It was meant to be (A Seventeen Fic)

60

The campus of Hybe University was buzzing with an almost electric tension. It was the last week of the semester, and final exams were in full swing. The air was thick with the unmistakable combination of stress, caffeine, and the faint hope that this ordeal would soon be over.

Seungcheol’s hand felt warm and secure in Jeonghan’s, grounding him as they made their way towards the university gates. It had been years since he had felt this sense of peace walking beside the one he loved.

Jeonghan had his heart fluttering. The thought of them finally being together again after everything they’d been through seemed almost surreal.

Jeonghan glanced at Seungcheol, his heart swelling with a mixture of emotions. Seeing his strong profile beside him, the way his gaze was fixed forward with that calm confidence Jeonghan had always admired, made him realize how much he had missed this—missed him. Being with Seungcheol like this felt like coming home, a home he had lost and found again after so many years of longing and regret.

“Are you okay?” Seungcheol’s voice broke through his thoughts, low and gentle.

Jeonghan gave him a small, shaky smile. “Yeah, I’m just… overwhelmed. It feels like a dream, you know?”

Seungcheol nodded, squeezing his hand gently. “I know. But we’re here, together. We’ve got this.”

The campus buzzed with the usual chatter of students gearing up for their final exams, but today there was a certain hush that followed them as they walked, hand in hand. Eyes widened, and whispers spread.

After all the university's renowned enemies were walking hand in hand.

“Isn’t that Seungcheol and Jeonghan? Together?”

“Weren’t they, like, enemies for years?”

“I thought they hated each other after what happened!”

“I heard they had a huge fallout because of something Joshua did…”

“Wasn’t Jeonghan furious with Seungcheol because of… you know, Joshua?”

“Are they back together?”

Jeonghan felt his heart race as he squeezed Seungcheol’s hand tighter. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention anymore.

The words stung, bringing back memories he wished he could forget. But before he could let the panic take over, Seungcheol’s hand was on his back, warm and steady. “Breathe, Hannie,” he whispered. “Ignore them.”

Jeonghan nodded, taking a deep breath. He looked up and spotted Seungcheol's friends—Soonyoung, Jun, Mingyu, Vernon, and Seokmin—standing near the library steps. They were watching them, expressions ranging from shock to pure joy.

Jeonghan didn't know if he was welcomed there but Seungcheol still pulled him towards them.

And before he could retreat he felt someone tackling him into a bone-crashing hug. He thought it was Seokmin but was shocked when he heard the voice.

Soonyoung was the first to react. He dashed towards them, a bright smile lighting up his face. “Oh my god, you two!” He nearly tackled them both in a bear hug, his excitement bubbling over. “Are you serious? Is this real? Are you really together?”

Seungcheol laughed, “Yeah, it’s real, Soons.”

“You have no idea how happy this makes me!” Soonyoung exclaimed, pulling back to look at them both. “We’ve all been rooting for you two to get back together.”

Seungcheol smiled down at him with that gentle look that always made Jeonghan’s heart skip a beat.

Soonyoung shifted his gaze towards Jeonghan staring at him with a warm gaze that touched something in Jeonghan's heart and he didn't know what it was.