Chapter Text
“So what’s the game plan?”
Right at the start of the semestral break, the group of six multimedia majors gathered in Taesan and Leehan’s apartment unit to strategize their moving in. The idea first came to fruition at their last sleepover in the same place when Woonhak randomly blurted out that it was nice being in the same room with each other, to which Jaehyun half-jokingly suggested that they should move in together, which turned into a full serious discussion when Leehan said that the unit next door is unoccupied.
They considered their other living arrangements too. Sungho and Woonhak have the cheapest dormitory. It came with a small space the two are comfy with, but with the noise rule, they removed it from their options knowing how rowdy they could get when together. Jaehyun and Riwoo’s premium dorm are a lot more pricey but it comes with a really good security and is the nearest to the campus's main gate. Leehan and Taesan’s apartment is somewhere in between with a lot more freedom in terms of guests and pets and has the biggest space among the three options. The only con is that they have to pay the utility bills and bring in their own things. In the end, they agreed on the last one with a bit of convincing with their parents.
“I’d prefer it if Woonhak and I room together.” Everyone made some sort of agreement on Sungho’s statement, knowing full well that these two tend to stay up on ungodly hours to work on their webtoon project. They work quietly, sure, but hearing too many doors creaking at 2 AM is annoying as it is creepy. Imagine waking up in the middle of a long sleep and the first thing you see is Woonhak’s pale face illuminated by the hallway light and wearing that cheeky guilty smile from staying past his bedtime. The image sends shivers down Riwoo’s spine.
“I want to be Sungho’s roommate!” Of course the boyfriend will follow. Riwoo almost rolled his eyes from Jaehyun’s enthusiasm.
Just when he thought the room division was all set, Leehan suddenly objected. “I called dibs on him first. He takes good care of the fish.”
Unsurprisingly, Jaehyun stood firm. “But I’m the boyfriend! I want to spend more time with him!”
“Well, he’s my best friend. You can spend time together without being roommates.”
“Noooo!! I will cry!!” Riwoo facepalmed at his best friend’s whining. He’s been even more animated ever since they became a thing, but sometimes Riwoo just wants to dig a hole and die from the embarrassment of being associated with that guy. How he managed to tolerate him for so many years is beyond him.
What Jaehyun wants, Jaehyun gets, so Riwoo has to compromise. “We will literally be living next door so Sungho can just come over for the fish. I mean, I could also help? Just teach me how to do it.”
Leehan’s doe eyes met his at that and if Riwoo wasn't a strong man, he would've melted at the cuteness of it. He looked like a small kid finally getting what he wanted after pleading with his parents for so long. Guess the Jaehyun logic also applies to Leehan.
“Okay, fair. I like you already,” the fish dad giggled. “Because of that, I’m giving you the privilege to kick me or Taesan out to get a solo bedroom.”
“I’m fine with sleeping on the couch.” Taesan casually shrugged his shoulders as if his roommate hadn't just suggested kicking him out of his own room. Riwoo tried not to overthink the implication of it. The unit has two bedrooms, both big enough to host two single beds and still leave enough space for a small table. Leehan’s privilege talk suggested that Riwoo could choose to get a solo bedroom while the two share one room and let him choose who will move his stuff. But Taesan’s statement implied that he doesn't want to be in the same room as Leehan, but he might also just be joking. Or maybe not. But whatever. Again, he has to compromise.
“Firstly, no one’s sleeping on the couch. Secondly, I don’t want to trouble you anymore with moving your stuff. I can just room with one of you.”
Leehan’s eyes became even brighter at that. “Seriously, you’re the best roommate ever and you haven't even moved in yet. You can room with me. Taesan prefers his alone time.”
“Okay, sure.”
As if time stopped, the room became filled with silence as Riwoo locked eyes with Leehan, but no, not in that kind of way. Leehan’s gaze was just so intense that Riwoo cannot find the strength to look away because if he did, he might hurt the other’s feelings. He wasn't trying to lead Leehan on but he just felt so bad in not reciprocating his energy, so he played along. There are many perks to being a type F. This is not one of them.
Then Woonhak whistled, breaking the silence. But did it help? No. Absolutely not. In fact, it made the situation worse.
Riwoo averted his gaze from the whistle’s cue, and the universe must be toying with him because the next thing he laid eyes on is Taesan looking straight at him with an unreadable expression. Riwoo fought the urge to gulp, looking away instead to find Jaehyun and possibly ask for help. But no, the man is absolutely useless. He was busy playing— is that Mario Kart?— on his boyfriend’s pink Nintendo Switch. Any other day, he would find it cute and amusing, but not right now. Jaehyun has been giving him less attention lately, and as an introvert who’s long fed up with his puppy behavior tendencies, he’s fine with that. He just wishes he would still be there every time he’s in a crunch.
He doesn't blame Sungho because how can he? He’s arguably the second best thing that happened in Jaehyun's life (himself first, not to be a narcissist) and he’s an absolute angel, as demonstrated right now.
“Leehan-ah, where did you buy your desk? I was considering just bringing over the one I have at home, but getting a new one seems tempting.” That prompted a new discussion about furniture and Riwoo was more than happy to participate, so long as Leehan and Taesan's attention weren't on him anymore.
For the rest of the day, none of that intense staring happened anymore and Riwoo was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Whether it’s a one time thing, or something constant, he doesn't know yet. He was just glad to be able to escape that situation, at least for now.
° • ° 🐟 ° • °
The first week of moving in was uneventful, at least on the unit Riwoo, Leehan, and Taesan shared. The two were more than happy to help Riwoo with moving his stuff, even adjusting their already existing layout to accommodate him. Leehan even upgraded to a bunk bed without making him spend a single won to make room for his and Riwoo’s pc set-ups, giving his old single bed to Sungho as a “moving in gift”. Other than that, nothing really remarkable happened, making Riwoo’s adjustment period as smooth as it could get.
Their next door neighbors, however, were a different story. Not even a day into settling down, Riwoo already received a complaint about his best friend from none other than his clean freak of a boyfriend. If it were their former living arrangements, Riwoo would forgive Jaehyun’s messy ass as he’s also one himself, but living with more people, and with a very clean person at that, of course you need to adjust your habits. Riwoo couldn't help but coo at Sungho’s pouting even as he narrated the disgusting things that Jaehyun had done, which was nothing new for him. In the end, he had to give Jaehyun a full lecture about hygiene and how to be more considerate with his new roommates.
The next day, it was Jaehyun’s turn to complain about his boyfriend regarding his alarm that wakes everyone up except himself. Riwoo snorted at that, thinking it was karma, but no. Apparently, it was also a habit Woonhak was long tired of, forcing him to live with it for three whole years. It was Taesan's turn to give a full lecture to Sungho AND Leehan (who attempted to escape) about the importance of getting enough sleep and not bothering people with the alarm you end up snoozing (Sungho) and with them having to wake you up because you’re almost late for class (Leehan).
It did not stop there because the next day, Sungho returned to the complaint center with a ticket for both of his roommates. Their bedroom setup consisted of Jaehyun and Sungho in one room and Woonhak having a solo one, but apparently, it did not matter because Woonhak got lonely and invaded their space. That night, because classes hadn't started yet, Jaehyun and Woonhak were bold enough to spend the whole night gaming noisily in their supposed sleeping quarters. Despite Taesan's lecture about sleep, Sungho found himself still wide awake at almost 4 AM, hoping the two would tone it down and eventually fall asleep, but no. So he stormed off into the other apartment and woke Riwoo up in the process. Riwoo was about to complain but after seeing Sungho’s sleep deprived self, he let him sleep with him atop the bunk bed with a lecture for his roommates already brewing in his mind for when the sun rises.
At the end of the chaotic week, Riwoo took charge into rearranging the next door trio. This time, Sungho got the solo bedroom while Jaehyun and Woonhak shared the other. This way, Woonhak won’t have to cross the other room to seek Jaehyun for a late night gaming session and Sungho won’t bother anyone with his annoying morning alarms. It also permitted Jaehyun for a little room of his mess with a roommate that doesn't mind as long as it isn’t in the common areas.
Thus the end of the chaosnextdoor saga. Riwoo was glad he didn't have to go through that mess with his own roommates, but it doesn't mean it wasn't as stressful watching it happen next door. Leehan and Taesan had been chill so far. Riwoo attributed it to them living together for a time already. They’re a lot more quiet too, just minding their own business unlike a certain someone who can't stay still for a single minute and felt the need to involve him every time (Jaehyun, of course). It was an introvert’s paradise and Riwoo hoped it would stay that way.
Boy was he so wrong.