─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

❝ Get comfortable with each other and take time to know each other. We're human, after all, and need company. We need others to understand us. We need love and to give love.  We need to take care of each other. We need to be one ❞

☘️

C H A P T E R  T W O

THE LAST THING CHANGMIN REMEMBERS IS YOUNGJAE SCORING A GOAL AND HIS SMILE. And god, his smile is gorgeous―god-sent, golden sunshine. His smile is the epitome of confidence, playfulness, innocence, and joy. It makes sense why his senior, Lee Sangyeon comments Son Youngjae's energy is one of a kind, and that if he could be anyone in their class for a day, it would be him.

Changmin's eyes slowly open, adjusting to the natural light spilling through the white room, realizing where he is, he sits up fast. But he's pushed back down on the bed gently. "I wouldn't get up right now. The nurse said you need lots of rest," Youngjae says, holding Changmin's surprised eyes.

Youngjae gives him a tiny smile before sitting down on the chair next to him and fishes his phone from his jeans pocket. Something inside Changmin stirs once he starts messaging back aggressively and stands up in a flash.

He slides his phone into the pocket of his jeans, and the boy can't explain the emotion he feels without sounding strange. He likes to be alone but hates being alone.

"Don't leave," voice quiet, he looks away, embarrassed. His hand tightens around the blanket, mentally throwing curse words at the back of his head for asking such a thing when he's fine by himself.

But it's scary, being alone, and left in the dark with no one there.

It's like hiding underwater until oxygen is required, only then, breathing is easy even though his first-year roommate's friend taught him how to swim.

It involved lots of running away during practice and building up the courage to submerge.

The ultimate challenge was jumping off the diving board.

What that meant (not in a literal sense) he had no idea. He still doesn't. He will soon. 

Youngjae stops walking and turns around. His face softens into concern, trying to gauge the expression on Changmin's face. There's an odd silence hanging and he wants to break it.

He rips his gaze away at the vibration of his mission, reading the group chat's messages, quickly texting stop, teasing while adding a smiley emoji. Then, responding I'll be there.

"I thought you hate me," he returns his gaze on him, sliding his phone in his jean's pocket. "You don't need to apologize. I did what was right. You substituting for another player, though you can't play sports is enough." A pause. "That's brave of you."

"I don't hate you," Changmin says softly.

"If it isn't hate, then why?"

"No reason."

Silence.

Awkward silence.

And then, "How's your ankle?" Youngjae steps closer, searching Changmin's eyes for an answer, asking if it's okay to sit on the bed. Much to his surprise, his manager nods and he's careful to not touch or hurt him as he plants himself on the hospital bed across from him.

"I'm sorry," Changmin starts and covers his face with his hands. At that moment, Youngjae finds him endearingly adorable that he has the urge to reach out, but he doesn't.

"Look, you don't have to apologize about causing the team to worry after winning the game. and not allowing Yeongja to date me back in high school. If anything, I should be the one apologizing."

"Why would you apologize?" Changmin rests his hands in his lap now. He's looking at Youngjae with curiosity shining in his eyes, and thinks, he doesn't need to apologize. Because he doesn't.

Youngjae did nothing wrong that cannot be forgiven.

Their team would have lost if he didn't let him score the goal. Changmin didn't allow Yeongja to date Youngjae for a good reason, too. Yeongja's mom requested him to Yeongja with her studies. Because of this responsibility, Changmin needed her to focus on her studies. Tutoring her wasn't effective if she wouldn't work smart either. 

Though Yeongja stormed off without seeing him again, he's glad she's listened and achieved a good result on her college exam.

"Because . . . because whenever I'm around you, I only end up causing trouble for you. In high school, our second year, we were playing basketball, and you almost got hit because of me. Juyeon saved you, do you remember? Your pencil fell to the ground on exam day in English. There was a ball of paper next to it. The teacher assumed you were cheating. . . ."

"You stood up, declaring you're cheating and the pencil was yours," Changmin answers. "Why did you do that? You were the teacher's pet."

"Maybe I didn't want to be the teacher's pet," Youngjae says casually, a jolly grin dancing on his lips, and it widens when he sees Changmin resisting the smile that blooms on his face anyway.

"Are you saying I wanted to be the teacher's pet?" Changmin gasps dramatically, hand placed on his chest. Youngjae's not wrong, though, and he hates how comfortable he feels with him here because he's too friendly, and reminds him of Kevin's warmth.

He misses Kevin.

Kevin's been his roommate since the start of freshmen year at Michigan University. Without him, it feels like darkness has engulfed their apartment (they moved out this year) apart from his world painted in black and white.

"Maybe, yes? You seem like one."

"Still, you're not the type to cheat either."

Before Youngjae can respond, his attention diverts to the banging on the door. Recognizing the faces showing through the window's door, he can't help but smile.

"I wouldn't want to keep them waiting if I were you," Changmin suggests, "Go and have fun. Don't let me stop you. I shouldn't ever be a reason to you," it's at that moment, their eyes lock, and Changmin's heart drops, repeating his words in his mind. 

He didn't mean to sound rude. He's just being honest.

"Sorry. I'll leave if that's what you want," taken aback, the soccer boy stands up to leave, but stops at him calling his name.

"Thanks for getting me to the hospital."

"Yeah, no problem. Take care of yourself," Youngjae says, looking at him over his shoulder. 

Pulling the door open, it shuts behind him, and the rest of the team are giggling like high school girls, waiting outside the room. He sends them a look really? we're in the hospital.

"How's Changmin?" Haknyeon asks and Sunwoo is equally concerned standing next to him.

"The doctor said he passed out due to not sleeping well. He sprained his ankle. It's minor, thankfully."

"That's weird. Kevin is roommate, isn't he?" Sunwoo shifts his gaze to Haknyeon. Both of them look at their younger friend the next second, realizing that he lives next to Kevin.

"Oh―I forgot. Kevin's in Canada. He's arriving on campus next week."

"He what?" Sunwoo and Haknyeon say with rage dripping in their voice. Youngjae chuckles and tells them that Kevin reminded Changmin that he'll be back soon, to take care of himself, and if he gets lonely to go out or call him.

"All jokes and fun aside. Why don't you look after him?" Sunwoo recommends.

"Be his roommate for a week, or until Kevin arrives," Haknyeon adds.

"That's not possible," Youngjae says, positive. Hell, from the way the Changmin's words slammed his heart against his ribcage, ringing in his ears, tone cold indicated being roommates wouldn't be a good idea.

Youngjae wouldn't be able to help Changmin if he wasn't willing to accept help in the first place.

"Why not? I know he's a little stubborn and reserved. He can be blunt, but he means well. He's reliable and soft once he opens up. You probably know by now he hates being alone," Sunwoo mentions, taking a seat while playing with the soccer ball.

"What if I make him mad?"

"He won't bite," Sunwoo says, lightly kicking him the soccer ball.

"He just needs a little bit of company, you know?" Haknyeon restrains the smile threatening to break on his lips. Sunwoo raises a brow and stares at him.

Sunwoo doesn't remember Changmin needing company.

"As if that's helping," Youngjae rolls his eyes, imagining him being his roommate, and stops the ball with his feet. "Wait, what? Someone like him? If he needs company, why can't someone else do it?"

"You saved him, Eric. You're responsible for each other. Changmin's our manager too," Haknyeon explains.

It can't be that bad. Sunwoo did mention how Changmin's reliable and soft after he feels comfortable with the other person. There's a thin line separating them due to an unknown reason he can't conclude. He's willing to solve the mystery if it means both of them can be comfortable with each other, and maybe friends.

Changmin doesn't hate him. But, then what does he think about him?

"Okay, I'll look after him. I'm not going to be his roommate. I know he wouldn't want that," Youngjae decides, voice firm.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A U T H O R ' S  N O T E 

Title of chapter taken from Steve Aoki, BTS "Waste It On Me"

If you made it this far and read the chapter, let me give you a hug. I can't say it but then I'll say it in an indirect way, and I'm not going to say it here because yes but don't worry about that haha

How are you guys liking this so far? Any thoughts, questions, or concerns? 

So I edited this when I came home from getting a few school supplies and other things instead of doing my homework. And then it hit me it's already turning 11:30 pm. I have homework that seems like a lot but it's not and I want to stay on top of my work and my writings and I'm like what the actual heck am I going to do? 😃 JUST KIDDING I KNOW WHAT TO DO but I'm still freaking out bahaha aight it's fine we can do this

I hope you guys enjoyed reading and if you did, please don't forget to vote and comment! It only takes a minute or so. No, really guys, I want to interact with all of you. I want to know what I'm doing well or not so well. 

Take care of yourself, okie? I love you and remember Eric loves you