[no reason] - eric sohn

fifteen: goodnight

It was bright back inside the lobby of the resort so it took a second for his eyes to adjust to the fluorescent lamps after the twenty or so minutes he had spent under the hazy moonlight.

"What time is it now?" Jihyun asked.

He pulled out his phone to check, "Almost 11:30."

They came to a stop in front of the elevator which gave him time to sneak another glance over at Jihyun.

Her perfect ponytail from this morning on the train was now hanging half undone on her shoulders. Mascara was smudged underneath her eyes and her sweater hung disheveled almost off her shoulder. The official lanyard she had around her neck from the games earlier had been shoved into her pocket now that she no longer needed it to prove her position to anyone.

"I'm beat," Jihyun let out another yawn. 

"Me too, what floor are you staying at?"

"Second"

The two continued to make conversation while waiting for the elevator. They hadn't even known each other for 24 hours yet the conversation flowed with such ease that anyone else would've thought they were longtime friends. Eric liked to think of meeting people at MT almost like friendship on steroids. If they were to meet anywhere else it'd take at least two weeks to build the same connection as they did in the short time here. Retreat air, as he called it, made everyone 2x as friendly and 10x more likely to open up. Although he amount of alcohol consumption probably had something to do with that second part.

However, most friends that he had made at these retreats in the past years have never moved passed being anything more than an "MT friend". Eric desperately hoped that Jihyun would be different.

The elevators door finally opened and out stepped a group of fourth years, putting their conversation to a stop.

Eric recognized a couple of them. 

Yuji from engineering, she was one of Bomin's old hookups, and then Junxi, the exchange student from Shanghai, and-

Minako. 

Shit.

(re: chapter five)

He hadn't seen her since the night he turned her down. Awkward was an understatement.

"Eric! Hey!" She walked up to him with a bounce in her step, "going to bed so soon? It's still early."

What?

It was unlike Minako to pretend like everything was fine, after all he had been actively avoiding her all week at dance practice and even around campus. 

Something was up.

"Yeah, just tired today." He decided not to push it.

"Tired? But you've always been down for a MT party." Her face crumpled into confusion, "Come on, almost all the upperclassmen are in the main hall having some late-night snacks and beer."

Minako took another step towards him and grazed her finger along his arms. 

"It'll be fun," She added, lowering her voice.

He could smell the alcohol in her breath.

Oh something was definitely up.

"Eric." Jihyun interrupted, "are you coming or what?"

That's when Minako noticed Jihyun waiting inside the elevator for him and her gaze fell onto the jacket around the girl's shoulders. Eric's jacket.

Minako looked back at him and he could tell she had put two and two together.

He didn't know how he had expected for her to react, anger? Maybe even jealousy? But instead a look of pure spite sat on her face.

She turned to Jihyun pointedly. "Oh who's this?" 

"I'm Jihyun. Choi Jihyun."

"Aw what a pretty name," Her voice suddenly sickeningly sweet. "I'm Minako! A bunch of us are having a little party in the main hall right now you should come." 

Minako took another step towards Eric but kept her eyes trained on Jihyun as she slowly wrapped her arm around him, like a boa constrictor would do with its prey, and in that moment Eric really felt like prey. As the cherry on top she rests her head snugly against his shoulder . "I think little Eric here-" she caressed his arm, "-really wants you to join us."

Jihyun's composure slipped for a split second, so quick that if he had blinked he would've missed it.

"Minako that's enough." He pushed her off him, resulting in an eruption of giggles from the younger girl. "Hey Jihyun-"

"I think I'll pass," Jihyun smiled a fake smile so perfect that Eric almost believed it. "you should go with her," Minako stumbled right as she pointed at the her, "clearly she won't make it by herself if you leave her alone."

Eric put out a hand to steady Minako before she stumbled any further. "I should, but what about you?"

Something in him hoped that she'd make up an excuse to get him to stay, like she did on the train. 

But instead Jihyun replied "I'll manage." it would be a lie for him to say he wasn't at least a little bit crushed, "hope you two enjoy the party."

And with that the elevator doors shut before Eric could get in another word.