Chapter Text
Spring arrived quietly at Haneul University, breeze slightly brushing, tree leaves swaying softly.
Students filled the campus again — laughing, arguing, complaining about classes. A new semester ahead.
“Geonwoo wait up!”
Geonwoo turned around mid-step, morning sunlight highlighting his dark hair as he smiled softly. “You need to start walking faster.”
Sangwon jogged the last steps to catch up, panting as he places his hands on his knees recovering his breath. “Maybe if you didn’t such long- ass legs.” he looked up, smiling slightly.
Geonwoo shook his head as he smirked, he continued walking. Sangwon stood straight now walking next to him at his pace, holding onto his backpack straps.
They made their way to the humanities building, their shoulders brushed now and then. Sangwon pretended not to notice how natural it felt, how his body always leaned closer to Geonwoo without meaning to.
“Hyung, Leo’s making ramen night again tonight” Sangwon said. “Wanna come?” He asked glancing from the corner of his eye at him.
Geonwoo released a quick laugh. “Last time I came over, Leo stared at me like I was trespassing a private property.” He glanced back.
“That’s just how he is”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not but whatever you say”
Sangwon laughed softly, louder than he meant to. He always laughed more around Geonwoo—as if it was easier to breathe. It felt right being with him, no complications. Safe.
Only if it was.
They both stopped in front of the building, students passing by. Geonwoo’s phone began to vibrate as notifications filled his lock screen, he took it out and groaned. “I’ve got practice after class. Sanghyeon just texted— coach added extra drills.”
“When does he not add extra?” Sangwon huffed as he glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
“Right.”
He slipped the phone into his pocket and glanced back at Sangwon. “Wait for me after?”
The words hit harder for Sangwon than they should’ve, although he has heard it numerous times.
“Yeah”, he answered quickly, probably too quickly. “I’ll wait.”
Geonwoo smiled at him then—wide, easy, familiar. The same smile Sangwon always memorized without trying, the same one that made his chest ache in a way no one else could imagine.
“Alright then”, Geonwoo Said before ruffling Sangwon’s hair. “See you later.”
As Geonwoo disappeared into the building, Sangwon stood there lingering the moment a little longer, watching the space he left behind.
“Yeah, see you later.” He sighed as he placed his hands on his backpack straps before heading into the building.
Classes passed in a blur, or at least that’s what Sangwon attempted to do. He tried to focus on his classes, but his mind kept drifting back to Geonwoo ruffling his hair, it wasn’t the first time he’d done it, but yet it felt warm every time he did.
Leo who was sitting next to him noticed. Of course, he would.
“You’re acting weird”, Leo turned around, resting his head against his hand. “Either you didn’t sleep at all yesterday, or—"
“Don’t—finish the sentence” Sangwon muttered cutting him off. Leo raised an eyebrow and fixed his posture as he grinned.
“So, it is the second option.” Sangwon kicked Leo’s leg lightly under the desk. “Shut up.”
“You know”, Leo lowered his voice almost whispering, “Normal people aren’t usually so distracted from thinking about their childhood friend… just saying…”
Sangwon sat up straight.
“You know it’s not that.”
He lied, it was obviously that, he just didn’t want to admit it.
Leo hummed unconvinced. “Sure… Whatever you say.”
Sangwon looked away, gaze drifting towards the window.
Outside, the breeze brushed the trees softly, petals from flowers falling here and then. His mind quickly began to wonder when he had started feeling like this, a friendship that turned into something heavier. Something he carried with everywhere.
He never said it out loud. Never dared to. Why would he?
Because Geonwoo was Geonwoo. School’s basketball player. Social. Straight. The kind of guy who talked about girls like it was the most natural thing in the world, even if he’d never been serious about anyone before. Sangwon had accepted that long ago. Or at least he thought he had.
Practice ran more late than usual, just like Geonwoo had mentioned to him early in the morning. Sangwon waited sitting near a bench, one earbud in as music played softly in his ears, the sky slowly darkening inch by inch.
When Geonwoo finally appeared, sweaty and exhausted, Sangwon looked up from his phone.
“You did stay huh?” Geonwoo said collapsing beside him, passing a hand through his hair.
“You told me to wait for you.” Sangwon replied, storing his phone in his pant pocket.
“Sorry if it took too long, Sanghyeon threw up. Junseo and I had to take him to the school nurse.”
Sangwon huffed a laugh. “Lovely.”
Geonwoo grinned as he leaned back on his hands, starting up at the sky that slowly covered with stars. “Sangwon-ah.”
“Hmm?” Sangwon turned around then quickly glanced at how close his hand was to Geonwoo’s.
“I’m glad we’re in another semester together.” Geonwoo looked over, eyes glistening from the moonlight.
Sangwon’s heart stopped for a second, beating too fast the second after.
He quickly looked away, now looking towards the stars. “Me too”, he said after a moment. “Me too…” He repeated now more quietly. As if the words Geonwoo said didn’t mean everything to him.
Right then, sitting at the bleachers as the sky darkened completely. Sangwon believed things would stay like this. That whatever he felt could be kept a secret, harmless and quiet.
He didn’t know yet how fragile it would turn out.
End of Chapter 1.