Chapter 5 A Night Nobody Planned

Arin had no idea how he had ended up here.

That was the first problem.

The second problem was the music.

The third was Noah.

"Come on, Arin."

"No."

"Just for one hour."

"No."

"Forty-five minutes."

"No."

"Thirty."

"No."

"Twenty?"

Arin looked at him.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

"I said no."

Noah clasped his hands dramatically.

"Please."

Arin stared at him.

Then sighed.

He still didn't know why he had agreed.

Maybe because Noah had been pestering him for three consecutive days.

Maybe because he had promised it wouldn't be crowded.

Or maybe because Arin had realized he had spent almost every evening since arriving at university either studying, sculpting, or sitting alone in the dorm.

Whatever the reason...

He regretted it already.

The bar was loud.

Too loud.

Colored lights moved across the room.

Music shook the floor.

People laughed over one another.

Arin stood near the entrance with his hands in his pockets.

"This was a mistake."

Noah grinned.

"You've been here thirty seconds."

"Exactly."

Jae laughed.

"Give him time."

Arin looked at Jae.

"You brought me here too."

"I was invited."

"So was I."

"Then we're both victims."

Noah rolled his eyes.

"You two are impossible."

A voice came from behind them.

"He's right."

Arin turned.

Taehyun.

Black shirt.

Sleeves pushed to his elbows.

Hair slightly messy.

He looked like he belonged in a place like this.

Taehyun grinned.

"Didn't think you'd actually come."

Arin looked at him.

"I didn't either."

Taehyun laughed.

"Still rude."

"Still loud."

"Good."

He walked past them.

Arin watched him for a second.

There was something different.

Taehyun was smiling.

Laughing.

Talking.

But...

His eyes looked tired.

Not physically.

Something else.

Arin noticed it.

Then dismissed it.

People had bad days.

It wasn't his problem.

An hour later, Noah had completely abandoned the concept of staying seated.

"Come on!"

Arin shook his head.

"No."

"You're dancing."

"No."

"Everyone dances."

"I don't."

"You do now."

"No."

Noah grabbed his wrist.

Arin pulled his hand back.

"No."

"Fine."

Noah turned around.

Jae was already laughing.

"He's hopeless."

Noah grabbed Jae's hand instead.

"Then you dance with me."

Jae looked at him.

"Why me?"

"Because Arin is boring."

Arin raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Within minutes, Noah and Jae disappeared into the crowd.

Arin watched them.

Then looked at Taehyun.

He was sitting at the bar.

Alone.

A glass in his hand.

He was laughing at something one of the other guys said.

But again...

His eyes weren't laughing.

Arin frowned.

Not his problem.

He looked away.

A few minutes later, Taehyun joined them.

"You two abandoned us."

Arin looked around.

"Noah and Jae are somewhere over there."

"I know."

"Then why are you telling me?"

Taehyun shrugged.

"I don't know."

Arin stared at him.

Taehyun smiled.

That smile was too practiced.

Too easy.

Arin didn't comment.

By midnight, Noah was drunk.

Jae wasn't doing much better.

Arin had barely touched his drink.

Taehyun was somewhere between sober and drunk.

He sat across from Arin, laughing at something completely stupid.

Arin watched him for a moment.

"You laugh a lot."

Taehyun stopped.

"What?"

"You've been laughing all night."

"So?"

"Nothing."

Taehyun leaned back.

"You sound like you're about to psychoanalyze me."

"I don't care enough."

Taehyun laughed.

"Fair."

Then he stood.

"I'm going to the washroom."

Arin nodded.

Taehyun disappeared into the crowd.

Arin looked back toward the dance floor.

Noah and Jae were dancing.

Very badly.

Very closely.

Arin blinked.

They were suddenly much closer than before.

Noah said something.

Jae laughed.

Then—

They kissed.

Arin froze.

His eyes widened.

"...What?"

He looked around.

Nobody else seemed particularly surprised.

Apparently, everyone was drunk enough not to care.

Arin looked back.

They were still kissing.

He turned away immediately.

What the hell?

He had not expected that.

At all.

He looked toward the washroom.

Taehyun was still gone.

Good.

He definitely didn't need to explain what he had just witnessed.

His phone buzzed.

Sora.

Arin stared at the name.

Why was she calling?

He glanced toward the washroom again.

Taehyun still hadn't returned.

The phone kept vibrating.

Arin hesitated.

Then answered.

"Hello?"

Sora's voice came immediately.

"Where is Taehyun?"

Arin's eyebrows pulled together.

"Who?"

"Taehyun."

"He's not here."

"He's with you."

It wasn't a question.

Arin went still.

"How do you know?"

"I know."

"That's not an answer."

"Put him on the phone."

"He isn't here."

"Where is he?"

Arin stared at the crowd.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you're his roommate."

"That doesn't make me responsible for him."

"Then why are you answering his phone?"

"I'm not."

"You're answering mine."

Arin looked at the screen.

Right.

"He's in the washroom."

"Where?"

Arin's expression hardened.

"That's none of your business."

Silence.

Then Sora said quietly,

"You're protecting him."

Arin almost laughed.

"I'm doing nothing."

"Then give him the phone."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because he's in the washroom."

Another pause.

"Stay with him."

Arin frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"Make sure he doesn't go anywhere."

Arin stared at the phone.

This was getting ridiculous.

"No."

He ended the call.

He placed the phone on the table.

Then looked toward the washroom again.

Taehyun returned a minute later.

He dropped into his seat.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Taehyun looked at him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm not."

"You are."

Arin picked up his glass.

"You're imagining things."

Taehyun narrowed his eyes.

"You know, for someone who supposedly doesn't care, you notice a lot."

Arin paused.

Then looked at him.

"You're loud."

Taehyun laughed.

"There you go again."

Arin said nothing.

Across the room, Noah and Jae were still sitting close together.

Much too close.

Taehyun glanced toward them.

"What are those two doing?"

Arin looked at him.

Then at Noah and Jae.

Then back at Taehyun.

"Nothing."

Taehyun nodded.

"Okay."

Arin stared at him.

He hadn't noticed.

Not even slightly.

Arin looked away before Taehyun could see the disbelief on his face.

How could someone be this observant about everything and somehow miss something happening directly in front of him?

Noah suddenly shouted from across the table.

"Taehyun!"

Taehyun turned.

"What?"

"Come dance!"

"No."

"Come!"

"Noah, you're drunk."

"So?"

Jae laughed.

Taehyun shook his head.

"You two are idiots."

He got up anyway.

Arin watched him walk toward them.

He didn't know why.

Maybe because Taehyun looked slightly less tired now.

Maybe because the night had finally loosened something in him.

Or maybe Arin was simply watching because there was nothing else to do.

He quickly looked away.

It didn't matter.

The night was almost over.

And tomorrow, they would go back to being roommates.

Back to arguing.

Back to annoying each other.

Back to normal.

At least...

That was what Arin thought.

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