"Damn, you're awfully moody. We just finished exams! Cheer up."
Vernon,joshua,wonwoo and woozi nudged him at the karaoke bar. there mingyu,dino hoshi, seungkwan,jinseo and dk was singing their heart out to some latest pop song and the other people from their class chattered away merrily. Bottles of beer lined the table.
Jeonghan was miserable as hell. He smiled. "Nah, just tired."
"Oppa! Drink with us!" A cute girl from their class leaned over and pouted.
He raised his bottle and clanked hers, taking a healthy gulp.
The past two months had been a blur of cram schools, endless hours in the library, relentless lectures by the teachers and filling in application forms that he was sure were designed to promote failure. Then came the week of exams. He didn't have time to think.
The minute it was over, Jeonghan realised how royally screwed he was.
He was so pent up. But Seungcheol's last paper was today so he couldn't very well demand sex.
Maybe I'll wait at the school gates and we could go back home, Jeonghan considered and then cursed as he realised that both his mother and Aunt sunmi were around.
Anyway, Seungcheol certainly didn't show any signs of sexual frustration. He might want to go celebrate with his class or teammates.
Sighing, Jeonghan raised his bottle again.
He tried to enjoy the round of drinking games that followed since everyone was in such good spirits. He was about to give up when his phone vibrated.
Fishing it out of his pocket, Jeonghan perked up when he read the message.
'Outside the room. Now!!.'
He tried to be casual about it with his friends. "Sorry guys, I've to go. Here's my share of the bill."
"Oh, come on!" seungkwan whinned
"It's so early. Stay a while." seokmin and hoshi joined seungkwan
"Catch up this weekend?" Jeonghan grinned and slung his bag over his shoulders, waving to everyone and closed the door behind him.
Leaning against the wall next to the door, Seungcheol had changed out of his school uniform. He took a deliberate once over at Jeonghan.
"How did it go?" Jeonghan feigned nonchalance he did not feel. Seungcheol shrugged but pulled him close. His voice low and just a hint urgent.
"Wanna try a love hotel?"
"Thought you'd never ask," Jeonghan breathed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The day he told Jeonghan that he had gotten into the same university, Jeonghan's first reaction was to pounce and tried to squeeze the life out of him.
To claim that their teachers and fellow cohort was shocked by Cheol's achievement was an understatement. Jeonghan took great pleasure in saying something to the effect of "I told you so" to anyone who dared to raise any inquiry.
Seungcheol tolerated it silently since it gave Jeonghan such vicarious joy.
His own classmates were not so impressed. They either ignored him or tried to pick a fight. It was probably the only good that came out of his reputation – they only tried and didn't pursue when he started to fight back.
"I think it's two streets down. The area looks better. The last few were awful!"
Jeonghan's voice woke him up from his thoughts.
"We have a couple more to go. We'll find something," Seungcheol said.
"Of course we will. I'm not going to let anything get in the way of our plan," Jeonghan huffed.
"It's not going to be as nice as your home," Seungcheol reminded him. "Are you sure your family fine is with this?"
Jeonghan rolled his eyes. "I told you. They are fine. It's not like I am moving countries."
Then he asked suspiciously, "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"
"Don't be an idiot."
By now, Jeonghan knew that it was his gruff way of being affectionate. He pointed to a street sign.
"We need to turn right here!"
Seungcheol followed as Jeonghan strode on purposefully.
On this sunny day, as they tried to find a place to live together, it hit him how surreal it was. How well life had turned out unexpectedly.
Could he hang onto this?
"Hey, are you coming?" Jeonghan yelled.
Seungcheol shook off the feeling and caught up with him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We haven't even unpacked!" Jeonghan exclaimed in laughter as he looked around them. Soiled sheets, tangled limbs and a few sealed boxes.
"We got the bed out," Seungcheol remarked, voice still husky.
Jeonghan glanced at his lover, slumped onto him and hugged him like a pillow. "Mmm. True. Very important."
Seungcheol noticed a slight bruise forming around Jeonghan's pale hips. He hand grazed over it. "It's going to bruise."
He didn't apologise. They were past that. And they both knew that there was going to be some marks during their first night together in their very own small flat.
"I'm going to hobble all weekend," Jeonghan added, but not sounding unhappy about it.
"I'm not done with you," Seungcheol teased.
The black long-haired man nudged his rib and admonished. "After we have finished unpacking."
Seungcheol laughed, which used to be such a rare sound for him. Recently, he found himself laughing more, especially when he was with Jeonghan.
Jeonghan looked up and smiled at him, something gentle and private. He murmured as he touched Seungcheol's face. "I like it when you laugh like that."
Seungcheol covered his hand with his and kissed the palm, soft and uncalloused like his. He didn't know what to say, didn't have the words to convey the tightening feeling in his chest.
"Oh, crap. We forgot to get a kettle," Jeonghan realised suddenly.
"Jun and Hao gave us one," Seungcheol said. "A graduation present."
"He did? That's so nice," Jeonghan smiled. "He must be sorry to see you quit."
"We can grab a meal there once in a while."
Seungcheol had found a better paying part-time job tutoring at a cram school for middle school students so that he could make rent. Jeonghan didn't need to but decided to show solidarity by working in a bookshop near the university. He told Seungcheol that since he loved books, it was not real work. Cheol mused inwardly if there would be a sudden increase in general interest in reading.
"When do you start your job?" Jeonghan asked.
"Next week. What about you?"
"The day after. They are short staffed. Are you going to pick me up after work?" Jeonghan asked playfully.
"No." seungcheol said not even glancng at jeonghan
"Meanie!!."
YOU ARE READING
FORTUNE!!|| JEONGCHEOL||
Fanfiction"It's a set," jeonghan whispered. "We have to keep them together. Always." The same words. seungcheol remembered how small jeonghans voice was back then. The hope in his eyes. The nervousness in his hands. He also remembered the tightness under his...
