Chapter Text
It is rumored that everyone has a red string attached to their pinkie, although not visible, it still remains. If you were to follow its course, you’d meet your one and true love, your soulmate as some may call it.
When a younger Han Jisung had stumbled upon this legend, he spent hours and hours a day staring at his hands hoping for it to appear, for it to bring him out of his misery. But that day never came.
As much as he wanted to believe in this myth that he had read about many times, life had made sure he never encountered any reasons to do so. And this brim of hope his little self had slowly disappeared as time went on.
He isn’t sure about the exact reason that’s got him thinking about this right before entering university for the first time, probably an intent to run away from all the changes that inevitably await for him.
He stands nervously still for a few minutes, looking at the entrance, too grand for his liking, and finally starts walking towards this new beginning, this new life.
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Jisung finally finds his class, the halls felt like a maze to him. He then enters it and takes a random seat, just in time as the professor starts talking. Quickly he takes out his notebook and pen, ready to take notes.
Maybe change scares the shit out of him, but only god knows how much it excites him to study music production, his dream made reality.
As the first lesson comes to an end, he looks up, allowing himself to take in his surroundings. There’s people talking everywhere, why does everyone seem to know each other already? He’s probably going to end up alone again, people won’t want anything to do with someone like him, why would they? It’s just like back home-
Just as a swirl of anxious thoughts start blinding his vision, someone gently taps on his shoulder causing him to turn around abruptly.
‘Oh, sorry I- uhm, I didn’t mean to startle you…’ Jisung’s brain finally calms down allowing him to take a look at whoever’s talking to him, a pretty boy with the prettiest smile and blond highlighted bangs, who’s now awkwardly staring at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck.
‘No it’s, it’s okay really!’ Hurriedly says Jisung after he realizes he’s been staring dumbfoundedly at the stranger for at least a minute. ‘I’m Jisung, Han Jisung’ He extends a hand for the other to take.
‘Seungmin, Kim Seungmin’ Smiles the other, taking his hand and shaking it firmly, the simple action causing the brunette to blush.
Seungmin opens his mouth as in to talk again but he’s interrupted by the next teacher coming into class, asking for the students’ attention. Instead the boy smiles apologetically and goes back into his notes.
Jisung returns the gesture and does the same, trying to focus on whatever the teacher’s saying but he just can’t. There’s something he can’t quite pinpoint that’s not allowing him to concentrate and he is sure that this boy to his left has something to do with it.
The third lecture goes by, Jisung had already given up on paying attention a long time ago, now doodling while zoning out.
‘Hey, paying attention I see?’ Seungmin’s chuckle brings him out of trance, a blush coloring his cheeks, he pouts and silently starts packing his things. ‘Wanna have lunch together?’
Now that takes Jisung for surprise, why would he want to hang out with him out of all people? ‘You sure?’
‘Of course silly’ He offers the boy a sweet smile, one that tugs dangerously at Jisung’s heart. ‘Wanna?’ He answers with the tiniest nod and then he finds himself walking next to this stranger to the cafeteria.
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The walk to the cafeteria is mostly silent, Jisung takes comfort on the fact that Seungmin might be just as shy as himself. He takes advantage of the silence between them to take a good look of the other, he’s slim and a little taller than himself, which makes him feel a little self-conscious, nothing new.
Finally, when they’re seated on a table at the cafeteria trays of food in front of them. It's Seungmin, who, after a little bit, breaks the silence. ‘So, why’d you choose this major?’
The brunette smiles, always loving to talk about his passions ‘Well, I’ve always kind of loved music, honestly. It’s been my escape for as long as I can remember. I used to write scuffed lyrics on random pieces of paper from a very young age and then I started begging my parents to buy me a guitar, which, surprisingly, they did not long after. Although, it was probably to shut me up, now that I think about it…’ That makes the other laugh, Han smiles and continues ‘They didn’t allow me to sign up for classes though, so I had to teach myself’
A look of admiration makes its way onto Seungmin’s face ‘Really? That’s like, super imressive’
Pink dusts his cheeks again, not a strange occurrence when he’s around the other apparently. ‘It isn’t that impressive, I used books and youtube tutorials, it wasn’t that bad! Oh and then when I bought a computer I started recording my own songs too, that was exciting!’
‘It really is a big thing Han, you shouldn’t downplay yourself like that.’ The smile he gives Jisung is so genuine that it makes his own form sheepishly. ‘Anyway, enough of me, why’d you choose it?’
‘Well, after seeing how passionate you are, my story seems a little dumb’
‘I’m sure yours it’s just as good as mine, c’mon’
‘It really isn’t, I just liked singing and, not to sound too self-centered, but I’m pretty good at it so here I am’
‘I’d love to hear you singing, you have such a soothing voice, I can’t imagine how good that’d sound’ That not only took Seungmin by surprise, It surprised Jisung himself, his mouth forming words way before he could think them over. At seeing the other’s blush, he can’t help the familiar burn on his cheeks as Seungmin’s laugh reaches his ears.
‘Only if you show me some of those recordings of yours!’
‘No way, nope, over my dead body’
‘Then you’ll never hear me sing, what a shame’
‘And what a shame indeed’ He sighs dramatically, causing the other to giggle.
And as their lunch continues with no uncomfortable silence to be found, only jokes and laughter filling their conversations Jisung finds himself forgetting everything that scared him about university, because now he at least had a friend.
°˖✧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚✧˖°
They’re now walking towards the dorms, a couple of hours after lunch. Jisung finds himself asking a question about something that’s been bothering him the whole day. ‘Have you met your roommate yet?’
‘Yeah, he’s pretty cool, a dance major, we both got here yesterday so’ Answers Seungmin, playfully kicking a pebble while they walk.
‘I haven’t met mine yet’ He looks down for a moment, stopping in his tracks, he starts fiddling with his hands, what ifs filling his mind.
Seungmin doesn’t notice it, too occupied with his pebble ‘He’s probably studying biology then, because all the arts majors started today, like us, and they’re the only ones on campus that haven’t.’ Then Seungmin noticed how the other had stopped walking. ‘Hey, everything alright, Han?’
At getting no response from the brunette, he approaches him, stopping in front of him, a tentative hand on his shoulder, he can feel the subtle trembling under his hand and softly asks. ‘Wanna talk about it?’
‘It’s just- many things can go wrong with a roommate! What if we don’t get along? What if he doesn’t clean his half of the room? What if he brings people without my consent? What if he’s creepy? What if-’ he doesn’t like me. The sentence hangs in the air even if unspoken, the implication enough for the taller one to understand. Tears dwell in his eyes before he can notice nor stop them, Seungmin helps him seat in a nearby bench and just lets him get all of his emotions out, rubbing comforting circles on his lower back as he hugs his knees, crying softly.
‘I know what I have to say probably won’t matter a lot because we just met, but I think you’re lovely Han, really. Whoever your roommate may be, he’ll be lucky to have you around’ Seungmin’s hand comes to a stop on his back, now just resting there for support.
Jisung shakes his head and looks back at his friend, rising his head from where it was hidden ‘No, I am not, I don’t know how to interact with people’
The latter smiles at him and replies ‘You did just fine with me though’
The brunette pouts ‘You’re different’
That makes Seungmin chuckle ‘Different how?’
Han huffs ‘Don’t know, just different, you’re just nice to be around I don’t have to force myself with you’
A proud smile makes its way into Seungmin’s face ‘And who tells you your roommate won’t be like that too?’
‘It’s the first time it’s happened to me in eighteen years of my life, you’re like a miracle to me, Kim Seungmin’ And that’s got the two of them laughing, Jisung wiping away the few tears left in his eyes.
‘Well, if you wanna be negative, let’s be negative, even if you have the worst roommate on campus, you can always go to your dorm only when you truly need it and you’ll have me here, so it can’t be that bad, hm?’
With hopeful eyes, Jisung asks ‘Promise you won’t leave?’
And surely Seungmin answers ‘Promise’
Jisung brings out his pinkie as in to make a pinkie promise.
With a dull look Seungmin asks ‘Really? What are we? Four?’
A watery chuckle escapes the brunette’s lips ‘This is what you signed up for when you talked to me at class today’
With a sweet smile the taller answers ‘Well, too late to back down now, I guess’
‘Yeah, too late’ Their pinkies intertwine finalizing their promise and Jisung swears he feels a little sparkle, but that’s probably his imagination.
As if Jisung remembered something really important he adds ‘Oh, and Seungmin?’
‘Yeah?’
‘It does matter, what you say to me, I don’t care if we’ve known each other for just a day’ He says convincedly.
Seungmin doesn’t answer just squeezes his shoulder and stands up. ‘Ready to go?’
Han takes a deep breath and replays ‘Ready’