The Grapevine

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Sean left the comfort of his family's home and made his way back to his apartment near campus. The weekend had been intense, filled with sparring and strategy discussions, but grounding in its own way. As he pulled into his parking space, the sight of the campus bustling with life brought him a renewed sense of calm. He stepped out of his car, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air.

As he approached the university entrance, he immediately spotted Hyun Jin waiting by the main gates, his face lighting up the moment he caught sight of Sean.

"Seaaaaan!" Hyun Jin practically shouted, rushing over with a grin. Without a second thought, he wrapped his arm around Sean's shoulder, steering him toward the lecture halls. "You're back! Do you even know how lonely it's been without you around? It's a crime to leave your best friend for that long, you know."

Sean chuckled, shaking his head. "Pretty sure you survived just fine, but I'll make a note of it," he teased, letting Hyun Jin keep his arm hooked around him.

As they walked, Sean noticed the campus was buzzing with energy. Students were setting up booths and banners, and everywhere he looked, there was chatter and excitement. The upcoming campus festival was in full swing, and with midterms finally over, everyone seemed to be caught up in the high spirits.

"Festival prep already starting, huh?" Sean said, glancing around.

"Yup! And speaking of, I'm enlisting you for our class booth," Hyun Jin said, grinning mischievously. "We're doing a game booth, and I need you to be the cool, mysterious guy manning the station. You'd bring in all the customers."

Sean gave him a skeptical look. "Pretty sure that's your job, not mine."

Hyun Jin only laughed, unfazed. "Oh, come on. Besides, you love me and you can't say no to me."

Sean rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. It was easy to fall into the light-hearted rhythm with Hyun Jin.

They made their way toward the lecture halls, joining the steady flow of students. As they passed through the courtyard, Sean's phone vibrated with a notification. He glanced down to see a message in a group chat he hadn't muted.

Eric: "Hey Sean, um... if you're around later, maybe we could meet up? I'd really like to show you a piece I'm working on for the festival... if you're up for it."

Sean's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the most subtle excuse, but it still made him smile. He typed back a quick reply.

Sean: Sure. Let me know where, and I'll swing by.

Hyun Jin, ever observant, peeked over Sean's shoulder and caught a glimpse of the name on the screen. He gave Sean a knowing look, nudging him lightly. "Ooooh, Eric message you? Are you two... "

Sean shot him a side-eye. "It's just about the festival. Don't start with your theories."

"Uh-huh," Hyun Jin said, clearly unconvinced. "You two are getting pretty close, though. I mean, music practice sessions, random meetups... sounds like someone's got a crush."

Sean rolled his eyes, but he couldn't quite hide the flush in his cheeks. "It's not like that."

"Right," Hyun Jin said with a smirk. "Well, I'm just saying—Eric doesn't make a habit of messaging just anyone. Maybe he has a thing for the genius types, too."

Later that day, as Sean wrapped up his classes, he headed toward the music hall, where he and Eric had agreed to meet. When he arrived, Eric was already there, strumming his guitar absentmindedly. As soon as he noticed Sean, a warm smile spread across his face.