to college."
Wooyoung stretched again, looking around the room. "It's bigger than I remember dorms being."
"Everything feels bigger when you leave for a while."
"Yeah, guess so."
They unpacked in a slow but comfortable rhythm, taking breaks to sing to their favorite songs and talk about college drama until Yeosang's phone buzzed. He read the text out loud.
"Little party tonight at 9, a small thing to welcome Yeosang's bestfriend Wooyoung."
"Oh shit a party just for welcoming me? Should I go out and buy something?"
"All you need to do is get cute and be ready to meet many different personalities. I know they'll really like you."
Wooyoung raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? They haven't even seen me tipsy."
"Woo, with your flirty personality you could make some of these dudes question their sexualities, you will be highly favored." Yeosang reassures.
Wooyoung never had an issue making friends with guys but after they found out he was gay it would turn into a whole different ball game.
"I sure hope so. You'll have my back the whole time, right?"
Yeosang throws a small plushie on Wooyoungs lap, "Of course I will. Just be yourself."
Ill try.