Artist

three: "let's go eat lunch."

Hongbin's voice, Taekwoon thinks, is different, he was spacing out during his vocal class earlier today but from what he heard from his other classmates' singing-- Hongbin has a voice that you can immediately recognise. That, or maybe because he just like said guy as a person more so he remembers his voice easily.

He stares at the ceiling, not reacting or moving from his spot when Jaehwan entered the room back from the dining area. The younger didn't speak much either, only humming in acknowledgement to Taekwoon before going straight to the bathroom.

Taekwoon raised his hands against the light, staring at his fingers. A small tinge of excitement bubbling inside him. He had finally played the piano after a long time, and he's determined to continue playing again.

⋆

It was two days after, the class with Eguchi went smoothly the day after the Taekwoon episode, for two days after classes, Hongbin would come back to his homeroom to grab a spare chair and sit beside Taekwoon in front of the piano. The pair would remain in place for two or three hours, trying to play the same piece since the first day of classes. It may not be obvious, but Taekwoon started to like Hongbin's presence beside him, and he started to get over his anxiety of playing.

"What's this part again...?" Asked Taekwoon when they reached a new part of the song after running through the first and second verse repeatedly. Hongbin looked up from his part of the piano and towards the part of the music sheet that the older had pointed to, he hummed the part and then placed his fingers on the keys the same time as Taekwoon remembered after.

Hongbin started, slowly pressing each key as he had advised Taekwoon the second time they met up like this, mouthing the lyrics as he does so. Then, he sees Taekwoon's fingers moving in time with him on the part of the middle c. Playing with him in a lower pitch, he sees a small contented smile on the older's lips when he stole a glance. And Hongbin decided that he probably likes that look on the older the most.

After their piano session, Hongbin twitched when the older unexpectedly called out to him."Hey uh, Hongbin san..." He starts after closing the lid of the piano. "Yes?" He hummed, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He waited for a few seconds for Taekwoon to answer, turning around to look at him.

"I was wondering if..." Taekwoon cut himself off mid sentence. Shaking his head. "Nothing. It's nothing. Thank you for today."

Hongbin thought there was something else, but he nodded for now. "It's nothing. I'll see you tomorrow then."

Taekwoon nods as the younger waved good bye at him with a smile before heading towards the canteen. The older didn't go there, however, and went to the dorms, already tired out.

⋆

Hongbin entered the canteen, already spotting his friends. He went and dumped his bag on his usual place beside Wonshik and left to grab food.

"Hey Hongbin," Jaehwan called out, a piece of lettuce flying away from his mouth and landing on Wonshik's hand. Who shrieked and flung it back to the second oldest's cheek.

Hongbin looks up, chewing on his rice. The two sitting across him internally cooed at the action they found adorable before Jaehwan continued his question, this time without any piece of food flying out from his mouth.

"We're gonna go and watch movies in Wonshik's room tomorrow after classes, you should come with us."

Hongbin nods, smiling at the cheering men.

⋆

The next day, Taekwoon was in their homeroom right after the bell rung, Eguchi closed the door behind him as he left. Smiling at Taekwoon's determination.