Factitious Fate

Chapter 5 ✿⁠

The campus ground buzzed with activity as students hurried to their next classes or relaxed in small groups under the shade of trees. Jaehan and his friends from the older group-Hwichan, Sebin, Hangyeom, and Taedong-stood near the main entrance, waiting for the younger group Hyuk had brought along for their film project. As they scanned the crowd, they spotted Hyuk, Xen, Jehyun, Junghoon, Kevin, and Yechan approaching.

"Hey, guys!" Hyuk called out, waving enthusiastically. "Sorry we're a bit late."

"No worries," Jaehan replied with a warm smile. "We just got here ourselves."

As they all gathered in a circle, the atmosphere was friendly but tinged with a hint of nervousness from the younger group. Jaehan noticed their fidgeting and exchanged a knowing look with Hangyeom, who grinned mischievously.

"So, Hyuk," Hangyeom began casually, "remember that weird conversation we had over text the other day?"

The younger group froze, exchanging uneasy glances. Junghoon bit his lip nervously, while Xen shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

"Yeah, about that..." Hyuk started, his voice trailing off.

Hangyeom raised an eyebrow, feigning annoyance. "It didn't seem like you at all. What was that about?"

Before Hyuk could respond, Xen stepped forward, his expression serious. "Um, actually...that was us."

All eyes turned to Xen, who gulped nervously under the scrutiny of the older group. Jaehan folded his arms, his gaze steady but curious. "Go on."

Xen took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "We saw Hangyeom's phone unlocked and thought it would be funny to mess with him a bit. It was just a prank, we didn't mean anything by it."

Hwichan's brows furrowed as he exchanged a glance with Sebin. Sebin, always the calm one, leaned forward slightly, his expression neutral but attentive.

Hangyeom's lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile. "Oh really? So you thought it would be funny to impersonate Hyuk?"

Junghoon spoke up, his voice tinged with regret. "We're really sorry. It was dumb and we shouldn't have done it."

Hwichan's usually calm demeanor took on a slightly intimidating edge as he fixed his gaze on the younger group. Yechan shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of their disappointment.

Seeing the tension rise, Jaehan decided to step in. He burst out laughing suddenly, surprising everyone. "Oh my god, you guys should have seen your faces!"

Hangyeom joined in, his laughter booming across the courtyard. "You should have seen Hwichan! He was about to lecture you all!"

Sebin chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You had us going there for a moment."

Taedong grinned widely, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You guys really had us fooled."

The younger group looked bewildered at first, then slowly started to relax as they realized they weren't in trouble. Junghoon let out a relieved laugh, while Kevin nudged Hyuk playfully.

"I told you they'd figure it out," Kevin teased, earning a playful shove from Hyuk.

Xen rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry for the scare. We just wanted to lighten the mood."

"It's all good," Jaehan said with a reassuring smile. "We appreciate a good prank around here."

Hwichan's stern expression softened into a smile as he clapped Xen on the shoulder. "Just don't do it again, okay?"

"We won't," Jehyun promised earnestly. "We've learned our lesson."

With the tension diffused, the two groups mingled more freely. Conversations shifted to lighter topics-plans for the film project, shared interests, and even some friendly banter. Jaehan found himself drawn into discussions with Yechan, who had seemed shy earlier but now was more relaxed and engaging.

As the afternoon wore on, Jaehan noticed Junghoon observing him with a thoughtful expression. Curious, Jaehan approached him during a lull in the conversation.

"You've been watching me," Jaehan remarked, a playful glint in his eye.

Junghoon chuckled softly, his gaze sincere. "Yeah, sorry about that. Yechan was really nervous about meeting you today."

"Why?" Jaehan asked, genuinely curious.

Junghoon hesitated for a moment before answering, "Well, after the text prank thing, they were worried you might be upset with them."

Jaehan shook his head, smiling reassuringly. "Nah, we're not that easily upset. Plus, Hangyeom loves a good prank."

Junghoon nodded gratefully. "Thanks for being cool about it. They really look up to you guys."

Jaehan's smile widened. "We're just a bunch of guys who love making films. We're excited to have them on board."

As the day drew to a close, the groups exchanged contact information and made plans to meet again soon for rehearsals. There was a sense of camaraderie and excitement among them, a shared passion for storytelling and creating something meaningful together.

As they said their goodbyes, Yechan found himself lingering near Jaehan, his nerves replaced with a growing sense of admiration. Jaehan noticed and smiled warmly at him.

"Looking forward to working with you, Yechan," Jaehan said sincerely.

Yechan nodded eagerly. "Likewise, Jaehan. This is going to be great."

With that, they parted ways, each group heading off in their own direction but with a shared sense of anticipation for the project ahead. As Yechan walked away with his friends, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity and excited about what the future held.

Behind him, Jaehan watched them go, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He knew they had assembled a talented and passionate team, and he couldn't wait to see what they would create together.

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