Taekwoon led Wonshik over the snowy campus and into the direction of the Starbucks they went to get coffee merely the week before. The younger figured the other’s place must be close, because Taekwoon didn’t give any sign that they would be staying out of doors for long, not having made the slightest attempt at buttoning up his coat while they were walking through the snow.

One block away from the coffee franchise the dark haired male turned around a small corner and into the lobby of a high apartment building. Wonshik figured that they had arrived, and followed the other inside and out of the cold. Taekwoon was already waiting for the elevator, which arrived a few seconds later with a ringing ‘ding’.  Shuffling inside, the two of them felt the atmosphere around them become a little bit awkward at the narrow space.

The elevator stopped on the third floor, and Wonshik followed Taekwoon out and through a corridor. They stopped in front of what the blonde expected to be the elder’s apartment, Taekwoon pinching in the door code with one of his slender, pale fingers. The door sprung open with a merry tune, the black haired male making his way inside, and the younger hurried right after him.

Once inside, Wonshik discarded his shoes and coat, looking at the other to know where he should put his things. The elder turned slightly to the side, tapping a finger against the wooden door of a hidden cloak rack, before shuffling off and into the next room.

After having hung up his coat, the blonde followed behind the other male curiously. The place was very clean, and there were a lot more pieces of furniture than Wonshik would have expected. Everything was well arranged, the living room being adjacent to the kitchen, three doors going away from the relatively big room. In one corner the younger could see a keyboard, and the space around it was the only part of the apartment that actually looked like it was the home of a student. Notes were fanned out on the floor around the instrument, some even scattered so far as to the couch, which was sitting against the opposite wall next to a comfortable looking armchair.

Wonshik decided that it looked quite homey compared to his own barely furnished apartment as he trailed his eyes from his surroundings and towards Taekwoon, who was currently making them some coffee in the kitchen. The younger had to restrain a smile from breaking loose as he took in the scene.

“It’s a nice place.” He said, eyes trailing over the small kitchen table that stood against the wall connecting the living room to the kitchen and back again to the keyboard. Taekwoon didn’t even look up but only hummed once in response, but Wonshik thought he saw a small smile dance on the other’s lips. For some reason, he felt like the ice between them had melted considerably in the short amount of time they walked from campus to the apartment. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something about way Taekwoon’s movements and replies seemed much friendlier and not so guarded anymore. Then again, maybe it was because they were in the elder’s apartment, a place where he certainly felt more at ease than a public institution.

As Taekwoon finished making the hot brew, he ordered a simple ‘sit’ as he saw Wonshik still standing somewhat unsure in the middle of the room. Looking around once more, the blonde opted to take a seat at the kitchen table, only to have slender fingers grip his elbow and lead him towards the couch. Shocked at the sudden contact, Wonshik couldn’t do anything but complying with the strong tug, landing on the couch with a low ‘mpf’. His still wide eyes were fixed on Taekwoon’s back, who made his way back to the kitchen to fetch their cups of coffee. Handing the younger his cup, the dark haired male took a seat in the armchair, closing his eyes once to breathe in the scent of his drink. Then his dark orbs opened again, and they looked directly into Wonshik’s own, expression blank and unwavering.

The younger was taken by surprise, but he didn’t want to be the one to back down. He felt like the older male had something on his mind that he wanted to express, and Wonshik surely wouldn’t keep him from saying what he wanted. But Taekwoon didn’t make any efforts to speak his mind, which resulted in rather uncomfortable staring contest on the younger’s side. Wonshik’s hands fidgeted around the cup he was holding giving him a hard time to keep his composure, unsure if he should break the awkward eye contact or not. The elder didn’t seem too fazed by it – he simply went on staring at Wonshik’s face, blinking from time to time, sipping his coffee now and then.

Both of them looked up somewhat startled however as the sound of the front door opening loudly with the same merry tune as before resounded in the apartment. Wonshik was far more taken aback than Taekwoon, though, as he saw the top of a bunch of bright red hair plopping into the room.

“I didn’t expect you home already!” Came the call from the person with the bright colored hair of which only the tips poked out from behind the wall of the doorway. They could hear shuffling and the cloak rack’s compartment opening, Wonshik sending Taekwoon a questioning look. The latter only nipped at his coffee, his eyes filled with a clear ‘don’t ask’.

The red bundle of hair continued in his chipper voice as it made its way into the living room.

“I thought you wanted to practice a little bit longer tonight – and oh God, the weather is terrible, I really didn’t expect that – but I got us some groceries and I thought we could make some ddeokbokki? How does that sound? We haven’t cooked that in ages-“

The flow of words stopped when the red haired man looked up from the plastic bags in his hand and at the two other figures sitting in the room. His eyes darted from Taekwoon to Wonshik curiously, before narrowing a little bit, as a (in Wonshik’s opinion) rather devious smile formed on his lips.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a friend over! Who’s this?” The redhead’s face turned towards Taekwoon with a meaningful look before he looked at the blonde, a sincere smile on his face as he put down one of the bags to extend a free hand for Wonshik to shake. “I’m Cha Hakyeon, Taekwoon’s roommate. But I guess he already told you that?” Hakyeon looked over at the dark haired male again.

Wonshik quickly got up from the couch to shake the other’s hand, surprise still evident in his eyes. “I’m Kim Wonshik. He… didn’t actually tell me he had a roommate.” The blonde attempted a glance at the other, whose eyes clearly shot daggers at him. “Uh…” Wonshik’s hand came to the back of his head again to scratch it in embarrassment.

“Kim Wonshik, huh?” Somehow, it felt like Haykeon had already known the name before Wonshik said it. “I should have expected that.” Hakyeon said with a smile at Wonshik, before sending a reproachful look at Taekwoon while scrunching up his face, the latter simply opting to cast his eyes down to take another sip of his coffee. “But still, it’s not like him to have friends over frequently…” The devious look in Hakyeon’s eyes was back, accompanying the rather playful tone of his voice.

Wonshik glanced at Taekwoon, and seeing that the other’s hands gripped his coffee mug tightly, the younger answered quickly. “Actually, he just offered me to stay until the snow is over. I couldn’t get home because the public transportation had been shut down, so he was just so nice as to keep me from being completely stranded for hours.”

Hakyeon’s flickered back to Taekwoon for a second before he answered. “Oh, I see. Well, that’s good. At least he still has some manners,” he teased.

Wonshik had to fight back a smile. Taekwoon’s roommate wasn’t what he had expected, but he liked him already. Hakyeon seemed like a fun person to be around, a strong and playful talker, and the younger was sure that when they were alone the redhead was the one to make most of the conversation, not really waiting for Taekwoon’s nonverbal replies. They were a funny set, that was for sure, and Wonshik couldn’t deny that he enjoyed seeing Hakyeon teasing Taekwoon so openly. It was something Wonshik couldn’t have thought possible, would have never had the guts to try. But seeing the dark haired male sending silent death glares at the redhead begrudgingly, sullenly sipping his coffe, he just had to chuckle.

“You two seem to get along really well,” Wonshik finally said which earned him another dark look from the direction of the armchair.

Hakyeon just grinned. “As well as it can get, I’d say. Though it’s mostly me doing the talking.” The redhead’s grin got a tad wider. Wonshik couldn’t help but be affected by the other’s bubbly attitude, feeling the curve of his lips lift a little more at the other’s mirth.

“I figured.”

Their playful conversation was interrupted as Taekwoon got up from his seat and made his way towards the kitchen to put his cup into the sink, not before he deliberately walked in between the other two, shoving them forcefully to the side. Wonshik noticed a slight rosy color on his cheeks as the elder passed, and he had to laugh good-heartedly, finding the way Taekwoon acted so overly stoic rather cute.

“Anyway, it’s getting rather dark outside. Should we make some dinner?”

Hakyeon shuffled after Taekwoon and into the kitchen, plopping the shopping bags down onto the counter. Without a word, the dark haired male took it into his hands to start cooking, leaving Hakyeon to join Wonshik, who was still standing in the living room. The blonde looked over to Taekwoon, evaluating if he should go over for help. When the redhead passed him, though, he was pulled back down to the couch next to Hakyeon.

“Leave him; we’d only get in his way. He’s a pretty good cook.” Wonshik glanced over to see Taekwoon cutting up some vegetables, his face determined, his movements even now graceful in his eyes. The younger nodded reluctantly.

“So,” Hakyeon started, turning his body so that he had a better view of Wonshik, “how did you two meet? I’m pretty sure Taekwoon wouldn’t have asked a stranger over to wait out the snow.” The curiosity in the redhead’s eyes was almost a little too persistent for Wonshik’s liking, but he answered regardless.

“He sat close to me in Classical Music, and we kind of got to talk.” The blonde answered. Hakyeon raised an eyebrow at his words. “Okay, I was doing the talking, he mostly listened.” Wonshik grinned haphazardly. Hakyeon nodded.

“I heard from him that you were a writer? As in lyrics?” The redhead asked, interest evident in his eyes. The younger startled a little.

“He talks about me?”

Clong.

Both looked up from their conversation to see Taekwoon looking over at them with an anxious expression, the spatula he had just held onto lying flatly on the floor. He sent Hakyeon a quick glare before he picked up the kitchen utensil again, hastily turning their back towards them, his mouth in a thin line, jaw set tightly. Hakyeon simply chuckled.

“A little bit. Though I guess for his standards it’s a lot.”

Wonshik glanced into the kitchen, surprised. He could see the elder tense up a little bit, and he was sure that once he was out of the apartment, Hakyeon would probably have a rather hard time to keep Taekwoon from beating him up.

“Oh.” Wonshik answered stupidly.

Hakyeon looked at the blonde with a small smile, grinning into himself. He fought it though as Wonshik’s eyes drifted back to him.

“So what do you do?”

Hakyeon’s grin widened. “I’m a Dance major. I’m in my third year now, though I have to admit it’s tough sometimes.” Wonshik, realizing that he must have been the friend Hongbin had mentioned, nodded. He was barely in his first year and he already thought some things were harder than they looked. “But you get used to it.” The redhead added.

Just then a soft, melodic sound filled the room. Wonshik lifted his eyebrows and looked into the kitchen. Hakyeon followed his gaze, a smile breaking out again. Then he looked at the blonde and put one of his fingers in front of his lips to signal him to make no sound, and pushed his back further into the couch. Amazed, the younger couldn’t help but keep his eyes fixed on the back of Taekwoon’s figure, listening to the wondrous humming, the voice and tune that came out of Taekwoon’s mouth entrancing him completely.

Not noticing that his mouth was slightly opening in awe, Wonshik couldn’t take his eyes off of the dark haired male. He knew that Taekwoon told him he liked singing, but he wouldn’t have imagined this. This was a completely different Taekwoon from what the blonde had gotten to know until now. His form was relaxed, his body slightly swinging to the rhythm of the song, the words falling from his lips in the sweetest way. He didn’t seem distant or quiet anymore, the sound filling him up and giving him that glow that Wonshik had noticed the first time he had seen the other. It was almost magical.

Taekwoon then turned around with the finished ddeokbokki plate in his hands, still humming. Seeing Wonshik’s and Hakyeon’s eyes fixed on him he stopped singing abruptly, another slight pink blush creeping onto his cheeks. He pressed his lips together, averting his eyes, before putting the plate down on the kitchen table.

“Food’s ready.” He announced almost too low to hear.

Hakyeon trudged over happily, taking a seat on Taekwoon’s left side. “Waaaah I’m so hungry! Thanks for the food!” He served himself some of the dish, Wonshik joining them and sitting down on Taekwoon’s other side. The dark haired male had already filled his plate and was nibbling on one of the rice cakes, eyes fixed on a spot in front of him.

“Thanks for cooking.” Wonshik said and tempted a smile. Taekwoon looked at him briefly before casting his eyes back down, nodding curtly. The blonde felt a small pang of guilt in his chest, anxious that the easy mood from before had vanished.

“Sho,” Hakyeon started again, his mouth full of rice cakes, which caused him to receive a severe look from Taekwoon. He swallowed. “Where do you live?”

Wonshik looked up at the redhead, picking at one of his rice cakes. “I live in the eastern outskirts of the town. Near the Sport’s Complex?” He asked, not sure if Hakyeon could put the image together in his head.

“Really? But that’s, like, an hour and a half away from here!” The redhead exclaimed a little bit more exaggerated than needed. Wonshik just shrugged. “It was the cheapest for rent.” He answered simply. He could feel Taekwoon looking at him, but he didn’t look up to meet his gaze.

“Hmmm.” Hakyeon tapped his chopsticks against his lips, looking at Wonshik for a while before speaking again. “Well, the snow has stopped falling, but I am not sure if the busses have picked up their routes yet… and it’s getting late.” He quickly looked over at Taekwoon who was eyeing him suspiciously, fighting back a devilish grin. “I wouldn’t feel good know you’d take more than an hour to get home in this kind of weather. Why don’t you just stay overnight?” The redhead suggested.

Wonshik’s head sped up to look at Hakyeon, and then at Taekwoon. The latter had stopped his ministrations to look at the redhead with an unreadable expression. The blonde chewed on his lower lip.

“Uhmm… would that really be okay?” He attempted a glance at the dark haired man, who was still sitting in front of his plate like a statue, brooding eyes fixed on Hakyeon. “I mean, Taekwoon doesn’t seem so comfortable with the idea…” He couldn’t help his voice sounding a little bit disappointed. The thought of sleeping in the same apartment as Taekwoon started butterflies in his stomach, and that strange feeling of nausea returned.

Hakyeon dismissed his words with a flick of his hand. “Nonsense. I really don’t mind, and I am sure Taekwoon doesn’t either, right?” He underlined, looking pointedly at his roommate. “Besides, Taekwoon always had an additional mat in his room, you can use that- Ow!”

His sentence was interrupted by a sudden cry of pain from the redhead, and one of his hands flew down to rub his shin. He tried to smile at Wonshik, though the gesture was distorted by his painful expression. He looked at Taekwoon angrily, before resuming his sentence.

“Taekwoon will show you his room later; it’s got more than enough room for the two of you.”

Wonshik looked back and forth between the two older ones, feeling a little bit like he was intruding. “I can sleep on the couch, really-“

“That’s out of the question. Don’t worry, it’s not like Taekwoon bites – at least not if you aren’t into that kind of thing~ Ow, stop it Taekwoon!” Hakyeon added playfully, earning himself a punch on the biceps this time. Without another glance in their direction, the dark haired male stood up from the table and grabbed his still pretty full plate to clean it up. Wonshik had a hard time looking into Hakyeon’s direction, intensely aware of the blush that had formed on his cheeks at the implied meaning. He looked after Taekwoonretreating form, who opened one of the doors leading out of the room and closing it behind him somewhat loudly and without another word. The guilt spread itself again in the blonde’s chest, and he ducked his head.

“Hey, don’t worry, Wonshik-ah. Taekwoon is a little bit of a tsundere sometimes, but that doesn’t mean he’s really angry or something. I bet he’s actually more embarrassed than anything right now, and wants to make sure his room is clean enough for you.” Hakyeon smiled at him. “He’s a good guy, and he’s much softer on the inside than he lets on.” Wonshik looked up at Hakyeon’s words, and upon seeing the sincere expression of the elder, he couldn’t help but smile hopefully.

“Now, let’s go do something!”

Hakyeon’s suggestion of doing something turned into Wonshik sitting on the floor with his back leaning against the couch, watching the redhead showing off his dance skills to the rhythmic music that he had put on. Even though Hakyeon had previously complained that the choreography was hard, he moved gracefully to the beat of the song, looking perfectly professional in Wonshik’s eyes.

After some time Taekwoon poked his head through the door to his room, getting curious as to what the other two were doing. Without any sound he slipped through the door, small steps leading him to where the blonde was sitting. He took a seat next to the younger, his eyes reflecting amusement at the other’s excited encouragements directed at the redhead. Taekwoon brought his legs up to his chest and engulfed them in his arms, settling his chin onto his knees.

When Hakyeon had finished, the two spectators cheered, Wonshik enthusiastically howling while Taekwoon softly clapped his hands.

“Wow that was really good!” Wonshik exclaimed with a grin.

Hakyeon came to sit down on the other side of the blonde, breath going heavy, a smile plastered on his face. “Thanks! Aaaaah I’m so tired now, though!” The redhead sneaked a glance at Taekwoon, who was looking at Wonshik with a small smile. In a swift movement Hakyeon leaned his head on the younger’s shoulder, surprising both Wonshik and Taekwoon with the gesture. The blonde simply shrugged mentally – his friends did the same frequently, there was nothing to misunderstand. Taekwoon, on the other hand, stared daggers at the oblivious redhead.

Before Wonshik knew what was happening to him, long pale fingers lifted him by his elbow, pulling him up by a firm grip and out of the room. The blonde looked confusedly at Taekwoon and back at Hakyeon, who tripled over with laughter.

“Hey, I-“

“It’s late. We’re going to sleep.” Taekwoon’s voice was low and as soft as ever, but the sharp edge and the assertive tone he put into them made it clear that there was no arguing. Wonshik turned his head helplessly towards Taekwoon’s roommate who just grinned, still laughing into his hands.

“Good night you two!”

Five minutes later Wonshik was settled on the spare mat right next to Taekwoon’s own, his mind painfully aware that Taekwoon had gone to bed with only a white wife beater over his underwear. That really wasn’t enough to calm the blonde’s mind to sleep, even if one didn’t count that it was probably even barely 10 pm. Wonshik sighed, remembering the happenings of the day, and his cheeks heated up again occasionally at the thoughts. His eyes then wandered discreetly over the other’s form lying under the covers, and he began to muse what it would be like to slip under them, next to the other male.

Wonshik hit himself mentally, as his eyes were set on the other’s unmoving back, trying to force those tempting thoughts out of his mind himself to sleep.