Kim Jong In lives a pretty solitary life. Some would call him a loner, some would call him an oddball, but he enjoyed his peace and space. That’s why when he practically begged his parents to let him return to homeland for his final year of school, they had been shocked before questioning his sanity. “New environment, new friends, and sharing a dorm with others!” his mom had exclaimed in disbelief.
“I’ll just get a dorm studio apartment so I wouldn’t have to share.” Jong In had reasoned calmly. “I need new inspirations for choreographing and I haven’t been to Korea since birth.”

Jong In had seen SM Academy’s promo video by chance. It was unlike any other videos. Stripped of flashy lights and animations, all Jong In saw was raw emotions and artistry. Unlike the heavily packaged and polished art he had grown accustomed to, the performers in the video had raw edges and burned with passion on stage. A warmth Jong In didn’t know he was capable of feeling after being called a dance prodigy all his life crept into the pits of his guts and he wasted no time in searching up the performing arts academy. Everything suddenly seemed to fall in place as he watched video after video on the school’s official webpage. The fire within him had been reignited.

Jong In was on the first flight to Seoul once his transfer procedures were completed. Thankfully for his stellar results and solid experience from representing his school in various national and international competitions, SM Academy had welcomed him with open arms into their dance department. His mom had cried up a storm at the airport and even his dad looked pretty sad to see their only son checking in alone, but Jong In had his mind set and nothing could sway his decision or dampen his mood.

The school had sent a representative to pick him up at the airport which Jong In was immensely grateful for. He could speak fluently in his native tongue, but he knew nothing about the roads and directions in Seoul. Throughout the cab ride, the lady briefly introduced herself as a staff of the dance faculty before introducing him to the other majors but Jong In had long tuned her out as his eyes followed the dancing streetlights and signboards dotting the night, soaking in the crude shouting of drunk ahjusshis and cheerful laughter of youths. Funny how everything was strangely compelling although the scenes didn’t differ much from what he was used to back home.

His studio apartment was on a far end of the SM campus, slightly away from the common dorms. The lady whose name Jong In had already forgotten handed him a key before bidding him goodnight and Jong In stumbled into the lift with his luggage in tow as he struggled to recall his unit number. Jong In thanked his lucky stars when the lift doors slid open to reveal a sole apartment before his eyes. He wonders momentarily how much space is wasted this way if each floor only housed one occupant, but then shrugs off the thought when he figured duh, this is the SM Academy he’s talking about. Turning the lock easily, Jong In pushed the front door open only to be greeted by a rude shock as a pair of shocked owl-like eyes stared back at him. Confusion ran through his mind immediately as he studied the shorter boy before his gaze darted towards the unit number on the door and the key that was still in his hands.

“Excuse me, but why are you in my apartment?” native tongue still sounded so foreign to Jong In.
“I could say the same. This is my apartment.” the boy’s voice was raspy and velvety smooth at the same time, and Jong In was confused just listening to him.
“Is this some sort of mix up?” Jong In furrowed his brows in confusion as he dug through his pockets for his phone and the name card the lady had left with him. The boy was before him the next instant, wrestling both items out of his hands with strength Jong In couldn’t imagine coming from this tiny body. “Hey!”
“I’m sorry,” the boy mumbles and Jong In catches sight of his lips trembling before he lowered his head. “But I can’t leave. This is your apartment now, but this was my apartment.”
“What do you mean?” Jong In felt his heart tugging in a strange manner as he recognized the drops of liquid falling from the boy’s eyes.
The boy sniffed and scrubbed away his tears with the back of his hands. “I’m D.O., a culinary major here.”
“Culinary? I thought this is a performing arts school?”
“It is mostly known for that, yes, but the culinary department offers superior guidance on fine dining creation and presentation too.” D.O. looked nearly proud as he spoke of his major with a tiny smile on his heart shaped lips. “I attended the school on a scholarship.”

“Attended?” Jong In’s respond had D.O.’s smile turning bitter.
“I was on my final year when something happened back home which caused my grades to slip. They took me off the scholarship and not only was I unable to afford attending school, I also lost this apartment. I took a semester off school in order to keep my placement while I tried to work for money but I had nowhere to stay so…”
“So you snuck back in here?” Jong In looked at him incredulously. “How do you even get past security?”
“I have my ways.” D.O. averted his gaze. “I did spend all my life here before losing the scholarship after all.”
Jong In’s head was beginning to hurt. He had been thinking of taking a warm shower before calling it a night after the long flight, but how was he supposed to deal with this unofficial roommate of his now?

D.O. seemed to understand the difficulties and inconvenience he was causing as he stretched his arms out to return Jong In’s belongings. “I’m sorry for troubling you like this, but I honestly have nowhere else to go to. If you’d let me stay, I can prepare breakfast and dinner for you every day in exchange! I can also fill you in on anything you’re uncertain of of SM Academy. I can clean the apartment too, and I’ll just stay in the living room so I won’t invade your privacy. Please.” D.O.’s eyes bore straight into Jong In’s as the latter recalled the tears that had fallen from the wide eyes just moments ago. “I really, really need a place to stay. This is the only place I’ve ever known.” desperation laced D.O.’s voice as he practically begged Jong In.
Rubbing his nape with discomfort and guilt blending within him, Jong In had no choice but to nod his head reluctantly and he observed how the shorter boy’s eyes lit up with joy before bowing repeatedly to him.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” D.O. bowed over and over and Jong In had to resort to holding him by his shoulders to stop him.
“You’re welcome, and please, spare the korean formalities. I’m not exactly used to it.” Jong In retracted his hands immediately once he was certain D.O. wouldn’t be breaking into a series of bows again. “I’m Jong In, by the way.”
“Thank you, Jong In.” D.O.’s lips curved into a wide heart shape as he beamed at him. Jong In thought his heart might be malfunctioning by the way it thundered against his ribcage.

 

A/N
New kaisoo one shot! And I honestly don't know what am I doing because where on earth is The Demon Under My Bed I have been teasing it since forever OTL

But hey, at least this is still a kaisoo one shot!
 

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