“It’s me, Byunghun”

                    The words echoed in Chunji’s ears as his recognition of this, once, stranger got bumped up to 100.

                    Niel turned to his best friend to see him staring straight at the new visitor with a completely blank face. “Who’s Byunghun?” Niel asked.

                    His roommate’s voice brought Chunji out of his shock and back into reality. He blinked a few times and familiarised himself with the people surrounding him. “Um.. He’s- He’s an old friend” Chunji said turning his attention back to Byunghun. “Sorry I didn’t recognise you…” Chunji chuckled while gesturing at the boy’s body and following with his eyes. “You’ve changed so much”

                    “I could say the same to you” Byunghun replied with a shy smile. “You got taller” he chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck bashfully.

                    “Yeah, finally taller than you for once” Chunji laughed too, becoming more relaxed.

                    Niel began to walk towards the kitchen, feeling awkward being a part of this moment. “Well you going to offer him a drink or just talk out here in the hall?” he called without looking back and entering the kitchen, out of their sight.

                    “Oh sorry, of course come in” Chunji said as he remembered his politeness and stepped further down the hallway, to let Byunghun further into the house. “You can hang your coat there” Chunji indicated the hooks on the wall. “Do you want coffee?”

                    As Byunghun busied himself with removing his coat and hanging it up, he answered “Sure, thanks” Underneath his sodden coat he was wearing a grey t shirt and a light blue hoodie. Once he was finished he followed Chunji into the kitchen and saw him beginning to make a fresh pot of coffee. He took this opportunity to look over him properly. Brunette hair, still rather ruffled from sleep, thin cotton t shirt that clung to his shape yet still looked baggy and comfortable, light grey sweat pants which hung low on his narrow hips and bare feet. Byunghun smiled subconsciously to the sight and felt a stare.

                    He then raised his eyes from Chunji’s feet to search for a pair of eyes on him. He found Niel leaning against a wall looking straight at him with a suspicious gaze. Byunghun swallowed, rather scared by the almost stranger giving him dirty looks and sat down at the kitchen table, tracing patterns onto the wood of the surface to avoid eye contact with the other.

                    Chunji turned around and handed Byunghun a mug of steaming coffee along with some milk and sugar. Then he also sat down at the table with his own drink. “So, is your whole family here?” Chunji asked the blonde boy, seemingly not noticing the glare his roommate sent to him.

                    “Yeah we were going to make it a surprise visit but coincidentally your umma got in touch with us a few days before we left. My umma managed to convince your umma that we should still keep it a surprise for you. She said she had called you when she met us at the airport but you didn’t pick up” Byunghun shrugged as he stirred two sugars into his bitter coffee and added milk. “If you’re wondering where I got your address, Chunji’s umma gave it to me, I’m not some kind of stalker.” Byunghun looked at Niel as he said this which managed to fluster Niel’s confident and judgemental stare.

                    Niel, having