"Hyunjin!" Felix stood in front of the dance building, clutching his phone in his hands. Minho was next to him, looking vaguely confused. As soon as Felix spotted Hyunjin, he ran toward him and hugged him. "Chan-hyung just texted me and – oh my god. Why didn't you say anything?"

Hyunjin smiled awkwardly. "It's not what you think, I promise." Felix held him at arm's length and looked him up and down, as if to check if he was injured. It was so ridiculous, Hyunjin laughed. "Don't worry, I'll explain."

"What is there to explain?" Felix screeched, "I'll murder him! I'll get Chan to muder him!"

"Don't murder him, Lixie," Hyunjin disagreed and stepped out of Felix's grip. "I need him alive to get some cash."

That at least shut Felix up and got him another curious look from Minho.

"I don't even know what happened yet," Minho said, "but care to elaborate?"

Hyunjin looked around them. It was relatively empty of people, but still, better to not chance something like this. "Let's take this inside. Is there any food left?"

Felix wordlessly handed him a tupperware box.

"You're an angel, actually," Hyunjin sighed and hugged the box close to his chest. He proceeded to drag Felix and Minho to the small studio they booked for self study. Just one room, no windows and mirrors that always made them look a bit fatter than they were – to Hyunjin's eternal misery.

"Spill," Minho said, once they were all sitting on the studio floor, with the door closed.

Hyunjin started shovelling food into his mouth. "It's music department gossip. Did you know that 3Racha apparently has rivals there?"

"Yes, duh," Minho said.

"Of course," Felix agreed. "It doesn't bother Chan-hyung, so I don't really know much. Chan-hyung has always just done his thing. He's not involved in any drama, if he can help it."

"Jisung is the same," Minho said. "Although he does always keep up with the gossip."

"Huh," Hyunjin says, and then launches into the story of how a guy with bad hair asked him if he was gay, and Hyunjin had thought it was maybe a cult thing. "Of course I would have said no, but then he said I should fake date Changbin-hyung, and I don't know about you guys but ten million won is a lot of money."

"He must be crazy rich," Minho agreed, "but why did Felix want to murder Changbin?"

Hyunjin smirked. "I asked Changbin out in front of half the music department, and Binnie-hyung was a bit unfriendly, but it's fine. It'll make the tea spicier. Hotter?"

"He called you pathetic," Felix glared, "and if I hadn't seen you come back all smiley I would have found him and punched him in the face. I might still do that..."

"Wait," Minho interrupted, "does Changbin know it's not real?"

"Of course!" Hyunjin said and wanted to smack himself in the face. He should have started with that, shouldn't he? "We planned the entire thing yesterday. We'll split the money. Well, we'll first buy a new couch and coffee machine, and then we'll split what's left of the money."

"So you don't have feelings for him?" Felix looked a bit disappointed at that. "Well, I'm glad you're okay and I don't have to hide a body."

Minho chuckled. "This is amazing. Can I make an Instagram profile to post about your relationship?"

"What?" Hyunjin rolled his eyes, "like, you could, I guess. But there's no need to drag this out. It's just for one month, we'll pretend we're the main couple in a kdrama, we break up and act sad for a week or something and then everything goes back to normal."

"What if you actually fall in love with him, though?" Felix asked. "I mean, you have seen Korean dramas before and I know you sometimes read fanfiction."

"We're just roommates, why would that happen?" Hyunjin stretched his arms behind his back. "It's cool, Lixie."

Felix looked like he didn't believe that for a second. "Sure, Jinnie. Whatever you say."

Minho cracked up laughing, but when Hyunjin looked at him questioningly, he just shrugged. "If you're done with the food, let's warm up, shall we? I got some ideas for our choreo."

The next few hours passed like they always did, with warming up and singing along with kpop songs, rehearsing old choreographies and teaching each other moves they learned or found interesting in the dance classes they didn't share. Hyunjin's phone blew up with messages from their group chat but that's what silent mode was for.

They left the dance building tired and soaked in sweat but satisfied.

"What day is it even," Hyunjin whined as he draped an arm over Felix. "I want tomorrow to be Sunday."

Felix laughed. "Tomorrow is Saturday, Jin. And you promised you'd help me study for Ancient Korean Literature."

Hyunjin groaned dramatically. "Oh worm! Woe is me."

Minho punched his shoulder. "It's your fault you do this much. You could simply tell Felix to monopolize his own boyfriend and leave you alone. Maybe then Jisung would spend less time in the studio and be home sometimes."

"You're just old and bitter," Felix retorted, "besides, Chan-hyung tells me you hang out with them in the studio most weekends anyway? Have I caught you lying to your favourite – oh hey, Seungmin!"

Felix smiled sunnily at Seungmin, who returned the smile easily, and Jeongin, who was dragged by his wrist behind Seungmin.

"Hyunjin," Seungmin said, "do you want me to post that video of Changbin-hyung dancing to the Ottoke song? I will."

"What?" Hyunjin's brain needed a moment to catch up. "Oh, no, it's fine! It was all planned."

Seungmin narrowed his eyes. "He said, and I quote: 'One date. Because I think you're pathetic.' How the fuck was that planned?"

Hyunjin blushed. "Ah, you see."

"I do not see," Seungmin insisted, "are you okay, Hyunjin? Emotionally?"

"Yes," Hyunjin rolled his eyes. "We talked about it before, seriously, we even rehearsed it last night. I am not hurt by Changbin-hyung's words and no, you do not need to post that video."

"That's not reassuring," Jeongin said. "It was very dramatic. There's a TikTok video and a Snapchat story."

"Really? Well, it's not that important, anyway," Hyunjin said.

"Oh?" Minho dragged Jeongin to the side. Hyunjin could make out the words 'social media' and 'Instagram' but Seungmin appeared directly in front of his face.

"What do you mean."

Hyunjin smiled. "I'll explain it to you, I promise. But I'm also hungry now, so can I explain it to you over dinner?"

Seungmin glared.

"It's fine, Seungmin," Felix said. "He already explained it to Minho and me."

Seungmin looked at Felix. "Alright. I trust you."

"But not me?" Hyunjin whined, then winced. "Okay, yeah, I probably deserve that. I should have told you. But how could I have known it'll be on TikTok?"

Seungmin sighed, but Minho and Jeongin were done with their small discussion. A few streets away from campus sat a small cafe that belonged to Changbin's grandparents, where Changbin worked part time and even held some open mics and poetry slams when he had time for it. Or when his sister told him to.

What it meant was that there was a whole kitchen and coffee machines free for Changbin to use after opening hours, which made it a good spot to hang out at with a bigger group, and none of their apartments were big enough for eight people. And while Chan and Felix's shared apartment was good for movie nights (thanks to a giant, immensely comfortable, beautiful couch) Chan and Felix didn't own eight chairs.

Hyunjin only ever went with Felix and Minho to the cafe. Despite being roommates with Changbin, he spent most of his time with his fellow dancers or practising on his own.

"Finally here!" Jisung yelled when Minho stepped through the door and immediately jumped into his arms. "I haven't seen you all day and I missed you so much. I don't even mind the sweat."

"You never mind the sweat," Minho replied.

Jeongin grimaced. "That's nice. Can we come in now? Hyunjin promised to tell us vital information."

Hyunjin caught Changbin's eyes and smiled, breathing easier when Changbin smiled back just as easily.

"Chan-hyung is in the back making ramen," Changbin supplied. "He should be done soon."

A few minutes later, after everyone had shuffled around and gotten comfortable with something to drink (water for Hyunjin, Felix and Minho, because it was important to drink water after exercising) and a bowl, Chan carried out a pot.

"So," Seungmin started as soon as Chan took a seat, an admirable glare switching between Hyunjin and Changbin. "Tell us."

Hyunjin and Changbin looked at each other. "Well," Hyunjin began, "you know."

"I don't know," Seungmin said. "That's the issue."

"I would actually like to hear it from your perspective as well, Hyunjin," Chan said, "I mean, I was there when you asked Changbin out, and I thought I was hallucinating until you shouted through the entire room. I was going to murder Changbin, but luckily for him, I gave him time to explain himself."

"Uh, thank you, I guess" Hyunjin said. "As I told Felix, please don't kill Changbin-hyung, I need him to get cash."

~~~

Coming up in the next chapter: Holding Hands