Already done putting everything in place, Seungcheol decided to walk around his dormitory, just because. Class would start in less than two weeks so there were not so many people on campus. He saw a few familiar faces belonging to different floors, but his own had no other students except himself. The usually noisy hallways seemed so silent, it was a bit eerie. He wondered how Jeonghan managed to live alone in his own for the last month…

Looking at the clock, Seungcheol decided it was time for lunch. He brought out his phone and chose a comfortable space on the couch before beginning to type –

You free? Let’s have lunch :)

He waited for a while but there was no reply, making him wondered what Jeonghan was doing. Was he still sleeping? He might be, considering there were nothing to do, and he is not the type to go out in the afternoon either. Should he call the man instead? It was already one, if in half an hour Jeonghan still hadn’t reply, he should call him just to check. Owh, speak of the devil.

What to do? I have lunch plan – Jeonghan-ie

‘Heol. Must be lying.’ Seungcheol muttered to himself, biting his lower lip as he thought about what to reply. Sending a judging husky pic, he waited for the other.

It’s true. – Jeonghan-ie

I’m odw to the shelter. – Jeonghan-ie

Yah. Why do I have to explain myself to you? – Jeonghan-ie

Who do you think you are? – Jeonghan-ie

Seungcheol laughed at the passive-aggressive tone of the message. It seemed, he found the omega’s new favourite phrase. Also, he didn’t ask, the omega was the one who told him. Sighing, accepting the fact that his lunch partner was not available, he decided to walk around campus to see which restaurant was opened. He was sure the main cafeteria was, considering the fourth-year students and the graduate students do not have holidays like the freshmen. Opting to go there, he started to feel a bit awkward eating alone without his usual companions.

Well, at least Jeonghan was not as lonely as he thought the man was. That was good to know.

*****

Jeonghan stared outside at the familiar gate, wondering why he came here in the first place. That’s right, ing Seungcheol’s question about returning to this place kept replaying in his head so he came here to make it stop. His thoughts obviously took longer than he should as the taxi driver started to question whether they were at the right address. Nodding and apologizing for taking his time, Jeonghan quickly brought out his money and pay the old driver before he would change his mind. Because he was starting to. He wanted to ask the man to drive him back to the dorm.

But, he was already here. He should go inside.

It was not as if he was planning to stay or anything. He just wanted to say hi. Just a few minutes and he would leave.

Yeah, it was not as if he didn’t bring anything with him. He brought some fruits. A box of fruits.

Was that too much? Should he just bring a basket or something?

‘Jeonghan-ah! Is that you?’ The confused man turned his head around to look for the owner of the voice. He recognized her as one of the caretaker ahjummas, and as if confirming his suspicion, she appeared in front of him, with a broom in her right hand. ‘Aigoo… You’ve grown so much!! Come on in! What’re you doing outside! Come on!’ She excitedly pulled his elbow, careful not to use strength as he was clearly holding onto a heavy box. A bit awkward at the sudden warm welcome, he could only let himself led to the waiting room – a place similar to a living room where guests are brought to especially for adoption purposes. Being led here made him feel like an outsider, but then again, he was.

‘Mr. Lee knows you’re here?’ She asked as she took a seat right in front of him, all smiles. Shyly, Jeonghan shook his head. He wasn’t sure he wanted to come, so he didn’t tell anyone about it in case he decided not to. Then, a familiar force was felt on his thigh as she hit him softly while scolding him to tell them when he wanted to visit. He remembered this feeling all too well, except, he didn’t hate it as much as he did back then. Apparently most ahjummas do it, including Mrs. Choi who hit her two sons sometimes. He always thought they hated him because he always caused trouble, only now he knew, it was just within their nature to do so. With his cheeks vibrating as his mouth struggled to keep straight, he started to laugh awkwardly.

This was weird. His cheeks were getting warm…

‘Okay. Just stay here a minute. I’ll go tell them you’re here. They’re busy preparing for game night.’ Jeonghan nodded, thankful that she was leaving. As the door closed, he leaned on the backrest and sighed, studying the interior of the room. Pieces of paper could be seen hidden behind some of the decorations, he was sure a few would be underneath the cushion. Crouching down, he smiled as he took the pink paper labeled B-6 and a star before folding it back and returning it. The treasure hunt; he did it a few times before he himself helped organizing it once he got older. To think that it hadn’t even been a year since he left, and already, it felt like a very distant memory…

*****

‘How’s university? Fun?’ The principle offered him tea and proceeded to take a seat in front of him. The old man’s office still remained the same after all this time, granted it had only been half a year. Giving him a less than content answer, he asked the other how he had been. Ahjusshi was the only one he bothered keeping in touch with besides his therapist, so the interaction was not as awkward as it was with all the other staffs who came to greet him a few minutes earlier. Thankfully the old man sensed his discomfort and dragged him towards his office.

As expected from the principle.

‘You’re doing okay?’ The man suddenly asked, a question which caught him off-guard. Laughing softly, trying to brush it off, his smile faded as he realized why it was asked in the first place. It was about his mother’s ex-lover, or ‘dad’ as he was forced to call the man. It was a bit weird why it came up, considering he already assured both the principle, and Dete