Seunghyun rose from his chair, glaring at his roommate's stupid grinning face.

"The first one? Really?" Seunghyun huffed when he reached Zen who wrapped an arm around his shoulders, leading them out to the filming room.

Zen just shrugged. "Not my fault. Your partner picked the number," he poked a finger on Seunghyun's chest, "I'm just helping you out."

"Yeah, right."

"Look," Zen stopped in his steps, causing Seunghyun to stop too, "he's a great guy and he's really your type; he's smart, he's funny, he's-"

"I thought you weren't trying to hook me up with someone through this?" Seunghyun cocked an eyebrow.

"Seunghyun. Dude. Come on. You know I love you. I wouldn't do this if I think it's not good for you. I'm done watching you moping over Jin. He's not coming back. We both know he's not coming back. Time to move on, brother."

"I-" Seunghyun sighed, "I don't think I'm ready. I can't. Not now, Zen."

"No way. I'm not taking that bull anymore. All you do all day is go to class, eat, mope. Go to class, eat, mope. Go to class, eat-"

"Okay! Okay! Okay! I get it."

"Seunghyun, look, just give this a chance okay? Just kiss this stranger's face off and if you don't like him after that, which is less likely 'cause I know you will like him, you guys can go on your separate ways. I'd be okay with it 'cause at least I know I tried."

Seunghyun chuckled then, shaking his head.

“Here, let me take a look,” Zen turned Seunghyun by his shoulders to face him, fixed the collar of his shirt, turned his face side to side. "We need to make sure you look your best."

Seunghyun swatted his hands away. “Stop it!”

But Zen reached up for his hair, trying to ruffle it a bit, only to be caught and swatted away by Seunghyun again.

“Zen, stop it! I said stop it!”

“Okay! Okay! I just wanna make sure you look good.”

“Shut up. Let’s get this over with. I’m here to help you. Nothing more.”

The silly grin on Zen's face returned. "Well, I think he could change your mind." He wiggled his eyebrows as he reached for the knob and swung the door open, leaving no space for Seunghyun to retort as Jenna and Dean greeted them.

"This is my roommate; Seunghyun." Zen introduced him to his team members and they exchanged handshakes and greetings.

Contrasted with what he had said earlier, Seunghyun was actually kinda anticipating to meet the stranger. A little excited even and he was not quite sure why. Maybe because it was Zen’s eagerness that somehow made him believe that this stranger was worth knowing, worth kissing. But apart from Jenna and Dean, Seunghyun didn’t see anyone else in the room. He chanced a subtle glance around him; nope, there was no one else.

“Looking for him?” Zen teased and Seunghyun was caught red-faced. He could feel his cheeks warmed all over as he opened his mouth trying to defend himself but Zen chuckled, and pulled him to stand in front of the camera, right over a T mark on the floor. “Stand here. I’ll go get him now.” Zen patted his back before leaving him standing there awkwardly.

Seunghyun felt his heart skipped a few beats; he unconsciously ran his hand through his hair, taming a few strands back into the tousled mess, pulling his sleeves down to then pulling them back up, swaying on the balls of his feet, with his mind conjuring stuff to say to start a conversation with the stranger.

He stopped and froze when he heard the door opened and two figures walk in, animatedly talking to each other. Seunghyun locked his eyes on the floor as he recognized one of the voices and ruled it out as Zen’s.

But the other one.

The way the words sounded as they rolled off his tongue and the melodious tone of his laugh. Unfamiliar. But captivating. Seunghyun braced himself to glance up and put a face to that voice.

Holy !

Seunghyun cursed in his head because his own voice was caught in a huge lump in his throat. His eyes shamelessly locked on the stranger, following his steps as they made their way approaching him. Seunghyun swallowed down his dry throat when he was finally face to face with the stranger, totally ignoring Zen on his side, completely entranced by the shy smile across the stranger’s face.

He was petite compared to Seunghyun’s tall and sturdy build. Prominent but delicate facial features; strong jaw line framing his diamond-shaped face with a pointed chin. Plump, pouty lips, slightly wet and pink from being bitten down. Seunghyun figured it was the stranger's way of hiding his shyness. Dangerously alluring. Button nose perfectly bridging his gorgeous, gorgeous, brown eyes that were looking straight back into Seunghyun’s. Seunghyun guessed his partner was not that shy after all. Well maybe just a little bit, judging from the tinge of pink on the high of his supple cheeks. Simply beautiful. 

Who are you? I don’t remember ever seeing you around here. I would’ve remembered if I did. Seunghyun asked himself. His voice was still trapped in his throat.

Zen cleared his throat, lightly nudging his frozen roommate. “So, this is your partner.” He announced in almost a whisper, glancing at the two participants back and forth. “I’m gonna leave you two here to familiarize with each other.” He squeezed Seunghyun’s arm and stepped away.

The pair looked away from each other, laughing nervously. It was awkward. Seunghyun didn’t know what to say. Everything he came up with earlier escaped in a poof the moment he laid his eyes on his partner, leaving him feeling dumb. Seunghyun didn’t know what to do either; should he introduce himself? Should he wait for him to start first? Or should he just lunge in and claim those lips? Hell, he didn’t even know what to do with his hands. So he shoved them into his jeans pockets, pulling himself back together to look back. The nameless stranger is still giggling, muffling the sound with the back of his hand. Seunghyun shuddered at the thrill sent down his spine at the sight before him.

Ah, it.

“H-Hi, I’m- I’m Seunghyun.” He pulled out one of his shaky hands and extended it to the stranger. Hopefully the shake wouldn’t get noticed.

A shy glance and a nod, softly giggling, the stranger shook Seunghyun’s hand. “I’m Jiyong.”