Lines Crossed (SanSang)

19

Yeosang walked back into the classroom an hour later, still feeling the weight of his emotions from earlier, though he tried his best to push them down. The room was filled with the usual chatter, students catching up before the next lecture started. He spotted San near the window, leaning casually against a desk, chatting animatedly with a girl beside him. Her laugh rang out, and it hit Yeosang harder than he expected. He felt a strange knot tighten in his chest, though he tried to ignore it.

San glanced up, catching sight of Yeosang by the door. A bright smile spread across his face as he waved him over. "Hey, Yeosang!" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise.

Yeosang hesitated for a second, contemplating whether to just sit down at his desk and avoid the situation entirely. But San's expectant smile tugged at him, and he found himself walking over.

"What's up?" Yeosang asked quietly, trying to sound normal, even though the sight of San with the girl still lingered in his mind.

San didn't seem to notice anything off. He pushed his hair back, glancing at Yeosang with that easy confidence. "A couple of us are going out for drinks later," he said casually. "Thought you'd want to come along. I already asked Wooyoung, but he's stuck in class until late."

Yeosang's first instinct was to say no. The idea of hanging out with San and more of his new friends, especially the girls, made his stomach twist. He wasn't sure he could handle being around them, pretending like everything was fine when it wasn't. But the words didn't come out the way he wanted. Instead, he found himself nodding. "Sure... I guess I could."

San grinned, looking genuinely pleased. "Great! It'll be fun. I'll text you the details later."

The girl beside San gave Yeosang a friendly smile, though something about the way she looked at him made him feel like an outsider. He returned the smile briefly but quickly shifted his gaze, not wanting to linger too long.

As he headed to his seat, Yeosang felt his heart sink. He wondered if agreeing was a mistake. He didn't want to keep getting pulled into these moments with San, not when every second made him more aware of how hopeless it all seemed. But now he was stuck.

After classes ended, Yeosang followed San out of the building, feeling a little off balance. San led the way, walking with a bounce in his step, clearly in a good mood. Yeosang, on the other hand, was more reserved, wondering what he'd just agreed to. They walked in silence for a while before the streets got busier, and Yeosang noticed they were heading toward a bar.

"Wait," Yeosang said, slowing down as they approached the neon-lit building. "Where exactly are we going?"

San turned back to him, grinning. "I told you we were getting drinks, didn't I?"

Yeosang's stomach churned. He hadn't realized San meant they were actually going to a bar. He thought it'd be more casual—maybe a café or somewhere with less noise, somewhere where he wouldn't feel out of place. "I didn't know you meant this kind of drinks."

San chuckled, clearly amused by Yeosang's uncertainty. He reached out, clapping a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Relax, you'll be fine. You don't even have to drink if you don't want to. I'll be right next to you the whole time."

The warmth of San's hand lingered on Yeosang's shoulder as they stepped inside. The bar was buzzing with energy, groups of people chatting loudly, glasses clinking, and music playing in the background. Yeosang felt immediately out of place, but San seemed completely at ease, greeting a few people he recognized with a wave.

As Yeosang and San sat down in the corner of the buzzing bar, Yeosang's anxiety started to creep in. The place was louder than he expected, with groups of people laughing, glasses clinking, and music thumping softly in the background. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling out of place. San, on the other hand, looked completely relaxed, his usual smile playing on his lips as if he belonged here.