Chapter Text
It had been a tiring day for everyone. For Yushi, after his 3 p.m. class, he went straight to the library and stayed for hours, buried in chemistry readings he needed to study for the upcoming summative test. For his friend Sion, the exhaustion wasn’t physical but emotional—his long-time crush, Mark, was officially in a relationship. And for Jisung, it was the usual grind: classes followed by basketball practice, leaving him drained.
“We need to go to the club right now. I want to get drunk and forget this fucking heartbreak,” Sion declared dramatically.
The three of them shared the same dorm room. They had been inseparable since freshman year, when they accidentally got lost together looking for the “TBA” room—only to realize later it meant to be announced. That silly mistake sparked a friendship, and by the end of the first semester, they were dormmates. Now, as sophomores trudging through psychology, they were still surviving together.
“I’m in! I seriously need some alcohol tonight,” Jisung said eagerly.
Sion and Jisung both turned to look at Yushi, who was still focused on scanning his notes.
“I’ll stay here. Just call me when you’re going home so I can open the door,” Yushi replied flatly, not even glancing up.
Sion gasped in disbelief. “Are you that heartless? You won’t even comfort your friend who is literally heartbroken because my crush—my long-time crush—is taken? Do you even understand the pain??” His voice cracked as though it were the end of the world.
Yushi sighed. “I mean… I can buy you food or something, but I’m not going out. Too noisy, too crowded. I just want to rest.”
Sion pouted, then tried again. “Come on, Yushi. Just this once. I need you both with me. We’ll go, drink, then head straight home. Please?” He leaned closer, eyes wide with puppy-like desperation, clinging to Yushi’s arm and whining for a solid ten minutes.
Yushi groaned, finally tossing his pen onto the desk. “Why are you doing this to me? Ugh… fine. I’ll go. But only for an hour, okay?”
The moment he said yes, Sion and Jisung’s faces lit up like kids at Christmas.
Yushi had always been the stay-at-the-dorm type. He didn’t really like going out after class. Books, movies, and quiet nights were more his thing. But tonight, against his will, he found himself in the middle of a crowded, noisy club.
Inwardly, he grimaced. He was right—it was chaos. Most of the people around were familiar faces: students he usually passed in the hallway, athletes from different sports teams, acquaintances of Sion and Jisung. Not a single person from his comfort zone. He didn’t spot Ryo or Sakuya, his fellow book-club friends who also preferred cozy nights in.
“I should’ve brought my chemistry notes,” Yushi muttered under his breath.
On the other side of the club, Daeyoung walked in with his usual swagger. Unlike Yushi, Daeyoung thrived in places like this. He loved the music, the lights, the energy—and, most of all, the thrill of flirting. Tonight, he was accompanied by his friends Jaemin and Haechan, both equally restless and ready to stir up some fun.
“Hey, Daeyoung,” Jaemin nudged him after scanning the crowd. “What’s your favorite number?”
Daeyoung raised a brow. “Uh… seven? Why?”
“Great,” Jaemin smirked. “The seventh guy who walks through that door—you have to flirt with him. Make him interested in you. You’re good at that, right?”
Daeyoung let out a short laugh. “Are you that bored that you want me to toy with random people?”
“That actually sounds fun,” Haechan cut in, grinning. “Flirt with him, reel him in… then dump him. Easy.”
Daeyoung rolled his eyes, but he didn’t refuse. “Fine. Whatever.”
And right on cue, the seventh person to walk through the door was Yushi—looking completely out of place in the flashing lights and pulsing crowd.
Clueless that he had just become the target of a bet, Yushi tried to blend in at the table with Sion and Jisung, sipping on the watered-down drink they pushed into his hands.
While his friends Sion and Jisung were talking to people they knew—because both were very social, Jisung with his circle of athletes and Sion with fellow members from different school organizations—Yushi stayed at their table. He scrolled through his phone, checked the time, and reread some notes, trying to distract himself from the noise around him.
That was when a shadow fell across their table.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Yushi looked up—and nearly froze. It was Daeyoung. The Daeyoung. Star striker of the university soccer team, known by practically everyone on campus. People screamed his name at games. A lot wanted to be him—or wanted him. Of course Yushi knew Daeyoung. He might not be socially good with people, but he’d heard plenty of things about him.
Yushi blinked. “Uh… this seat’s free.” He didn’t understand why the school’s star soccer player suddenly wanted to sit beside him.
Daeyoung slid into the chair with an easy smile, resting his elbow on the backrest like he owned the place. “You don’t look like the type who enjoys clubs.”
Yushi frowned slightly. “I don’t.”
That made Daeyoung chuckle. “Then why are you here? Got dragged?”
“…Something like that,” Yushi muttered, glancing at Sion and Jisung. Both were caught up in their own groups, too busy with their drinks and acquaintances to notice. Still, from the corner of his eye, Yushi saw Jisung glance over every now and then, as if keeping tabs on him even while talking to his friends.
A little later, Daeyoung leaned closer to Yushi, lowering his voice so only he could hear.
“You know, it’s dangerous being here if you’re not used to it. Someone might fall for you at first sight.”
Yushi blinked, clearly thrown off. “…Okay?”
Daeyoung smirked. “Lucky for you, it’s me.”
For a moment, Yushi just stared, completely lost. He had no idea why the most popular guy on campus was suddenly paying him attention. “…Why would you even say that to me?” he asked bluntly.
Daeyoung only grinned wider, like he thrived on Yushi’s confusion. Across the room, Jaemin and Haechan exchanged smug looks, nodding like the bet was already in motion. Daeyoung caught them in his peripheral vision, lips twitching in amusement—but he didn’t pull back.
“Why not?” Daeyoung shot back smoothly, masking his surprise. “You’re interesting.”
“I was literally just sitting here,” Yushi deadpanned.
“That’s exactly what makes you interesting,” Daeyoung countered with a grin.
Yushi squinted at him, unsure if he was being teased or complimented. He muttered under his breath, “This is weird…” before taking a small sip of his drink.
Daeyoung laughed softly to himself. This was supposed to be an easy bet, but something about Yushi’s unbothered, straightforward responses was already throwing him off his game.
Yushi was already regretting every life choice that led him to this exact moment—sitting across from the university’s star soccer player, who for some reason was acting like they were in some cheesy drama.
Daeyoung, on the other hand, looked like he was having the time of his life. “So, tell me,” he leaned in closer, “do you always spend your Friday nights glaring at people, or is tonight special?”
“I wasn’t glaring,” Yushi muttered.
“You were definitely glaring.” Daeyoung grinned. “At me. Which I’ll take as a compliment.”
The noise of the club seemed to fade into the background, at least for Yushi. Sion was still ranting about Mark between sips of his drink, and Jisung nodded along half-heartedly. But even while pretending to listen to Sion, Jisung’s eyes kept drifting back toward their table. He had noticed Daeyoung sitting down with Yushi almost immediately.
Finally, Jisung excused himself for a moment and walked over. He gave Daeyoung a small, familiar smile—the kind of casual friendliness athletes often shared. “Hey. Didn’t think I’d see you here tonight.”
Daeyoung tilted his chin up with a smirk. “Guess we had the same idea.”
Jisung’s eyes flicked briefly to Yushi. “Everything good?” he asked, voice light but steady.
“Yeah,” Yushi said quickly. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Alright then.” Jisung smiled again, this time a little warmer toward Yushi, like reassurance. “Don’t let him annoy you too much.” He clapped Daeyoung lightly on the shoulder before heading back to Sion, who was dramatically waving his empty glass for another drink.
Yushi sighed under his breath. Daeyoung, however, chuckled. “Protective friend you’ve got there.”
“He’s just like that,” Yushi muttered.
“Mm. Guess I’ll have to work harder, then.”
Yushi groaned quietly and rubbed his temple, wishing he could disappear. He shifted in his seat, trying to ignore the weight of Daeyoung’s gaze. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention. He wasn’t even sure if it was real attention, or just Daeyoung being… Daeyoung.
“Relax,” Daeyoung said suddenly, leaning back in his chair with a small grin. “You look like you’re preparing for an exam right now.”
“I was preparing for an exam,” Yushi muttered, finally glancing at him.
Daeyoung chuckled. “Of course you were. You don’t strike me as the type who takes breaks.”
Yushi shrugged. “I don’t see the point of wasting time.”
“Maybe not a waste,” Daeyoung countered smoothly. “Maybe you just need the right person to make the time worth it.”
Yushi gave him a flat look. “Do you practice saying things like that?”
“Only when it matters,” Daeyoung shot back without hesitation.
For a moment, Yushi didn’t respond. Daeyoung’s words sounded like every other line he probably threw around, but somehow it still got under his skin.
Daeyoung reached for his phone casually, then held it out to Yushi. “Here. Put your number in.”
Yushi blinked. “Why?”
“So we can talk again,” Daeyoung said easily.
Yushi hesitated. A thousand reasons not to do it ran through his mind. But with Sion drowning his heartbreak in shots and Jisung watching silently from the side, it felt easier to just give in than argue.
With a small sigh, Yushi took the phone and typed his number, sliding it back across the table. “Don’t send me dumb messages.”
Daeyoung smirked, already saving the contact. “Depends on your definition of dumb.”
Yushi rolled his eyes and stood, muttering, “I’m going to get water.”
Daeyoung’s smile lingered as he watched him go. Something about the way Yushi responded—distant yet not dismissive—sparked his curiosity even more.
After a few minutes, Sion got so drunk that they all decided it was better to head home. He wouldn’t stop crying, slurring out Mark’s name between hiccups, and Yushi couldn’t wrap his head around why his friend was bawling so much over a guy. Still, he stayed close, steadying Sion when he swayed too hard, one hand braced firmly against his back.
With Daeyoung and Haechan’s help, they managed to guide Sion out of the club. The night air hit them like a wall—humid, heavy, and buzzing with the sounds of traffic, neon lights flickering across the wet pavement, and laughter spilling out from groups of strangers who still had energy left for the night.
“Careful,” Daeyoung said, slipping an arm under Sion’s other shoulder when Yushi struggled to balance his weight. The soccer player’s grip was firm, steady in a way that made it look too easy. Their eyes met briefly in the glow of a streetlight—Daeyoung’s gaze unreadable but lingering—and Yushi quickly looked away, focusing on Sion’s stumbling steps.
“Thanks,” Yushi muttered, almost too quiet to hear.
“No problem,” Daeyoung replied smoothly, his tone lighter than necessary—as if he wasn’t helping just to be nice, but also to see Yushi flustered.
Finally, Haechan darted forward, waving his arm and calling out, “Taxi!” A yellow cab slowed and pulled up to the curb, headlights washing over them. He tugged the door open with a satisfied grin.
“Come on, let’s get him inside,” Jisung said, steady but firm, guiding Sion toward the backseat. Together with Yushi, they maneuvered Sion into the car. He flopped down dramatically, still sniffling into his sleeve about how “unfair the world was,” hiccups punctuating every other word.
Jisung adjusted him carefully so he wouldn’t slide off the seat, then glanced back toward Daeyoung and Haechan, who stood just a step away from the cab. “We’re good now. Thanks for the help.” His voice was polite, but his eyes held a quiet warning.
Daeyoung raised a hand in mock surrender, grinning like he didn’t notice—or maybe like he noticed too well. “Alright, alright. Get home safe, Yushi.”
Yushi froze for half a second, heat prickling at the back of his neck. Without saying anything, he quickly ducked into the cab, pretending not to hear.
Yushi leaned against the window, watching as Daeyoung and Haechan grew smaller in the side mirror. Daeyoung was still standing there under the streetlight, grin fixed in place like he knew exactly what he was doing. Even as the city lights blurred past the glass, Yushi couldn’t shake the image of it—unwanted, confusing, but somehow burned into his mind.
On the way back, Sion finally knocked out, soft snores filling the silence. Yushi’s mind had already drifted to the quiz he had tomorrow, trying to push the night out of his head. But beside him, Jisung broke the quiet.
“So,” Jisung began carefully, “what’s up with Daeyoung earlier? You know he’s flirtatious with everyone, right? That’s just who he is.”
“Yeah, I know.” Yushi didn’t look away from the window. “I don’t even get why he came up to me.”
Jisung frowned, watching his friend’s reflection in the glass. “Just… be careful, okay? I know you don’t fall easily, but I don’t want you ending up like him.” He jerked his thumb toward Sion, who snorted mid-snore before settling back into sleep.
“Ji, relax,” Yushi muttered, shaking his head. “I’m not gonna cry over a guy.”
“Still,” Jisung said softly, the concern plain in his voice, “I love you two. I’m just protective, that’s all.”
Yushi finally turned, meeting his eyes for a moment before giving a small smile. “Yeah, I know. Don’t worry about me. Maybe we should worry more about him.” He nodded toward Sion, who was curled up against the window, completely unaware he’d just become the subject of his friends’ concern.
Jisung chuckled quietly, but his eyes lingered on Yushi a little longer—still protective, still watchful.