↱PINK↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

𓇢𓆸༘

𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊

The bookstore opened promptly at 9:00, with Hongjoong and Seonghwa being the first inside.

However, about fifty other students filed in behind them.

They hurried to the other side of the store where shelves with the school textbooks were located.

"Do you have your book list, Hongjoong?" Seonghwa asked.

"Yeah. But I have no idea where these books are in here. This is my first year at this school, after all."

Seonghwa scanned the list of the required texts the other needed.

"Your music theory texts will be in the middle, on the left. Organic chemistry will be in the front to the right. Calculus should be around the same area as chemistry. Creative writing-" He cut himself off.

"What?" Hongjoong asked.

"You're in the same creative writing course as me. Wow, this course is typically only for seniors. And second semester juniors if they work themselves into the ground. You need like 60 credit hours to be eligible. How'd you manage to get in this course?"

"I took all AP courses in high school, and my scores on the AP exam gave me college credit. And I had a full course load at UCLA." Hongjoong explained tiredly, as if he had to recite this a million times before. "I attended summer school there as well before coming back here to Seoul."

Seonghwa patted Hongjoong on the back. "At this rate, you'll graduate before me! You really are a genius, huh?"

Hongjoong's face flushed. "I don't think so..." He mumbled.

"Well, let's go get that book first. Come with me." Seonghwa grabbed Hongjoong's wrist and weaved them through the throng of students.

Hongjoong spluttered, but Seonghwa didn't notice.

"Ah, here we are!" Seonghwa picked up two creative writing textbooks in victory. "Hongjoong, hurry and get your organic chemistry book. Those tend to go fast!"

Still flustered from the sudden increase in physical contact, Hongjoong scurried off, remembering the general area Seonghwa told him to go.

Cute kid.

Seonghwa mused, walking to another shelf to find his Advanced English language textbook.

By the time the two found all of their required texts, a small line had formed at the cash registers.

Luckily, they got in line before it got too crowded.

Seonghwa gazed at the school apparel as they waited, wondering if the women's pink Gidae University T-shirts came in a size big enough for his shoulders to fit in.

In the meantime, Hongjoong was staring at Seonghwa.

His eyes lingered on Seonghwa's glossed pink lips before trailing up to his eyes.

A pale pink eyeshadow decorated his eyelids, pale blue eyeliner making the shape of his eyes stand out more.

A faint blush dusted the older man's cheeks.

He's... kinda pretty.

Realizing what he just admitted to himself, Hongjoong fixed his gaze on the heavy textbooks he was currently holding.

No... don't think about shit like that.

He's a man, for fuck's sake.

Don't compare him to a girl.

"Hongjoong, hey, we're next." Seonghwa poked Hongjoong's side.

The younger man almost dropped all of his textbooks at the sensation.

"Haha, are you ticklish?" Seonghwa asked smugly.

"N-No! You just surprised me, that's all!" Hongjoong blushed.

Seonghwa gave him a knowing look before walking up to the newly available register.

"Ew, did you see what that fucking fag was wearing?" A guy behind Hongjoong whispered to his friend. "How can anyone be seen which such a queer?"

Hongjoong's brow furrowed, angry at the way he was talking about Seonghwa.

He wanted to turn around and say something so badly.

In the end, he said nothing, choosing to walk to the next register to purchase his books.

Hongjoong knows his silence was pure cowardice, but he didn't have the guts to speak up.

"Let's go!" Seonghwa's voice snapped Hongjoong out of his trance. "Yeosang texted me. He said we were taking too long, so he decided to go back to the dorms without you. Do you need a ride back? It'll be no problem. I was gonna drop my books off in my car anyway."

Hongjoong started to sweat, getting a weird sensation that people were watching him.

He suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

"N-No, I'm good. I'll walk." The ravenette muttered weakly.

Seonghwa frowned. "Are you sure? I know those textbooks are heavy, so-"

"I said I'm good!" Hongjoong snapped, his tone a little more forceful than what he intended. "S-sorry, hyung. I'll see you later."

Hongjoong scampered to the exit, leaving behind a bewildered and slightly hurt Seonghwa.