Lines Crossed (SanSang)

2

Yeosang watched as San walked away, his steps confident and unhurried, effortlessly weaving through the crowd of students filling the hallway. For a moment, he stood frozen, his thoughts racing to catch up with what had just happened. San's warm smile lingered in his mind, a surprising contrast to the whirlwind of nerves he'd been feeling just moments before.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his heartbeat, which still fluttered in the aftermath of the unexpected encounter. He wasn't used to this kind of attention—someone noticing him, talking to him like they'd known each other for years. It was disarming in a way that was both unsettling and oddly comforting.

The hallways began to clear as the start of classes approached. Yeosang realized he'd been standing there for too long, staring at the spot where San had disappeared. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he quickly checked his schedule, mentally mapping out the route to his first class.

His feet felt heavy as he began to walk, each step echoing in the nearly empty hallway. Despite the lingering nerves, the encounter with San had planted a tiny seed of hope inside him—maybe this first day wouldn't be the disaster he'd imagined. But even as he tried to hold onto that optimism, his mind kept drifting back to Wooyoung's promise: "You won't have to do it all at once. We'll take it slow."

Yeosang wasn't sure how slow they could take it with everything moving at the speed of light around him. The campus felt enormous, an endless maze of classrooms, lecture halls, and unfamiliar faces. As he turned the corner, he saw groups of students gathered in clusters, chatting and laughing as if they'd known each other forever. The sight only amplified his feelings of isolation.

But before he could sink too deep into those thoughts, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, grateful for the distraction, and saw a text from Wooyoung.

Woo: How's it going? Did you make it to your locker?

Yeosang typed a quick reply, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

Yeah, I'm okay. Ran into someone though. Literally.

The response came almost immediately.

Wooyoung: OMG who?! Are they cute? 😏

Yeosang rolled his eyes at the text, feeling his face heat up as he thought of San.

Just some guy. He seemed nice.

Woo: A nice *guy*, you say? 👀 Do tell!

I don't know, Woo. It was just a random meeting. He helped me pick up my books and left.

Woo: But seriously, you okay? I'll be there soon.

Yeosang hesitated before replying, not wanting to worry Wooyoung too much.

Yeah, I'm fine. Just nervous.

Woo: That's normal. You've got this! Remember, I'm with you in spirit until I can be there in person. Hang in there!

His friend's words were comforting, even if Yeosang still felt a bit like a fish out of water. But at least he wasn't alone—not entirely. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued down the hallway, his footsteps a little less hesitant than before.

When he finally reached his first classroom, he paused outside the door, taking another deep breath. The familiar knot of anxiety tightened in his chest again, but he pushed it down as best he could. He couldn't back out now.

"Where are you Woo" he mumbled to himself whining.

Steeling himself, Yeosang opened the door and stepped inside. The classroom was already half-full, with students seated in rows, chatting quietly or looking through their notes. He quickly scanned the room, searching for an empty seat near the back. It wasn't until he was halfway down the aisle that he realized someone was already sitting in the row he was heading for—someone with dark, tousled hair and a warm, familiar smile.

San.

Their eyes met, and San's face lit up in recognition. He raised a hand in a casual wave, motioning to the empty seat next to him. Yeosang's stomach did a nervous flip, but he forced himself to walk over, trying not to overthink the situation.

"Hey," San greeted him as he slid into the seat. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon."

"Yeah," Yeosang replied, feeling his voice catch a bit. "I didn't either."

San chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Guess we're in the same class. This day's full of surprises."

Yeosang nodded, trying to focus on getting his books out rather than the way San's presence seemed to fill the space next to him. He wasn't used to this—sitting next to someone who made him feel... well, like he wanted to say more than just a few awkward words.

But before he could dwell on it too much, the professor entered the room, calling the class to attention. Yeosang felt a mixture of relief and anxiety as the lecture began, grateful for the distraction but still hyper-aware of the boy sitting beside him.

As the professor started talking about the course syllabus, Yeosang tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting. College was supposed to be about new experiences, right? Maybe, San could be one of those experiences that would make this daunting new chapter in his life a little more bearable.

He dared a glance to his right, where San was scribbling notes with an easy concentration. For the first time that day, Yeosang felt a tiny spark of excitement amidst his nerves. Maybe this was the start of something new—something he hadn't expected but was starting to feel a little curious about.