Chapter Text
╳╳╳
Bright lights, loud music, the chatter of university students from all grades, and the horrendous smell of sweat were present as he made his way through the crowd, hand tightly curled around a beer bottle. Suddenly, a hand, probably on accident, shoved him to the side a little bit. He turned around to face the culprit who smiled at him apologizingly.
He didn't take it to heart. In this crowd, getting shoved was the least of his problems. Luckily he hadn't spilled his beer on anyone in the collision.
Arriving at his destination, the back door of the house, he pushed the sliding door to the side and stepped out into the fresh air. His shoulders almost immediately relaxed as he felt actual oxygen suck into his lungs instead of the crusty dusty air that was packed inside.
He liked the party, it was fun and there were a lot of nice people he could talk to, but there was a certain amount of carbon dioxide his body could take before he needed to get fresh oxygen. His friends were mad for managing to stay inside like that for hours on end. Maybe they were just more used to the parties. He was more of a drink-at-home kind of guy.
He closed the door he had come out of before scanning the backyard. There weren't many people who were alone. Only a few groups of friends whose laughter echoed in the yard nightly under the summer night sky.
It was calm if you ignored the loud music that could still be heard outside of the house. He took a seat on the porch, next to another guy who was sitting there in silence. He made sure to keep a distance to not seem like a complete freak.
He sent a quick glance towards the other person. His face wasn't completely visible, but he had black hair and a nice side-profile. He had a cigarette between his lips and was staring at his phone. "Party's not for you?" He asked, not getting a response even a minute later. Like the guy was ignoring him.
It didn't bring him down, though. With enough patience, he could work this out.
"I'm Hoseok." he then introduced himself, grinning widely, although it was likely the other guy knew who he was. Unless he wasn't from their school. Hoseok tried to seem friendly, as usual. He didn't want to scare the other off, after all. The other guy finally moved his head, turning to Hoseok still silent. The guy met his eyes for a short moment before looking around, seeming confused.
The dark-haired boy was handsome. It kind of rendered Hoseok speechless. He wasn't one to care for looks, social status and wealth were the few things he really cared for as they had been embedded into his mind since youth by his deadbeat father. But the round, deep brown eyes, button node, and pretty pink plush lips just caught him off guard. Hoseok smiled slightly as he scanned over the man's features, trying not to make it obvious he was looking.
"You're talking to me?" The low voice asked, the soft eyes meeting Hoseok's again, and took the cigarette from between his lips. He nodded at the dark-haired boy. "Who else?" he stated, glancing around. Taking a sip from the beer bottle he had enjoyed for the past half an hour. Hoseok licked his lips before smiling. "So what's your name?"
The other seemed to hesitate a little bit before letting out a small exhale, smoke escaping from his lips at the same time. "Hyungwon." The boy finally replied, relieving Hoseok from his curiosity.
"So why are you sitting out here?" Hoseok asked, leaning back a little, eyeing the guy. Why was he alone? There must have been someone who Hyungwon could have hung with instead of sitting on the porch alone.
"You're really pretty, you know that?" Hoseok then said, taking a sip from his drink as he smiled. Hyungwon's expression stayed neutral as he looked away. "You're drunk." The low-voiced boy shook his head, placing his cigarette back between his lips.
Hoseok pouted slightly, opening his mouth again only to be interrupted by the sliding door opening. "Hoseok! What's taking you so long? Jooheon brought the drinks!" his friend yelled over the loud music that was now even more apparent thanks to the opened door. He turned his head towards his friend and smiled. "I'm coming."
With that, he stood up. Hyungwon had turned to look at him now that he was leaving. Hoseok thought he might have seen some disappointment hidden in the pretty brown eyes but brushed it off as his drunken mind toying with him. He gave Hyungwon his usual smile and waved back.
He didn't get much of a response back as his silent conversation partner went back to his phone.
Hoseok let out a small sigh and turned on his heels walking back towards the door where his friend was waiting for him with a weirded-out look on his face. The other blonde-haired guy grabbed his hand right away when he was close enough and pulled him inside.
"Why were you talking to that guy?" Minhyuk asked over the music, glancing towards the guy sitting on the porch. Hoseok furrowed his brows a little bit. "Why shouldn't I?" He asked then, following his friend through the crowd.
"He's a complete lunatic and a freak." Minhyuk rolled his eyes, hand tightening his grip around Hoseok's wrist. "What?" Hoseok's eyes widened with worry as he glanced over his shoulder. "He seemed nice?" he then shrugged.
Had he made it onto someone's hit list now?
There was nothing that indicated the boy on his phone to be rude or even a lunatic as his friend exclaimed. Hyungwon just seemed very withdrawn. And with his arms he wouldn't even be able to throw a good punch, so what harm could he do?
"Sure... He glared at me like I killed his dog or some shit when I came to get you.." Minhyuk shuddered, finally letting go of Hoseok's hand when they made it to their other friends. "He rarely smiles or talks to anyone." Minhyuk rolled his eyes then.
That made Hoseok smile a little. The guy had talked to him, so he must be special.
"He acts like he's above all of us here when he's literally broke with a convicted dad and an alcoholic mom... Or that's what everyone says so It must be true." His friend shook his head and sighed deeply. "Anywho. Just stay away.. I don't know what delinquent shit he's hiding, yeah?"
Hoseok had listened to his friend in silence, slightly baffled by what the other was telling him.
He had never seen Hyungwon around before the few minutes they spent at the porch. He really didn't pay attention to anyone outside of his clique, unless it was for some collaborative project.
But if Minhyuk, the person who knew most people in their major and some even outside of it, said all of that, he should believe it right? Hyungwon didn't seem like a bad person, but the guy also said a few things during their mostly one-sided conversation.
"What's his major?" Hoseok blurted out without thinking. The expression on Minhyuk's face became unreadable. "Don't tell me you're actually interested? Wasn't like having money and a high status one of your things?" Minhyuk crossed his arms. The younger seemed shocked by his surge of curiosity toward this person, who he seemed to consider to be a scum of the earth.
But in the end, the younger was right, that was his type in a nutshell. Hoseok huffed and shook his head slightly. Something about the smoker seemed intriguing, even if his friends might have considered the guy a loser. Hyungwon seemed to be more than he let everyone see. Like Most people; Hoseok himself included. He wasn't all smiles and flirts.
And it wasn't like he was in love with the stranger.
"I just want to know. Just so I can avoid seeing him, yeah?" he then spoke, sitting down on a free chair. Minhyuk rolled his eyes, seemingly believing what he had said. "I think he's an art major. Whether it's dance or whatever, I don't know. I keep my distance from him." Minhyuk huffed, ushering their other friends to sit around the table.
Hyungwon from the art department too. He was closer than Hoseok had expected.
A small smile pulled at the corners of his lips.
"Minhyuk hyung, stop giving the guy a lecture!" Jooheon yelled over the music suddenly, a wide smile on his face. Minhyuk frowned a little bit. "I'm just giving him life advice!" He then exclaimed back, glancing at the younger.
"Idiot was talking to Chae." Minhyuk huffed before sitting down on the spot their other friend was holding for him. Their youngest friend's eyes cocked up, seemingly surprised. "What?"
Hoseok only shrugged his shoulders and sat down next to his dimpled friend. "Don't worry about it. I got an earful from Minnie here." he sighed, wrapping an arm around the younger's shoulders. He then sighed. "I'll keep my distance, okay?"
His words seemed to please their gossip king obviously relaxed and the sour look on his face was placed by his usual blinding grin. Hoseok couldn't help but smile back.
Minhyuk should have known he wasn't one to hold out on his curiosity.
╳╳╳
The slightly cool night air felt great, actually amazing, against his tan skin as he sat in the open air, quietly observing the groups that had gathered outside, disrupting his peace. It didn't matter, though. They'd go back inside sooner or later, leaving him alone in the quiet evening.
Well, it wasn't that quiet.
He wasn't sure why he had come in the first place. He could have easily declined his senior's offer on the party. But just didn't have the heart to do so after all. The poor guy had probably mustered up all his guts to just step closer.
He wasn't as big of an asshole as everyone seemed to expect.
But, he regretted his decision to come the second he set foot inside the large house. Some rich kid had the house to himself on a lovely Saturday night and shit had already hit the fan and he himself had only been there for an hour or so. The first thing he had done was grab a bottle of beer and locate the backyard. He didn't want to leave, in case he by chance ran into someone who wasn't from their school and could talk to in peace without being judged constantly.
Just standing in the crowd felt like everyone was staring straight at him, whispering. Although logically, no one was and likely didn't care that he was there. Even if he had never been to a similar party in previous years. For once he had time.
He wasn't sure why people found him so scary. It was not like not smiling at every possible person that you walked by was a bad thing. He just didn't like to be the center of everyone's attention and apparently, according to most people in the department, that was some kind of blasphemy. And had he ever straight out ever hurt someone? Yes. But not during his years in university.
The door opening behind him didn't at first alert his nerves but the other person sitting down next to him sure did. Nobody voluntarily did that.
After sophomore year everybody avoided him like the fucking plaque so why? His first conclusion was, that there was someone else sitting down on the porch near where he was and this new bastard was a friend, but when the guy started speaking in a bright tone and nobody replied, his stomach twisted slightly.
He had wanted some conversation company, but when the opportunity arrived, he felt scared.
"I'm Hoseok." Oh no. Hyungwon raised his head from his phone that he had been staring at blankly when the other guy had uttered his first words.
He wasn't sure if his expressions showed it at the eye contact. the surprise that engulfed his mind. From all the Hoseoks he knew around him, Lee Hoseok was the last one expected to sit down beside him. Maybe Minhyuk had not yet gotten around to shit talk him? There was no way in hell that was the case.
Ah yes... Lee Hoseok, the senior year student from the design department that everyone had at least heard of, if not crushed on. Exactly the kind of person who would avoid Hyungwon. And the other way around. Someone with a new partner almost weekly, or that is at least what the rumors said. But the guy was undeniably handsome. His eyes were soft yet sharp, perfect nose and curved lips that formed an absolutely stunning smile.
Not that Hyungwon stared a lot. He had just observed and heard other people talk, his brother included as the two hung out in similar cliques. He had no interest in anyone nor did he have time for dating. At least time that he would spare for such a thing.
Did he forget to mention that the sober Lee Hoseok was loud and annoying? You would know if he was coming towards you from a kilometer away.
Once it was made clear, that the guy was actually talking to him, he finally managed to utter out his own name. He had really wanted to blow the cigarette smoke towards the other guy but decided against it in the final second.
Hoseok seemed clueless as he was as tried to desperately hold a conversation with him and eventually, he threw a slurred out a flattering compliment. Maybe he had drunk a little bit too much. Hyungwon hoped that the guy would forget their meeting when the morning came.
Hyungwon didn't know how to take the compliment so he just called the other guy out on the alcohol level in his blood before breaking eye contact with the handsome guy. He then returned the half-smoked cigarette back between his lips, silencing himself again.
He wasn't sure if he felt like he wanted for Hoseok to go, but whether or not, the door opened and an annoyingly familiar voice called out for the other guy. Hoseok had clearly wanted to say something, judging by the sharp inhale he took, and when Hyungwon glanced at him he had his mouth open.
Hyungwon shortly glanced towards the second Lee, Minhyuk. The look the older gave him was a little cold if not even grossed out. He might have been mostly used to getting those looks, but it sometimes felt hurtful.
Hoseok then stood up, making Hyungwon turn his gaze to the guy. They only shared eye contact for a split second before Hoseok smiled widely and walked back inside. Hyungwon followed the elder with his eyes for as long as he could. the loud music was once again muffled by the glass sliding door that now only showed the dark silhouettes of other party-goers and the bright strobe lights.
Hyungwon swallowed slowly rubbing one of his hands on his throat first before bringing it down to his chest. he felt oddly warm, even though he had not even drunk that much. "Am I really so much of a lightweight?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head slightly.
It was time for him to go home. The party was no fun and his parents would have him by the neck if he woke them up, coming home black-out drunk.
Hyungwon pushed himself up from the wooden planks of the porch and stretched a little bit. He glanced towards the glass door for the last time before starting to circle the house to get to the front of it.
Hyungwon opened the door to his home carefully in order to not wake up anyone in the house. The dog in the hallway in front of the door immediately stood up when the tall male set foot inside the house. He hushed the animal, taking off his shoes next.
He walked deeper into the house, watching his step. internally, he was cursing at the dog who kept making sounds with each step thanks to his long nails hitting the wooden floorboards.
Making his way into the kitchen, the pet on his tail. "Can you be any louder?" he whispered to the dog, crouching down to pet the soft black fur. At least it hadn't begun barking. Maybe it was used to Hyungwon coming home late.
The lights suddenly turned on making the boy jump slightly. His head immediately turned toward the kitchen entrance where his father, or the man he considered his father, was standing. Hyungwon gave the old man a crooked smile but he didn't seem impressed.
"Where were you?" his father asked, walking toward the refrigerator calmly. Hyungwon gave their dog a small pat before standing up straight. "At a party... Sorry, I forgot to inform you and mom I was going.." He sighed softly, hanging his head a little.
His decision was sudden so he completely forgot to inform his parents. Not that he needed to as he was 23 years old by now, but he still wanted them to know where he was wandering; in case something happened. After all, he lived under their watch.
"Is Jooheon there too?" Hyungwon shrugged at the question without saying anything. He wasn't aware of his brother's whereabouts. They didn't talk outside of their house; it would ruin the younger reputation to see Hyungwon with him.
Jooheon definitely didn't bother to inform anyone. The guy usually did whatever and it was sometimes a mystery as to where the younger was. He did usually come home at night, though.
"Was it fun?" Hyugnwon rubbed his hands together, watching as his father placed two cans of beer on the table and smiled at him. "Not really..." he replied, taking a seat after the older man finally sat down.
It couldn't have been considered fun, as he hadn't done anything. He could have tried, but most people around would have likely rejected his offer to join the group. Maybe not the freshmen but Hyungwon couldn't really tell apart who was a freshman or an older student.
Hyungwon knew he should loosen up. But it was so difficult to do that when everyone gives you the cold shoulder without a second thought. Jus because of some bullshit that wasn't confirmed by anyone.
Minhyuk was one hell of a rumor spreader. Hyungwon wouldn't have been surprised if most of the things about him had been started by the older student.
Maybe Hyungwon should take his chances and talk to a drunk Hoseok again when the chance arises. The guy didn't seem to recognize him in his messed up state and that was all Hyungwon could ever ask for.
"Did I wake you up?" Hyungown asked carefully and grabbed one of the cans, clicking it open. The older man shook his head. "I was catching up on some paperwork." So bills. They were behind again.
They sat in silence for a little while. "How is school?" His father then asked. Hyungwon licked over his lips a little, not sure if he should answer honestly. "It's going.." he started and tilted his head a little bit. "It's going okay. It's only the start of the semester so I can't say anything.."
His parents didn't know what was really going on. The rumors about him and his family or the lack of friends. They didn't need to know as they worried enough already.
"That's good, then." His dad replied. Hyungwon's gaze wandered over to the calendar hung on the kitchen wall. "Your father.." the man opposite of him started and Hyungwon hummed lowly, eyes glued on the date that had been ticked off with a thick red X. "I know." he sighed, voice tense.
"It doesn't matter, really," Hyungwon said, fingers tightening around the beercan. The topic was uncomfortable, even if he didn't really show it on his face or in his body language. He then pushed himself up, letting a small smile form on his face.
"I should head to bed..."
╳╳╳