small words || jeongcheol

03: multiple roommates.

Jeonghan had just climbed into bed, opting not to shower, since there were only two bathrooms in the house and both were occupied. He had changed into a very loose pair of long-sleeved pyjamas, but they didn't match; gray pants and a pale blue shirt. He pulled the covers over himself and turned off the bedside lamp.

Dinner had been an actual shit-show. After Soonyoung had stormed out, Wonwoo had been sent to the Reflection Room, whatever that was. But he had been forced to sit at the table for the remainder of dinner before being sent there. It was the rules; stay at dinner until everyone had finished or had had enough. Then bathrooms were locked for thirty minutes after in case anyone wanted to try anything.

Jeonghan supposed that rule was there because of Wonwoo. But now it was being enforced on him, too. Not that he even wanted to purge. He'd only eaten a green bean, anyway.

His stomach growled.

"Oh, shut up," he muttered, placing a bony hand on his flat stomach.

A floorboard creaked outside, and someone came quietly inside.

"Oh, you must be my new roommate," said the voice, with a breathless giggle.

Jeonghan looked up to see a tall, dark-haired boy in the semi-darkness. The boy was handsome for sure, and wore a hesitant smile to accompany his purple t-shirt and white skinny jeans.

"Hi," Jeonghan muttered.

The boy looked at him for a moment. "Anorexia?"

Jeonghan nodded. "You?"

He let out a giggle. It was disconcerting. Jeonghan eyed him uncomfortably.

"Oh, sweetie, you don't even want to know," he said. He crossed to the bed at the far wall. The bed inbetween the two was vacant.

"How long have you been here?" Jeonghan asked quietly.

"Oh, sweetie, it's been ten months now," the boy replied, smiling widely. He removed his t-shirt, replacing it with a pink pyjama shirt. "And you've just got here. Done an in-patient before?" He took off his jeans, pulling on a pair of matching pyjama shorts.

"I've done three," he answered.

"Well, we've done seven now," the boy sighed, climbing into his bed. He pulled a fluffy purple blanket over the duvet and lay down.

"We?" Jeonghan echoed under his breath.

"Well, goodnight," said the boy, hugging the blanket. "What's your name?"

"Jeonghan."

"I'm June. Sleep well."

Jeonghan turned to face the wall. So, that was June. But what about Junhui? Did the vacant bed belong to him? Jeonghan fell into a restless sleep before he could think about it anymore.

***

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Mm?" Jeonghan groaned, not fully awake. He squinted at the boy on the other side of the room, whose hair was sticking up at odd angles from sleep.

"Why are you in my room?" he asked angrily, "And where the fuck is Wonwoo?"

"He's rooming with Soonyoung," Jeonghan mumbled, almost calling the erratic boy 'Cheetos boy' out loud.

"Well, who the fuck are you, anyway?" the boy demanded, clearly past 'frustrated'. He flung aside the fluffy blanket and got out of bed. He tore off the pink pyjamas and stalked across the room in his boxers.

"I-I'm Jeonghan," he answered, hastily shuffling backwards into his pillow, "We met last night."

"No, we didn't!" the boy exclaimed, running hands through his dark hair. He was well built, to be fair, his defined abs suggesting he worked out extensively.