Chapter Text
Changbin doesn’t know how he ended up in this predicament. Truly, he doesn’t.
He was trying to find a seat for his first class when an annoyed voice came from behind him saying ‘Move, you’re in my seat.’ Changbin was going to argue back saying ‘it’s just a chair’ or something, but he didn’t stand a single chance when he saw the boy standing behind him.
Now he’s sitting beside the cutest boy he thinks he’s ever seen, who just also happens to be the campus celebrity.
He had heard a lot about Kim Seungmin:
The school’s golden boy, excelling at everything — intellectuals and physicality alike. But, damn, the stories forgot to mention the potty mouth he had on him, as well as his disdain for one Seo Changbin.
-
Seungmin was a pretty chatty person, or so it seemed — perhaps he was so pissed and Changbin just happened to be there that he decided to tell him all his life’s worries.
“I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am, and what? He just cruises on through the entrance exam — without even fucking studying?!” Changbin felt a prick of pity at that — not that he would say anything. Sure, he didn’t see the need to study, but that didn’t make Seungmin’s efforts any less valiant.
“I bet he’s fucking full of himself too, thinking he’s a big ‘hot shot’ or whatever” A bit hypocritical really, but Changbin can’t blame him. Kim Seungmin really does deserve all the attention he gets, he’s insanely talented. At like, everything.
“It’s just so unfair. That’s all anyone talks about these days. ‘Oh did you hear? The new guy doesn’t have to study or work hard at all, he’s just naturally smart.’ And now, all my efforts are going to waste. Who cares about try-hard Seungmin when they have smarty pants Changbin, huh?”
Yeah. Sometimes Changbin wishes he weren’t so gifted. This is one of those times.
-
He always struggled to make friends for this very reason. It wasn’t jealousy, per se — more like they assumed he would believe he was better than others. It wasn’t very nice, but it wasn’t like he was going to let his talent go to waste.
So now he had to suffer the consequences. Being that he would never get to marry Kim Seungmin — a rumour of which says he had never even dated — though Changbin suspected he would change his mind. Not anymore, though.
A warm voice startled Seungmin out of his rant.
“Aww, Minnie, I’m so proud of you.”
The voice belonged to Christopher Bahng — a bright and cheery senior who had been showing Changbin the ins and outs of everything here. Changbin suspects the man is the nicest one he’s ever met — though he hasn’t met everyone on the planet so he can’t be sure, although he still thinks Christopher would be miles ahead of anyone else.
He watched as the elder brought a large hand to rustle through Seungmin’s light brown, fluffy hair — the latter moaning in complaint as he did so.
“What on earth could you be proud about Chan? The fact that I didn’t kill myself last night?” He deadpanned.
Once again, Seo Changbin had not been clued into the boy’s personality, so to say he was shocked was an understatement. The nickname ‘Chan’, as well as the conversation they were having made Changbin think they were friends.
Thinking back, the elder had told him to just call him Chan, so perhaps the pair weren’t as close as he had originally believed. He was pulled out of his thoughts when the said man started speaking again — not a hint of surprise or distaste in his tone.
“Of course there is Minnie! You decided to put aside your hatred and made friends with Changbin! I said you would get along.”
Uh oh. This is awkward. Chan had no idea what damage his words had done.
Changbin glanced to his side, watching in time as all the blood drained from an annoyed Kim Seungmin’s face, leaving him as pale as a ghost — horror evident in every feature.
He opened his mouth, gaping, before closing it again. Chan just hummed, eyebrows furrowing in confusion at the sight.
“Well this has been fun, but I’ve gotta go,” Changbin said, sprinting up from his seat.
Chan turned to him, confusion becoming even more apparent, “But you’ll miss your first class?”
“That’s alright, plenty more to come!” He turned back, locking eyes with a still horrified Seungmin before adding “It was nice meeting you Seungmin!” The last thing he saw was the boy gaping again, colour returning to his face tenfold.
-
Changbin was sitting at a table near the back of the cafeteria, absentmindedly pushing his fork through his japchae when a tray slammed down next to him. When he turned he was met with a blushing Seungmin, who was sitting down beside him, glaring at his food.
“Shit” he cursed quietly before taking a deep breath and looking up, making eye contact with Changbin for a good two seconds before looking away again.
“Look I’m sorry.” He began, sincerity clear in his tone. Changbin hadn’t even felt that bad about the whole ordeal — he couldn’t really blame the other for it anyway — but the words still made him relax nevertheless.
“Channie-hyung told me I should come apologise when he found out what happened. I was going to anyway, even if he hadn’t told me. God, he treats me like a child sometimes — and I don’t know why I’m telling you all this, this is so fucking embarrassing.” The brunette groaned, burying his face in his hands. So they are friends, concluded.
Changbin thought it was endearing. As smart and talented as the boy was — he was still human. He hesitated, before placing a hand on the other’s shoulder, surprising them both.
“Thank you.” He smiled. “It’s really alright, I can’t blame you. If I were in your position I would be pissed as well. You’re really fucking impressive yourself, though. A big inspiration for me.”
Seungmin’s eyes widened instantly. “W-what? Really?”
Changbin had to giggle at how cute he was.
“Of course, one of my friends goes here. They told me all about you, so I really wanted to meet you. Plus I’m also partially to blame, I mean I didn’t stop you once — or tell you I was the guy you were ranting about.” Seungmin looked pained at those last words, and Changbin could tell he was a nice guy, or at least not a shitty douche.
Seungmin let out a long sigh, obviously telling that Changbin wasn’t lying, though it was still obvious that he felt bad.
“I hope this doesn't come between us, I’m already writing our wedding vows. You can make it up to me later, if that would make you feel better.” Changbin offered, wanting to stop Seungmin’s suffering. A mixture of emotions flashed over Seungmin’s face, obviously unsure what to take from his words, until determination took over.
“I’m not going to marry you, so that's out of the question, but what would you have me do?”
Changbin dramatically sighed, before thinking and deciding on “Let’s be friends. That way, I can win you over with my charms.”
Seungmin simply nodded at that, before looking back at him, curiously. “By the way, who’s your friend? The one who told you about me?”
“Oh, his name is Jisung. Han Jisung.” And to that, Seungmin grinned deviously.
-
Now Changbin had been dragged to a dorm. He had originally thought he was being kidnapped, but he was proved wrong, as it was on campus — just a few doors down from his own.
“Oh, I’m bunking near here! Room 143, I have this roommate, Hyun…” The door opened and there were multiple other people spread out on the floor and couches of the living room. “…Jin? Ah, you know him then.”
A quick count and Changbin noticed there were six other people, Chan being one of them and— “JISUNG?!”
Jisung’s head snapped to the door, eyes big and wide — looking like he had been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. He was sitting on someone’s lap, though he couldn’t really see who it was — not that he would probably know him anyway.
When the younger man finally registered who had just yelled his name, his face split into a heart-shaped smile, jumping off the guy and bolting to him. “Binnie! I can’t believe it, you’re here!” Changbin pulled Jisung into a tight hug, before the boy pulled back. “Wait, you know Seungmin? Seungmin brought you here?” Jisung laughed incredulously.
Changbin turned around flashing Seungmin a cheeky grin as the other groaned in embarrassment.
“Yep!” He said, popping the ‘p’ sound. “We’re best friends!” And before Seungmin could object, Changbin had asked who everyone was — save Chan, Seungmin and Hyunjin.
“This is Felix our sunshine! He’s Hyunjin’s boyfriend, so he won’t be at the dorm to bother you much.” He explained, sending the couple a wink. “Then there’s our baby bread Jeongin — feel free to shower him with kisses, he really loves them.” He giggled, moving out of the way as a rogue pillow came hurdling in his direction.
“And last but definitely not least Minho, my best friend, the light of my world. I love him way more than you, so back off. Isn’t that right, Jagi~” he smiled, turning to blow kisses from across the room.
Minho — the one who Jisung had been using like a chair, just laughed incredulously at the man’s antics.
Changbin gave Seungmin a questioning gaze, as if to ask ‘how are they not dating?’ to which Seungmin just rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.
After all the introductions were done, he found himself sitting on the floor with Seungmin, engaged in conversation with the latter and Chan — who was telling him he should join his and Jisung’s production unit, since his writing and rapping skills were so good. He could only blush under the praise, he knew about the unit Chan and Jisung had formed — even getting to listen to some of their works — so to be offered a spot was crazy.
“I didn’t know you were into music,” Seungmin said to him after Chan had gotten up to get a drink.
Changbin rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling shy. “Yeah, it’s nothing big — just made a few songs and whatnot.”
Seungmin rolled his eyes, as if he didn’t believe him. “Don’t be so humble, if Chan was offering you a position it’s no joke, you’ll have to rap for me then.”
“I don’t just rap, I also sing. I might sing our wedding vows.” Seungmin blushed slightly, and Changbin took great pleasure in being the source of it.
-
Sitting here, with all these people, Changbin felt right at home, and he suspected he had a bright future ahead.