When he opened his door, Yeosang was already sitting cross-legged on his bed.

He walked over to sit next to him, the door closing softly behind him.

"So what's up?"

"It's Jongho."

"What about him?"

"He's really mad at me. And I don't know why."

Seonghwa took a deep breath. He had thought it was pretty obvious why Jongho was so worried but evidently Yeosang was blind.

"You really don't see it?"

"See what?"

"That Jongho likes you."

Yeosang's cheeks flared bright red.

"He what!?"

"He likes you."

"That's very funny hyung. Ha ha, good one!"

Seonghwa could see that he was just trying to process this information. And struggling.

"I'm being serious. He definitely has the biggest crush on you."

"As if! Hyung, he's about as straight as a guy can get! Remember, I have known him since high school. He likes me just about as much you like Hongjoong."

Seonghwa choked on his spit at the last part but regained his composure after taking a sip of water.

"I'm saying this as your friend. You're so fucking blind. By the looks of it, I think he's liked you since before you two were roommates."

"And how could you possibly know that?"

"Because I see the way he looks at you and cares for you. That night that you fell asleep at the library? He was practically having a mental breakdown. He was going to run around campus on his own to look for you. He thought you got kidnapped or something. He's trying to downplay it so you don't see his true motives but he really cares about you and he didn't want anything to happen."

"I mean, I guess that's pretty good evidence. But I've met his parents before and they're incredibly homophobic. They used to sit with the other basketball parents at games and scream profanities at me because I was a cheerleader with the girls."

"Oh my God, Yeosang that's horrible," Seonghwa gasped, placing a hand on his leg.

"It happened enough that I just got used to blocking them out. It was hard being one of the only openly gay students but I was just glad I didn't have to hide anymore."

Seonghwa pulled him in for a hug.

"No one should have to go through that."

"That was probably one of the biggest reasons I was so excited for college. Until I found out that he would be my roommate."

Seonghwa let go and looked Yeosang over again.

"So did he bully you, too?"

"Honestly? Not really. His friends did a lot but he mostly stood by or left. Well actually—there was one time he even stood up for me."

Seonghwa sighed a breath of relief. He was glad Jongho still tried to be kind in high school when everyone else wasn't.

"I think that says a lot about him. You understand he must be under immense pressure from his parents to hold homophobic beliefs—as well as from his peers—but he fought so hard not to let them get to him. Maybe it was just for you, or maybe he's just a really good person. Either way, he's a special boy, Yeosang. He's determined and good at heart."

"Yeah. I know. Which is why I feel bad for making him worry. You really think he was so worked up about it because he actually likes me?"

"Yes. But I think if you two are going to get anywhere, you'll probably want to let him know how you feel first."

Yeosang blushed.

"Woah—wait when did I say I liked—"

"You're an open book," Seonghwa laughed.

Yeosang grumbled but Seonghwa smiled and brushed a hand through his hair.

"I thought I was pretty secret about it. I didn't want Jongho to find out and ruin our friendship."

"Sweetie, if Jongho found out he would be ecstatic."

"How could you know him that much better than me?"

Seonghwa sighed, not sure if he should share. It had been after Hongjoong had helped Jongho move in when Seonghwa knocked and entered, wanting to meet the new arrival.

Except he hadn't expected Jongho to be crying.

"Oh—hey I'm so sorry to intrude—the door was open—"

He quickly wiped his face and tried to smile and wave it off.

"No you're okay! Sorry, I was just a little stressed about this year. It's all just hitting me at once."

Seonghwa stood in the doorway, not sure if it was his business to pry. But he wanted to help.

"Yeah, no totally. It's a lot. Did...did you want to talk about it?"

He tried to say no but bit his lip as another tear rolled down his cheek so Seonghwa closed the door and moved to sit by him, putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Hey, hey it's okay. You can talk to me about anything. I'm not going to tell. That's what I'm here for," he smiled, thumbing away a tear on Jongho's cheek.

"This is so embarrassing," laughed Jongho trying to stop the waterworks.

"No it's not, it's perfectly normal. If you need to let it out, just let it out."

Though he had just met him, Seonghwa felt like a mother to Jongho and he wrapped his arms around him as he cried. Seonghwa patted his back and stroked his hair with his fingers.

They sat for a while before Jongho finally pulled away and Seonghwa looked him in the eye.

"Feeling any better?"

"A little," he said with a shy smile.

"If you want to talk, I'm here."

There was a long pause before Jongho decided he wanted to talk.

"It's about my roommate."

"Do you not get along?"

"Well—sort of. I was in with a bad crowd in high school and they were pretty mean to him. My biggest regret is not doing more to stand up for him."

"So you guys came from the same high school? And he wasn't very popular?"

"Oh he was popular alright. Just not with any of the homophobes."

"So he's gay?"

"Yeah."

"That had to have been hard for him."

"Yeah. And I never really helped him so I was basically as bad as the rest of them. I'm just worried he's going to be mad at me or stressed out that he has to share his personal space with me."

"I think this can be your chance to make up for not sticking up for him. Let him know that you never hated him, help him to feel welcome on campus. Give him a great friend to come home to."

Seonghwa rubbed his back.

"Wow. That's a really nice way of putting it...wait I never asked your name, did I?" Jongho laughed and Seonghwa laughed too.

"No but that's okay. I'm Seonghwa."

"Thanks for your help, Seonghwa hyung."

"It's nothing. I'm here to help."

"Hyung?" Yeosang was waiting for a response.

Seonghwa looked back up after being deep in thought.

"Sorry. I guess I've just got a bit of a motherly instinct."

He decided that was Jongho's business.

"I guess just make sure you apologize and tell him that you should've texted first. And maybe you can even tell him how you feel, if you're up for it. I think he would be stunned."

Yeosang laughed.

"Thanks for talking, hyung. I feel like I know what I need to do."

"Of course. That's what I'm here for."

Seonghwa gave him a light squeeze with his arm and Yeosang stood up, setting the plushie down, and left.

Seonghwa sighed and leaned back in his bed. It was tough helping others with their problems when he had a multitude of his own, but he was just glad they felt comfortable enough to come to him so he didn't mind.

But he would have to deal with his soon. Since he initiated it this time, it was Hongjoong's turn next. So he would wait for him to say something. Maybe he wasn't ready to talk yet. He'd give him time.

After all, Seonghwa was dreading the conversation just as much.