johnny knocked hesitantly against the same door he had been visiting every night for the past month. rather than switching locations every second session like they used to, the pair found that ten's bedroom was the best space to focus in, and so they kept with it. as of late, the older had started getting more compliant, more cooperative. the arguing was lessening, but at this point they just felt the need to bicker — perhaps it would've been awkward to admit that they'd come to enjoy one another's company better.

the thai student was still in denial, and he had taken donghyuck's words with a pinch of salt. sometimes it was too easy to get swept up in the currents of conversation and to fall into a state of gullibility where everything said was gospel. either way, he didn't need that distraction, so he pushed it into a metaphorical drawer and locked it with an intangible key.

"hey," the ravenette greeted once yanking his door open for the blonde. "i was studying myself for a bit, so you're in luck."

"why?" johnny snickered, trying his level best not to ruffle his somewhat unruly hair that had probably been neglected on this fine saturday.

"i'm in the zone, you see," the boy smirked. "my brain is as ready as it'll get for the lesson."

his nerdiness has actually gotten cute, the taller thought inwardly, and proceeded to follow ten in who rushed about on an uncoordinated route to throw all his laundry into the basket to the side. his private space was looking quite dire for once, and the teen realised that this was actually his first time visiting at the weekend. was the dorm room always left in disarray at this time? interesting.

"just sit where you usually do. i'll be with you in a second."

the korean-american hummed absentmindedly and trailed over to the desk. literature books were scattered here and there, some maths textbooks were on the floor and there had to be about three pens laying around of different colours. he works hard at the weekends too...johnny pursed his lips, but faltered when he thought of something. does he cram on saturdays and sundays because i take up his other days?

"okay, you wanted to do biology definitions today, didn't you?" the smaller then wandered over and took a look at his stack of soft-covers on a shelf. "we can try working on—"

"actually, ten..." johnny interrupted, clicking his tongue and finally bringing up exactly what it was he had intended on coming up here today for. working during a day off was not his idea of a treat, so he actually had underlying intentions when he suggested it. "i wanted to invite you out."

"hm? what do you mean?"

"i mean," he turned to look at him properly, "we always hang out in here, or the library...or even the canteen when it's empty. i want you to take a break for once and come with me to a party."

"ugh, you know i hate those," the shorter pouted. "haven't i attended enough parties in the past month to satiate any socialising needs for a year?"

"introvert."

"i'm not. i just prefer to pick my moments. you seem to have a constant need to talk to everyone...i like to recharge and spend proper catch-up time with friends than exhaust their company and grow bored of conversations. understand?"

"mhm. even though that sucks."

"sucks for you, not for me. so can i not go?"

"nope, there is only one option, good sir. come and have some fun for the evening!"

ten bit the wall of his cheek and desperately wanted to stay strong here; in this situation. but a part of his heart was cracking open and letting in more emotions than he desired, and johnny was getting harder to deny these days. "what do i get out of it?"

"an awesome night in which you can watch me try to dance and potentially insult your ears with my drunk jokes."

"sounds pleasant," the younger chuckled, and he shocked himself with that reaction. his chest tightened for the millionth time it seemed, and he yet again recalled his conversation with hyuck. great, what the hell is happening here?

"so, do i have a 'yes'?"

he refrained from answering so soon. a night out with johnny didn't sound nearly as horrible as it once had a month ago. his feelings had changed. he had changed. his nails dug into his palms as he considered all the terrible scanrios that could come of him indulging in these games...like heartbreak. he hadn't admitted to himself yet that there could be romance afoot, though it wasn't exactly impossible anymore. "why me, though?"

"huh?"

"why me specifically?" ten reiterated. his loose t-shirt suddenly felt like it was swamping him, and he couldn't breathe. "why do you try your luck with me when i always shut you down? are you a masochist?"

"if we're asking weird questions like that, then why haven't you given up on me? why do you still ruin your weeks by looking for me and tutoring me when you could even more easily drop the deal. c'mon, we both know you don't need extra credit."

shoot, he has a point. it seemed neither would be answering those, so the conversation would have to be dropped. "f-fine. i'll go with you to the party, then."

"yay—"

"but i don't have anything to wear. unless you're a tailor, we can't exactly craft clothes nice enough for an occasion."

"it's not about what you wear," johnny explained while moving around to open the wardrobe doors and fish around the choices, "it's about how you wear them. even ugly things can look nice if you manipulate them a bit." his muttering halted as he pulled out an incredibly loose shirt that was probably something the president tended to wear to bed. "aha."

"no. that's not even for public viewing~" the younger begged.

"no, come here." the taller dragged him over by the the wrist and made a 'lift it off' motion with his finger for ten to remove his already existing top. obliging reluctantly, he peeled it up over his head and dropped it onto the floor.

"okay, now put this on..." the blonde instructed, though his eyes were in the flustered process of finding anywhere else to look but the male's pale, tempting skin. he was a lot more attractive under the uniform and pyjamas than the taller had initially perceived him to be.

"done. now what?"

"let's see," he eyed the clothing item a couple of times. it was a simplistic indigo t-shirt where the sleeves ended closer to his elbows than his mid-arm, and the only words written were in white; pretty in purple. it wasn't a lie, anyway. "so, if we hitch it up back here," the teen reached around to bundle the excess fabric to the small of the president's back, gazing down to see the results at the front.

"is it okay?" ten enquired without an ounce of knowledge in this area. "i should bring my nice clothes over from home next time."

"is that your way of saying you'll come with me to more events in future?"

"in your dreams," he blushed, looking down to let the other get on with it.

"okay, i think i know what to do. let me get some trousers first." johnny reached up onto a shelf within the wardrobe and drew out a pair of slightly loose-fitted jeans that were actually a very nice style. "put these on."

the ravenette sighed and did as he was told, pulling his original shorts off and yanking up the new pants. they barely hugged his lithe waist, which was why he wore belts. sliding a brown, leather one out of his drawers, he then laced it through the denim loops and fastened everything in place. "this is still swimming on me," he plucked the top.

"that's what this is for," the taller produced a safety pin from his own pocket and winked knowingly. "i always keep one in case any wardrobe malfunctions occur. comes in handy." ten said nothing as he tried not to giggle at that — his ability to be resourceful and clever when he wanted to be. "there."

now with the pin clipping a section of the t-shirt tighter and it being tucked mostly into the jeans, he looked like a beautiful model taken straight from the eighties. everything was a bit big but looked perfect, and in general, ten was stunning enough to pull anything off.

johnny could see that now.

"all good?" the younger asked softly as he checked his appearance in the mirror. his long, black hair still fell in his eyes as it always had, and his overall vibe was still the same...he just looked enhanced. his lip caught between his teeth nervously and for once, he didn't feel prepared for this.

"you look great! now, come with me so that i can get dressed and then we can head off and hang out for a little while. my friend's house is a twenty minute walk away anyway."

"hang on, it's outside the campus?"

"of course. you have officially agreed to a date, so congratulations."

i agreed to a what?!