♡

there are people who move through campus like they belong there.

they walk in straight lines. they don’t hesitate at intersections. they don’t stop suddenly in the middle of hallways. they don’t almost trip over their own shoes while trying to check their phone and hold a drink at the same time.

you are not one of those people.

you move like someone who is constantly apologizing to furniture.

it’s not intentional. you just… miscalculate space. a lot. you’ve walked into doors that were fully open. you’ve bumped into chairs that were not moving. once, you apologized to a coat rack.

so when you collide with someone in the hallway, it doesn’t feel like a big deal.

it’s just another addition to the list.

your shoulder hits something solid, your step stutters, and you automatically say, “sorry,” without even looking up.

the other person says “sorry” too, slightly higher pitched, slightly rushed.

you both keep walking.

that’s it.

you don’t turn around. he doesn’t either. the hallway swallows both of you back into its noise, backpacks brushing, voices overlapping, shoes squeaking against tile.

it’s forgettable.

or it should be.

⸻

the second time, you notice.

not immediately just half a second later, when you realize you’ve bumped into someone in nearly the exact same spot near the library entrance.

you glance back this time.

he’s already stepping away, adjusting the strap of his bag like he’s trying to pretend nothing happened. messy hair, oversized hoodie, stack of books held against his chest like he’s worried they might escape.

he doesn’t look up.

you turn forward again and keep walking.

still, something about it lingers. maybe because he sounded just as startled as you felt. maybe because he said sorry at the same exact time. maybe because you vaguely think he looks familiar, even though you’re not sure why.

you forget about it again five minutes later.

⸻

the vending machine collision is what ruins him.

you’re at the vending machines outside one of the lecture halls. there’s a long break between classes, and the hallway is mostly quiet except for the hum of fluorescent lights.

you’re crouched slightly, trying to read the tiny labels, when someone steps beside you.

your elbows knock.

you jerk upright.

he jerks upright.

both of you say “sorry” at the same time.

you stop.

he stops.

you both blink.

“…oh,” he says, like he’s just realized something.

you tilt your head slightly. “i think we’ve—”

“yeah,” he nods quickly. “twice. i think. maybe.”

“three,” you correct, before thinking about it.

he looks mildly alarmed. “three?”

“i bumped into you near the library.”

“…oh.”

silence settles between you, not heavy, just unfamiliar. you realize you’re technically having a conversation with someone you don’t know, which feels weirdly more awkward than the actual collisions.

he gestures vaguely at the vending machine. “i wasn’t even moving.”

you glance down. “you stepped into my elbow.”

“i think you elbowed me.”

“i think you exist in my space.”

“…that sounds hostile.”

you almost laugh. he looks relieved when you do, like he wasn’t sure if you were joking.

the machine clunks loudly as someone farther down the hall uses it. neither of you reaches for the buttons.

you suddenly realize you’re just standing there.

he clears his throat. presses a random drink. it drops.

“uh. have a good—” he pauses, like he forgot the rest of the sentence. “day.”

“you too.”

you both walk away.

halfway down the hall, you realize you never got his name.

you also realize you didn’t want to ask.

not yet.

he stands there holding a random drink he didn’t even want.

“…what the fuck,” he mutters.

someone walking past gives him a look. he pretends he didn’t speak.

he makes it halfway down the hall before opening the gc.

⸻

rich idiots (8)

han: okay question

han: hypothetical

han: if you keep physically colliding with the same person

han: like repeatedly

han: is that weird

seungmin: yes

minho: you’re fighting someone

changbin: did you get your ass beat

hyunjin: enemies to lovers arc

jeongin: you’re being hunted

felix: are you okay

han: i’m not fighting anyone you freaks

han: i’m just saying

han: i keep bumping into someone

han: like three times now

seungmin: three times???

seungmin: bro just kiss already

han: kys

changbin: WHERE

changbin: LIKE SAME PLACE??

changbin: SAME TIME??

han: DIFFERENT PLACES

han: that’s why it’s weird

han: hallway

han: library

han: vending machine

minho: you’re in a shitty romcom

han: shut the fuck up

hyunjin: are they hot

han stares at that message.

han: i mean

han: i didn’t really look

han: but maybe

han: a little

seungmin: oh he’s gone

changbin: bro is cooked

jeongin: he’s smiling at his phone

han: i’m not smiling

minho: liar

⸻

han locks his phone and shoves it into his pocket.

he’s not smiling.

he is, however, replaying the interaction in his head like an idiot.

you exist in my space.

that sounds hostile.

maybe it is.

he groans quietly.

“fuck me.”

⸻

fourth collision.

stairs.

almost bump.

shared eye contact.

small smile.

han walks away and immediately opens the gc again like a loser.

han: okay it’s them again

han: stairs this time

han: we almost collided

han: like inches

han: im gonna throw myself off the building

seungmin: do it pussy

chan: ???

seungmin: i’m joking jesus

minho: he’s not joking

changbin: DID YOU ASK THEIR NAME

han: NO

han: WE JUST

han: STOOD THERE

han: AND TALKED A LITTLE

han: AND THEN LEFT

seungmin: you two are fucking stupid

hyunjin: slow burn ass idiots

jeongin: this is painful

han: I PANICKED

han: OKAY

han: THEY SMILED

han: I FORGOT MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY

minho: you never had one

han: fuck you

⸻

han sees you again across the courtyard later.

not a collision.

just you walking.

he recognizes you instantly now, which is already embarrassing. he pretends he doesn’t see you. you don’t see him either.

he watches you disappear.

then opens the gc again.

han: i just saw them but we didn’t collide

han: this feels wrong

han: something is missing

seungmin: you’re addicted to violence

changbin: bro misses getting shoulder checked

han: shut up

minho: you’re down bad

han: i’m not down bad

han: i don’t even know their name

seungmin: exactly

seungmin: you’re down horrendous for a nameless npc

han: kms

⸻

fifth collision.

courtyard.

harder this time.

he grabs your arms.

his brain shuts off.

you’re close. he panics. lets go immediately. you both say sorry again.

you linger. again.

you leave. again.

han stands there like he just experienced a religious awakening.

then pulls out his phone.

han: I FUCKING TOUCHED THEM

han: FUCK

han: THEY WERE FALLING

han: I GRABBED THEIR ARMS

han: I THINK I’M GOING TO PASS AWAY

felix: too much swearing for you

jeongin: like you can do anything better LMAOOOOO

seungmin: physical contact???

seungmin: scandalous

changbin: bro held hands before introductions

han: IT WAS NOT HOLDING HANDS

minho: sure

hyunjin: did sparks fly

seungmin: did your dick harden

han: shut the fuck up

jeongin: did you ask their name

han: NO

everyone types at once.

seungmin: KYS

changbin: USELESS

minho: PATHETIC

hyunjin: BRO

felix: 😭

han: I PANICKED

han: THEY WERE CLOSE

han: LIKE REALLY CLOSE

han: I FORGOT HOW TO SPEAK

minho: average jisung experience

han: i’m going to throw my phone into the fountain

seungmin: do it pussy

changbin: livestream it

minho: i’ll push you in

jeongin: aim head first

hyunjin: i’ll bring popcorn

han: you people are actually fucking evil

chan: don’t drown yourself on campus pls i don’t want paperwork

seungmin: wow dad arrived

chan: shut up

hyunjin: did they look at you

han: YES

han: WE MADE EYE CONTACT

han: AND THEN WE JUST STOOD THERE

han: LIKE NPCS

han: NO DIALOGUE JUST BUFFERING

jeongin: romantic

han: SHUT UP

changbin: did you say anything

han: I SAID

han: “this is getting ridiculous”

han: I THINK

minho: wow panties flew off

han: i’m going to kill you

seungmin: you two literally keep body slamming each other and then standing there like wet cardboard

han: FUCK OFF

felix: i think they like you though

han freezes.

han: what

felix: they keep talking to you right

felix: and not immediately leaving

seungmin: yeah if someone kept shoulder checking me i’d avoid them like the plague

minho: unless they’re hot

changbin: bro found love through blunt force trauma

han: STOP SAYING BRO

han: i’m actually going to kms

seungmin: finally

chan: don’t say that

jeongin: coward won’t even do it

han: I HATE ALL OF YOU

hyunjin: did they smile at you

han: maybe

seungmin: HE’S GONE

changbin: bro folded

han: I DID NOT FOLD

han: THEY JUST

han: SMILED A LITTLE

minho: disgusting

jeongin: he’s giggling

han: I’M NOT GIGGLING

seungmin: you’re literally giggling in 4k

chan: jisung just ask their name next time

han: I CAN’T JUST ASK THEIR NAME

han: WHAT DO I SAY

han: “HI PERSON I KEEP COLLIDING WITH”

changbin: yes

minho: that’s literally perfect

seungmin: i’d fall in love immediately

han: KYS

felix: what if they’re also noticing you though

han: shut up

jeongin: what if they look for you

han: STOP

hyunjin: what if they think it’s fate

han: STOP TALKING

seungmin: he’s sweating

minho: he’s blushing

changbin: or horn-

chan: changbin stfu

chan: breathe jisung

han: I’M BREATHING

han: I JUST

han: OKAY

han: WHAT IF THEY’RE ALSO EXPECTING IT

chat goes quiet for a second.

seungmin: oh

minho: oh he’s fucked

changbin: yeah he’s done

jeongin: tragic

han: FUCK ALL OF YOU

⸻

the next time han sees you, he already knows he’s fucked.

not in a dramatic way. not in a “love at first sight” way. just in the very specific, very humiliating realization that he’s now actively adjusting his walking speed because he thinks you might appear around the corner.

he hates himself for it.

he turns the corner anyway.

and there you are.

of course you are.

you both stop before colliding this time — like you finally learned something. your shoes almost touch, but don’t.

progress. kind of.

“…okay,” you say, squinting slightly. “this is getting creepy now.”

han lets out a breathy laugh. “yeah. i'm starting to think you're stalking me.”

“you wish.”

“i actually don’t.”

“rude.”

there’s a pause.

a real one this time. not just the awkward two seconds before leaving. neither of you moves. people pass behind you, annoyed, but you both stay slightly off to the side like you accidentally created your own small bubble.

“we’ve done this,” you say slowly, “what, like… five times?”

“…six,” he admits.

you blink. “you counted?”

he immediately wants to jump out the window.

“i— no— i just— it’s hard not to remember when i keep getting body checked.”

“you walked into me half of those.”

“that’s debatable.”

you smile. he almost stops breathing again.

“…i feel like we should at least know each other’s names at this point,” you say.

his brain blue-screens.

oh fuck oh shit this is it, say your name. just say your name. it’s literally two syllables. why are you panicking.

“i’m—” he coughs. “jisung.”

“jisung,” you repeat, like you’re testing how it sounds.

he immediately regrets existing.

you tell him your name.

he nods too many times. “yeah. cool. that’s— yeah.”

silence.

he wants to slam his head into the wall.

you shift your weight. “so… do we stop colliding now or—”

“no,” he says too fast. then freezes. “i mean. not— not like— not on purpose—”

you laugh.

he actually wants to die.

“…we probably still will,” you say.

“statistically,” he mutters.

you both stand there another second. then you gesture vaguely. “i’m going to class.”

“yeah. same. i mean not same class. just. class.”

“right.”

you walk past him.

this time, your shoulders brush lightly.

not an accident.

han stands there like someone unplugged him.

then immediately pulls out his phone.

⸻

han: I TALKED TO THEM

han: I FUCKING TALKED TO THEM

seungmin: holy shit

seungmin: alert the media

seungmin: baby boy is growing

minho: did you black out

han: FUCK YOU BOTH

han: WE EXCHANGED NAMES

changbin: screenshot or fake

han: I CANT SCREENSHOT REAL LIFE YOU IDIOT

hyunjin: did you flirt

han: I DONT KNOW

han: I SAID STATISTICALLY

minho: wow

seungmin: insane rizz

chan: jisung stop saying statistically it sounds like you’re writing a research paper

han: I PANICKED

jeongin: bro flirting with data

changbin: academic rizz

felix: grades check!

hyunjin: IM CRINEEEE 😭🙏🏻

han: I’M GOING TO KILL ALL OF YOU

chan: please don’t commit murder on campus

jeongin: so all of you shut up

jeongin: hyung what does she look like

han pauses.

han: they’re…

han: kinda cute

seungmin: oh brother

minho: here we go

changbin: bro already glazing

han: I’M NOT GLAZING

han: JUST SAYING

hyunjin: define cute

han: like

han: quiet

han: pretty

han: and like

han: soft

seungmin: SOFT????

changbin: he’s gone

jeongin: bro describing a marshmallow

minho: man fell in love mid shoulder check

han: I DID NOT FALL IN LOVE

felix: you sound like you did

han: I JUST THINK THEY’RE PRETTY OKAY

chat explodes.

seungmin: HE SAID PRETTY

changbin: THIS IS NOT A DRILL

minho: he’s cooked

hyun: bro’s cheeks red

han: I’M NOT BLUSHING

seungmin: next you’re gonna say they’re hot

han: …

minho: oh no

changbin: oh he’s typing

han: they are kinda hot

absolute chaos.

seungmin: HE SAID HOT

changbin: BRO’S HARD

jeongin: he got a hallway boner

han: SHUT THE FUCK UP

minho: man buffering with blood rushing elsewhere

seungmin: he’s gonna cream his pants next collision

han: I’M GOING TO KILL ALL OF YOU

changbin: bro gonna bump into them and immediately short circuit

jeongin: “sorry—” explodes

felix: STOP 😭

seungmin: he’s folding so bad

minho: did you stare at them

han: MAYBE

changbin: he stared

jeongin: bro was undressing them with his eyes

han: I WAS NOT

seungmin: defensive = guilty

chan: you guys are insane

seungmin: granpa he’s hard

chan: STOP

changbin: jisung fighting demons mid hallway

minho: man adjusting his jeans suspiciously

han: I’M NOT HARD

jeongin: bro said it unprovoked

seungmin: no one even mentioned it just now

changbin: he exposed himself

han: I HATE ALL OF YOU

chan: jisung calm down

seungmin: he can’t he’s bricked up

chan: I’M LEAVING THIS CHAT

minho: don’t leave your son is struggling

han: FUCK ALL OF YOU

changbin: next time they brush shoulders he’s gonna combust

jeongin: bro gonna apologize while sweating

seungmin: “sorry” voice cracks

han: STOP

felix: you’re actually down bad

han: I’M NOT DOWN BAD

han: I JUST THINK THEY’RE

han: REALLY

han: REALLY

han: PRETTY

seungmin: he’s whimpering now

minho: tragic

⸻

meanwhile, two floors down, chan and minho are leaving a lecture.

chan is mid-sentence about some schedule when someone bumps into minho’s shoulder.

minho barely moves.

“sorry,” you say quickly, stepping back.

chan looks up.

he actually registers you this time quick glance, but enough. soft face, slightly rushed, avoiding eye contact. cute. but also… kind of pretty.

you’re already walking away.

chan watches for half a second.

“…they’re cute,” he says casually.

minho looks at him. “you just saw them for one second.”

“still.”

“you fall in love fast."

“i didn’t say love. just cute.”

“you’re old.”

“shut up.”

minho glances back once more. “they did look kinda pretty.”

chan nods. “yeah.”

they keep walking.

⸻

another message pops in.

minho: someone bumped into me btw

han: WHERE

minho: econ hallway

han: WHAT DID THEY LOOK LIKE

chan: small

chan: quiet

chan: kinda pretty

han freezes.

han: ...

seungmin: OH SHIT

changbin: WAIT WAIT WAIT

hyunjin: pretty?

minho: fast walker too

chan: apologized like they committed a crime

jeongin: that’s literally them

han: SHUT THE FUCK UP

han: THAT COULD BE ANYONE

seungmin: bro got territorial instantly

changbin: he’s jealous

han: I’M NOT JEALOUS

minho: chan called them pretty

hyunjin: he’s spiraling

han: WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT THEM

chan: they bumped into me ???

seungmin: bro acting like chan stole his wife

han: I’M GOING TO KILL ALL OF YOU

jeongin: he’s hard and angry

han: I’M NOT HARD

minho: defensive

changbin: next time they bump into chan he’s gonna combust

han: STOP

chan: jisung calm down

han: I’M CALM

han: I’M VERY CALM

han: I JUST

han: okay maybe that was them

seungmin: tragic

hyunjin: soulmate meeting everyone except him

han: kys

⸻

the thing is, once you stop pretending the collisions are accidents, everything becomes worse.

or better. han hasn’t decided yet.

he just knows that now, when he turns corners, he’s expecting you. not consciously. not in a desperate, pathetic way. just… he slows down without thinking. he checks reflections in glass windows. he takes the longer hallway instead of the faster one because he’s seen you there before. it’s not stalking. it’s not. it’s just pattern recognition. coincidence. probability. statistics.

he turns the corner near the humanities building.

you’re already there.

you don’t even almost bump this time. you both stop early, like you’ve learned the rhythm. your shoes end up a few inches apart, close enough that he notices the scuff on the front of yours, the way you shift your weight slightly when you realize how close you are.

“…we didn’t even collide,” you say.

“…we’re improving.”

“that’s kind of disappointing.”

he blinks. “what?”

you shrug. “it’s become routine.”

he laughs under his breath. “routine violence.”

“exactly.”

neither of you moves away. people walk around you, annoyed, but you both stay slightly off to the side like you accidentally built a wall around yourselves.

“…are you heading somewhere?” you ask.

“class.”

“same.”

you both start walking at the same time, no discussion, no awkward hesitation. just… together.

⸻

walking beside you is different than colliding.

collisions are quick. loud in his head. over before he can think. but this — this is slow. your steps match his without trying. your sleeve brushes his arm once, then again, then stays there for half a second too long. he pretends not to notice. you pretend too.

“…you always walk this way?” you ask.

“not really. you?”

“sometimes.”

you nod at the same time. it’s stupid. neither of you laughs. you just keep walking.

he glances at you quickly. you’re looking ahead, expression calm, like this is normal. like you always walk with him between classes. like you didn’t just meet a few days ago through repeated physical accidents.

he likes that. it’s dangerous.

⸻

you reach the stairs.

you slow down.

he slows down.

neither of you comments on it.

you start climbing together, shoulders brushing lightly halfway up. not enough to knock you off balance. just enough to feel it. you smile a little, like you noticed. he nearly misses a step.

“…careful,” you say quietly.

“yeah.”

you keep walking.

⸻

at the landing, you stop. he stops too. the pause stretches longer than usual.

“…this is weird,” you say.

“…yeah.”

“but not bad weird.”

he nods.

you adjust your bag. your fingers brush his wrist accidentally. you both freeze. neither of you pulls away immediately. then you shift back slightly, like you just remembered you’re not supposed to do that.

“…see you around, jisung.”

“yeah.”

you walk off.

he stands there.

again.

he’s starting to think he only exists in motion when you’re around.

⸻

the next time happens outside the vending machines.

you bump him first. lightly.

“…sorry,” you say automatically, then wince. “…habit.”

“yeah.”

you both smile.

you lean against the vending machine. he mirrors you without realizing. the space between you is smaller than before. someone squeezes between you, forcing you closer together. your shoulder presses fully into his this time.

neither of you moves.

“…you’re quiet,” you say.

“…you too.”

“fair.”

you both stay there longer than necessary. the machine hums beside you. footsteps pass. conversation buzzes around you. none of it really registers.

“…what’s your next class?” you ask.

he tells you.

“oh. same building.”

“…yeah?”

“yeah.”

you push off the vending machine. he does too. again, at the same time.

⸻

walking again.

this time, your hands brush.

not sleeves. not wrists.

hands.

it’s brief. barely there. but both of you notice. he keeps walking. you keep walking. neither of you acknowledges it. the silence gets heavier, but not uncomfortable. just… charged.

he flexes his fingers once.

you pretend not to see.

⸻

outside the building, you slow down.

“…i think we’ll keep doing this,” you say.

“…statistically.”

you laugh quietly. “you really like that word.”

“…i panic.”

“i noticed.”

you look at him properly this time. not quick glances. not accidental eye contact. just… looking.

he feels it in his chest.

“…bye, jisung.”

“bye.”

you turn.

your shoulder brushes his one last time as you pass.

not an accident.

he watches you leave.

and for the first time, he doesn’t move immediately.

⸻

after the shoulder bump thing, nothing dramatically changes. you don’t suddenly hold hands. you don’t confess. you don’t even talk about it.

you just… stop pretending the collisions are accidental.

sometimes you bump him lightly when you walk beside him.

sometimes he does it first.

neither of you apologizes anymore.

it becomes its own language.

⸻

a few weeks pass.

you and jisung now walk together more than you don’t. you sit beside each other when you run into one another. conversations stretch longer. silences become easier.

he learns:

you hate loud crowds

you always forget to eat

you laugh quietly first, then louder after

you learn:

he overthinks literally everything

he fidgets when nervous

he stares at you when he thinks you’re not looking

the tension builds slowly.

too slowly.

⸻

one night, in the library, you both end up in the same aisle at the same time.

coincidence. probably.

it’s quiet. students mostly left. staff somewhere in the distance. fluorescent lights hum softly overhead.

you walk side by side without saying much.

your shoulders brush once. then again.

neither of you reacts.

after a minute, you stop near the end of the aisle.

he stops too.

“…we didn’t collide,” you say softly.

“…yeah.”

silence.

you’re standing closer than usual. he’s aware of everything, your sleeve near his wrist, your shoes almost touching his, the way you’re not moving away.

you bump his shoulder lightly.

he looks at you.

“…you did that on purpose.”

“yeah.”

he swallows.

then bumps you back.

you don’t move away.

neither does he.

the space between you shrinks slowly. not from stepping forward — just slight shifts. breathing. eye contact that lasts too long. his hand hovers near yours, unsure, then lightly brushes your fingers.

neither of you pulls away.

he says, quietly, “we’re really bad at this.”

“at what.”

“…not doing this.”

you laugh softly.

he watches your mouth for half a second too long.

you notice.

the silence stretches until it almost hurts.

he leans in slightly — then stops.

“sorry—” he starts automatically.

you shake your head. “don’t.”

that’s all it takes.

he leans in again, slower this time. hesitant. like he expects you to move.

you don’t.

your noses bump first.

both of you freeze.

“…shit,” he whispers.

you laugh quietly, breath warm. “smooth.”

“i’m really bad at this.”

“i can tell.”

he exhales, nervous, then tries again.

this time you meet him halfway.

the kiss starts soft — unsure — barely there. just a light press, like both of you are still figuring out if this is actually happening. his breath catches almost immediately, warm and uneven against yours.

for a second, neither of you moves.

then you lean closer.

the shift is small, but it changes everything. the kiss deepens naturally, slower, lingering instead of hesitant. your fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt without thinking, and he makes a quiet sound against your lips — surprised — before leaning in more firmly.

his hand moves from your wrist to your side, hesitant at first. when you don’t pull away, his fingers settle there, warm and steady, pulling you just slightly closer. your shoulders press fully together now, no space left between you.

you tilt your head, and he follows instinctively, the angle changing. the kiss grows warmer, less careful. it lingers, breath mixing, both of you pausing only long enough to breathe before leaning in again.

he exhales softly against your lips, like he forgot how breathing works.

you shift closer, and he backs up half a step without breaking contact, shoulders brushing the shelf behind him. the movement pulls you in with him, your hand sliding higher against his chest to steady yourself. his heartbeat is fast — uneven — and it makes your stomach flip.

neither of you pulls away.

the kiss stretches longer. slower. the kind that keeps almost ending but doesn’t. he pauses, barely pulling back, and your lips brush again immediately. the hesitation is gone now — replaced with something heavier, quieter.

your shoulders bump lightly in the process and you both almost laugh, breath mingling, the sound swallowed when he leans in again. this time he’s more certain, fingers tightening slightly at your side as he pulls you closer without realizing it.

somewhere in the distance, a chair scrapes softly.

a book closes.

the quiet of the library presses around you, but neither of you moves. you’re tucked between shelves, half-hidden in the aisle, the lighting slightly dimmer here.

a blindspot.

when you finally separate, it’s only to breathe.

your foreheads hover close, noses brushing lightly. he looks dazed, like he’s still processing, eyes flicking down to your mouth before back up again. your hands are still holding onto him, and neither of you lets go.

you don’t move away.

neither does he.

“…we didn’t collide,” he murmurs softly.

you bump his shoulder.

“we kinda did.”

he lets out a quiet laugh, still close enough that it brushes your lips.

“…yeah.”

footsteps pass faintly at the end of the aisle.

you both freeze instinctively — then pull apart just slightly, exchanging a look that’s half embarrassed, half breathless.

thank goodness the shelves block the view.

a perfect blindspot.

jisung doesn’t move for a full five seconds after you step back.

you mumble something about needing to return your book, already walking toward the end of the aisle, glancing back once — just once — before disappearing past the shelves.

and he’s left there.

standing.

still.

brain completely gone.

then—

he fumbles his phone out like he’s calling emergency services.

han: I JUST MADE OUT WITH THEM

seungmin: ?

minho: ?

changbin: ?

hyunjin: ?

jeongin: ?

felix: ?

chan: ?

han: I JUST MADE OUT WITH THEM IN THE FUCKING LIBRARY

seungmin: disgusting

minho: public indecency

changbin: bro couldn’t wait

hyunjin: feral behavior

jeongin: bro lasted 3 weeks

han: SHUT THE FUCK UP

han: THEY JUST LEFT

seungmin: they ran

han: THEY DIDN’T RUN

han: THEY SAID THEY HAD TO RETURN A BOOK

minho: excuse

changbin: ghosted mid makeout is crazy

han: I HATE YOU

jeongin: did you chase

han: NO

seungmin: coward

hyunjin: bro froze

han: I COULDNT MOVE

changbin: bro buffering

minho: brain blue screen

felix: was it good though

han: YES

chat explodes.

seungmin: HE SAID YES

changbin: HE'S SMILING

minho: he’s giggling

han: I AM NOT GIGGLING

jeongin: he’s kicking his feet

hyunjin: bro definitely hard

han: I'M NOT

seungmin: defensive

changbin: exposed

han: FUCK ALL OF YOU

chan: okay calm down what actually happened

han: WE WERE IN THE AISLE

han: AND WE WERE TALKING

han: THEN WE JUST

han: KISSED

minho: useless ass storyteller

seungmin: describe it properly coward

changbin: was it a peck

han: NO

jeongin: oh

hyunjin: oh he's done

han: WE KISSED FOR A WHILE

seungmin: A WHILE????

changbin: bro timed it

han: I DIDN’T TIME IT

minho: where were your hands

han: I HELD THEIR HAND

han: AND LIKE

han: THEIR SIDE

jeongin: THEIR SIDE

hyunjin: bro gripping

changbin: bro pulling them closer

han: I DIDN’T MEAN TO

seungmin: instinct

minho: animal

han: SHUT UP

changbin: did you almost moan

han: WHAT

jeongin: bro definitely did

han: I DID NOT

hyunjin: he definitely did

seungmin: library makeout is insane

han: WE WERE IN A BLINDSPOT

minho: premeditated

changbin: criminal

jeongin: bro scoped the area

han: I DIDN’T

seungmin: he’s lying

felix: did they kiss you back

han: YES

chat explodes again.

changbin: HE WON THE LOTTERY

seungmin: bro ascended

minho: accidental romance successful

hyunjin: hallway collision to makeout pipeline

jeongin: he's never shutting up about this

han: I’M SHAKING

seungmin: bro gonna cream his pants remembering it

han: STOP

changbin: he’s replaying it

minho: smiling at phone in library

jeongin: people think he’s insane

han: I AM STILL IN THE AISLE

seungmin: MOVE

han: I CAN’T

hyunjin: bro stuck in cutscene

changbin: npc behavior

chan: jisung go return to reality

han: THEY LOOKED BACK BEFORE LEAVING

seungmin: oh

minho: oh he’s fucked

changbin: yeah he’s done

jeongin: tragic

hyunjin: bro in love already

han: SHUT UP😳😳😳😳😳🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

chan: wait that's actually really cute though

seungmin: here he goes

minho: hopeless romantic

changbin: he’s giggling behind the screen

chan: i'm not giggling 😭 i'm just saying it's sweet

jeongin: you would've confessed immediately

chan: no i wouldn't

seungmin: liar

minho: he'd bring flowers day one

changbin: handwritten letter too

chan: you guys are evil

hyunjin: you'd walk them to class and hold their bag

chan: that's normal

seungmin: that's boyfriend behavior after one kiss

minho: he's projecting

chan: at least i'm not like you

minho: what's that supposed to mean

chan: you'd just stare and say nothing

seungmin: that's literally you too

chan: no?????

changbin: both of you useless

jeongin: han learned from them

han: i'm literally still here

hyunjin: we know

seungmin: he's still in the aisle smiling

minho: creepy behavior

han: i'm not smiling

changbin: you definitely are

felix: did anyone else notice he typed slower

jeongin: bro still processing

chan: jisung go find them again tomorrow

han: yeah

seungmin: OH

minho: he's planning now

changbin: bro already thinking about next collision

hyunjin: addicted

han: shut up

chan: just don't freeze again

seungmin: he will

minho: guaranteed

changbin: man gonna buffer again

jeongin: tragic sequel

han: you guys are so fucking annoying

⸻

the next day is painfully normal.

jisung spends the entire morning pretending he’s not waiting to see you. he walks slower in the hallway, then faster, then slower again like an idiot. he checks his phone even though you didn’t exchange numbers. he almost turns down the wrong corridor twice.

he tells himself he’s not nervous.

he’s lying.

he sees you near the vending machines.

you see him at the same time.

both of you pause not dramatically just enough that it’s obvious. he almost lifts his hand to wave, then aborts halfway, which looks worse. you notice. your mouth twitches.

“…hi,” he says.

“hi.”

there’s a small silence. not awkward exactly just full. like both of you are replaying last night at the same time.

he scratches the back of his neck. “so… uh…”

“yeah.”

“…yeah.”

you both laugh quietly.

he relaxes a little.

you start walking together without really deciding to. the distance between you is smaller now naturally. no pretending. your shoulders don’t bump, but they’re close enough that he’s aware of every movement.

his hand brushes yours accidentally.

he freezes.

you don’t move away.

he doesn’t either.

your fingers brush again when you turn the corner. this time you don’t pull back. you just… let them stay there. the contact is light, barely anything, but it’s enough to make his brain completely stop working.

he glances down.

your hand is still there.

you notice him noticing.

“…you’re thinking too hard,” you say quietly.

“i’m not.”

you gently hook your fingers with his.

that’s it.

no warning. no build up. you just take his hand.

jisung short-circuits.

completely.

his hand tightens automatically like his body decided before his brain could. he looks down again like he needs to confirm it’s real. your fingers are intertwined now, warm, casual, like it’s always been that way.

he forgets how to walk for half a second.

you tug him forward slightly.

“you good?”

“…yeah.”

he is not good.

he is dying.

but he walks with you anyway, hand still in yours, heart beating loud enough he’s convinced you can feel it through his palm.

⸻

across the quad, two people freeze mid-conversation.

jeongin squints.

“…is that jisung.”

seungmin follows his gaze.

“…no.”

pause.

“…wait.”

another pause.

“…WAIT.”

they both stare.

jisung. holding hands. with you.

walking calmly like this is normal.

jeongin physically recoils.

“what the fuck.”

seungmin is already pulling his phone out.

jeongin: I’M GOING INSANE seungmin: WHAT THE FUCK

chan: what

changbin: ??

minho: why are you yelling

hyunjin: what happened

felix: ???

jeongin: JISUNG IS HOLDING HANDS

seungmin: WITH A GIRL

changbin: BULLSHIT

minho: impossible

chan: where

seungmin: QUAD seungmin: NEAR VENDING MACHINES seungmin: HE’S WALKING LIKE HE BAGGED HER

jeongin: WHO IS THAT

seungmin: wait

pause.

jeongin: …

seungmin: oh

chan: WHAT

jeongin: oh he actually bagged a baddie

seungmin: what the hell

changbin: SEND PIC

seungmin: I CAN’T BE OBVIOUS

jeongin: she’s hot

chan: WHAT

minho: define hot

seungmin: like seungmin: actually pretty

jeongin: fine as hell

changbin: NO WAY

hyunjin: jisung??

seungmin: YES JISUNG

chan: HOW

jeongin: how did he bag the baddie

minho: that’s suspicious

seungmin: she’s literally holding his hand

changbin: voluntarily????

jeongin: willingly

chan: i’m happy for him but also confused

hyunjin: this feels illegal

felix: she sounds cute

seungmin: not cute seungmin: fine

jeongin: hottie alert

changbin: if he fumbles i’m going for her

chan: YOU CAN’T SAY THAT

minho: he absolutely can

hyunjin: poor jisung

seungmin: he’s smiling like an idiot

jeongin: I CAN SEE HIM FROM HERE

chan: is he blushing

seungmin: violently

changbin: man is gone

minho: never seen him hold hands before

jeongin: he’s walking like he’s scared she’ll disappear

hyunjin: that’s actually pathetic

chan: leave him alone 😭

seungmin: no

changbin: absolutely not

jeongin: this is the greatest day of my life

⸻

jisung freezes when he sees them.

eight of them. staring at your joined hands.

“…no.”

“friends?” you ask.

“unfortunately.”

they walk over.

“hi, i’m chan,” he says, smiling.

you introduce yourself.

seungmin: “how did this happen.” changbin: “yeah seriously.” hyunjin: “you can still run.” jisung: “please shut up.” jeongin: “she’s holding him willingly.” felix: “he talks about you.” jisung: “I DON’T—” everyone: “YOU DO.”

you laugh.

chan: “don’t mess this up.” seungmin: “he will.”

they leave.

you squeeze jisung’s hand.

you bump his shoulder.

“…again?” he says.

“again.”