Euphoria

3 - exposure

Seokjin takes a deep breath. "Y/N," he says, his voice icy cold, "just what exactly is going on?" The phone in his hands morphs into a medieval sword, the blade gleaming pink just like his phone case. You're too busy gawking to respond. Seokjin just performed an act of magic in front of you! Your roommate is a witch!

And then it finally sinks in - your roommate is a witch.

You've been sharing an apartment with a witch for well over a year, and you've only just found out.

Jeongguk frantically works to detach himself from you, wanting to wipe the blood on his mouth with a sleeve until he realizes his sleeves are also covered in blood. He settles for licking most of it away, but there's still a drop of blood on his chin. "I can explain-"

Seokjin glowers down at Jeongguk. His glare is absolutely frigid, and if your cheeks were hot before, whatever heat there was is now gone. "Is your name Y/N?"

"No," mumbles Jeongguk like a chastised child.

Angry Seokjin does tend to have this kind of effect on people.

"Yeah, I didn't think so either," the witch grumbles with a scowl.

He turns to you, and you wince in preparation for what's to come. He attacks you with a barrage of questions. "Y/N, how long have you been harboring this vampire? What made you think it was okay to associate yourself with him? Why did you let him suck your blood like that? He could've killed you, don't you realize that?" He sighs, squeezing the bridge of his nose. "See, this is exactly why I strengthened the wards. I knew there was a bloodsucker that kept hanging around this place, but goddammit, Y/N, you were the one who kept letting him in!" He sounds frustrated, almost disappointed in you.

"He's my friend," you retort hotly, "he saved my life! Remember when I got home really late one night a month ago? That's because I almost got molested by some creepy old dude, and he helped me! He needed help just now, and what was I to do, push him away? He was dying!"

Seokjin sniffs haughtily. "He doesn't look that dead to me. Besides, he's a vampire. He's already dead."

Jeongguk raises a hand. "Technically, I'm undead? My heart doesn't beat, but I still need to eat and breathe and poop and everything," he adds in an attempt to be helpful, only to be met with a small sneer from Seokjin. Neither of you are willing to back down.'

"You never told me you were a witch either," you say bitterly. "You know who I had to hear that from?" You poke Jeongguk's arm. "Him. Do you think it's okay for you to keep your secrets from me but not for me to keep mine from you? Why do you even care how I live my life?"

Seokjin groans. "I'm trying to keep you safe, Y/N! You're my friend, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you!"

"I'm almost eighteen, Jin! I'm old enough to fend for myself and deal with my own crap!" You're almost yelling at him, and you would've felt guilty if you weren't so angry.

Jeongguk's eyes go wide. "Wait, Jin? Like Kim Seokjin Jin?"

doesn't look angry anymore, just plain tired. "Am I supposed to know y-"

He squints. "Jeon Jeongguk? Is that you?" He fumbles around for his glasses, only to realize he'd left them in his room.

Jeongguk looks delighted. "Yeah, that's me!" You can't help but feel a little out of place. "You remember me?"

You shake your head. This has been one of the most chaotic nights you have ever witnessed in your whole life, and you've had a lot of sleepovers with chaotic friends. "What is going on?"

Jeongguk smiles shyly. "Seokjin is a friend of mine, actually. Or was. I haven't seen him in person for a really long time."

Seokjin ruffles his hair playfully. "You've grown so much, I almost didn't recognize you! I'm still taller, and you look exactly the same as you were when we were kids." He turns to you. "I used to be neighbors with this brat," he says, "he and Tae were the most annoying squirts ever, but we moved to another district." He turns back to Jeongguk. "If it makes you feel any better, he cried on the first night because you weren't there."