Secret Secret | Seungjin | (Ongoing)
What a genius!
Just another day in Seoul University.
It's the hot month of June, when the sun shines bright in the sky. Even the morning at 8 am feels like afternoon.
Han Jisung
*yawns* Oh god! The day hasn't even started yet and I'm so sleepy already!
Yang Jeongin
Well, no one told you to stay up all night to watch Spy × Family.
Han Jisung
Damn! Kim Seungmin! So f**king punctual as always. You still obsessed with that bitter Iced Americano on this hot morning? Respect, man!
Kim Seungmin
*smiles* Can't start a day without a caffeine kick, you know?
As Seungmin, Jeongin, and Han sauntered towards the building where they had a class together, they suddenly stopped in their tracks when they witnessed something.
Han Jisung
*excited* Woah! Look at that!
Jisung pointed at the scene taking place in front of them and they all walked towards the scene, except Seungmin, who rolled his eyes in irritation.
A Junior Girl
Hyunjin senior, I really like you! You've helped me a lot since I was new here so I just couldn't resist your charm and ended up falling for you!
Hwang Hyunjin
*chuckles* Oh, that's cute. But I'm so sorry I'm actually quite busy right now due to some exams. I don't have time to have a relationship right now... so...
Han Jisung
*whispers to Seungmin*
He's a f**king liar. We both take all the same classes and there are no exams.
Kim Seungmin
*whispers back*
I already knew he's a pathological liar. You don't have to let me know.
The junior girl began tearing up as she heard Hyunjin's words and ran away from him without responding to his words.
Han Jisung
*exclaims* Wow! What a heartbreaker you are, Hwang Hyunjin!
Yang Jeongin
*laughs* He turned her down politely but she couldn't handle rejection. I don't think it's his fault.
Hwang Hyunjin
*timid* This is the third time I've gotten confessed to, and the classes haven't even started yet... It's the beginning of the second year and on the first day, I made someone cry...
Han Jisung
That was bound to happen! Damn, guess our friend is very popular among girls, huh? As expected, our all-rounder handsome and talented, Hyunjin~
Hwang Hyunjin
*laughs* It's not like that!
Yang Jeongin
*joins in* Stop staying in denial! It's exactly like that!
While they were all having a conversation, Seungmin kept silent and sipped on his Iced Americano. He rolled his eyes at Hyunjin but no one noticed.
While being bored, he took his phone out of his pocket and saw the time. He instantly acknowledged that the classes had begun.
Kim Seungmin
Guys! We're late to the class!
Yang Jeongin
*sees the time on his Apple smartwatch*
He's right! We're late! Let's run!
They all sprinted into the campus building and ran past the crowds of other students to make it to the class on time... which they failed to do so.
They all stood in front of the class, as the professor stared at them, looking quite furious.
Han Jisung
*panting heavily* Sir... may we...
Professor
*starts scolding*
No! Why are you so late to class?! Are the other students stupid to be in the class on time?!
Yang Jeongin
Sir... actually...
Professor
No excuses will be heard! All four of you are being detained! I warned you several times to be punctual in my class, but looks like words won't change your disobedient attitude!
Kim Seungmin
*confidently* But sir, we were all preparing for your lesson in the library. We just lost track of time.
Professor
*scoffs* Oh really?! Alright then. If you answer this one question correctly, I'll let you off for one last time.
Professor
*asks a very tough question*
Kim Seungmin
*gives the right answer easily*
Professor
*impressed* You seem like an intellectual student, unlike your friends... nevertheless I'll let all of you in. Go take a seat.
Kim Seungmin
*smiles* Thank you, sir!
With that, the four of them walk into the class as the professor resumes teaching. They all end up sitting at the back of the class because it was already pretty full.
Han Jisung
*whispers* What a f**king genius you are, Kim Seungmin.
Kim Seungmin
It's nothing, bro.
Han Jisung
*sighs* If only I could be either as handsome and popular as Hyunjin or as smart as you. I'm neither and it sucks.
Kim Seungmin
*annoyed* Oh come on...
Seungmin wanted to say further but he couldn't. He could contain the resentment he had for Hyunjin only in his heart.
He hates every word that Jisung said. He despises the fact that people compare him with Hyunjin as two opposite sides of the spectrum where you can either be the main character or a small supporting character which is always neglected.
The main character was Hwang Hyunjin, and the small, often ignored supporting character was Kim Seungmin himself.
People only saw Hyunjin as a nice and extroverted friend while Seungmin was looked down upon as an introverted bookworm. And he hated it so much that he couldn't help but feel disliking towards Hyunjin.
Kim Seungmin
*thinks: If only Hwang Hyunjin could disappear from this world... *
The Reason?
Han Jisung
*munching on his food*
...Hmm! And then Seungmin answered that fearsome professor's toughest question with ease! He's a super genius!
Kim Seungmin
*sighs* Can you just stop now already? That incident happened ages ago!
Lee Felix
*smiles* No but actually though, I think Seungmin is the smartest among us...
Yang Jeongin
That's so true!
Hwang Hyunjin
*smiles* Well, I totally believe in the fact that Seungmin is indeed the smartest one, probably among the whole campus!
With that statement, Hyunjin set off Seungmin's patience.
Kim Seungmin
*scoffs* Mr. Hwang, I don't think we're that close enough, or that I gave you any permission to use my name without any honorifics.
Hwang Hyunjin
*shocked* Wha- oh... I'm sorry- I didn't mean to-
Lee Felix
Woah! Seungmin, I don't think Hyunjin meant any harm by using your name casually-
Kim Seungmin
*serious* But like I said, I don't remember asking him or telling him to suddenly drop honorifics like that. I didn't have to tell you this when we first became friends, even though you're Australian. Mr. Hwang is Korean, so he should be aware of these manners.
Seungmin just couldn't stand being around Hyunjin anymore, and it was literally the first day of the second year!
One thing he despised more was that he had to take almost all his classes with Hyunjin except the last one, where he felt like he could finally focus on his studies.
Hyunjin was the most popular guy in the University. For Seungmin, that meant that Hyunjin was very selfish and only used people for his own good. Seungmin believed that Hyunjin only acted nice on the outside but he was arrogant and very wretched on the inside.
For Seungmin, it was just a matter of time till Hyunjin would reveal his true colors.
Han Jisung
Aye, calm down, man! We were all just joking around. Don't take it to heart man, we didn't mean it. It was all jokes.
Kim Seungmin
*gets up from the lunch table*
I'll just take a stroll outside. Don't come after me. We'll be seeing each other in the next class anyways.
Seungmin walked out of the cafeteria leaving the lunch table in complete quietness. Jisung tried but couldn't figure out why Seungmin didn't like Hyunjin at all, so he tried to lighten the atmosphere instead.
Han Jisung
*turns to Hyunjin* Aye! Don't be too sad about it. Most of the time Seungmin is just like this. Acting grumpy like a grandpa.
Yang Jeongin
*chuckles* Yeah! It's no big deal! I still remember he treated me harshly like this on my first day in the hostel, but then he later bought me chicken! He's just a tsundere.
Lee Felix
*smirks* Like Minho.
Jisung's ears immediately turned red at the mention of the senior who was also his boyfriend, Lee Minho.
Hwang Hyunjin
Oh...is that so?
Lee Felix
Absolutely! I just know him too well. He's not used to being with a new person around, and since he's introverted it's harder on him. Don't worry, he'll come around soon.
Yang Jeongin
Hmm... Don't be offended, Hyunjin... But I honestly think Seungmin is acting this way because you're the most well-known... I still remember last year when we were in our first year and you appeared on the Fashion Show at the Fresher's party...
After that, you gained so many friends and fans and since then you're the most popular one here... I just think Seungmin doesn't like that you're always in the spotlight...
Yang Jeongin
Yeah... Seungmin likes being around people who are not too popular like us... But you're different, Hyunjin. You're better and more talented than the rest of us. The fact that you chose to be friends with us this year is a big deal in itself.
Hwang Hyunjin
*too stunned to speak*
Wow... I didn't... I-I really didn't think too much of it but now...
Han Jisung
*annoyed* Shut it, Yang Jeongin! And as I said, don't you worry, Hyunjin. The second year has just begun and so has our friendship. I can assure you by the end of summer you're gonna be Seungmin's best friend!
Hwang Hyunjin
Hmm... I hope so...
Hyunjin felt pretty down and wronged because of the circumstances but he didn't condemn Seungmin for anything. He just hoped that things were really in the way that his friends had described them to be.
He didn't want to be enemies with anyone, even Seungmin...
who caught his attention when he first saw him studying hard under a tree in a park.
Disapproval
After lunchtime, Seungmin didn't speak much with his friends for the rest of the classes.
His mood had gotten spoiled because even if he would consider approaching them, he would always see Hyunjin tagging along with them.
Kim Seungmin
*thinks: Out of all the people on the campus, why did he decide to choose my friends? He's always with them, it's so annoying!*
It was 4 pm now, and all the classes had wrapped up. Students were either rushing toward the football field or going back to their hostels.
Seungmin had been wandering alone toward the hostel. Yes, there were hostels inside the campus, but Seungmin wanted to move outside the campus.
He had three roommates and he just didn't like it when they would regularly stay up late at night and make noises. The best he could do was confront them but they wouldn't listen.
Suddenly he heard a pair of footsteps approaching him behind his back. He turned around to see Jisung.
Han Jisung
*panting heavily* Hey! Why are you leaving so early without saying bye at least? I went looking for you at three libraries on campus but you weren't there! You made me so worried!
Kim Seungmin
*nonchalantly* Why are you looking for me though? I'm going back to the hostel.
Han Jisung
*stunned* So soon? What happened?
Kim Seungmin
Nothing... I'm just a little disturbed right now... I want to move out of the hostel and look for a place somewhere else. Preferably outside the campus. My study and sleep schedule is messed up because of my noisy roommates.
Han Jisung
Is that so?! Don't worry! I'll help you find a place to stay! But you're not planning to move out today, are you?
Kim Seungmin
*sighs* Unfortunately, no. I've been trying to look for rental rooms online but they're way too pricey. I can't do 600 dollars for rent when I've got to buy books, you know. Today's Tuesday, so I should be able to move out by Sunday... but why do you ask?
Han Jisung
*shrugs his shoulders*
I was just curious. By the way, don't get too mad about this. I just wanted to ask why do you not like Hyunjin?
Kim Seungmin
*scoffs* Oh god! Not his name again! Can't we have a peaceful conversation without bringing him up every damn time?!
Han Jisung
Calm down! All I'm saying is that we didn't even talk to him at all last year, but why do you despise him so much even though you haven't even gotten to know each other first? You can't hate anyone without a reason, right?
Kim Seungmin
*rolls his eyes in annoyance*
Just forget it. You wouldn't understand. Bye!
With that, Seungmin walked away in wrath leaving a baffled Jisung behind.
Felix, Jeongin, and Hyunjin saw Jisung standing still at that exact time and approached him.
Lee Felix
What are you doing here? I thought you were looking for Seungmin? Did you find him?
Han Jisung
Yeah... I did... but...
Suddenly Jisung's head lit up with an idea.
Han Jisung
Hey, Hyunjin! Can I ask where you live? I heard around that you don't live in the campus anymore...is that true?
Hwang Hyunjin
*confused* Yeah, but... why do you ask?
Han Jisung
*excited* Are you looking for a roommate?
Hwang Hyunjin
*hesitant* Well... not really... I can afford my rent and other living expenses... but why are you asking me these things?
Yang Jeongin
*glares at Jisung*
Oh come on, Han Jisung. Don't tell me you're planning to move out and leave me alone on my own! I can't do well without you!
Han Jisung
*laughs* It's not like that, you idiot! Seungmin is the one moving out, not me!
Everyone except Hyunjin looked at each other and squealed in delight. They thought they figured out a way to rectify things between Seungmin and Hyunjin.
Hwang Hyunjin
Guys... I don't think he'll be willing to live with me...
Han Jisung
Nah, don't worry about it. He's way too desperate to move out and get away from his noisy roommates. He told me that rentals outside the campus are quite expensive. How much is your rent per month?
Hwang Hyunjin
*thinks for a bit*
Around... 400 dollars per month. It should make sense because it's a one-bedroom flat. I don't know how costly we're talking but for me, it's a manageable rent.
Han Jisung
*hops in excitement*
Bro! Seungmin said that the ones he saw reached 600 dollars! Once he moves in, you guys can split the rent and live happily ever after. 200 dollars a month sounds like a paradise for him. I just know he'll be more than willing to move in with you!
Hwang Hyunjin
But... it's me. We haven't sorted out the conflicts between us yet. How can he be willing to live with... me?
Han Jisung
*squeals* Leave it all to me! Just clean up your apartment by this weekend and Seungmin will be there in no time. I promise you, man, Seungmin will be living at your place. It will be way easier to settle any disputes when you two will be under the same roof.
Hyunjin kept a straight face and nodded in approval to Jisung's words, but deep down...
...the thought of living with Seungmin brought a smile to his face.
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