─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

❝ I'm still learning to see the good side. The good, heart-warming, and charismatic side of yours, though what happened in the past clouds my vision. But you're doing a great job at clearing the fog and bringing back the sunshine ❞

☘️

C H A P T E R T H R E E

CHANGMIN'S PHONE VIBRATES ON THE NIGHTSTAND. Sounds of twinkles sugarcoat the beginning of the day as he rolls over in bed, realizing that it's not his alarm, but a ringtone for the one and only moon boy who's his roommate.

Kevin Moon is calling.

And when Changmin catches the digits written eight-thirty on the lock screen of his phone showing a picture taken of him wearing a black hoodie, holding Ghana in his arms, does he also realize he's running late.

Well, okay, totally shouldn't be an issue.

Changmin stayed up last night at Sunwoo's apartment watching classic romantic hits on the couch after leaving the hospital. He isn't sure why he decided anyway―he doesn't even remember when he fell asleep.

All he knows is that he's in his bed and has no idea how and when it happened.

His mind is preoccupied from last night's soccer match to him ending up in the hospital with the co-captain insisting he gets plenty of rest.

Youngjae is considerate, no doubt, but he doesn't deserve his kindness.

You liar.

You loved Yeongja but said nothing.

So why aren't you doing anything now?

I'm not stopping you and neither am I stopping her.

He decides to ignore the questions running through his mind and finally answers the call, waiting for the familiar voice of the moon in the night sky he loves and misses.

He hears Kevin singing One Thing by One Direction over the phone. A proud smile breaks on his lips. He tells him that he can understand the lyrics. He wishes he was here right now because a lot of things happened recently and he has so much to tell him.

Changmin and Kevin would watch films together, go for a walk around the park near the campus, most of the time visit the coffee shops.

He would help him with his dancing at the theater, or they would be upstairs in the library to study together.

But sometimes, he would find himself at the same locations by himself. Changmin appreciates the alone time, however, the unnerving feeling of being alone, trapped and locked in a cage of dark thoughts engulfing the prison similar to a toxic gas scares him.

There's no escape because there's no key to unlock him free.

"Kevin, when are you coming back?" Changmin says, lowering the phone against his side, raising a brow as the doorbell rings.

He rushes to the door, aware that he's still in his pajamas, black hair messy and poking out in random spots, cheeks hot from just waking up with thoughts revolving around last night. Yet his mind is hoping the person at the door would be his roommate.

Changmin opens the door a little too much in excitement, a hopeful smile plastered across his face as his eyes land on Kevin. He dismisses the call and slides the phone into the pocket of his pants. He throws his arms around him, chin resting against his shoulder, and has this ginger grin dancing on his lips, holding onto him. Then, he lets go so Kevin can breathe.

It feels like forever since he last saw him.

"Don't tell me you're leaving again soon?" Changmin asks, voice soft. His brown eyes are glassy holding Kevin's mocha ones softening.

A hint of baby tears threatens to roll down his cheeks like droplets of rain racing against the windows. He breathes and relaxes his facial muscles just like he learned from his psychiatrist.

Changmin's psychiatrist wasn't judging, and he's grateful for that.

Instead, she listened and offered to help him plan out ways to control his thoughts during the day, especially the night. Reluctant at first and afraid, he knew if he didn't learn to swim, he would drown.

"So, what have you been up to when I was gone? Did you do anything different, special, meet someone?" Kevin's slipping his shoes off and placing them on the rack, head snapping up to meet Changmin's eyes, noticing the dimple on his cheek, and he knows it means something.

"What happened? You met someone, didn't you?"

"No. I didn't. It was embarrassing, in fact."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, your smiling! If that can't explain it. I don't know what will. I know you think falling in love is stupid and a waste of time. But maybe you need to let yourself go, to allow someone to come into your life," Kevin says. His voice is tentative, gaze tender, worried that he might have hit a fragile part of him. "Did something bad happen?"

His heart shatters the moment Changmin looks at him, face crestfallen, disappointed, cold.

"I met someone back from high school."

"Was she beautiful?" Kevin says lightly, cracking a smile.

"Kevin, this isn't the time to joke," Changmin laughs. "I'm running late to class. You just arrived on campus. Shouldn't you unpack, rest, and prepare to attend lectures starting from tomorrow?"

"Wait. Why didn't you tell me you have class earlier?" Kevin's shoulders tense and he pushes Changmin into the bathroom, gaze flickering up to the clock on the wall. "You have ten minutes, no buts."

It was a he.

Yes, he was beautiful―handsome and charming.

. . .

WHEN CHANGMIN REACHES THE LECTURE HALL, the rows of the seats are filled, and his gaze lands on the boy with dark brown hair, their gazes locking. Youngjae's eyes are bright, sweet, sprinkles of cinnamon glittering from the lights above, and Changmin freezes when he stands up.

Youngjae's gaze follows him as Changmin quickly finds a seat, sliding the straps of his backpack off his shoulder, and placing it on his lap to take out the materials for class. Changmin knows Youngjae is looking at him, he knows it, he feels it.

Youngjae's concern for him is reasonable and Changmin can't help but want to wash his worries away because he doesn't need him worrying about him.

Turning around, he was right. Youngjae is looking at him with concern and Changmin just looks at him equally with worry, waiting for one of them to speak up.

Before Youngjae opens his mouth to say something, the class silences as the professor enters the lecture room. He shifts his gaze to their instructor. "Changmin," he whispers, watching him write due dates on the calendar of his planner.

Youngjae clicks his tongue and throws a ball of paper in his direction, suppressing a silly grin blooming on his lips. Changmin slowly opens the crumbled paper, flattening the material with the pad of his thumbs. A flame of heat raises in his cheeks, heartbeat thumping.

You seemed uncomfortable on the couch last night, so I moved you to your bed at your apartment. We're next-door neighbors. It wasn't a problem. But you were the problem, looking like an angel while asleep ― Eric

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A U T H O R ' S  N O T E

I apologize for the late update and for any mistakes. I wanted to update yesterday, but I had a hard time writing, and only around 9:30 pm did I begin writing without any interruptions. What your thoughts are and how you're liking the story so far

I hope you got the hint of what Changmin has and if not, then ask me in dms! I'll explain there because I don't want to spoil anything in this story.

It's getting cold here and I'm sure it is somewhere else, so keep yourself warm, and hydrated! Take care of yourself too! And remember, Eric loves you

Thank you for reading

You're worthy, brave, and strong ❤️