-THREE

"I understand the whole sleep talking thing but what I don't understand is the princess dragon dream and why I'm in it."

Yoongi peeks around the corner, utterly puzzled at the peculiarity of the phrase, and chuckles when he spots the familiar boy with the high cheekbones and the thick-framed glasses resting on his high nose bridge.

"Okay," Hoseok's friend says, shaking his head, "you were the dragon and Taehyung was the princess-"

"Who's Taehyung?"

"The guy with the nice thighs in my psych class."

"Oh, right. Continue."

"So he was the princess and you were the dragon-"

"Wait, why was I the dragon?"

The shorter boy shrugs. "I don't know. I mean, it kinda makes sense- you're pretty ugly, anyway."

Hoseok chokes out an affronted noise. "Excuse me-"

"Shut up, you're yelling!" the other male hisses, and Hoseok bites his tongue.

"Excuse me," Hoseok repeats, in a much quieter tone, "but I am not ugly!"

Fighting back a laugh, Yoongi turns back around into the aisle to finish shelving the books.

Meanwhile, Hoseok and Jimin are have quieted down, and the latter is talking about his psychology project. "Taehyung's supposed to be here in a few minutes," Jimin says excitedly, "so I'd appreciate it if you sat at a different table."

Hoseok frowns. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." Jimin glances at the front of the library. "Please, Hoseok hyung, I'll buy you lunch for a week."

"It better be some good ass lunch," grumbles Hoseok, gathering his things. He trudges to a table a significant distance away, by a large window through which the blinding rays of the afternoon sun filter through. He flips open the book he'd been using, and resumes his work.

It's getting dark by the time Hoseok leaves. (Which doesn't say much, as winter is creeping in and the sun is starting to set earlier.) He'd passed Jimin and the other boy, Taehyung, as he left the library, and was a little annoyed to see them giggling quietly, their knees brushing.

They didn't seem like they were working on their project.

Hoseok stumbles over his feet a little when he sees Yoongi, a mere couple of yards in front of him, saying something to a middle aged woman before heading towards the door. The male looks back as he pushes the door open, and upon making eye contact with Hoseok, holds it open. "Thanks," Hoseok stammers, adjusting the strap of his bag.

"You're welcome," Yoongi says quietly, and stows his pale hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Hoseok, right?"

"Yeah."

"Hm. It's colder than usual today."

Hoseok nods, tugging the scarf around his neck a bit tighter. "Yeah, it is- I love winter, though."

Yoongi's eyes seem to twinkle. "Yeah? Why?"

"I just do."

Yoongi laughs at the simple answer, glancing down the sidewalk. "Are you going home?"

"Nah, I was gonna go to that cafe over there," he points to the small coffee shop across the street, "maybe grab some hot chocolate."

"Mind if I join you?"

A thrilling excitement pounds in Hoseok's chest. "Uh... No, I don't mind."

"Cool." Side by side, the two make their way across the street in silence before Yoongi speaks again. "Seriously, though, I want to know why you like winter so much."

"Well..." Hoseok looks up at the starless sky and exhales, his breath forming a small white cloud in the air in front of him. "I guess... I guess I like getting all bundled up in jackets and scarves and hats-" He grins nervously at the male, pleasantly surprised that he's not awfully nervous around him for once. "And when you're in all those clothes, you feel all warm and cozy, you know?" He shrugs. "It's a different warmth than what you feel in the summer. Summer heat is all sweaty and sticky and just- ugh. I don't like it." A cold wind stings his cheek. "And the best part about winter- in my opinion- is when you go home and cocoon yourself in thick blankets, and eat some good food, and you're all warm inside-" He laughs breathily. "I'm so sorry, I'm rambling."

Yoongi shakes his head. "Nah, I kind of liked listening to that. Keep going."

"Um..." Hoseok ducks his chin into his scarf. "I don't know- That's kind of it."

"Aw."

"What's your favorite season?"

"Um... Spring."

"Why's that?"

Yoongi smiles a soft smile that warms Hoseok's insides a little. "Spring is... It's the rebirth of life. It's when plants, people- It's when the world is starting anew, blossoming after a period of... dormancy." Yoongi holds his tongue in between his teeth, thinking. "Plus, I like the rain. Spring is rainy, it's mild. The temperatures aren't too hot or too cold." He glances at Hoseok through his lashes. "Spring is the transition from desolate, icy isolation to a searing full blossom. It's refreshing."

Silence.

"Damn," says Hoseok. "Now I feel stupid."

"Don't feel stupid," Yoongi laughs. "I just get weirdly philosophical sometimes."

Hoseok smiles. "I like it."

Yoongi pushes open the door of the coffee shop for Hoseok (what a gentleman) and after grabbing a drink each for themselves, (a rich hot chocolate topped with foamy cream and tiny marshmallows for Hoseok and a biting, unsweetened cup of black coffee for Yoongi) they sit down at a table by the window.

"It's almost seven in the evening, why are you drinking coffee?" Hoseok asks curiously as the two get seated.

Yoongi shrugs. "I stay up late. I'm a bit of a night owl."

"Ah." Hoseok grins and shakes his head. "Not me. I can barely stay up until midnight."

"Lame."

"I know."

"You're a pretty cool guy," remarks Yoongi a little while later, that twinkle familiar in his eye again.

Hoseok shyly averts his eyes. "I beg to differ."

"Why?" Yoongi asks, locking eyes with the other male.

Hoseok finds himself unable to say exactly why he thinks he's uninteresting, mostly because of the way Yoongi's eyes bore through him, as if able to see his innermost thoughts and insecurities, but also partially because of the way Yoongi had phrased the question- it had carried a disbelieving, incredulous tone that had made Hoseok want to rethink his words.

"I'm... not sure."

Yoongi just sends a sweet smile at him and takes a sip of his coffee.

And Hoseok just stares, entranced by the sheer beauty of Min Yoongi.