Archive of Our Own

The train ride to campus is excruciatingly long, giving Wonwoo plenty of time to rethink his decision of stepping back into college after a long winter break, already missing the warmth of his family home and the comfort of his secluded bedroom.

The only thing easing his nerves is the stunning view one could only see on this train ride. Beyond the mountains and across valleys it rode.

His college is practically in the middle of nowhere, veiled by a thin magic shield shrouding a protective barrier over the campus where only university students and college staff gain access too with special passes.

He loved the atmosphere, surrounded by absolute nature and birdsong.

The one catch; there were one too many students.

Jeon Wonwoo is to put it simply; a loser introvert with no concept of speaking with a word count of more than ten words per conversation unless forced to.

Unfortunately, now comes the time he has to exceed that limit. Because as he returns, the ultimate social interaction that has him already sweating in his boots and quivering from nerves about two hours prior to him arriving is about to occur.

The room change.

His first year was already dreadful enough, remembering walking into his first dorm room to see someone already snoozing in one of the beds without giving him a chance to even choose the one he wanted.

And of course he just so happened to be lazing around in the one bed closest to the window which got the most air. But because of his awkwardness and natural obligation to avoid conflict, he didn’t breathe a word.

Thankfully, his roommate last year, Jihoon, was a calm and quiet man, never breathing into his personal space unless necessary. They had developed a sort of harmonious relationship where they would never overstep one another’s boundaries and remain quiet in dire times of focus, forming an unlikely friendship of two socially inadequate students.

Truly, he loathed social interaction. His amazing ability to make every situation with new people suffocatingly awkward was almost award-worthy.

He is not looking forward to the dorm change. Not one bit.

So when he arrives, stepping off the train to find the front of administration for the male dormitory, he gulps as the dread sinks in. His whole body runs cold with apprehension and he wishes that it was Jihoon again, even though he knows it’s not going to be his friend because Jihoon had already been on campus for a week in advance, and his past roommate had already been transferred to someone else. But a man could dream.

“Here’s your key, your room is down that hallway and to the right. Your roommate for this year is Kim Mingyu, he already checked in around a week ago.”

And there it was, what he hated the most: an unfamiliar name.

Well, it wasn’t as though he knew many people on campus anyway, but he still trudges up the hallway with disdain.

What would he say?

’Hi I’m Jeon Wonwoo, a senior and your new roommate!’ With the brightest smile known to man.

That would probably be horrific.

It might scare his roommate half to death before they even got a chance to speak. He wasn’t capable of smiling on the spot, his friends always told him that he looked a little creepy whenever he forced out a rendition of what he supposed was a friendly smile; so that was completely out of the picture for first impressions unless his goal was to actually scare the guy.

Alternatively, he could cast a spell and make himself invisible any time he had to go into the room and this Kim Mingyu guy would simply think that he lived with a ghost.

But then again, that was also out of the picture because he didn’t even know any disappearing spell. That was far from his area of expertise. He studied herbs, not that sort of magic.

What if his roommate is loud? Too extroverted? What if he couldn’t study properly because of him?

The bleak thoughts were getting to him now, and every step that he took filled his mind with dread, dread, and more dread.

What if his roommate was into those snarky spells, the ones that could pull stupid pranks like putting flowers in his underwear, or filling his shampoo bottle with hair dye with just the click of a finger?

Spoken from experience of course. He hated those that were studying degrees in anything revolving around offensive magic. They always came up with the worst tricks up their sleeves.

He would know, his best friend, Junhui, was always on his back with new fancy magic tricks that would have him either itching his arm for days, or being perpetually thirsty for iced tea even though he preferred iced coffee.

“Ah shit.” He mutters under his breath as it sinks in.

There’s absolutely no escaping this.

He stands outside the aforementioned room, looking at the numbers engraved on the metal plaque with a frown.

This is it. All or nothing.

Otherwise he will resort to sleeping outside in the bushes until the campus guards tell him off. Unlikely scenario, but definitely not impossible.

He takes a deep breath, adjusting his glasses on his face so that they aren’t awkwardly crooked whilst tousling a few hasty fingers through his messy locks so he looks at least a bit presentable. Patting down his clothes one more time and holding the handle of his suitcase with sweaty palms, he braces himself.

Wonwoo shoves the key in the lock of the door and twists it hard. The latch makes a telltale clicking sound and then the door swings open with the force of his palm.

He takes a few steps forward, listening to the sound of movement with anxious ears and he hears something pretty strange. He doesn’t quite register what it is with the nerves pricking at his skin and his heart thrumming in his ears, that is at least until he takes a few more cautious steps in.

As soon as he moves past the front corridor, his eyes enlarge impossibly wide and his whole body runs eerily cold at the appalling sight before him.

He drops the handle of his suitcase and it thumps on the floor unceremoniously just as his own jaw falls slack.

He takes in the fallen blanket from the bed, the bundle of clothes strewn haphazardly across the carpet, and the absolute treachery of stark nakedness before his eyes.

“Mingyu!” A feminine voice squeals out from underneath the mass of tanned skin and rustled sheets, startled by the noise, as Wonwoo stands there, his mouth agape and absolutely frozen at the atrocity before him. “Someone’s here!”

Ah yes.

He forgot people his age did this kind of stuff. He was so out of the loop of relationships that it slipped his mind that this was a common occurrence for some people. It’s just that, he’d rather not have seen something private with his own eyes.

Now one of the beds, clearly not his anymore, is tainted and he would probably never look at this dorm room the same again for as long as he lives here.

And with that realisation, his body awakens, filled with the adrenaline to absolutely get the fuck out of there.

He takes the painstaking silence as his ticket to promptly leave before anyone meets his unintentional voyeur eyes, and he quickly turns on his heel and bolts straight out of the room. His mind is scarred with images that he wished he had never bared witness to, and his face is completely beet red with the humiliation.

He has to catch his breath as he reaches administration, looking like he absolutely crapped his pants.

No way his roommate is that kind of guy. He’s absolutely not ready for what that entailed. Sleepless nights…coming back from class in perpetual fear of seeing the same scene over and over again. Oh he could only dread this.

The woman at the front desk stares at him, baffled and obviously confused why he came back in such a traumatised state. He wordlessly slumps down by the seats near the wall, putting his face in his hands from where his cheeks are still hot with the mortification of seeing another man’s bare ass right before his eyes.

It was so over for him.

He couldn’t believe his first day of the new semester had to go like this of all things.

As he sits there, shaken up. He hears the sound of rapid footsteps approaching, but he refuses to look up, thoroughly petrified.

“Jeon Wonwoo?”

Wonwoo stiffens, “Yes?” He mumbles through his hands, squeezing his eyes shut tighter in an attempt to erase the god-awful images from his mind but to no avail. It was going to be imprinted in his memory forever, locked in a gallery of disturbing events that have happened in his life.

The person’s voice is low and raspy, clearly out of breath and Wonwoo feels like curling into a ball and disappearing off the face of the earth. He didn’t know what was more embarrassing. Him being a witness or his roommate having been caught in the act.

The idea of sleeping out in the bushes was starting to seem far more appealing by the minute.

His thoughts of running away are however interrupted as the person utters, “I am so sorry.” And he sounds so awfully remorseful, that Wonwoo forces a peek through the gap between his fingers.

Unfortunately, the first thing he notices when he opens his eyes is that the man before him is unfairly attractive.

As an admitted single, raging homosexual himself, he is not blind to the light of a gorgeous man.

Despite this man’s dark hair being incredibly unruly, sticking up in all sorts of directions with Wonwoo glimpsing beads of sweat dripping down his beautifully-proportioned forehead from his interrupted ‘activities’; he looks despairingly handsome. Which is so incredibly uncalled for.

The absolutely atrocious thought that he saw this godly sculpture of a man’s ass in such a precarious position mere moments ago made him feel sick to the stomach.

Wonwoo sucks in a sharp breath behind his palms, observing as the taller man stutters in place, looking mortified himself. At least he wasn’t alone on this.

“I am so sorry you had to see that.” He repeats, running a hand through his tousled dark hair. “I was told you weren’t going to arrive for another day and my girlfriend, she was just desperate and things escalated and you know how hormones work and everything it just-”

He finally removes his hands and clears his throat loudly to interrupt the man’s incessant blabbering of apologies, not wanting to hear anymore before he bursts from the already awkward state of affairs. He thinks he might actually throw up now, the perpetual dread of social anxiety topped with a laughable circumstance leaving him stupefied.

“It’s okay.” Is the first thing he says abruptly, and mentally, he wants to slap himself.

He was decidedly not okay, but he couldn’t leave this poor guy standing there muttering apologies whilst ranting about the disadvantages and relentless behaviour of hormonal instincts for the next hour straight if he didn’t say anything.

“Are you sure?” The man halts his rambling, eyebrow cocked in concern and with the teensiest bit of doubt in his eyes. “You don’t look…”

Wonwoo exhales and straightens up. “It’s fine, I’m fine.” Not. But he can’t just say that.

“Uhm okay, if you say so.”

Wonwoo lets out a sound he thinks is reaffirming, but it sounds more like a high-pitched yelp that’s been muffled. The silence that falls between them after that creates a tension so thick, Wonwoo thinks that it would be better to simply jump out the window then and there.

The administration lady is staring between the two of them with wide round eyes, looking like she’s trying not to pry but with the way her head is tilted like she’s listening in and her cheeks are dusted pink, Wonwoo thinks she might just know.

Ah, this is what they called, ‘The Humiliation of the Century’.

Unfortunately for him, his brain helpfully tells him that he has to save this situation somehow otherwise they will live out the rest of this year in antagonising awkwardness, and he didn’t want that. Even if he was quite socially inept to new people, he didn’t want to suffer the consequences of an entire two semesters of suffocating tension.

He sighs. You got this, Wonwoo. He’s just your extremely attractive roommate who you just saw getting it on with his girlfriend mere moments ago. No big deal.

“Mingyu, right?” Wonwoo finally decides to break the silence, groaning internally.

Why did this have to happen to him? He is not trained for this sort of mental trauma.

“Yeah.” His aforementioned roommate nods, shifting in place with his fingers twining absentmindedly by his stomach, suddenly shy. “Nice to meet you.”

He gulps, “Right, nice to meet you too.”

Despite their strange circumstances, Wonwoo couldn’t help but agonise over the fact that this man was way too attractive for his own good. Not only did he have the looks, but he also had the audacity to be shy? Personally, he thought men like that weren’t real.

Ultimately, the one big catch here is that this man, being the vision of any sane person’s fantasies, very evidently had a girlfriend and he’d just caught them right before his pure innocent eyes.

Yeah, that’s definitely going in his book of things he never wants to see again.

“Uh, so did you still want to move in or…” Mingyu pipes up after a pause, rubbing the back of his neck while pointedly avoiding Wonwoo’s gaze. “I wouldn’t be mad if you applied for a room change.”

“Uhm.” Wonwoo is stumped. This guy, seriously. He didn’t have to be so considerate as well.

Too bad for him, he’d already dug himself this hole.

First meeting, check! Awkward encounter, check! He’s already ticked off all the hard stuff, might as well stick to what he can.

“I’ll just, yeah, use the other bed…that you didn’t use.” Is what he stutters out when he finds his resolve, albeit weakly, his cheeks burning. “I mean- yeah, because it’s a hassle to change rooms and all that you know…”

Geez. Way to make it more awkward.

Well, like any of this has been anything but awkward.

“Right well, if you’re alright…I’ll clean up first.” Mingyu clears his throat, his eyes flitting about as he looks anywhere but at Wonwoo’s face. “And I’ll let you know when you can come in.”

“Sure.” Wonwoo acquiesces, in no rush to get to the room now.

With a simple nod, Mingyu hastily hurries back down the hallway, his messy hair flailing in all its disheveled glory as he runs, and while he does, Wonwoo glimpses the faintest outlines of back muscle through his white loose-fitted shirt each time it presses against his evidently sweaty back. Wonwoo promptly looks away like his eyes had just been burned.

He lets out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding, and he holds a hand to his chest as he leans his head back on the wall behind him.

Well, first impressions down, on the bright side, that was probably the worst it could’ve gone.

Terrific. What a great start to the year.

“Again, I’m so sorry. I used a cleaning spell.” 

Wonwoo lugs his singular suitcase in behind him as he takes in the state of the dorm room, breathing out a relieved sigh when he sees that the sheets are all folded and tidy, pristine with a look that made it seem like they were untouched altogether. 

The room smells freshly of lavender and there’s a faint breeze wafting through the window by the beds which eases some of the tension from his shoulders. 

Well, he supposes some simpler spells were far more useful than they seemed

Wonwoo adamantly moves over to the side of the room where he places his suitcase underneath the bed he knows isn’t occupied by Mingyu. Yet another year of him not being able to choose his own bed, but for different reasons altogether. It was almost laughable how he got himself into these strange situations. 

“So, is this your first year of college?” Mingyu interrupts the silence after a few moments of Wonwoo shifting around his side of the room. He sounds hesitant, and Wonwoo doesn’t blame him after the previous events. 

“Second.” He responds bluntly, perching himself on the edge of his bed, pleasantly greeted by a soft mattress underneath. 

“What do you study?” Mingyu questions, his voice holding a curious lilt, yet he still doesn’t meet Wonwoo’s gaze as though reluctant to. At least he has the consideration to feel embarrassed about their circumstance. 

“I’m studying healing magic.” Wonwoo answers, fidgeting in place, not used to the small talk. As he had mentioned before, he usually keeps himself to a small word count around new people, so this is already a step past his boundaries. 

“Oh!” Mingyu hums in surprise, eyeing him up and down as though taking him in for the first time, making him feel oddly uncomfortable. “Actually, it’s quite fitting.” 

Wonwoo raises an eyebrow, “Fitting?” 

Mingyu stutters, “I mean, you have a calm and collected look and everything, I think…outward appearance wise, it’s fitting yeah.” He seemingly stops his thoughts there, shaking his head as though snapping himself out of a stupor. “Sorry.” 

He tilts his head, “I guess.” His words sound more inquisitive rather than a statement. Deciding not to question it, he asks instead, “Well, what do you study then?” 

“Offensive and defensive magic.” He says, his voice taking on more of a lighter tone, sounding somewhat excited now. “I’m looking forward to studying this year.” 

“That’s nice.” Wonwoo nods, imminently not knowing what else to say. 

Personally, with people who studied that area of magic, he preferred to avoid them, mostly because they tended to be more… egotistical and cocky. At least, from prior experience. He assumes it’s because people who know oppressive forms of magic are of priority value in this day and age. Most have a greater opportunity to be chosen to guard the capital city. The higher class, full of royals and nobles. 

Unfortunately, he’d also been at the brunt end of too many of their spells in the past so his distaste wasn’t too unjustified. 

Luckily, Mingyu seemed like more of the eager type than anything, so he could make an exception to tolerate it. 

They fall into another awkward silence again, and Wonwoo internally curses himself for always somehow leading conversations into roadblocks. Mingyu shuffles in place, as though wanting to say something else, but he seems to stop himself as he makes eye contact with Wonwoo, hastily looking away as soon as he does. At that moment, he doesn’t know if he should feel offended or not. 

“I’m going to head out.” Is what Wonwoo brings himself to say, breaching the thick air with the creaking of his mattress as he stands. 

“Oh. Right.” Mingyu responds stiffly. “Where to?” 

“Just going to go find a friend.” He excuses himself, trying to play it off as sheepishly as possible and not because he wanted to get out of this room desperately. 

He quickly takes a few long strides towards the front corridor and latches his hand on the door handle with haste before he suffocates any longer with the overwhelming anxiety of dealing with his new roommate. 

However, before he can even pull the handle, he feels a warm grip around his wrist that pins him in place and he can’t help the surprised gasp that slips from his lips as he stares dumbfoundedly back at the man. 

Now that he is standing level with the guy, he realises that Mingyu is so much taller than him, and that says a lot because many people have said that Wonwoo is pretty tall himself. He feels his face burn at the revelation, so he quickly turns his focus to where Mingyu holds his wrist with bewilderment.  

“Ah, sorry.” Mingyu coughs out, abruptly releasing his hand like he hadn’t just grabbed him like that. “I just wanted to tell you that in the future, I promise to take my…you know, endeavors, elsewhere.” 

Wonwoo sucks in a breath, realizing the closeness between them and he feels the radiating heat from Mingyu’s body which makes his face burn even brighter. Mingyu seems to realise just as he does, so he quickly retracts his steps to widen the gap between them. 

“That would be nice.” Wonwoo finally answers, blinking up at the man whose cheeks are dusted pink as though he’s embarrassed. 

“And I’ll do my best not to bother you if you’re busy at the dorm or anything.” He adds, bouncing on the edges of his heels. 

At that, Wonwoo can’t help but exhale out of relief. The tall man before him, despite being so wide in stature with a body that could probably crush a mountain with those muscles alone, he looked so painfully innocent right now with the way his pink lips jutted out slightly and his dark lashes flickered as he spoke. 

And Wonwoo, he had a soft heart. 

Mingyu didn’t seem so bad after all! For now. 

He fixes him with a small, crooked smile, “If it makes you feel any better, how about we start this introduction over?” 

“How do you mean?” Mingyu tilts his head to the side, and wow, he doesn’t have to be so breathtaking.

“Well, I promise that I didn’t see anything that happened in the span of our meeting, and we can agree to being peaceful roommates.” Wonwoo suggests, leaning against the door with a hopeful look in his eyes. 

“You know what, I like that.” Mingyu seems to relax, and for once, the man meets his eyes full-on and Wonwoo finds that they are glistening with something akin to relief. “A fresh start?”

“A fresh start.” 

Wonwoo holds his hand out invitingly, but almost immediately he regrets it, wondering if it was a gesture too awkward for people their age. He’d been told he sometimes exhibits ‘old man behaviours’, but when Mingyu takes his hand without a moment's hesitation, Wonwoo is instantly relieved. 

Despite the initial awkward encounter, he actually did it. He resolved something without making things horrendously uncomfortable. 

He mentally pats himself on the back. 

Mingyu grins, ”Nice to meet you, Jeon Wonwoo, my new roommate.” 

His grin is so vibrant, so endearing with those little canines peeking through and Wonwoo can’t help but notice the way his eyes crinkle to the point of disappearing just because of his blinding smile.

Wonwoo has to look away and suddenly, the window behind him is far more interesting. 

“Likewise, Kim Mingyu.” He says instead, pointedly trying to ignore the way his heart seemed to skip a beat when Mingyu clutches his hand a little tighter. 

“To the new year.” Mingyu releases his hold, looking far more at ease now that they had solved whatever humiliations had just occurred. “Thank you for being so understanding.” 

Wonwoo pauses, “Well, I suppose if we’re going to live together for a whole year, I should at least give you a redeeming chance.”

Mingyu flushes red. “That’s fair enough.” 

“I do have to go find my friend now though.” Wonwoo tells him apologetically, mentally applauding himself for getting past his social capacity limit for the day.

Mingyu blinks at him now, tilting his head to the side albeit hesitantly. 

“Right well, I’ll see you later?” 

“Yeah, of course.” 

He can only hope that things will go well from here and perhaps, he and Mingyu will soon come to be friends.

“Junhui, what the fuck.” 

Wonwoo stands outside his best friend's dorm room, staring past the doorway to see him doing yoga of all things as soon as he enters. He’s currently attempting a low split and Wonwoo has to look away before he does something stupid like splitting his pants instead.  

“Wonwoo! You made it.” 

“Yeah, barely.” Wonwoo murmurs with a shudder, still trying to ease his mind.

He meets eyes with his friend, Junhui, who pauses his split with a cheeky smile. 

“Careful where you step. I’ve been playing around with some funky spells.”

“What? Is it going to make me explode if I step on a certain spot on the rug?” 

“More like it’ll make you hover for a few seconds, but close enough.” Junhui clicks his tongue as he decidedly forgoes attempting a split, and sits up cross-legged on the floor instead. “How’s the room change going?”

“Morbidly.” Wonwoo answers quickly, putting a palm to his forehead as he slumps down on Junhui’s bed. “You wouldn’t even believe.” 

“Oh? I’m going to need more details than that.” 

Wonwoo chuckles to himself ridiculously, “Let’s just say, my roommate has a girlfriend and they were…you know, when I arrived.”

“Okay, that’s definitely an experience.” Junhui couldn’t help but snicker and Wonwoo promptly moves over to slap him on the back of his head. 

“Shut it.” 

“Ah you’ve grown so much. My lovely best friend Jeon Wonwoo who finally got a glimpse of sex outside of novels. Who would’ve known.” 

“You-” Wonwoo reaches over to tackle Junhui who swiftly avoids him with a joyous chuckle while his cheeks flush a deep red. “I’ll cast a spell on you.”

“My friend, as someone studying offensive and defensive magic, your healing spells will have no effect on me.” Junhui says in an exaggerated voice, sounding like a disapproving master. 

“Okay, now you’re just asking for it.” 

Wonwoo quickly snaps his finger, feeling a rush of magic leave his body as he directs it straight towards Junhui, specifically his head. 

True, he didn’t know offensive and defensive spells to the extent of someone getting a degree in that area, but he did have a few silly tricks up his sleeve outside of his forte that he’d learnt simply to torment his friend. 

With the resounding snap of his finger, Junhui’s face instantly freezes in mortification with the realisation of what he’s done. 

“Apologise, Junhui.” 

“Wonwoo…turn my hair back to normal.” 

“What? Don’t like feathers?” Wonwoo reaches over to pluck a strand, or more like, a singular black feather. He snorts as it flutters to the ground and Junhui stares at it with a grimace. 

“Wonwoo.” He warns, eyes flashing with mischief.

“Apologise.” Wonwoo demands in a sing-song tone. 

“Oh you’re also asking for it.” 

And of course, right before his eyes, he watches as the strands of his own hair turn a much too vibrant colour of pink which evokes an immediate scowl. 

”Well played mister.” Wonwoo huffs, running a hand through his hot pink locks in defeat, making a noise of affront as it blocks his view. “Truce.” 

“You’re the one that started it dude.” Junhui laughs, before they both reverse their spells. 

With a quick snap of their fingers, their hair is back to normal, courtesy of simple magic. 

Wonwoo groans, “Gosh, what a day. And the study period hasn’t even started yet.” 

“I wish you luck my friend.” Junhui takes on a more genuine tone, patting his shoulder with reassurance. “Think about it, only one year left and you’re out of here.” 

“One year after this one.” Wonwoo rolls his eyes, grimacing. “The current one hasn’t even begun.” 

“That’s not that far away.”

“Well, it’s easy to say. But we’ll see if I even survive this year.” Wonwoo slumps his head on the wall, sighing. “I heard that the exams for my course this year are deathly.” 

“Well…that’s what you get for wanting to be a healer.” Junhui points out with a snicker, teasing. 

Wonwoo sneers, “At least I have more brains than you.” 

“That’s just insulting now.” Junhui stands, towering over him with his hands propped against his hips in joking disapproval.

“But on a more serious note…I hope my roommate stays true to his word.” Wonwoo holds his head in his hands. “I can’t deal with any more of that stuff, especially if I need to concentrate on studying. Damn, I miss my lovely unproblematic Jihoon who only did as much as steal my socks.” 

”Well if it makes you feel any better, if you do see your new roommate like that again, text me so that I can laugh at you.” 

Wonwoo nudges him with his foot, huffing in indignance. 

“And of course so you can come stay and study here for refuge.” Junhui placates reluctantly, a hint of mirth in his tone.

Wonwoo rolls his eyes, but still flashes him a grateful smile. Behind all their jokes and banter, Wonwoo knows that Junhui always looks out for him anyway, always being the reliable older friend with many years of history behind their relationship. 

“Oh yeah, my roommate is studying the same course as you.” Wonwoo pipes up, the memory of Mingyu’s words ringing through his head at that same moment. 

“Oh? Maybe I’ll go find him on the training grounds and give him some tips on how to deal with his lovely new roommate named Jeon Wonwoo.” Junhui smirks, flashing a mischievous grin his way. 

“Never mind. Suddenly, he doesn’t study offensive and defensive magic.” Wonwoo quickly retracts, narrowing his eyes. 

Junhui lets out a hearty laugh, reminding him that he doesn’t have the guts to approach someone he doesn’t know anyways, and Wonwoo huffs in return. 

Junhui perches himself on the bed next to him, his face softening with an air of seriousness. He casually slings an arm around Wonwoo’s shoulder and smiles, genuine this time. Wonwoo relaxes in his familiar presence, leaning his head back with a light exhale, feeling the most at ease since returning to campus. 

“Take it easy this semester, Wonwoo.” He murmurs quietly, a subtle warning in his tone. “Don’t want you collapsing on me again.” 

“I’ll be fine.” Wonwoo reassures him, closing his eyes. 

“I’m going to find your roommate sometime in the future and tell him to treat you well.” Junhui adds with a serious tone. “And to make sure he finds me if anything happens to you.” 

“Okay, protective much.” Wonwoo scoffs lightheartedly. “He will start thinking you’re my guardian instead of my best friend.” 

“Just looking out for you.” Junhui says with a nonchalant shrug, and Wonwoo knows he’s serious. “I know how you get when you’re stressed.” 

“I’ll try my best to do better this year.” Wonwoo grabs his hand, fiddling with his limp fingers there. 

Junhui eyes him cautiously, using his hand to squeeze his shoulder in reassurance. 

“Okay, good.” 

Wonwoo smiles there, the most carefree he can be with an optimism for the new year, because little did he know, things were only going to get worse from here. 

When the semester finally starts, Wonwoo finds that he doesn’t see Mingyu often at all. 

Because they do wildly different courses, they’re schedules never align and when Wonwoo is at the dorm studying, Mingyu is out attending classes and vice versa. The only times they do glimpse each other is just before bed and even then, Mingyu stays out late with his friends while Wonwoo is always studying till he falls asleep. 

Not to mention the mornings where Wonwoo wakes up for his classes and Mingyu is already out for morning runs, which was abnormal, in his opinion. 

When they eat, they usually eat outside or in the communal kitchens, but never at the same time. He either just sees him, or he leaves just before Mingyu arrives. It’s almost like they’re both conveniently dancing around each other after the first day incident, and in all fairness, Wonwoo doesn’t blame Mingyu for it. 

Somedays, Mingyu doesn’t come back to the dorm altogether, staying over at a friends or at his girlfriend’s, and he is left to the silence of their shared room. He finds that he doesn’t mind it. It’s far better than awkward conversations.

Mingyu stayed true to his promise and they have formed a structured routine so as to not disturb each other. 

But deep down, Wonwoo wonders if the whole year will go on like this. If they will ever have a proper interaction and become actual friends rather than acquaintances who just so happen to live with each other. 

In all honesty, Wonwoo doesn’t know a second thing about Mingyu apart from what he studies or that his favourite scent is coconut and vanilla (he accidentally used Mingyu’s body wash before and realised that all his products had the same scent, he’s not a creep. He’s just good at deduction). 

Wonwoo sighs, checking the time through the clock on the wall with tired eyes. His side of the room is looking slightly more haphazard than Mingyu’s, a bunch of sketches of different herbs plastered on the wall with tape. His medicinal spells for revision are all over the place on his small desk by the bed and there’s some flasks filled with ointment on the table by his notebooks. 

All in all, his side of the room shows just how much more he rots away in there compared to the pristine cleanliness of Mingyu’s, where all that sits on his desk is a couple of notebooks and some stationery while his bed is always so neatly kept as if he scarcely uses it. 

They couldn’t be more different. 

It’s already fairly past noon, but Wonwoo has been feeling unproductive in the dorm. He decides to go to the library and look through some study books there rather than rationalising whether a nap would be better than looking through the medicinal properties of marigolds. 

As he makes his way towards the library, he observes beyond the grand marble pillars overlooking the grassy courtyard where many students are basking and enjoying meals under the midday sun. 

The winter air is slowly thinning out to an easing warmth, and Wonwoo feels brighter seeing the freshly blooming petals of spring on its way. Perfect for studying a wider variety of medicinal herbs. 

His pondering daze is interrupted by the sound of loud voices and laughter, and then a tone that’s all too familiar, coming straight from the courtyard path towards the corridor where he is currently on his own little stroll. He pauses, debating whether or not he wants to confront the scary phenomenon known as social interaction, but before he even gets the chance to decide, it’s already too late. 

“Wonwoo?” 

Having been noticed, he shifts his gaze to meet the wide startled eyes of his roommate. 

The man stands there in all his casual glory, a light air surrounding him as he smiles at him with people he presumes are his friends by his side. Beautiful friends, he might add. 

And Mingyu himself looks as handsome as always, almost seeming like he’s glowing under the light of the daytime star that appeared to make his sunkissed skin radiate more than usual. 

Wonwoo still couldn’t get used to the fact that his roommate had all the aura of a prince and that he belonged in the capital city rather than this hidden college for magic specialists. 

Surprisingly, this might be the first time they’ve bumped into each other outside of the dorms. 

“Hi, Mingyu.” He greets as casually as possible despite the rush of social forgoing thoughts that threaten to send him running in the opposite direction.

His social battery was already pretty low today after his early morning classes, so he was itching to get away and just succumb to his studies in the library. No offence to his roommate, but talking to new people was not on the agenda of his pre-anticipated day. 

“Are you his roommate?” One of Mingyu’s friends pipes up, eyes twinkling with eagerness and a curiosity that makes Wonwoo shy away. 

“Yeah, this is Wonwoo.” Mingyu answers for him, flashing him a very quick sheepish smile as though he can already tell that he was desperate to get away. “Wonwoo, this is Seokmin and Jeonghan, some friends from school.” 

“Nice to meet you.” He dips his head, giving them a crooked smile, his eye twitching slightly with the eerie nerves of meeting new people. 

They all nod in return, murmuring words of greeting with friendly smiles that Wonwoo briefly glimpses before he turns his gaze to Mingyu, feeling jittery. 

“I have to go study now. Nice seeing you though.” He exchanges quickly before they could say anything more, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he makes motions to head off.

The other’s eyes fill with understanding, and Wonwoo is eternally grateful that the man seems to be able to read him so well. 

“Okay, see you back at the dorm?” 

“Yeah.” Wonwoo nods, quickly waving at the other two before walking in the direction of the library.

Okay, not too bad. A little awkward but not his worst moment. 

When he reaches the library, he can finally breathe.

The library was one of the top two of his most favourite places on this campus. There were shelves that stacked upon each other, touching the high roofed ceiling which was full of renaissance intricacies. They were two-storied, only possible to be reached by precariously tall ladders. There were little round study tables by large windows that overlooked the massive lake view outside that surrounded the campus. 

You couldn’t find libraries like this outside of the main capital city. Only other place was here, on a little hidden campus far away. 

And to make things better, it was quiet. 

Or at least, it would be quiet if his mind didn’t erupt into a storm of troubled thoughts when a tap on his shoulder awakened his fight or flight instincts. 

“Mingyu?” He whispers in disbelief once he spins around, eyes widening at the man himself who looks incredibly bashful as he stands there, notebook clutched by his chest.

“I didn’t realise you were also going to the library.” He murmurs. “I was coming here to study by myself as well after seeing off my friends.”

“Oh.” 

Mingyu scratches the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, “Is it okay if I join you?”

Wonwoo sighs internally. There was no escaping this now. Besides, it was just his roommate and they’ve been living together for a month now. How bad could it possibly be? 

“Sure.” He acquiesces after a moment, his shoulders slumping as he leads Mingyu to his favourite corner of the library, thankfully not occupied by other students. 

“Thanks.” Mingyu whispers back once they sit down and open their notebooks.

“It’s nothing. It feels better to study with others sometimes.” Wonwoo reassures him, although he doesn’t fully believe his own words. He’s only ever studied with Junhui and Jihoon on separate occasions. Although the last time he studied with Junhui, the two of them got kicked out of the library for casting spells when they weren’t supposed to. 

Mingyu pulls off his sweater in a display that catches Wonwoo’s eyes, and he has to tear his gaze away when he sees the zip-up shirt underneath, leaving quite little to the imagination. Curse this man and his enticing looks, it wasn’t fair being able to look that good in something as simple as a zip-up shirt. 

Wonwoo distracts himself by pulling out his book of medical spells from his bag that he’d brought with him, sighing as his eyes trace over the onslaught of words written on the page that he needs to look over by his next class. 

He could only describe his readings as atrocious or abominable, with one too many new terminologies. Sometimes he wondered why he even picked healing magic to study where it felt like learning a whole new language altogether. 

But when he glances over at Mingyu’s book full of defensive spells, seeing all the complex movements that need to be carried out just to summon a shield, he remembers why. It is simply not for him. 

He begins writing in his notebook, adding little sketches of herbs that he needs to know about, annotating them with how to reincorporate their properties into healing magic. It’s all too complex, but so fascinating at the same time. 

Mingyu eyes his book from across the table, looking curious. 

“What’s that?”

“A marigold.” He tells him, lifting his pencil from his notebook to glance at his roommate. “I’m learning about its antibacterial properties in treating wounds.” 

Mingyu hums, “That’s cool.” And he sounds so genuine rather than acting like he’s feigning interest, and Wonwoo believes it. 

Wonwoo is surprised that Mingyu doesn’t initiate much conversation apart from the occasional groan about a difficult spell or some help understanding something in his own book. All in all, it’s pretty calming to study with his roommate, a stark contrast to his previous experience with Junhui who was all too excited to show him some new tricks from his books. 

They continue to work in relative silence for a good hour or two, the sun beginning to dip beyond the mountains outside the view of the window, and Wonwoo holds back his yawns, becoming more lethargic by the moment.

He needs food, or a drink, or probably both. But his homework won’t do itself, so he persists despite the internal desperation to escape this darned book of medicine and find something to eat. 

“You’re fidgeting.” Mingyu comments after a bit, his roommate slumping against the back of his seat, legs folded over one another as he relaxes for a break.

Wonwoo groans quietly, feeling called out. “I’m tired.” 

“Do you want me to grab you a bite to eat?” He tilts his head, eyes so genuine and concerned, Wonwoo feels like he has to yield.

“Can’t.” Wonwoo declines despite his mind yelling at him to just say yes. “Not allowed to eat here.” 

Mingyu smiles at him, soft. He plucks the pencil from Wonwoo’s grip from where he’s been clutching it so hard to the point he has a small callus on the top of his finger, and he holds it away from Wonwoo’s twitching hand.

“Hey!” He complains, reaching to grab at it, but ultimately realising it’s futile when Mingyu winks at him in good humour, holding it so far behind him to the point that Wonwoo would have to jump over the table to actually reach it. Fortunately, he knows better than to humiliate himself like that so he gives in with a huff of indignance.

“I’ll get you something to eat. Oh and, do you like iced coffee?” 

“Mingyu…we can’t eat or drink here.” 

“If we get caught, I’ll take all the blame.” He insists, gently placing the pencil back on his notebook with a sincere look in his eyes. “Plus, I’m a little hungry myself.” 

Wonwoo raises an eyebrow, “Are you sure?” 

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take one for the team.” He declares, looking so determined that Wonwoo gives in. He has a feeling that his roommate is pretty stubborn and would probably never give it up, so he sighs and agrees instead. 

“Just be careful.” He concedes.

“‘Careful’ is my middle name.” Mingyu grins playfully as he stands up with a wide stretch. 

Wonwoo forces his eyes to look promptly away from the man’s chest which is so in his face when he stretches because of that stupid zip-up shirt that is in fact, barely zipped up and he peeps a small bit of man-cleavage. He curses internally for his sinful mind and blames his perpetually single self for such traitorous thoughts. 

“Thank you.” Wonwoo tells him instead, exhaling with a shaky breath to avert his horrific thoughts.

“It’s no problem.” Mingyu says before adding, “I still feel like I owe you something after our first meeting.” 

Wonwoo flushes at the reminder of the event he had shoved far to the back of his mind since the semester had begun, and he lets out a weak chuckle at the not so fond memory. 

“It’s fine. I already told you, a promise is a promise and I’ve already forgotten about it.” Wonwoo shakes his head, eyes downturned as he fights the burning in his cheeks. 

Mingyu clears his throat, looking equally embarrassed and lets out a faint laugh. “Okay if you say so. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Wonwoo can’t help the small twitch of his lips, “Thank you, again.” 

As he watches his roommate’s receding figure, he can’t help but think that the man was admittedly pretty sweet. 

This would probably be the first time they’ve had a proper long interaction since moving in, and despite the fact that they hadn’t spoken much, Wonwoo finds that his roommate’s company is not unwelcome. In fact, he feels surprisingly at ease with him compared to other people. 

He thinks that it’s possible for them to be good friends after all and the prospect of that idea makes him somewhat elated. He was conquering his social anxiety bit by bit, starting with this guy named Kim Mingyu. 

The thought of it makes him smile. 

Despite the eagerness to ingest some food, he awaits his roommate’s return with drowsiness, his eyes lazily trailing over the pages of his book in an attempt to keep himself awake. 

His brain is steadily becoming hazy and he is already exhausted from the strenuous studying he’d fulfilled over the beginning of the week. He was probably nearing his limit. He may be a hardworking student, but even he had his boundaries and today was bordering on breaching it.

Maybe if he closes his eyes, for just a few minutes, he can focus better again. He did have a few mid-semester examinations to work towards, so he couldn’t afford too much rest. 

Even so…Just a few minutes wouldn’t harm anyone…

He allows his eyes a break for just a bit to fight away the brewing headache and heavy tiredness, but little did he know, those few moments would turn into a couple of hours and he would fall into a bit more than just a light slumber. 

And when he wakes, he finds that he can barely glimpse what’s before him and his vision is terribly blurry. His lashes flutter with the panic of not being able to see properly, before a voice interrupts his troubled, freshly awakened thoughts. 

“Here.” The voice says to him, Wonwoo hardly glimpses what appears to be his pair of glasses in someone’s hand, offered right before him. He mutters his thanks, and hastily puts them on. 

When he can see again, he notes that there’s an iced coffee on the table next to his books and a paper bag perched in front of it. A woman stands next to him, having been the one to shake him awake with an apologetic look, and it’s almost completely dark outside, nothing but the faint light of the moon filtering through the sheen glass panels.

He didn’t remember taking his glasses off, nor did he remember Mingyu returning. 

“Uhm.” He utters groggily.

“Sorry to wake you, but the library is closing for the night.” She says, hands tucked at her front.

“Oh…where did-?” He pauses, realisation hitting him, “Where did the guy that was sitting here go?” 

“He left an hour ago, but he told me not to wake you unless the library was closing.”

“I see.” Wonwoo murmurs, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His body was aching all over from the position he had fallen into and the air had gotten rather chilly. However, instead of shivering from the imminent cold, he felt a warmth draped over his shoulders, and he realises with a gasp.   

Did Mingyu…give him his sweater? 

He reaches his hands up to feel the cotton texture, the exuding warmth from his body heat and the softness of it over his skin. The night air was chilly, but the sweater seemed to shield it away, and he feels his cheeks burn at the realisation. 

“Your friend was really nice, you know.” The librarian tells him as she tucks away a book under her arm, looking strangely amused. “He was telling me how concerned he was for you because you looked like you were about to drop at any second. He would’ve stayed if he didn’t have class early tomorrow. So at his request, I let you sleep here for just a little longer otherwise you wouldn’t sleep at all.” 

Wonwoo parts his mouth, surprised.

“Don’t tell my boss that I left the library open longer than usual.” She adds at the end with a light chuckle. 

“Oh, uh, thank you so much.” He dips his head. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

“Go pack your stuff so I can lock up.” She gestures to the door. “And lastly, don’t eat in the library again.” 

Wonwoo makes a small sound as he stares at the blaring food and drink right on the table in front of him and flushes at the fact that he couldn’t even hide it. He wonders if Mingyu also got in trouble earlier, and he takes a mental note to ask him.  

Wonwoo quickly tucks his books and study notes back into his bag and hastily makes his way across to the entrance with the food and drink in hand, noticing that the library was completely barren of people besides the librarian herself, and he thinks he should thank Mingyu for being so considerate about all this.

“Thank you.” He bows to the librarian who just waves with a polite smile, and he makes his way back to the dormitory.

He can’t help but smell the faint yet prominent scent of coconut and vanilla flooding his nose as the sweater around his shoulders serves as a reminder of his roommates' kind deeds. He clutches the article of clothing in his hands and feels the soft material between his fingertips with a contemplative hum. 

His heart traitorously skips a beat and his cheeks warm at the idea that Mingyu had left his sweater just for him. 

That idiot. Doesn’t Mingyu realise that offering a sweater like this is dangerous? It’s a classic tactic that you read about in all the best romance novels. He should know that, considering how much he reads.

He snorts at the notion. 

It might give anyone else the wrong idea if they didn’t know that he already had a girlfriend. Luckily, Wonwoo knows better than to assume it has any meaning, and he shakes off that feeling in his chest that comes with the piece of clothing keeping him warm. 

Finally peering into the paper bag in his hands as he walks, he lets out a small gasp at the scent of fresh pastries wafting through his nose. Even though it’s gone cold, his mouth waters at the delectable appearance before him.

And he lets out a lighthearted chuckle. He supposes pastries could make a good dinner. 

As he heads back to the dorm, he finds that there’s a small lingering smile that he can’t seem to wipe off his face. 

He’ll have to thank his roommate for it later. 

Slowly but surely, Wonwoo and Mingyu are starting to get closer. 

Whether it’s brief exchanges before heading off to class, or Mingyu finding the time to drop him off some study snacks before he hangs out with his friends at night. It is almost like he’d already taken note of Wonwoo’s study habits and had made it his concern to very subtly look after him. Whether it was a conscious action or not, Wonwoo found himself appreciating it nonetheless. 

There has been a clear shift in their relationship ever since that night Wonwoo had returned from the library and came back to the dorm to find Mingyu fast asleep, tucked away in his bundle of sheets looking so peaceful. 

He had stayed up for a bit longer studying, but Mingyu had woken up and forced him to bed, insisting that he looked exhausted already and Wonwoo had just listened without complaint, feeling touched by the unabashed plea in the younger’s eyes. 

Mingyu is so different from anyone else he personally knew. 

He is bubbly, attentive, and always so generous whenever he brings Wonwoo snacks or reminds him of little things. Him and Junhui had a playful and banter-filled relationship of old friends, whilst his previous roommate Jihoon was far more self-reserved and quiet. 

And he finds that it is a welcome change. 

“Don’t forget your textbook this time.” Mingyu calls to him as he slips on his shoes by the front door, tousling a haphazard hand through his already messy hair. 

He adjusts his glasses and turns to look back at his roommate who is sitting on the edge of his bed, sweat dripping from his forehead from his morning run with his notebook in hand, sketching. Truly, it was a crime to look equally that good while also looking like a wet puppy.  

“Don’t worry, I won’t make the same mistake again.” He tells him over his shoulder, waving a brief farewell to the man who sends him a small smile in return. 

He heads off in the direction of the healing ward where his classes take place, always the more strenuous walk being on the whole other side of campus. 

When he arrives, he’s appropriately late, walking in when everyone’s already sat by their laboratory benches. His professor gives him a curt nod as he enters, and Wonwoo doesn’t do so much as wave in response before taking a seat at the back of the room. 

This morning, they are testing ointments on wounds and subsequently learning about the use of pain-relieving herbs, incorporated onto magic orbs that can be used to simulate hypothetical scenarios. 

It’s good to understand the practicality of herbs and nurturing them into ointments before learning how to use spells alone in any emergency situation. In the real-world, not everyone can wield magic, therefore being knowledgeable in all medical properties is essential as a healer, and it’s a great portion of his study this semester. 

“Please find a lab partner and choose a free bay. Instructions are laid out at each corresponding bay with the appropriate settings for the designated simulation orb. Be careful, if you find yourself with any strange symptoms such as itching, burning, nausea, irritation or coughing, please find me and I will cater for your emergency.” The professor instructs sternly. 

He adds on a few more safety precautions before eventually sending them off to find their partners; the worst part.

Wonwoo, who usually sits at the back of this class by his lonesome, finds himself at a loss.

He is not fond of paired work, obviously. Because that entails socialising of course, one of his favourite things to do in the world. He also tends to work better by himself because most people he’s worked with in the past have not been so efficient.

He sighs, reluctantly glancing around the room for a partner, thinking that if he makes eye contact with at least one person, he will snag them as his pair. 

Frankly, it’s a silly method and he should probably just walk up to someone and ask instead, but surprisingly, his little tactic actually works and he meets the eyes of someone very faintly familiar. They instantly walk up to him with a quirk of their lips, approaching him as though having the same idea. 

“Hey Wonwoo, right?” The person greets, their eyes crinkling at the edges with a familiarity he can’t quite put a name to. 

“Hey…”

“Jeonghan.” He finishes for him, amusement flickering in his eyes. “We met the other day.” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Wonwoo hastily utters, feeling embarrassed. He has the tendency to forget people’s names as soon as he hears them, but now that he says it aloud, he remembers that he saw him with Mingyu that day when he was going to the library. “You study healing magic as well?” 

“Yep. Forced by parents, you know how it is.” He says with an air of humour, Wonwoo letting out a faint noise of understanding. “I didn’t realise we were in the same class until you walked in late.” 

Wonwoo laughs awkwardly, fidgeting with his fingers. “Yeah, I usually sit at the back so I don’t actually see anyone.” 

Jeonghan smiles knowingly. “So do you want to pair up?” 

“Well you’re the only one to ask, so sure.” Wonwoo concedes with a slight nod, gesturing towards the bay and they get started.

Jeonghan from what he observes, is…an interesting person. He makes small remarks here and there, but he’s hardly unfriendly, and Wonwoo finds that despite his air of awkwardness, Jeonghan isn’t so bad after all. 

They execute their tests quite smoothly, and Wonwoo is surprised by his thoroughness despite his seemingly laid back attitude. Out of all the partners he’s had before in paired work, he’d say Jeonghan has been the most efficient and he is especially impressed when they finish their results ahead of class.

“Do you think we can take these orbs home?” Jeonghan murmurs after they finish writing up their observations. 

“I’d assume that’s stealing.” Wonwoo comments, huffing out a laugh. 

“Worth a shot.” Jeonghan snickers to himself, turning off the simulation orb once they have finished lathering herbal salves over a fake wound. 

“Okay, I think we just need to clean up.” Wonwoo says, rolling up the used bandages to throw. 

Jeonghan hums nonchalantly, bottling the ointments they’d created and bagging up the used herbs. 

“So, how's Mingyu as a roommate?” Jeonghan pipes up after they begin wiping down the bench.

“He’s nice.” Is all Wonwoo can think to say as Jeonghan passes him the cloth to wipe down the other side of their work space. 

“Well to me, he’s annoying.” Jeonghan says jokingly, although his smile is fond. “He talks a lot and he can do just about anything, anyone would be annoyed with him.” 

Wonwoo chuckles, “Well, I don’t know him well enough to make those assumptions.” He admits. 

“You’ll see soon enough.” Jeonghan winks. “But the most annoying part, he’s pretty much obsessed with his girlfriend.” 

Wonwoo holds back a shudder, almost forgetting he had a girlfriend with how little he’s seen her since that first day. He knows that Mingyu goes to see her between classes and some days at night, but other than that, he had hardly glimpsed the girl. The most he knew was her name, Yeonseo. 

“They’re too touchy.” Jeonghan makes a face of disgust and Wonwoo knows too well, and he wishes to bury those memories away instantly. The way it always came back to bite at him was almost impressive. 

“I mean, if they’re in love, I guess that’s just how it is.” He comments albeit awkwardly. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know too much about that sort of situation himself, but he assumes that’s what people do in relationships.

“That reminds me! I’ve been curious about how your first meeting went. Mingyu refuses to tell me anything aside from the fact that he might have partially traumatised you. Unfortunately, I have an inkling of a feeling about why that might be the case.”

Ah.

He makes a choked up sound, glancing sheepishly at his lab partner before saying hastily, “It’s a secret.” Code for, don’t ask. 

Jeonghan eyes him suspiciously, and for some reason Wonwoo feels the need to shy away from his piercing gaze as though seeing right through him. Luckily, he lets it go and Wonwoo breathes out a sigh of relief. He doesn’t really want to relive those early moments of the semester, and thankfully, Jeonghan doesn’t press him for it. 

“Aside from that, I do want to talk to you about something.” Jeonghan says as they make motions to sit down. “It’s nothing serious, don't worry.” 

“Okay.” Wonwoo prompts him slowly, watching the man’s expression shift from lighthearted to something more concerning. 

“Just a small word of advice.” He pauses, staring Wonwoo so deeply in the eyes that it’s almost unnerving. “Try to talk to Mingyu more.”

Wonwoo stiffens at the suggestion, eyelids widening ever so slightly. 

“Our schedules don’t really align.” Wonwoo admits, almost like an excuse, fidgeting with his fingers. He feels like he’s being somewhat confronted with the gaze Jeonghan fixes him with, it’s almost intimidating. Gone is the almost playful man he worked with mere moments ago, in place a person with a seriousness that had Wonwoo’s insides churning with unusual nerves. 

“That man, he may be a talkative extrovert and probably one of the most selfless people you’ll ever meet, but even he can be awkward sometimes.” Jeonghan tells him with a certain sharpness to his tone that Wonwoo can’t quite pinpoint. “I know one thing’s for sure, and he wants to talk to you more.” 

Wonwoo makes a small noise of surprise. He wanted to talk to him more? His scrawny roommate who hardly left the room unless it was to study or eat? 

“Me?” He utters aloud, not hiding his bafflement. 

“Yeah.” He confirms. 

“Mingyu has talked about you a lot since the semester started, believe it or not, telling us how he doesn’t know how to approach you without feeling like he’s disturbing your study time because you’re constantly at your desk.” Jeonghan explains, subconsciously tapping his fingers on the table. “Why don’t you open up to him just a little?” 

“I…” Wonwoo pauses.

He didn’t think that Mingyu had been wanting to talk with him of all people, although maybe he should’ve taken the free snacks and early chatter before class as a hint. His mind had always been fixated on completing assignments and writing up revision notes above all else, to the extent that he didn’t realise his roommate had been eager to speak to him. 

When it had just been Jihoon, the other rarely struck up conversations unless they were important, yet they got along pretty fine. Perhaps he should’ve known better that Mingyu was nothing like his previous roommate and his own work-a-colic behaviour didn’t match everyone. 

He hadn’t even seen Junhui as much because of his study-oriented mind, nor had he taken out the time to meet up with Jihoon. 

He sighs at the new revelation Jeonghan just chucked in his face. “I will try. I just didn’t realise…”

Jeonghan shakes his head. 

“Mingyu also could’ve asked you himself. I’m just a mere messenger and a good friend bringing words of advice.” He pats his shoulder in a light gesture. “Just giving you a little heads up to think about it.” 

“Thank you.” Wonwoo murmurs, fixing his eyes on the table with a worried frown. 

He supposes it wouldn’t harm him to come out of his shell a bit. He’d been living peacefully with Mingyu for a month and a bit now, so perhaps Jeonghan was right. 

As he waves goodbye to his newfound lab partner to head to the library to study, he vows to make a greater effort to speak to his curious roommate. 

“Wonwoo!” 

He turns at the sound of his name being called, gaze flicking to the doorway of their room where Mingyu has just burst through, eyes wide and excited. He hasn’t seen the man so bubbling with energy before, so he’s pleasantly surprised to be greeted with such a wide smile. 

Wonwoo looks at him properly from his desk, tilting his head in a subtle urge for Mingyu to get what he wants off his chest. 

“I got a booking for the ballroom.” 

Wonwoo’s mouth parts in surprise, and then confusion. “What for?” 

“It’s my birthday week.” He says with unabashed glee on his face. “I’m hosting a celebration and inviting friends of friends and what not.” 

“Oh, sounds nice.” Wonwoo hums, and then he realises. “Wait, it’s your birthday soon?” 

“Yeah! At the start of this month.” He says eagerly. “I want it to be big so it can be more fun.”

“Good for you.” Wonwoo tells him honestly, his mind straying to the fact that he didn’t even know when Mingyu’s birthday was. 

And with that thought, he realises that he should probably get him something as his roommate. Jeonghan’s words echo through his mind, reminding him to make more of an effort to get closer to Mingyu, and he thinks a gift would be a good step in that direction. 

Question is, what gift? 

“You want to come?” Mingyu snaps him out of his thoughts, leaning against the doorframe with a hopeful lilt to his tone.

“To the celebration?” Mingyu nods in confirmation. “I guess so.” 

“Are you sure? I don’t want to force you to take time out of your studies for it.”

Wonwoo feels grateful that Mingyu is considering his time, yet he doesn’t think he should miss this event. A birthday is a birthday, and Wonwoo understood how much these days meant to people. 

“I’ll go.” He says more confidently, leaning back in his seat to meet his roommate’s eyes. 

Mingyu’s face brightens almost instantly and he rushes forward, grabbing Wonwoo’s shoulders with elation. 

“Thank you so much!” He beams, shaking him slightly. “Do you have friends to invite as well?” 

Wonwoo hesitates, thinking about Junhui and Mingyu meeting each other, and wonders what that could possibly entail. But with the eager look in Mingyu’s eyes and the expectation behind them, Wonwoo reluctantly nods. If it is for the sake of Mingyu’s celebration, he concedes. 

“Yes! It’ll be fun, I promise.” 

Wonwoo half believes him, and half doubts himself, thinking about the amount of people that might turn up with the way Mingyu was going about inviting them. He sighs internally, but sucks it up to the giddy man in front of him who looks positively cheerful. 

Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. It was good to have a change of setting every now and then. 

Right? 

The bigger issue now was thinking of something to give to Mingyu. 

When Mingyu rushes back out of the room, telling him about how he was going to spread the word around for a celebration on the weekend, Wonwoo slumps into his seat with his brain racking over ideas for a gift.

Issue is, he doesn’t know what exactly Mingyu likes. 

He shuffles through his desk drawers, digs through his personal baggage and finds nothing of sustenance that would suffice for a proper gift. His bed is littered with books of spells and little trinkets from his baggage, yet nothing catches his eyes. 

After about a futile hour of searching, he eventually gives up, planting his face on his bed unceremoniously with his hands ruffling his own hair as he stresses about what to get for the man.

Maybe he could ask Jeonghan. Another problem is that he didn’t know where to even find the man outside of classes unless he was with Mingyu, which wouldn’t be the most ideal. 

At that helpless thought, he sighs in exasperation. 

Usually, people would find personal gifts for friends in the form of clothes, accessories or sometimes even books and what not. He didn’t necessarily have any of those to give. 

Just as he’s about to give up, leaning away from the mess he’d made on his bed, an old piece of paper slips from one of his spell books, landing right on his lap. He stares at it with a frown, wondering just what it could be, before his mouth parts in realisation.

As his eyes trace over the written script, he realises that it’s an old forgotten spell that people in the earlier ages used to use in order to impress their loved ones or nourish gardens. 

A simple spell: to create a flower field. 

It used to be his favourite spell that he’d learnt at a young age from his grandparents, mainly because it was so inherently simple yet so beautiful, and it was the first thing that made him appreciate the wonders of magic. 

It was also the first time he’d realised that magic could be used passively, hence why he decided to pursue his current course of study. 

He glances over at Mingyu’s side of the room and observes the pictures of flowers he’s drawn in the past of which he has since pasted on the wall. He notices the little dried petals he’s pressed and hung from the small shelf above his desk in a garland display, exuding an aroma faintly reminiscent of the roses they were plucked from. 

And he thinks, this might be a pretty good gift after all. 

Wonwoo is, to put it simply, incredibly nervous. 

Birthday celebrations were never his forte, and he usually forwent going to them altogether if he could. 

One, because what do you wear to these occasions? Two, how do you deal with so many people in one crowded space all at once? And three, alcohol. He wasn’t very fond of alcohol. 

“Don’t stress, Wonwoo.” 

Wonwoo groans, shaking Junhui’s shoulders. “This is a dilemma. What should I do?”

“Hey, calm down.”

“What if my gift sucks and what do I wear without looking stupid, and what do I do if someone offers me a drink when I don’t even drink?”

“Wonwoo.” Junhui shrugs his hands off, flicking his forehead hard enough to make him flinch. “Calm yourself, it shouldn’t be this big of an issue.” 

“I’m petrified.” 

“I’ll be there with you, okay? I’m also scared about meeting new people.” Junhui reassures him, pushing him down to sit down on his bed. “And I’ll handle your clothes so don’t sweat it.” 

Wonwoo gulps, putting his head in his hands. “Okay, fine.” 

After Junhui wrestles Wonwoo into something he deems presentable and fluffs up his hair with a brush and towel to make it look ‘attractively messy’.

He stares at the old floor-length mirror in the corner of Junhui’s dorm, observing his tucked-in dress-shirt that accentuates his thin waist, and neat black trousers that were a far cry from his usual appearance, and he almost gasps at himself aloud in both fascination and embarrassment. 

“I told you it would be fine.” Junhui pats down his shirt with a smug smile. “And you clean up well because of me.” 

Wonwoo jokingly rolls his eyes, but he’s grateful nonetheless. “Yeah I guess.” 

“Maybe we can catch you a man tonight as well.” He winks, poking at him insinuatingly.

“Okay no.” Wonwoo adamantly denies, his face burning at the prospect of finding a date at a birthday celebration for his roommate. That would be foul. 

“If you say so.” Junhui shrugs with a cheeky smile. “Ready to go then?” 

“No.” Wonwoo grunts, sighing as he rolls his gift for Mingyu up, tying it neatly with a cloth string in the form of a bow. 

The script itself may be old, but the forgotten spell inside is valuable on its own. But as he stares at it, he can’t help but wonder if Mingyu will actually appreciate such a simple gift and the sentiment behind it. They didn’t know each other as well as good friends yet, so he could only hope that he made the right decision. 

“No doubts now.” Junhui taps his shoulder, reading him so well as per usual. “Let’s just go. 

Junhui ushers him out of his dorm room, muttering exaggerated words of encouragement that has Wonwoo expressing feigned irritation, and he berates him, telling him he’s fine. After all, they’re adults. 

This is fine. He’ll be fine. 

The ballroom is on the far end of campus where all the ceremonies or artistic performances are held, and Wonwoo hasn’t particularly stepped near that area before. The walk is long, and the boots he’s wearing feel tight from the strain of the walk, and he thinks he’s going to be incredibly sore after this night.

There’s a few other people emerging from the dorms heading in the same direction, and the more they move across the campus, the more it dawns on Wonwoo that Mingyu might have just potentially invited half of the student body. 

It makes him realise just how big friendship networks within this college run, and his palms feel sweaty at the fact that the ballroom may be far more crowded than he’d previously anticipated. 

“Junhui, is it too late to retreat?”

“Yes.” He says simply, dragging him through the corridor until they reach the grand entrance to the ballroom which can only be reached by a massive staircase. He didn’t realise just how impressive the building’s interior was until he finally got to see it himself. 

This is probably the most lavish birthday celebration he’s ever attended with the way the exterior flaunted its gold-patterned linings along the wallpaper, and the cased antiques bordering the hallways topped it off with a much too fancy aesthetic.

He’s practically sweating in his boots as he faintly hears the sound of voices and laughter filtering from the large doorway, and he turns to Junhui one more time with a helpless look on his face. 

“Now I’m curious about meeting your roomie.” Junhui comments, an impressed look in his features, as they push past the doorway and observe the masses.

“I’m regretting saying yes.” He mutters, putting a hand to his head with the brewing migraine he can feel incoming. 

They walk forward, and Wonwoo is instantly hit with the stench of alcohol, smoke, and noise all at once.

There’s a jazz band in the corner, playing mellow tunes that sets the sultry mood, and he chances a glance over to see an entire banquet table with plates of canapés. There’s an assortment of alcohol from the small station at the wall-end of the ballroom, and a massive adorning chandelier hanging sturdily from the roof with dozens of crystal raindrops scintillating through the guise of incandescent lighting. 

Lavish it was indeed. He couldn’t believe his roommate had organised all of this within the span of a week, and with this many people to top it all off. 

He’s starting to feel faint with the overstimulating sounds prickling at his already sensitive nerves. 

This is most definitely not his type of scene. 

“Stick together.” Junhui suggests, the usual carefree look in his features morphing into one of caution, and Wonwoo is reminded that his best friend is just as reserved as himself. 

They truly made quite the pair. 

Wonwoo peers into the crowd with a squint, trying to find the familiar dark hair bobbing over the sea of students, but to no avail. There’s too many people trickling in like ants, and the cacophony of voices only increases tenfold. Just how many people did Mingyu invite? 

“Wonwoo?” 

He spins around, hyper aware of his surroundings, and then his eyes widen comically when he meets the face of someone he hadn’t seen in months. 

“Soonyoung?” 

Soonyoung is his old classmate from back in his little town, and they’d been buddies that went way back. Unfortunately, they’d lost consistent contact due to Wonwoo being so focused on getting into this college, and since they lived quite a ways apart now, they hadn’t really spoken. 

He gawks at the vibrant blonde of his friend’s hair, which had previously been a natural darkened brown, and he can’t help but reach out and ruffle it in curiosity. 

“Wonwoo! It really is you!.” Soonyoung exclaims, mouth parted in disbelief whilst swatting his prying hands away. “Since when were you at this college?”

“Since last year?” He cocks his head, just as baffled as the other.

Had they really gone an entire year without seeing each other? That was impressive on its own. 

“Wait, Junhui? No way!” 

Junhui turns around to join in on the ruckus, looking just as bewildered to see their old classmate in the flesh. He expresses his thoughts aloud and Soonyoung laughs incredulously. 

“How’s Channie?” Wonwoo breathes out, still awestruck to be seeing such a familiar face here. “And Kwannie and Hansol?”  

“They’re all as energetic as always. All three of them are determined to get into this college. But yeah, they’re preparing for the test, you know how that goes.” 

“How did you get into this college?” Junhui pipes up, looking genuinely shocked. 

“I aced the combat test, and demonstrated some cool offensive spells.” Soonyoung says boldly, his face bursting with pride. 

“That’s Soonyoung for you.” Junhui chuckles, impressed. “It’s nice seeing a familiar face on this campus.” 

“Yeah.” Wonwoo agrees. “That reminds me, how did you end up at this celebration anyway?” 

Soonyoung hums to himself, gripping his cup filled to the brim with alcohol, a contemplative look in his eyes.  

“I was invited by my roommate, who just so happens to be friends with the guy hosting this whole ordeal.” Soonyoung explains, taking a swig of his drink and Wonwoo’s nose crinkles up at the stench of the alcohol. “Told me it would be fun and there was going to be lots of alcohol so I couldn’t pass up the chance.” 

“Ah. Makes sense.” Wonwoo nods in understanding. 

“Where is the guy anyway?” Junhui perks up, eyes scanning the dozens of faces closing in on them.

“Good question. He’ll probably appear at some point.” Soonyoung shrugs, downing the rest of his drink in one go with a slight wince. “I should go find my roommate so we can mix some drinks, but I’ll find you guys again later.”

“Sure thing.” Junhui concedes, and the moment Soonyoung’s familiar figure disappears into the wave of people, he feels antsy once more. 

“This is terrifying.” Wonwoo nudges Junhui who leans in closer, huddling next to him for comfort. “How did Mingyu even get this many people?”

“Beats me.” 

They continue trudging through the bodies slowly packing in together, and Wonwoo feels like he’s slowly suffocating. There’s people dancing at the centre of the ballroom to more upbeat tunes of the jazz band, and Mingyu is nowhere to be seen. 

Wonwoo clutches his gift in one hand, keeping it away from the crowd to avoid it being overly creased before he can even give it to Mingyu. 

“So what does he look like again?” Junhui prods him after a few minutes of them aimlessly wandering around the place. 

“Taller than most people, handsome, dark hair, loud voice.” Wonwoo lists, rubbing his chin in contemplation. “Reminds you of a puppy. That type of person.” 

“Is that him?” Junhui points to the centre of the ballroom. Right amongst the motions of dancing figures, a man stands at the centre whipping up some laughable moves that Wonwoo almost flinches purely out of second-hand embarrassment. 

The chandelier illuminates his handsome figure, and despite the questionable moves he’s executing with unabashed laughter, he looks far too attractive for his own good. Especially with that loose button-up top that reveals his golden skin and tight pants that accentuates his figure in all the right places. He truly is a sight to see. 

And he couldn’t believe they were roommates. This man, who sucked up all the attention just from entering a room, and he wanted to be friends with Wonwoo. It was laughable really. 

“Your man is super good-looking.” Junhui gapes, looking as awestruck as Wonwoo feels.

“Not my man, he has a girlfriend.” Wonwoo reminds him, rolling his eyes. 

As though Mingyu can hear them, the man fixes his gaze upon the pair, and his smile widens almost instantaneously.

“Wonwoo!” He calls, looking so cheerful that Wonwoo feels like he might shy away from his overwhelming presence. “I’m glad you made it!” 

And he eyes him up and down so boldly, Wonwoo thinks he might actually lose it. With an impressed glint in his eyes, he makes an approving face that has Wonwoo wanting to curl in on himself bashfully.

“Not to mention, you look amazing. It’s different. I like it!”  

“Thanks.” He exhales with a blink, and it could be his imagination, but he thinks he hears Junhui snicker. Shaking his head, he moves aside to reveal his friend who had been hidden behind him momentarily due to the push and pull of the bodies around them. 

“This is Junhui, my close friend.” 

“Oh nice to meet you.” Mingyu holds a polite hand out, the opposing man looking startled at his own abrupt introduction. “I’m Mingyu.” 

“Yeah, nice to meet you too.” Junhui utters after a moment's hesitation. Now that he’s put on the spot like this, Wonwoo can soak in the thrill of awkwardness so palpable in Junhui’s expression, that he’ll probably tease him for later. 

“Help yourself to some food and drinks.” Mingyu tells them lightly, slurring a little with his words, clearly having already had something to drink earlier. “I’m going to find my girlfriend.” 

“Right.” Wonwoo nods, but then quickly remembers something. He reaches out to grab Mingyu’s wrist before his roommate can move anywhere, and slaps his gift in his hands hastily, his cheeks burning. “Just…happy birthday.”

“What’s this?” Mingyu asks, tilting his head in curiosity as he eyes the script with a little perplexed frown. 

Wonwoo clears his throat, rubbing the back of his nape. “A gift.” He says simply. 

Mingyu parts his mouth, clearly surprised. “You didn’t have to.” 

“Just take it.” Wonwoo urges, looking away in his embarrassment. 

Mingyu doesn’t hesitate to oblige, unravelling the paper, untying the little bow gently and looking through the contents with confused eyes. And then they light up, and his whole expression morphs into one of delight. 

Wonwoo is impressed by how transparent Mingyu’s emotions are and how expressive he is. At that thought, he can’t help but notice the way his roommate grins so widely from ear to ear when he’s happy and his eyes crinkle to slits with pure unabashed joy. It’s almost…cute. 

He internally scolds himself for such thoughts, telling himself he can’t let those words slip out, ever. This man is taken.

“This is an amazing gift. Where did you even find such an old spell?” Mingyu asks eagerly, oblivious to the momentary dilemma of Wonwoo’s internal monologue.

Wonwoo averts his gaze, shrugging nonchalantly. “It’s a secret.” He responds cryptically, much to Mingyu’s anticipation. He can’t really tell him it’s been sitting at the bottom of his luggage hidden away in a book all this time. “I just hope you like it.” 

“I love it!” Mingyu reassures him, throwing his arms around his shoulders in one big embrace that catches him so off guard that he lets out a little noise of surprise at the contact. “Once I learn this, I can’t wait to show Yeonseo and my family back at home.” 

Wonwoo smiles fondly as they pull apart. He’s glad he picked the right gift for him with just the right amount of sentiment to show, and he applauds himself internally for his success. 

Junhui nudges him from the side, flashing him a wink that has Wonwoo kicking him back in agitation. 

What that wink means? He has a feeling just what Junhui is insinuating, but he’s not having it. Mingyu is his roommate, and he’s just being a good friend. Nothing more. 

“I’ll come back to find you, Wonwoo.” Mingyu promises him, flashing him an apologetic look. “I have to find my girlfriend first, I lost her earlier and I’m going to tell her about this spell.”  

“That’s okay.” Wonwoo assures him. “Go enjoy yourself.”

Mingyu frowns momentarily, reaching forward to put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be okay?” 

“Yep. As okay as ever.” Wonwoo crooks his lips into a smile that he hopes displays his encouragement, but deep down he thinks he might disappear soon. It impresses him just how much Mingyu considers his comfort in moments like these, and Junhui obviously notices, not missing the sly look his friend gives him. 

“Stick around okay? I’ll be back soon!” Mingyu says, quickly making his way back into the mass of people in the ballroom and then it’s just him and Junhui left behind once more. 

“So.” Junhui hums, looking positively delighted for reasons unknown.

“What?” 

“Wasn’t that your grandparents spell?”

Wonwoo huffs. “I’ve memorised it already anyway. It’ll be put to better use in Mingyu’s hands.” 

“Okay. Sure.” 

“Why are you speaking like that?” Wonwoo narrows his eyes at his friend, crossing his arms over his chest.  

“Like what?” Junhui says innocently, eyes twinkling with mirth. 

“Sarcastically.” Wonwoo incriminates.

“It’s nothing.” Junhui firmly denies, looking far too amused for his own good. 

“Whatever, let’s just… get something to eat.” Wonwoo averts the topic much to his chagrin, sighing as he faces the intimidation of the celebration around them.

However, before they can even reach the banquet table, Soonyoung comes bursting through the crowd and yells something incomprehensible, gripping onto Junhui like a lifeline. 

“What?” Junhui chokes out, shocked at the sudden attack. 

“You’re good at this game!” He insists, not making any sense but he drags Junhui anyway, much to Wonwoo’s dismay. Junhui looks over his shoulder, eyes wide and apologetic as he gets sucked into the celebration around them. 

“Wait, you can’t leave me!” Wonwoo calls to him, trying to reach both his friends who disappear almost instantly in the fray and he’s left there, dumbfounded and alone. 

They really just ditched him like that huh? 

He attempts to remain where he is, but his appetite dumbs down to nothing and he’s not feeling too well, far too overstimulated for his own good. 

As he watches the hustle of people around him, watching them get absolutely plastered, all while continuing to chatter incessantly to no end, he feels reluctant to stay inside for long. 

He glances around, and catches a glimpse of Mingyu’s figure somewhere over in the corner near the drinks station but he’s with someone. Wonwoo notices that the person before him looks rather feminine, a curvy figure accentuated by her tight clothing, staring at Mingyu with stars in her eyes. 

It doesn’t take a genius to deduce that it’s his girlfriend just by their closeness, and he instinctively shudders. It’s not her fault, it’s just that the last time he saw them together, they were canoodling in not so innocent ways. 

Although, he can’t help but wonder where else he’s seen her before. She looks distantly familiar…

His thoughts are instantly shattered however when they start smooching right before his pure eyes without shame, and he takes that as his cue to promptly look away and find a haven away from this mess. 

How Mingyu had conjured up such a large celebration of at least half the student body like this? It’s almost impressive. 

Luckily for him, he spots a balcony entrance nearby and he instantly makes that his goal to escape for some fresh air. 

Once he makes it outside, the crispy cold air hits him all at once and he soaks it all in with relief. These occasions simply didn’t bode well with his personality, and he isn’t hesitant to admit that his usually recluse self isn’t suitable for such a social and lively environment. Not to mention the smell of alcohol that would certainly stick to his clothes by the morning.

He puffs an exasperated breath of air. 

He’ll go back inside eventually, just not yet. He’d have to apologise to Junhui for not finding him earlier, but for now, he lets his body relax as he leans over the balcony edge, feeling the breeze kiss his skin pleasantly, like a comforting blanket of air. 

“What’s a person like you doing out here all by yourself?” A voice cuts through his peace and shatters the mental wall he’d built up to relax himself. 

He turns around, meeting the sharp eyes of a man he didn’t recognise. This guy is much taller than himself with looks that could even rival Mingyu’s, yet maybe he’s a little biased as he thinks his roommate is slightly more handsome. Nonetheless, he’s still a very attractive man, much to his dismay. 

He parts his mouth wordlessly, confused as to why such a man was seeking his attention. Thankfully not having to ask, the man answers for him.

“I was just curious as to why you’re out here when the party’s inside.” He says, walking over to the balcony’s edge to join him.

His voice is light and smooth like honey, easily tantalising to anyone with a weak-hearted soul such as himself. 

“Too loud.” He admits with a frown, cautious.

“Don’t look so tense, I’m not here to interrogate you.” The man laughs easily, eyes crinkling at the edges with a pleasant smile. “I’m Eunwoo.”

“Wonwoo…” He tells him reluctantly in return, still hesitant, but with the friendly look on this guy’s face, he lets himself loosen up a little. 

He needs to stop thinking everyone that he meets for the first time will somehow harm him, it’s an awful habit. 

“You’re pretty.” Eunwoo says very abruptly, and Wonwoo almost chokes on his saliva at the admittance. “I was very pleasantly surprised when you turned around.” 

Is he perchance, being flirted with? 

Oh Junhui is so going to have a field day with this one. 

“Uhm, thank you.” He replies, feeling his face warm at his startling words. “You are pretty good-looking yourself.” 

Eunwoo grins, and it’s charming, he has to admit. “Thank you.” 

“Are you friends with Mingyu?” Wonwoo asks, cocking an eyebrow curiously. 

“Yep! Old school best friends.” Eunwoo says cheerily, eyes twinkling with mirth before he continues. 

“That guy,” he says and his words are softer, bordering on endearment, “Always has been fond of big flashy celebrations like this.” 

Wonwoo hums in agreement, letting himself ease up a little now knowing that this guy is well-acquainted with his roommate. “Yeah, I can tell.”

“You have a nice smile, you know?” Eunwoo points out suddenly with a warm look in his gaze, a look full of a subtle interest, getting to the point where Wonwoo feels like he might just melt. 

Wonwoo makes a small noise of affront, taken aback and Eunwoo merely giggles. Full on giggles. 

Wonwoo might just be going insane. 

“Say, would you like to go out with me for coffee some time?” He asks smoothly, looking so effortlessly confident that Wonwoo feels like his chest is going to burst from the onslaught of nerves. 

Just like that?

He freezes, the words completely blowing him away. 

He is being asked out. He is actually being asked out.

Certainly he admired attractive men, but he’s never thought about pursuing a relationship with one, nor has he ever been proposed to go on a date with one. The idea, although appealing to many, came with doubts and fears that suddenly crept its way into his mind.

He parts his mouth, wanting to answer, yet it is a scary thing. 

A ‘yes’ would entail too many new things, and he is already busy as is in his course. All his free time is dedicated to studying and he barely leaves his dorm room anyway. As much as the idea sounded appealing, he admittedly isn’t compatible for a relationship at this time, so dating should be out of the picture. 

A ‘no’… could lead to perpetual awkwardness. He’d never been in this situation before, and it was becoming much too overwhelming for his overthinking brain. 

His inner turmoil must be evident in his face, because Eunwoo eventually breaks his thoughts with a soft voice. 

“Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.” Eunwoo speaks up, observing his features with such a calm expression and kind smile that has Wonwoo feeling slightly less troubled, yet the worry remains.

“I’m sorry.” He murmurs, pursing his lips. “I think, I’m not ready for… you know.”

“It’s okay! I understand.” He responds reassuringly. “Sorry to have just sprung that at you like that.” 

“No it’s fine.” Wonwoo shakes his head firmly, assuring him that it’s okay. He feels incredibly relieved however that Eunwoo is so understanding. “I’m just not used to it.” 

“You?” Eunwoo utters out, looking strangely surprised. “But you’re so good-looking, I’m almost certain you get confessions thrown at you left and right.” 

“Unfortunately not.” Wonwoo laughs now, shaking his head in denial. 

Eunwoo leans slightly closer, so much so that their clothes are brushing against one another. It’s not uncomfortable however, and Wonwoo doesn’t make motions to move away, simply letting it happen. 

The man seems harmless enough, he decides. 

“Sorry, it’s no wonder you looked so frightened.” He says amusedly.

“It took me off guard.” Wonwoo admits sheepishly, absentmindedly playing with his own fingers. 

“Maybe we could be friends instead?” Eunwoo leans against the railing with a slight smirk. “And get to know each other better that way?” 

Wonwoo raises a suspicious eyebrow at his tone. 

Is this man being sly?

“Maybe.” He hums in response as nonchalantly as possible. 

“That’s not a no.” Eunwoo remarks with a suggestive tone. 

Wonwoo huffs a faint noise, exasperated, removing his glasses to rub at his eyes. This whole ordeal is so perplexing. 

However as he does so, the tense air that had built up around them is suddenly broken when footsteps resound from the balcony entrance, interrupting their little exchange.  

“What are you doing?” The voice is familiar as it approaches. 

Eunwoo snorts a laugh. “Flirting with your roommate.” 

“How did you-“ Wonwoo stops short, realising this might be the product of Mingyu having spoken about him to his friends. 

He sighs, wiping his glasses with the back of his sleeves as he squints at Mingyu’s blurry figure moving closer towards them. 

“Wait, Wonwoo, you’re here with him?” 

“Huh?”

“I didn’t recognise you for a second there…” Mingyu stops where he’s standing, his voice sounding oddly strained. “Maybe I’ve had one too many drinks, but you look different without your glasses.”

Wonwoo puts his lenses back on so that he can see his roommate properly, and what he finds baffles him. Mingyu sports a frown on his face as his gaze traces over Wonwoo’s features with an unreadable look in his eyes, his fingers fidgeting subconsciously in unspoken agitation. 

“What’s wrong?” Eunwoo asks from Wonwoo’s side, a certain edge to his tone that seems to make Mingyu even more restless.

“You were doing what now again?” Mingyu directs his question to his friend, looking away from Wonwoo with a sort of sternness that has Wonwoo prickling with uneasiness. 

“I was flirting with him.” He repeats, and Wonwoo is being sent into a spiral with the confusing way Mingyu is reacting. 

“That’s not…That’s ugh.” Mingyu huffs, running a hand through his hair, looking strangely frustrated. 

“It’s not what? Mingyu?” Eunwoo narrows his gaze, prompting the man to finish his words.

“Nothing.” He replies stonily, looking conflicted with himself. 

“What’s wrong?” Wonwoo butts in, head aching from this puzzling exchange. 

“It’s nothing.” Mingyu repeats again, a hand to his forehead, exhaling shakily. “I’m just dumbfounded as to how all this happened.” 

For some reason, Wonwoo feels like there’s something his roommate isn’t expressing aloud, and when he glances at Eunwoo curiously, it’s obvious the other thinks the same.

“Are you guys going to head back inside?” Mingyu asks after a painstaking silence.

“Yeah, I need to find Junhui anyway.” Wonwoo is quick to pipe up, feeling bewildered by all that just happened. 

“Great, let’s head back in.” Mingyu prompts him, slinging his arm around his shoulder almost as soon as he’s within his proximity.

Wonwoo makes a noise of surprise and turns his gaze to Mingyu with an inquisitive frown but he receives nothing in return as the other adamantly remains silent, instead guiding him back inside with haste.

“Wonwoo! Don’t forget to find me sometime!” Eunwoo calls to him, and Wonwoo glances back over his shoulder with an apologetic look.

“Okay.” He agrees just before they disperse back into the crowd. 

“You don’t have to listen to him, you know?” Mingyu tells him when they’re further from the balcony, still looking agitated with his arm so heavy around his shoulders, Wonwoo pries it off.

“Why?” 

“He’s…you know what? It’s nothing.” Mingyu quickly deflects, and Wonwoo is even more lost.

“Uhm, okay. I’ll just go and find Junhui now.” Wonwoo excuses himself, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible with too many odd scenarios at play. He was already overwhelmed as it is. 

“Okay.” Mingyu says stiffly, his gaze downturned, refusing to meet his eyes. “I’ll see you back in the room.” 

“Yeah.” Wonwoo agrees, his frown palpable. 

They part wordlessly from there, and Wonwoo feels stumped.

What just happened? 

He finds Junhui slightly drunk with Soonyoung where they had been playing a few drinking games in a corner. He excuses his best friend so they can leave and Junhui looks so grateful to be going, bidding Soonyoung a farewell and warning him to not overdo it before they make their way back to the dorms. 

“Junhui. Mingyu was acting weird back there.” Wonwoo murmurs once they leave the ballroom and are exposed to the calming air outside of the stuffy and crowded space. 

“Hm?” Junhui hums, tripping over himself.

As he observes the state his best friend is in, he decides that this conversation can wait for another day. Although it’s troubling him, his friend’s safety is far more important at the moment. 

“Nevermind.” He placates, slinging an arm over Junhui’s shoulder to help him out. “Let’s just get you back to bed.” 

The next few weeks have been uneventful, to say the least.

He stays in the dorm, studies until bedtime, and then goes to classes in the morning.

The only thing that has changed is well, his dynamic with Mingyu. 

Since the strange night of Mingyu’s birthday celebration, things have definitely shifted in their relationship. Despite Wonwoo being perplexed by Mingyu’s odd behaviour before he had left, things had gone back to normal and Wonwoo had pushed it to the back of his mind. 

But the most obvious change is Mingyu’s behaviour. 

On days when he studies past lunch all the way until the sun dips below the horizon, Mingyu comes back to the dorm with plates full of warm food that he’s whipped up in the kitchens, insisting he eats something filling before he starts to disappear. And surprisingly, Mingyu has exceptional talents in cooking. 

Wonwoo has noticed that his roommate has spent less time out at night visiting friends, and instead studies up until late with Wonwoo, initiating small conversations here and there until they’re both tired enough to hit the sack.  

The midterms are coming up, so Wonwoo hasn’t been his usual self, the overwhelming stress that kicks in every time his high expectations impede his thoughts finally hitting him in full force. 

But somehow through it all, Mingyu has been looking after him with small gestures here and there that it’s almost unexpected, yet it warms Wonwoo’s heart with appreciation.

As nice as it is, he’s more confused about where this shift came from. 

“Fancy seeing you here.” 

Wonwoo blinks, the voice alerting him from his bewildered thoughts and he blinks to see Soonyoung grinning at him from against a pillar, balancing a spear between his hands. 

“You’re the one who told me to come find you on campus.” Wonwoo points out, hiding the smile behind his hands.

He’s taking a break from studying, much to his chagrin, but his roommate wouldn’t let him hear the end of it if he didn’t leave the dorm at least once a day apart from classes. Thus he’s come to find Soonyoung by the training grounds where he had his combat classes, and they had promised a meet-up eventually anyway. 

“Looking to ogle some men today?” Soonyoung continues, smirking to himself. 

“What did I just say?” Wonwoo rolls his eyes.

“Just kidding!” Soonyoung snickers, looking happy with himself. “Anyway, you could learn a thing or two about self defence here just by watching.” 

“I suppose so.”  

“Watch me out there. I’ll put on a show just for you.” 

Soonyoung throws him a hearty thumbs up and a dramatic wink before heading down the few steps into the training area where many other students are initiating combat with wooden weapons and minimal magic. 

Wonwoo laughs at his ridiculousness and leans his chin against the palm of his hand, crouched on the steps.

There’s an instructor, directing them into sparring pairs, but what he doesn’t quite expect is that there is a very familiar face among the students and he has to choke back a muffled gasp of surprise.

He almost forgot that Mingyu also takes this class. 

And he meets eyes with him at almost the exact same time his aforementioned roommate spots him. 

‘Wonwoo?’ He mouths, looking just as stunned as he himself probably looks. ‘What are you doing here?’

Wonwoo shrugs at him as Mingyu places his wooden weapon back on the racks.

He looks haphazard, hair sticking up in all directions and sweat drenching his shirt so that every muscle is defined. He has his hands on his hips all the while breathing harshly, but he still looks pleasantly surprised to take in Wonwoo’s crouched form.

“I thought you were studying?” Mingyu comes up to him, puffing out a breath of air. 

“You’re the one who told me I needed to leave the dorm for at least one break a day.” Wonwoo retorts, smiling at him in greeting. “And don’t you have a session to get to?” 

He angles his head to the instructor who is dishing out instructions, and he catches a glimpse of Soonyoung in the fray. 

“I finished my training before this class.” He tells him, which would definitely explain his half-drenched appearance. “Bigger question is, why are you out here watching combat training? You never come this way.” 

“My friend is here.” He states with a shrug.

“Who?”

“Soonyoung.” 

“Oh! Jisoo’s roommate. You guys are friends?” Mingyu tilts his head almost endearingly and Wonwoo has to resist the strange urge to squeeze his cheeks. 

“We go way back.” Wonwoo hums, tapping his finger on his chin as he rests it against his palm comfortably. 

While he was almost expecting Mingyu to make a comment about him having friends other than Junhui, he instead finds Mingyu staring at him contemplatively, an unreadable look in his eyes that makes him feel almost nervous under such an unwavering gaze. 

“Well…since you’re here, can I teach you something?” 

Wonwoo blinks, taken aback. “What?” 

“Come on! It’ll be fun! Don’t you know healer’s should know how to defend themselves as well?” Mingyu bounces excitedly on the spot, looking so eager, he’s almost like a child. 

Wonwoo grimaces, thinking about getting sweaty and potentially making a fool of himself, which makes him instantly decline. “My body is not cut out for that.”

“Too bad!” Mingyu hastily runs forward, attempting to drag him to his feet. “Come on, Wonwoo. I’m a good teacher.” 

“I’m here to watch Soonyoung.” Wonwoo complains adamantly, trying to pull his arms back away from his persistent roommate. “I’m happy sitting here!” 

“And you’ll be happier learning with me!” Mingyu insists, making a pouty face that shakes Wonwoo’s resolve. That’s just not fair. 

“What do I gain from this?” Wonwoo huffs with feigned annoyance.

“Bonding time with me, and essential skills for life.” Mingyu says, his lashes fluttering in a pleading display. He continues to grab at Wonwoo’s arms, which are getting sore from the effort, so he eventually lets them fall slack and his roommate can finally drag him to his feet. 

“Whatever. You owe me after this.” Wonwoo grumbles, but still follows Mingyu down to one of the empty training spots.

“You’ll thank me later.” Mingyu hums, looking pleased. 

Mingyu positions himself at the end of the makeshift ring, holding a wooden spear in one hand and his other arm perched loosely against his hip. 

“I’m going to teach you some self-defence.” Mingyu tells him, pointing the sharp end in his direction, his eyes hardening with a seriousness Wonwoo had never glimpsed from his roommate before.

Sure they’d been living together for a couple or more months, yet he’d never seen Mingyu in his area of specialty like this. 

“Okay.” Wonwoo says slowly, arms hanging awkwardly by his sides. In his defence, he’s never had to do this before. 

“Hold your arms up in a fighting stance.” 

“Uhm.” 

Wonwoo lifts his arms past his shoulders, knuckles clenched in what he hopes is correct, but then Mingyu makes a noise of affront. 

“What?”

“I’ll show you.” He says, despite his earlier noise, he doesn’t look annoyed, only slightly perturbed. “Put your thumb in front of your other fingers not behind.”

Wonwoo sighs and lowers his arms once more, glancing at Mingyu’s form as he demonstrates. Wonwoo attempts to replicate it but to no avail as Mingyu dishes out correction after correction to the point that Wonwoo thinks he’ll never be able to get it down properly if he needed to. 

So much for learning. He thinks.

“This is awful.” Wonwoo mutters as he drops his arms for the nth time.

“It’s okay, come here.” Mingyu tells him with an assuring tone, ever so patiently. 

Wonwoo’s shoulders slump as he reluctantly makes his way over to his roommate. They hadn’t even started the actual practical part of this little spontaneous training session. 

“Fists like this.” Mingyu shows him up close, clenching his hands in and out to show him where his thumb should go over his knuckles.

“Uh huh.” Wonwoo replicates and Mingyu lets out a noise of approval.

“Now your stance…Like this.” Wonwoo stiffens as Mingyu comes up behind him and uses feather-like touches to shift his shoulders at an angle. He gently lifts Wonwoo’s arms slightly higher so that his fists act as a shield for his face.

For some reason, Mingyu’s touches feel more prominent than ever with the close proximity of their bodies and Wonwoo can’t help but be hyper aware of his every movement, every fleeting brush of skin he grazes tingling with anticipation.

Mingyu is practically pressed up against his body, his broad chest brushing along the uppermost part of his back while his breath fans against his nape. He suppresses an instinctive shudder when Mingyu speaks so close to his ears and it takes every will in his body to not flinch away.

“There! Much better.” Mingyu proclaims as he taps his shoulders in approval, taking a step back so that Wonwoo can finally breathe. 

“Mm.” Wonwoo makes a noise he hopes is acknowledgement. 

“Alright, now we can progress with a few defence skills.” Mingyu says. 

Wonwoo merely nods as he eyes the spear Mingyu reclaims in his hold. 

“You need to be in the orthodox stance I just taught you.” Mingyu instructs, positioning his legs. “And then your arms up like before.” 

With a controlled movement, Mingyu holds up an arm. “And you can parry part of the spear like this.” 

Wonwoo follows his motions carefully, taking his lesson in with intent. After all, Mingyu was serious about this, he should be too.

Mingyu prods the wood-end of the stick at his arm, lightly tapping it against his forearm to demonstrate what it would be like in an actual dire circumstance. It goes on like that for a while until Wonwoo can get it down perfectly, and he’s already breathless by the time Mingyu approves of his form and ability to dodge almost adequately. Or at least, as adequate as someone with his athletic capabilities. 

“Hey! Come on, there’s still a few basic drills you need to learn.” Mingyu whines when Wonwoo slumps on the floor, running an exasperated hand through his hair. 

“I’m tired.” Wonwoo complains back, imitating his whiny tone.

Mingyu blinks at him, looking taken aback, his eyebrow raised judgmentally. 

“I’m not finished with you.”

Something in the way he says it, the deep lure of his tone and commanding voice, has Wonwoo shuddering against his will. So he does what any simple man would do. 

He obliges. 

“Good.” Mingyu grins, looking pleased and Wonwoo fails to hold back an exaggerated eye roll despite the burning in his cheeks. 

“Okay sir, tell me what to do.” Wonwoo bows, his tone weary. 

“Up. Higher.” 

As they keep going, Wonwoo begins to break a sweat and starts to plot all the ways he can get back at Mingyu for making him exert all his energy. 

“Just a little more.” 

“I’m going to die.” 

“Don’t be dramatic! We’re having fun.” 

“Fun?” Wonwoo mutters under his breath. “If this is your definition of fun, I’m never hanging out with you again.”

“Don’t be like that, I’m your roommate!” Mingyu huffs, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “But lucky for you, the class is almost over.”

Wonwoo follows his gesture where Mingyu points towards the combat class he is meant to be watching in the first place. Soonyoung is huffing against a pillar, sheens of sweat glinting from his pale skin as he beckons Wonwoo over with pleading eyes.

“Oh right.” 

“I’ll make sure you learn more next time.” Mingyu vows, eyes hardened in determination and Wonwoo sighs.

“Sure thing, I’m counting on you.” 

“You bet.” Mingyu winks. “Don’t think you’ve escaped me just yet.” 

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Wonwoo answers with a small, yet palpable smile. 

Mingyu beams at him when he sees it, and Wonwoo shies away ever so slightly at such a bright expression. 

“Oh and, before I forget, I wanted to show you something.” Mingyu pipes up as he returns the spear to the rack where he’d got it from. 

Wonwoo tilts his head expectantly.

“Look.” 

Wonwoo follows his gesture as Mingyu walks up to a barren part of the training grounds, a little ways from the actual combat range. He mutters a few words under his mouth, that Wonwoo barely catches, and then suddenly, that barren section which had just been filled with dull gravel and sand, shifts to a luscious green in the blink of an eye. Dozens of flowers litter the small-grown shrubbery with their vibrance and Wonwoo’s eyes widen in surprise. Hues of pink, yellow, blue in all their floral glory flood his vision.

“You learned it?” 

“I did.” Mingyu grins proudly. “Thanks to you, I can make something pretty like this.” 

He really used the spell he’d given him. And, he’d shown it to him. 

“I only just perfected it recently.” Mingyu says sheepishly. “I wanted you to be the first one to see it before I show my girlfriend.” 

Wonwoo feels his heart skip a beat at his words, and he can’t help but ask why that’s the case.

Mingyu answers for him, as though reading his mind. “You gave me this spell, and I wanted to show you my appreciation by demonstrating it to you first.” He admits, looking bashful. 

“It’s beautiful.” Wonwoo murmurs, staring at Mingyu’s creation in something akin to awe. 

Somehow, the spell had been executed in such a fine way, portraying the personality that is Mingyu himself. Usually when he uses this spell, his little flower field is always filled with azure flowers and purple blossoms, cool tones mixed with a subtle warmth. 

But Mingyu’s is bright, full of colours of all kinds, gleaming back at him in such a small space, and Wonwoo can’t help but think it represents his roommate well. Mingyu is so bright, so vibrant like an untouchable star.

“I’m sure your girlfriend will love it.” Wonwoo points out, smiling at Mingyu with such a genuine look, his roommate looks incredibly pleased. 

“Thank you.” Mingyu bows. “I’ll be sure to give you credit.” 

Wonwoo huffs a laugh, his heart warming ever so slightly at his words. “Sure.” 

Mingyu bids him farewell with a promise to meet him back at the dorm for dinner. Wonwoo, with an agreement, can’t help but watch his receding figure, muscles displayed in all its sweaty glory as he walks away, and internally, he curses his sinful mind for staring too hard. There’s a sickeningly sweet smile still plastered on his face as he recalls their whole exchange, and he peers back at the little flower patch Mingyu had created with thoughtful eyes. 

“You didn’t watch me at all!” 

Wonwoo almost jumps out of his skin, snapping out of his stupor when Soonyoung rocks up beside him, looking absolutely distraught despite the exhaustion in his features. 

“I got dragged away.” Wonwoo excuses, flashing him a sheepish smile. 

“Yeah, dragged away to ogle your gorgeous roommate right?” 

“What?” Wonwoo deadpans. 

“Don’t deny it! You look like you were eating him alive with that gaze of yours just now.” 

Wonwoo feels the blush creeping from his neck straight to his cheeks and ears, and he firmly denies it with an abrupt shake of his head. “I did no such thing.” 

“The eyes, chico, they never lie.” Soonyoung quotes ominously, looking amused more than anything. 

“Ugh, please don’t. Anyways, I didn’t look at him any different from how I look at a friend.” Wonwoo defends, eyes averted. 

“Yeah well, if I looked at my friends like that, they’d probably be asking me what we are.” 

Wonwoo sighs, realising he dug himself this hole and he’d probably struggle to scramble out of it. “Let’s just drop it, please.” 

Soonyoung shrugs, eyeing him suspiciously with an observant gaze. “Just think about it, Wonwoo. I think, there’s more going on in that head of yours than you're letting on.” 

Wonwoo firmly shakes his head once more, frowning. 

He’s wrong, there is absolutely nothing more going on. And yes, he might find his roommate highly attractive, but that entails nothing more than a simple admittance of his physical character. 

If he sometimes makes his heart feel a few tingles here and there and his mind goes fuzzy with his kind gestures, no one has to know. Not even himself. 

Soonyoung gives him a sidelong glance right then and there that speaks words he doesn’t want to hear aloud. So he brushes it off. 

Little did he know, his ignorance to the brewing turmoil of his heart would only dig him an even deeper hole. 

“Mingyu, can you please not parade around the room like that?” 

Wonwoo squeezes his eyes shut with a groan, opting to stare intensely at the books on his desk as though they were the most interesting thing in the world. 

“What? We’re both men here.” Mingyu complains, his tone whiny and Wonwoo fights the urge to roll his eyes. 

“And I’m into men.” He thinks to himself, not expressing those thoughts aloud. 

“Right.” He huffs instead, not wanting to glimpse the man’s muscles in a glorious display after he’d just stepped out of the piping hot shower moments ago in nothing more than a towel around his waist with steam wafting around his body like he were some otherworldly being. 

He slaps his face into the palm of his hands with a grunt. 

“Are you okay?”

‘Of course I’m fine, you’re just waltzing into the room with that smooth honey skin on full display, glistening with droplets from such a majestic body as though the bathroom you just emerged from were a portal to a transcendent dimension full of ethereal beings. Of course I’m not fine.’ 

Instead of voicing those thoughts aloud, Wonwoo utters a small, “Just feeling unwell,” while coughing to enunciate the effect. 

“Take a break from studying.” Mingyu tuts from somewhere behind him, his voice raspy. “You’re going to wither away if you don’t eat something.” 

“Ugh.” Wonwoo rubs at his eyes from under his glasses, his brain feeling hazy, and not because of the steamy Greek god behind him. “I’ll eat soon.” 

“Why don’t you come eat with me and Yeonseo?” Mingyu suggests after a moment, his warmth palpable as Wonwoo feels him standing behind him now, leaning over his seat. 

Wonwoo resists turning around, his body stiff as he realises that this man’s chest is frighteningly close to his head and one brief look behind and he’ll be face deep in those criminal pectorals that Mingyu is so proud of. He suppresses those thoughts, breathing deeply as he instead considers Mingyu’s words. 

He is still yet to meet his girlfriend after all. 

“Am I welcome?” Wonwoo asks, hesitant. He isn’t too keen on meeting Mingyu’s girlfriend after their first encounter after all, but the temptation of food is too enticing and he supposes it wouldn’t hurt to actually speak to the woman herself. 

Now that he thinks about it, when he’s hanging out with Mingyu, his roommate rarely mentions his girlfriend, usually rambling about his classes or some random spell he finds super interesting. 

“Of course you’re welcome. Besides, you’ve met her before, I’m sure she won’t mind.” 

Wonwoo crooks an eyebrow, chancing a glance over his shoulder to ask when, only to be faced with the monstrosity that was Mingyu’s chest in all its glory. He quickly turns back to face his desk and hides the burning in his cheeks from his unashamed roommate. 

Criminal. He’s so criminal and he doesn’t even know it. 

“I’ve met her before?” He croaks out, trying not to sound as flustered as he feels. 

“Yeah, she works in the library.” 

Wonwoo pauses. “She does?” 

“She does.” Mingyu affirms, his voice sounding slightly more distant, presumably back at his own side of the room, which tells Wonwoo that he can finally breathe again. “She let you sleep that one time after closing hours…did she not say?” 

Wonwoo racks his memory for when exactly he’d heard of a Yeonseo in the library, and then it finally clicks. 

“She did not say.” Wonwoo clarifies, the realisation striking him. “That was her?” 

“Yeah! So you have met her. Aside from the first day at the dorm…but we don’t count that.” 

Wonwoo coughs, momentarily distraught at the reminder. He just has to keep bringing it up. 

“I guess.” Wonwoo finally turns around, breathing a sigh of relief when Mingyu is finally clothed, looking way too relaxed for the torment he’d just given Wonwoo. “No wonder she had no qualms keeping the library open because of you.” 

Mingyu smiles fondly, an expression clearly reserved for his affections only, one that he had never quite glimpsed himself, and he can’t help but feel kind of envious of his pure admiration for his girlfriend. It was something he’d never had himself. 

“Well if you’re sure…” 

“Of course I am.” Mingyu reassures with a bright smile, looking all too eager to drag him out of the dorm. “We’re going to have a nice dinner overlooking the lake tonight. Yeonseo has made all the food already.” 

“I really hope she won’t be upset if I crash your date.” Wonwoo says, instantly feeling bad hearing that his girlfriend had already done all the preparations.

“She’s understanding and always happy to help. Don’t sweat it.” Mingyu walks up to him, his eyes glistening with content. “Let's go before the sun sets.” 

“Ugh, alright.” Wonwoo begrudgingly gives in, feeling like he’s intruding even though Mingyu enthusiastically grabs him by the hand and personally drags him out of the room without another second to spare. 

Wonwoo’s guilt for imposing on their date is doubled when he sees the little picnic display Yeonseo had set up underneath a gazebo overlooking the surrounding lake. From the spot she picked, you could clearly see the sun dipping into the mountains ahead, and from an outsider perspective, anyone could tell it was a very romantic gesture with all the food laid out neatly on a rug with a couple of wine glasses to top it all off.

And Wonwoo…he is the unsuspecting third wheel. 

“Yeonseo!” Mingyu calls, releasing Wonwoo’s hand as he approaches. 

“Mingyu!” She yells back, eyes twinkling with anticipation, and then her gaze lands on Wonwoo’s approaching figure. 

He walks awkwardly towards her setup, feeling impeccably out of place and the more he looks at it, the more he doesn’t seem to understand why Mingyu just thinks that this is okay for him to join. 

As he looks at her, he realises that he’d very much seen her multiple times whenever he went to the library and she always exchanged small words with Mingyu whenever the two of them took their studying out of the dorm, and it took him this long to put two and two together. 

“Oh?” She raises an eyebrow. Yet she doesn’t look perturbed, only curious. “Brought company?” 

“Yeah, I was concerned that if I didn’t drag him to eat, he would starve and wither away in our dorm.” Mingyu explains, running a sheepish hand through his hair. “You don’t mind?” 

Yeonseo, who Wonwoo expected to stare at him in disdain, only smiles widely. And she looks so friendly and forgiving, that Wonwoo feels even more guilty for intruding.

“Of course I don’t.” Yeonseo says, winking at Wonwoo. “As long as I get some alone time with you after he gets his share.” 

“I know you so well.” Mingyu declares, looking positively joyful as he leans down to plant a sweet kiss on her lips, and Wonwoo has to look away from the overly public display of affection, a strange pang in his chest as he witnesses it. “You’re the best.” 

“I didn’t know you were his girlfriend.” Wonwoo admits as he crouches down to join them, albeit hesitantly. 

“Heh, I was wondering when you would figure it out.” She chuckles, pouring Mingyu and herself a glass of wine, apologising for not serving him any since there were only two glasses. “Also, I cooked a small bit of steak here, and there’s some fruit to cleanse your palate.” 

She points at the different plates and Wonwoo nods attentively, feeling his heart warm at the gesture, while Mingyu already eagerly digs in. He makes a noise of satisfaction as he chews the steak with a thumbs up and Wonwoo suppresses a chuckle at his haste to devour the food.

“Good right?” Yeonseo nudges Mingyu who only hums. “Wonwoo, please have some.” 

She hands him a plate and picks a couple of pieces of steak along with a few seasoned vegetables that tinges his senses with a pleasant warmth. 

The food is indeed delicious, and he tells her so. Yeonseo looks delighted at his admittance and begins putting a few more bites on his plate. In a way, Wonwoo can’t help but think that Yeonseo is a bit like Mingyu in that sense. Not too pushy, but doting, just like his roommate. 

They continue to eat like that as the sun sets, painting the skies with ambient warmth, easing his mind from the stress of studying and he’s grateful Mingyu took him out tonight to see such a view. His aforementioned roommate talks absentmindedly about his day while Yeonseo pitches in here and there, and Wonwoo listens on in relative silence whilst eating and savouring the food so delectably made. 

“Oh, Wonwoo look at me.” 

Wonwoo blinks, surprised when Mingyu stops ranting about his professor who apparently gives them too much theory homework. 

He glances at his roommate who is suddenly right in front of him, eyes fixated on his mouth with deep concentration. 

And suddenly—

“You have something right here…” Mingyu leans in close, one hand cupping the side of his cheek in order to angle his face towards him and Wonwoo’s breath hitches almost instinctively at their awfully close proximity. 

He freezes, eyes blown wide in mortification as he feels Mingyu’s breath tickle the skin of his cheek as a napkin comes to dab at his lips with such gentle care. 

What the hell. 

His breath smells faintly of rosemary and lemon, and he blinks rapidly as he pulls away, too stunned to even utter a word. His heart is racing, threatening to burst from his chest, and he can feel his ears burning red. 

“Mingyu.” Yeonseo says coolly, and Wonwoo snaps out of his daze, mouth agape in horror. 

Mingyu retracts his arms, turning to Yeonseo with an inquisitive hum, clearly not realising what he had just done. 

“Keep your hands to yourself, I’m sure Wonwoo is uncomfortable.” There’s a warning in her tone that Wonwoo can’t quite pinpoint, and Mingyu himself looks rather perplexed. 

“But he’s my roommate.” Mingyu protests in confusion, frowning at her. “It’s fine, right Wonwoo?” 

Wonwoo clears his throat when Yeonseo continues to stare at her boyfriend with an icy glare, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear out of sheer awkwardness. “It’s alright.” He assures, although unsure himself, blinking at them while his heart continues to thrum in his ears from whatever the hell just happened there. 

The worst part about it, he did it in front of his girlfriend. Does Mingyu not realise how intimate that gesture was? 

Yeonseo doesn’t look too happy as she fixes Mingyu with a stony stare and a look that says she will talk to him later. Her gaze softens ever so slightly as she looks at Wonwoo now, sighing. 

“Have you eaten your fill?” 

Wonwoo knows it’s a subtle indicator that he’s overstayed his welcome, and he gulps, fearful that he’d gotten on her bad side within an hour of meeting her, so he stands. Dusting his pants off with a stiff bow, he awkwardly waves. 

“Thank you so much for dinner.” He says, voice strained. “It was nice officially meeting you, Yeonseo.” 

He hopes that his voice doesn’t give away the deep turmoil welling up like a storm in his body, and he takes his leave before they can say another word. 

As he walks away with a heavy heart, he drowns out the sound of Yeonseo scolding Mingyu in the distance, while his mind tries not to replay those excruciating seconds.  

When he gets back to the dorm, it feels like he can’t breathe.

He locks himself in the bathroom, rubbing at his eyes that are starting to prick with tears from the overwhelming thoughts steadily creeping into his mind. Unwelcome, and distasteful. 

He leans against the bathroom mirror and stares at his pitiful reflection, observing the way his own eyes are blown wide with horror. His heart is pounding in his chest and it all crashes down on him in one fell swoop, drowning him like a wave out of control. 

And everytime he closes his eyes, he imagines tender hands caressing one side of his cheek while the other swipes away a speck of food, eyes so gentle as they stare at his face with such overwhelming attentiveness. 

His mind continues to drift, every fleeting moment of Mingyu’s warmth on his body when they trained together, Mingyu constantly doting on him and why it always made him feel inexplicably flattered on the inside. 

Ah. 

It wasn’t just admiration or the fact that he found Mingyu attractive on the outside. It was so much more than that. 

It didn’t take a genius to understand why his heart couldn’t seem to steady itself and why it felt like Mingyu’s touch seared his skin even though it had happened moments ago. He curses himself, a slew of profanities escaping his quivering lips as he comes to terms with the fact. 

Fuck. He liked Kim Mingyu. 

Since the revelation that he had a blossoming crush on his lovely roommate, Wonwoo has had to fight the traitorous rhythm of his heart day by day with the newfound parasite of an emotion also known as ‘pining’. 

Sure he’s had crushes before, but never one that he’d lived with. It felt like self-inflicted torture every time he woke up to Mingyu placing a plate of toast beside his bedside table, ruffling his hair in endearment all while his heart was threatening to fly out of his chest. He hated that he smiled to himself behind closed doors, reliving each fleeting touch, each sweet gesture. 

Because inevitably, it was wrong. 

Mingyu had a girlfriend, and Wonwoo had no idea if he even swung that way. And here he was, pining over his roommate helplessly who would never look in his direction romantically. And he shouldn’t either, given the fact that he’s hopelessly in love with Yeonseo and incredibly loyal from what he’s seen and heard. Hell, he didn’t even know if Mingyu was homophobic or not. Something he doubted, but it was never impossible. 

He’s tried so hard to forget about it in the past couple of weeks, opting to hang out more with Junhui and even Jeonghan after class, talking to them about lighthearted topics while distracting his mind from the heavy weight of forbidden attraction to his roommate. Mingyu has asked him a few times now why he's going out so often, and Wonwoo keeps telling him he just wanted a change of scenery before their first half of exams. Mingyu, always caring for his wellbeing, simply nodded in approval after his answer and let him go on his merry way. 

Just when they’d started to become pretty close as friends… his heart just had to ruin things. 

Of course Wonwoo vows to keep it so that he’ll never find out. Hopefully. 

On the other hand, because of the stress of studying as well as lack of sleep, topped off with the internal misery of liking someone he shouldn’t, his body slowly, but surely withered to the point his immunity couldn’t keep up any longer. 

So here he is, just after his final exam, lying in bed with only his eyes peering over the blanket as he recites spells to pass the time. His face is hot, surely breaching a fever, and his eyes are watery from exhaustion and the overwhelming feeling of sickness. As someone studying healing magic, it was almost ironic that he couldn’t heal himself. Without any energy in his body, there was zero chance he could miraculously cure his own flu. He’d already taken the right herbs to placate any pains and for congestion, but it had yet to kick in fully.  

To make things worse, since they’d reached halfway through the year, it was actually his birthday. And he was sick. 

The cherry on top is that his friends had even planned a celebration, yet he couldn’t even leave his bed. 

Mingyu left earlier to attend his final exam for the semester before he’d awoken, so now he is in the dorm alone, wallowing in the clutches of illness with no one to look after him, and somehow, he feels that it’s probably better that way. He doesn’t think he can handle Mingyu’s incessant fretting while in this state. Thank goodness his roommate hadn’t seen him coughing out his lungs this morning.          

But that meant, he couldn’t even go tell his friends that he was unwell. 

What good luck he had. 

By the time the sun had set from beyond the window, he was still in the same position he had woken up in, puffing and sweating from head to toe. Usually when he got sick, he got hit hard. This time was clearly no different. 

He can barely move a muscle even when the door swings open after a few clicks and his roommate comes stumbling in with a bright announcement of his arrival. 

“Wonwoo, I finished my exam.” He singsongs. “It’s time to celebrate your birthday!” 

A groan. 

“Wonwoo?” 

He hears footsteps, and then the lantern that illuminates the room is flickered to life by the snap of a finger, and suddenly wide eyes are staring down at him with all the concern in the world. 

“Hello? Earth to the birthday boy?” 

“Mingyu…” He croaks out, and his voice sounds so pitiful, his throat feeling like iron saws grating against each other with any noise he makes. 

“Woah, are you okay?” 

Wonwoo coughs under the blanket, tucking his face away so that his roommate doesn’t get exposed to his sickness. 

“Okay, noted.” His roommate says, gently prying the blanket from his face so that Wonwoo blinks up at him once more. “Give me a moment.”

Mingyu touches the back of his hand against his burning forehead and Wonwoo breathes a sigh from Mingyu’s cool skin against his own. 

“How long have you been like this?” Mingyu asks after he’s certain that Wonwoo is suffering from a fever. 

“Since I woke up.” Wonwoo grumbles, tucking himself away once more, feeling awful about his whole situation with a tinge of self-pity. 

“Have you left the bed?” 

“No…” Wonwoo utters, his lashes fluttering up at his roommate from sheer exasperation, feeling even warmer as Mingyu runs a hand through his evidently sweaty locks to let him feel the cool air. He feels disgusting, but Mingyu doesn’t seem to care as he brushes away a few strands from his eyes, only stopping his ministrations once Wonwoo manages to poke a finger out of the blanket to swat him away with embarrassment. 

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you.” Mingyu murmurs instead, his voice soft. “I’ll prepare you some warm soup if it’ll make you feel better, okay?” 

Wonwoo makes a small feeble sound of acknowledgement before adding, “Can you please give me some ginger tea as well?” 

“Of course.” Mingyu responds with such sincerity, his footsteps already retreating towards the doorway. “I’ll be back in a flash, don’t worry. Hang in there for me.” 

And he stays true to his word, returning within twenty minutes with a piping hot bowl of chicken and corn soup along with a porcelain cup filled to the brim with aromatic ginger tea. 

“My poor birthday boy.” Mingyu pouts dramatically as he perches himself on the floor by his bed, holding the bowl of soup while gently coaxing Wonwoo to sit up. He ignores the possessive pronoun in favour of focusing on the bowl in his hands now, trying to swat away those irritable thoughts. 

“I’m sorry. You didn’t have to babysit me.” 

Mingyu’s eyes soften as he takes in his sorry state, tapping his knee in reassurance. “Don’t be. These things can’t be helped. I told the others what happened already and they sent their well wishes.”

Wonwoo couldn’t help but feel ashamed for being so sick when his friends had worked so hard to prepare a celebration for him. And here he was, stuck in bed without being able to see them at all. All because he couldn’t take proper care of his body and now his roommate was playing the parental role in looking after him despite him being a grown-ass man with limbs of his own. 

He closes his eyes in remorse, knowing that his friends had been looking forward to the occasion since it lined up almost perfectly with the end of semester exam finish. 

As though sensing his guilt, Mingyu reaches forward and urges him to take a spoonful of soup. 

“Just take it easy. We can always hold the celebration again when you’re feeling better.” 

He sighs, knowing that it’s true, yet he can’t help but feel inexplicably guilty. It was simply a part of his nature to overcompensate for the feelings of others despite being in a helpless situation himself, fully knowing how weak he was. 

He swallows the soup despite the heat burning down his throat, and he can barely taste it because of his severe congestion in his nose, making him feel even worse. He winces as his tongue begins stinging from the searing liquid, and Mingyu quickly warns him to slow down.

“Stupid.” His roommate remarks, but his tone is almost bordering on fond. “Here.” 

Wonwoo feels like protesting when Mingyu himself brings the spoon up to his parted lips, urging him to eat slowly. He would be far more embarrassed if not for the already sorry situation he was in, so he sadly gives in and lets Mingyu feed him like a pitiful child. 

“You’re not going out tonight?” Wonwoo pipes up with a hoarse voice, sounding so weak. 

“Well I was going to help set up dinner for your birthday, but I think taking care of the actual guy who’s sick right now is more important. It’s been called off anyway.” Mingyu blinks at him, tilting his head subconsciously in that endearing way of his. 

“You’re not going to do something else though?” Wonwoo manages after he swallows another spoonful Mingyu so graciously shoves in his mouth. “You just finished your exam, don’t you want to celebrate with Yeonseo or something?” 

Mingyu flashes him a smile, albeit sheepish. “Well, that can wait. Your health is my priority right now.” 

Ah, what a cruel thing to say. He thinks to himself. And he knows Mingyu has no idea the effect his words have.

He hates how Mingyu somehow knew how to tug at his heartstrings when he least wanted it, and that sickening revelation that he actually liked this guy made it so much worse. 

So he closes his eyes, hoping that the feeling will go away if he doesn’t look at him. 

“Thank you.” He breathes out instead, squeezing his eyes in a feigned show of pain to mask his treacherous feelings for the man before him. 

He was an awful person for even considering a taken man as a romantic interest. But his heart couldn’t seem to lie, nor would his mind stop straying in that direction. It felt all too overwhelming. 

Suddenly, breaching the concentration of his eating as Mingyu heartily spoons him soup, they are interrupted by a resounding knock on the door. 

“I’ll get it.” He says, and Wonwoo hums, taking the bowl into his own quivering hands. 

Wonwoo blinks at the doorway as Mingyu clicks open their lock and swings the door open to reveal Yeonseo standing at the front. Her face looks distant, and as she glimpses Wonwoo at the back, she lets out a sigh. 

”Where have you been?” She asks, tapping the doorframe. “We were meant to meet up early.” 

“Something came up, Wonwoo is sick.” Mingyu tells her, his voice hushed. “Celebration’s off.” 

“You could’ve told me.” And her voice fades off but the impatience is tangible in her tone.  

Wonwoo can barely hear the rest, both of them muttering back and forth rapidly, but each word feels more heated than the next. He looks away, feeling out of place even as Mingyu rushes to shut the door behind him until Wonwoo can no longer hear anything.

He feels dread sink in, the sound of their resounding argument echoing from under the gap in the door and he wonders if he’s unintentionally getting in the way of their relationship. 

He finishes the rest of his soup with a guilty-conscience, running an exasperated hand through his disheveled hair. Sometimes, this is where he laments meeting new people. There’s always something that goes wrong in his socially recluse life, and this time he truly thinks it’s his fault for whatever reason.

He crawls out of bed after finishing his ginger tea, having the teensiest bit of strength left in his body, vaguely hearing their voices carry through the building with a heavy heart and he winces at a particularly harsh tone from Mingyu. 

He locks himself in the bathroom, lets the shower run and pour warm liquid over his head until everything else is drowned. His hair clings to his face but he can’t be bothered moving it, simply letting the water soak his skin until the world beyond him fades away. 

Wonwoo has no idea how long he stays like that, and by the time he steps out, shivering from the frosty air, there’s a silent rap on the door.

“Wonwoo?” He hears softly. “Are you feeling better?” 

Wonwoo squeezes his eyes shut, leaning against the door. “Peachy.” 

“If you need anything, let me know.” 

As he comes out of the bathroom, all refreshed and with a feigned smile on his face, he bids Mingyu a goodnight, saying he needs to rest up. His roommate agrees, and Wonwoo can’t help but notice the red sheen around irises and the tired look in his expression. 

“Hope you feel better soon. I’ll be right here.” Mingyu tells him, his features softening, and Wonwoo can’t help but feel sorry for him. “Hey and…happy birthday.” 

He places something by Wonwoo’s bedside table, before hastily retreating with heavy steps. 

“You can look at it tomorrow.” 

“Okay.” He breathes out, despite his curiosity. “Goodnight.”  

He tucks himself back into bed with the pain of his sickness slowly ebbing to a faint irritation as he falls to the darkness of the dreamworld, nothing but anxious thoughts swirling in his lethargic mind.

The next day, he’s awoken by Junhui jumping on him, eyes wide and worried despite him being very much contagious. 

“You’ll get sick.” Is the first thing he croaks and Junhui huffs.

“And you’ll cure me right? You’re a healer! Besides, it's the holidays now, so I don't have to worry about classes.” 

“How did you even get in?” Wonwoo asks as he sits up, his head pounding and his throat still bitter and aching.

“Your roommate graciously let me in.” He declares, slapping a hand on his forehead with much less concern than Mingyu the night before. “He left already though, saying something about making amends.” 

Wonwoo sighs, having an idea of what that might entail, and he frowns. “That reminds me.” 

“What?” 

“He gave me something before I went to sleep.” Wonwoo reaches over to his bedside table and picks up what Mingyu left for him.

A small happy birthday is scribbled in cursive on the back of what appears to be a scroll, and Wonwoo realises that it’s probably a spell, similar to the sort of gift he gave him earlier in the year. 

“A spell? You sure do think alike.” Junhui comments, lying unceremoniously sprawled on his bed like it were his own. 

Wonwoo ignores him in favour of unfurling the scroll, the piece of paper much cleaner and newer than the one he’d given to Mingyu, clearly having been self-written. 

The contents however, are surprising although they shouldn’t be when Mingyu has been talking to him constantly about joining him for another self-defence session. So he exhales, rubbing his temples. 

“So, what is it?” 

“An invisibility spell. One that can be used in emergencies to cloak and disappear quickly.” He murmurs, eyeing the intricate sketches for simple hand gestures, noting the different annotations and silly smiley faces Mingyu clearly added. He can almost hear the words in his voice, and the fact made him feel sick. 

When would he stop falling for his roommate? 

“That’s no simple spell.” Junhui whistles, sounding impressed. “It may seem easy but to have written it out for you like that…amazing.”

“Why?” Wonwoo pinches the bridge of his nose, agonised. 

Wonwoo had only given Mingyu a hand-me-down spell, this is hardly fair. He thinks he might have a brewing migraine from this whole ordeal, so he slumps back down on the bed, Junhui making room for him. 

“Junhui, don’t wake me up again.” 

“Look, I’m sorry for jumping on you.” His friend rolls his eyes. 

“No as in, let me sleep forever.” 

His friend pauses, shifting so that he’s looking at him clearly now, both of them lying face to face. 

“What’s up with you?” 

Wonwoo winces internally, his mind heavy with regrets and the betrayal of his own heart. But all he says is a simple, “Nothing.” 

“Don’t go all silent on me. Tell me what’s wrong.” Junhui demands, his gaze narrowed in on his own, and he feels suddenly so small. “Something has to be wrong for you to be like this.” 

“It’s…complicated.” He admits, quickly turning away before he can cough in Junhui’s face. “I’m sick. I’ll tell you later when I can talk more.” 

Junhui stays silent for a few moments, clearly skeptical, but knowing him, he trusts him to stay true to his word. So he simply nods, but not before flicking his forehead. 

“Don’t hide anything from me.” Junhui warns him, the sternness in his gaze prominent. 

“I won’t.” He gives in, squeezing his eyes shut in exhaustion. 

“Sleep, but when you’re better, I will be interrogating you.”

“Yes mum.” 

Another flick to his forehead and Wonwoo protests before ultimately giving in. “I promise!” 

Junhui smiles now, fond. “Good. Now sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up, like your guardian angel.”

Wonwoo feels a bit lighter now, realising how much more he needed his friends’ presence in such difficult times. Although he didn’t want to get Junhui into this jumbled mess of his and expose him to all of his individual qualms and troubles with his own mind, he realises Junhui would never let him do this alone. He never has. 

“Junhui, do you think you would like winter more than summer?” Wonwoo blinks up at the ceiling.

A pause. 

“I think you’re losing it.” Junhui comments after a moment, sounding amused. “Just sleep.” 

“Okay.” He whispers, feeling the exhaustion of his sickness taking over once more. 

He thinks Mingyu would prefer summer. 

“We have quite the practical to do today.” Jeonghan says, looking as exhausted as he feels with it being way too early in the morning. 

Although it’s already holidays, healers often have secondary mid-break courses to test their practical skills out on the field. Which meant, a two week’s trip to the capital city to help look over real guards under the supervision of the main palace healers within close proximity of the royal family. 

It’s a once in a year opportunity of high intensive education and training, and his temporary roommate was of course, Jeonghan, decidedly his only close friend in this course. Although Seokmin, one of Mingyu’s friends and someone he’s been vaguely acquainted with over the semester, is also on this trip with them, he’s in a lower grade of supervision being new hence their separation. 

As soon as he had gotten over his sickness, it had already been time to head off to the capital. Begrudgingly, Junhui had let him off the hook just this once, making him swear on his life that they’ll have a long chat when he returns. And of course he promised, as much as it chagrined him, he’d rather keep his head connected to his body and not face the wrath of his best friend. 

Mingyu had also left during when he was still bed-ridden, having apologised profusely for not being able to stay and take care of him since he had to go back and see his family for the break. Wonwoo had reassured him that he was already on a swift recovery. He can still vividly see Mingyu’s wide, concerned eyes, and that’s enough to snap him from his thoughts. 

He sighs, subconsciously leaning his head onto Jeonghan’s shoulder as the two of them listen to a long lecture about how to properly apply pressure before bandaging a bloody gash, and then the practical theory behind the healing magic that can intricately repair each skin cell back into place. 

They’re in the palace infirmary, standing quietly against the wall as they watch the official healers tend to a few wounds of those who guard the frontlines. Some are fairly unscathed, whilst others are beaten and battered from smaller skirmishes. There’s all sorts of dangerous people out there, so the healers’ job is incredibly important. 

“Now, I want all of you to shadow a palace healer by each medical bed, and watch what they do very carefully.” Their supervisor instructs, voice stern as they direct each of the students to a bay. 

He leaves Jeonghan’s side with a reluctant sigh, his usual lab partner giving him an encouraging thumbs up as they both separate. 

He shoulders one of the healers, impressed by their precision and attention to detail, but it isn’t until a couple of hours pass that his mind starts wondering. He’s only so strong, and he’s a simple student after all with a limit to his attention span. 

They’ve monitored and treated about five or so patients by now, asking about symptoms, providing advice on wound care or aches. And by the end of it, he’s not surprised that he’s fully mentally drained. 

It’s noon by now, and they’re finally offered a break which all the students willingly take without hesitation, and he finds Jeonghan and Seokmin outside of the infirmary looking as drained as he feels.

“So…” Seokmin breaks the air with a chipper tone despite the exhaustion in his eyes. “Shall we explore the city?” 

“I want to eat first.” Jeonghan complains at his answer, slumping against Seokmin’s shoulder. “My throat is so dry.” 

“Oh you’re right. I’m famished!” 

“You guys go on ahead.” Wonwoo exhales. “I’ll eat a bit later. I want to get some fresh air.” 

Jeonghan eyes him skeptically, giving him a rough look up and down and Wonwoo flashes him a sheepish smile. “Don’t forget to eat.” 

“I won’t.” He reassures him. 

Once he bids them a brief, ‘see you soon’, Wonwoo is guided towards the palace gardens by an inner palace guard, tasked with looking after the group of students for the time being, and he directs him to the exit from there so he can explore the capital city himself. 

To be honest, he’s not feeling too hungry after all the blood and wounds he’d seen today, so he wanted to walk to clear his mind. Not to mention, it was a particularly rare opportunity to explore the capital as a student from a rural town. Most people residing in the capital were typically of wealthier backgrounds, and held themselves in high regard in their society. He’s not surprised given the fact that they’re so close to the royal family with the palace right at the end of the city. 

He strolls the streets with curious eyes, committing everything to memory because one day, he thinks he might end up living here depending on how his course goes. At least that’s the most ideal outcome.

He breathes in, feeling the crispy fresh air flood his nose. It’s not the same as the air in the village he came from, but it’s not unpleasant. It smells faintly of pastries in the wind, and decorated flora adorning balconies of the residents. 

In the distance, he can hear the sound of bustling markets and boisterous voices and laughter and he notes to check it out first. 

When he gets there, he sees people streaming through a wide breadth of a market place. People are yelling discount prices for various fresh produce and others are bargaining at store fronts with eager eyes. He smells the scent of freshly baked bread from a bakery front, eyes the fresh fruit laid out in such a neat display by market stalls and stares at it all in awe. 

His village is pretty similar, but never had he seen such a large marketplace like this before, nor had he seen one so orderly. He supposed it was possible with the right amount of money. 

As he carefully makes his way through the crowd of people, weaving through bodies until he reaches a clearing with a large fountain, probably to distinguish the centre of the marketplace. It is a beautiful fountain with intricate carvings and engravings into smooth marble, a statue at the centre depicting a great stallion. 

He’s so busy admiring the extravagant display of artistic expertise, that he barely registers someone bumping into him haphazardly, only hearing a faint resounding ‘oof’. 

He blinks up at a tall six-foot guy staring right back at him, looking as stunned as he feels with his mouth parted. He’s wearing a sleeveless cloth shirt that looks more like the sleeves have been torn off on purpose, and trousers baggy enough to cover his shoes. And Wonwoo…well, he would recognise that fashion sense anywhere. 

“Mingyu?” His eyes widen, shocked to see his roommate standing right there, looking just as flabbergasted as him. “What in the— what are you doing here?” 

“My family took me here to go shopping.” He explains, looking rather frantic. “I thought you were doing your course thing?” 

“We’re on break for a couple of hours.” He tells him, frowning. Something’s not quite right about Mingyu’s situation. And as he glances around, he can’t help but cock an eyebrow.

“So…where’s your family?” 

“Back there.” Mingyu points loosely to somewhere in the crowd where Wonwoo had just come from, although he’s shifting in place. “Erm, I might have gotten lost.” 

Wonwoo cocks an eyebrow, unconvinced. 

Clearly scrutinised, Mingyu gives in. 

“Okay, I ran away. I didn’t want to get dragged around for hours just to shop for things until my feet get blisters.” Mingyu complains when Wonwoo doesn’t stop staring him down. “Besides, it’s more fun to look outside of the marketplace instead of staring at stalls the whole day.” 

“I mean…sure.” Wonwoo says slowly, disbelieving. 

“Anyways, Wonwoo, why don’t you come with me?” Mingyu changes the topic quickly, chuckling awkwardly as he swings an arm around his shoulder. “Let’s explore together!” 

“Hey, I didn’t agree to this.” Wonwoo narrows his eyes, but he’s being dragged along anyway. 

“Please?” His roommate pleads, looking down at him with wide round eyes, his face so close to his own that he has to begrudgingly look away to hide the redness he can feel flooding his cheeks. 

“Whatever.” He gives in with a grumble. “I have to be back at the palace in two hours though.” 

“No sweat, I’ll bring you back in no time.” Mingyu says with a cheery tone. “Are you feeling better by the way?” 

“Yeah.” 

“That’s great to hear. We can celebrate your birthday properly soon.” 

He agrees quietly.

Although as they continue walking together, deep down he thinks, he shouldn’t be here with him. 

But as Mingyu draws him further away from the crowd and uphill, passing beautiful residential homes until they find themselves at a massive lookout, he can’t bring himself to look anywhere else. In the end, his willpower is too small, and his magnetic pull to Mingyu is already far too strong. All he can do is follow and follow.

“Look! You can see some villages from here.” Mingyu calls to him as he leans over the fencing almost precariously, a steep cliffside underneath. When he seems to notice how close he is to the edge, his eyes widen in something akin to mortification and he squawks before jumping back and cowering on the floor. 

“So, were you going to show me the villages or…” Wonwoo pipes up as he steps closer, amused as he sees Mingyu curl in on himself on the pavement. 

“That’s too high.” 

“Well, the city is built on the edge of a mountain after all.” 

Mingyu makes a small noise and Wonwoo sighs, taking in his pitiful form. He crouches down beside him and gently coaxes him to his feet. 

“You’re pretty safe up here.” Wonwoo points out, patting his shoulder and pointing to the railing.

“What if it breaks?” Mingyu whispers, looking at the railing like it personally offended him. 

Wonwoo chuckles, shaking his head at his ridiculousness. “Unlikely. It’s probably been there for years.” 

He couldn’t believe his big and burly roommate with such an intimidating demeanor to those who didn’t know him, could be such a softy at heart. 

Scared of heights? Who could’ve known. 

“Come on, let’s go somewhere else before you faint.” Wonwoo sighs when Mingyu stands there, looking dumbfounded as he stares at the edge. 

He quickly snaps out of it at Wonwoo’s words and takes that as his queue to sling his arm around his own in one swift movement, completely catching him off guard. He makes a small sound of protest, but Mingyu is too busy dragging him as far away as possible from the lookout for him to notice Wonwoo’s distress. 

His roommate sure loved to torture him unintentionally. 

As he follows absentmindedly, trying to distract his mind from the fact that he’s still tied arm in arm with Mingyu, the man of his unintended affections of all people, he can’t help but sense something different about Mingyu today. Sure, he’s roomed with this guy for half a year now, and yet, he’d never seen Mingyu so carefree and almost child-like, staring around the city with wide twinkling eyes and his mouth parted in fascination as he takes in the architecture. 

He supposes there’s always more to learn about him. 

“Wonwoo, come! They’re selling some really nice trinkets over there.” Mingyu tugs him, looking eager to see some of the quieter stalls at the edge of the city. 

Wonwoo sighs, letting his roommate take him further, yet he finds that he doesn’t actually mind despite his feigned exasperation, simply enjoying the rare opportunity to spend time with his roommate outside of college. 

Perhaps there was that greedy and selfish part of him that secretly enjoyed soaking in Mingyu’s presence all to himself, but he’d never let that thought escape. 

“Greetings, you handsome young men.” The woman manning one of the trinket stalls leans up against the table, her eyes sharp and her cleavage prominent in the tight-fitted gown she’s wearing. 

She flutters her lashes at them, a sly cheshire-like smile taking shape on her face. Her neck is lathered in silver jewellery, bedazzled gems glinting under the sunlight. Her untainted, pure porcelain skin makes her appear to be glowing under the rays of the afternoon sky. She’s ethereal to say the least.

But something in the way her eyes flash with fleeting mischief has Wonwoo feeling uneasy. He was almost certain that her outer allure was a carefully-drawn out strategy to captivate innocent market-goers, entrancing them the moment they lock eyes. Something in her tone, he felt like she was reeling them in with a spell. 

He wouldn’t be surprised if she were. 

“You boys looking for a souvenir?” She asks very delicately, her voice laced with a sultry tone. 

Mingyu seems to be frozen beside him, his mouth parted wordlessly as though he can’t formulate any convenient thoughts. So Wonwoo speaks on his behalf.

“Depends on what you’re selling.” He says carefully. 

She grins, all cat-like and eerie. “My stall houses the finest jewels in the country. Like no other. Some bring you luck, some bring you fortune, some even peace and happiness.”

She pauses, looking Wonwoo up and down, careful and calculated. “And some can aid in…troubles with romance.” 

Wonwoo stiffens, flashing a side-long glance at Mingyu who is enraptured by the crystals on the table, glimmering in different colours. 

And Wonwoo, well, he can’t help but be curious. “What sort of jewels?”

“Of which context?” She asks, tilting her head innocently.

Wonwoo doesn’t speak, frowning at the table as he eyes the assortment of gemstones and crystals laid out before him with a skeptical eye. 

“Perhaps you would appreciate something like this?” 

She reaches underneath her stall table, never once breaking eye contact, before pulling out a silver necklace with a pendant hanging from the chain. 

It’s pretty. But that’s all it is. 

“This here, is a stone that represents a one-sided love.” The woman says very slowly, her eyes piercing Wonwoo’s soul with an almost intimidating stare. “The moonstone shines brightly at night and conveys the trembling soul of an unrequited lover. Its energies can help to overcome that problem of heartache. One wish…at the end of darkness’ door, and the light will come to life.” 

“Okay….” Wonwoo takes in her words cautiously, each word sounding so unbelievable. Yet, it’s almost like…she’s reading him like a book. 

“Boom. When the time comes, the moonstone will elevate your heart.” She says, every word hanging off her tongue like some twisted prophecy. “Fancy it?”

“I…”

Before he can answer, she stands up, her height not far below himself, and she snatches his hand roughly, leaning over so that their faces are inches apart. Her breath tickles his cheeks, fluttering lashes right before his own eyes. She smells faintly of smoke and potions, and that’s all it takes for him to be even more doubtful than before. 

“Please, take it.” She insists with a low venomous tone, one that only he can hear, staring so deeply into his soul that he feels a tremor in his chest, goosebumps forming all over his skin. “Your future…is bright. But only if you carry this necklace.” 

Mingyu quickly moves from beside him, gently but very boldly prodding her hand away from Wonwoo’s with a distinct glower, one that has Wonwoo feeling even more cautious. 

He shouldn’t take it.

But something in her words makes him think. What if there’s truth in it? What if…

“Okay.” He eventually concedes, albeit hesitantly, his body shuddering as her fingers brush over his own while she hands over the necklace. 

As he looks down now, he realises her nails are shaped like talons, scraping over his skin like thorns. Dangerous. 

She grins, satisfied. “Free of charge.” 

“What?”

“You heard me. It seems like you are a person who needs this.” She says ominously, eyes dulling to a grey that has him feeling even more anxious. 

“What do you mean?” Mingyu finally butts in, looking dumbfounded yet wary. 

The woman looks between the two of them, her gaze unreadable, and he finds that he wants to get out of there as soon as possible. 

And then she shrugs, remaining silent. 

“Let’s just go, Mingyu.” Wonwoo tugs at his roommate’s sleeve, eager to flee. “We’ve looked here enough.” 

“May the light of the moonstone guide your heart!” She calls to them once they hastily take their leave, her resounding laughter filtering through the air.

Once they’re out of ear’s reach, walking towards the entrance of the palace, Mingyu turns to look at him with round eyes.

“Are you okay?” He asks softly, always so attentive.

“Yeah.” Wonwoo breathes out, feeling relieved now that they’re away. He’s almost certain that the woman had some sort of black magic aura in her, given the discomfort he felt. It would explain how she read his tumultuous feelings by a simple glance at his body. 

Dangerous. Yet as he stares at the necklace in his hand, he can’t help but wonder…does it work?

“I hope you don’t take her words to heart. She was so…sketchy.” Mingyu says, for lack of a better word, eyeing the necklace he’s currently dangling precariously from his fingertips. 

“I don’t.” He says. Although there’s a tinge of doubt wedged in his mind. “I don’t.” He repeats, more to himself, and then he tucks the necklace in his dress-shirt pocket.

Mingyu looks at him for a moment, scanning his face as though uncertain, before he finds his resolve and loops his arm through Wonwoo’s once more, much to his chagrin. He grimaces at the way his heart thuds in his chest at the contact.

“Why?” Wonwoo can’t help but ask as Mingyu weaves through people, guiding him in the direction of the palace. 

“It’s more fun when we’re together.” He answers simply, giving him a sideways glance, a cheeky smile plastered on his face. “Roommate bonding time, eh?”

Wonwoo can’t help but laugh, feeling a little better from the uneasiness of before, the necklace more like an empty weight in his pocket. “More like you’re using me as an escape from your family. But sure.” 

“Hey! It turned out to be a worthwhile escape.” Mingyu huffs, although he looks pretty embarrassed. 

It’s times like these that Wonwoo is reminded of how carefree Mingyu can be, and just how much life is bursting through his veins. So adventurous and so outspoken.

Unfortunately for himself, day by day, he feels himself falling deeper and deeper.

And he knows, it’ll only get worse. 

“Should we go to the palace gardens?” Mingyu asks after a moment despite already walking in that direction.

“Sure.” Wonwoo agrees. 

He brushes off his troubled thoughts with a shaky exhale, and simply follows. 

The uphill walk is pretty rough, but they make it in no time, back to the palace gardens where Wonwoo had come from initially. Now that they are here together, he finally takes the time to take in the sight in front of him, noting the wisterias lining the open gate and the viridescent greens of the well-kept garden. 

“It's so pretty.” Mingyu breathes out as he stares at the palace in wonder. He looks so awestruck, eyes full of innocent fascination that Wonwoo can’t help but admire in silence. 

He knew Mingyu was good looking, that in itself was a fact known by many. It was also probably the first fact about his roommate that he’d properly acknowledged after their first horror of a meeting. But with the radiant sun casting a glow on his face, those plush lips parted in awe and those wide eyes sparkling with unbound amazement, one word came to mind the most. 

Beautiful. Mingyu is truly beautiful. 

And Wonwoo…well, he can’t have him. 

“Wonwoo, why don’t we go over to the pond?” Mingyu calls to him, having already hastily taken to the gravel path. “I want to see the ducks…” 

Wonwoo smiles, fond. He may not be able to have him in the way he wanted to, but he can still savour this precious time they have together before they return to college. Before they go back to being just roommates bordering on close friends. 

Out here, he can imagine them as simply Mingyu and Wonwoo, and thoughts of his heart's betrayal are nothing but a voice in the wind. 

He sits next to Mingyu by the pond, leaning against his hands which are perched behind his back as he soaks in the warmth of the air and the scent of fresh water. There are ducks floating in the pond, dipping their little beaks one by one into the shimmering water. Delicate leaves adorn the water’s surface, painting a wistful picture only one could see with their eyes. 

They sit in silence, letting nature do its work around them. That is until, Mingyu chooses the time to speak up. 

And what he says next, surprises him. 

“You know why I ran away today?” He says, less like a question and more like a rhetorical one. 

“Mm?” Wonwoo hums in question, fiddling with a little leaf, twining it between his fingertips delicately. 

“Well, I love my parents and all but…my father can be so overbearing.” Mingyu speaks out, his voice quieter now as he observes the ducks with fluttering lashes. His tone is wistful, like he’s been holding back from this the whole day. But now that they’re out here, with such a delicate air around them, he chose to tell Wonwoo. 

“Is everything okay with them?” Wonwoo asks, not prodding, only concerned. 

“He has high expectations, you see.” Mingyu elaborates, resting his cheek in his hand so it squishes up against his palm. “Wants me to get top of the class, and eventually, become the strongest soldier in the whole capital. The whole reason why he took my family out here today was to scout out the competition…and recommend me into the royal guard for early nomination.” 

Wonwoo pauses, taking in the information with furrowed brows. “I’m guessing that’s not what you want?”

“Of course not. I want to earn my place as a fighter myself. I’m at this esteemed college so I can tediously work my way up the ranks without the help of my father. I want to be able to learn everything, gather spells and develop complex tactics rather than be assigned to a guard troop that relies on brute force alone.” Mingyu sighs, his voice irritated in a way he had never heard before. Wonwoo couldn’t blame him. “I want to help people, I want to fight for people. But my father believes in overpowering enemies rather than defending the citizens. That’s not who I want to be.”  

Just now, Wonwoo realises that Mingyu has never personally spoken of his family, nor has he really complained about his course. It’s usually just him nagging, or talking about little things he did with Yeonseo or his friends, but never about himself. And Wonwoo realises, this might be the first time he’s opened up to him like this. The first time he’s looked so…vulnerable. 

“My father, he used to be a general for the outer palace guards. It wasn’t where he wanted to be. His position didn’t have enough power, so obviously he projected those ambitions onto me as his only son.” 

Mingyu pauses, frowning, looking slightly guilty. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you all this…”

Wonwoo shakes his head. “No it’s okay. I’ll listen. We’re friends after all.” 

Right. Friends. 

Mingyu flashes him a grateful look before he can continue. “I’m just so frustrated you know? I wanted to have a quiet time back at home but the moment I arrived, my father sent us on the railway and said he had an appointment in the capital.”

“I’m sorry…” 

“I just…I had to get away.” Mingyu murmurs, his eyes glinting with frustration. “Initially, I was just going to wander aimlessly until I found something interesting, but then I bumped into you.” 

His lips quirk up ever so slightly. “You were like a miracle right in front of me.” 

“A bit of an exaggeration isn’t it?” Wonwoo chuckles half-heartedly, ignoring the sharp pang in his chest. 

“No… I was really happy to see you.” Mingyu admits, looking at him now with those warm eyes of his. “It felt like in that frustration of mine, I could see so clearly.” 

Wonwoo sighs, his eyes downcast. Mingyu shouldn’t say things like that. He really shouldn’t. 

“I’m glad I could be there when you needed it.” Is what he voices instead, because it’s true. “But…what do you plan to do from here?”

Mingyu exhales, closing his eyes as he tilts his head up to the sky. “I try to convince my father that this was a mistake, and I can go back to college peacefully. Although chances of persuading him are slim.”

Wonwoo hums, thinking. “I mean, you could go with him, but instead of letting him speak on your behalf, you could try telling them what you really want. He probably won’t interrupt because it would mean embarrassing himself in front of the officials.” He suggests. 

Mingyu stops to consider his words for a moment, and Wonwoo can physically see the cogs turning in his head. 

“You’re…not wrong.” Is what he concludes as he rubs his chin in thought. “I could probably try that. The guards might think it’s all ridiculous when I start speaking instead of my father and call off the meeting. Oh Wonwoo, my friend, you might just be a genius.”  

Wonwoo huffs a laugh. “It’s not much, just a small idea.” 

“No, it’s an idea that I can work with.” Mingyu insists, looking at him with a newly optimistic expression. “I think I could make this happen.” 

Wonwoo can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, relieved that he seems a little more at ease.

“I hope it goes well for you. I think it’s better to confront your father now than to let it simmer for too long.” Wonwoo suggests.

“Yeah. You’re right.” 

Wonwoo pats him in a friendly gesture. “You got this. Tell me how it goes after the break.” 

Mingyu looks at him now like he’s a saviour right before him, looking so moved by his words that it’s almost amusing. 

“Hey and now that we can talk like this, I really just wanted to thank you.” Mingyu says, the crook of his lips quirking upwards, and he looks so handsome in the light right now, staring at him with his cheek leaning against the palm of his hand. 

Every shape and edge of his face is defined softly by the vivid sun, making his skin look golden and bright. He looks like the star of a portrait painting, those wistful images of an artist’s muse staring longingly at the artist as they are crafted to perfection. 

And in Wonwoo’s eyes, Mingyu is truly a work of art. 

“Thank me?” Wonwoo manages out weakly after a few moments, so, so affected that he has to avert his gaze before he melts.

“For just being here. And being friends with me even though we got off to such an awkward start.” Mingyu professes. “I’m happy you were my roommate. I couldn’t ask for more.”  

Wonwoo clears his throat in embarrassment, and he knows he’s red. “Thanks for being a good friend too.”

He shakes his head, taking a deep breath to calm his treacherous heart. 

“I’m not very good at making friends myself.” He starts. “I’m awkward, and I have crippling social anxiety, and I was absolutely dreading changing roommates.” 

Mingyu stares at him now, understanding in those eyes of his. 

“Well, I expected the worst.” Wonwoo admits with a faint chuckle. “But you turned out to be better than I imagined.” 

Mingyu laughs, such a harmonious sound. “I’m glad I exceeded your expectations. To be honest, I made it my goal to make you as comfortable as possible after our first meeting. I’m not the type of person to torment a poor soul after one embarrassing incident.” 

Wonwoo doesn’t say aloud that he’s been torturing him day by day just by being around him, but he appreciates the sentiment.

“Well, if you would like to know, you have been a good roommate.” Wonwoo says, tilting his head a little to smile at him, genuine. 

Mingyu grins back, always so wide with his little canines peeking through. 

“Has anyone ever told you you look good without glasses?” Mingyu says suddenly, reaching over to pluck them from his face much to his surprise and imminent dismay. 

“Hey, you know I don’t wear them as a fashion statement.” Wonwoo retorts, grumbling. “And give them back, I can’t see.” 

He blinks furiously at his roommate who has stopped laughing now, strangely still as he looks at Wonwoo. 

“Yeah. You look good.” 

“Okay not funny Mingyu, give them back. This is so childish.” 

There’s a pause, before Mingyu lets out a soft chuckle, and suddenly he can see again. He mutters under his breath as he adjusts his glasses once more, turning to glare half heartedly at Mingyu who is still staring at him owlishly.

“What is it?” 

His roommate shrugs nonchalantly, a fleeting look of something flickering in his expression, so quick, that Wonwoo thinks he imagines it. So he brushes it off as nothing. 

“Let’s just enjoy this sun for a bit huh?” 

Wonwoo agrees, letting his antics slide. 

This is nice. Sitting together with the calm breeze brushing their skin in a comfortable silence. 

Maybe it’s just his imagination, but for some reason, it feels like the necklace in his shirt pocket is a little warm against his body. 

Wonwoo is exhausted. After hours cooped up in the infirmary, studying spells all day, his head is pounding and his body feels the strain of tight limbs after barely moving around. He furls a hand through his hair, rustling his locks haphazardly with a yawn. 

The castle guard guides him to the front courtyard by his request. Wonwoo trudges along with heavy steps. The night air brushes against his body; not too cold, not too warm as it leaves featherlight kisses along his skin. It’s nice. 

Well all is nice until he exits the castle gates, thanking the guard who dips his head politely before assuming his post by the front. Wonwoo takes two steps forward with the anticipation of a quiet walk, until that hope is quite abruptly interrupted by an unsuspecting visitor. 

“Pssst.” 

Wonwoo almost jumps out of his skin when he sees a hooded figure leaning against the lamppost by the castle gates, tall and burly and walking straight towards him. 

He instantly conjures up a defensive spell, a flash of light that instantly stuns the beholder and the person in front of him lets out a distinct squawk of horror. 

“Ouch!” 

Wonwoo freezes, instantly recognising the resounding voice in dismay. 

“Mingyu?” He hisses, alarmed, eyes wide as he looks around frantically. “What are you doing here? Where’s your family?” 

“Wonwoo I’m blind.” His roommate wails, a hand clasped over his eyes while his hood slips down from his head revealing his messy hair. 

“You’re fine! I’m sorry though, you’ve gotta stop surprising me like that.” Wonwoo sighs, walking over to click his fingers next to his roommates’ ears, channeling some energy into his hands. “That should do it.” 

The next moment, Mingyu stops moving and he slowly removes his hand from his face, blinking rapidly with a grimace. “I didn’t know you could react that fast.” 

Wonwoo rolls his eyes. “I may do nothing but study, but I can say I’m pretty adept at using magic quite efficiently.” 

“That was a pretty flashy spell.” Mingyu points out the obvious, his voice laced with humour, yet he still looks slightly pained. 

“Just something I picked up.” Wonwoo says nonchalantly, looking away to hide the rosiness of his cheeks as he immediately thinks about why he learned it in the first place. If not for Mingyu teaching him the cloaking spell for his birthday, he wouldn’t have spent time reading about some defensive spells in the castle library in between breaks for their two week intensive. He was privileged to have gotten first-hand access to the royal library, although restricted to very small sections and his curiosity got the better of him. 

“Well, no time to waste.” Mingyu interrupts his thoughts by grabbing his arm unceremoniously, much to his surprise. 

“What?” Wonwoo coughs out, eyes round. “Where are we going? I was just going to go for a walk. And why are you here?” 

“Secret.” Mingyu says hastily, his back already facing him as he drags Wonwoo down the cobblestone path where the streets are lit with an amber glow of street lights and taverns up ahead. There’s a hint of a smile in his voice as he leads Wonwoo away, and all the poor boy can do is follow with hasty steps. 

“Did you attend the meeting?” Wonwoo asks once they’re a ways away from the palace entryway. 

Mingyu pauses momentarily before answering, peering over his shoulder with a sheepish glint in his eyes. “Yes.” 

Wonwoo quirks his head to the side, curious. “How did that go?” 

“So-so.” 

“Mm sounds promising.” Wonwoo notes, tugging Mingyu backwards so that they can walk side by side. “How did it really go?” 

Mingyu sighs, averting his gaze and staring stubbornly at the taverns they pass by instead. People are laughing over drinks, slamming cups onto tables while rattling on without a filter. He hears a couple of things that are far too absurd to repeat aloud, and witnesses arm wrestles and playful bouts. It’s lively. 

The streets are full of life and yet the air around the two of them feels still, calm, as Wonwoo listens for each breath Mingyu exhales, each pause in his eyes. He can’t help but feel so attuned to his roommate, so enamoured to his every movement. And when Mingyu sighs, he feels that too. 

“It went exactly as we planned.” Mingyu admits, turning his gaze back to Wonwoo, looking more tired now. “I went to the palace this morning, not without being warned not to run off this time of course, and I took the stage.” 

Mingyu looks up where stars litter the dusky haze of the night sky, illuminating specks of his face like little luminescent dewdrops dancing on his skin.  

“I told them exactly what my goal was. I wanted to work my way up the hard way, and prove to them I could do it without my father bending the rules, without a loophole.” Mingyu sighs. “My father was mad, you could say simply.” 

“I guess that’s why you’re still wandering the capital, and not taking the train back to your hometown.” Wonwoo notes.

“Bingo.” Mingyu singsongs, clicking his tongue absentmindedly. “I’ll go home when he’s cooled down.” 

Wonwoo cocks an eyebrow at his roommate, concerned. “And when would that be?” 

Mingyu chuckles half-heartedly. “Tomorrow or something.” He shrugs. “But it doesn't matter, let’s go find something fun to do.” 

“You came to find me instead of Jeonghan or Seokmin?” Wonwoo points out, quietly following his roommate who’s leading him deeper into the heart of the capital where he sees a pavilion overlooking the whole city. 

Mingyu smiles at him, a far cry from his previous expression. “Roommate bonding time, right?”

Wonwoo narrows his eyes, skeptical. Mingyu laughs at the expression on his face, bright and teasing. “I thought us bumping into each other the other day was fate. What can I say? This is my time to get to know my socially reclusive roommate.” 

Wonwoo’s heart feels a sharp pang as he hears Mingyu’s words. Whether it is a feeling of longing or hope, he doesn’t entirely know.

But he does know that he has become so weak for this man. 

“Well, what are you waiting for?” He breathes out, looking deep into Mingyu’s eyes which glisten under the moonlight so gently, so softly.

He really likes him. He must be going crazy. 

”Oh?” Mingyu’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second, before dissipating into pleasant surprise. “Let’s go somewhere nice then. I heard the capital has a lake in the middle of the city that turns crystal blue at night.” 

“Crystal lake huh?” Wonwoo murmurs. “Sounds pretty surreal.” 

“Anything’s possible in the capital.” Mingyu shrugs, turning to him with a wink. “Magic has many possibilities after all.”

Wonwoo smiles to himself. Magic sure is something special. 

Wonwoo reads the sign under the lamppost, listening to the sound of cicadas whistling in the trees, his eyes catching the little glowflies fluttering underfoot. They stand at the edge of a park that could be mistaken as a forest in the middle of a city. The sign has a detailed map of the park, a massive lake at the centre and a trail that surrounds it as well as little landmarks pitched in metal engravings. 

“Lake of dreams, a lake that illuminates crystal blue, is said to have the power of the capital’s great royal ancestors that protects the city from dark magic entities.” Wonwoo reads aloud. “Deep into the mountain's depths this lake runs, not only does the lake cast a great amount of protective energy to the capital, but it also enhances people’s magic where some have even said to perceive greater visions of their futures.” 

“Sounds interesting.” Mingyu hums contemplatively, chancing a look ahead of them.  

They stare down the gravel trail, tall trees scattered providing only a slight glimpse of the cerulean body of water. Even without his glasses, Wonwoo is sure he’d be able to see the lake from anywhere in the dark with its iridescent glow. It’s only reinforced by the view that strikes them as they inch closer to the water’s edge, and Wonwoo can’t help the little breath of shock that escapes his lips as he sees the blue in all its glory. 

“It’s more beautiful than I imagined.” Mingyu says softly, his eyes reflecting the sheen of blue that shimmers in front of them in all its wistful glory. 

“Yeah.” Wonwoo breathes, lips parted in insurmountable admiration. 

“Come.” Mingyu beckons him over, walking to the lake bed where he kneels next to the water, precariously close. “Should I touch it?” 

Wonwoo shrugs. “There’s no sign saying you can’t, so why not? Maybe you’ll be able to see visions of your future.” He adds in humour.

Mingyu stares at the water with round eyes, looking curious as Wonwoo approaches to kneel down next to him. Mingyu scoops a bit of water into his hands, watching the azure liquid swirl in a shimmer over his skin. It truly does glow, reflecting its cold yet pristine colour onto his warm toned skin. 

Mingyu seems to pause as the water trickles through his fingertips, slipping from his hand in little crystal drops, and his eyes adopt a cloudy sheen. 

“Mingyu?” Wonwoo whispers, leaning closer to get a better look at his eyes. He waves a tentative hand in front of his eyes, concerned.

Mingyu doesn’t respond, his lips parting only partially in his daze. Wonwoo waits for him to return to his senses, watching attentively as his roommate practically dissociates. 

After what feels like a few minutes of Wonwoo holding his breath in anticipation, Mingyu jolts, letting out a yell while the water sprays out of his hands altogether. 

“W-Wonwoo?” Mingyu utters out, his eyes wide and owlish as he stares at the boy, unfathoming. 

“Hey are you alright?” Wonwoo quickly shuffles closer, frowning as he takes in Mingyu’s flabbergasted expression. He puts a hand to his roommates’ forehead, trying to sense if something was wrong with a bit of his magic, but Mingyu only pulls away abruptly, looking stupefied. 

He tries to feign the hurt he feels as Mingyu seems to avoid his eyes, withdrawing instead while clearing his throat awkwardly. 

“Did you see something?” Wonwoo whispers instead, looking out at the glistening crystal body of water, eyes downcast. 

Mingyu doesn’t respond for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Then he sighs. “I did.” 

Wonwoo wants to ask what he saw, but he zips his mouth, peering at the troubled expression on his roommate's face. He looks back to the lake, lashes fluttering as he gazes upon the beautiful sheen of the water’s edge as it laps at the lakebed. 

In Mingyu’s turmoiled silence, Wonwoo closes his eyes.

In times of deep stress, he always turned to magic to calm his soul and ease the troubles plaguing his mind. He hopes, Mingyu finds that ease in his magic too. 

As his eyes remain closed, he concentrates his energy towards his hands, making soft gestures towards the water. Feeling, seeing, absorbing. He resonates with the Lake of Dreams’ exuding warmth as it reaches out to greet him, filling him with energy that floods his veins and skin. 

It’s electrifying, it’s frightening. A great mountain’s worth of energy. A whole city’s worth of power. 

And it’s gifting him its strength, if only temporary.  

He mutters under his breath, a simple chant. He keeps that channeled energy there, feeling its intricacies, carving into it until it embodies the vision of beauty in palpable magic. And then his lashes flutter open, seeing the glow of icy azure reflect onto the rim of his glasses. 

“Wonwoo is that…”

“Ice.” Wonwoo says simply, smiling as he sees his creation. 

“I didn’t know you could do something like that.” Mingyu breathes, the previous frown furrowing his brows now transformed into a soft expression of fascination. “It’s beautiful.” 

Wonwoo looks at what he created himself, agreeing quietly. He always loved the beauty of magic, hence why creating a field of flowers was his favourite spell. Something simple like a healing spell that creates ice for alleviating the ache of a sprain, can be made into something just as bewitching. 

A little frosty lotus blooms in front of them, floating elegantly over the water’s surface. Moon-kissed petals drift like a paper boat across the iridescent glow of the lake, reflecting tinkles of light in its icy demeanour. 

“Wonwoo.” Mingyu says as they stare at the lotus he’s created, breaching the wistful silence. “I saw a vision of my future. At least it seemed like it was.” 

Wonwoo hums, encouraging him to continue gently. 

“I saw something…unusual.” Mingyu starts, but then pauses. “It was about you.” 

Wonwoo blinks, and then frowns. He looks over at the tall man next to him expectantly. There’s a pit of dread welling up in his stomach, and he gulps. 

“Or more like…with you.” 

Wonwoo eyes him, scanning the other’s unreadable expression, the most stoic he’s ever seen his roommate look. Almost haunted. 

“With? What do you mean?” Wonwoo asks, merely a whisper as the crispy night breeze wisps between the two of their cooling bodies. 

The air is tense as Mingyu doesn’t answer for a few moments, his jaw clenched. 

“Nothing that I can really explain.” Mingyu frowns, running a rough hand through his already tousled locks, looking frustrated yet confused. And Wonwoo believes him, seeing the troubled expression on his roommate’s face.

“Sorry. I don’t know why it’s bothering me so much.” He adds, the frown dissipating with his sigh. “It’s just… it just felt surreal. In that moment I felt emotions so real, it didn’t feel like a dream.” 

Mingyu brings his knees up to his chin, curling in on himself in such a vulnerable manner, Wonwoo felt like he should look away. But he doesn’t. 

“It was like I had no control over my body or my feelings and I could just feel what felt so tangible. It was scary.”  

“Maybe that’s all it was. A dream.” Wonwoo speaks up, reaching over to pat Mingyu’s back in soft reassurance. “Maybe it’s acting on emotions you’ve been harbouring deep down and twisting it into a deluded vision. Maybe that vision has me in it because I’m next to you right now, but it’s not necessarily indicative of a true vision of your future, if that’s what’s troubling you.” 

Although curious about the contents of such a dream of himself with Mingyu, whatever that entails or means, Wonwoo doesn’t truly wish to know. 

Mingyu looks up now, still leaning against his knees with his chin tucked close, but his eyes gaze into Wonwoo’s so intently and so hopefully, that Wonwoo wavers. 

“Really?” He whispers. 

“Really. This is the Lake of Dreams after all.”

Mingyu breathes out a heavy sigh, staring at the now fading lotus, melting with time into nothing more than a few shimmering sparkles left on the water’s surface. 

“Yeah, that’s true.” 

“Like ice, it melts slowly, but it disappears eventually.” Wonwooo says slowly. “Your memories of that dream will feel very real and tangible now, but they’ll fade away with time. So don’t let it trouble you so much.” 

Wonwoo knows it’s difficult. In fact he knows better than most people how difficult it is to calm down tumultuous emotions that don’t seem to cool no matter how hard he tries to ignore it. Just like his crush on Mingyu, it’s hard. But it’s the best piece of advice he can give to his roommate who seems frazzled by his experience. 

And it seems to work, as Mingyu cracks a smile.

“You’re pretty cool, Wonwoo. Did you know that?” 

Wonwoo can’t help but laugh, loud and hearty. “You amuse me, Mingyu.”

“I’m serious.” Mingyu says, staring at him intently. “When you study hard, the way you use spells like their second nature to you, the way you handle situations that are difficult, such as socialising when you don’t want to; you’re pretty good at that. So yeah, I’d say you’re cool.”

Wonwoo smiles back, albeit sadly, but he doesn’t let that show as he slaps Mingyu half-heartedly on the back with a slight chuckle. 

“It’s all for show.” 

And it’s partially true. Because deep down, he can’t even handle the storm in his heart that erupts for the very man next to him. 

“I doubt you could fake even the slightest thing.” Mingyu accuses playfully, prodding him.

Wonwoo shakes his head and squawks when it gets too ticklish. “You don’t know me!” He declares.

“Hmm I don’t know enough.” Mingyu admits, but he looks at him with a bigger smile now, more genuine and wide and so, so bright. 

The air between them has fizzled into a pleasant warmth, countering the frostiness of the crystal lake in front of them as they stare at one another with unspoken emotions that neither dare to breach. 

“That’s why we have a long way to go with our roommate bonding.” Mingyu finally adds after a pregnant pause. 

Wonwoo rolls his eyes, but doesn’t drop his smile as his stomach flutters at the idea of spending more time with Mingyu. 

“I guess I have to comply.”  

“Of course you do. Because I’m the best roommate ever.” Mingyu nudges him with his shoulder, looking much more cheery than before and it puts Wonwoo’s heart at ease. 

“Hm, debatable.” Wonwoo shrugs, looking away in feigned innocence. “Jihoon never traumatised me on my first day in the dorm.” 

Even in the dark, he knows Mingyu has flushed ruby red and the latter squawks indignantly. 

“It was a mistake.” He retorts. “And I thought we swore not to bring it up again!” 

“Didn’t look like a mistake to me.” Wonwoo sneers playfully and he laughs as Mingyu slaps him out of embarrassment. “You also bring it up every now and then, I’m not the only guilty one!” 

“You!” 

And Wonwoo yelps as Mingyu practically tackles him next to the lakebed, the two of them rolling around in the grass with the unrestrained laughter of two young boys having fun, neither caring for the dirt soiling their clothes, or the grass clinging to their skin.  

And Wonwoo feels like his chest might explode at any second now as the younger tickles him to his heart's content. 

Wonwoo feels it as he lets his emotions run free. 

Just for tonight. 

They’re just about wrapping up one of their sessions in the infirmary, when Jeonghan pulls Wonwoo aside to a more private corner of the medical wing, catching him off guard. 

“Wonwoo, I wanted to talk to you about something.” Jeonghan speaks up once he pulls a curtain to shroud them from the other half of the large room they’re in. 

“What’s up?” He narrows his eyes, feeling skeptical with the seriousness in Jeonghan’s tone. 

“I have a few thoughts… and it’s about your roommate.” Jeonghan starts and Wonwoo senses an ugly feeling welling up in his stomach. 

“What about Mingyu?” Wonwoo asks carefully. Had Jeonghan found out about his little adventures with the younger that they’d had around the capital? It was a pretty big city, maybe Jeonghan had glimpsed them at some point, the idea making him gulp. 

“I’m going to be direct about this.” Jeonghan tells him upright. 

What comes next, is not entirely what he was expecting at all. 

“Do you like Mingyu?” 

Wonwoo stiffens. 

The question makes him feel cold all over, so he does the first thing he can think of. He feigns ignorance. 

“Of course I do, he’s my friend.” 

Really smart excuse, of course Jeonghan isn’t an idiot.

His friend purses his lips, amused but clearly not dissuaded. His eyes feel so incriminating, analysing him with such sharp attentiveness, he knows nothing will get by. 

“You know what I mean.” Jeonghan prods even further, tapping a finger to his chin in ponder. “I’ve noticed some things and I just wanted you to be aware of it yourself.” 

Wonwoo stares at his friend now, feeling so transparent as Jeonghan eyes him up and down with a knowing raise of his brow. Of course he was aware. Far too aware. 

“I don’t know what you mean.” Wonwoo continues acting oblivious, the limestone floor suddenly looking far more interesting.

“I’m not interrogating you. I just wanted you to be careful. And it’s better to have someone to talk to about it, you know?” 

Wonwoo pauses the fidgeting he’d subconsciously started. He sighs, knowing that Jeonghan would never let this go for as long as he knows. 

“Why?” He finally asks instead, eyes fixated on his hands but his mind is clearly elsewhere. 

“It’s just…being in love with someone in a relationship can hurt a lot.” 

“I’m not in love.” Wonwoo retorts, yet even that sounds weak.

“So you admit that you like him?” Jeonghan smirks faintly and Wonwoo feels like slapping himself for being caught out. 

Wonwoo glares at his friend, and Jeonghan looks amused but slightly pitying and it makes him feel even more miserable on the inside. 

“I guess these things can happen.” Jeonghan shrugs. 

“It’s— it’s just so wrong.” Wonwoo finally huffs out, realising there’s no roundabout way out of this, rubbing at his eyes from underneath his glasses. He feels so tired, and now that it’s out in the open, he feels more vulnerable than ever. The fun he had with Mingyu in those other couple days suddenly felt so distant now. 

“Well, I did suggest you get closer to Mingyu so…maybe I’m partly responsible.” Jeonghan comments, looking slightly remorseful.

Wonwoo shakes his head, sighing. “It’s no one’s fault but my own.” 

Jeonghan flashes him a sympathetic glance as he takes off his gloves and medical robe, walking over to him with a gentle expression. “I’m sorry.” 

“It’s so stupid.” Wonwoo mutters. “I can’t believe…of all people.”

“Hey, it’s okay.” Jeonghan says softly, reaching over to gently ruffle his hair. “Sometimes, emotions are unpredictable, anything can happen. It just so happens that Mingyu is a bit too likeable.” 

Wonwoo curses under his breath, slumping against the wall in defeat. He’s right, but it still doesn’t justify how wrong it is. 

“I’m not going to tell you to get over him straight away. But I do want you to think carefully about the repercussions of unrequited love.” Jeonghan says slowly, joining him against the wall. “Just…stay cautious.”

“I know.” Wonwoo mumbles, downcast. “It’s hard.”

“I didn’t mean to confront you about it, but you’ve been acting weird lately.” Jeonghan comments, looking at him apologetically. “And I’ve seen the way you look at Mingyu. Maybe I’m too observant, but I just had a feeling.” 

Wonwoo closes his eyes, wishing he could disappear after being found out. Everything seems to be going so wrong at the moment, and with the stress of trying to become a healer on top of dealing with these hindrances of feelings, it’s all becoming too overwhelming for his frail self. 

“Wonwoo… just—“

“Guys? Are you here?” 

Wonwoo almost jumps out of his skin at the sound of Seokmin’s booming voice, sounding so genuinely lost that he pinches the bridge of his nose, exasperated. Jeonghan looks at him with concern, and Wonwoo shakes his head. 

“I’ll be alright.” Is what he says before he stands up once more, brushing off his robes and pulling off his own gloves. “I will be careful.” 

“Wonwoo.” Jeonghan looks at him now, a stern gaze that he understands. 

“It‘ll be alright.” He reaffirms, wincing when Seokmin pulls back the curtain, revealing his confused expression.

“What are you two doing?” He cocks an eyebrow, looking woefully dumbfounded.

“Just giving Wonwoo some advice for future practicals.” Jeonghan says nonchalantly, looking as calm as ever as though he hadn’t just tried to give Wonwoo the talking of his life.

“Yeah.” Wonwoo agrees quietly.

Seokmin takes the bait however and nods in understanding. “Well, I just wanted to find you guys because there’s a briefing. The end of our trip is soon, so they wanted to talk to us.” 

“Right. We’re coming.” 

As Seokmin walks out of the room, the other two tailing behind, Jeonghan very gently taps his shoulder, a warning look. 

And Wonwoo, he knows too well. This affection of his is getting far too dangerous. Jeonghan is right. 

After the briefing with their supervisors, Wonwoo starts feeling odd.

First it starts out with just a bit of an ache in his stomach, and then his chest starts feeling tingly. He thinks for a moment that it might be the food they're eating, or the lack of, since he’s been so busy lately.

But then, the pain hits. 

“I’m going to head back to the room.” Wonwoo quickly excuses, mid-dinner with a hand on his chest. He sounds awkward, but he tries his best to mask the pain with a crooked smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Jeonghan asks, slowly putting down his fork with a frown on his face as he studies Wonwoo with careful eyes. 

“Yeah, just have a bit of a stomach ache.” He says, rubbing his stomach to enunciate the effect. 

“We can heal you for that, you know?” Jeonghan points out, tilting his head quizzically. 

“Yeah, but I feel like resting anyway.” Wonwoo says quickly, feeling the panic set in as the pain grows. “Sorry, I really have to go.” 

Jeonghan narrows his eyes, suspicious, but he lets him off the hook, clearly seeing the desperation in Wonwoo’s face. 

“Take care then?” Seokmin pitches in, his mouth full of food but his eyes round with concern. 

“Let us know if you need anything.” Jeonghan adds, leaning back in his seat.

“Of course.” Wonwoo concedes, fighting to keep the strain out of his voice and he makes quick steps back to his and Jeonghan’s room. 

It feels like his head is pounding, and there’s an inexplicable ache in his chest that doesn’t seem to go away. He thinks of all the illnesses he’s studied, which symptoms it could be pointing towards, but before he can think of anything, his mind imminently falls short when a sharp pain hits him and he rushes to the bathroom, feeling instantly nauseous. 

And it hits him all at once, the sickness, the blood, and worst of all, the thing that comes out of his throat as he leans, keeled over the toilet seat. 

He winces as he coughs out blood, sputtering the porcelain cover of the toilet. He feels a tear trickle down his cheek and he readjusts his glasses warily. But when he stares down at the water, he feels nothing more than profound dismay. 

Shit. 

Petals. Pink ones. Cherry blossoms. From his body. 

Wonwoo studied herbs and all sorts of flora in his degree. Of course he knew what flowers these were and what they symbolised.

Shit indeed.

Clearly, his little crush on his roommate exceeded its maximum capacity. A little crush? That might just be the understatement of the century. 

Love? Well, there’s no other word to describe the reason he contracted this disease. 

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, or both.

Wonwoo stares at the petals floating in the water, so pretty like fallen lilies, tinged with crimson droplets that served as a reminder for his tainted heart. And the one thing it symbolised; death by love. 

It is an incredibly rare occurrence in this day and age, but not an impossible one. He did a project on this phenomenon about a year ago, but Wonwoo never thought it could ever happen to him. 

Hanahaki disease. A sickness of the heart. 

And if his research proved correct, he didn’t have much longer to live as long as his unrequited love persisted. But once the petals start, the thorns begin to dig in, there’s already no turning back. He has one straight path to death, as any human does, but his death count is accelerated to end within the next few months. 

There’s no official medical cure, even with advancements in healing magic, aside from removing his ability to love altogether, but that had its own risks. Unfortunately, the only known cure is for the object of his affections to love him back, and the revelation dawns on him like a sickening punch to the gut. It’s a disease too deeply engraved in the soul that no healer has devised any promising solution yet. 

Slowly but surely, the petals will fall from his mouth like fleeting autumn leaves, beautiful colours that shroud the decaying flower chipping away at his lifestrings bit by bit. And that flower, will one day soon emerge from the depths of his heart, and that day, it will bloom while sucking away his final breath. 

All because of love. 

Perhaps this is what Jeonghan had been warning him about. The irony, to love someone so hard that you die unbeknownst to them. 

He reaches absentmindedly for the moonstone necklace he’d clipped around his neck, one that he thought about and wondered if it actually worked. Since that day in the city, he couldn’t help but hope that his abhorrent feelings would seek refuge in this necklace. That it would resolve his heartache for unrequited affections.

He should never have believed some random lady on the street who gave it to him for free. 

And as he sits there now, blood trickling from his lips and a stray petal falling in his hands; he laughs at his stupidity.

The two-week long trip is over. 

And Wonwoo knows he has to change something. He’s had a couple of days to reflect on his life, and everything leading up to now, but every solution comes up futile. 

How could he get Mingyu to love him back? 

He couldn’t guilt trip his roommate into returning his affections simply because he was dying. Besides, he still had Yeonseo. Wonwoo, well, he’s just an outlier in Mingyu’s life, an addition that somehow wedged himself into his side with heart eyes and a traitorous pulse. 

Laughable. He truly is laughable.

Jeonghan had asked him that night if he had been okay, and Wonwoo had brushed it off like it was nothing, saying he just wanted more rest since he was tired. 

He couldn’t bring it up. He didn’t have the heart to tell his friend that it was too late, and that danger he’d warned him of was already inevitable. 

He scowls, regretful. He never even told Junhui the truth about his feelings either and he thinks it’s too late to. 

When he returns, preparations for the second semester are already happening, and he begrudgingly makes his way to his room with the newfound truth in his heart. 

The worst part of hanahaki disease, is that it’s unpredictable. One moment he’s sitting up, smiling and fine. The next, he’ll have the inexplicable urge to cough violently, and surely enough, his hands will be covered in blood and little petals. 

So living with this disease and trying to hide it from Mingyu will probably be insanely difficult. 

Trying to distract his mind from his emotions and the very prominent disease in his heart, he talks to Mingyu who instantly rushes up to him, asking about preparations for his belated birthday celebration and the idea of celebrating with so many people makes him feel nauseous. There’s too many risks, too many people that might see him. 

So he calls it off. Telling Mingyu he feels unwell after the trip, not entirely a lie, and he says that they can wait until next year. 

Mingyu is of course hesitant to accept it, but eventually when he sees the resolve in Wonwoo’s eyes, he agrees and leaves the room to tell others, leaving Wonwoo alone with his illness. 

And as soon as his roommate leaves, it isn’t long before he’s keeled over the toilet of their shared bathroom once more, hacking out his lungs as petals fall out and his mouth tastes distinctively of iron. 

And he realises, being around Mingyu will only make this torture even more unbearable. And he laughs again to himself behind the closed door.  

So ridiculous. 

He knows he should consult the infirmary healer, or tell a friend like Junhui, or even talk to his family. But something in his heart tells him that it’s futile. With no known cure for the disease, the most he’ll be doing is giving them an early notice of his death. 

And he’d rather not do that. Telling them something so daunting will only bring up unnecessary concerns and he didn’t want to worry anyone or make them fuss over him. 

So right then and there he decides. 

He’ll persist through this quietly, even if he passes in a lonely, dark and cold room with thorns in his lungs and a withered flower for his heart. 

Lately, since the beginning of the second semester, he finds himself sitting in the courtyard surrounded by friends. 

At the start of this year, he technically only had Junhui and Jihoon. But now, here he sits, Seokmin and Mingyu engaged in a lively conversation with the occasional theatrics, and Junhui is talking animatedly to a classmate he’d met through Mingyu, Minghao, while Jeonghan is lazing around in the afternoon sun, staring up at the sky with a dazed expression. 

Mingyu has spoken of a few more of his close friends once before. One of them has graduated and is pretty close to Jeonghan, and the other is rooming with Soonyoung, but he’s yet to officially meet them. He has thought about his own juniors from back in highschool, and wonders what they’re doing and if one day, they’ll be here with this group, doing the same thing. 

And that thought fills him with deep sorrow. He’d just made these friends, but it’s a shame he’ll have to say goodbye soon. He’s happy that Junhui seems to be finding peace with people that share common interests with him. It seems things are looking up for his friend.

For the first time he sees the world in third-person, one where he's not there.

“Did you hear? The other day a few boys got expelled for using burning spells on the rooftop just to impress some girls?” 

“Sounds stupid.” Wonwoo comments. 

“They did something like this.” Seokmin demonstrates, standing up and making some wild gestures. 

“You need the fire.” Minghao points out, looking amused.

“Then was it something more like this?” Mingyu stands next to Seokmin, muttering something under his breath before a deep orange flame flickers from his hands, and he mimics the wild gestures tenfold.

“You guys look stupid.” Jeonghan says bemused. “I’m sure you’d attract all the girls like that.” 

“Well it worked for Mingyu obviously.” Seokmin shrugs, prodding at his friend.

Mingyu pauses, something dark crossing his face albeit momentarily, before he laughs, hearty and loud. “Exactly how Yeonseo fell for me!”

Wonwoo frowns, something in the way his expression shifted making him uneasy. The others pay no mind and start teasing him about his early dating days, blabbering about some of the stupid things Mingyu did to impress her. He laughs so ingenuinely, and it seems only Wonwoo notices.  

Something’s wrong. 

Before he can analyse his roommate any further, he feels an episode coming. The taste of iron fills his mouth and he chokes down the urge to cough. 

‘At a time like this.’ Wonwoo curses internally as he listens to the joyous laughter of his friends and Mingyu’s disgruntled mutters. 

Blinking rapidly, he stands up. 

“Sorry guys, I’ll probably cut my break short. Gotta’ study.” Wonwoo excuses himself, his voice coming out more croaky than he would’ve liked.

Everyone turns to stare at him, surprised but easily dismissive, telling him to take care. He flashes a weak smile before turning his back on the group, hastily making his way back to the dorms. 

He barges through the front door and into the bathroom, practically falling to the floor as he hacks out thick petals and blood over the toilet, tears pricking at his eyes as his throat stings with the effort. He puts a hand to his neck, applying a very faint numbing spell to ease the pain, yet it doesn’t minimise the aching in his chest. 

He clutches the moonstone necklace at his chest, the weight around his neck suddenly feeling like it was mocking him. Mocking him for taking it, mocking him for ending up in the very situation the moonstone was meant to counter. And yet all it was, was a cold weight pressed against his skin. Cold and lifeless. 

Yet he couldn’t let go of it. Maybe the woman had cursed the pendant, keeping it close to his chest despite his doubts. But there was no point regretting. He was already too far in, a stupid necklace couldn’t do anymore damage than he’d already done to himself. 

By the time he’s feeling better, it’s already pretty late in the day, the sun setting and the bustling life of college students dying down outside. Mingyu has yet to return to the dorm, and Wonwoo has noticed he comes back later and later each day. He doesn’t ask, assuming he’s probably spending more time with Yeonseo at night, yet when he does see his roommate enter the room, the lines in his usually pristine golden skin look deeper than ever. 

He’s concerned, yes. But with the pain in his chest, the blooming death in his body, he knows being curious will only make things worse. And it pains him even more to ignore Mingyu’s troubles, but there’s only so much he can do. 

And now, Mingyu’s reaction earlier to their friends’ teasing only makes him feel more eager to find out what’s wrong. 

Wonwoo brings a shaky hand to his forehead, sighing heavily as he stands up from his bed, his body feeling groggier than ever. The pain in his body eases as he moves to the front door of the dorm, feeling the need to get out. It’s too stuffy, it’s too quiet. Every moment he spends in there is another second thinking about Mingyu, and he can’t take it anymore. 

He trudges out of the dorm, passing the receptionist with a weak ‘hello’, before heading out into the courtyard. He knows he looks grey, he’s almost certain the bags under his eyes are more prominent than ever. He heads to the far end of campus aimlessly, finding himself by a pavilion that overlooks the lake. The architecture is so intricately crafted, made with the intention of capturing nature’s beauty mixed with human artistry. It’s peaceful. It’s calming. 

He thinks for a second, he can escape his fate. 

“Wonwoo?” 

Then that hope is gone in the blink of an eye.

He turns around, eyes meeting the sad ones of his roommate, looking like a beaten down puppy as he walks up to him slowly. 

Is it fate that they always escape to find each other under the same moon? 

“What are you doing here?” Wonwoo breathes out weakly, trying to sound unaffected by his earlier episode. 

Mingyu eyes him carefully, his eyes full of something solemn, yet concerned. His hand reaches forward, ruffling Wonwoo’s hair in what he believes to be a show of reassurance. 

“I wanted to go for a walk.” 

Wonwoo can’t help the little chuckle of disbelief that escapes his lips. The irony of it all. “That makes two of us.” Yet he doesn’t voice that he wanted to take a walk to escape from thinking about Mingyu himself. 

“Are you feeling alright?” Mingyu asks, his eyes plagued with worry. 

“Oh yeah don’t worry about me.” Wonwoo lies, blinking up at his roommate with a feigned smile. “The better question is, are you okay?” 

Mingyu hesitates, looking like he has more to ask, but he quells down his questions, pursing his lips instead. 

“Is it about Yeonseo?” Wonwoo finally finds the courage to ask, breaching the silence. 

Mingyu puffs an exasperated breath, looking worn out as he leans against the pavilion railing, staring out at the water’s surface. It’s a far cry from the view at the Lake of Dreams, but the vast mountain ranges beyond make the view even more stunning. 

“What do you think about love?” Mingyu whispers, his face blank as he stares aimlessly.

Wonwoo pauses. 

He couldn’t just tell him that it was the most excruciating torture he’d ever experienced in his life, and that it withered away his will to live bit by bit everyday the more he glimpsed the man of his unrequited affections. He couldn’t tell him that he’s been throwing up vibrant petals everyday with crimson blood that spelled his name. 

To him…love was pain. And in the end, love would lead him to his death. 

Yet he doesn’t breathe a word of his torment. It’s no one’s fault but his own after all. 

“Love is…interesting.” He says instead, his anguish hidden behind the guise of a warm smile. “I haven’t been in a relationship before so I can’t say for sure what I feel.” 

“Never? Not even a single girl?” 

Something in the way he asks about it being a girl has Wonwoo fidgeting uncomfortably and he wonders if he should just spill the truth.

They stare at each other wordlessly for a few eerie moments, Wonwoo beginning to shift in place in discomfort with the ongoing debate in his head. And then he breaks.

If he doesn’t have much longer to live, he might as well drop the harsh truth. Maybe in a way, this would give Wonwoo some peace of mind. 

“Uhm, to be honest…” Wonwoo clears his throat. 

Mingyu eyes him expectantly, urging him to continue and it makes Wonwoo feel just a tad bit worse. 

“I don’t like women.” He finally coughs out after a moment’s hesitation, lashes flickering in his nervousness. “I’ve never been quite interested in them…” 

In the end, he doesn’t have much to lose anyway. 

“Oh.” Mingyu pauses, eyes wide to look at him with an unreadable expression. 

Ah. He’s messed up hasn’t he? 

Mingyu’s hesitation in his body language makes it even more believable. 

In truth, he’s not too surprised that Mingyu isn’t like him. With those gestures and things he’d done in the past, it was no wonder only him and Yeonseo saw anything wrong with it. 

He stares down at his fidgeting hands, waiting for Mingyu to slap him with a distasteful comment about his interests. Not only did he never have a chance with Mingyu in the first place, but there’s a high chance that his roommate doesn’t approve of his…attractions. 

He wants to laugh. He wants to cry.

He’s bared the truth with his roommate, but now the man of his affections seems to disapprove altogether. It couldn’t be any more ludicrous than it is now. 

“I’m sorry.” Wonwoo can’t help but utter out, sounding so frail and scared. He didn’t want to look his roommate in the eye any longer.

Mingyu instantly takes a sharp intake of air, turning towards Wonwoo quickly like he’d been triggered. 

“No, don’t be.” His roommate hastily speaks, reaching a careful yet awkward hand to pat his shoulder. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I don’t understand it myself…but I can respect it. I have no right to judge your preferences.”

Wonwoo sighs, eyes downcast. 

“But thanks for telling me.” So earnest. “And sorry for asking such a question like that.” 

Wonwoo shakes his head, blinking anxiously. 

He should be happy with that response, yet his words are almost like a slap to the face. The fear of disapproval vanishes, replaced with greater agony. 

It’s the realisation that he never truly had a chance. 

“Why did you ask me about love?” Wonwoo croaks out instead, willing to escape his already frail feelings. He feels defeated as it is. 

Mingyu blinks at him, frowning. And then he drops the bomb. 

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately.” He starts wistfully, “If I still love Yeonseo.” 

Wonwoo’s eyes widen, surprised. He had a feeling they had been a bit rocky lately, but he didn’t realise the depth of the situation. 

“We’ve been arguing a lot.” Mingyu admits, hand pressed against his chin as he absentmindedly nibbles on his fingernails. “That’s why I’ve been getting back to the dorm so late.” 

“What do you argue about, if you don’t mind me asking?” Wonwoo says slowly, cautious not to reopen any fresh wounds.

Mingyu huffs in frustration. “Everything and nothing at all. One moment it’s about me being too stubborn, the next it’s about not giving her enough time and then…I don’t know. It blows up and I’m starting to feel like I’m suffocating.” 

Mingyu adds another sigh, loud and heavy, full of meaning. 

“Day by day, I think we’ve just been drifting apart. Each argument digs an even deeper hole.” 

Wonwoo leans forward, joining him against the railing, hoping his presence is reassuring enough. 

In truth, he doesn’t really know what to say that would help his case. 

“I’m tired.” Mingyu finally says, so frail and cold. 

Wonwoo exhales quietly, reaching a hand over Mingyu’s back and rubbing his shoulder ever so slightly, giving enough room for Mingyu to pull away if he wanted to. 

Much to his surprise, Mingyu leans into the touch. 

Even after his admission of being into men. Even after feeling worn out by his arguments with Yeonseo. He still leans on Wonwoo. Still treats him as he always does. His roommate, and close friend. 

And Wonwoo, it takes a great deal of strength not to crack down into tears. 

“Why is life hard sometimes?” Mingyu croaks out with a weak laugh. 

“Beats me.” Wonwoo chuckles in agreement. Oh the irony. “Have you been honest with Yeonseo about how you feel right now?” 

Mingyu puts his palm to his forehead like he’s trying to quell a brewing headache and he groans. 

“No. But I’m sure she knows.” 

“Maybe you should start by talking to her about it more openly. Having a conversation about where you stand with each other is probably the best way to go about things rather than hatching it out day by day in anger.” Wonwoo advises thoughtfully.  “Nothing ever resolves itself.” 

Mingyu stays quiet, looking deep in thought as he absorbs Wonwoo’s advice. 

“I think at best, you need to confront it head on.” Wonwoo adds. “Even if you don’t know entirely what to say, just tell her what you told me.”

“That I don’t know if I love her anymore?” Mingyu whispers, looking deeply pained. “She’ll cry.” 

“It’s better to tell her the truth than hide it and hurt her even more.” Wonwoo placates softly. “One will do more damage than the other.” 

“Yeah.” Mingyu agrees reluctantly. “You’re right. It’s just… hard.” 

“It is.” Wonwoo concurs, although he hasn’t been in any similar situation, he can only imagine the turmoil Mingyu is in at the moment. “But, in the end it’s something you have to do. To make you both happier.” 

“Yeah.” Mingyu repeats weakly, defeated. 

Wonwoo squeezes his shoulder reassuringly, flashing him what he hopes looks like a smile. “Why don’t we think about other things for now? Take your mind off things. Hell, I think I need a distraction too.” 

Mingyu looks at him now, eyes round and full of an unspoken emotion Wonwoo wishes he could decipher. And in a second, Mingyu’s expression is full of a newfound determination. 

“I learned a new spell the other day.” He diverges the topic, his little fangs popping out with the little cheeky smile that finds its way onto his face. 

“Mm?” Wonwoo encourages with a light hum, feeling his shoulders relax as Mingyu pulls away from the pavilion to the little grassy area behind them. 

“Take a look.” 

Mingyu closes his eyes, muttering something under his breath and suddenly something in the air shifts. He hears it first, the fluttering of gentle leaves in the Autumn breeze, the rustle of grass underfoot. And then he sees it. The leaves wisp around them like a miniature vortex, featherlight and gentle as it surrounds their bodies like a dance of petals. 

“It needs some work.” Mingyu calls over his shoulder as he moves his arms with the wind, whipping up a bigger storm causing the leaves to haphazardly spin midair until they all but cling to Wonwoo’s cotton sweater. His hair covers his eyes now but he doesn’t seem to care as he stares at his roommate who looks blissfully at peace with his newfound skill. 

As always, the fleeting thought that Mingyu is beautiful crosses his mind, especially when he’s doing what he loves. 

“It’s cool.” Is all Wonwoo can muster when Mingyu lets the leaves slowly fall to the ground. 

Mingyu pouts, looking at Wonwoo more expectantly. “Is that it?” 

Wonwoo breathes a laugh. “It would make your dad proud if you could put such a skill to the test.” 

And Mingyu, he’s positively beaming now. The spark in his eyes has returned, and he exudes so much warmth, it floods Wonwoo overwhelmingly. 

His roommate walks over to him now, eyes soft and energetic. A far cry from the Mingyu he’d seen walk towards him when he first got to the pavilion. And Wonwoo knows, he’s found his resolve. 

Mingyu plucks a few leaves from Wonwoo’s hair, so gently, that Wonwoo thinks he might melt if he continues like this. It wasn’t good for his already weakening heart. 

“Without you Wonwoo, I don’t think I could do this.” He admits, brows furrowed in concentration as he studies Wonwoo’s locks with delicate fingers. Wonwoo fights the urge to pull away, feeling his face flush with the proximity of their bodies. “I’m really grateful to you, truly.” 

“Idiot.” Wonwoo mutters fondly, looking away with a little smile plastered on his features. 

“Who else could’ve inspired me to make leaf tornadoes?” Mingyu jokes, sounding more lighthearted now, and it alleviates something in Wonwoo, even if temporary. 

“I mean, that was all you.” Wonwoo points out, eyes crinkling at the side. 

“Thought I should do something flashy like you showed me at the Lake of Dreams.” Mingyu shrugs, mimicking the little show Wonwoo did when creating the ice lotus back then. “I can’t make things out of ice but I sure can make a storm!” 

Wonwoo blushes, embarrassed. “It was fitting for the atmosphere.” 

“Hmm, I guess!” Mingyu says, feigning contemplation. “A little bit of a show-off maybe.” 

“Hey.” Wonwoo rolls his eyes, drawing back when he realizes just how close they’ve become. He slaps Mingyu’s shoulder. “Stop teasing me.” 

Mingyu snickers, his expression changing to one of more genuine fondness. They stare at each other like that for a moment, Mingyu’s warmth still on his skin even though they never touched.  “Thanks Wonwoo. I’ll take your advice with Yeonseo.” 

“I sure hope things will go well. Try and repair your relationship while you can.” Wonwoo says softly, hoping his words mean well. 

“I don’t know what I’d do without you Wonwoo, please never leave me!” Mingyu says dramatically, and Wonwoo can’t help but roll his eyes again. 

“Dramatic.” He mutters and Mingyu hums playfully. 

“You love me.” He teases. 

Wonwoo hides the grimace that instinctively fights its way into his expression and laughs it off. 

How cruel.

“Yes I do.” Wonwoo says in the same playful tone. But he actually means it. Not that Mingyu would ever know. Nor would he ever find out. And he’ll take that to the grave. 

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Mingyu returns, puffing his chest proudly like he’d accomplished something incredible. 

How ridiculous this man was. He had absolutely no idea just how hard Wonwoo had fallen. 

“What will you do now?” Wonwoo questions as they fall into a comfortable silence. 

Mingyu hums, sounding more cheery. “I mean, someone hasn’t eaten.” He flashes a pointed look in his direction and Wonwoo grimaces. 

“I forgot.” 

“Not good enough. I told you to keep up your meals.” 

“Alright mum.” Wonwoo bemoans sarcastically. “Let’s eat something then.”

“What do you want to eat? Courtesy of the best chef you’ve ever met.” Mingyu says cockily, flashing a cheeky smirk in his direction. 

Wonwoo fights the urge to roll his eyes a third time, but he can’t fight the creeping smile that appears on his face. 

“You know what.” Wonwoo pokes his roommate, moving away from the pavilion with newfound hunger. 

“I don’t actually.” Mingyu pokes him back, looking at him expectantly. 

“Take a quick guess.” Wonwoo crosses his arms in feigned disapproval. 

Mingyu pretends to think, putting a finger to his chin to enunciate the act. “Ramyun?” 

“You know me so well.” Wonwoo smirks, giving him an approving nod in return. “Well, chop chop my culinary genius, we have some cooking to do.” 

“You mean I have some cooking to do, and you have some eating to do.” Mingyu corrects him, his eyes shimmering with what Wonwoo can only presume to be elation. 

He’s spoiling him. 

And Wonwoo, he basks in it, because he knows it’s temporary. 

In the end, his time is running thin. 

“Thank you, my reliable roommate.” Wonwoo grins.

“You’re welcome, my loyal customer.” 

Wonwoo starts missing classes. 

The disease is growing in his heart bit by bit, and he’s struggling to push through everyday activities. To avoid suspicion, he goes out for his classes, saying goodbye to Mingyu in the morning and then disappearing into the gardens. He finds the most secluded place and lies down on the grass, soaking in the sunlight, living in the moment while he can. There’s no point studying so hard anymore when his dream is basically shattered before him. 

He wants to go home, back to his village with his family waiting for him with open arms, tell them about all the friends he’s made and the experiences he’s gone through. While he’s by himself, he finally lets a few tears slip from his eyes, dropping gently onto the grass underneath him as he stares up at the azure sky overhead. He takes off his glasses so that the sky looks like an abstract painting of colours, mixes of pale blues and white shades, the shimmer of liquid in his eyes making the world seem sparkly blur.

And he hums to himself, singing an old song. It’s peaceful, the calm he’s been searching for in the past few weeks. 

A few months have passed since they started their second semester. Each day that passes by is another tick away on his lifeline, and as they’re approaching exams, his friends have teetered off one by one, cooped up in the library or in their dorms studying. So here he is, finding peace by his lonesome. 

He’s not surprised if people assume he’s also doing the same. 

He continues to sing to himself, soaking in the autumn breeze and the afternoon sun that puts his body at ease.

He’s put up with too many days of throwing up, the petals growing thicker and wider each time they leave his mouth, and the tang of blood is something he will never get used to. And it hurts even more each time. His throat has started to feel coarse after coughing so many times, not even his healing magic can remedy the pain long-term. 

He closes his eyes, hoping that nature would consume him right then and there. Keep him warm and safe, away from the pains of his heart. 

And he feels like it might. He feels tranquil, his head emptying so he hears nothing but the grass blowing in the wind and the sound of students walking across campus a little ways from his secluded corner. 

It feels like ages that he’s lying there in relative silence, his breathing languid, his eyes heavy. 

And then he hears footsteps, grass crunching underfoot, and then the sound of someone clicking their tongue. 

“I finally found you.” 

Wonwoo’s lashes flutter open as he sees the blurry outline above him, a shadow cast over his body with the newcomer standing over him. He puts on his glasses and blinks multiple times until his eyes readjust to the light and he frowns. 

“Jeonghan? How…”

“I used a bit of magic.” Jeonghan huffs, holding up one of Wonwoo’s pens which stops glowing the moment he clicks the tip. 

“Jeonghan, that's a breach of privacy.” Wonwoo murmurs groggily, sitting up in the grass, feeling pits of leaves fall off his sweater. “You’re not meant to use tracking spells.” 

“Wonwoo, what are you doing here?” He sounds disappointed, and a bit tired, but most of all his eyes are flooded with concern. 

“How did you know I wasn’t just studying?” Wonwoo asks, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. 

“You weren’t in the library, and I checked your dorm.” Jeonghan narrows his eyes, looking a tad bit intimidating for comfort. “I wanted to ask you some questions about the upcoming practical exam, but when I couldn’t find you, I asked Mingyu and Junhui and no one had a clue where you were. Mingyu thought you were in the dorm, Junhui thought you were in the library. So why did I find you in neither?” 

Wonwoo looks at his lab partner now who looks scarier than ever, and he gulps. He feels guilty for not saying a word, but he didn’t think anyone would find out. Not like this, anyway. 

“I just wanted a break from studying.” Wonwoo shrugs as he sits up, not meeting Jeonghan’s eyes. 

“You look terrible.” Jeonghan points out, sitting down cross-legged in the grass next to him. “And you’ve been avoiding everyone in the kitchens, around the dorms, and I haven’t seen you going in to ask questions with the lecturers like you did last semester during exam period.” 

Wonwoo frowns, not realising that Jeonghan had been so observant of his activity. 

“What have you been doing, Wonwoo?” He asks, leaning forward with clear apprehension, gaze searching his deeply. 

Wonwoo shakes his head quietly, pursing his lips. “I’m fine.” He says resolutely. 

Jeonghan looks unconvinced, raising an eyebrow in question. “You don’t look fine.” 

“Really Jeonghan. I’m just tired.” Wonwoo tells him, his voice sounding a bit harsher than he intended, and even the man in front of him looks surprised. “If you need help with the practical I can do that, but really, I’m okay.” 

Jeonghan clenches his jaw, his eyes voicing his frustration more than anything, but he doesn’t say it aloud. 

“Wonwoo, don’t lie to me.” He sighs, his brows furrowed.

“Sorry Jeonghan, I should get back to studying.” Wonwoo says firmly. 

He knows it’s cruel, but each moment spent being questioned reminds him of why he wanted to hide it in the first place.

It would kill him to see the pain in his friend’s eyes more than anything. 

“Wonwoo…” Jeonghan’s voice trails off behind him as Wonwoo makes to walk in the other direction. 

“I’ll help you tomorrow.” He says over his shoulder before trudging back to the dorms with a heavy heart. 

He’s a ticking timebomb ready to destruct at any moment. 

He at least wants to bare it alone.

It gets harder to hide the evidence. He can’t keep throwing up petals in the toilet without it potentially clogging up, so he’s been using paper bags and throwing them out as soon as his episodes are over. 

Mingyu’s been too caught up with studying for his practical and dealing slowly with his relationship with Yeonseo to have noticed anything wrong in their bathroom, much to his relief. 

He’s feeling weaker and weaker as the days go by.

He misses his final. He avoids his friends.

When Mingyu gets back, he’s already tucked away in bed, giving him no chance to ask questions. 

Jeonghan has stopped over every now and then with Junhui and Seokmin tailing behind him, yet they never catch him. He only knows because the receptionist tells him about his visitors. He knows it’s only a matter of time before Jeonghan uses his little tracking spell again, but they’re also running out of time. 

Winter break is approaching, meaning Wonwoo will go home. And then, they’ll never see him again.

He has already begun packing so that he can catch the first train to board them all back home, and he will be able to go as quickly as he had come. And hopefully, nobody would bat an eye if he disappeared. 

He thinks his plan to vanish from existence silently is going quite smoothly. 

At least that is until, Mingyu barges in at an unexpected time, the time he’s meant to be out doing his practical. 

The first time in a couple of weeks he’s managed to catch Wonwoo in the flesh and not already dead asleep.

“Wonwoo. We need to talk.” Is the first thing his roommate says. 

"Aren't you supposed to be doing your exam?" He questions with a frown, puzzled. 

"I finished early." He explains, his gaze flickering over Wonwoo's features carefully. "Can we talk?" 

“Sorry Mingyu, I need to go to the medical office.” Wonwoo makes it a point to stand from his desk, excusing himself abruptly. 

“What, why?” 

Wonwoo shakes his head, eyes downcast as he pointedly avoids Mingyu's gaze. 

“Just got some paperwork to handle.” 

“But your final is over?” 

“It’s a form for an internship.” He lies, picking up a stray sheet from his table and walking towards the front door. 

“Oh…okay.” Mingyu finally concedes, albeit reluctantly. “Just, talk to me when you get back.” 

“Okay.” Wonwoo compromises.

Mingyu seems unsatisfied, standing near the door looking down at him while biting his lips contemplatively. 

“Promise?” 

Wonwoo pauses, staring at the door handle as he grips it weakly, feeling the abrupt warmth of his roommate so close by, yet he doesn’t bask in it like his body urges him to. 

He needs to go. 

“Promise.” 

He knows Mingyu is probably sighing in relief as he lets Wonwoo out the door. But little does he know, Wonwoo can’t keep that promise. He’s going home soon. 

And he walks away, as fast as he can.

He just has to be back in time to grab his things and catch the first train back to his hometown. It’s the only way. 

The guilt however, is inexplicable. It gnaws at him as he finds himself at the pavilion once again, staring out at the surreal mountain view, wondering if he would ever see such a beautiful scene again. And he laughs to himself, knowing he would never make it to his third year at this college. Even if he survived (unlikely), he had already skipped his finals giving him no chance to accelerate any further. 

And he remembers, the moonstone necklace still clasped around his neck, reminding him of his pain, his agony, and the love that he brought upon himself. ‘May the light of the moonstone guide your heart’, the witch had said back in the capital city. He unclasps it from his neck, staring at it coolly. Even in the past few months, it still retained its pristine luster, untarnished by time and wear. What could a mere necklace do? He could tell it was enchanted somehow, yet the magic felt enclosed in the stone, unwilling to reveal itself to him and he wanted to have hope that maybe, just maybe at his final moments it would save him like the woman had implied back then. 

And he laughs to himself, thinking he’s become delusional thinking a necklace given by a witch would provide him any solace. 

Even so, he clasps it back onto his neck, feeling the eerie coolness touch his skin. 

After all, he had to hold onto any last bit of faith he could. 

By the time the sun sets, he decides to head back to the dorm, hoping Mingyu had tired out and slept already. He didn’t feel like waiting outside any longer, and he just wanted to lie down. 

But when he opens the front latch to their dorm, he sees his roommate, sitting at the edge of his own bed, gnawing at the bottom of his lip anxiously. 

“Wonwoo?” He looks up instantly, his pupils round and hopeful as they lock eyes. 

And in that moment, Wonwoo feels his fight or flight kick in.

It’s suffocating, it’s terrorizing, and his heart wrenches so tightly in his chest. Those eyes, so kind, so innocent, so caring. 

In the past few weeks he’s avoided his roommate, this was the first time they’d properly met eyes in so long. He had missed Mingyu, more than he thought. And it does a great number on the disease of desires threatening his frail heart. Like a wildfire, the agonising pain begins to spread throughout his body. 

He wants to throw up. 

“M-Mingyu-“ 

Screw it. 

And then he bolts. 

“Wonwoo?” He hears the voice yell behind him as the door shuts harshly. 

Wonwoo doesn’t stop moving, knowing he will cough up crimson petals any moment now. His lungs hurt, his chest aches, everything feels like he’s on fire as he pushes out of the dormitories, back onto campus with tears streaking down his face. 

He coughs and coughs as he runs, feeling the tang of metal on his tongue, the feeling of blood spurting onto his shirt with little pink petals fluttering out. He can’t breathe, but he doesn’t stop running despite the strain of physical exertion. His whole body burns. 

“Wonwoo!” 

Mingyu is still closing in on him, he had no idea his roommate had followed him out this far already, but Wonwoo doesn’t stop. Weaving in between pillars at the courtyard, he finds himself outside some of the classrooms, wanting so desperately to catch his breath. He feels like a mess, covered in blood and sweat. He wipes at his mouth with the edge of his sleeve as he dashes on, squinting through the darkness as he stops around a corner, knowing that he is reaching his limit. 

He looks to his right, hoping Mingyu didn’t follow him, but that hope is futile as he hears the footsteps closing in on him.

Screw him for being so physically adept. Yet he shouldn’t be so surprised given Mingyu’s morning runs and fitness tests they do in his course. 

He limps onward, trying to get further away, but he comes to a stop when Mingyu roughly grabs his shoulder, spinning him around. It hurts, but he doesn’t resist, only wincing at the force. 

He wants to yell at him to go away, the words already at the tip of his tongue, but he stops in his place seeing the frightful look in Mingyu’s expression. 

“Wonwoo, what’s wrong?” He manages, sounding so fearful as his frantic eyes scan Wonwoo’s face and body. “Why are you bleeding?” 

“Mingyu…” He hisses, panting. “Get away from me.”

His heart wrenches in his chest as he sees the visible hurt in Mingyu’s expression at Wonwoo’s harsh words. But he doesn’t yield. 

Mingyu shakes his head, the frown so prominent in his perfect features, he wants to wipe it away. 

“You have to be joking, right?” Mingyu laughs coolly, sounding disbelieving. “What’s wrong Wonwoo, I’m here to help you. I’m here for you!” 

Every word that escapes his lips sounds like a desperate plea, but Wonwoo doesn’t budge, knowing it’s for the best. 

“Go away, Mingyu.” Wonwoo repeats, hoping his voice conveys his sternness. 

“I don’t understand.” Mingyu shakes his head, incredulous. “First you reel me in and get close to me, but then you push me away like you are doing now. The signals are mixed, Wonwoo. I don’t understand what you’re doing.” His voice sounds pained, frown only creasing even more when Wonwoo takes a few steps backwards like he were a plague. “Whatever it is, I can help! We’re friends aren’t we?” 

“I’m sorry Mingyu. I’ve been incredibly selfish.” Wonwoo looks away, tired. “This is something I have to face alone.” 

“Wonwoo, just tell me. Please.” 

“Don’t hate me for this.” Wonwoo coughs weakly, a faint sheen of liquid trickling from the corner of his eye. “Goodbye.” 

Wonwoo makes a last ditch effort in the other direction, feeling his throat dry and his heart pounding in his ears, the strain on his body only making things worse. The adrenaline combined with a mixture of fear and self-pity makes his legs move faster. The quicker he can escape Mingyu, the quicker everything will be over. He hears footsteps on his tail, but Wonwoo is faster. 

“Invisibility. Cloak me.” He dashes behind a corner, waiting for the spell to take its work. When it does, he stands there, deathly still as Mingyu turns the corner.

He stares straight at Wonwoo, eyes frantic and fearful, rapid breaths escaping his dry lips. He knows Mingyu can’t see him, but the desperate sight before him makes his heart drop, and he has to hold back a cough that he knows is tainted with more blood and petals.

He stays stiffly quiet through the pain as he watches Mingyu collapse to the floor, the sound of his knees hitting marble making him flinch. It feels like thorns are grappling with his heart, prodding his insides until he coughs it all up. 

It’s not too far from his reality.

“Wonwoo…” He cries out, defeated. “What are you doing?”  

The irony that he is here hiding from his roommate with the very spell he had gifted to him is almost laughable. An emergency cloaking spell, how funny that he had to use it on the very person that taught him in the first place. 

“Sorry, Mingyu.” Is the last thing he says as he turns around, closing his eyes with heavy remorse. 

He can’t solve anything after all. It’s not as though Mingyu loves him. 

And he finally, quietly creeps away, never once looking back at Mingyu’s receding figure behind him. His heart strings feel like they’re snapping at every step he takes in the other direction. 

This would be the last time he sees Mingyu, he vows. 

Because after this, he’s setting off on the first train home, and their dorm pairing would be no more. 

All those memories they made together would all be for naught; all because he fell in love with someone he wasn’t supposed to.

He made it home. 

Thank goodness he’d packed all his things in advance, because his departure from the dormitories went smoothly as he returned his key at the early light of day, and Mingyu was nowhere to be seen. 

Either he was searching for him all night, or went to find their friends. Regardless of what happened, he made it to the train station without being noticed by anyone. A peaceful departure. He spent the whole train ride writing letters for everyone. Farewell letters. One to his family, one to Junhui, and everyone else he’d met and befriended over the years. And one special one… to Mingyu. 

He sighs to himself as he walks down the long gravel trail to his house, lugging his one baggage behind him sluggishly. He apologises under his breath to his closest friends who he never said goodbye to; Junhui, Soonyoung, even Jihoon. In the end, he could never tell anyone what was happening. 

He knows it won’t be long before Junhui arrives back in their hometown, but he has plans to make sure he won’t find him. He can’t let him find him. 

The first thing he does when gets home is hug his family tight. His brother and father welcome him back with a warm roast meal as he tells them all about his studies and his new friends. He tells them everything, from his meeting with his new roommate (although he spares the details), and then briefs them on Mingyu’s birthday party, his reunion with Soonyoung, his little adventures around the capital city and so on. And while he talks so animatedly, he feels alleviated if only temporary, smiling as he speaks about his experiences.

He doesn’t tell them about the hanahaki disease. And as he sits at the dining table with the warmth of the fireplace soaking in his skin, he can pretend. Pretend that he’s just back home for the Winter break. Pretend that he’ll play board games with his father, help his younger brother study to get into college. And then he’ll go back to his studies in medicine and healing magic next year, see all his friends again and make new ones. 

When he walks into his room, it’s the same quiet comfort it has always been. It’s been dusted and cleaned for his return, and the soft sheets that smell distinctly of home and warmth look far too tempting to lie down in.

He smiles wistfully. 

He won’t be staying the night here. 

He leaves the letters on his bedside table, each labeled with neat cursive to be delivered to their respective homes. 

Then he opens the window, unlocking the latch of the windowsill and looking down below, his room being on the second floor. He puts one leg out, letting it dangle precariously over the edge.

Once he goes down, there’s no turning back. 

He looks over his shoulder one more time, eyeing the closed door, the untouched bed, his luggage which he’d left zipped up by the side of the room.

And he says goodbye. 

He scales down the wall of his house using a gentle landing spell, channeling energy to his feet. 

And then he leaves the vicinity with a purpose, knowing exactly where he’s going to go. He’s feeling weaker and weaker by the moment, knowing he’s about to suffer another episode. He knows he’s only going to endure a greater agony from here on, yet he’s already too far in to care anymore. 

He’s said goodbye to his life already, what more does he need to bid farewell. 

The forest that resides next to his hometown had a known herbalist’s cottage. An old retired healer lives there, surrounded by pine trees and a river that runs deep into a valley beyond, gentle, and the most tranquil place to retreat to. It’s hidden from those who don’t know magic, which makes it undisturbed.

At the very least, he hopes he will be able to stay there and live out his last days surrounded by quiet nature. 

When he sees the cottage up ahead, he breathes out a heavy sigh. 

It’s pretty. A well-kept garden is laid out at the side of the cottage porch, little blue flowers and fruits that aren’t in season blooming in all their glory, likely the result of a seasonal-retaining spell. He sees various medicinal herbs growing at the outskirts of the house, the product of an experienced healer. And sitting on a rocking chair, gently swaying with the wooden furniture, is an old man, staring at him with curious eyes. 

“You’re dying.” Is the first thing he says.

Wonwoo can’t find it in him to be surprised anymore, so he nods weakly. 

“I presume you know who I am.” The old man taps on the edge of his chair, giving Wonwoo the faintest of smiles.

”Yes, Master Lee.” 

The old man laughs with his whole chest, a warm and welcoming sound. “Can’t say I’ve heard that one in a long time.”

“Sorry, that’s just what I’ve heard from others.” 

Master Lee shakes his head, his eyes sparkling with something of amusement. “Master Lee works just fine, young man. Why don’t you come in? I’ll fix you with a cup of tea.” 

Wonwoo dips his head, feeling more at ease now. “Thank you for your hospitality.” 

“Don’t mention it kid. At the end of your days, it’s best to go comfortably.” He tells him as he stands up, joints cracking with the motion and Wonwoo is almost concerned. Yet the man looks unfazed, simply clicking his fingers and he stands upright within a split second, walking like a man that isn’t past the age of fifty. Wonwoo notes that he’s likely using a spell to ease the pains of old joints. 

Impressive. He thinks. 

“What’s your name?” Master Lee asks as Wonwoo follows him inside, observing the cozy cottage from within. 

It’s warm, perfectly laid out for a winter getaway. 

“Jeon Wonwoo.” He introduces, taking a seat on the little couch in the middle of the room. 

“Chamomile or peppermint, Wonwoo?” 

“Chamomile please.” 

The old man hums as he brews some hot water, clicking his fingers until the water lets off steam within seconds. Wonwoo knew the man was a talented healer, but seeing his manipulation of magic being utilized so smoothly, he can’t help but be even more impressed. 

“People are going to find you here.” Master Lee says as he pours the water into a teapot. 

“I know.” Wonwoo looks away, gaze downcast. 

“What are you going to do about it?” 

Wonwoo purses his lips, frowning. “I don’t know.” He answers truthfully. He was hoping he would pass sooner than later so that he could avoid being found, and Master Lee seems to understand that when he walks over to the couch, meeting his eyes with deep understanding. 

“You don’t have long left to live.” Master Lee admits after a very quick study of his body. 

“How do you know?” Wonwoo breathes out, visibly surprised by how thorough his examinations are.

“I can feel your energy.” Master Lee explains. “It’s one of the perks of being a healer. You will be able to feel and sense a person’s life force with more experience. And yours, is wavering. Those little fluctuations in energy show that your body is struggling to stay put.”

Wonwoo looks down at his fidgeting hands, sighing at the reality of the situation. 

“What is your problem, boy?” He asks, sitting across from him in a deep armchair, leaning back with a grunt. 

“Hanahaki disease.” Wonwoo tells him. 

“A disease of the heart eh?” He hums contemplatively. “It’s a shame. One of the only diseases I can’t actually cure.” 

“I know.” He whispers, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes. “I’ve accepted that fate awhile ago now.” 

Master Lee eyes him, sympathetic. “I can assure you, your final journey will be comfortable.” 

Wonwoo flashes a grateful smile at him when he returns his glasses back to their respective position. “Thank you. It truly means a lot.” 

“Don’t mention it. I grew up with a passion for healing, and I’ll continue that role even into my retirement.” Master Lee tells him, voice full of confidence. “I only retired because the capital said I was too old to continue, yet they still ask me for advice and teachings.”

He laughs to himself. “Those capital city people are greedy. But I loved my job there.”

Wonwoo looks at the old man with envy, his voice wistful as he tells him, "You did what I wished to do in the future." 

“Studying to be a healer are you?” Master Lee hums, impressed. “Then you came to the right place.”

Wonwoo shakes his head, frowning. “With my numbered days, there’s nothing more to learn.” 

Master Lee grins at him. “There’s plenty to learn. But we’ll save that for tomorrow. I’ll let you get some rest, and I’ll make sure that those flowers in your body won’t come out so painfully anymore. That’s the most I can do.” 

“Thank you.” Wonwoo says with a puff of relief, his chest aching at the act of kindness. 

“Don’t mention it kid. You still have some life left in you.”

A few days go by peacefully. 

Wonwoo tends to the gardens by Master Lee’s request, telling him to pick out various herbs that he then turns into palp. He waters the flowers and plucks the various fruits growing from bushes and trees. It’s a tedious way to live, but it gives him something to distract himself. 

He wants to think about what Mingyu’s doing, whether or not he’s received his letter. He wants to know how his friends and family are, but he knows if he thinks anymore, the pain will only consume him. 

The life he’s living now, it’s calm. 

But then, while he’s busy washing clothes in the river nearby, he hears chatter over at the cottage behind him. Curious, he gently creeps behind the gardens to peer over at the porch of the house, eyes widening as he sees the silhouette of someone talking to Master Lee, making a lot of gestures. 

And then, he beckons him over, eyes finding him in his little hiding spot before he could even move away. 

“Here.” 

Wonwoo walks closer and hears Master Lee saying something before he stops in his tracks, recognizing the newcomer instantly. 

“Jeonghan?” He breathes out, wincing. 

“Hello, Wonwoo.” He says coldly, looking far from amused. 

“This is my assistant.” Master Lee says, smiling with the blatant lie. “He’s just here to study some herbs during his winter break.”

“Sorry old man, I would’ve believed you if there weren’t missing person’s posters lined up all around town.” Jeonghan retorts, sounding frustrated. “Besides, if he were studying here, his family would know that.” 

Wonwoo sighs, tapping Master Lee’s shoulder. The old man looks up at him, frowning with obvious worry but Wonwoo merely shakes his head. 

“Apologies Master Lee, I’ll handle this.” He tells him reassuringly and the retired healer takes a step back, dipping his head in understanding. “Jeonghan, did you track me?” 

”Of course I did.” He hisses, crossing his arms in disapproval. “Junhui sent me a letter a couple of days ago saying you were nowhere to be found, but you had left some very scary sounding letters for everyone. I had to travel out here to use my tracking spell, with permission from your family of course, and then I came here.” 

Wonwoo feels like crying with the fear and frustration written all over his friend’s face, but he sucks it up as Jeonghan continues. 

“You’re dying! And you didn’t tell anyone!” 

“It was for the best.” Wonwoo counters, and then he pauses, adding quietly, “Did…did my letters reach everyone?” 

“No.” Jeonghan glares at him, sounding personally offended. “Only Junhui and your family read them. By extension, I read one too because they needed me to track you down.” 

Wonwoo feels his heart wrench. “So Mingyu doesn’t know yet?” 

“No. But I will be telling him after you come back with me.” Jeonghan says sternly, leaving no room for argument. “Because instead of writing those stupid letters, you should tell everyone to their face.” 

Wonwoo dodges Jeonghan’s hand that lurches out to grab onto his wrist, and he takes a few steps back, desperate. 

“Jeonghan, you know an amnesiac spell, right?” Wonwoo starts, eyes wide and frantic as Jeonghan turns to him with his jaw clenched. 

“No Wonwoo, I’m not going to make everyone forget about you.” He scowls, eyes wide and staring at Wonwoo like he’d lost his mind. 

“Please, Jeonghan.” 

“Don’t be stupid. No one’s forgetting about you. Not me, not your family, not Mingyu.” 

Wonwoo flinches at his roommates’ name, staring at the ground as he steps back towards the cottage. 

“Mingyu of all people, needs to know.” Jeonghan says sternly. “He’s an idiot, and he’s the one that can fix this.” 

“How?” Wonwoo says, incredulous as his voice starts to raise. “He can’t miraculously fall in love with me just because I’m dying. It’s impossible.” 

“Idiot.” Jeonghan tuts, looking exasperated. “Both of you, idiots.” 

Wonwoo makes a sound of hurt as his friend takes a few steps closer. 

“You need a wake up call, and Mingyu needs a hammer to the head.” Jeonghan mutters, loud enough so that he can hear him.

“Jeonghan, he has a girlfriend. He could never love me.” 

“He’s a dense man.” Jeonghan narrows his eyes. “You don’t understand.” 

Wonwoo pinches his forehead in irritation, his friend no longer making any sense. 

“Go, Jeonghan. I’m not coming back with you.” He says with finality, turning his back on his friend to re-enter the cottage. 

“Wonwoo, don’t do this. What about Junhui? You’re family?”  

“Sorry Jeonghan, as I said, it’s for the best. I’m not arguing anymore.” He says, resolute despite the deep ache residing in his body. “Don’t come back.” 

And he walks back into the cottage, making sure the door closes behind him, leaving his final message behind with him. 

Once he hears Jeonghan’s slew of profanities disappear from beyond the door, he leans against the cold wood, pressing his body against it as he slumps down to the floor. 

He cries. Cries like he’s never before. 

And Master Lee observes him from afar, telling him that they will come back. 

And he knows that. 

It’s only a matter of time before it’s Mingyu knocking on that door, and he won’t have any more excuses to hide. 

His family had found him not long after Jeonghan had, but since they didn’t know magic like he did, they couldn’t enter the vicinity due to the invisible barrier that shield’s this little safe haven. Which to him, was for the best. He had to lock himself in one of the spare rooms in the house to stop himself from breaking down in tears when he heard they were outside, his heart breaking with every moment he closed himself off. Master Lee had asked him then, if he was certain, and Wonwoo said nothing. Because even to him, he wasn’t sure. 

The following days after that were far more dreadful. He heard Junhui knocking on the door once, yelling at him to talk to him, begging and begging. And after what felt like an hour, his best friend had given up. And while he stayed listening from the doorway, he could hear him sobbing. 

His heart cracked just a little more. 

It wouldn’t be long until it shattered completely. 

Master Lee would observe him in these moments, quietly, but not imposing on his decision to cut everyone off. 

The next time someone visits, he’s feeling far weaker than he had the week prior. 

To his surprise, Master Lee lets them in while Wonwoo lays on the couch, eyes closed as he sinks into the cushions limply. He lacks the energy to do much else, although he frowns as he hears the footsteps edging closer. 

“Wonwoo.” 

It’s a feminine voice, definitely not one he was expecting and his eyes shoot open in an instant. He sits up, wincing when he starts seeing spots in his vision after moving too fast, and Master Lee quickly makes his way to his side, chanting a quick spell that dissipates his dizziness. 

“Yeonseo?” He breathes out, incredulous. 

“I’ve been looking for you.” She says, making her way over to him with very careful steps. With Master Lee’s permission, she takes a seat across from him. 

“How did you…” 

“Jeonghan’s outside.” She explains, and Wonwoo makes a face of realization. 

“He brought you here?” 

“I asked him to.” She says simply, clasping her hands together. 

He examines Mingyu’s girlfriend carefully, eyeing the dark knit sweater she wears and notices that her once dark long hair that sat far below her waist is now at shoulder-length. The bags under her eyes are prominent, but her gaze is as sharp as it’s always been. And once again, he thinks she looks handsome, even more masculine now than ever. And he blinks in surprise when she smiles at him, soft and concerned. 

“You look terrible.” Is what she says, and Wonwoo snorts at the admission. 

“Thank you.” He says. “I tried my best.” 

“Jokes aside, I’ve been wanting to talk to you.” She changes tone, sounding more serious now. 

“Mingyu’s not with you?” He can’t help but ask, failing to hide the curious lilt in his voice. 

“Nope.” She says, her eyes full of unspoken emotions. “We broke up.” 

“Oh.” Is all he can say, gulping. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be.” She shakes her head, fidgeting with her fingers. “It was inevitable with how things were progressing over the semester.” 

Wonwoo recalls all their arguments, and the sleepless nights Mingyu had in the past, and he purses his lips, agreeing silently. 

“Before we parted ways, I told him to wake up.” 

Wonwoo tilts his head to the side, confused. “What do you mean by that?” 

Yeonseo laughs to herself, sounding amused and Wonwoo feels even more puzzled by her reaction. “Did you know, he talks about you a lot?” 

Wonwoo freezes, stunned. And when Yeonseo scans his face for a reaction, her smile grows wider in disbelief. 

“It was always Wonwoo this, Wonwoo that, I did this with Wonwoo, I cooked that for Wonwoo and so on. It sounded like he was more in love with you than he was with me.” She explains, running a delicate hand through her shortened locks. “That’s when I started to become more agitated. We started arguing more because in the end, his time was spent studying and then with you, and then eventually, less with me without him even realizing it.” 

Wonwoo is speechless. He had no idea the basis of their arguments actually stemmed from…him. 

“It’s not your fault.” She assures him as though reading his mind, looking up now with those sharp eyes of hers. “But if he was going to end our relationship like that, he might as well wake up and take things into his own hands with you. Because clearly, he’s doing a terrible job of taking care of you.” 

Wonwoo frowns now, opening his mouth to speak, and then shutting it when no words formulate. 

“You think he doesn’t like you like that right?” Yeonseo asks, a little crooked smile on her face now. “It’s funny, because he’s so clearly in love with you that everyone seems to know except for you and him.” 

No. She’s wrong. Wonwoo thinks to himself, his chest tightening. 

“He doesn’t think he’s into men.” She continues, jabbing the knife deeper into his chest without even knowing. “He’s in denial.” 

“That can’t be true…” 

“You,” She quiets him, “He would bring you up at the most random times.” She chuckles to herself before continuing. “Everything he showed me, was in essence of you.” 

Wonwoo shakes his head, disbelieving. But the more she talks, the more he wants to curl in on himself and disappear, because it just couldn’t be true. 

“Soon, he will find out where you are and what’s happening to you.” Yeonseo tells him, biting her lips. “And he will save you. Because he’s in love with you, and that’s the only cure.” 

“No…” Wonwoo whispers, pained. “He doesn’t.” 

Yeonseo only looks at him now with pity, reaching out to grab his hand with her own, soft fingertips. 

“Wonwoo, I’m sorry you had to suffer like this.” She says gently. “But, there has to be a way to save you, and we have to try and get Mingyu to do that.” 

“I’m sorry.” Wonwoo says instead, deeply regretful that she had to go through what she did. “But, I can’t believe you either.” 

She pauses, looking contemplative. And then it seems like something clicks in her mind as she stares back at him. 

“We’ll bring Mingyu here.” She says, decisive. 

“No…” Wonwoo refuses, although his resolve is weak. 

“Wonwoo, you can’t give up so fast. This is your life we’re talking about.” She berates him. “You should be taking every chance you can get.” 

“But it’ll hurt more when I face the truth.” Wonwoo whispers, voicing his fear. “If it’s not true, if he could never love me in the first place, I might as well die without hearing it first.” 

Yeonseo looks at him, eyes full of sympathy, letting go of his hands very gently. “Sorry Wonwoo, I can’t let you die so easily.”

He shakes his head, baffled. “Why?” He ruined their relationship, what makes her so adamant on saving him? 

As though reading his mind, she leans back and speaks once more. “I’m helping you because it’s what Mingyu would want. Unfortunately I still love him, and that’s why I am doing what I can for you. As Mingyu’s close friend, and as someone who means a lot to him, I’ll do what I can on my end.” 

“Yeonseo…”

“So stay strong, for a few more days. We’ll bring him back here. He’s been a mess since college ended anyway, it’ll be good to get him up and going again.” 

Wonwoo frowns, opening his mouth to ask just what she means, but she beats him to it. 

“You’ll have to talk to him to find out.” 

She wasn’t making things any easier for him, so he zips his mouth, defeated. 

“Don’t go anywhere.” She warns. 

“Not like I have anywhere else to go.” Wonwoo responds exasperatedly. 

“Good.” She says, satisfied as she makes a move to stand up.

When she leaves, Wonwoo sits up, biting his lip in deep thought. Master Lee sits across from him now, closing his eyes while his hand begins emitting a faint white glow which means he’s examining the condition of his body.  

“Why’d you let her in?” 

Master Lee hums quietly as he continues to assess him. “I could sense she had something important to talk to you about. Let’s just say…it was intuition.” 

“She might just make it worse.” Wonwoo murmurs, fighting the frustration that build up in his already weak body. “I can’t face the person that put me in this position.” 

Master Lee doesn’t say anymore as he reopens his eyes, looking thoughtful. Wonwoo knows he has more to say, but before he can urge him to, Master Lee simply stands up. 

“You have a few days left.” Is what he says instead and Wonwoo feels it, the prickle of fear that courses through his body. “Why don’t you make the most of it, kid?” 

Wonwoo presses his lips into a thin line, but doesn’t argue back. He knows that there’s not much else he can protest anyway. With very limited numbered days left in him, he can’t do anything else. So he stands up, albeit shakily and makes to the front door to tend to the gardens as he’s been doing. It’s the only thing left for him. 

After planting a few more medicinal herbs for Master Lee, he makes the short trek down to the river’s edge, breathing in the scent of fresh natural air. The gentle flow of the crystal clear water washes over him with its calming allure, feeling more at ease despite the dwelling pit of emotions that seem to be battling his troubled mind. 

He crosses his legs on a rock at the edge of the river and removes his glasses, placing them gently in his lap. Closing his eyes, he meditates, sucking in a breath through his nose, and exhaling heavily through his mouth. All he can feel is the fleeting touch of the winter breeze and the slight droplets of water that splash onto his legs from below. 

His mind is emptied for a few moments, before becoming distracted by the nostalgia that was his life before this. It’s ironic that he studied healing magic, and in the end, he will be taken by a disease that couldn’t be healed in the first place. Maybe in his next life, he would find a cure for hanahaki disease, announce his breakthrough to the world and be treated as highly as Master Lee had been. Maybe in another life he would have given his family a home in the capital city where they could have access to all the resources they ever needed. And maybe in another life, he would be using magic freely to his heart’s content to show his loved ones his innate talents that he’d worked so hard to perfect. 

Ah. He’d done so much in this life. 

And then, his mind flashes to the picture-perfect image of a man with golden skin and a body carved to perfection that one would admire in an art museum. Chiseled and perfect, yet soft and beautiful. A melodious laugh, of a man who lived with unrestrained confidence in himself, a man who fought hard to become the person he wanted to be. A man that was so admirable, so generous and kind, a man with the heart of gold. And he smelled distinctly of sweet coconut and vanilla. 

Every part of him, every sense of him, Wonwoo could never forget. 

The man he shared a year with. The man who cursed him with love. 

He exhales heavily, feeling the burden of a frown crease his features. And then he channels his energy into his palms once more, feeling the last inklings of his strength being mustered. He chants quietly, feeling the power coursing through his veins and it is pleasant, familiar. 

And when he opens his eyes, a tear slips down his cheek.

A flower field adorns the grassy edge of the riverbank, shades of blue and dark purple. Some are imperfect and wilting while others blossom bright and strong. 

He shakes his head. It’s a far cry from the flower field Mingyu had made, full of bright and vivid hues that lit up the lush green fields, while his, are more mellow and somber. Beautiful, but hauntingly so. 

As he stares at his creation, he thinks it conveys his final emotions well. 

Unfortunately, he thinks he used every last bit of energy in his body and all it takes is a slight movement before his vision gets fuzzy and he collapses, plunging into darkness. 

“You’ve really done it now.” 

Wonwoo groans as his lashes flutter open, blinking rapidly until they refocus. 

He’s warm, incredibly warm as his body shifts in the sheets of a bed. He’s disoriented, momentarily lost as he looks around the room.

“You coughed up a full blossom.” Master Lee says from next to him, sounding somber. 

Another phrase for, his time is up. 

He can tell anyway, his breaths already rough and ragged, and it aches, aches more than anything even though he knows Master Lee is already using a suppressant spell on his body. The pain could never fully go away after all. 

“Can I, have some water?” Wonwoo rasps weakly. 

“Of course.” 

And Master Lee retreats to the kitchen, his steps soft and firm while Wonwoo tries to regain his bearings a little bit. 

He doesn’t know how else to really feel knowing he’s already knocking at death’s door. It feels surreal. 

As Master Lee comes back in with a mug of water, he pauses. 

“Someone’s at the barrier.” 

His voice is a warning, and that’s all Wonwoo needs to know. He’s here. 

“Let him.” Wonwoo murmurs, accepting his fate as it is. It’s not like he can run anywhere anymore. 

Master Lee gives him a faint smile of reassurance as he passes the mug to him and tells him he’ll be right back. 

When the door is opened, and he hears loud voices outside, Wonwoo knows for sure that he has to face it head on. He stares out the window, looking at the view outside where he sees that winter had hit them overnight. It’s white outside, pure and soft, little specks of pale white shimmer from the sky in all their frosty glory. 

He hears rapid footsteps approaching the room, much without ceremony, and then someone stands at the doorway, panting. 

They don’t say anything for a few moments, and Wonwoo can’t bear to face the person at the door, keen on observing the snow fluttering down from the heavens outside. 

“Wonwoo.” 

That voice. Always so lighthearted and warm. He feels it resound deep in his chest, temporarily alleviating the pain that is thorns jabbing into his heart and lungs. 

He finally turns to face his visitor, slow and feeble. He doesn’t speak, inviting the man to talk instead as he has no energy for words yet. 

“Why?” And Mingyu sounds so vulnerable, so lost. 

Wonwoo continues to stare at him, lips parted slightly as he wheezes quietly. 

“You should have told me that you were suffering.” Mingyu says, sounding slightly frustrated, yet it doesn’t show on his face that looks more sullen than anything. “Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“It was my burden alone.” Wonwoo finally murmurs, his voice sounding coarse. “What could you have done?” 

Mingyu purses his lips, frown prominent on his features, looking a little lost for words. 

“Mingyu, you’ll move on. We’ve only known each other for a year, so don’t feel responsible.” Wonwoo speaks up instead when Mingyu seems to be searching for something to say in response. 

“A year is long enough for you to fall this hard for me.” He retorts, frown deepening. “And a year is long enough for me to not be able to forget you.” 

It aches. No amount of suppressant magic could quell the pains of heartache. 

“This is my burden too.” Mingyu says, edging closer to the bed. 

“No Mingyu, it never was.” Wonwoo denies, exhausted. “I fell for a man that was taken, a man that doesn’t like men. You were severely out of reach, and yet it still happened. So in the end, it has always been my burden and mine alone. You have never been responsible for me, and you never will be. I’ll pass because of my own will, and not yours.” 

Something about his words seem to affect Mingyu, Wonwoo not missing the glimpse of hurt in his eyes. 

“Wonwoo, you can’t go.” He breathes out, sounding deeply pained as he approaches the side of the bed, closer to Wonwoo than they have been in a long time. 

And Wonwoo sees it now that he’s close, the tears that are brewing in his eyes, the sheer hurt and fear that is so vulnerable in his expression. Wonwoo feels it. 

Mingyu leans forward, and wraps his burly arms around Wonwoo’s neck, embracing him tightly, albeit awkwardly in his position. Wonwoo, who’s been suppressing his own heartache this whole time, feels the waterworks beginning, and he chokes back a sob. 

He doesn’t want to die.

“I’m sorry I can’t save you.” He murmurs into his hair, and Wonwoo shakes his head. 

“I knew there was never really a chance for me.” Wonwoo assures him sadly. 

“No…It’s not that.” Mingyu pulls back a bit, looking at him so that their faces are only inches apart. Wonwoo can see all the emotions swirling in the deep warmth of Mingyu’s eyes, the hurt, the longing, the melancholy, it’s all there. “I probably might have liked you but…you’re a man, and I’m a man. I ruled out that possibility long ago.” 

Wonwoo frowns, blinking at the man, puzzled. “How long ago?” 

“After my birthday.” Mingyu ponders, sounding momentarily as baffled as he feels. “Uhm, there was something about you that day, but I didn’t dwell on it. I’m not into men and I had a girlfriend.” 

“I see.” He doesn’t. It’s like Mingyu just slapped him across the face and he wants to scream. In anger? In frustration? He doesn’t know. 

“There were some instances though, that I felt like I could like you as I am.” Mingyu says quietly, like he were hesitating. “It felt wrong. But, I think about you a lot for sure, and I’m always happy to do things for you and be around you. I just can’t really…fathom myself like that.” 

Like that. Like him. 

Another slap to the face. 

“Mingyu, why are you here then?” Wonwoo says coolly. He’s already so vulnerable and tired, but this man just keeps pushing the thorns deeper into his heart. 

Mingyu winces at his tone, looking frantically for a second, before imminently sighing. “I wanted you to know that I care, a lot. Even though it’s not enough to save you, I really couldn’t bear to watch you go alone.” 

Wonwoo’s eyebrows knit together, contemplative.

“Is Jeonghan here?” Wonwoo asks instead, peering past Mingyu’s broad shoulders to assess the situation outside. 

“Yes. And Yeonseo and Junhui.” Mingyu tells him. 

He sighs. “I don’t have much energy left.” He admits, sinking into the bed, hoping it consumes him. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.” 

Wonwoo laughs without humour, turning his head away so he doesn’t have to face the very man who started this whole ordeal. Not that he blames him.

“It’s better that you didn’t.” 

Mingyu makes a small noise of hurt, but Wonwoo ignores it, pretending he didn’t hear anything. Instead of protesting, Mingyu quietly exhales, and Wonwoo hears the rustle of his clothing as he shifts. 

“I know.” Mingyu whispers instead.

And suddenly, a hand tentatively touches his head, rousing his already messy locks. 

Wonwoo doesn’t have the strength to flinch away when his fingertips scratch his scalp and furl through his hair so gently. It feels nice. Too nice. He wants to say more, tell Mingyu how upset he is that he ended up like this. Tell him he’s sorry for falling for him and ruining his relationship with Yeonseo. He wants to ask if he impressed his father at the end of the semester, if he’s been enjoying his time with his family. 

But all those words disappear with the leisurely rhythm of Mingyu’s fingers. 

So delicate and nice to the point it slowly lulls him to sleep. A nice, painless deep sleep.

A sleep where he no longer dreams. 

“Master Lee?” Mingyu calls from the spare bedroom, his voice sounding deeply concerned. 

The old healer walks in with hasty steps, assessing the situation with wide eyes. When his gaze lands on Wonwoo’s figure, he frowns. 

“He’s just sleeping, right?” Mingyu asks, his voice laced with horror. “He coughed up some blood in his sleep and then just went still.” 

“No, no.” Master Lee shakes his head, baffled. “He still had a bit longer.” 

“He’s not…” Mingyu doesn’t even want to say the word, his throat tight with fear and his eyes welling up with liquid that absentmindedly trickles down to his chin. 

Master Lee hurries to his side, putting a hand over Wonwoo’s forehead with his eyes closed, his hand glowing white. When he clicks his tongue, Mingyu stares in apprehension. Master Lee mutters a few words under his breath, and in the blink of an eye, Wonwoo’s chest starts rising and falling, although subtle. 

Jeonghan and Junhui run in not long after, gasping as they see the state of their friend in bed. Yeonseo trails in quietly, assessing the situation with worried eyes. There’s blood trickling from Wonwoo’s lips that Master Lee doesn’t hesitate to wipe off with a spare cloth nearby and his face is deathly pale. When Mingyu had felt it with the back of his hand, his skin had already become cold. 

“Is he…?” Junhui speaks up shakily. 

“Not yet.” Master Lee finally deduces after doing a full body assessment. “He’s in a coma. I’ve just enchanted him with some oxygen assistance, although it won’t last long since I lack the magic tools to provide him with more abundant oxygen.” 

“A coma though?” Jeonghan questions, sounding quizzical. “How?” 

“His brain was probably overwhelmed from the pain, and the lack of oxygen in his lungs.” Master Lee tells them, looking regretful. “I thought I could prolong his time a bit longer, but it seems his body will only last a few more days before he’s gone.” 

“No…” Mingyu falls to the floor, his knees hitting the ground with a reverberate thud. He leans at the side of the bed, eyes scanning Wonwoo’s expression helplessly. 

“Is there really nothing we can do?” Junhui asks Master Lee, sounding just as helpless.

The old man pauses, turning to look at Mingyu who is kneeled on the floor, his gaze unwavering on his former roommate with so many emotions swirling in those eyes of his. 

“No.” He says after a moment, continuing to stare at the mess of a Mingyu on the floor. “Not really.” 

Jeonghan cocks an eyebrow, observing the situation thoughtfully. “Old man, do you think we could stay for a few more days?”

Master Lee hums in approval. “I don’t see why not.” 

“Please…please save him.” Mingyu murmurs from where he reaches for Wonwoo’s unmoving hands feeling for his pulse, searching and searching for any sign of his vibrance.

Master Lee walks over to tap Mingyu on the shoulder, shaking his head. 

“Please.” Mingyu pleads, his voice trembling. 

“Stay then.” Master Lee tells him with a faint shrug of his shoulders. “Maybe a miracle will happen.” 

Mingyu bites his lip, looking helpless as Master Lee leaves the room with his final words, leaving a tense silence behind as the remaining four stay with Wonwoo’s resting figure. Mingyu turns back to his former roommate, scanning his sunken cheeks and shallow breaths, barely there.

Even though he looks slightly worse for wear, Mingyu could still see the vibrancy in his pale, porcelain skin.

He can still see the same Wonwoo he’d seen by the pond that day they had wandered the castle gardens together. Leisurely and free, surrounded by greens and all types of exotic flora. And he had remembered Wonwoo without his glasses on, blinking at him gently with those sharp fox-like eyes that seemed to see right through him. So calculating and careful, yet his irises hold a storm of emotions that are so palpable, yet unreadable. 

He always wondered why Wonwoo never seemed to be interested in relationships, never enticed by the idea to find one when he was so good looking. He’d asked once in passing and Wonwoo had shrugged it off pretty quickly, telling him he didn’t have time for relationships given he was studying to be a healer. 

Little did he know that Wonwoo liked him. 

Throughout it all. 

And Mingyu hadn’t the faintest of clues. 

It wasn’t until Jeonghan had come running to his house, where he was already sulking after Wonwoo had shut him down so harshly, followed by a very silent and hurtful departure, that he found out. He couldn’t even be mad at Wonwoo for doing what he did. He could never be mad at Wonwoo. Not when he was always so quiet and kind. He knew past all his awkwardness, Wonwoo always had everyone’s best interests at heart. And Mingyu never said it, but he truly admired his roommate who was so intelligent and calm. 

Unfortunately, during that whole exam period, he barely saw the man. At night, he’d searched for his roommate, wondering if he was eating well and if he had taken breaks from studying. Yet, every time he got back to his dorm after practising defensive spells all day for his final exam, Wonwoo was already tucked in bed, curled in a corner with his back facing the entrance. 

They hadn’t spoken for weeks properly. And he so desperately wanted to. He assumed Wonwoo was just too tired from studying all day, yet he’d heard from Jeonghan that Wonwoo had actually started to miss classes. 

He cursed himself for not being more attentive to Wonwoo’s condition, but he’d been so focused on his exams that he didn’t even know his roommate was suffering as he was. 

The other day however, Jeonghan knocked on his door while he was lying down by the fireplace, soaking in the warmth of his house on a chilly winter morning. His friend had all but barged in, telling him he had something urgent to report, and Mingyu, ever the attentive person, instantly sat up and listened to what he had to say. 

“Mingyu, you have to come with me to Wonwoo’s hometown.” Jeonghan sat down with him, his brows knitted in frustration. 

“What?” He says immediately, mouth parted in surprise. 

“It’s a long story, I’ll tell you on the way there.” 

He knew their homes were a bit far from one another, so with the urgency in Jeonghan’s plea, he instantly packed his things to go without much convincing. If something was wrong with Wonwoo, he had to be there to help. Besides, he had many things to ask. 

“Dad, mum, I’ll be back.” Mingyu calls to his parents as he peers into the kitchen, surprised to see them leaning against the wall as though listening in. 

“What’s the hurry?” His mother coughs, looking sheepish. 

“A friend needs my help.” Mingyu tells them with an apologetic glance. 

His father looks at him now, ever so stoic and collected, and he crosses his arms, clearly wanting more of an explanation. 

“There’s no time to waste.” Mingyu says, decisively. “I promise I’ll be back as long as I can help my friend.” 

His father reluctantly waves his hand, a small gesture that would seem dismissive to some, but to him, it’s the only acknowledgement he needs. 

“Thank you!” He calls over his shoulder in one quick motion once he takes their approval, running to the front door where Jeonghan is waiting with his foot tapping in agitation.

“We can’t catch the train from here to Wonwoo’s, so horseback it is.” Jeonghan informs him, biting his lip. 

“What’s wrong?” Mingyu asks as they walk down to the main street where there are plenty of horse-back wagons strolling back and forth. 

Jeonghan waves one down, his grip tight on the strap of his bag. 

“Yeonseo and Junhui will meet us there.” Jeonghan tells him, still not answering his questions. 

“Jeonghan?” He frowns as they hop in the back of the wagon.

Once Jeonghan provides directions to the man guiding the horses, he slumps into the back with a puff of exasperation. He runs a hand through his shoulder-length raven hair, still looking uneasy. 

When Jeonghan finally settles, Mingyu stares at him with bated breath. He reaches into his pocket, pulling something out and he hands it to him quietly. 

“Wonwoo gave us all letters.” Jeonghan purses his lips.

Mingyu feels his blood run cold. 

Letters…to everyone meant very few things. The most hopeful option was that he ran away, but that would still be an unfavourable exception. The other option…was something Mingyu didn’t want to dwell on. 

He takes the crumpled envelope from Jeonghan, eyeing the neat cursive writing that has his name plastered on it. He hesitates as he takes the paper out, jaw clenched in apprehension. 

‘Dear Mingyu, 

I don't really have much to say, except for maybe the important information… I’m dying. 

Low and behold, a great year has come to an end. I made new friends, met you, and well, to put it simply, I had fun. I’m not going to make this any more of a sob story, so let’s keep things light hearted. I’m sick because I fell in love. 

Now don’t feel like you’re responsible after reading this, but I developed a little more than a crush on you. Surprise! I was surprised myself when I started throwing up flowers, and then I realised that maybe my crush was a bit deeper than I had initially presumed. But let’s spare the details, my favourite roommate (don’t tell Jihoon), thank you for your comforting presence throughout these past two semesters. For taking care of my wellbeing, and for our little conversations that I really enjoyed together. 

That’s as far as I wanted to convey to you, so, take care of yourself. I hope things will go well for your future, and I’m proud of how hard you’ve worked this year. 

Love, 

Your favourite customer who loves Ramyun: Jeon Wonwoo.’

“No…” Mingyu breathes aloud, his eyes watering. “No.” He simply couldn’t accept it. 

He should’ve noticed earlier. He should’ve…he should’ve been there to help him. After all they’d been through together this year, he’d already decided Wonwoo would be someone he holds onto for a long time. His quiet, yet comforting presence who never oversteps his boundaries, who’s always so tentative yet compassionate. In fact, Mingyu enjoys his company so much that he already asked the dorm receptionist if they could pick dormmates next year. 

With a bit of convincing, she had said maybe. 

And he was excited about it. He had been elated to spend more time with Wonwoo, have more little rendezvous surrounded by nature and magic, share spells with each other from their respective studies and learn from one another. 

He wanted to spend more of his future by Wonwoo’s side. 

Jeonghan eyes him now, looking as grey as he did when he arrived at his doorstep not long ago. 

“Mingyu, you have to fix this. You’re the only one that can.” Jeonghan tells him hastily. 

“Jeonghan, why is this happening to him?” He wheezes out between hiccups as tears flow freely down his cheeks. “And how can I even save him?” 

“Did he not specify what his disease is?” Jeonghan’s brows furrow in puzzlement. 

“No.” Mingyu shakes his head, wiping away some of his tears shakily. 

“Hanahaki disease.” Jeonghan tells him, yet he doesn’t recognise the name. “It’s a rare disease which can only be contracted because of unrequited love.”

“So…it’s my fault isn’t it…” Mingyu croaks out, pained. 

“Not necessarily.” Jeonghan shakes his head, his tone exhausted yet sympathetic. “Obviously you can’t control who you fall in love with, it just so happens that he fell for the one person that was unreachable.” 

“I had no clue.”

“Of course you didn’t.” Jeonghan laughs, although without humour. “You’re not just dense, but you’re a bit clueless sometimes.” Although his words are an attack on him, Mingyu doesn’t have the fight in him to deny anything. Their friend was dying after all. 

“How can I cure him?” Mingyu asks, desperate. 

“You tell him you return his feelings.” Jeonghan shrugs, leaning back into the wall of the carriage with a sigh. “It’s pretty simple.” 

Mingyu’s brows furrow. “Then it’s not possible.” 

Jeonghan looks at him like he’s grown a second head, his eyes wide in bafflement. “You can’t possibly think that there’s not a single inkling of affection in you for that man?” 

“I don’t like men that way, Jeonghan.” Mingyu adamantly denies, his tears dry now, fighting the brewing frustration in his chest. 

“Mingyu, even Yeonseo thinks so.” 

At the mention of her name, Mingyu couldn’t help but feel deep remorse, never truly understanding why their relationship soured so much. He had apologised many times, but in the end, she had just told him to wake up. Wake up from what? She never clarified. 

“No way.” Mingyu refuses, shaking his head in disbelief. “She never mentioned that to me.” 

“Think about it more, Mingyu.” Jeonghan grits his teeth, looking away now in clear irritation. “I’ll let you figure it out for yourself. Hopefully in time.” 

“Jeonghan…” 

“Save it for later, Mingyu. We have a journey ahead of us.”

Mingyu’s lashes flutter with the grogginess of sleep as he takes in the peacefully laid figure of Jeon Wonwoo, unmoving yet still as elegant in his unconscious state as if he were awake. 

He had a vision once before. By the Lake of Dreams, that vision had been so surreal, yet it felt so tangible.

It was a dream where both he and Wonwoo lay together in a grass bed, so soft under their bodies. The air was clean and smelled faintly of blossoms in the wind, filling their senses with colour and fragrant blooms. Leaves seemed to dance in the sky as it was swept by the breeze, and the sky was a perfect baby blue, adorned by little puffs of white. The sun was vibrant and alive, casting warmth over their slack bodies as they continued to lay there. 

He looked over at Wonwoo who’s lying down with his eyes closed, soaking in the sun. 

There’s no sound, even as Wonwoo opens his mouth to say something, his lips pink and soft. The word that flashes through his mind at that moment is ‘tempting’, yet it comes from a thought that wasn’t his own. 

He had no control of his body in that dream, only feeling the emotions and thoughts of the Mingyu present in that world. Wonwoo looked so elegant next to him then, his pale skin glowing like a pearl in the bright midday light. 

Beautiful. His brain unhelpfully supplied as he stayed sitting up, staring at the ethereal man next to him. 

He opened his mouth to say something, but while it was a vision, he still heard nothing. 

Wonwoo smiled though, so bright that it paralleled the sun and he wondered what he said to make the man smile like that. 

It was such a pleasant vision. Comfortable, beautiful. 

Yet when he snapped out of it and saw Wonwoo staring at him expectantly, shades of blue reflecting on his handsome features under the moonlight, he felt uneasy. Wonwoo stayed there, frowning with such worry, it stabbed something within him, a part of him he’d been quelling for quite some time now. 

“Hey, are you alright?” He had said back then.

And no, he hadn’t been. Because he’d just seen a vision of them together, and his thoughts, were not the thoughts of someone hanging out with his close friend. No, they had meaning to them. And Mingyu wasn’t stupid, he knew what sort of meaning it was, he just didn’t want to put a name to it.

So he gathered his bearings back then, and instead distracted himself with Wonwoo’s ice lotus. Even when he used magic, the sheer concentration on his face, Mingyu’s brain couldn’t control the fleeting thought that yes, this man was beautiful.

Again, another feeling he swallowed down. 

He couldn’t love a man.

Could he?

“Mingyu, come have some food.” Junhui calls from the living room, his tone laced with worry. “You haven’t eaten all day.” 

It’s been a couple of days since Wonwoo fell into his coma, and the inexplicable guilt has been eating away at his conscience day by day. He wanted to do something, but he couldn’t muster up the courage to tackle the feelings that have been brewing in his perturbed heart for a while now. He just couldn’t, it went against everything he’d believed in for his whole life. 

So he shoves it to the back of his mind, gnawing at his lip as he takes a step out of the spare room, seeing Junhui and Yeonseo waiting for him at the dining table. 

“Hey stupid, you can’t forget to eat.” Yeonseo berates him, her eyes tired. 

He hadn’t even noticed she’d cut her hair until now, for the first time since they’d seen each other again, he finally took note of it. He truly hadn’t looked or thought about anyone else for awhile now.

“Sorry.” He murmurs sulkily as he slumps in his seat, tentatively plucking an apple from the fruit bowl. 

“You need to eat more.” Yeonseo scolds him, shoving a plate in his hands before he can bite into the apple. 

The plate is full of warm roast veggies and some rice, and it smells so homely and inviting, that he bites back a few tears that threaten to fall, feeling so moved for no reason.

He’s miserable. 

“Come on, you crybaby.” Yeonseo sighs, leaning back in her seat when Mingyu starts eating. 

“It’s all my fault.” His lips quiver, mouth full of potatoes.

“I thought Wonwoo was pretty stubborn but hey, you’re not too far off.” Junhui comments lightheartedly, flashing him a sympathetic smile. “We’ve told you, it’s not your fault.” 

“I don’t know what to do.” 

Yeonseo heaves a deeper sigh now, looking exasperated. 

“Maybe you should take a walk. Clear your mind a bit.” Junhui suggests before Yeonseo can open her mouth. 

Mingyu hums contemplatively, nodding. 

“Yeah. Maybe.” 

Once he finishes eating, he heeds Junhui’s advice, stepping out onto the porch for the first time in a few days. The snow has evidently been cleared out by the fruits of Jeonghan and Junhui’s labour, revealing the wooden floorboards underneath. He takes a few tentative steps towards Master Lee’s garden, finding him accompanying Jeonghan, clearly discussing medicine. 

“Is there really no more hope?” He hears Jeonghan mutter, almost pleading. 

“He has at most, one more day.” Master Lee says regretfully. “Even if your friend attests to his feelings now, if Wonwoo doesn’t hear it, he will never be cured.” 

“Hear it…but he’s unconscious.”

“That’s the most cruel part.” Master Lee hums.

Mingyu doesn’t feel like listening to the rest, already feeling the pit of dread in his stomach grow bigger. 

He walks around to the other side of the cottage until he reaches the riverbank where snow covers either side. He pays no mind to the slippery crunch underfoot as he trudges along the edge of the water, frowning to himself.

He wonders if Wonwoo walked this path recently too. 

He walks aimlessly like that for what feels like a few minutes, and then because of one careless step, he slips. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he completely didn’t notice the bit of ice underfoot that was far more slippery than the snow he’d been treading on before. 

And he tumbles down the riverbank with a resounding yell of surprise, his eyes widening as he sees the rocks underneath his body.

In a flash, everything falls silent as he sees nothing but black. 

“Mingyu, if you could learn any spell in the world, what would it be?” 

‘Hmm… I’d love to be able to cook any recipe in the world.’

The man beside him laughs, cheery and carefree, full of life. “Of course you would. Make sure to cook me the best meals ever in the future when you do.”

‘I promise I will.’

“Good. I’m your most loyal customer after all, you would be losing out if you didn’t cook for me.” 

‘Stupid. There isn’t a world where I wouldn’t cook for you.’ 

“Mm, a sweet talker aren’t you?” 

He hears himself chuckle, his eyes sparkling with admiration for the one before him, basking in the sunlight with unabashed freedom. A picture-perfect image. 

‘Only for you.’ He hears himself say, feeling the instinctive wink to enunciate his words. 

The man beside him blinks up at him, fox-like eyes meeting his own with a little smirk plastered on his attractive features. His heart races in his chest, lips parted partially as he drinks in the addictive sight in front of him. Sly, yet tantalising. 

“Mingyu, do you think we’ll work side by side in the future?” 

He hums, leaning against his palms as he feels the grass blades brush against his bare skin. 

‘I’ll work my hardest to join you in the capital.’ He feels the hope brewing in his chest. ‘After all, if I get injured, I know whose arms I can jump into when I need to.’

“Idiot.” The man says fondly, gazing at him now with so much depth of emotion, he can’t even bear to look away. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

He feels himself lean forward, drawn into the captivating allure of the man before him, seeing nothing else except him…him and more of him. He wants to devour those soft lips and consume all of him. He wants to savour his presence, indulge in the sweet innocence that is him. 

He’ll take everything he can get, anything for the heart that bursts in his chest, unshackled by the bounds of restraint. 

He wants him. Badly.

‘Can I?’ 

“Anytime, always.” 

He knows he probably tastes like the sweetest of desserts, delicious and compelling. 

And as they lean in, the brief featherlight touch of his hand on Mingyu’s cheek is electrifying, exhilarating. He can’t get enough. 

‘What a beautiful dream.’

Like a wake up call, Mingyu gasps up for air, snapping out of his comfortable dream with his heart racing uncontrollably in his chest. 

“You’re so stupid.” Jeonghan sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “It’s slippery out there, and you just had to pick the rocks next to the river to fall into. You’re lucky you escaped with just a few scrapes and a possible cold.” 

“What happened?” He groans, sitting up and wincing at the pain in his head. 

“You passed out.” Master Lee informs him. 

“Knocked out more like.” Yeonseo points out from nearby. 

Mingyu bites his lip, recalling his more than pleasant dream he’d just been having and he blinks rapidly, heart swelling in his chest. As he looks around the room where everyone looks at him expectantly, he opens his mouth to speak, but then hesitates.

“What’s up with you?” Jeonghan pries, clearly noticing something’s up. 

Mingyu doesn’t want to believe it, but he so badly wants to return to that dream. Lighthearted words shared in a valley of peace, and the little fluttering of butterflies in his stomach that he hadn’t felt before. That thrill, was something he’d been missing. And he knew…he knew he’d only ever felt it with one person. 

So many years of being convinced he loved women and only women had just come crashing down on him because of one vision that seemed to scream the complete opposite. And he enjoyed it. 

Everyone who had told him…had been right all along. Yeonseo telling him to wake up, Jeonghan straight up telling him he was attracted to Wonwoo, much to his dismay. 

No…How could he have dismissed it all?

It was like the missing puzzle pieces finally clicked into place in his brain, and all the suppressed feelings he’d been harbouring finally rose to the surface. Everything he had choked up to being delusion, had been just a fraction of his true feelings. 

He’d always been attracted to Jeon Wonwoo. He knew that much, but how far did that attraction go? He only found out now. 

From the first moment he grabbed his wrist back at their dorm on the first day, the moment he’d turned around and they met eyes, his heart had skipped a beat. 

And that time that he’d seen Wonwoo being flirted with by Eunwoo had sparked some unpleasant feelings within him, yet he’d choked it up to being protective of his roommate from a man he knew was sly. 

But he can also recall that time he removed his glasses and saw the pure, handsome face behind it all and the world had stopped moving just to admire his beauty. At that time, the fleeting thought that Wonwoo was prettier than the gardens they were in crossed his mind. 

And every time after that when they hung out closely, spending many nights talking under the moon about nothing and everything, he had felt like he could just keep talking without judgement, with every bit of freedom Wonwoo granted to him.

He laughs internally, thinking about the absurdity of ‘roommate bonding’ as an excuse. Deep down, he knew it had always been a guise to be closer to Wonwoo, wanting to know more about the intricacies of such a quiet yet alluring man. 

There was a reason he fell out of love with Yeonseo in the first place. He’d been falling for someone else the whole time without even knowing. 

Every small encounter, every bit of closeness, every time spent with him had been precious. It’s all coming together now. 

And Mingyu? It was always…Denial, denial, denial. 

Even after telling Wonwoo he might’ve liked him if he didn’t repulse the idea of liking men, he was still in great denial. And that moment, the final moments of his consciousness, was the last time he could’ve saved him but because of his stupidity, he lied to Wonwoo, and himself. 

If only he hadn’t rejected the idea for so long, he could’ve…he could’ve…

“Mingyu?” Jeonghan snaps him out of his mulling, eyebrow raised in question. 

He realises everyone is still staring at him, waiting, questioning. And Mingyu, he feels like he’s been put in the spotlight of shame. 

He’d been so stupid all this time. 

“I…I’ll be back.” He manages weakly, hoisting himself off of the sofa where they’d laid him down.

“Hey, you should rest.” Jeonghan calls to him as he makes his way to the spare room where Wonwoo lies. 

“Leave him.” He hears Master Lee say softly, his voice laced with something akin to relief. “He knows now.”

As he walks into the room, he feels like screaming, cursing to himself that he put Wonwoo in this state, all because he didn’t have the courage to save him, to come to terms with himself. He was a hopeless coward and he couldn’t even help the person he wanted to help the most. 

He walks over to Wonwoo’s unconscious self, admiring his unparalleled beauty with a small, remorseful smile. Even now, he’s just as ethereal as the man in his dreams. 

He leans against the bed, close enough so that he can see the very faint rise and fall of his chest. Weak, but still present. 

“Wonwoo, I have one wish.” He starts, lips quivering. With a pause, he clenches his fists, opening his mouth to speak once more. 

“Wonwoo, come back to me. There’s so much I want to say, so much I want to apologise for…” 

Mingyu sucks in a sharp breath, squeezing his eyes shut as he leans a bit closer. It takes a lot of courage to say his next few words, but he knows now that he means it. 

It’s about time. 

“I think I truly… truly love you.” 

He opens his eyes again, hopeful that maybe Wonwoo will miraculously wake up, that Master Lee’s words were wrong and he actually heard him. 

Of course his hopes are a bit far-fetched. But something else ends up catching his eye as he observes at the unmoving figure of the man, confused. Something near Wonwoo’s chest begins to emit a flashy light, one that Mingyu frowns at. He gently reaches closer, apologising to the unconscious Wonwoo for touching him, and pulls out something cold from inside his shirt. 

The moonstone necklace. It’s glowing. 

“You still have this?” Mingyu murmurs in amusement, remembering the sketchy lady that forcefully handed it to him. 

And then he recalls her words back then, hitting him like a brick to the head. The woman had known about Wonwoo’s feelings of unrequited love, even back then, he’d already been suffering. And Mingyu feels his heart waver even more. 

‘One wish at the end of darkness’ door, and the light will come to life.’

He remembers it now. The strange things he had heard that woman say, the words he had mistrusted and thought were some performative nonsense to get people to buy her trinkets. 

Maybe, deep down, Wonwoo had also held onto the necklace for so long in hopes that maybe it wasn't just a scam by a witch. 

And as it emits such an eerie glow now, he starts to hope that she wasn’t lying. He stares at it with bated breath for a few moments, praying for a miracle. 

But just as his hope grows, the necklace starts flickering, and then the light dies down, fading to nothing but a shiny luster of plain silver. As it fades, so does his last shred of hope, and he bites back tears that threaten to fall once more. 

“Sorry, Wonwoo, that I couldn’t save you earlier.” He clenches his jaw, helpless. Even his confession was too late to cure him of his disease. 

He’s not conscious after all to hear it. 

“I love you.” He whispers, pained. 

And once more, Mingyu falls asleep by his bedside, leaning against the cold and frail body of the man he harboured deeper feelings for, with the regret of a love too late to be saved.

He heard it. 

He heard that familiar voice deep in this chamber of emptiness. A light at the end of the tunnel, glowing before him. 

Suddenly, he could see the moon in the pitch black abyss that he’s been floating in for however long. He’d lost track of the days, of the time, of the present and the life he lived before. 

He’d simply been drifting in a dark river, letting it wash him further and further away from the shore until there would be nothing left of his essence. 

That is until he saw the moon. 

“Come back. Please come back.” It called. 

And Wonwoo stood up for the first time in this dark world, finding the strength to look up at the sky and follow the silver light that shone ahead of him. 

“Who’s there?” He calls, his voice nothing but a distant echo. 

“Please come back, Wonwoo.” The light speaks to him, waning. 

“Where? Where am I going?” He asks. 

“Home! Come home!” 

The voices grow stronger, more palpable as they reverberate in his body. 

“Come home Wonwoo! I miss you, please come! We love you, don’t leave us!” 

So many voices filter through the air, slowly washing away the sea of dark that envelops his world. 

“Wonwoo, please come back to me.” 

He drifts closer. That voice is more distinct than all the others, so transparent, so close to him. He can almost reach it. 

“There’s so much I want to say, so much I want to apologise for…”

Wonwoo reaches forward, holding his hand to the sky where the moon casts its incandescent glow over him. 

“I think I truly…truly love you.” 

He remembers now. Their faces, their names, their voices, their calls. 

And there’s one, one that flushes out the darkness, flooding his world with colour and light. One that brings peace to a noisy world. 

And suddenly, he can see again. 

Mingyu. 

He runs forward, a smile breaching from ear to ear as he runs towards the light, his heart full and brimming with hope. 

‘Mingyu! Mingyu wait for me…’

His hand reaches forward, grasping the brightness ahead of him, blood rushing to his ears as he pants from exhilaration. 

‘I love you too.' 

He opens his eyes. 

He feels the tangible pulse of his own body, the haggard breaths of exhaustion that feel fuller than ever. 

And he feels the cold press of the stone against his chest, flooding his body with life. 

He blinks rapidly, the world blurry around him. But it wasn’t blurry because he was weak and fading away.

It was because he didn’t have his glasses. 

The scent of damp earth, the deep-brown wood that surrounded him, the quiet reserved chatter from beyond. He could feel it all soaking into his senses. 

He was alive.

And he could breathe. In the medical world, people would call it a miracle. 

But as he feels the weight of cold pressed against his chest, he reaches down to pull it out of his shirt. It wasn’t just a miracle, it was magic.

He smiles at the necklace he’d held onto for so long, and he kisses it with unabashed disbelief. He knew it was the moonstone that helped him to hear those final wishes once more, guiding him back to the real world, curing him. 

As he sucks in a deep breath, no longer feeling a resounding pain in his chest and ribs, he gasps. He is cured. 

He looks to his left, seeing the figure of someone lying next to him, their head tucked into their arms as they lean against his pillow for support, yet they look fairly uncomfortable with half their body on the floor. 

He shifts a bit in the bed, letting out a groan as his limbs ache and a few bones crack in the process. He wonders just how long it’s been since he’d last seen the world like this, although he’d like to see it a bit clearer if he knew where his glasses were. 

“Mm…please stop moving…uncomfy.” 

Wonwoo stops fidgeting, pausing at the sound of the muffled voice next to him. 

“Mingyu.” He whispers, staring down at the person who nuzzles into his warmth, obliviously snoozing away. 

He would wake him, but he still feels a little disoriented and confused. 

But one thing is clear to him now, and he heard Mingyu loud and clear in his world of the unconscious. 

His feelings…were returned. 

He couldn’t believe it really, after so long of him thinking Mingyu was some sort of untouchable Greek god, so far out of his league and so opposite to him. After so long knowing Mingyu never even liked men and yet, another miracle happened. 

Mingyu loved him. 

Although he would like to shake his former roommate awake and ask him more questions, he sucks it up, realizing just how disgusting he felt. He doesn’t know how long he’d been laying in this bed for, but he at least knew it was enough for his mouth to taste sour and bitter, and his hair seemed more haphazard than ever. 

He shifts a little more in the bed, edging towards the other side where Mingyu isn’t peacefully resting. 

He shuffles until he finds his glasses on the bedside table, quickly returning them to their perch on his nose, and finally the world is clear again. Tangible reality, he made it. And he laughs in disbelief as he takes in his surroundings, drinking it in so greedily as he feels the life coursing through his veins. 

He walks towards the door of the spare room on his tip-toes, careful not to wake the man sleeping behind him. But just as he does, the door flies open and Jeonghan stands there, frowning. 

The moment his eyes meet Wonwoo’s, his mouth opens in what can only be described as fear, and then a flash of disbelief, and then a scream of horror. 

“A ghost!” He yells, jumping back and the sudden noise makes Wonwoo’s head ache. 

“What?” He hears a female voice speak up from somewhere in the house, and then rapid footsteps. 

His eyes meet the disbelieving ones of Yeonseo and then the appalled look in Junhui’s eyes as he takes in his haggard state. Master Lee walks up slowly behind them, looking positively elated as he takes in Wonwoo’s standing figure, leaning against the doorway with his lips parted. 

And as he’s about to speak, telling everyone he’s alive and well with that burst of relief he feels, his world seems to stop when he feels a rough yet sturdy hand on his shoulder. 

“Wonwoo?” The man says breathlessly, and Wonwoo fights the urge to spin around and tackle the tall man standing right behind him, reminding himself that he is a bit disgusting right now. 

His eyes widen as he doesn’t even get a chance to do anything else as strong arms wrap around his waist from behind, his back  pressed flush against the solid body of the man he’d been desperately yearning to talk to for so long. The man he’d been pining for, the man who had put him in this miserable state, yet he had not once regretted the love he harboured. 

And he was holding him. 

“Wonwoo!” Jeonghan finally squawks in shock as he comes to terms with the fact that yes, Wonwoo was alive and well and not a ghost in front of him. 

“You’re so thin.” He hears a concerned whisper from behind him, the man’s breath tickling his ear which makes him instinctively shudder. “We should get you something to eat.” 

“Let go of him Mingyu.” Junhui speaks up, rushing over to pry the man’s hands off his waist, much to the man’s protest. 

Wonwoo laments the loss of Mingyu’s warmth, but his eyes well up with fresh tears as he sees the look of relief in Junhui’s eyes and the wide smile on his best friend’s face. 

“You’re so stupid.” He says. After so long avoiding the truth from his best friend, he finally looks him in the eyes and it takes one whole second before he bursts into sobs. 

“I’m so sorry!” He wails, falling into his Junhui’s arms, the man catching him instantly. 

“You should’ve told me earlier!” Junhui cries back, both of them falling to the ground as they embrace each other in a mess of tears and sorrow. “You had me so worried!” 

“I know.” He sniffles, clutching the back of Junhui’s back tightly. “I couldn’t bring myself to tell you.”

”So stupid.” Junhui scolds him, but he still sounds fond. 

“Wonwoo…” Jeonghan speaks up, kneeling on the floor beside him, looking pleased, gaze softening. “I told you, you should’ve relied on me earlier.” 

“Sorry Jeonghan, for pushing you away so many times.” Wonwoo shakes his head, leaning his chin on the crook of Junhui’s shoulder. “Thank you, for not giving up on me.” 

Jeonghan smiles, the brightest smile he’s seen on that man. “You know, I’ve grown quite fond of you, my lab partner. It’s only in my nature to look after you.” 

“Thank you.” He repeats, feeling a fresh batch of tears making their way from his eyes. 

“Hey, let’s get him cleaned up.” Yeonseo butts in, looking apologetic as he pries him away from Junhui and helps him to stand. “You’ve been asleep for a long time.” 

“Yeah, I know.” Wonwoo rubs his eyes, feeling slightly sluggish. “Thank you…Yeonseo.” 

She looks at him now, then glances over his shoulder where he’s sure Mingyu is still standing, waiting. And she smiles, accepting. 

“This is my fate.” She says as she guides him away from the commotion, gently coaxing him. “I’ve come to terms with the end of my chapter with Mingyu. And I knew, I should be the one to help you start yours now.” 

“Yeonseo…”

The world has been cruel to her, yet she still looks at him now, strong and defiant. “Don’t feel bad for me.” She tells him, reading his mind. “I’ve made up my mind and I’ve concluded that part of my life, it’s your turn.” 

He smiles sadly by the doorway of the bathroom as she stands outside with her arms crossed. 

“You’ll still stick around?” He asks hopefully, knowing that after this whole ordeal, he probably would never forget what she did for him and what she sacrificed. 

She hums in contemplation, a little sly look crossing her features. “That’s a question for the future.”

He knows that her words leave room for interpretation, but with the confidence in her stance and the wink she gives him, he’s sure that she’ll still be there. And with that reassurance, he goes to take a long, much-needed warm bath. 

Mingyu has not once left his side since he’s woken up. 

From the moment he left the bathroom to the moment he ate his first meal in days, Mingyu clung to his side like a puppy following its owner around. He feels flattered of course, but with the unspoken words left hanging between them, he’s a bit more nervous now. 

It was about time they talked properly.

“Your family is waiting for you.” Junhui tells him after he finishes his second portion of food, licking his lips. “I went into town to go find them and let them know you’re alright.” 

Wonwoo gazes at him sadly now, knowing he has many apologies to come. “Thank you, Junhui.” 

“Don’t scare them like that again.” Junhui shakes his head, flicking his forehead so that Wonwoo yelps at the pain. “They missed you.” 

“Yeah…” 

“Okay enough scolding!” Jeonghan butts in, ruffling Wonwoo’s freshly washed hair. “Are you feeling better?” 

“With Master Lee’s remedies, I feel pretty good.” Wonwoo admits, the strength returning to his body after a filling meal and a bit of magic. 

“That’s what we like to hear.” Jeonghan says, eyes softening. “Well, I’m going to help the old man outside with his winter herb garden…” He looks between Wonwoo and Mingyu who has been silent all along, and then the corner of his lips twitch into a smirk. “I’ll leave you two to it.” 

“Let me join you!” Junhui pipes up, glancing at the two of them, and when Mingyu isn’t looking, he winks at Wonwoo. 

“It is a nice day outside.” Yeonseo comments as she walks up to them from where she’d been lounging by the fireplace. 

She’s right. The sun is out, despite the white snowfall that densely covers the forest outside. 

“Enjoy.” Is the last thing she says before joining the others outside who seem to be initiating a snowball fight rather than helping with the herb garden. 

Wonwoo smiles at the scene, staring at the vision of life he so desperately had wanted to see again after drifting in darkness for so long. 

Never could he have imagined he’d be able to see it again. 

“Wonwoo.” The man beside him pokes his shoulder, hesitant. 

He finally turns to look at Mingyu, his breath hitching in his throat as he sees the pure, unrestrained emotions swirling in his round eyes. Mingyu’s lips are parted slightly, staring at his own the moment he turns around, and Wonwoo doesn’t miss the way his Adam’s apple bobs as he gulps. 

Mingyu looks tired, the bags under his eyes fairly prominent. He knew Mingyu always took care of his skin, slept at reasonable times and had a healthy diet. This was the first time he’d seen Mingyu so worn out, more so than the times during his arguments with Yeonseo. 

“I’m sorry.” Is the first thing Mingyu says after a tense silence overcomes them. “Sorry that I didn’t save you earlier.” 

Wonwoo looks at him, sympathetic. “It’s not your fault. I told you, don’t feel responsible.”

Mingyu gnaws at his bottom lip, looking nervous. “I really should’ve known earlier. I just…refused to accept it.” 

Wonwoo knows. He knows well. 

His gaze softens as he sees the furrowed brows of his former roommate. 

“Mingyu, it’s okay.” 

“I almost let you die.” 

“I’m alive and well now aren’t I?” 

“Only because of a miracle…” 

Wonwoo chuckles lightly, pulling out the Moonstone necklace with a hum of amusement. Mingyu eyes the necklace for a second, eyes widening in realization. “Maybe it was a miracle, but I’m here now.” 

“Wonwoo,” Mingyu starts, inhaling sharply. “If I could find a way to undo the amount of pain I put you through, would you forgive me?” He asks, looking so lost and worried that Wonwoo can’t help the laugh that escapes his mouth. Mingyu makes a noise of affront as he’s essentially laughed at and his lips part in question but Wonwoo stops him with a hand. 

“Well, since you asked so nicely, maybe you could undo my pain by taking me out for a nice date.” Wonwoo tilts his head to the side, feeling at ease. ”And, you’re perpetually forgiven, idiot. I never blamed you in the first place.” 

Mingyu breathes out, wordlessly, looking so hopeful that Wonwoo fights the urge to ruffle his hair and tell him he’s okay. Instead, he reaches forward, wanting so badly to touch his face, and when Mingyu concedes with silent approval, he rests his palm against the softness of Mingyu’s cheek where the man makes a noise of content that has him melting. Never in a million years could he imagine himself touching Mingyu like this. So intimate, yet so right. 

“I missed you.” Mingyu whispers, leaning into his touch with his eyes watery. 

Wonwoo runs the pad of his thumb over his cheekbone, moving upwards until he swipes the tears gently from Mingyu’s eye.

He could get used to this. 

“I did too.” Wonwoo admits quietly, taking his time to examine Mingyu’s flawless features. It’d been so long since they’ve been this close, and yes, he truly missed it. 

Because for once, their closeness didn’t bring him silent agony, but a pleasant warmth instead. The warmth of reciprocated feelings. 

“You know, I’ve been wanting to tell you what vision I saw at the Lake of Dreams.” Mingyu speaks up after a few moments of silence, looking deep into his own eyes with such tenderness. Never would he have imagined those eyes would be directed to him. “I told you. It was a vision of you and I together right?”

Wonwoo nods, remembering Mingyu being quite troubled after it happened. 

“We were laying in a grass field, surrounded by flowers. It was the two of us side by side on a perfectly sunny day.” Mingyu blinks, looking fond of the memory now. “It was a pleasant vision. Peaceful, not much going on. Just you, me, nature and a lighthearted conversation.” 

“Sounds nice.” Wonwoo smiles, thinking back to all the times it had been just him and Mingyu, surrounded by nature and a little chat. 

“When I looked back at the vision, that’s when I realised…I enjoyed the pleasant warmth of such a tranquil dream. I enjoyed your company. Simple but comfortable.” Mingyu breathes out, leaning closer until his forehead touches his shoulder for a few moments. Then he pulls back, exhaling sharply. “It made me realise just how much I liked just being next to you. It could be anything, anywhere, and it would still feel comfortable.” 

“Mingyu…” He whispers, positively beaming. 

“I’ve had plenty of time to think about it and, even when I hadn’t come to terms with my feelings, I don't think there is a world I could see without you there.” Mingyu admits, looking shy all of a sudden. “So I’m really happy you’re okay.” 

Wonwoo feels his face flush at the confession, and he turns his gaze away, embarrassed. “It feels pretty unreal that you’re saying this to me, you know?” 

Mingyu’s gaze softens as he reaches forward to pinch his nose, Wonwoo letting out a squawk of surprise at the gesture. 

“It’s long overdue.” Mingyu admits, sounding remorseful. “If I had known earlier, I would’ve been holding you long ago.” 

Wonwoo looks away, knowing his face is beet red now and he lets out a laugh of disbelief. “What a smooth talker.” 

“I do my best, just for you.” And Wonwoo glances up, knowing the man is about to wink, and when he does, Wonwoo lets out a snort of amusement which Mingyu protests to. “I’m being serious!” 

“I get it!” Wonwoo laughs, loud and unrestrained as Mingyu lurches forward to tickle him. 

“I’m just trying to be sweet!” Mingyu complains, jamming his fingers into his sides so roughly, Wonwoo gasps for air. 

“Y-you didn’t have to wink.” Wonwoo protests between fits of giggles. “It makes you look stupid.” 

“Hey.” Mingyu draws back, pouting in offense, crossing his arms to enunciate his little harmless pout. 

“I’m joking.” Wonwoo retracts, still puffing from the attack, his cheeks hurting from the effort. “You’re cute.” 

It’s Mingyu’s turn to look flabbergasted, and he shifts his gaze to look anywhere but Wonwoo’s eyes, and he feels a sense of triumph to have this sort of effect on the burly man in front of him. 

“Mingyu, cutie.” He says in a teasing tone, leaning closer to poke the man’s cheeks. 

“Stop it.” He grumbles, yet he can’t hide the little smile that threatens to reveal itself. 

“Gotcha.” He declares boldly, sounding much too proud for the usually reserved Jeon Wonwoo. He must still be feeling delirious from his coma, because he feels so inexplicably giddy. 

Mingyu looks up now, his pout still prominent, but his gaze is searching, scanning over Wonwoo’s face until they reach his eyes, contemplative. 

“How long did you like me for?” Mingyu suddenly pipes up, sounding curious. 

“Hmm.” Wonwoo hums thoughtfully, thinking back to the many nights he'd spent pondering on why he felt so attracted to his straight and taken roommate. “Maybe…pretty early on.” 

“When would that be?” Mingyu pries, inching closer. 

“Hmmm…” He pauses, leaning in even closer until they’re both only a breath apart. He sees Mingyu glance down at his lips, if only for fraction of a second, his own lips parted wordlessly. 

And then he pulls away, leaving Mingyu hanging and he knows it affects the younger more than he lets on as he clenches his jaw. 

“I guess we just have to hang out more for you to find out.” Wonwoo concludes cheekily with a smug look on his face. “I have plenty of time now to answer your questions.” 

“Hey! Not fair.” Mingyu leans back in his seat with the pout of his lips even deeper than before and the hard to miss dash of red that floods his cheeks. “I just wanted to know…”

“And you’ll find out, stupid. I think it’s best for us to ease into things anyway. I’ll tell you everything bit by bit.” Wonwoo’s gaze softens, realising just how much of a big puppy Mingyu truly is. 

He can’t help but reach out to ruffle his hair in a gesture of endearment, so enamoured by the guy. He just had to be a sucker for Kim Mingyu. 

“Wonwoo you’re so cruel.” He says, but it sounds more lighthearted than anything.

And before Wonwoo can respond, he’s pulled into a tight embrace, yelping at the motion of strong arms wrapping around his own lithe figure. Mingyu feels two sizes bigger than him right now, and it takes him a few seconds before he’s leaning in closer, soaking in his warmth, feeling enclosed and so incredibly safe in his embrace. The whole world seems to slow just for them as Wonwoo tucks his chin on the crook of Mingyu’s neck, breathing in the scent that smells faintly of vanilla and coconut, reminding him of his year back at their shared dorm. 

“I’m so happy you’re alive.” 

“And I’m happy you love me back.” 

Mingyu coughs abruptly, sounding embarrassed as he pulls away, looking anywhere but at Wonwoo. 

“Now now, let’s take things slow. Let’s save the big ‘L’ word for after our first date.” He manages, his resolve sounding weak. 

“Mm, whatever you say.” Wonwoo smiles, amused. “But I do love you.” 

Mingyu puts a hand to his forehead, pinching the bridge of his nose as his sun-kissed skin flushes a deep shade of rouge. He parts his lips to say something, closes it, and then opens it once more. 

“You’re going to be the death of me.” He groans, but it’s laced with unspoken joy. 

“I hope not.” Wonwoo jokes. “We’ve already had a close call.” 

Mingyu slaps him, looking personally offended by the joke and Wonwoo apologizes lightly with a glint of amusement in his eyes. 

“You…” Mingyu face palms after a few moments, feigning frustration. “You’re a handful, what am I going to do with you?” 

Wonwoo tilts his head with a little hum of thought, fluttering his lashes at the man in front of him, feeling more confident than ever. Yes, he'd officially lost his mind in a sea of giddiness and affection. 

“Hmm. Close your eyes.” 

“What, why?” 

“Just do it.” 

Mingyu’s eyes are round with confusion, but he doesn’t hesitate to comply, although his brows are furrowed. Wonwoo doesn’t know where the rush of conviction is coming from, but knowing he has so much power over Mingyu now, he kind of wants to push it a little. 

To be fair, it all feels like one very pleasant dream. 

He leans forward, eyes on the prize, tilting his head slightly as he closes in on Mingyu’s lush lips. But he stops short, letting his breath tickle just the surface, grazing it like a faint tease, and he smiles when Mingyu lets out a small noise of desperation. 

Incredibly cute. 

Instead, he lands a little peck on Mingyu’s cheek, and withdraws back in his seat with his arms crossed, smug. 

“What the hell was that?” Mingyu whines, eyes flashing open as he touches the spot Wonwoo had kissed, looking offended. “At least if you’re going to do that, go all the way.” 

“No way.” Wonwoo puts his hands up in defense. “Let’s save that for after the first date, right?” 

Mingyu fights the urge to roll his eyes, but he looks more endeared than anything. 

“Then tell me, Jeon Wonwoo.” Mingyu crosses his own arms, almost like a challenge. “Where do we go from here?” 

”Back to college.” Wonwoo answers ominously, and Mingyu groans at the idea. “I have to take my supplementary exam this break probably.” 

“You really missed your final?” Mingyu asks, looking slightly downcast. 

“Don’t worry about it.” Wonwoo shakes his head. “You know me, I do nothing but study. I’ll be fine.” 

Mingyu sighs, his gaze fond as he makes a bold gesture to grab Wonwoo’s hand. He squeezes it tightly, running his thumb over the ridges of his knuckles. He knows it's his attempt to be reassuring, and Wonwoo feels his heart surge with appreciation. Any contact with Mingyu feels nice. 

“I’ll be by your side this time. The whole way.” Mingyu declares, his voice determined as he squeezes again. “I won’t let you suffer alone ever again. Whether it be general problems, or stress, I’ll be there.” 

Wonwoo feels the exuding affection from Mingyu’s words flooding his body with warmth, every word like a palpable treat. 

“Then take me out on that promised date.” Wonwoo tells him, tilting his head fondly. 

“I will.” Mingyu says softly, his eyes scanning Wonwoo from head to toe as though committing everything to memory. Wonwoo can’t get used to Mingyu looking so incredibly enamoured with him, and it’s only natural for him to feel like shying away. 

He still can’t believe this is his reality. 

“I’ll make it the best date you’ll ever have, nothing else will compare.” 

“It’ll be my first.” Wonwoo admits sheepishly, looking away as he scratches the back of his neck. 

“And I’ll make sure all your firsts are so memorable, that you’ll never look away from me.” Mingyu proclaims confidently. “I’ll make my love worth it.” 

Wonwoo shakes his head, huffing a laugh at his declaration. “I don’t think I could ever look away from you.” 

Mingyu smiles, looking pleased. “I won’t let go of you, Wonwoo.”

“Hmmm… promise?” He holds his pinky out, eyes crinkling to slits with his wide smile, heart practically bursting in his chest.

Mingyu beams right back, his own gaze swirling with tender devotion. He locks their pinkies together, sealing their fates. 

“I promise.” 

…

For the boy that suffered from the curse of flowering death, the final cries of his pining heart leave a fully bloomed flower to wilt at the end of the season, marking the start of the next. 

A new chapter awaits as the seasons change, where the air gets warmer, and the world becomes flooded with colour. 

A new, blossoming love.