a reason to smile // seo changbin

chapter three

socialize

moon jieun - thursday

the cool air of the autumn season blows through my thin jacket. i shiver, reluctantly walking to the cafeteria of the campus. i usually never ate on campus, but it was a little too cold for my liking, i didn't feel like walking very far. i shove my hands into my pockets, my hair tangling as it blew in the wind.

"jieun!" a familiar deep voice calls. i felt embarrassed having my name shouted in the middle of the busy campus. i didn't like attention being drawn to me, and suddenly, everyone was watching as felix ran towards me, a muscular looking guy following behind him.

"keep it down, will you?" i frown once he reaches me, his bright smile slightly fading upon hearing my words. i didn't care enough to feel bad.

"sorry, i wanted to introduce you to chan." he says, his full smile returning. he motions to the muscular guy behind him.

"you mean this is the guy that thinks i'm scary?" i ask bewildered at how such a strong looking man could find anyone scary. especially me. chan's face contorts in embarrassment as felix bursts into a fit of giggles.

"ironic, right?" felix giggles and chan clears his throat.

"i said it one time, felix won't let me live it down." he chuckles sheepishly. "but anyway, it's nice to finally meet you." he bows slightly.

"nice to meet you too." i say, not bothering to fake a smile.

"are you going to lunch? did you want to join us?" felix tilts his head towards the cafeteria.

"i am, but i was planning on getting food and leaving. i have homework." i lie. felix furrows his eyebrows.

"you don't do homework." he retorts.

"again, it's creepy that you know that." i cock an eyebrow at him.

"guys? what are you still doing here? they're gonna run out of mac n cheese if we don't hurry!" another familiar voice walks up to us.

"nice to finally see the front of you for once." i scoff, looking at jisung.

"you? why are you everywhere all of a sudden." he groans.

"you know her?" chan asks. jisung laughs.

"no. she just keeps running into me." he sticks his tongue out at me like a child. i had no energy to argue.

"we were just asking her to join us for lunch." felix says.

"what? since when are we friends with her?" jisung asks.

"we're not." i cut in, earning a frown from felix. "don't worry, i'm not going to ruin your lunch with your boyfriends." i roll my eyes at jisung. turning away from the cafeteria, not really knowing where i was going, but definitely not going to the cafeteria anymore.

"oh hey, jieun!" changbin calls me.

how many more people am i going to run into today? i internally groan.

"hey changbin." i reply blankly.

"where are you headed?" he asks, eyes glancing behind us to his friends.