Four years before the Party

2:30 pm

Minyook was now neck-deep in his assignments. When he selected music as his major a year ago, he never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that it would be this demanding. He knows studying The History of Music is important to understand the Symphony Orchestra better, but he really didn't want to learn about prehistoric humans (Edwardian era) and their appalling wind instruments right now.

Moreover, it was still only the third week of the term. It was not supposed to be this hectic.

"Minyook-ah, you can finish it at home, let's leave" Mu Myung, his classmate, whined from his seat beside him.

"Nah, I have to finish it here... Junseong said he wanted to go to the new restaurant tomorrow", he said with an air of indifference and simultaneously flipped through the enormous book, "And if we go there, then there is no way in sweet hell that I'll be home anytime before dawn, reasonably speaking."

Finally finding the topic he was looking for, he started writing down the notes, until-

"You are Haemin's friend right?" Minyook looked up to see Jye Hee shifting further towards him to talk in a hushed voice, "Can you ask him to introduce his friend to me?".

She noticed Minyook look at her with absolutely no clue whatsoever what she was talking about, dubbed shortly as "The lost puppy" look and quickly added, "You know, the short blond hottie? Can you do me this favour?".

Minyook sat back on his chair, eyeing the girl sceptically.

He knew it.

Nothing good would ever come out of any conversation a stranger initiated with him and that streak remained unchanged even today.

He might be the friendly, outgoing, and loud guy in his class, but that also means he is expected to be entitled to help them out in one way or another. He doesn't mind it much though.

From his childhood days, he had always had one or two good friends. Haemin and Junseong are the said two friends. They were his friends for as long as he can remember, and when Haemin had changed his school during high school, he still had Junseong.

Well, until he heroically (not really) saved a new kid with innocent, round eyes, from being bullied. After which, the new kid, Kevin, stuck around too. Now that Haemin hyung and he are in the same college, they started to spend more time together again.

However, Haemin's friend...? Is it someone he met during high school?

"I'm sorry Jye Hee-ssi," Minyook said, crossing his arms, "I've just started talking to Haemin hyung again. I can't ask him for such help already."

It was a lie.

They have definitely not just rekindled their friendship. They never were out of contact. Haemin was a year older than him but even then, he was here to help him with admissions and club activities.

Haemin hyung would definitely help if he asks him to.

Still, Minyook didn't want to help, mostly because he doesn't know Jye hee well. Apart from that, he had his doubts that Mu Myung liked her.

Before he further got nagged though, a message ping saved him.

Kevin: Don't die yet. My class got cancelled. Come save me from the boredom.

He hurriedly packed the scattered assignment papers into the bag and mumbled out an excuse to leave.

Kevin: Bring food.

He rushed to the on-campus supermarket with a smile. He was saved, of course, he will buy food. Minyook bought himself his favourite strawberry flavoured ice cream and chilled chocolate milk for Kevin. He made a mental note as he jumped the fence from the Supermarket to the Arts department, -to remind Kevin that the supermarket was not en route from the music department to the culinary arts department.

He had to take a detour through the art department to reach Kevin in the Culinary Department. It was not long, but if he gets caught jumping fences, he would, without fault, land in trouble.

As he turned the corner to the culinary department, he heard a loud bang. He retraced his steps to face the open window on the ground floor.

There, in the middle of a torn down sea of canvases, and what looks like a broken easel was a guy. A hot guy. The guy sensed Minyook's presence and directed an almost death glare at him.

Oh... he was a very very hot guy.

"Is there any problem?" the very very hot guy asked. His blond locks stuck to his forehead from the profuse sweating.

Wait, blond?

"Are you the hot short blond guy?" Minyook blurted without thinking, promptly covering his mouth with his hands. It took exactly 2 seconds for him to realize his mistake and freeze on the spot.

He belatedly realized he was grandly unfit for society, and that he should hibernate in his room for the next few months. Maybe years.

"Call me short again and I'll shorten your lifespan." the shor- the blond guy said fuming before stalking further into the building.

Minyook made a run for his life.. he is never going to feed that brat, Kevin, again.

________________________________