MAKING BETS

“I’d never expect to see Jongin here,” Chanyeol says and shakes his head. “How did you get his lame to this frat party?”

Jongin just scoffs. He doesn’t like the way Chanyeol words it, as if saying college life consisted only of parties and outings to the bars and clubs. They weren’t the only fun thing for college students, there were so much more - sports, music and arts clubs, for example, or simply dinner with friends - minus the alcohol. He never understood why alcohol was needed to have fun, and what he understands the least is how people could enjoy being confined to a tiny space with millions of other bodies pressing into them with the smell of smoke, sweat and heavy perfume hanging in the air. It was disgusting to him.

“You see,” Luhan says and smiles. Jongin can only roll his eyes at the theatrical pause Luhan makes to build anticipation. “Jongin needs to get laid. He’s been grumpy ever since he and Kyungsoo broke up, and I really don’t like to come home to a mopey lump on the bed.”

Luhan and Jongin are roommates at the college dorm. Despite their age difference, they still got assigned to room together which, for the most part, wasn’t as bad since Luhan likes to keep their room, and more importantly, their bathroom, clean, but sometimes Jongin does hate how nosy his friend and roommate can be. He’s also kind of in a love hate relationship with the new group of friend Luhan has introduced him to.

“Wow, Jongin,” Baekhyun tuts, and Jongin hates the pitiful gaze he’s receiving from the whole group. “It’s been what? Two years? Aren’t you supposed to be over it? Kyungsoo was your high school boyfriend, right?”

It’s useless to convince them otherwise. Jongin has tried so many times in the past, but he’s failed. The hyungs like to think that he’s not ready for someone new in his life since he keeps rejecting all the admirers that have confessed to him so far. He doesn’t go out and sleep around either, which is - in their eyes - a sign that he’s still committed to his first love.

Of course, that is nonsense. He’s been past that for long. He just doesn’t like the idea of one night stands. Sleeping with some stranger has never been on his bucket list, even less so when there’s someone he’s been eyeing for a while. Too scared at being teased, he’s just never mentioned the current object of his admiration and infatuation.

“Fifty bucks that Jongin won’t get laid tonight,” Chanyeol says and Jongin shoots him a glare. His love life - or the lack thereof - shouldn’t be used for a bet.

“A hundred bucks that he’ll spend the night with some cutie today,” Luhan says and grins. Sensing an easy way to make money - because Jongin is just not interested in finding himself some company for the night - all of their friends agree on the bet. Jongdae, Chanyeol, Baekhyun.

“A hundred bucks that he won’t.”

“You won’t have food money left by the end of the month,” Jongin remarks dryly, but Luhan just shakes his head.

“I will, if you cooperate and help me out, mate.”

“You wish.”






Jongin is bored out of his mind. He’s been watching his friends drinking and dancing for the past hour while staying at the table, rejecting any invitation for a dance