“Lee Junho, right?”

He was tall, taller than me by a few inches. His brown hair was messy, a few strands falling freely over his forehead and framing a small, yet handsome face. I would always remember how warm his hand felt as it took mine for a handshake, how firm and strong that handshake was. The next thing I noticed was the smile, honest, cheerful.

“I’m Nichkhun Horvejkul, we’ve been waiting for you”

“My train was delayed, my apologies” I spoke formally, a contrast to his friendly and casual tone.

“Ah, it’s ok. Come on in, it’s freezing out here”

I was dragged inside the house, my one and only luggage being taken by Nichkhun who began to lead the way into the building, a book bag hanging loosely over my shoulder. He was speaking cheerfully, saying things that I’m sure I should have been paying attention to, but my mind was already wondering off. Why was this man the one that had come to greet me and not the person I had come here for?

As if reading my mind Nichkhun slow down his walk, turning to me with that same smile he had first greeted me with.

“Taecyeon had to work” I perked up at the mention of the name. I’m sure my expression was a comical one because Nichkhun began to laugh. A cheerful, enchanting, sound. “He really wanted to be here when you arrived, but he got a chance to pick up some overtime at work and he couldn’t refuse. He’ll be back tonight so cheer up ok?”

I felt like a kid. Nichkhun reaching out to ruffle my hair before beginning to lead the way once more. We when up the stairs, Nichkhun mentioned the elevator was down for maintenance and apologize a few times as we made our way up 4 flies of stairs, finally reaching our destination. Nichkhun stood in front of the door, that same smile on his face as he offered me a key-card.

“That would be your key, the passcode is 0904, since this would be your home from now own, want to do the honors?”

I took the key, murmuring a thank you and wondering briefly if he ever stopped smiling, or if the expression was simply a permanent one on his face. I enter the key, pressing the right buttons on the keypad and with a short beep the door open. I close my eyes, briefly, letting out a heavy sigh before stepping into the place I would be calling home from now on.

The room was not big. A full bed, dresser, a small armory and a desk placed right in front of the only window in the room. It was perfect. I was more than I had back in the dorm, not to mention this time around I would be around people that didn't hate my guts.

Nichkhun had left me alone to get settled in, after a quick tour of the house. There were 7 floors in the building, each floor belonged to a different tenant and vary in styles. The fourth, which is the one we used, consisted of 6 rooms 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, living area and a balcony. Big enough if you asked me. There were 6 roommates in total, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, 3 others I had yet to meet and myself. Each bathroom would be shared by two people, the kitchen was open to anyone as long as the user cleaned after themselves and the living room and its content were first come first serve.

The rules, Nichkhun had gone on to tell me, were pretty simple. Don't go into anyone's room without permission, give the roommates a warning when bringing guess over, if one had any unresolved issues with anyone in the house it was to be brought up in the monthly meeting everyone was required to attempt, clean up after yourself and last but not least treat each other with respect.

Some of it was a bit much if you asked me, those monthly meetings sounded like a bother, but I was in no place to complain. I was lucky a room had opened up and that Taecyeon had put in a good word for me with the tenant. Rent was cheap and no deposit was required so my savings were enough to pay for two months’ worth of rent until I could find a job. Though I would probably be eating ramen noodles for a while, some sacrifices had to be made.

I let my body fall on the bed, placing my belongings in the room had not taken long, and exhaustion was slowly making its presence known. I welcomed it, closing my eyes and letting sleep claimed me for the next few hours.

I was woken by a knock on my door and I quickly sat up, looking around and feeling a bit disoriented.

"Junho, it’s Nichkhun, can I come in?"

Nichkhun. Right.

"Yeah, doors open"

He was wearing different clothes then when I first saw him, a simple cotton t-shirt and baggy sweats that hung low on his hipbones. His hair looked wet, that same smile still on his face.

"I just finished taking a shower, bathroom is all yours. Chansung is cooking tonight so go clean up."

I nodded, getting up from the bed. I didn't know who Chansung was but Nichkhun mentioned food and that was a good enough incentive for me.

"So we are bathroom mates?" I asked, looking around the room as I try to remember whether I had packed a towel or not.

"Correct. Don't worry, I'm probably the cleanest person in this whole house" with that said he was gone, leaving me alone once more.

Chansung, I came to find out was an amazing cook. The food was simple, with nothing simple side dishes but it was filling and enjoyable.

"So you are the youngest?" I asked, watching in amazement as Chansung served himself a third helping of the food.

"I look older than I am" he said putting a spoonful of rice in his mouth.

"Don't let his looks fool you” Nichkhun spoke from across the table. "As you can tell from his eating habits he's just a kid"

Chansung scolded with his eyes and Nichkhun winked at him playfully.

"He's going to think poorly about me Hyung"

"You are doing a good job at that all by yourself Chansungie" Wooyoung, another one of the roommates, said from his spot besides Nichkhun. He looked playful, foxy features that would make you think he was nothing but full of mischief yet so far he had not shown anything but a serious nature.

"I'm 23" Chansung informed me "I'm a psychology major and with tuition being so expensive I decided to help my parents by getting a part time job and taking care of my living expenses. This place is a lot cheaper than what it would cost me to stay in the dorms and its only 20 minutes by bus to school."

"Wouldn't it be easier to stay at home?" I wasn't sure if I had pushed my boundaries, we had just met after all, but Chansung didn't seem to mind. He smiled, a goofy, friendly and innocent smile.

"It would defeat the purpose of the college experience, being independent, responsible, you know?"

I nodded in agreement, of course I knew.

"Your turned" Nichkhun said, turning to Wooyoung who gave him a bored looked, sighed then turned to me.

"I'm not really that interesting. 24, left my hometown 2 years ago. Looking for a change of scenery I guess"

"You seemed to regret it"

Wooyoung looked at me, really looked at me. Nichkhun chuckled and Chansung was too engrossed in his food to pay us any mind.

"You’re blunt" Wooyoung said simply.

"I've been told my honesty would get me kill someday" My answer was simple but it seemed to be enough for Wooyoung. I saw him changed just a bit before my eyes, his stiff shoulders relaxed, his lips curved into a grin, the seriousness from before almost completely gone.

"My father and I never really saw eye to eye. My mom and grandmother were against it but I came here anyway. I rent a room in a house full of men, worked as a waiter in a club down town, the job is crappy but the tips are good. I'm nowhere near figuring out what it is that I want to do with my life, but to answer your question, no Junho. I don't regret it. I get to be my own man, make my own decisions."

"Sounds like an interesting story to me" I said, offering him a smile. A real one, and my first one since I had gotten here.

The rest of dinner was pretty much silent, there was some small talk, Chansung complaint about some teacher at school and Wooyoung told a funny story about getting hit on by some random, married woman at his job. Turned out the guy was actually very humorous and I found myself laughing a few times. Nichkhun didn't talk much, I learned he had been studying overseas since young, and that his parents owe some business back in Thailand, but that was it. Though I found him staring at me from time to time.

Wooyoung and Nichkhun took over kitchen duties refusing any help from me. Chansung told me to stop complaining, ensuring me they were only being nice because it was my first day in the house.

It was around that time that I met the last roommate. Kim MinJun was loud the minute he stepped foot inside the house, complaining about something and not noticing my presence until Chansung nudge him in a not so gentle way.

"Oh! So your Taecyeon's friend. Kim MinJun, is a pleasure to meet you" He said in a louder than necessary tone, extending his hand to me. Unlike Nichkhun’s his hand didn’t feel firm and big. Instead they were delicate and moist with sweat, yet they were just as warm. His voice was a bit nasally, and spoke as if there was a sort of rhythm to his tone. He wasn't incredibly good looking like Nichkhun nor looked sweet and cute like Wooyoung. His features were sharp and his posture a bit off, yet like the rest of the guys I met there was something uniquely attractive about him, something interesting, y even.

"He’s only a Hyung by age, trust me Junho, not very reliable this one" Nichkhun said in a serious tone, and MinJun frown. Yet after a second the smile returned to Nichkhun's face and he gave MinJun a mischievous smiled.

" you Khun"

"Really? Did you change your mind already?" MinJun moved quickly then I thought him capable of, grabbing a nearby object and launching it towards Nichkhun. The problem was MinJun was not the best at aiming, missing Nichkhun who was only a few feet away from him and hitting Chansung instead.

Everything was a bit confusing after that. There were a lot of cursing, name calling and some objects flying around. I considered escaping to my room, but moving would mean making them aware of my presence. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

Eventually the room calmed, Wooyoung sitting beside me flipping through the TV and Chansung sitting on a smaller couch adjacent to the one I sat on, a book in his lap and chewing on what looked like a piece of beef jerky. The two acting as if Nichkhun and MinJun didn't even exist. The culprits of the turmoil now sitting on the floor.

"Want me to fix you up a plate?" Nichkhun asked MinJun who rested his head on Wooyoung's knee and nodded.

"I'm too old for this ." MinJun said after a while, taking the plate Nichkhun offered and immediately digging in.

"We are the same age fool, you should just spend a little less time in that studio and a little more on the gym" Nichkhun said, taking a seat besides Wooyoung. "Now introduced yourself, Junho probably thinks you are weird"

"Isn’t he?" Wooyoung added, and Chansung snorted were he sat.

"Disrespectful brat" MinJun murmured under his breath but otherwise ignored Wooyoung.

"I'm usually against telling my life story to perfect strangers but resident philosopher Hwang Chansung insist we should be opened with one another" Nichkhun huffed and kicked him.

"Stop acting like you don't like talking about yourself and hurry, I want to go to sleep"

I thought MinJun would complaint again but instead he turned to me. It was the first time I saw his eyes, and they scare me a bit. Deep and dark, as if they could see right through the outer appearance and directly into your deepest darkest thoughts. It was unnerving and I found myself looking away.

"I was Nichkhun's first roommate, I moved to the city when I was 18 to study broadcasting and Communication at the local university. I quit after two years and have been studying music since. I have a talk show on a local radio station, and most of my spare time is spent making music no one aside from these guys and my friends would ever listen to."

"Are you happy with your choice?" I asked, genuinely curious, and MinJun gave me a skeptical look, his eyes diverting to Nichkhun who simply shrugged.

"He’s blunt. Though he got Wooyoung to say more than two words" MinJun looked at Wooyoung who looked, well he just didn't seem interested in the conversation at all, then back to me.

"I am happy" he then said without hesitation "I could have stayed in my home town, take over the family business and be set for life. Now I live paycheck by paycheck, make a fool of myself in the radio in order to get high ratings and spent my afternoons in my friend's studio making music. But I get to do what I love and living with these guys is not so bad."

"I see why Taecyeon speaks so highly of you guys" I said, not really thinking about my words.

A comfortable silence fell in the room. Wooyoung snuggled deeper into the couch, his head resting on Nichkhun's shoulder. Chansung’s attention when back to his book and MinJun got up from the floor, taking his dirty dishes and the wrapper from Chansung's snack to the kitchen.

"What about you?" He asked once he returned, taking a seat on the floor facing me. Wooyoung used his leg to kick him, complaining his big head was blocking the TV.

"There's nothing much to tell" I said, feeling shy all of a sudden, but knowing this was coming.

"I've never been sure of what I wanted, I like to dance, can carry a tune so I auditioned for this company and made it. It lasted 2 years, but all the training took the fun out of it, it wasn't about your talent but how popular you could become. The people there could be really cruel, it took a toll on my performance, and I got dropped. I was too embarrassed to return home and that's when Taecyeon mentioned you guys had a room"

"Fascinating, so how does it feel to be a trainee?" Wooyoung asked. I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic, or genuinely interested but even Chansung looked away from his book, watching me expectantly.

"I think it’s easier to join the army"

There was some laughter, and I was sure the conversation would end there but then MinJun asked the one question I didn't want to talk about.

"What about your relationship with Taecyeon? He mentioned you guys were friends for years but we didn’t hear anything about you until recently?”

I didn't answer, couldn't answer. These guys were nice but there was only so much you could reveal to people you just met. Everyone had secrets, situations that would forever leave their mark. Things that you wish you could take back; words you wish had never left your mouth.

"I think that's enough for one night" Nichkhun got up, glancing at MinJun. It was quick, but I noticed the silent conversation that was exchanged, MinJun quickly changing the subject and asking Chansung about the book he was reading.

"You should go get some rest Junho" Nichkhun told me.

"Taecyeon won't be back until late tonight, and you must be tired"

I didn't argue, saying my good nights and following Nichkhun as he too headed for his room.

"Yah! Junho!" MinJun called out my name and I turned too looked his way. He smiled, big and silly.

"Is nice to meet you"

I felt a hand on my shoulder, noticing Nichkhun standing beside me. Chansung looking away from his book and Wooyoung pretending not to smile. I knew they weren't waiting for an answer so I simply nodded, offering them a smile of my own before heading to my room.

"Seems like you guys are all really close"

I told Nichkhun a bit later, as we shared the bathroom while getting ready for bed. Somehow it seemed like the most natural thing to do. There was something about Nichkhun that made it impossible to be awkward around him. He spat into the sink, rinsing his mouth and putting away the toothbrush before answering.

"Actually we are just a bunch of guys craving company. Half the time we just want to kill each other"

"So you don't get along?" Nichkhun shook his head, smiling. The bathroom wasn't that big and there was not that much distance between us. I could smell the minty toothpaste he had used when he spoke.

"Actually I love these guys. They are annoying as , dirty, and brutally honest, but they accept me for me. They don't judge, and anyone in this house would go out of their way to help each other."

"So how come you let me in?" It was something that had been bothering me for a while and I figure this was a good time as ever to ask.

"Taecyeon spoke very highly of you, said you were in a tough spot and needed the help. And to be honest I'm glad we did give you a chance"

There it was... That smiled that seemed to illuminate the entire room and put me completely at ease.

"Nichkhun...?"

"Just called me Khun"

"Khun" I repeated "What about you? I heard everyone else's story but I didn't get yours"

Maybe I imagined it, I didn't know him well enough to be able to tell, but for a second I could swear that it was sadness I saw in his eyes. But it went as quick as it came.

"One of these days Junho... The skeletons in my closet are not as easy to reveal as the rest of the guys'."

I didn't force him to say anything. After all, didn't I have my own secrets I wasn't ready to share with them yet?