𝘚𝘱𝘶𝘳

4.

The next morning, Yeonjun woke up groggily on the couch. Thomas and Soobin had left around 1 am after hours of bickering over the project, finally arriving at a finished result that they all found somewhat acceptable for submission. It had been a strange night; Yeonjun felt too tired to go for his usual run, partly from exhaustion and partly because he didn't want to confront Thomas.

Thomas had been courteous, offering his help, but Yeonjun sensed an underlying tension whenever they were all together. He didn't want to unravel that drama; he just wanted straight A's and a fresh start, free from boys and drama. That was his mantra as he sat up and stretched, spotting his laptop on the plain white coffee table with a post-it note on top.

"You three kept me up all night, I blame you," the note read in Taehyun's unmistakable perfect handwriting, its blunt delivery typical of his straightforward nature. Yeonjun grinned to himself at Taehyun's playful jab and then noticed something else on the table — a piece of jewelry, specifically Soobin's ring.

Yeonjun furrowed his brow, picking up the ring and inspecting it. It was a simple yet elegant design, likely expensive. He wondered why Soobin had left it behind and what it signified. Did he forget it accidentally, or was there a deeper reason?

His mind raced with possibilities, but Yeonjun pushed those thoughts aside for now. He needed to focus on the day ahead, starting with reviewing their project before class. As he slipped the ring into his pocket, he made a mental note to return it to Soobin later. For now, though, he had to gather his thoughts and prepare for whatever the day might bring.

The days of leisure were over, lasting a mere four days. Now, Yeonjun was clad in his college hoodie, jeans, a white undershirt, and shoes, packing his backpack before heading out. The air was crisp and slightly cold, the sun casting a gentle glow as he walked towards his first class. Or at least, he would have if he hadn't been stopped by a group of girls.

"So, what were you doing at Soobin's place?" the blonde girl asked, catching Yeonjun off guard. "What?" he stammered, taken aback by the unexpected question.

"Come on, the whole year knows already. We just want to know why," another girl chimed in, her curiosity evident. "I mean, we all know he's bi, but I didn't know you were his type," she added, eyeing Yeonjun up and down with a mischievous grin.

"Excuse me?" Yeonjun replied, his brows furrowing in confusion and mild annoyance at the implication behind their words.
Yeonjun's mind raced as he processed their words. He hadn't expected his visit to Soobin's place to become public knowledge, let alone be a topic of gossip among his peers. He shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

"I... um, we were just working on a project together," Yeonjun replied, trying to keep his tone neutral despite the rising discomfort. "It's nothing like that," he added quickly, hoping to dispel any further speculation.

The girls exchanged knowing glances, their expressions suggesting they weren't entirely convinced by Yeonjun's explanation. "Sure, just a project," the blonde girl said, her tone teasing. "Well, whatever it is, you two make an interesting pair," she added with a smirk.

Yeonjun felt a flush of heat rise to his cheeks, partly from embarrassment and partly from the implication that there was something more between him and Soobin. "It's really just school work," he reiterated, wanting to put an end to the conversation.

The girls seemed to relent, satisfied with their gossip session for now. "Sure, Yeonjun, whatever you say," one of them said with a playful wink before they walked away, leaving Yeonjun feeling uneasy and self-conscious.

Great, now his name was circulating not for his aspirations in interior design, but as possibly being involved with the campus "bad boy." Yeonjun grumbled to himself as he stomped towards class, feeling the weight of numerous stares following him—it seemed everyone had suddenly taken an interest in his presence. Of all days, it had to be the one when he decided not to put much effort into his outfit.