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It’s a different atmosphere. Taehyung is now in front of their group of friends. Unlike that time when Seunghee introduced Hansol and Nayeon, today they are all silent with curious gazes at the person before them. With the scene he made at the orientation, no wonder they all think he’s not your average guy. But Taehyung on the other hand, sits there looking back at them, as if they are all interested in knowing him. Well, they are, just in a different light.

“Anyeonghaseyo yoreobeun! Kim Taehyung mida from Daegu. Yoon Jeonghan’s childhood friend. I hope you all take good care of me,” he says.

As if he grew another head, the stares everyone is giving him is quite confusing.

“Wae? Is this the first time you ever saw someone as handsome as me?” he says playfully but it’s hard to tell if he’s joking or not. From the looks of it, he’s also a narcissist.

The guys just look coldly at him. Sehun, Jun, Jisoo and Seungcheol all see him as a threat. What he just said is true, he’s clearly visually pleasing. But they all have prides in themselves and they won’t open up to a carefree, gorgeous looking guy like him easily. He may just be acting like an idiot to attract girls’ attention, they all think.

The girls all think he’s pretty much an eye candy. Areum and Sorn both think he’s cute. But the personality problem is just a little over the top. They both wish he’s just faking it cuz it’s a shame for someone as good-looking as him to be this bizarre. But of course, no one beats their own boyfriends at being number one for them.

Seunghee, on the other hand, is still thinking on it. Just how in the world did Jeonghan find a close friend like this? Is he an alien or something? An idiot narcissist, what a blend. He’s too weird for someone this physically attractive. And her boyfriend might be infected but his silliness if he suddenly be with him again like this. She shakes her head. No, she doesn’t want that. He better not be with this guy again.

In the middle of her mental dispute, Jeonghan puts his hand on her shoulder upon seeing her shaking her head.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks.

“Yah, it’s nothing,” she simply replies.

“He’s more than he looks. Trust me,” he adds.

Taehyung suddenly bolts out and approaches Jeonghan, “Han-ya, let’s get out of here. On second thought, I don’t think they want to get to know me.” He’s sulking like a little kid and it’s a little adorable.

Jeonghan just laughs it off and finally talks to the others. “Come on guys, why don’t you welcome my friend?” But he only earns silence from them. He shrugs and gets the hang of it, “Come on guys. This person is the person who saved my life when I almost the drowned in first grade. And he never expected me to say thank you. He’s that type of person to give you all a preview. Give him credit for being aju nice guys. Though normally, he’s 90% idiot, but 10% genius.”

“Am I supposed to react to that?” Taehyung coldly replies.

Jeonghan only gives off a laugh.

It’s not every day, they meet someone like Taehyung and it’s definitely not everyday they hear such a heroic past. Their expressions somehow lightens and brightens up looking at him.

“So am I supposed to lay down every single good thing I have done to please you guys?” Taehyung amusingly asks. “Is that how it works around here?”

“Probably,” Jeonghan jokes.

“Is that how it works? Oh come on!” Sehun blurts out. “This guy is just silly. I like him. How about we drink we have a drink later?”

“Sure?” Taehyung starts to liven up.

“I’m sorry for being rude Taehyung-shi. I’m Sorn by the way,” Sorn offers her hand and Taehyung reaches out to her when Jun takes her hand instead as he introduces himself.

“I’m Jun and I’m his boyfriend,” he simply states.

“Oh, I see. Anymore couples here?” he asks.

“I’m dating this guy,” Areum points at Sehun beside her. “I’m Areum.”

“And I’m Sehun.”

“We’re your seniors,” Areum adds.

“Oh! Anyounghaseyo!” he greets with slight bowing.

“I like this kid!” Sehun utters with a smile.

“My name’s Jisoo, nice to meet you,” Jisoo shakes hands with him.

“And I’m Seungcheol. Let’s hang out sometime, I know a place.”

“Yeah, sure thing,” Taehyung replies.

“And!” Jeonghan puts his arm around Seunghee before continuing, “Tae, this is my girlfriend Seunghee,” Jeonghan proudly says.

Taehyung stares at her for a moment, trying to scrutinize her face. Seunghee on the other hand, gets a little annoyed and Jeonghan has to come in between, putting his hand in his shoulder as to push him away.

“Hey,” Jeonghan says.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just think I remember her,” Taehyung replies.

“Sure you do,” Seunghee tells him with a smirk. “Cuz you were singing so loudly on my ear at the bus the other day on the way to Cheongsam district.”

Taehyung finally remembers her too, “Ah!! The extremely pretty girl on the bus! Yeah, I remember.”

It’s such a frank remark that it kinda ticked off Jeonghan’s ears.

“To remind you Tae, she is my girl,” Jeonghan intervenes.

“Yeah, she’s pretty but she’s not my type so don’t worry okay? I don’t think we’ll ever fight about a girl,” Taehyung assures him.

“I have your word,” Jeonghan says.

Taehyung gives him a handshake and he takes it. Seunghee only watches them, trying to interpret their friendship.

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Somehow, their conversation runs smoothly later. Taehyung is a little weird sometimes but they all kinda get his personality. Maybe there’s more to him than how he acts. Before the end of the break, Taehyung confides in Jeonghan something.

“I haven’t found a place yet. Do you know one somewhere around here?  I’m currently staying at an inn but it’ll cost me a bunch. I have to find a cheaper one,” he says.

“Just stay in my apartment for a while. I have room for you,” Jeonghan replies.

“Really? Don’t fret, I’ll split the rent with you. I need a month or two.”

“No problem and of course we’ll split the rent. But I’ll kick you out if you mess around too much,” Jeonghan jokes.

“Thanks man! I’ll find a place soon,” Taehyung replies.

At the side, Seunghee is just acting like she didn’t hear a thing but she did.

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“You’re letting him stay?!” she snaps at him.

Seunghee and Jeonghan are walking to their next class now near the school field.

“Yah, why not? I know it’s been a while but he was my friend. And I don’t think it changed. He’s still an idiot,” he tells her with a chuckle.

She looks at him and it’s obvious that he’s enjoying himself. This friend seems to be really close to him.

“So he’s particularly your best bud?”

“Yah, basically.”

“Like how I am with Hansol?”

“That’s a different thing.”

“How come you haven’t even mentioned him even once when he’s that important?” she whines beside him now.

“Well, I just didn’t get the chance to. You know me, I lose too many chances.”

“Why don’t you lose the chance in letting him stay too?”

He sighs. He can see she’s not really at home with the idea. So he comforts her, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry. I’ll help him find a place to stay so he can move out soon. Alright? Come on jagiya.”

“I’m just not used to having someone else in your house.”

“If you get to know him, that’ll come easy.”

She sneers at him but obliges, she can’t do anything about it anyways. “Alright. Just hurry up and help him find a place.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure of it. I don’t want him interfering with our business in the long run.”

She only smiles back at him. They’ve agreed to make him stay, but in the underlying circumstances that they aren’t even aware of yet, they shouldn’t have.

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It’s Taehyung’s first day in Jeonghan’s apartment. The couple has just gone out for a walk to burn some excess weight. Seunghee has been gaining some lately due to table works and Jeonghan has been teasing her about it so they decided to do it weekly. When he left his apartment earlier, Taehyung was still sound asleep so he didn’t bother to wake him up.

Jeonghan and Seunghee walk inside the apartment and finds Taehyung busy in the kitchen. From what it looks like, he has just woken up and is preparing something to eat. Not to mention, the kitchen is a total mess.

“What are you doing?” Seunghee asks as she sees the food he’s preparing.

It looks like an eggroll, but it doesn’t really seem right. It’s shaped as if it’s inedible. Well, maybe the shape is the only problem, she thinks, trying to convince herself that it is. The thought makes her tilt her head.

Jeonghan can only laugh at his friend. He’s really one of a kind. Though tidying up the kitchen might take a while for him.

“It’s an eggroll,” Taehyung groggily answers. “Obviously.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if it was obvious,” Seunghee adds.

“Just let him be Seunghee-ya,” Jeonghan says.

“The one thing I can’t really take is making a mess of the kitchen! You better clean this all up Kim Taehyung. I don’t want Jeonghan’s kitchen to be like this,” she reminds.

“It’s okay, calm down. Just let him have his peace,” Jeonghan drags Seunghee to the living room and stay there.

Seunghee is still talking Jeonghan into not letting him use the kitchen anymore. Taehyung only looks at them and poses a smirk.

“That’s why it’s hard having a girlfriend,” he tells himself.

He watches the couple as they lightly argue about him. They look cozy though. He really thinks they jive along well. He can only ponder at how long they’ll be this way. Like all other couples their age do, it’s a matter of time before they call it quits, he wonders.

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“Hey, Han-ya, I’ve been really curious as to how the mountains look at this time of the year. Why don’t we go trekking this coming weekend?” Taehyung suddenly utters.

They sitting on the couch watching TV together. Seunghee sits at the corner and Taehyung at the opposite side with Jeonghan in between them.

Seunghee raises an eyebrow as she sneers at him. It’s only as few days since Jeonghan let him stay in this apartment and he’s done major changes in their daily routines already. Like waking up to messy kitchen, listening to his loud singing voice in the music room and waiting for ages when he uses the bathroom. Sounds like a pain? Yeah, he is. What used to be a silent home suddenly became a loud and messy one because of him.

“Seunghee wanted to go trekking for a while now,” Jeonghan replies.

“Who? Me?” Seunghee negates.

“Yeah, remember that time when we-“ he starts but she cuts him off.

“I remember! Stop what you’re saying,” she exclaims with a pinch on his cheek.

“Aww…” he remarks.

“Really? Then why don’t we go! I’m gonna ready my bag so you guys just chill here alright? Woohoo!!” Taehyung screams while running to the room.

Seunghee only sighs after he is gone in the view. “That weirdo, I haven’t even said yes! Do we have to tag him along? I wanted us to be alone doing that.”

Jeonghan touches her chin and faces her, “No matter who’s with us, it doesn’t really matter as long as we’re together. He’s new here, why don’t we let him enjoy his stay? What’s wrong with a few days touring him around?”

“But that’s something I wanted only us to do together,” she whines emphasizing her point.

“Isn’t being with me enough?” he stares at her with loving eyes and in an instant her defenses cave in.

She lets her shoulders down with a sigh and gives him a peck on the lips. As she draws back, he follows her and gives her a deep kiss in return.  She smiles as their lips brush gently and pulls him in closer.

“Han-ya! I have something!… to tell…” Taehyung catches them indulged in kissing and the two quickly break the kiss in surprise.

But as they move away from each other, Taehyung also turns his back and goes back inside the room, saying aloud, “I’ll tell you later!”

Jeonghan and Seunghee just look at each other embarrassed and then laugh it off.

“That was the most awkward scene ever,” Seunghee comments, her face heating up.

“You’re getting red jagiya,” he teases.

“Ah! Stop it, it was embarrassing enough.”

“He probably doesn’t mind so why don’t we continue what we’re doing?”

He attempts to hold her, but she puts her right index finger on his lips. “No oh oh… That’s enough for today.”

“Come on jagiya…” he circles her waist sideways.

“Jeonghan, stop. I’m telling you.” She playfully moves away from him.

He begins tickling her and she can’t help laughing quite loud. “Jagiya!”

Inside the room, which is only a few meters away from them, Taehyung can clearly hear them cuddling. Her voice resounds in the room like a sweet song. But he doesn’t pay any attention to it. His focus is on the upcoming trip, which he excitedly anticipates.

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To be continued…

(16.09.26)