Reserved [Book V]

Groove

Zitao had been roaming around the building after classes, for events of last night seemed like they would be permanently etched on his mind. He hadn't been himself all morning and he couldn't count the times the rest of M asked what was wrong with him... times too many.

There was a lot of change in Jaehwan and Zitao knew it shouldn't be a surprise, but it was a surprise that seeped into his skin, reached his bones and couldn't find a way to escape. Not only did the change in Jaehwan shocked him, but the very fact that he's in Seoul – for several years now – and his siblings were living with him... all of them.

For a moment, he stopped walking, repeating every little thing that Jaehwan told him the night before, and then walking again while he replayed the memory. Zitao couldn't get over it and he didn't think he'd be over it any time soon.

His feet dragged him all over the floor, students passing by and going on with their lives while his felt like it flew back a decade. Sceneries weren't black and white, but they were olden, colors gloomy and feelings down under. Jaehwan is in Seoul and he didn't live a hundred miles away from the university and knowledge of his whereabouts would change things and –

"Shit, I'm sorry." Zitao bent down and picked up a book fallen on the floor from a student he bumped into. He was just too deep in his thoughts to notice the other freshman, standing in the hallway in front of an org office. It was only when he handed the book back that the other student flashed him a small smile of thanks. "Kyungsoo."

"There must be something really troubling you if you managed to bump into me." The shorter boy stated. Zitao's forehead creased, meaning he wanted to know what the hell Kyungsoo was talking about. After all, Zitao's focus was off the table and he couldn't think of what he meant. "There are hardly any people in this hallway, Tao. And I refuse to believe I'm that big of a person to block your way."

Zitao cleared his throat. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking."

"My point, exactly." Kyungsoo answered. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." Zitao replied. "It's just... something about class. I'm fine."

Kyungsoo, even if he looked like he doubted it, didn't push any further and faced a bulletin before speaking about another topic. "What are you studying?"

"General course. I'll decide next semester." Zitao said, facing the same bulletin. "Let me guess. You chose architecture?"

"How'd you know?"

"High school during freshman year, before all the nasty shit with the leaders, a piece of paper fell out from your bag and I picked it up." He crossed his arms over his chest and Kyungsoo stared at him. "It was a pen sketch of a wolf howling to the moon. I said you were good and you told me that you needed more practice for what you wanted to study in the future."

Kyungsoo grinned and nodded. "I admire your memory."

Zitao didn't say anything, but he wanted to talk. I hate it.

For a minute, they stayed quiet and the thing about hating his sharp memory was emphasized. There were Jaehwan's words in his head and every scene that involved him with the man and his family, playing over and over until Zitao couldn't do anything but breathe in sharply and close his eyes and bow his head. Kyungsoo could only look at him and wonder, for he knew the tall boy wouldn't say anything even if he asked.

It was just Zitao's nature.

"What are you doing around here, anyway?" Kyungsoo mumbled after a good minute.

"I just wanted to explore. My classes are over." Zitao stated softly. "What about you? I thought this floor was for those who study literary arts."