Lines Crossed (SanSang)

9

The last class of the day had finally ended, and Yeosang packed his bag slowly, savoring the silence as the other students filtered out of the room. The weight of the day sat heavy on his shoulders—anxiety, new faces, unfamiliar routines—it had all been a blur. But most of all, San had been on his mind, a constant, confusing presence that made everything feel more intense than it needed to be.

He sighed quietly, glancing over at San, who was packing up his things at the desk next to him. Wooyoung had texted earlier that he still had one more class to get through, so it was just the two of them. The thought made Yeosang's heart race, but he tried to play it cool.

"You ready to go?" San asked, his voice pulling Yeosang out of his thoughts. He looked up, meeting San's warm gaze.

"Yeah," Yeosang replied softly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He wasn't sure what to say. He had barely spoken all day, his thoughts too scattered to engage in the easy banter that seemed to come so naturally to Wooyoung and San. But being around San alone now, without Wooyoung's chatter to fill the gaps, felt... different.

They walked out of the classroom together, stepping into the late afternoon light. The sun was beginning to set, casting the campus in shades of gold and orange. The breeze was cooler now, a refreshing contrast to the heat of the day. As they made their way down the path, the quiet between them was comfortable, but Yeosang could still feel the underlying tension building inside him.

San, ever observant, seemed to pick up on it. "You've been quiet today," he said, his voice casual but laced with concern. "First day nerves? Or is this your usual self?"

Yeosang glanced at him, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag. He didn't want to lie, but he couldn't exactly tell San the truth either. How was he supposed to explain the whirlwind of emotions he was feeling? On the first day at that? He will think hes weird af . The way San's smile, his laugh, his presence made everything seem so complicated?

"Yeah," Yeosang mumbled, looking down at his feet as they walked. "I guess I'm just... adjusting. It's a lot."

San nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. First days can be overwhelming, especially with so many new people and everything being different." He shot Yeosang a reassuring smile. "You'll get used to it, though. And hey, at least you have Wooyoung and me."

Yeosang's heart fluttered at the mention of us. He nodded, swallowing the growing lump in his throat. "Yeah. Thanks."

They continued walking in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly on the paved path. Students were still milling about, but the campus felt quieter now, more peaceful as the day wound down. Yeosang tried to focus on the soothing atmosphere, hoping it would calm the nervous energy buzzing inside him.

But his mind kept drifting back to San—how easy it was for him to talk, to make friends, to laugh without a care in the world. How much Yeosang wished he could feel that same ease, instead of this constant uncertainty.

Out of nowhere, San turned to him with a small grin. "Wanna grab something to eat? I'm kinda hungry."

Yeosang blinked, caught off guard by the question. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure. Why not?"

San's smile widened, and the sight of it made Yeosang's chest tighten again. They walked in comfortable silence toward a small café just off campus. It was a cozy spot, not too crowded, with a warm, inviting atmosphere that instantly put Yeosang at ease. They ordered simple meals—sandwiches and drinks—and found a quiet table by the window.

San took a sip of his iced coffee and leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting out the window. "It's nice here," he said, his voice thoughtful. "I wasn't sure how I'd feel about college at first, but I think I'm starting to like it."

Yeosang nodded, not trusting his voice. He was still trying to figure out how to feel about the day. There was a lot to like, he supposed. Meeting new people, new opportunities—but it was all overshadowed by the strange feelings swirling inside him every time he was around San.

San glanced at him, his dark eyes filled with a warmth that made Yeosang's stomach flip. "You'll feel the same soon, I bet. Once we get into the groove of things."

"Maybe," Yeosang mumbled, picking at his sandwich. He could feel San's gaze on him, and it made him even more nervous.

"You know," San began, his voice softer now, "you don't have to do everything by yourself. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can talk to me. Or Wooyoung, obviously. But we're here."

Yeosang's throat tightened at San's words. It was so simple, so easy for him to offer that kind of support, but for Yeosang, it felt like a lifeline. He forced a small smile, hoping it would cover up the storm of emotions brewing inside him. "Thanks, San. I appreciate it."

San's smile in return was genuine, and for a brief moment, Yeosang felt the tension ease. They finished their food in companionable silence, with San occasionally making a light-hearted comment about something random, and Yeosang responding as best as he could.

When they were done, San stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, I guess that's the end of our first day, huh?" he said with a lazy grin. "We survived."

Yeosang smiled back, though the weight of everything he was feeling still lingered just below the surface. "Yeah. We did."

As they stepped back outside, the evening air was even cooler now, and the sun had dipped lower on the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and purple. They walked slowly, the path to the dorms familiar but still new enough to feel strange.

"You heading back to your dorm?" San asked after a while.

"Yeah," Yeosang replied quietly. "You?"

San nodded. "Same. I think Wooyoung still has another class, right?"

Yeosang glanced at his phone, seeing a message from Wooyoung confirming that he was still stuck in his last lecture. "Yeah. He said he'll be late."

San laughed. "Figures. He's probably going to complain about it all night."

Yeosang smiled a little at that. It was easy to picture Wooyoung whining dramatically, texting them nonstop about how he was "suffering" through the last class. Somehow, the thought made him feel a little more grounded.

They reached the point where their paths split—San's dorm in one direction, Yeosang's in the other. San turned to him, his smile softer now. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

Yeosang nodded, his heart doing that strange fluttering thing again. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."

As San waved and walked away, Yeosang stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the distance. The weight of the day pressed down on him again, but now there was something else too—a quiet realization, one that scared him more than anything else.

He liked San.

And now, there was no denying it.