“Huh…Mir never showed up,” Sungmin mumbled, looking around the mostly empty Tech Shop. Ryeowook was hovering around the lounging area drumming his fingers against a slanted wooden table.

Dongwoon came up beside Sungmin, “What’s up with him?” He pointed his chin at the lonesome boy who now appeared to be attempting to mend the ripped couch cushion.

“He doesn’t want to go back to the dorms,” the black haired boy explained, “his roommate will be home…so yeah.”

A look of bewilderment passed over Dongwoon’s face before he shook his head tiredly and started off towards the exit. “I’m going back first then,” a dark smile touched his lips, “a certain someone needs to get taught a lesson for skipping club.”

Sungmin flinched at the tone of voice, praying Mir wasn’t home to meet the wrathful boy. The heavy black door slammed shut – loud groaning acting like a command whistle for Sungmin to start off towards Ryeowook. He grabbed the fidgeting one’s arm. “It’s time to go Wookie…”

“Do we have to?” he despaired, eyes sad and liquid even in the shadows of the Tech Shop.

“…we can take the long way,” Sungmin said, hoping that would be enough. There was nothing else he could offer considering curfew would be soon and as members of StudGov they would be expected to follow the enforced rules. How bad would it look to see two members of the board sneaking around after hours?

Ryeowook bit his lip, hesitating to answer. Taking the long way would certainly diminish the amount of time he would have to spend with Kyuhyun…another thought popped into his mind then and he quickly scrambled up with Sungmin’s help. “Okay!” he exclaimed, seemingly jumpy for something now. Did all people get such wild mood swings?

The pair strolled through the dimly lit campus perimeter, truly doing their best to extend the time as much as possible. Sungmin just wanted to keep his friend away from the one who had hurt him. Ryeowook…well, what did he want?

Without warning, Ryeowook caught Sungmin’s hand, holding it tightly. “H-Hey, do you remember what I asked you this morning?” he remarked quietly, cheeks flushed by the cold wind.

Sungmin only thought for a moment before the all too serious conversation flew through mind. “Yeah, you said you had something to tell me. What is it?”

Ryeowook fiddled with his gloves. “Okay…well first I want to tell you I’m really thankful,” he glanced up at the other boy, “you were the only one who kept looking out for me and…well, I can’t even begin to explain how much that meant. You were really there for me…even when I was being so stupid.”

“Oh…,” Sungmin blushed, eyes casting down, “you don’t have to thank me Ryeowook. We’re best friends. I’m supposed to be the only person who stays by you no matter what.”

“…Isn’t that more of a lover?”

Sungmin laced their fingers, grinning, “Then who do you go to when your lover upsets you or hurts you?” He tilted his head, seeing understanding on Ryeowook’s face. “So is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”

They started off down the road again, the Honors Dorm already in sight. Ryeowook nodded, pursing his lips for a brief moment. “…Okay…uhm can we stop for a second?”

“Sure.”

Ryeowook took the other boy’s free hand, making it so they were face to face before releasing their touch completely. A strange expression morphed Sungmin’s face at his friend’s peculiar actions.

All around the campus had fallen silent. Only the sound of creaking branches could be heard. This was his chance. Ryeowook couldn’t stop himself from saying it anymore. He needed to get it out. Swallowing, Ryeowook opened his mouth, eyes lifting to meet his dearest friend’s curious gaze. “Sungmin…”

“Hmm? What is it?” he laughed softly.

“I…,” Ryeowook felt heat creeping up his neck and was positive his palms were sweaty behind the gloves. I can…I can do this… He took another deep breath, trying to shake off his trembling. “…I think I’m in lo—”

The front door of the Honors Dorm flew open, hinges groaning and wood crashing into the wall. Ryeowook and Sungmin whirled around, eyes wide and shocked. A young boy dashed out of the building, shoving past the pair.

“Wait!” It was Mir. His voice carried through the dark as he stumbled out of the dorm, his shirt only half on and belt buckle undone. He didn’t pay any mind to either of his watching friends, eyes blurred and breaths short as he tried to catch up to the runaway Taemin. “Please, wait!” he called again, hurrying away from the commotion left behind.

Slowly, Ryeowook turned to look at the Honors Dorm, seeing heads sticking out of windows and people crowding the front entrance. “Do you think they got into a fight?” Ryeowook mumbled weakly, knowing the answer was somewhere along those lines.

“A huge one…probably,” Sungmin muttered, shaking his head and heading towards the building. “Oh man, I guess we better calm them…”

“Us?” Ryeowook stuttered, hurrying to catch up to Sungmin.

The latter frowned and patted the other boy’s shoulder. “Yeah…you’re the president, Wookie. Who else should be in charge of this mess?”

It was only then did Ryeowook remember all of his duties. Like a tsunami crashing down on his body, he slumped forward trudging up the steps and shooing everyone back inside. He had been so close…

Dongwoon caught Ryeowook’s arm, pulling him slightly aside. In the meantime, Sungmin was herding everyone into the lounge for a meeting of sorts. What a good secretary, huh? Ryeowook turned back to face his second-in-command. “What was that, Dongwoon?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” he replied sincerely, all of the dark annoyance from earlier gone. “I found them in our room post-,” at that the handsome boy rolled his eyes, “and when that little guy Taemin saw me he blew his top.”

Ryeowook winced, remembering how Minho had reacted when he found out Mir’s roommate was the one and only… “That’s understandable,” Ryeowook managed, clearing his throat, “so I’ll just tell everyone the truth—”

“—you’re not going to sugar coat it?” Dongwoon demanded.

Surprise rolled over Ryeowook’s face. “No…I wasn’t planning to. Should I?”

The vice president smiled, poorly hiding his chuckles. “No, no. It’s fine with me.” He released Ryeowook’s arm and followed him to where Sungmin was already waiting.

After the last of the explanations were done, Ryeowook released his held breath and slumped down on a recently emptied couch. He checked the clock in the corner. 12 A.M.

Closing his eyes, Ryeowook to his side, enjoying the peaceful moment. Who would’ve thought everyone would freak out so much over a little drama? It wasn’t as if the academy was missing any of that. Well, at least in his circle of people it was common.

“Do you need anything?” Sungmin asked, crouching down in front of Ryeowook. He gently brushed a few of the boy’s dark brown bangs away, smiling at the tired StudGov president.

“I’m fine Minnie…,” Ryeowook yawned, eyes carefully opening in assurance. “You can go to bed…I think I’ll just sleep here tonight.”

“That’s no good,” he argued, “letting that Hound dictate where you sleep is so wrong. Just…,” Sungmin bit his lip, unsure of where that sentence was going, “…I don’t know. Take Mir’s bed since it looks like he’s not coming back tonight.”

Ryeowook giggled, absently fluffing Sungmin’s hair. “I’m okay right here. Besides, Mir might come back later and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have his key. I’ll just stick around to open it when he gets home.”

“…Are you sure?” Sungmin looked doubtful.

“Yes, yes,” he mumbled, waving his friend away. As Sungmin got back to his feet, he felt a slight tug on the hem of his sweater. Ryeowook was already halfway to dreamland as he mumbled, “…I still have something…to…tell…you…”

Sungmin nodded, gently loosening the boy’s fingers around his shirt. Quietly, he ascended the staircase, throwing one more look at his slumbering friend. What had Ryeowook been trying to say earlier anyway…?

***

Dongwoon glanced at his clock for perhaps the hundredth time that night. It was already three in the morning and Mir hadn’t shown up. Did he really sleep over at Taemin’s place? He sighed, getting up from bed and pulling on a sweatshirt.

The zipper made an acute buzzing sound as it rose, closing the warmth around his body. There was still plentiful darkness out the window, spots of lamp light sprinkled here and there.

Stretching, Dongwoon left his room, sauntering down the dimly lit halls. Apparently no one had bothered to turn all of the lights off. He descended the staircase, spotting a figure lying on the couch. The beating of his heart quickened with hope.

When he arrived at the couch, everything sort of…dropped.

Dongwoon frowned disapprovingly and leaned over the edge, gathering a shivering Ryeowook into his arms. Why the hell didn’t he have a blanket? The temperature on the first floor was nearly as cold as outside.

Without further ado, he climbed the steps and found the pale, cold boy’s room and knocked softly on the door after realizing Ryeowook’ didn’t have his room key. What an irresponsible president. Dongwoon shook his head, waiting for an answer from the boy’s roommate. It wasn’t his first choice to disrupt someone’s sleep at that early hour, but he couldn’t do anything else. If Ryeowook slept in his bed then…well, how could Dongwoon yell at Mir properly later?

A couple of minutes passed before a severely pissed looking boy opened the door. His dark eyes appeared even darker at that time of night and it surely didn’t help his face was white and humorless from being awakened.

“Sorry,” Dongwoon apologized immediately – guilt festering in his gut, “but this kiddo fell asleep on the couch downstairs without a blanket. He’s your roommate right?” He offered the lightweight child tentatively unsure if the wrathful figure would actually take Ryeowook.

But then the oddest – among the oddest things – he had seen in the past few hours happened.

The anger dissolved from the roommate’s face, replaced by something far more…subdued. “Okay,” he murmured voice hoarse from just waking up as he pulled Ryeowook close to his own body.  

Dongwoon noted the shift in atmosphere and almost smiled. What was Ryeowook so afraid of? He and his roommate seemed rather comfortable with one another. As if to further prove the point, Ryeowook sighed contentedly in his sleep, snuggling into the one holding him. In turn, the carrier shot a cold glare at Dongwoon and then slammed the door shut.

“You’re welcome…,” he muttered, only slightly miffed at the treatment. More importantly, it was time to find Mir.