The rooming arrangement was messed up so Jaemin and Renjun got roomed together. It's not that they mind but Jaemin was hoping he got roomed with the female reps somehow and Renjun was hoping he got roomed with someone quiet. It's not like they complain about getting roomed together. It's just there are more desirable options.

"Someone is knocking," Jaemin kicked Renjun as they get ready for Jeno's little get-together. 

"Uh, fine," Renjun finished getting ready already so he has to go get the door. He was half-expecting it to be Mark even though the guy texted him that he's not going. Instead of Mark's face, Renjun was met with a handsome tan puppy face. "What do you want?"

"Jeno wants me to tell you that they're drinking already and you're late," Chenle nodded his head to one side cutely, but Renjun won't admit that.

"It's way too early," The sophomore said. 

"It's not since Jeno moved up the schedule for me," The freshman shrugged. "He doesn't want me to lose sleep and not look good for the individual promote video tomorrow."

Renjun had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. "Ok, we'll be there in a bit."

The sophomore was about to close the door but Chenle opened it back. "Hold on hyung. Jeno hyung asked me to go get some ice, so... Can you come with me?"

"No way. Why do I have to?"

"I get lonely easily and the store is far away," Chenle did his best puppy face to persuade his adorable hyung. "What if something happens to me?"

"No, I won't go no matter what you do or say. You can call if something happens," Renjun slammed the door on the freshman's face and walked back to the bed.

 He barely laid his back down before the knocking happens again. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, the knocking won't stop. If he's not annoyed, Jaemin certainly got irritated. Jaemin keeps on kicking his friend to open that damn door to appease the dumb freshman. Renjun sighed loudly before getting up again to open the damn door. 

"What?"

"I'll buy snacks for you."

"Don't want it. I'll get fat."

"Ice cream!"

"Much fatter!"

"Then, what should I do to make you come with me?"

Renjun sighed again before turning to his best friend, who had finished changing. "Jaemin, go with him."

Jaemin looked up from his iPad, which is very visible to Chenle. The youngest of the three looked from Jaemin back to Renjun. "He's busy."

"And he's asking you, not me," Jaemin added. "Just go with him."

Renjun looked defeated. He couldn't believe his best friend threw him under the bus like that. It looked like he has to consider Mark as his best friend over Jaemin now. "Fine! I'll go."

Chenle smiles widen and wait outside for the sophomore to put on his slippers. Renjun unwillingly walked with the taller freshman outside, which is lit with streetlamps, giving the whole street a yellow glow. The convenience store wasn't even that far away but neither one of them bother to say anything. Chenle is too scare that Renjun might go back to his room and Renjun just went with it because he's already out in the street already. 

"There's literally no point in me going with you."

"What if I get harassed? Not to mention, I'm handsome so everyone would harass me."

"If it is me, I wouldn't even give you my time of day."

"Then why do you avoid my eyes?"

It's true. Renjun has been avoiding Chenle's puppy eyes and excited smile since the very beginning of the trip. "I'm just annoyed, ok?"

"It's ok. You'll get used to it when we get closer in the future."

Renjun rolled his eyes and walk further ahead. Chenle just looks at him affectionately before jogging a bit to catch up. The younger but taller male tries to walk closer to his sophomore but the older male glares at him. It was supposed to be scary but the sophomore just looks like an angry corgi. When they arrive at the store, Chenle rushed to get everything he needed and paid. He even got his sophomore a little snack to appease the angry corgi. However, the angry corgi just rolls his eyes and accept the snack unwillingly. 

"Hold on, hyung," Chenle grabbed Renjun's hand. "There's something I wanna do before we head back."

"What is it?" Renjun sighed.

"Come on," The taller freshman just dragged his sophomore toward the beach, much to the later male dismay.

The beach's sand is lighted by the street lamps but the water is dark with vigorous energy. With the energetic wave, the breeze also whistles and dances around the two lone males. Chenle pulls Renjun near the edge of the light and sat down on the sand, looking up at the bright white moon. There was no star since it was cloudy but that only makes the moon stood out more. 

"What are we doing here?" The older male asked in annoyance.

"No need to rush, hyung," Chenle just smiled and looked up at his sophomore. "Sit down."

"If you like a scenic picture, then take one instead of wasting my time. The ice is melting."

"I can buy more of it later if it's gone," Chenle announced casually.

"Chenle!"

"Present!"

"Get up!"

"Hyung, sit down first..."

"I asked you to get up," Renjun's patience is slowly wearing out but he couldn't just leave. 

"I asked you to sit down first," The freshman's cheeky attitude slowly leaked out as he saw how annoyed his sophomore is getting. 

Renjun gave up and sat down with a grunt. The two of them didn't say much but Chenle is basking in the presence of the cute older male. He got out a chocolate KitKat bar from his pocket and unwrapped it. Renjun studied the young male movement as if waiting for something catastrophic to happen, like a meteor or tsunami, to put him out of his misery. Of course, Chenle knows Renjun is observing him but he didn't say anything because he likes it when the older male pays attention to him. 

"I didn't buy you chocolate because you said you don't wanna get fat," Chenle bit off his KitKat. 

"You seemed to be addicted to chocolate."

"I do. I like KitKat very much," The younger male said it while looking at Renjun straight in the eyes as if he's implying something else entirely. The flirty wink didn't stop itself nor did the slight smirk in the corner of Chenle's lips. 

"Can we go now?" Renjun asked. Irritation is still in his voice.

"What's the rush, hyung? I haven't got to take any picture yet. I mean... Your face is kinda like the moon itself."

"How so?"

"Light skin with dimples," Chenle poked the older male's face.

"Just take your damn picture so we can go."

"Phone?" Chenle pat his pocket. "Oh? Where did go? I swear I took it with me."

"Don't tell me you lose it."

"Seem like it..."

Renjun sighed in exaggeration. He wanted to facepalm himself. If only he was more stubborn and stay behind, then he would have been in his bed right now. Sure, he has to deal with Jaemin's annoyance but that's better than Chenle's annoyance. "What now?"

"Can I borrow your phone to call myself?" 

"Whatever," The older male reached into his pocket and pull out his phone. "Hurry up."

After Renjun unlocks the screen and hands it over, Chenle types in his number and presses call. They wait for a second before the sound of vibration buzz pass the sound of crashing waves. Chenle grinned cheekily as he showed his phone in his other hand. 

"What are you trying to pull now?" Renjun quickly puts away his phone.

"At least, I got your number now," Chenle smiled happily at his contact page. This was the straw that broke the camel's back. Renjun got up and speed walk away. "Hyung, I'm just messing with you. Don't PMS on me!"

"What did you say?" Renjun turned around and strode toward the younger male. "I hate all these stupid tricks you're pulling. Just give me the stuff. I'll bring it back myself."

"Where are you going? What about me?"

"I'm going back to where I'm supposed to be. You can stay there for all I care."

Back in the room of Chenle/Donghyuck/Mark, two out of three of its residents are reading by themselves. Donghyuck buried his nose in his manga while Mark engrossed himself in his tablet. With that being said, Donghyuck isn't really paying any attention to the manga at all. Instead, he's too worried about the male that's sitting near him on the sofa. He sat on the bed but they're literally three feet apart. Once in a while, Donghyuck would "secretly" peek over to Mark just to watch his crush focus on his reading. However, Mark did notice when the obvious is obvious.

"What with the face?" Mark put down his tablet. "Am I bothering you?"

"No, why?"

"I can leave if my presence is bothering you."

"It's ok. I thought I'm bothering you."

"We're doing our own thing in silent. Why would I bother? It's the longest you've gone without saying something snarky to me."

"Sorry," Donghyuck had the urge to apologize. "Staying with me must be boring."

"What's wrong? I have to smile like crazy so you don't feel that way?"

"Whatcha doing?"

"Just skimming through some video."

"?"

Mark gave Donghyuck the are-you-serious face. The kid doesn't have much social skill if he's asking that question in this situation. "Piano songs."

"You play the piano?"

"No, I'm doing it for you. It's near the competition."

Reality hits Donghyuck like a truck. He was so busy with his love life and sick life that he forgot about the fact that he's playing the piano for the competition. He hasn't even practice anything yet.

"What with the face?" Mark commented. "Feel grateful?"

"N-No. Have you found anything?"

"A couple but I need your input... What are you waiting for? Come here," Mark nodded to the empty spot next to him on the sofa to indicate Donghyuck to relocate himself there. "I won't bite."

On the inside, Donghyuck is nervous like hell but he has to keep his facade up. He hesitantly moves his body to sit next to Mark, leaving enough space so no accident might happen. Mark asked him whether he want to perform an English based song or a Korean based song but all Donghyuck could focus on is the fact that Mark is wearing really short shorts. To make matter worse, they're also loose. Mark's thighs are exposed to Donghyuck's prying eyes. It's not like Donghyuck wants to look but he helps himself from looking when it's there for him to pry. 

"Hey, I asked if you want an English or Korean song," Mark looked over at the slightly freshman, not that he knew.

"What do you think?"

"Why are you asking me? I'm not the one performing it in front of an audience."

"I want to hear some opinion."

"Hmmm, Korean is fine but I guess English would make you seem more culture."

"English it is."

"You sure put thought into it," Mark said sarcastically. "Performing a song isn't easy. You need to put your heart into it or you might as well said the word robotically. Here, pick one."

Donghyuck looked through the list of songs that Mark had gathered. Most of them are good but none of them really spoke to him. None of them are about secretly loving- liking- your older sophomore but ruining every chance you have with him by being a snarky . 

"While you do that, I'll go buy some foods," Mark got up and grabbed his phone and wallet. "What you want to eat?"

"But I'm supposed to be your servant right now," Donghyuck regrets having those words leaving his mouth. It made it sound like he has some weird or something. 

"A sick servant is useless," The older male ruffled the younger's hair. "I prefer a healthy one so I can order around and do my bidding."

"Fine, we can go together," Donghyuck got up and grabbed his phone and wallet as well. He didn't really leave Mark a place to protest since the younger was out the door faster than the tablet hitting the sofa. 

The two of them arrived at the convenience store in a timely manner. Mark grabbed some bottles of ice tea and lemonade before stopping at the snack aisle. "Get what you want."

"What?"

"Are you deaf or just dumb? Get whatever you want, I'll pay."

"Don't take back your words," Donghyuck pointed a finger at the sophomore. He picked up a separate basket and start filling it with snacks and chips. Mark stopped him halfway but the younger male looked up at him with the kicked puppy face and he gave in. By the time they exit the aisle, the basket in their hand is filled. 

"Are you done yet?" Mark said nonchalantly.

"Yeah," Donghyuck happily replied. 

His happy moment didn't last long as the two of them hear a female voice. "Mark oppa, I didn't know you're here."

"Hello Joy," Mark greets the girl and her roommate politely. "It's a bit late, isn't it?"

"It's only 9 pm, no worries," Joy answered with a smile. "Oh Donghyuck, you're here too. Mark, can you wait for us? We can go back together."

"Sure..."

Donghyuck's happy moment is definitely over.

The tension is getting worse. How do you feel about the cliffhanger in almost every chapter? Are you regretting your decision on reading this awesome story yet? Wink wink. It can only get worse from here. 

Comment what you like or dislike.

FIGHTING!!!