ATZ Special Unit

seventeen

Chapter 17: A Tough Yet Sensitive Little Guy

A Few Years Prior...

"C'mon, Joong! It's just a little get together. There will be drinks and good food!" 

Hongjoong huffed and looked up from his computer at his smiley friend. "Chan, we're supposed to be studying.. not talking about silly get togethers." Chan opened his mouth to protest, but Hongjoong continued. 

"And why do you think I could go? You know my social skills are zero."

Chan slumped, "It's just a simple composition project.. Both of us could do it easily in our sleep." Upon seeing his friend's pout, Hongjoong rolled his eyes and turned back to his computer. "In any case.. you know why I want to push you to do things with me!"

"I wasn't good at the social stuff either, still sometimes feels difficult, but facing that difficulty can make life so much more fun. More live-able." Hongjoong wanted to tell Chan why it was so difficult for him to just .. do that. 

But he couldn't. 

Hongjoong's life was a mystery to all of his acquaintances in all areas. In the music department, criminology department, police school.. Didn't matter. Though, because of this there weren't many that wanted to hang around Hongjoong for more than casual group settings. 

Chan was an odd exception. 

Though Hongjoong didn't find himself caring, it was times like this that he regrets letting Chan stick around in his life. So, he chose not to argue and agreed to meet up with Chan and some other friends of Chan.

Even if he agreed, he still felt that familiar uncomfortable feeling his social anxiety warranted him. He didn't do crowds, he rarely did public speaking, he hated ice-breaker games. He would skip first days of class just for that reason. 

Hongjoong thought that maybe a drink or two would ease the stress and for the most part it did. He was able to sit there and listen to this bunch of strangers, laugh a little, while still keeping a safe distance. Chan seemed happy and that's all Hongjoong could need.

It was until 45 minutes after the get together started when a taller man stepped into the establishment. His hair was short and blonde at the time, extenuating his sharp jaw line and complimenting his skin tone. 

Hongjoong recognized him only slightly as he was sure he'd seen him hang around Momo. He was a theater minor and criminology major. Hongjoong rarely saw him in class, but to be fair, Hongjoong never cared to know who was in class or not. 

Even then, after being introduced to him once before, Hongjoong could not remember for the life of him what his name was. Though his struggle was cut short when Chan stood to greet him and introduced him to the rest of the group. 

"Guys, this late-comer is Park Seonghwa!" 

The tall blonde, who Hongjoong now remembered was Seonghwa, scratched the back of his neck nervously as he greeted everyone. "Sorry I'm so late, I got caught up with a group project." Chan shook his head and reassured him, offering a seat. 

Seonghwa was as charismatic as Hongjoong remembers. His smile lights up a room and the way his eyes grow round as they can be when talking about something he likes is rather.. adorable. He had everyone's attention so easily, had them listening intently to his every word.