STUDY BUDDIES. | hajeongwoo

45.

it all happened so fast as if nothing actually happened.

the night jeongwoo discovered something ever so uncanny, haruto excused himself and immediately packed his belongings as if he was never sick. no matter how much he tried to insist and force the male to stay through the night, he couldn't— not with that truculent attitude of his.

he couldn't even utter a single word related to what just happened, and to anything related to the sudden change of connection. jeongwoo felt so vlunerable upon seeing the male move around his territory without a voice for him to halt, and to ask, and maybe to calm the male down; worrying about his health and currently fragile figure.

he shouldn't move around so much like that.

jeongwoo bit his lower lip after hearing the slamming door of his apartment. haruto's faint "thanks for today, i'll see you next time," greeting continued to reverberate and reiterate around his mind for a good minute until the clangorous silence began to envelop him more and more.

he wasn't so doyen about comforting, or to be even keen about approaching someone so opposite to his way of thinking until he met haruto. jeongwoo does not give any attention to how others would rather think at all— rational, easy, he could read everyone like a book. but when he met such an enigmatic person like him, with not enough information to say that he actually knows him, made it exacerbating enough for his case. his recherché attitude completely made him twisted.

he couldn't ask, everytime he alters his attitude like that— as to why he'd shrug everyone off and give him a cold shoulder.

or was he overanalyzing things? is it overthinking, or the lack of trust to depend everything on him just yet? jeongwoo was in the state of denial, standing in the center, not feeling anywhere near being sangfroid. however, when he heard the indistinct ticking of time, he knew it was time to cease his surmises.

jeongwoo started to go around, doing his normal routine, and acting like nothing ever happened. as if haruto never appeared on his apartment with the reeking smell of alcohol and the exude odor of his perfume. as if he did not encounter such unknown calls and unfathomable japanese characters.

was haruto supposed to be this hard to read?

jeongwoo terminated his daydreaming the moment he heard his phone rang. it has been days, three days to be exact, after the apartment incident. frankly speaking, it was something the both of them did not bother to bring up about. something that needs to be buried underground, to be long forgotten, as if it has never been a significant matter.

at least that's what haruto wants him to do after their sorts of hanging. and even if jeongwoo managed to distract himself from the thought, one of those eerie nights, the thought would continue to rekindle until it'll totally bother him again. it never left his mind, no matter how much haruto tried to convince him that its nothing— it just lingers.

its as if his guts is telling him that something is wrong.

jeongwoo stood up as he checked his belongings one more time. a few days ago, haruto has told him to come over haruto's apartment to spend the whole week vacation with him. it wasn't something so completely irrelevant— he had to study along with him or else they'll fail the upcoming exam.

it took haruto a few more cajoling just for jeongwoo to agree. the tanned male actually wanted to take a break and focus on his studies, but the other insisted on bringing him along and even convinced him with a "let's study together, i want to spend some time with you more."

how can he even say no?

the taller male even insisted for jeongwoo to spend the night throughout the week, going along with the spend more time together part, and being overly possessive. since when did haruto change from a terrifying beast to a soft and fluffy boy?

jeongwoo heaved a sigh upon riding through subways and dropping to stations until he finally stood in front of the exquisite apartment. it was so finely constructed— standing and appearing entirely different from the building that surrounded the lot. it almost felt like an authorized business company rather than a certain home.

nonetheless, he made his way tkwards the inside of the interior. he had no time to adore, the golden furnitures and exlensive chandeliers and decorations embellished on every corner of the building made it so hard for him t move forward. just by its lobby, how can haruto live in such a florid home every day?

jeongwoo carefully traipsed down the isle, paying attention to the room numbers as he walked with intense care that even the sound of his footsteps shouldn't be heard. he wanted to find the familiar room number already, until he finally noticed one.

with a sigh of relief, jeongwoo took a deep breath before pressing the bell button.

jeongwoo wasn't quite sure if haruto had heard, as it took quite a long time to hear a noise coming from the inside and for the door to make its way open, until it finally made a faint creaking noise and then appeared the tall haruto he's been wanting to meet.

haruto seemed to not be in a good condition. he did not appear as neat as the other days passed, but rather a casual look with a drowsy look on his face. jeongwoo of course furrowed his brows in confusion, why the other has appeared like that, before arriving to a certain conclusion.

haruto showed hospitality by stepping aside and letting the tanned male to enter his room. jeongwoo took this moment to observe, feeling haruto take away his baggage, and realizing how neat and tidy haruto's room is rather than his.

it was wide, completely spacious, with a shade of black, gray, and white painted. it was well structured, a minimalist style— haruto is probably not into extravagant ornaments despite having tons of money to buy some.

jeongwoo sat down the couch as he waited for haruto to settle. the taller male sat down beside him after a few minutes, before looking at each other and making eye contact. nothing to do, nothing to even utter— they found themselves drowning in each of their ocean eyes' once again.

it was until jeongwoo has noticed something that caught his attention after a few more staring. haruto's skin has turned quite pale, swollen eyes and heavy breathing. it was the cue for jeongwoo to raise his palm up, rest it against haruto's forehead to check his temperature.

and he was right, haruto is burning.

it was a matter of second before jeongwoo came to his panicked state, fumbling around his seat to look for something he's not auite sure what, haruto just sitting there still, chuckling upon the sight. it was something that made jeongwoo to halt, realize his action, before burning up in embarrassment.

"calm down, jeongwoo. you always panic when im not feeling well," haruto chortled, shaking his head in disapproval as he looked at the slight pouting male. "its not my fault! you don't get sick often but look at you now, you're still not fine!"

haruto smiled, feeling extremely grateful from the other who continued to rummage around to look for something that could lessen his sickness. he doesn't really mind about it, but a worried jeongwoo is probably just what he needed after a long week of continuous bickering.

"then heal me, my doctor."