Lines Crossed (SanSang)

3

Yeosang barely made it through the rest of the lecture, his thoughts spinning with a mix of nerves and relief. San's friendly presence had made the class bearable, but the moment the professor dismissed them, his anxiety returned full force. He hurriedly packed his things, eager to escape the room and find some semblance of calm.

Just as he stood up to leave, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out, seeing a message from Wooyoung.

Woo: Where are you? I'm here!

Yeosang sighed, relief washing over him. He quickly texted back.

In my classroom. I'll be out in a minute.

He shoved his phone back into his pocket and turned to San, who was still gathering his notes. "It was nice meeting you," Yeosang said, his voice quieter than he intended. "I should get going."

San looked up, a warm smile on his face. "Yeah, same here. Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Maybe," Yeosang replied, giving a small, shy smile before turning to leave.

As he stepped out into the hallway, he spotted Wooyoung standing near the entrance, waving at him with an exaggerated grin. Yeosang felt a wave of mixed emotions—relief at seeing his friend, and a lingering frustration from being left alone that morning. But the moment he approached, Wooyoung's playful energy made it hard to stay upset.

"There you are!" Wooyoung called out, rushing over. "Sorry I couldn't be here sooner. I swear, my little brother took forever to get ready this morning."

Yeosang sighed but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "It's okay, Wooyoung. I was just... nervous, that's all." He pouted.

Wooyoung's expression softened, and he reached out to ruffle Yeosang's hair affectionately. "I know, and I'm really sorry. But look at you! You made it through your first class all on your own."

"Barely," Yeosang muttered, feeling his cheeks warm under Wooyoung's proud gaze.

Wooyoung grinned. "Hey, you even met someone, didn't you? I saw you talking to that guy in class. Who is he?"

Yeosang shifted awkwardly, feeling a little self-conscious. "His name's San. We just bumped into each other earlier."

Wooyoung's eyes lit up with interest. "Ooh, San, huh? He looks hot. And He seems cool. I told you, you'd be fine. But don't think I'm off the hook just because you survived without me."

Yeosang laughed softly, the last of his frustration melting away. "I won't. But really, it's okay. I'm just glad you're here now."

Wooyoung beamed at him, slinging an arm around Yeosang's shoulders. "That's my Yeosang—too nice to stay mad at me. Come on, let's go grab something to eat. We've got a whole day of college life to conquer."

Yeosang allowed himself to relax, feeling lighter with Wooyoung by his side. As they started walking, the door to the classroom opened, and San stepped out. He spotted Yeosang and Wooyoung and walked over with that same easy smile.

"Hey," San greeted, giving a nod to Wooyoung. "So, this must be the friend you were waiting for?"

Wooyoung grinned, clearly pleased with the introduction. "That's me! I'm Wooyoung, Yeosang's best friend and personal guide to surviving college."

San chuckled, giving Wooyoung a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm San. Looks like Yeosang's in good hands."

"You're hot- I mean- You bet he is!" Wooyoung said, squeezing Yeosang's shoulder not looking embarrassed or sorry at all. "We're actually about to grab some food. You wanna join us?"

Yeosang glanced at Wooyoung in surprise, but his friend just gave him a reassuring smile. San hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, I'd like that."

The three of them headed out of the building together, the earlier tension fading into the background. Wooyoung kept up a lively conversation, drawing San in easily while Yeosang listened, gradually feeling more at ease.

As they walked across the campus, Yeosang felt a sense of calm settling in. It wasn't how he'd imagined his first day—he'd expected to rely on Wooyoung entirely, hiding in his friend's shadow as they navigated the new environment. But San's unexpected presence had changed things, making Yeosang realize that maybe he could handle more than he'd thought.

By the time they reached the cafeteria, Yeosang found himself laughing at one of Wooyoung's jokes, San joining in with a chuckle. The day wasn't so bad after all, and with both Wooyoung and San by his side, he began to believe that college might not be so terrifying after all.