Present...….
Andrew's footsteps echoed heavily on the stairs, a hurried but controlled rhythm underscoring the urgency of his departure. Not far behind him, James followed, his stride quickening as he sensed the weight of the moment.
"Hey, Andrew! Where are you going this early?" James called out, catching up to him on the staircase, concern lacing his voice as he furrowed his brow.
Andrew paused briefly, glancing over his shoulder with a heavy sigh, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I'll be quick. You don't need to come with me," he replied curtly, the sharpness of his tone cutting through the air as he resumed his descent.
"Wait—what do you mean by that?" James quickened his pace, confusion etched on his face, his brows knitting tighter together.
"I'm going somewhere that's none of your business. Just stay here and wait," Andrew snapped, refusing to slow down, determination evident in his clenched jaw.
"No! I don't want to be left here alone. I'm coming with you!" James insisted, his voice firm and unwavering, his hands clenched at his sides as he caught up, unwilling to back down.
As they reached the entrance, James continued to bombard Andrew with questions, urgency spilling from his lips. "Where exactly are we going?"
Andrew sighed, the frustration evident in the way his shoulders slumped slightly, but he relented. "I'm going to enroll," he muttered, scanning his key card to unlock the door to his car.
James froze, his eyes widening in shock, disbelief painting his features. "What?" He jerked back in surprise, disbelief coursing through him. "You've got to be kidding me!"
"I told you this isn't your business—"
"Are you out of your mind? What are you even thinking?" James interrupted, incredulity flooding his voice. "What drugs are you on?"
Andrew ignored him, his fingers dancing over the key fob as he pushed to unlock the car, his movements sharp and determined. James's frustration simmered beneath the surface, a storm brewing in his eyes.
"We're supposed to fly back to America next week, Andrew! What are you doing?" James pressed, exasperation climbing in his tone, hands gesturing animatedly as if to grasp Andrew's thoughts.
"Go without me," Andrew said coldly, his voice hardening as he started the car, fingers tightening around the steering wheel as if it were a lifeline.
"But it's Philip's birthday next week!" James protested, his hands flailing as anger seeped into his voice, disbelief turning into an edge of fury.
Andrew didn't flinch, focused intently on the road ahead. "Just send my regards," he replied flatly, determination masking the turmoil within.
James shook his head in utter disbelief, leaning his elbow against the window as he gazed outside, disappointment etched on his features. "I can't believe you. You're really serious about this, aren't you?"
"Can you just be quiet?" Andrew snapped, irritation flickering in his eyes as he kept his gaze fixed ahead, the tension between them palpable.
After a tense pause, James relented with a resigned sigh, shoulders slumping. "Alright, fine. I'll go home alone next week. But you better keep me updated. I swear, I can't trust your temper anymore."
***
The week Ji-Won spent at Youn-Jae's place had come to an end, and now he was back to his usual routine—classes, dorm life, and the familiar pace of school.
"Oppa! Are you heading to our next class? I'm going that way too!" Soo-Jin called out, her smile bright and inviting as she spotted Ji-Won approaching. "How was your vacation, Oppa?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Good morning, Soo-Jin. It was alright; how about you?" Ji-Won replied, casually adjusting his backpack, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"Whaaaa... I just stayed at my parents' house," she sighed dramatically, her shoulders drooping as she feigned disappointment.
Ji-Won chuckled, warmth flickering in his gaze. "Why? Didn't you enjoy it?"
Soo-Jin shrugged, lips curling into a playful pout. "It was a bit boring," she admitted, then suddenly turned to him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "By the way, Oppa, are you single?"
Ji-Won blinked, caught off guard by her sudden question, laughter bubbling up as he raised an eyebrow. "What? Hahaha, where is that even coming from?" His voice was light, teasing her back.
"Come on, Oppa," Soo-Jin nudged his arm playfully, her eyes dancing with mischief. "You know some people have been asking me for your number."
Ji-Won shook his head, a smirk creeping onto his lips as he placed a hand gently on her shoulder, affection shining through. "You must be mistaken. No way it's me."
Soo-Jin rolled her eyes, playfully swatting his hand away. "Oppa, don't do that, or people will start thinking I'm your girlfriend!" she teased, her laughter infectious.
Ji-Won laughed softly, letting his hand drop as they continued walking toward the lecture room, the vibrant energy of the campus wrapping around them. Students bustled about, laughter and chatter creating a lively atmosphere, posters fluttering on the walls advertising upcoming events.
As they walked, Ji-Won absently reached into his backpack, searching for his phone, his focus consumed by the task at hand. Distracted, he didn't notice another student heading toward him, equally lost in their phone. They collided hard, and Ji-Won stumbled backward, his balance thrown off.
Just as he felt himself tipping, strong arms caught him from behind, steadying him before he could fall. Startled, Ji-Won blinked and looked up to see Andrew, calm and collected, his grip firm on Ji-Won's shoulders.
"Careful, Hyung," Andrew said with a faint smile, his voice gentle yet steady, a touch of humor softening the moment. "You always seem to fall right into me," he teased, warmth radiating from him as he helped Ji-Won regain his balance.
"Andrew?" Ji-Won blurted out, still reeling from both the near fall and Andrew's sudden appearance. His eyes widened in surprise, disbelief mingling with relief as his heart raced. Beside him, Soo-Jin stood frozen, equally taken aback—not just by the situation but by Andrew's striking presence, her curiosity igniting.
Soo-Jin's elbow nudged Ji-Won's waist, jarring him from his thoughts. "Oppa, do you know him?" she whispered eagerly, her voice barely containing her excitement as her gaze flicked between the two, sizing up Andrew with interest. "Introduce me!" she added, her voice filled with anticipation as she grinned mischievously at Ji-Won.
Ji-Won introduced Soo-Jin to Andrew, but his mind was still swirling with confusion, trying to wrap around the fact that Andrew had ended up at their school. Suddenly, it clicked—he had given Andrew the address of his school and dorm. He'd promised to contact Andrew once he returned to Seoul, but everything had changed when he got back. His time and attention were completely absorbed by Youn-Jae, leaving no room for anything else. In the whirlwind of those days, he had forgotten to follow up with Andrew.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Ji-Won glanced at Andrew apologetically, sincerity spilling from his voice. "Andrew, I'm really sorry, but I have class right now. I can't really accommodate you at the moment," he said, his tone genuine, eyes reflecting regret. "I'll contact you later once I'm free, I promise."
Andrew, with a calm and understanding smile, shook his head slightly, his demeanor relaxed. "No need to apologize, Hyung. I'm not just here to see you," he began, his tone casual but edged with excitement. "I actually enrolled in a special art class as an exchange student."
Ji-Won's eyes widened, surprise washing over him like a tidal wave. "You... what?" He could barely mask his astonishment, his gaze locking onto Andrew as he tried to process the unexpected news.
Andrew nodded, handing over his schedule with a knowing grin, confidence radiating from him.
Andrew knew that Secretary Choi had always had a soft spot for him. After all, Secretary Choi had practically raised Andrew in America. Despite the risk of angering the Vice Chairman, he clearly couldn't resist Andrew's requests.
Ji-Won was stunned, a wide smile slowly spreading across his face. "So you're really going to be here? For the whole semester?" His excitement bubbled up as he scanned Andrew's class schedule, realizing with joy that all of Andrew's classes lined up perfectly with his own. "Wait... we're in all the same classes?"
Andrew nodded, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together," he said, a teasing grin tugging at his lips.
As more and more students began to steal glances at Andrew, drawn in by his striking appearance, Ji-Won felt his heart race, nervousness creeping in. Glancing around at the curious onlookers, he chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Let's get out of here before you cause a scene," Ji-Won said with a laugh, ushering Andrew and Soo-Jin down the corridor toward the lecture hall, the camaraderie between them sparking with new energy.
***
The days had a gentle, lingering warmth to them, and with each passing one, Andrew found himself unconsciously adjusting his routine to overlap with Ji-Won's. It was subtle: an extra five minutes between classes, a detour through the campus pathways he knew Ji-Won frequented, and, on occasion, a stop by the convenience store where Ji-Won worked. Something about Ji-Won's quiet presence drew him in, as if trying to understand an unspoken thread that connected them.
Late one afternoon, the convenience store hummed with the usual bustle as customers moved in and out, and the steady beep of the register filled the air. Ji-Won, stationed behind the counter, looked up in mild surprise when he noticed Andrew lingering near the snack aisle, attempting to look nonchalant as he glanced over bags of chips.
"Andrew?" Ji-Won's face broke into a warm smile. "What brings you here?"
Andrew sauntered over, leaning a little too casually against the counter with a smirk. "Just thought I'd swing by to annoy you, Hyung," he teased, eyes glinting playfully as he met Ji-Won's gaze.
Ji-Won chuckled, rolling his eyes but clearly amused. "Well, you're always welcome to. How's your day been?"
Andrew let out a sigh, tossing a couple of drinks and a bag of chips onto the counter. "Honestly? Boring as usual," he admitted, running a hand through his hair before his gaze softened slightly. "But seeing you makes it better."
Ji-Won raised a brow, warmth touching his expression as he started ringing up the items. Andrew lingered, shifting slightly on his feet, his relaxed front betraying a flicker of nervousness. He hesitated, biting his lip before speaking again, his voice softer this time.
"Hey, Hyung?" Andrew's hand brushed across the counter as he glanced at Ji-Won, a slight vulnerability showing in his eyes. "I was wondering… do you want to hang out this weekend? Maybe catch a movie or something?" His tone was uncertain, as though afraid of overstepping.
Ji-Won paused in his task, glancing at Andrew thoughtfully. As he finished bagging the items, he reached for his phone and quickly checked his calendar. "Let's see… I've got some free time on Saturday." He looked up with a smile, catching Andrew's hopeful gaze. "Got any movie in mind?"
Andrew's face lit up, his grin genuine and wide as if he'd been waiting for that answer. "Saturday works! I'll find something good," he replied, excitement breaking through his usual laid-back demeanor.
Handing him the bag, Ji-Won laughed softly. "Alright then, I'll be ready."
Andrew took the bag, his usual confidence returning as he straightened up, but there was a lingering warmth in his expression that softened his features. "Thanks, Hyung. I'll see you then."
"Take care, Andrew," Ji-Won called after him, watching as Andrew made his way to the door. As Andrew turned back with a small wave.
The story doesn't end here...
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