“Why did you do that?” Mir questioned after settling back into his desk chair.

Dongwoon rolled his eyes, flopping down on his bed. “Isn’t that obvious Mir?” His gaze halted on the curious boy, watching as a pink color tinted Mir’s cheeks.

“…I-I’m dating someone already,” he said softly, internally jumping for joy at the words.

The handsome boy lying on top of blankets and pillows smirked. “That little girl? I hardly think that counts as a lover.”

“He not ‘that’,” Mir muttered, unable to keep the annoyance from his voice, “and Taemin is…just fine for me,” he stifled a smile, idly scribbling some notes down on paper. Mir turned a page of his history textbook, beginning to jot down the title of the new chapter.

Dongwoon rolled onto his side so as to more clearly see the other boy’s turned away figure, “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?” he replied, still reading the long page of text.

“What’s so special about him?”

Mir paused, considering the question. Could he even answer something like that? Was it possible to say what exactly you loved about a person? He leaned back in the wooden chair, thoughtfully. Perhaps that was a better use of his time – what made him love Taemin? A light blush dusted his features as the words echoed in his mind. Love…? No way. Or…maybe that was possible…he wasn’t sure.

Suddenly, a shadow was hanging over Mir and his head shot up. Dongwoon’s eyes peered down at him, fair hair darkened by the play of lights in their room. One arm was outstretched, supporting itself on an open grammar book, the other hand pressing down on the back of Mir’s chair. “Are you gonna answer me?” Dongwoon’s voice was quiet – sweet enough to make the seated boy’s heart beat faster.

“…Well…I don’t know how,” he briefly met the other one’s gaze before turning away again, “…to answer something like that.”

Dongwoon nodded to himself, lips pressing into a line. “Alright,” he grunted, pushing off of the table and striding back to where his book bag rested on a desk.

“Where are you going?” Mir asked quickly, half standing up from his seat.

The taller boy slung the bag over his shoulder and walked towards the door. “I have afternoon classes. Don’t forget there’s club today,” he reminded before disappearing through the door, leaving it unlocked.

Mir sighed, dropping his head down on the notebook. Why did it bother him so much how Dongwoon was feeling? Ah, it must’ve been because he was such a great person – aside from all of the flirting and rudeness towards Taemin.

***

Minho kissed Key once more before saying goodbye and closing the door to the dorm room. When he turned back around, Taemin was smirking at him, perched on the edge of a bed. “What is it?” Minho growled, annoyed at the look being directed at him.

“Nothing~,” Taemin replied, shaking his long hair out before retying it away from his face. “I just thought you said you’d never get back together with Key-hyung.”

“Did I say that?” he mumbled, trying to find some sort of distraction, “so how are things going with that Mir kid? You guys have been dating for a few months right?”

Taemin nodded slightly, seemingly bored with the conversation. “But I don’t get the big deal about being exclusive. He was so serious and I ended up agreeing.” He sighed and crossed his arms, “I can’t believe I haven’t done anything…with anyone but him.”

“Oh? How does being faithful feel?” Minho teased, sitting down on the opposing bed.

“It’s a little…dull,” he confessed, almost looking guilty for saying those words, “I mean, being with him isn’t boring or anything. I just don’t like being so confined, y’know what I’m talking about? Isn’t that the reason you broke up with Key way back when?”

A strained expression twisted Minho’s face. “Sort of…but are you sure you’re not just making up excuses?”

“What are you talking about?” Taemin looked genuinely confused, brows knitted.

“Instead of feeling confined,” Minho spoke carefully, each word separate from the next, “aren’t you just afraid? You’ve always been afraid of getting close to people and here comes a little puppy that barks and cuddles up next to you.”

Taemin glared at a space across the room, refusing to look at his long-time friend. “If that’s true, then you’re doing the exact opposite.” He scoffed and stood, “The only reason you got back with Key is because you can’t get Sungmin to see you.”

“Hey, don’t turn this on me—!”

The pretty boy held up a hand, taking his phone out and answering it. “Hey, y~!” he greeted, smiling in an almost strained way.

Minho rolled his eyes.

“What? You have club?” Taemin’s voice faltered a bit, fingers twitching. “You said we could do something tonight…mm…yeah, okay I get it….It’s fine don’t worry about it….” His eyes abruptly widened and he snapped into the phone, “That bastard Dongwoon is going to be there isn’t he? …No. You’re not allowed to go!”

Minho stifled a sigh, heading towards the door. He had tried to power through one of their arguments before, but soon enough he realized it could go on for hours.

He entered the Dining Hall, the growls of his stomach having forced him there. Dinner service was already halfway through so the hall should’ve been clearing out a bit.

“Minho!” He turned his head, seeing Ryeowook waving at him. A smile crept across his face at the enthusiasm. It was nice to know the kid was clean and healthy. Even though several months had already passed the memory would never fade.

Sitting across from Ryeowook was Sungmin who twisted around in his seat to look at Minho. Their eyes locked for a moment before both of them were looking away. As for why, Minho had no idea. What was he ashamed of? It wasn’t like Taemin was right…maybe.

Ryeowook beckoned him over and Minho grudgingly nodded, coming over to them. “I haven’t spoken to you in a long while,” Ryeowook remarked, beaming at the still standing boy, “We were about to get something to eat. Do you want to join us?”

“Sure,” Minho answered as casually as he could.

“I wish Mir were here,” Ryeowook mumbled once all of them were once again seated and eating dinner. He stirred his drink, eyes following the spiral flow of the iced tea. “Is he with Taemin?”

Sungmin also glanced at Minho for a reply. The latter shrugged, swallowing the food in his mouth and saying, “Last time I saw Taemin he was arguing with Mir over the phone.”

“Was it about Dongwoon?” Ryeowook guessed, thinking back on that morning’s oddly possessive scene.

“Yeah…how’d you know?” Minho took a sip of his water, confusion filling his dark eyes.

Sungmin answered for him, fork twirling slightly above the plate, “We tried to get Mir to trade rooms with Wookie but then Dongwoon came along and refused to let Mir leave their room.”

“They’re roommates?” The handsome boy almost choked, coughing painfully as tears rimmed his eyes. Ryeowook patted his back kindly, anxiousness written all over his face. “…,” Minho groaned in a low voice, wincing at the stinging in his throat, “Taemin is gonna be pissed as ing hell.”

“So they are dating!” Ryeowook exclaimed, grinning.

Minho nodded uneasily. The question was how long would they last?