It was strange, walking into Taeil's class on the first Monday of his first semester at university. Even after bonding with his suitemates the evening before (he decided that talking about Hyungil was the best way to get to know other people), most of Taeil had expected his newfound friendships to be a one off thing. 

But when he arrived at the classroom, he found both Hyungil and Yuta waiting just outside the door. It was a basic English class after all, so he would expect to have some people he knew there. His two suitemates looked up at him, awkwardly walking into the empty classroom. Here was where their dilemma began: Hyungil looked at him expectantly; he didn't like to be seen alone. Taeil knew Hyungil wanted to sit next to him, and he would move when someone cooler came along. But before Taeil could do anything, Yuta grabbed his arm and gave him that dazzling smile. 

"Come sit with me!"

Immediately, Taeil grinned. "Sure."

Taeil heard Hyungil grumbling but didn't give him a second glance, sitting down next to Yuta in the middle row of seats. Hyungil sat right behind them, slumping in his seat. 

"What class do you have after this?" Yuta asked. 

"None," Taeil responded. "I'm free until after lunch." 

"Lucky," Yuta grumbled with a smile. "What are you gonna do in that time?"

"I'm thinking about going to choir auditions, but I'm not sure..."

"You should!" Yuta cried excitedly. "Do you sing?"

"I did choir in high school...but I wasn't very good. Anyways, you probably have to be good to get into University choir." 

"I bet you're really good. I really think you should go for it." 

Taeil blushed down at his lap shyly. "Perhaps." 

More people began to file into the classroom, the seat next to Hyungil remaining empty for quite a while. The twin became more and more dejected, until finally, a very pretty girl came and sat next to him. Hyungil smiled smugly, and Taeil had to remind himself that people like Hyungil never got what they actually deserved. But, it wasn't coming at his own expense anymore, so at least things were improving. 

Finally, the professor came in, and class passed by uneventfully. Despite Taeil's lack of English skills he did fine, just going over the syllabus and doing basic English introductions. It went by in what felt like no time, and soon enough Yuta and Taeil were walking out of the classroom. 

"Have fun in your next class!" Taeil said. 

"And good luck with your audition," Yuta replied. They shared a smile, waved, and went their separate ways. 

Taeil began the slow and dreadful walk to the choir audition room, his hands shaking the whole way. Yuta's encouraging words had made up Taeil's mind, but he still couldn't help but be beyond nervous. At least Taeil had a song prepared just in case. 

He walked in just as another person was finishing, peeking his head in through the door. 

"Come in!" A girl said in a friendly tone, and Taeil almost silently pattered in. He got in and walked up to the stage, his legs like jelly as he gave them his name and the name of the song. 

Taeil could barely hear himself sing over the sound of his own beating heart. He hoped they weren't looking someone with charisma, because in that moment he had even less of it than usual: his eyes were glued to the floor, and his hands shook uncontrollably where he held them behind his back. In terms of his singing, he was effectively on autopilot. 

But as soon as he finished, the sound of loud clapping filling the room shook him out of his head. Taeil looked up in wide eyed surprise to find the boy and girl smiling at him, genuinely too. 

"That was fantastic," the girl who invited him in said. 

"You're a real talent," the boy added. "We would be more than happy to have you in our choir." 

"R-really?" Taeil stuttered, embarrassed by how dramatic he was being. He still couldn't stop shaking and he was on the verge of tears. Singing was his greatest passion, and this was the first time anyone had ever complimented him on it. 

"Yes really," the girl spoke happily. "It would be an honor for you to join." 

"Th-thank you," Taeil managed to respond. 

"Our first practice is Wednesday. Be there!" The guy said. 

"I will!" Taeil answered gleefully, bowing and stepping off of the stage. He waved to the choir leaders, they waved back, and Taeil left the audition room. 

He walked down the hall with a skip in his step, barely resisting the urge to squeal or scream in delight. He was beyond excited, he was elated; the audition went better than anything he could've come up with in his wildest dreams. Taeil pulled his phone out of his pocket from habit, unlocking it to see that for once, he actually had a message. It was from Johnny, asking Taeil if he wanted to join the rest of the suite for lunch in the cafeteria at noon. 

"Sure!" Taeil replied, checking the time. It was 11:55, so he left the building and headed down to the cafeteria. 

As soon as he arrived he heard a big cheer from a table with all ten of his suitemates (minus Hyungil, of course). They beckoned him over and Taeil moved to sit at the very edge until Johnny called out to him. 

"Sit next to me!" Johnny cried.

"S-sure," Taeil replied and he walked over, not noticing how Johnny literally shoved Ten away to make space for Taeil, and he squeezed in between them. Ten smirked at Johnny, and Johnny made a face. Taeil briefly wondered why Ten always acted so weird when he was around Johnny, but then forced himself to remember that he shouldn't get in anyone else's business. 

"How did your audition go?" Johnny asked as Kun handed everyone a tray of food. 

After thanking Kun, Taeil gave Johnny a look of surprise. "How did you remember that? I just briefly mentioned it to you." 

Johnny shrugged and smiled. "I dunno. It seemed important to you." Taeil flushed and stared down at his food, even though he wasn't sure why Johnny's words would make him react that way. "Anyways, tell me how it went!" Johnny spoke cheerfully. 

"It went surprisingly well!" Taeil admitted with a shy chuckle. "I was so nervous that I barely knew what I was singing. But I think they liked it." As Taeil spoke, Johnny slowly wrapped his muscular arm around Taeil's shoulders. Taeil tried not to react too much to his comforting touch, but it was difficult when Johnny's big hand rested right on his own tiny shoulder. He couldn't help but turn a little pink. 

"So you got in?" Johnny asked, not a hint of embarrassment on him, and Taeil cursed himself. 

"Yeah, I did." 

"Congratulations!" Johnny said excitedly. "I had a feeling it would turn out well." 

"I don't understand why you would think so. You've never heard me sing." 

"I dunno...I guess there's just something about you, Taeil." Johnny's words were punctuated with heavy eye contact, and Taeil felt himself go completely frozen. 

"Johnny!" Ten cried, making a teasing face. "You're scaring the kid. Can you puh-lease stop fl-"

"Can you stop butting into other people's business?" Johnny teased back. 

Ten scoffed. "As if. That's my ing job." Taeil chuckled to himself, and Ten winked at him. 

Taeil smiled at Johnny before turning to look at the seats across from him. Yukhei and Jungwoo were lost in their own world, thighs pressed up against each other, wearing soft smiles. Yukhei had his hand on the back of Jungwoo's neck, massaging gently. 

"Gosh, Yukhei, you're making me blush," Jungwoo whined very quietly, looking down at his food. 

"Good," Yukhei answered with a confident grin. "You look prettiest when I make you red." Jungwoo turned even redder than he already was, and Taeil watched on in confusion. 

"Really guys? Right in front of my salad?" Johnny interrupted. 

"Johnny, I was trying to make a moment," Yukhei responded. 

"Flirt all you want, but maybe wait until you two have a bit more privacy," Johnny teased. 

"Like you and Taeil are any better," Yukhei replied, but Taeil didn't even hear; his head was filled with too many thoughts. 

They were two boys, outright, openly, flirting, not entirely caring who saw. It was something Taeil had never seen in his eighteen years on this earth. It was shocking to him that Johnny, in fact, nobody else seemed to care either. Johnny was simply teasing in a friendly way, not actually making fun of or being disgusted by Jungwoo and Yukhei. The only reaction Taeil had ever seen toward gay people was from Hyungil, which was always one of digust, ridicule, or hatred. To something different was, frankly, refreshing. Taeil had never even met a gay person before, so he'd never made up his mind on the issue for himself. 

In fact, Taeil never thought about romance all that much, even for himself. He just knew that nobody would ever be interested in him, so what would be the point of getting his hopes up? Maybe because of his insecurity, he doesn't even see himself as a romantic or ual person. Maybe he's too afraid that if he allows himself to be that way, then he'll just get made fun of. For sure, he'd get his heart broken. 

Or maybe he's just overthinking it. Maybe he just misread Johnny and Yukhei's conversation; they were probably just joking. But Taeil's skin began to burn where Johnny's fingers rubbed his shoulder. Maybe he was misinterpreting it because he was the gay one. Taeil shook the thought from his head, suppressing it as far as his mind would let him. Shame clouded his cheeks, but he mentally returned to the conversation. 

"Taeil, aren't you hungry? You've barely touched your food," Johnny spoke with concern. 

"O-oh," Taeil stuttered, looking down to see that Johnny was right. He nodded and put a spoonful of rice in his mouth. Johnny smiled at the sight, and was about to say something when the sound of giggling behind them made them both turn their heads. 

A very beautiful group of girls were walking over to their table, some already chattering with Taeyong and Yuta down at the other end. Taeil hummed; he figured this would happen. Girls always came over to chat with Hyungil, and since Taeil's new roommates were even more handsome, it was bound to happen.

Two girls with lightly dyed hair and big smiles walked over to Johnny and Taeil, a certain shyness in their step. 

"Hi!" One of them spoke cheerfully. "Can we sit with you guys?"

"Of course! The more the merrier," Johnny answered. The shy girl sat down next to Johnny, and to Taeil's surprise, the friendly girl sat down next to him, not even near her friend. 

"I'm Haewon!" She spoke. 

"Taeil," He answered, and they shared a smile. She looked him over but didn't move, and Taeil was shook. This was the first time in his life a girl had expressed any interest in him. It was probably just the guys he was around, but it still made him feel good to get at least a bit of attention. "What's your major?" He asked. She proceeded to launch into a long discussion about media marketing. Taeil tried his best to listen, but he couldn't help but be distracted by his new friends. 

As a lonely person, Taeil was an expert on reading conversations from a distance, just by body language. From what he could tell, none of the guys were romantically interested in the girls they were talking to. He wasn't either, but there was something different about the way his new friends talked to these girls than he'd ever seen before. Taeil spent his whole life watching his brother interact with girls, but somehow, it was never like they were human beings. He treated women like they were accessories, commodities, prizes to be won, clout to be worn. But his new friends...it was obvious just by their expressions that they were listening, paying attention, that even if these girls weren't their type, they were still human beings. That just because they weren't interested in them, doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated with respect. And even if they were interested, Taeil knew they would be treated well. It was like his friends didn't know any other way to treat women. 

Even Johnny was trying to bring the shy girl out of her shell, asking her questions and making her laugh. It was lovely, really, Taeil thought, how Johnny always made such an effort to make even the most shy and awkward feel comfortable around him. Taeil noticed how much Johnny did it for him. One day, Taeil would have to repay him for it. 

Part of Taeil wished Johnny was talking to him instead, but mostly he was content to just watch. He had spent his whole life watching, being on the outside, and it was where he felt the most comfortable. Even though his social awkwardness was quite a burden, he could get to know people much more easily by watching them talk to others; he made it work for himself. Watching Johnny was satisfying, but even still, Johnny turned his head to smile at Taeil. Somehow, Taeil flushed. It was strange to think that even if he felt he was on the outside, maybe Johnny didn't feel that way. His new friends might see him as one of them, and that was almost impossible to imagine. 

"What's your major?" Haewon suddenly asked. 

Taeil physically shook his head to clear his thoughts and smiled at her. "Oh, it's music theory." 

Her eyes immediately lit up. "Oh really?" To Taeil's surprise, Johnny and the girl he was with turned to look at Taeil. 

"I didn't know that. That's so cool," Johnny spoke. 

"I dunno..." Taeil responded shyly. 

"You are the next big star of Soonchunhyang choir," Johnny spoke. 

"Am not!" Taeil whined. "I'm really not that good."

"Liar," Johnny mumbled with a small smile, lifting his eyebrows. Taeil felt a hot shiver run down his spine, and he felt like he had to turn his head away. 

"I swear," Yukhei piped up. "You two are way worse than Jungwoo and I." 

"Let me be in peace and fl-"

Taeil's eyes were growing wider at this exchange, listening closely as the girls looked on in confusion, until they were interrupted. 

"Haewon! Dayeon!" The girl who was talking to Taeyong cried. "We're late for that meeting!" 

"Seriously?" Haewon whined, the two girls rushing to stand up and gather their things. "Bye! Nice meeting you guys!" Haewon said, both girls waving as they ran off with their friends. 

Johnny sighed gently as they left, closing the gap between Taeil and himself and wrapping his arm again around Taeil's shoulder. 

"They seemed nice," Taeil mumbled, distracted once again by Johnny's hand. 

"Yeah," Johnny spoke disinterestedly, looking at Taeil's face. 

"As I was saying..." Yukhei started. 

"As you were not saying," Johnny interrupted, ignoring him and turning to Taeil. "Tell me more about music theory. What got you into it?"

"Well, I've always loved music. I really love to sing, even if I'm not very good at it." 

"Bull," Johnny said. Taeil gave him a look. "Go on."

"Those have always been my passions. I would love to work as a music producer at an entertainment company."

"Or as an idol."

Taeil snorted. "No way. Have you seen me?"

"I have," Johnny rebutted with a smile. 

"And you've never even heard me sing!"

"I can just tell you're good. Anyways, I have a feeling that you always underrate your own talents." Taeil shook his head and rolled his eyes, not knowing exactly what to say back. 

As he grabbed his fork to take another bite of his food, he saw Hyungil pass by. His twin had a big group of boys and girls by his side, eyes on him and him alone. But for the first time, Taeil looked right at him. Usually when Hyungil passed by, Taeil was alone and Hyungil would just sneer at him. But Taeil had just as big of a group with him, and all Hyungil did was watch Taeil was starting to be his equal, and Hyungil was terrified.

Hyungil finally exited the cafeteria, and Taeil looked down at his phone. "Oh, ," he mumbled.

"What is it?" Johnny responded, leaning over Taeil where his muscular arm was still wrapped around his shoulder. Johnny's face was so close to his on, and somehow, it made him flush. 

Momentarily his brain power shut off, and Taeil had to clear his throat to be able to even form words again. "It's almost class time for me." 

"What time is it?"

"12:45."

"Oh, ," Johnny responded, giving Taeil's shoulder one last rub before grabbing his bag and standing up. His other friends mumbled to themselves before realizing it was time for all of them to go, packing up their things. They all grabbed their plates and got into the line to clear their trays, and Johnny turned to smile down at Taeil. 

"Thanks for coming out for lunch today."

"Oh, it was nothing," Taeil spoke, looking down at the ground. 

"It was super fun. I'm glad you were there." Johnny stared pointedly, and for the second time in the span of about five minutes, Taeil forgot how to function. 

"I-I'm glad I was too," Taeil answered, and it was the absolute truth. 

They finally managed to get to the end of the line and dump their things, walking out of the cafeteria and back out into the freezing open air of campus. Taeil shivered, holding his padded jacket tight around him, and he didn't notice Johnny mumble 'cute' under his breath.

"Which way are you going?" Johnny asked, and Taeil pointed right. "I'm going left," Johnny answered with a sigh. 

"Well, I'll see you after class," Taeil spoke softly. 

Johnny grinned that big grin of his, and Taeil couldn't for the life of him explain why he felt so light headed. "See you then." They shared a wave and walked in opposite directions. In Taeil's mind, that lunch was the funnest lunch he'd ever spent. Even if he got a lunch break just like that forever, with his new roommates, his life would be complete. 

And, he didn't even notice Johnny watching him go.