Chapter Text
“I’m done with all of you. I’m leaving”
Hyukjae stomped across the living room, the wheels of his suitcase screeching behind him.
“I’m serious guys, I am going”
Hyukjae :
I live with six guys in a dorm, out of which one of them is my “fake boyfriend”. Was. He’s also my roommate. Was. This was going to happen one day.
“You all are gonna regret this,” Hyukjae shouted. “Within the next 10 minutes y’all will miss me. And before I reach my new apartment, I’ll get so many calls begging to come back. But I won't reply! Just like y’all aren’t replying right now! You nincompoops don't deserve such a nice man” He complained, unlocking the myriad of locks on the main door. “I've been nothing but patient with you all. Not anymore. I’m gonna step out of this house right now and–”
He swung the door open to find the most gorgeous human being right before his eyes.
Hyukjae :
The embodiment of beauty. Big doe eyes, dark hair and jEsus, those lips looked like candy.
“And… and… I can totally wait. No hurry. How may I help you, young lady?” Hyukjae asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“I’m a guy.” The man said. “Kim Heechul”
Hyukjae gaped at him. The voice coming out from that mouth did not match the face. Hyukjae almost waited for a man to peek out from behind this girl and say this was a joke. This voice couldn't belong to such a beautiful face.
“Hello?” Heechul waved a hand in front of his face.
Oh no. It was real. This was a man.
“Oh, hey, hi, um, I’m Hyukjae”
There was a huge suitcase next to Heechul.
“I assume, you’re moving out, and that’s why there’s a vacancy here”
Hyukjae’s eyebrows strung together. “There’s a vacancy? Here??”
“Yeah, I saw it in a flyer”
“Oh, it must be a mistake” Hyukjae waved dismissively. “But now that you’re already here, come in” He led him into the living room. “So, tell me something about yourself, where are you from? How did you find this flyer?”
“It was on the college notice board”
“The notice board?”
“Yeah. Kinda weird ‘cause I don’t think that’s allowed” Heechul shrugged. “Good for me though, I was looking for a place to stay”
“Which year are you in?”
“Final year”
“Really?”
“Yeah”
"Wow, you don’t look a day over 17” He winked.
“And you don’t look like you should wink at any 17 year old like that”
Hyukjae :
Hmmm. Cheeky. I like cheeky.
Sungmin trotted out of his room. “Did my parcel arrive?”
“No. That did.” Hyukjae pointed at Heechul.
Sungmin smacked his lips. “This…… is not what I ordered”
“Dude, be nice,” Hyukjae hissed. “He’s our new flatmate, Heechul”
“Oh, you saw the flyer” Sungmin asked Heechul
“You know about it too??” Hyukjae was apparently the only one who had no idea.
“Yeah” Sungmin peeked over his shoulder to look at Heechul. “Welcome home” And with that he returned to his room.
“And that was Sungmin” Hyukjae said, plopping down on the couch next to Heechul. “Anyway, you must be tired from all the travelling”
“Not really, I just walked a couple blocks down. This place is close to my previous apartment”
“Right, but it must be tiring since you were born”
“Huh?”
“When you fell from heaven”
Heechul :
I was just hoping this guy was the WORST thing this place had to offer. Anything worse than these pickup lines and I’m outta here
“It’s okay,” Hyukjae said.
“What?”
“I know I have beautiful eyes. You can stop staring now”
“No, I–”
“Shh” He put a finger over Heechul’s lips. “You don’t have to explain yourself”
Hyukjae :
I can see it when guys get charmed by me. It doesn’t take a lot to spot a guy who’s drooling over my charms. Sometimes I can’t help attract the male gaze
Hyukjae wheeled both their suitcases to his room, the one he shared with Donghae.
“So, why did you move?”
“Fought with my roommate”
Hyukjae chuckled. “I totally get you. I was about to move out because I fought with mine”
He kicked open the bedroom door.
Donghae’s eyes were glued to his phone screen. “Already back, huh. So much for yelling You'll beg me to come back here Lee Donghae! in my face”
“Donghae, out” Hyukjae nudged him, settling Heechul’s suitcase by his bed.
“Wait wait, what’s happening? Who are you?” Donghae sat up, looking at them and their suitcases in utter confusion.
“He’s Heechul, our new dorm buddy”
“You saw the flyer?” Donghae asked.
“Why am I the only one who doesn’t know about this flyer!”
“Because they were meant for someone to replace you”
“But I decided to leave, this morning”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said everyone likes me better than you”
“Whatever. I’m not fond of you guys either. I only came back because–” He paused, turning to Heechul.
Hyukjae :
I couldn’t tell Donghae that Heechul’s beauty had captured my heart and soul and now I had no place to go except that beautiful man’s arms. It would break his heart… his fragile little manchild heart
“Because?” Donghae repeated.
“To make sure you don’t drive him crazy like you did to me. I’m gonna stay here to protect him”
“Too bad, we cannot accommodate eight people. You have to leave”
“Nuhuh”
“Yuhuh” Donghae imitated, mocking him.
“No way”
“Yes way!”
“I’ll talk to Leeteuk. Where’s he?” Hyukjae went upstairs, looking for him. Heechul followed him because this Leeteuk guy seemed like the one in authority. And hopefully slightly saner than Hyukjae.
“Leeteuk! Leeteuk, where are you???” Hyukjae barged into his Leeteuk and Yesung’s shared bedroom. “Where’s Leeteuk?”
”He’ll be late, why?”
“This is Heechul, who is moving in with us”
“You read the fly-“
“Yes, yes he read the flyer, everyone read the flyer okay! I get it! You guys have been waiting for me to move out! But guess what? I changed my mind. I’m gonna stay here until the end of time!”
Yesung opened his mouth to speak but no words came out for a few seconds.
“Uh… okay, suit yourself”
“So he can stay right? Great! I knew you wouldn’t mind. I’ll ask Donghae to move his stuff to Sungmin’s room so Heechul and I can settle back in our room” He turned to Heechul happily. “Aren’t you excited! I know I am!”
“I’m not moving,” Donghae said drily.
“Come on~ What’s the big deal?”
“He can stay with Sungmin. Why do I need to move?”
“You don’t like staying with me anyway!”
“I’ll stay with Sungmin,” Heechul said.
“No you won’t”
“I’m not leaving my room or my bed. So do whatever the hell you want” Donghae said, crossing his arms across his chest decisively.
“Ugh! Fine!” Hyukjae stomped angrily and went to look for Sungmin.
He found him in Kyuhyun’s room. They were sitting on the floor with their backs against the bed, playing video games.
Hyukjae flopped onto the bed, putting his face creepily close to Sungmin's ear. “Hey”
Sungmin nearly jumped in terror.
“You scared me!”
“I desperately need your help”
Sungmin was breathing heavily with a hand on his chest where his heart thumped incessantly. “Can you kindly not sneak up on me next time?”
“Noted”
“What happened?”
“You gotta convince Donghae to move into your room so Heechul and I can move back in“
“Heechul can stay in my room. There’s no need for Donghae to move”
“Nooooo” Hyukjae whined. “I want to-“ He stopped and pulled Sungmin a bit away from Kyuhyun. Not that kyuhyun was listening to there conversation. He didn’t even know Hyukjae was there.
“You can’t stay with Heechul” Hyukjae said, rather seriously. “I’m saying this for your sake. Because I care about you”
“What?”
“Look at him. Look at his face. How will you feel when you wake up every morning to that face and realise you’ll never be that beautiful? Will that feel nice? You don’t need that kinda negativity in your life do ya? But me, I can live with it”
“I can’t tell if you’re calling me ugly or yourself”
Hyukjae grabbed his face with both hands. “Lee Sungmin, you were the most handsome man I knew until 15 minutes ago”
“Cut it out. What do you want?”
“Let me share a room with him pleeeeeease”
“Why?”
“He’s so gorgeous! And he arrived the second I was about to leave. I think we’re destined to be together. It’s like a classic love story!” He pouted. “Please, please, pleaseee let me share a room with him”
“Alright… I’ll talk to Donghae”
As Sungmin left the room, Heechul entered, looking for Hyukjae. He couldn’t take it anymore. The silence and tension of sitting in the same room as Donghae while he stared at him was worse than Hyukjae desperately trying to become his roommate.
“What now?” He asked.
“Everything's sorted. Sungmin‘s going to talk to Donghae. Everyone here respects me, you know” Hyukjae said, his arm cockily resting on the bed frame. “I told Sungmin that I want Donghae out of the room and look how quickly he rushed to do the job”
Heechul :
Liar. I was standing outside the room. I heard him begging to Sungmin. I'm beginning to think it wouldn't be the best idea to share a room with Hyukjae
Kyuhyun finally noticed that Sungmin was not by his side. He looked around and pulled his headphones down when he saw Hyukjae.
“Hey, do you know where Sungmin went? I’m pretty sure he was here a few seconds ago”
“He went downstairs”
“Really? Man, he’s sneaky. It’s like he was right here and now poof! Gone. Like a genie”
“You seriously didn’t notice me coming and lying on your bed and accidentally scaring the shit outta him?”
“Hyukjae, I ignore you even without my headphones on. You think I would’ve noticed you with ‘em on?”
“Sweet.” Hyukjae remarked sarcastically. “By the way, did you know someone put flyers for a vacancy in our dorm. Crazy right?”
“Of course I know. I helped Donghae with it”
“What? Why???”
“Cause he got me this” Kyuhyun raised the console he was holding.
“No, I mean why did he do that?”
“You know why”
Hyukjae :
Huh. Wow. So much for pretending to be his boyfriend. I don't get what's wrong with Donghae. He's so...unpredictable
Hyukjae shook his head. “He’s such a horrible ex. I wonder what’ll happen to his actual boyfriend. That’s if he ever gets one. Well, too bad for him, I am staying, and I’m gonna stay in his room with him and make him suffer!”
He rushed downstairs. “Sungmin, wait! I don’t want to swap rooms! Waaaait~”
Heechul:
I'm just glad I don't have to share a room with that monkey
Siwon hastily keyed in the password at the door.
“Guys, guys, guys! I need a charger. Quick!”
“In my room” Sungmin vaguely pointed upstairs.
Siwon :
It was Friday. Every Friday at sharp 7pm I upload my bible reading video. Live. Do you know how many people wait for it every week?? A total of 27 people. I couldn’t be late and disappoint my audience
Siwon skidded to a halt before Sungmin’s study and plugged in his phone on charge. The lightning bolt over the battery symbol lit up and the man could finally breathe.
And then he couldn’t.
When he saw a reflection in the mirror.
Crouched next to the bed was a figure with long hair that touched the floor as it kneeled, bending over to look under the bed. It was wearing a pristine white gown.
Siwon froze in terror.
“....Oh no” He muttered under his breath, eyes big as saucers, fixed on the figure.
He clenched the phone in his hand tight, gulping nervously. He reached for a wooden cross in his coat pocket and slowly drew it out without attracting attention.
He swung around on his heels and pointed the cross at the figure. “Begone evil spirit!”
The figure turned around to look at him, its eyes peeking through the strands of hair that covered its face. It was pale. But Siwon was paler.
“Dude–”
“Don’t come near me!” Siwon squealed, stepping back, the cross pointed more firmly at the figure in the gown.
“What the–”
Siwon threw the cross at him and ran out of the room. “THERE’S A GHOST IN THIS HOUSE!!!”
Siwon :
It was not a ghost. It was our new dorm mate Heechul. A new addition to the already crowded house. Apparently some guys wear a nightgown to bed. Who knew? I was so scared. He has really long hair. It looked like that scene from the Ring.
Heechul was rubbing his forehead with an ice pack where the cross had hit his head. He could feel a bump growing underneath the skin.
Kyuhyun couldn’t stop laughing. “Let me get this straight, you thought he was a ghost?” He asked and burst into another bout of laughter.
“He’s wearing a gown”
“I haven’t done my laundry in two weeks. This is all I had” Heechul said, flicking the laced edge of his gown, trying not to notice how eerily close Hyukjae was sitting.
“I think you look cute,” He said, smiling innocently.
Heechul ignored, turning towards the others who looked a mix of shocked and confused. Except Kyuhyun. He was still laughing.
“My mom accidentally packed her nightgown in my suitcase. I had nothing else to wear so I wore this. And it’s super comfortable. Quite airy down there too”
“I wonder how airy it must be down there” Hyukjae said.
Heechul :
I’ve seen a fair share of creepy men in my life. I’m used to it. The thing is creepy men look the type. Not Hyukjae though. He’s a creep who looks completely normal.
“Is he always this creepy?” Heechul grabbed Hyukjae’s jaw, turning his head to look at him. “Listen up man. I see you're attracted to this face but you gotta keep it in your pants"
“I was not–”
“And stay like 10 feet away from” Heechul shoved a cushion between them.
“Hyuk’s become too horny since Donghae dumped him,” Kyuhyun remarked.
“I didn’t dump him!”
“He didn’t dump me!”
The two voices spoke in unison.
Hyukjae and Donghae glared at each other.
Hyukjae :
He did not dump me. We weren’t even dating for real. It was fake. It’s a long story
Donghae :
I did technically dump him. But it was fake anyway so.
It was supposed to be fake.
But I started liking him. And I know he’d never really like me back so I’ve been trying to make myself dislike him. It’s hard, but the way he’s all over the new guy right now, I think it’s gonna get easier
“So you’re not denying being horny?” Yesung asked.
“Oh god–”
“Don’t take the lord’s name in vain” Siwon interrupted.
“Okay, alright, guys, y’all are totally overthinking. Donghae didn’t dump me and I’m not horny”
“Not at all?” Yesung asked.
“Just as much as every other person here is”
“There, you did it again,” Heechul pointed. “You said, just as much as every other person here and looked straight at me!”
“No I did not”
“I know I am irresistible but come on man, we literally met this morning”
“Oh my god I–”
“Don’t take the lord’s–”
“I’m not taking his name in vain! It’s a plea for help! Cause all of you think I'm a horny fuck!” He stomped towards his room and stopped at the door, turning around to give them all one last look. “And for your information, if I was so horny, Donghae wouldn’t still be a virgin!”
Hyukjae:
Aaanndddd mic drop. I gotta say, Donghae’s face was worth seeing. This is what he gets for trying to drive me out of the house HAH!
Donghae curled up in one corner of the couch desperately trying not to turn red.
Yesung patted his back. “Don’t worry you can sleep in my room tonight”
Donghae nodded. “And rest all nights until I graduate”
“Boyssss~ Look what I’ve got~” Leeteuk announced as he waltzed into them house with arms full of bags. “Your favourite hyung has got your favourite–” He was stumped when he saw Heechul.
“He’s not a ghost, Teuk,” Kyuhyun said and earned an irritated nudge from Siwon.
Leeteuk:
Honestly? I would've preferred a ghost.
This was bad.
I had history with this guy. And worse so, it didn’t look like he remembered me at all.
Leeteuk’s confused expressions dissolved behind a smile. “I can see that” He put the grocery bags down and wiped his hands on his jeans as he came to see him up close. “Hi, I’m Leeteuk”
“Kim Heechul,” Heechul replied. “I just moved in with you guys”
“Oh…” Leeteuk glanced at others, slightly confused. “I’m sorry but we have space for only seven. You see, there are four rooms and one has a single bed so…”
“There was an extra mattress in Kyuhyun’s closet,” said Sungmin. “We’ll manage, don’t worry”
Leeteuk nodded thoughtfully.
“Alright then, welcome to the madhouse”