As he left his friend behind to start racing up the stairs, he reflected back on the decision to wear his boots. Sure they looked good, but wearing them as he ran up six flights of stairs did not leave a good feeling behind. 

He was racing. Racing against time, fate, and all those other ty things that run things by their own rules. They were stubborn, generally considered unchangeable, and damn frustrating most of the time - attempting to keep things from ever working out in someone's favor. 

One flight down, five to go. 

His friend was talking to him about what his chemistry lab was like. He spent most of the time describing how he expected the lab would go throughout the semester. What labs they would be doing, what partners they would have, etc...

But, he saved the best part for last. His friend turned to him and began to describe to him what his Teacher's Assistant (TA) was like, and just how perfect Junhong would find him. 

Junhong was not picky about people by any means. In fact, he was incredibly open. He was easily drawn to people - influenced heavily by the charm some people displayed. What could he do? He liked people that were different; it helped to expand his horizon. 

So the more Junhong listened to Jongup describe his TA, the more he wanted to see this man with his own eyes. He'd never been anywhere near him, yet he felt impossibly drawn to him already, as if there was something connecting them that only he could feel or see.

So Junhong, along with Jongup, and their friend Youngjae, made a plan. 

It was after the second flight of stairs that he really began to curse his wardrobe choice of the day. Sure, he thought he looked pretty damn good, but the look came at an obvious cost as he continued to trek up the stairs, still racing against fate and time to his destination. 

Why was it that Jongup’s chem lab had to be held in a fourth floor classroom? Was that really necessary? Fate seemed to think so.

Two flights down, four to go. 

The plan wasn't anything elaborate. In fact, it was quite simple. Jongup had injured himself shortly before the semester started - leaving him in crutches. This was used as an excuse (a valid one at that, plus Junhong didn't mind doing it anyways), for Junhong to climb up the six flights of stairs to the fourth floor to pick up Jongup from his lab. The climb up the stairs was not going to be fun, but at least Junhong got to ride back down in the elevator with Jongup. And in between going up and down the four levels, he hopefully got to lay sight on (according to Jongup) his perfect future lover. 

Jongup and Junhong spent a good amount of time on Thursday night (since Jongup's lab was on Friday) picking out the perfect outfit for Junhong to wear the first time he got to see Jongup’s TA. They argued back and forth on what better flattered and complimented the boy - both successfully feeling quite like girls. 

Youngjae had input his opinion through a group text conversation, thinking the whole ordeal a little ridiculous, but being willing to go along with it. Though he had admitted that he was most excited to see Junhong’s face when he laid eyes on the TA for the first time. 

He was halfway there, when the thought of just exactly how ridiculous this whole thing was crossed his mind. What the hell was he doing right now? He was racing up stairs to get to see a guy who was definitely years older than him, even though he would only get to see him for a few seconds; if he even got that lucky. 

But then he thought of how much he would regret this moment forever, if he didn't try his best to challenge fate. Regardless of how things turned out (though he hoped for the best, behind a hopeful person), he wanted to be able to look back on these memories with fond remembrance, not any form of regret. He also considered it ridiculous that he would regret not doing this. But, there was just some invisible thing tugging at him, beckoning him forward. A forward that just so happened to lie at the top of six flights of stairs.

So he pushed himself upward, ignoring the burn in his legs, and the ache in his feet, as he practically clambered up the steep stairs.

Three flights down, three to go. 

It was finally time. After Junhong and Youngjae made the trek up the stairs, (though taking their time as they knew Jongup wouldn't be out for a little longer), they planted themselves outside the classroom. Youngjae waited patiently, merely enjoying watching Junhong pace in nervousness. Junhong was feeling a multitude of emotions in the moment, as he went from feeling nervous, to embarrassed, to shy, to worried, to excited, and then back to nervous within a second. He really did feel like a girl, waiting for her date to pick her up for an important night out. The funny thing was, he didn't mind the feeling too much. He felt so alive, like he was living life on the edge. It was nearly exhilarating how he had no idea how things would play out the moment the door of the classroom opened, and Jongup stepped out.

Life was moving like a thrown dice. It could teeter several different ways, and so much of it had to do with luck, timing, and fate. 

And as Jongup was helped out of the lab classroom, with someone that could only be the TA opening the door for him, Junhong’s heart stopped beating for a moment. 

The sight that met him was beyond his expectations. That adorable charm, with the wide gummy smile - it was everything Junhong was hoping for and more. His heart had no idea how to react. It went from racing, to skipping a beat, to stopping momentarily all together. It nearly attempted to leap straight out of his body for this man - this Bang Yongguk, whose name managed to fit him so perfectly well. 

Junhong faintly noticed Jongup mention Junhong’s name to his TA and then motion in his direction, before all he could focus on was the warm smile Yongguk sent his way. Thankfully, his lips still functioned, as he sent back his own bright smile. 

But then, that was it. It was a connecting of eyes, and a sharing of smiles, before Yongguk turned back around and walked back into the classroom, the door closing shut behind him. Before Junhong knew it, they had already ridden the elevator back downstairs, and were on their way to eat lunch. Jongup and Youngjae couldn't help but to laugh at the "in the clouds" state Junhong was currently residing in. 

Junhong couldn't think of anything but the smiling Yongguk, feeling like the dice had managed to land perfectly that day. 

It was on the fourth flight of stairs when his right knee suddenly cracked. It was being forced to do something it wasn't used to handling, and so it nearly crashed under the strain. Junhong was able to keep moving up the stairs after a brief hesitation, as his knee continued to ache. Despite the pain he was feeling in his knee, he focused on how close he was, as he felt his invisible competition trudging along beside him - taunting him, telling him to just give up.

But he wouldn't. He refused to. He only had two more flights of stairs to climb, and waiting for him at the top and just a little down the hallway, was what would hopefully become part of his future. How could he possibly give up a chance like that?

Four flights down, two to go. 

One week later, on the next Friday, Junhong had been excited all morning. He had dressed up again, looking forward to the potential opportunity to see that gummy smile again. Yongguk's face had been a permanent image on the display in his mind, as Junhong found himself unable to keep from thinking about him. It was insane how easily Yongguk had entrapped his thoughts. He couldn’t even say that he knew him at all! And yet, Junhong couldn’t keep himself from daydreaming about the familiarly unfamiliar man.

It turned out though, that this time, fate got its payback. It decided to step in, and being like the it can be, it ruined things for the day. When Junhong got out of his morning lecture that he shared with Youngjae, he checked his phone to see a waiting message from Jongup. Jongup's message informed them that he was already out of lab and would be waiting for them at the bottom floor of his lab building. The message had been sent over twenty minutes ago. 

Junhong immediately felt his heart sink, realizing that he would have to wait another week for even a glimpse at Yongguk. Once him and Youngjae joined up with Jongup, the two friends playfully teased Junhong about his bad luck. Neither of them realized just how hurt Junhong was actually feeling in the moment. His emotions were seeped with disappointment and drowned in sadness – overwhelming his strong sense of hopefulness, for at least the morning.

The invisible connection between him and Yongguk grew a little fainter, but still tugged at him painfully - sending little reminders that it was still there, hanging on. When he tried to give the connection a physical image in his mind, he imagined it like a red thread. The red thread of fate he had heard about in stories, tying his and Yongguk’s pinkies together for eternity. 

In his disappointed and depressed state, Junhong reflected again on how ridiculous this whole notion was. He didn't want to feel like he was failing, but his chances were already slim on a good day. 

But still, there was next Friday to try again. And Junhong was certainly going to try again. 

He had reached the fifth flight of stairs. That meant there was only one more corner to turn before he would be able to see the open doors that led into the fourth floor hallway. He had both counted the flight of stairs, and took note the color of the doors. Each floor was given a different color, and he knew the next one he saw, led him to his fate. 

The concept of him racing against his fate, while also playing out his fate, was confusing, so he found himself not wanting to think too much about it. All he knew was that he strongly desired even more than before to be successful today. It was his last chance. After today, he would probably never get to see Yongguk again. How could he let the man he felt so strongly connected to, slip out of his hands so easily? 

That was why he was racing up these stairs. He wasn't going down without a fight. So he raced on.

Five flights down, one to go. 

As he always was, Junhong was hopeful. Jongup had not sent any text to either him or Youngjae indicating that his lab was already over. So Junhong sped-walked, dragging a grumpy Youngjae behind him, across campus to Jongup's lab building. 

When he reached the stairs to begin the familiar ascent up them, he left Youngjae behind, who after the first time, had since refused to climb all those "damn stairs". Junhong hurried to the fourth floor, and scurried down the hallway. To his extreme relief, when he peered into the classroom through the small window, he saw most of the class still in there working on their labs. He spotted Jongup and his lab partner, and then he laid eyes on Yongguk.

Just like the couple other times he had managed to get a glimpse of him, the moment Junhong saw him, his breath hitched and his heartbeat faltered. Junhong watched Yongguk curiously through the window, as the TA wandered around the room helping students. When Yongguk smiled, Junhong instinctively smiled too. He couldn't help it; the gummy smile was extremely contagious. 

Finally students started leaving, and Junhong noticed that Jongup purposely lagged behind after seeing Junhong waiting outside through the window. Yongguk then accompanied Jongup to the door, him being the last to leave the classroom (though now Jongup was just in a special brace, no longer needing crutches). When Yongguk saw Junhong, he smiled at him and gave him a small wave. Junhong’s face lit up in a large bright smile, while his cheeks burned as he returned the small wave. 

It was officially the best Friday yet, as Jongup and Junhong made their way down on the elevator to join back up with Youngjae. Junhong smiled blissfully for at least the entire morning, much to Jongup’s and Youngjae’s teasing pleasure.

This was it, the final set of stairs. It was the last mountain to climb to reach the top. The last lap in a long race. The last bite in an eating competition. The final challenge before the hopeful victory. 

Junhong didn't hesitate as he turned the last corner and started climbing up the last set of stairs. He didn't have a single second to spare right now, and he wasn't going to waste even a split second on catching his breath. The red thread was tugging on his pinkie, pulling him up the stairs. It was guiding him to a fate that he heard calling him, despite the obstacles in the way. 

He could do this.

Half a flight to go.

Junhong and Youngjae were making their way to the lab building at a somewhat fast pace. Today was the last Friday Jongup had lab. Therefore, it was probably the last Friday Junhong could see Yongguk. He tried not to think about this fact a lot. Afraid that if he did, it would hurt too much. 

He felt a vibration from his phone and looked down to see a message from Jongup. All it said was "hurry". Without a second thought, Junhong practically took off running to the building, leaving Youngjae behind, and ignoring the already beginning ache in his feet from his boots. Fellow students sent him weird looks as he sprinted by them and into the building. He immediately charged to the stairs, and began the tiring climb. 

He climbed the last few steps, and his heart stopped when he saw the apologetic face of Jongup waiting for him at the top of the stairs. 

It was too late. 

Junhong had missed his last chance. 

The feeling of the red thread wrapped around his pinkie faded, and became invisible even to him. He felt his heart break at the failure of what could have been. Would he never really get to see that wide smile light up Yongguk's face again? 

As Junhong’s face fell in depression, Jongup sent him a comforting smile. 

Junhong couldn't believe it was over. Just like that, he had lost. 

The two friends dragged themselves into the elevator - Jongup because of his still healing injury, Junhong because of his current state of depression. They rode down in silence, as Junhong nursed his wounded heart. He couldn't believe how upset he felt about all of this. He still didn't even know the guy, but he couldn't help the connection he had felt to him. 

The elevator ding pulled Junhong out of his thoughts when they reached the ground floor. The door opened, and Junhong went to follow Jongup out, keeping his eyes on the ground. 

Suddenly, after only taking a couple of steps out of the elevator and brushing past someone walking into the elevator, he felt a push - sending him back into the rather small elevator. He fell into someone, looking up to see Jongup smiling at him. 

As the doors were closing, he heard Jongup loudly tell him that he "thinks he forgot his phone in the classroom", and was asking Junhong to "please look for it." 

Shortly after the doors closed and Junhong realized that he was now on his way back up to the fourth floor, he scrambled away, realizing he was still somewhat leaning into someone. 

He turned, not expecting what he saw to meet his eyes. 

He was riding up (in a rather slow elevator) to the fourth floor, alone in the small space with the man that had captured his thoughts. His eyes grew wide as the shock sunk in. 

Yongguk looked back at Junhong, before something registered in him, and he smiled at the younger boy. 

"You are Junhong, aren't you? Jongup's roommate?" 

"Y...yeah." Junhong was impressed by the fact that he actually got any kind of answer to come out in his shy state. 

"You know, I was always touched by how you came to pick him up after lab. That was really sweet of you. My name is Yongguk by the way." 

"I'm J..Junhong." Junhong reached out and shook Yongguk's extended hand. Yongguk's gummy smile grew impossibly wider. The handshake seemed to last forever, as Junhong found himself unable to let go. He couldn’t decipher a reason, but it seemed Yongguk didn’t want to let go either, as they stood in the elevator holding each other’s hands.

Jolts of electricity shot through his nerves from their connected hands, and when he looked down at them, he could of sworn he saw a flash of red entwined around their pinkies and connecting their fate together. 

Maybe fate had won, or maybe fate had lost. In the end, it didn't really matter - Junhong had gotten to truly meet his Yongguk, as they sent wide shy smiles to each other – hearts fluttering together in a rhythmic pattern. 

Junhong couldn’t help but wonder though, had being forced to climb all those damn stairs really been necessary? 

Author’s Note: I hoped you liked this short little story!

Just for if you are curious: The idea for this story comes from something I actually did. Last college year, I really did race up stairs to try and catch a glimpse of my friends male TA. My friend really was injured, and I really did have to run up the stairs in my cowboy boots (and the skirt I had chosen to wear that Friday). Unlike the ending of this story though, my story ended when I got to the top of the stairs and saw my friend waiting for me there. I also wasn’t as devastated as I made Zelo out to be about the whole ordeal.

I thoroughly enjoyed those Fridays where I tried to catch a glimpse of the TA. Nothing came of it in the end, but I don’t regret it at all. I’m proud to have even tried.

Thank you everyone for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! :D