• • •

Wooyoung

I inhale sharply through my nose and out my lips when I feel that same soft thump on my back for the fifth time in a row. My eyes follow the crunched object as it ungracefully rolls down my back and unto the floor, stopping right next to my shoe.

Eyebrows creased and mind brimming with annoyance, I take my time to pick up the scrunched up paper, careful not to let the professor see me even though the room I'm in is cloaked majorly in darkness and the man doesn't give two shits of who decides to pay attention in his class or not.

Even with this fact, I slowly unravel the paper underneath my table, and almost immediately I can hear a dramatic, drawn-out sigh.

Wooyoung, stop ignoring me. I think I've found that guy you were talking about. He's got black hair with red highlights, right?

He's hot.

Of course, I think, before slightly turning around to exchange eye-contact with Yeosang from the back. He raises his brows at me, before jutting his thumb at the corner in the least subtle way he can manage. My eyes follow his finger's direction, only for them to land on San. Luckily, the guy is actually concentrated on the lesson (unlike Yeosang and I), so there's less of a chance he'll catch me staring at him.

When Yeosang and I lock gazes again, I nod at him in confirmation, and when he does a writing motion with his pen I only roll my eyes. But, despite this, I still turn the paper around and jot down my response.

Yes. That's the guy. His name is San. But keep your salt water fins off of him please and thank you. Vampires tend to really like merman blood.

And Jesus Christ we're supposed to be figuring out the calculations Professor Kim has on the projector !!!

Not long after I pass him the note, he throws a new one back at me.

First of all, I'm not into him. He's not my type. I only said he looked hot.
Second of all, Vampires thirsting after Merman blood is nothing but a myth you idiot. And lastly, I'm already good at math, so jokes on you.

I fold the paper and ignore Yeosang for the rest of the class, shrugging off his heated stares and numerous attempts to get my attention. As I do this, I find myself looking in San's direction, and for what reason, I really don't know.

He's writing something down on his notebook, and then his fingers latch onto his hair, before running through it. He repeats this again, and for the second time in a row, I continue to watch.

That is, until he suddenly looks up and almost catches me staring at him. At least, I hope he doesn't catch me.

I think I was fast enough, I think, pushing aside the way my ears have grown exceedingly warmer in the last five seconds. It totally doesn't mean anything that he happens to be a vampire, which also happens to be one of the quickest creatures out there.

Embarrassed, I hide my face behind my textbooks, staring at nothing but the pages. My ears won't stop burning, and it certainly doesn't help when I can feel a specific someone's stare digging holes into the side of my face.

Shit.

• • •

the three hoesketeers

hoeyoung:
okay who decided
to name the chat
delivered 3:17 pm

hoejoong:
it certainly wasn't me 👀
delivered 3:18 pm

hoesang:
oh it was definitely you
delivered 3:18 pm

hoesang:
but unlike you i'm actually
nOT a hoe
delivered 3:18 pm

hoejoong:
its okay to accept that part of yourself, sang. theres no shame in it
delivered 3:19 pm

hoesang:
😑
delivered 3:19 pm

hoeyoung:
but alright, why are you guys blowing up my phone
with text messages
delivered 3:20 pm

hoejoong:
you know what today is?
delivered 3:20 pm

hoeyoung:
what?
delivered 3:20 pm

hoejoong:
today is friday!!
and that means we'll be having our weekly movie nights at your dorm tonight
delivered 3:21 pm

hoeyoung:
shit
delivered 3:21 pm

hoesang:
shit indeed
delivered 3:22 pm

With all the commotion that's gone on the past few days, especially with the new addition of San, it'd completely slipped my mind that my friends were going to come over later tonight for our commonly held 'Friday movie nights'.

It was never a problem at first, since my old roommate was barely ever there in the first place, and even when he was, he was very lenient about whoever I decided to let in our dorm.

But the fact that I'm now rooming with someone new, someone who I'm just as unfamiliar with as I am slightly terrified of, is enough to make me rethink this whole situation entirely.

hoeyoung:
uhh, guys?
delivered 3:24 pm

hoeyoung:
i don't think i can let
you guys + yunho come today
delivered 3:24 pm

hoesang:
why?
delivered 3:24 pm

hoesang:
is it because of that san guy?
delivered 3:25 pm

hoeyoung:
yEs, its because of
that 'san guy'
delivered 3:25 pm

hoejoong:
ohh,, the one yeosang told me was a vampire as well??
delivered 3:25 pm

hoeyoung:
uh, yeah
delivered 3:26 pm

hoejoong:
thats all the more reason for us to come over! i wanna see my fellow kindred
delivered 3:26 pm

hoesang:
please dont ever say those words over text ever again
delivered 3:26 pm

hoeyoung:
i dont think he'd like it if you guys came
delivered 3:26 pm

hoejoong:
i'm pretty sure he'll like us
delivered 3:26 pm

hoejoong:
everyone likes me
delivered 3:27 pm

hoesang:
*cough* not everyone *coughs*
delivered 3:27 pm

hoejoong:
what?
delivered 3:27 pm

hoesang:
aNYways, wooyoung just ask the guy if he's okay with us coming over. if he isn't, then we'll meet up someplace else, k?
delivered 3:28 pm

hoeyoung:
but
delivered 3:28 pm

hoesang:
shhh. just do it
delivered 3:28 pm

I sigh at this, before tossing my phone aside, mentally preparing myself for whatever possible conversation could've taken place between San and I.

Aish, why do I have to be the one to do this? I ask myself with a huff, shoving my feet into my beloved pair of bunny slippers. Even they aren't enough to stop me from grumbling about like a little kid.

That's because you're his roommate, dummy, my mind bites back, and I have to reluctantly agree with the voice even though I don't want to.

Ignoring the fact that I'm having a conversation with myself, I open the door to my room and step out, looking around as if I'm being watched. Which I'm not.

My heart races underneath my ribcage, and I swear my breathing's become more laboured in the last few seconds. My palms have turned clammy as well, and I rub them over the fabric of my pants in order to get rid of the excessive sweat.

Fuck.

I tell myself that I'm making this harder than it should be. All I need to do is to head over to San's room and ask if he won't mind my friends coming over tonight, that's it. It's no big deal.

It's no big deal.

The door to San's bedroom stands tall, scary and intimidating just like it's owner, and when I'm about to reach out to knock on its hard surface, it swings open on its own accord and now I'm face to face with San himself.

"I -- " I'm about to apologize because shit, I've managed to lose control of my magic once again, but it's then I realize that it was San who'd opened the door in the first place.

Perfect timing, am I right?

"Uhm... Hey," I finally let out, showcasing a strained smile even though I'm internally cringing.

San wordlessly stares at me for a bit, his dark hair a bit messy as it falls in lackluster waves over his head. Perched on his nose is a pair of rounded glasses, and they look so good on him that my ears start to grow warm. I feel like sinking under the ground when I, once again, find myself staring at him more than I'd like to admit.

"Hi," San greets, and I blink, eyes meeting his. They dart away a second after. "Did... did you want to talk to me about something?"

"Uhm -- Yes!" I almost jump, and now I'm reeling with a bit of embarrassment. My hand places itself behind my neck, sheepishly rubbing it. "I actually did want to talk to you about something. It's nothing major though! Just a little question."

San's face remains expressionless, and he nods for me to go on.

"Well, there's this thing that my friends and I usually do every Friday night. We watch movies in this dorm. And today's Friday as well. So they're planning on coming tonight too," I ramble, going from staring at the ground back to San's face, then to the ground again. "Hope you won't mind that..."

To my surprise, San just shrugs. "Sure, of course. Why would I mind?" There's a shadow of smile on his lips, small but still there, and despite its faintness, it lights up his whole face.

"Really?" I dumbly ask.

Now it's his turn to rub his neck, the thin silver necklace encircling his collarblades glimmering in the slightest bit. "Well, yeah. Did you think I'd say no or something?"

"Whaaat," I scoff, "'Course not."

San softly chuckles, and the sound sends my already fragile nerves into a frenzy. Why am I being like this?

"Okay. I'm going to let myself believe you're telling the truth there," San replies, pushing his fingers through his black hair to smooth it out. The mere action causes me to stare at him like an idiot again, that is, until we make eye contact. That's when I decide I find the table off to the side much more interesting.

"So," he says again, and if I say I'm not surprised at how much he's spoken to me during these past few minutes, I'd be a huge liar. "Is that it?"

When I look at him again he's smiling. For real this time.

Breathing's more difficult than it should be, especially when I spot those dimples yet again.

"Are you okay?"

Before I can even comprehend what's going on, San's palm is placed over my shoulder, and there isn't a powerful enough cooling spell in the entire world that'll get rid of the heat that swelters inside my chest at that very moment.

I bite my lip and quickly nod. "Uh, yes."

"Then why do you look so hot?"

Despite knowing fully well that San means something else entirely, my cheeks turn a bright shade of red at his words. It puzzles and scares me how much of an effect his words alone have on me, almost as if I'm under some kind of spell.

"W-What?" I stare at him, wide-eyed.

With the way his eyes spark in realization, I can tell San's just figured out the double meaning behind his words. He clears his throat, his expression mirrroring one that's undeniably awkward, to say the least.

"Uh, that's not what I meant. I mean, you aren't ugly or anything," San hurriedly explains, but that just makes him look even more awkward. "I just thought you looked like you were heating up." He looks away.

"Nah, I'm okay." I rub my hands over my sweatpants as a way to distract me as opposed to making them dry.

"I'm, uh, I'm gonna head back inside," San says, breaking the painful silence that had settled on us.

"Yeah, okay," I quickly nod. In a flash, he'd gone back inside his room, and I'm alone in the hallway, patting my red hot cheeks to try and get rid of the warmth in them.

Shit.

• • •

The Friday Movie Night is every bit as choatic and crazy as I'd expected. Hongjoong and Yeosang had not only brought Yunho over, but Mingi as well, and they're both a particularly noisy set of people, especially when they're together.

To my shock, San doesn't seem as bothered at my friends' presence as I'd thought he would, even though they (with the exception of Yeosang) were loud as hell.

"Sooo," Hongjoong'd addressed San at a certain part during the Fast and Furious movie we were watching. This was good timing, because moments before I'd caught San watching me. But to be fair, I only knew that since I'd been sneaking glances at him prior to now.

"What's your favourite blood type? Personally, I prefer O, since it's tastier," Hongjoong continued, and I wrinkle my face in disgust. Yeosang releases a throaty sound, and Yunho and Mingi take turns at throwing some pillows at him.

"Uh, TMI," I remark, glaring hard at my red haired friend.

"What? It's just an innocent question," Hongjoong argues, throwing those pillows back at Mingi and Yunho. He smiles at at San, who looks a bit skittish by his words, which only makes me feel bad for him since he and Hongjoong are seated on the same couch.

"I uh..." San starts, "I honestly don't have a preference."

"Why?"

"Oh my fucking god hyung, the guy just said he has no preference. Quit it," Yeosang replies, "I'm trying to watch a movie here."

"Brat," Hongjoong mutters under his breath, but drops the subject.

I cast an apologetic look San's way, hoping to convey the message along the lines of 'I'm so sorry, my friends are crazy', and with the way he nods, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips, I can tell he's gotten that message loud and clear.

'Okay', he mouths, and for some reason, I grin at him like an idiot. He grins back.

• • •

a/n: thoughts?