Chapter Text
Today everything will change.
College is going to bring out the best parts of Seonghwa, for sure. By the time he graduates, he’ll be a different person. Or at least, that’s what he tells himself. Okay, maybe not completely different. He hopes his values stay the same. He doesn't want to turn into someone awful, just...someone more confident. He wants to be the kind of person who walks into a room, and people think, "Wow, he's got it all together. He looks like he has everything figured out."
Because right now, Seonghwa doesn't feel like that person. Not even close. There are too many things he's unsure about. Like, was taking a gap year a smart move in the long run? Yes, he needed the break, but did it set him back? And this whole idea of studying to become a kindergarten teacher...He’s good with kids, sure, but is that really how he wants to spend the rest of his life? What if he wakes up one day, stuck in a job he doesn’t even like?
The truth is, he barely has anything figured out. His friendships have mostly fizzled out, except for Hongjoong. His two relationships—if you can even call them that—barely lasted long enough to matter. And his relationship with his mom? Well, it could be better. At least his dad is no longer in the picture and Seonghwa doesn’t have to worry about him or rekindling their relationship. That’s dead and gone.
But that's why this has to work. College is his chance to become the person he's always wanted to be. Sure of himself. Maybe, in the process, he'll figure out what he actually wants in life. He’s got time, right?
Yes, there's still time.
“Wake up, sleepyhead!” Hongjoong’s voice crashes through Seonghwa’s sleepy haze. Then, he feels his best friend’s body landing squarely on top of him.
Seonghwa groans. “The fuck, man—what are you doing here?” he rasps.
“What am I doing here?” Hongjoong smirks, fully committing to lying on top of him, his legs straddling Seonghwa over the covers. “Why are you still sleeping? It’s our big day today, hello?”
Seonghwa groans again, but this time with less pain and more exasperation. He squeezes his eyes shut and shifts under Hongjoong, feeling the fabric of his blanket cling to his skin. “I know, Joong, but it’s also…” He cracks one eye open to peek at the digital clock on his nightstand. “Six in the fucking morning. We don’t leave for another four hours.”
“How can you sleep? I’m so fucking excited you don’t even know!” Hongjoong sounds way too energetic for someone up this early, and Seonghwa can feel his friend practically vibrating on top of him.
“I think I know,” Seonghwa mumbles, trying to sink deeper into his mattress. “I can feel you shaking, you do that when you’re nervous. You’re not fooling anyone.”
“Nerves mixed with excitement,” Hongjoong admits. His grin is clear in his voice even though Seonghwa keeps his eyes closed. Seonghwa can already picture the smug look on his best friend's face. “Just think about it,” Hongjoong continues. “All the things we can do… all the parties, all the girls, all the drugs…” His voice takes on a ridiculous, exaggerated tone.
Seonghwa lets out a tired laugh. “Right, because we had such great luck with all of that before…” he replies sarcastically.
“Speak for yourself, nerd.”
Before Seonghwa can respond, Hongjoong bites down on his shoulder, like he always does when he’s in full-on gremlin mode.
“Ah! Stop that, you fiend!” Seonghwa yelps, squirming under his friend’s weight and shoving him, though Hongjoong doesn’t move an inch. “You got spit on me, gross!”
“You’re welcome.” Hongjoong sounds entirely too pleased with himself. “People would pay to have my spit on them.”
Seonghwa groans in mock disgust. “Try the art major first, and then consider prostitution, Joong. It’s too early for this.”
Hongjoong’s laugh fills the room, bright and carefree, and as much as Seonghwa tries to stay annoyed at him for waking him up so early, he can’t help but crack a smile. That’s just how Hongjoong is, always managing to make things feel lighter, always pulling Seonghwa out of his own head, making his days brighter with his smile.
After a moment, Seonghwa sighs. “You really think college is gonna be different?” he asks, quieter this time. “Maybe it’s the exact same as it is in this miserable town, only packed with horny college students.”
Hongjoong pauses, glancing down at Seonghwa with an expression that’s a little more serious than usual. “Yeah, I do,” he says softly. “I mean, it’s a fresh start, right? No one knows us. No one knows our past. We can be whoever we want.”
A fresh start. A clean slate. Hongjoong’s words have a different meaning for him, Seonghwa knows that. It had been almost seven years since Hongjoong had come out as trans and started living as the person he really was. It hadn’t been smooth sailing, in fact, it had been anything but. Hongjoong had to wade through more shit than Seonghwa could imagine just to be where he was now. Happy. In this small, conservative town, there weren’t any other trans people. There weren’t even any queer people that Hongjoong could lean on. All he had was his mother's support. And Seonghwa.
Seonghwa’s mom used to be close with Hongjoong too, practically like an aunt. But things had changed when Hongjoong came out. She wasn’t as accepting as Hongjoong’s mother had been. Being a devout Catholic, she couldn’t reconcile her faith with the idea of Hongjoong’s transition. It wasn’t that she was cruel or anything. She lived by a strict code of not meddling in other people’s business and treating others kindly. So she let Hongjoong into her house, allowed Seonghwa to be friends with him, even seemed genuinely happy that Hongjoong was happy. But that was where the warmth ended.
They weren’t close anymore. The easy, familial affection that used to exist between Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s mom had slowly faded. She could accept Hongjoong’s choices because, after all, Hongjoong wasn’t her son. And Hongjoong is straight, so that means he wouldn’t hit on Seonghwa. As long as it was someone else, she was content to tolerate it. But if it were Seonghwa to come out to her... well, that was different. Seonghwa knew that if he ever did, even though he didn’t think he had anything to come out about, it would shatter something unspoken between them.
Not that it mattered, because Seonghwa wasn’t gay. Isn’t gay. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being gay but at least he wouldn’t ever have to deal with that conversation. Sure, he’d had a crush on Hongjoong when they were younger, but that didn’t count. Hongjoong wasn’t Hongjoong back then. And once he did become Hongjoong, Seonghwa’s crush disappeared just like the previous version of his friend did. His feelings changed. He didn’t have a crush on him anymore so that just proved he was straight. Right? Yeah, checks out.
It wasn’t like Seonghwa spent a lot of time thinking about it, anyway. He didn’t have to. It was easier to just push those confusing, half-formed thoughts aside. Easier to tell himself that whatever feelings he’d had for Hongjoong before—whatever those fluttery moments had been—belonged to the past. And now he’s all about the future. It was just childhood confusion, and now that they were older, things were clear.
“Whoever we want, huh?” Seonghwa says, half to himself. He glances at Hongjoong, who’s still buzzing with excitement despite everything he’s had to face in the past few years. Sometimes, Seonghwa wishes he had even half of that courage.
“Yup.” Hongjoong’s energy picks back up as he stretches, shaking off the brief moment of seriousness. “So get your ass up already. I’m hungry.”
Seonghwa raises an eyebrow, trying to suppress a smile. “You just want me to make you breakfast, don’t you?”
Hongjoong grins, not even bothering to deny it. “You caught me. But I promise, after breakfast, you'll feel a thousand times better. Or at least you won’t hate me as much.”
“Debatable,” Seonghwa mutters, but the faint smile tugging at his lips betrays him.
Today everything will change.
But despite it all—the doubts, the questions, the changes—Hongjoong will be the one constant in his life. That wouldn’t change. Ever. He would make sure of it.
~
“Call us when you get there, yes, baby?” Hongjoong’s mom says, kissing the top of his head as Seonghwa closes the trunk of the car, now packed with their boxes and suitcases.
Hongjoong groans, rolling his eyes in typical fashion. “Yes, mom. It’s only a two-hour drive. We’re not going to another country.”
“You might as well be.” Her voice softens with a mixture of pride and sadness. “My baby is going to college... How did the years pass so fast?”
Seonghwa smiles softly, watching the exchange. His eyes drift over to his own mom, who’s standing nearby with a look that’s equal parts pride and something quieter, something more guarded.
“Well,” Seonghwa says, feeling a little awkward. “Guess this is goodbye.”
His mom’s smile is gentle, but there’s a seriousness in her eyes as she steps forward. “I trust you to be good, Seonghwa. Don’t let others influence you. Stay strong in your beliefs.”
“Yes, mom,” he replies, his voice a little flatter than he intended. He tries to hide the way her words make him feel. She still thinks he believes in God. She still thinks the faith she raised him in is something he clings to.
In truth, it’s one of the many things he’s unsure about. Something he’s been questioning more and more. All the rules, the rigid structure he grew up under, had felt like a safety net for so long. But now? After seeing how the world treated Hongjoong? How the loving religion was so quick to cast him aside? Now it feels more like a thread, one he’s been quietly tugging at, trying to slowly unravel.
But sometimes he can still feel the thread pull. It’s still there, holding him back.
“Take care of each other, alright?” Hongjoong’s mom calls out, pulling him from his thoughts. She wraps her arms around Hongjoong again, squeezing him tight.
“We will!” Hongjoong promises.
Seonghwa glances one last time at his mom. She’s smiling, but instead of warmth, Seonghwa feels a distance there. The same distance that’s been growing for a while now.
“I’ll call,” he adds, though he’s not entirely sure what else to say.
Her smile tightens. “Good. Be safe.”
Seonghwa climbs into the car beside Hongjoong, who immediately connects his phone to the stereo. Music pours out as the playlist starts, filling the car with a familiar beat. Seonghwa pulls out of the parking lot, glancing briefly in the rearview mirror. Hongjoong is waving enthusiastically at his mom, who waves back with the same energy, her smile wide and warm, just like his.
Seonghwa’s eyes shift to his own mom in the mirror. She’s smiling too, but it’s softer. He smiles back, his lips pressed together in a way that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
The further out of the city Seonghwa drives, the louder Hongjoong turns up the volume. Seonghwa can’t help but notice that Hongjoong has added some of his favorite songs to the playlist, the ones they usually scream together on late-night drives.
As the sun rises higher in the sky, Seonghwa and Hongjoong start belting out the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Hongjoong’s hands start drumming on the dashboard, on the door, anywhere he can reach. His movements are wild. His face is alive with joy, his energy contagious, and Seonghwa can’t stop himself from glancing over. He knows he should keep his eyes on the road, but Hongjoong is just… Hongjoong. There’s something magnetic about the way he throws himself into moments like this, as if nothing else matters but right now.
Hongjoong accidentally bangs his hand on the dashboard as he plays his imaginary drum set and Seonghwa bursts out laughing at the comical sound his friend makes. He hasn’t laughed like this in a while, completely unfiltered, the kind that makes his chest feel lighter and tighten at the same time.
“If you break something, you’re paying for it!” Seonghwa shouts over the music, still laughing.
“Worth it!” Hongjoong yells back, his grin wide as he continues drumming like he’s performing for a packed crowd.
Seonghwa shakes his head, trying to focus on the road again, but his heart feels full. Moments like this remind him why he holds on to Hongjoong so tightly. Why, even when things are complicated and life feels overwhelming, he knows he’ll always have this. Always have his best friend beside him, pulling him out of his own head, and reminding him what it feels like to just let go.
~
“This is smaller than the pictures made it seem,” Hongjoong comments as they step into their dorm for the first time. He’s not wrong. The room feels more like a narrow hallway than an actual living space. The so-called kitchen is barely functional. A tiny oven and sink crammed near the door. The bathroom door is awkwardly positioned right next to the fridge, and their two beds are so close together, that there’s barely enough space to walk between them.
“At least we have windows,” Seonghwa offers, trying to sound optimistic. “And air conditioning.”
Hongjoong snorts, dropping his bag on one of the beds before collapsing onto it dramatically. “Well, goodbye to privacy, I guess.”
Seonghwa watches him sprawled out, his brown hair forming a halo around his face. “I wanted that one,” he whines, though he’s only half serious. There isn’t much difference between the two beds anyway, the left one is just closer to the window.
“I’ll give it to you if you unpack my stuff,” Hongjoong says with a grin.
“I drove,” Seonghwa shoots back. “Your turn to do things. Now get off my bed.” He gives Hongjoong’s foot a playful nudge, but his friend doesn’t move.
“If you want it that bad, we can always share,” Hongjoong teases.
Seonghwa crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. “You hate sharing.”
“New town, new me,” Hongjoong declares with a lazy grin, folding his arms behind his head like he’s perfectly at home already.
Seonghwa rolls his eyes, trying to suppress the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Fine," Seonghwa says with a sigh, plopping down on the other bed, which creaks loudly in the small room. "But just so we're clear, sharing is off the table. I've seen how you sleep."
“Pfft, you're no better,” Hongjoong retorts, rolling onto his side to face Seonghwa. “You hog all the blankets. It's like sleeping next to a burrito with a death grip.”
Seonghwa laughs, shaking his head. “Look at us, our first fight as college roommates. It seems we’re already off to a rough start.”
Hongjoong snorts but says nothing, just kicks his feet up onto Seonghwa’s bed, invading his space like he always does. And despite the cramped quarters, Seonghwa doesn’t mind. There’s something comforting about the closeness.
“So when will you be making lunch?”
Seonghwa smirks, lying back against the pillows. “New town, same you.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking, squeezing their belongings into every nook and cranny the cramped room offered. Suitcases shoved under beds, electronics tangled together on the desk, books stacked precariously in the small shelving unit that was somehow supposed to accommodate two people’s lives. The small space quickly became cluttered, but it felt oddly comforting, the beginning of something new, however chaotic.
By the time they were done, the exhaustion started to set in. Neither of them had the energy to argue over dinner or unpack any further. Seonghwa collapsed onto his bed, his body sinking into the mattress, and Hongjoong wasn’t far behind, his bed creaking as he flopped down.
“Orientation tomorrow,” Seonghwa mumbled, barely keeping his eyes open.
“See you in five hours?” Hongjoong replied, his voice slurring with sleep.
“Mmm, yeah…”
Within minutes, they were both out, the soft hum of the air conditioner lulling them into deep, dreamless sleep.
~
They followed the crowd toward the orientation hub, where groups of students were gathered around, listening to campus guides. It was a whirlwind. Lectures on what to expect in their first year, tips on managing coursework, icebreakers designed to make them bond with strangers. Seonghwa found himself zoning out halfway through, nodding and smiling at the right moments but feeling disconnected.
By midday, they’d been on various campus tours, club presentations, and even a brief welcome ceremony from the university dean. Seonghwa’s head was spinning by the time they found themselves sitting on the grass outside, lunch trays balanced on their knees.
“Man, I’m starving,” Hongjoong says between bites, looking around at the other groups of students scattered across the lawn. The tables were all full by the time they arrived.
“Same,” Seonghwa replies, though he wasn’t quite as focused on his food as his best friend. His attention kept drifting to the people around them. Students from all kinds of backgrounds, some wearing pride pins on their backpacks, others with dyed hair and piercings, openly expressing parts of themselves Seonghwa had rarely seen back home.
It was a little overwhelming. He knew coming here would mean meeting all kinds of people. He expected it. But now that he was seeing it he felt something tighten in his chest.
He tells himself it’s not a big deal. He knew this was part of the experience. College was supposed to be diverse, full of people with different stories, different identities. But still, it stirred something in him, something he wasn’t ready to examine too closely.
“Hey,” Hongjoong’s voice cut through his thoughts. “You okay? You’ve been kinda quiet.”
Seonghwa blinked, pulling himself back to the present. “Yeah, just tired. It's a lot to take in.”
Hongjoong nodded, his eyes soft with understanding. “Yeah, I get it. But it's exciting, right?”
Seonghwa smiled faintly, pushing the weird feelings aside. “Yeah. Definitely exciting.”
~
The days pass by in a blur. By the time Seonghwa realizes it, they’re almost three weeks into their new life at university, and things are starting to settle into a rhythm. A routine. And Seonghwa clings to it like a lifeline, a way to keep himself grounded amidst all the changes. He wakes up earlier than Hongjoong. His mornings are quiet. Just him, his thoughts, and the faint glow of the sunrise filtering through their small dorm window. By the time he returns from his morning classes, Hongjoong is already gone for the day.
Their paths only really cross at lunch, when Seonghwa meets Hongjoong on campus. They eat together, talk about their day, sometimes gripe about assignments, teachers, or the lack of new friends, even though neither of them has actually made any attempt at making any yet. And then it’s back to class, back to routine. Evenings are spent catching up in their dorm room, trading stories about the day while they study before they inevitably fall asleep.
There’s no energy left for the things Hongjoong had promised: parties, excitement, the wild freedom of college life. Maybe it’s the adjustment to everything, the sheer amount of change that’s sucking the energy out of Seonghwa. Maybe it’s the lingering heat of late summer clinging to him, slowing him down.
But it’s not bad. He’s doing okay in his classes so far, and he has Hongjoong to whine to when things go wrong. It’s enough, he thinks. He doesn’t need much more in his life to feel content. The routine is good. Safe. That's how he can handle change.
Joongie 13:46
Sorryyy, I’m running late. Go find us a spot and I’ll come find you.
Seonghwa sighs, staring at the message before squinting against the sun, trying to find a place to sit in the busy yard. The tables are packed, clusters of students laughing, chatting, enjoying their breaks between classes. As he searches for a spot, his eyes land on something unusual.
At one table, a guy with dark hair is trying to side-hug a blonde guy, nothing too weird about that. Seonghwa is not homophobic. But the blonde is clearly uncomfortable, flinching away when the other guy leans in to kiss his neck. Seonghwa’s chest tightens. Is no one else noticing this? This is clear harassment.
Without thinking, Seonghwa finds himself moving toward the table, feet carrying him before his brain can catch up. He can hear the blonde whining now, pushing at the dark-haired guy’s chest, trying to get him off.
“Sannie—” the blonde’s voice wavers.
Seonghwa slams his tray down on the table, causing both of them to flinch, their heads snapping toward him in surprise.
“I’m sorry, is there a problem here?” Seonghwa’s voice is sharp, his jaw clenched as he glares at the dark-haired guy who’s still clinging to the blonde. He might not be as muscular as the dark-haired guy but he has to stop this, no matter how scared he feels inside.
“What?” the dark-haired guy says, his face scrunching up in confusion, but still holding onto the other man, who is now turning red.
“Get away from him,” Seonghwa warns, making his voice low and tight. “Or I’m reporting you.” His hands curl into fists, and he’s really trying to hold back, but if this guy tries anything else, he’s not sure he’ll be able to keep his cool.
Suddenly, both boys burst into laughter.
Seonghwa blinks, frozen. The blonde hides his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he tries to muffle his laughter.
“See, Sangie? This is what happens when you deny my love in public,” the dark-haired guy gives an exaggerated pout. “People think I’m harassing you.”
“I’m sorry, sorry,” Sangie chokes out between giggles, looking up at Seonghwa with a sheepish smile.
Seonghwa stands there, tray still in hand, completely dumbfounded. “Wait... what?” he mumbles, his brain struggling to process the scene. He feels heat rise to his cheeks, embarrassment creeping in as he realizes he’s walked into something that clearly wasn’t what it seemed.
The two guys continue laughing softly, the tension completely diffused, leaving Seonghwa awkwardly standing there.
“Sorry, man,” the black-haired man says, finally catching his breath. “I’m San. This is Yeosang. My boyfriend.”
“Yeah. Sannie is very affectionate…A little much sometimes.” He gives the dark-haired guy a playful shove. “But I promise, I’m fine. I actually like when he gets like this.”
Seonghwa exhales, the tension in his body slowly releasing. “Right. Uh, sorry for—” he rubs the back of his neck, feeling more than a little out of place now. “I just… thought—”
“It’s cool!” Sannie says brightly, waving a hand. “You were just being a good guy. A knight in shining armor and all that, I appreciate a man with strong morals.” San comforts.
Seonghwa’s about to respond when he notices something. San has a rainbow pin on his jacket, small but noticeable, and Yeosang’s wearing something that looks like a pride wristband, even though he doesn’t recognize the colors of the flag. His stomach flips for a reason he can't understand.
San gestures to the empty seat opposite him. “You wanna sit with us? We won’t bite. Our friend Wooyoung does though.”
“Wooyoung? Jung Wooyoung?” Seonghwa asks, surprised.
“You know him?” San asks.
“We have a class together.”
“Huh, small world, huh? Well, come sit and tell us about yourself.”
Seonghwa hesitates, glancing around the yard. “Oh, I’m waiting for someone. He should be here soon.”
“Cool! The more the merrier,” San says with a casual yet beaming smile and Seonghwa wonders how he could have ever thought this guy was harassing Yeosang. He looks like he'd cry if he hurt a fly.
Not wanting to seem rude, Seonghwa slides into the seat they offered. He places his tray down, trying not to make a big deal of it. Sitting with two guys who were clearly a couple wasn’t a problem, right? He was cool with it. It was no big deal.
“So, how old are you?" Yeosang asks, sipping his iced coffee and giving Seonghwa an easy smile. "Me and Sannie are nineteen."
Seonghwa clears his throat. "I'm twenty."
"Oh! But you're new here, right? how’s your first few weeks been, hyung? Settling in okay?”
“Yeah, they’ve been… alright,” Seonghwa replies, his tone a little vague. “Still adjusting to everything, you know?”
“Tell me about it,” San groans dramatically. “I’m already drowning in readings. The professors here don’t mess around.”
Seonghwa manages a small smile, though he feels a little out of his depth with these guys. As they chat, he spots Hongjoong in the distance, weaving through the tables with his usual crooked sunglasses and a coffee in hand. He can’t help the small grin tugging at his lips. Hongjoong always manages to look like he’s in a rush but still cool somehow.
“There he is,” Seonghwa says, waving him over.
Hongjoong finally reaches the table, plopping down beside Seonghwa without a second thought. “Sorry, the line for coffee was a nightmare,” he mutters, flashing an apologetic smile before glancing at the new faces. “Looks like you made friends?”
“Kind of. More like I embarrassed myself in front of them,” Seonghwa mumbles, glancing awkwardly at San and Yeosang. “This is San and Yeosang. Guys, this is my f—Hongjoong.”
“Nice to meet you!” San greets enthusiastically, giving Hongjoong an eye-smile.
“What are you guys studying?” Yeosang asks, smoothly shifting the conversation, picking up on Seonghwa’s slight awkwardness.
“Art. Thinking of going into fashion design eventually,” Hongjoong says, leaning back, relaxed as always. “Seonghwa’s going to be a kindergarten teacher.”
“Aw, I love kids,” San says, brightening. “So you must be good with them?”
Seonghwa shrugs, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious under the attention. “I try.”
“He’s great with them, don’t let him fool you,” Hongjoong chimes in, giving Seonghwa a playful nudge. “He’s just being modest.”
San smiles again, but then his eyes flick between the two of them curiously. “So… you two been together long?”
Seonghwa’s eyes widen slightly, heat rushing to his face. “Uh, what?”
Yeosang chuckles, a knowing look in his eyes. “You look cute together.”
Seonghwa stammers, quickly shaking his head. “No! No, we’re not—”
But Hongjoong jumps in smoothly, saving him. “We’re just friends,” he says, not missing a beat, his voice steady. Too steady, almost as if he was expecting them to be mistaken for a couple.
“Ahh, gotcha,” San says, nodding. “Sorry for assuming. You guys just give off that whole ‘old-married couple’ vibe, y’know?”
Hongjoong laughs it off easily, but Seonghwa can feel his heart pounding too fast, his face still warm. “Don’t worry about it,” Hongjoong says casually. “We’re just close because we grew up together. Been through a lot of shit together, so there’s not much we don’t know about each other.”
Seonghwa forces a smile, though inside, his mind is racing. The assumption caught him completely off guard, and now he can’t help but overthink it. Sure, he and Hongjoong were close—practically inseparable—but a couple? Is that how people saw them? Why did that idea make his chest tighten?
As the conversation moves on, Seonghwa tries to push the thought aside. It didn’t mean anything. Just a harmless misunderstanding. Nothing more to it.
“I think I wanna dye my hair,” Hongjoong says suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence as they walk back to their dorm.
“What?” Seonghwa blinks, looking over at him like he hadn’t heard correctly.
“Yeah, like a bold color,” Hongjoong repeats casually.
“Why?”
Hongjoong shrugs. “Because… we’re in college now. Best time to experiment, right? And I think you should dye yours too.”
Seonghwa snorts, shaking his head. “What? No way.”
“I’m serious! Something lighter would look good on you,” Hongjoong says, studying Seonghwa’s face thoughtfully as if already imagining it. "Maybe blonde..."
Seonghwa laughs, his nose scrunching up. “You’re out of your mind. I can’t pull that off like you.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself,” Hongjoong says, nudging Seonghwa’s shoulder playfully. “You’ve got that whole soft, handsome boyfriend thing going on. A lighter color would make you pop. Soft boy friend into campus heartthrob...All the girls would swarm to you like moths to a flame.”
Seonghwa feels a flicker of warmth in his chest at the compliment but brushes it off with a scoff. “I think you should go for it.”
Hongjoong hums, probably sensing Seonghwa doesn't want to talk about it. “Maybe I will.”
They walk in silence for a moment, Seonghwa glancing sideways at Hongjoong. There’s something freeing about dying your hair, Seonghwa supposes. Hongjoong’s willingness to dive into change, embrace it, make it his own…it’s a little inspiring. A little scary too.
Seonghwa wishes he could do the same without second-guessing everything. He wishes he could be more like Hongjoong, so open and welcoming to change.
His friend turns his head to look back at Seonghwa, his eyes flicker with mischief. “What do you think about red?”