Chapter Text
“He’s just so fucking hot...” Changbin said, words falling from his lips without any mindfulness regarding the world around him.
“Pretty sure that was supposed to stay inside of your brain.” Chan said from his left.
Yup, Chan was correct. Surely those words were meant to stay within his own mind, but here he was, once again staring at Minho; The stunning, effortlessly handsome, one hundred out of ten face card having black cat hybrid. He stared the entire time the other walked into their classroom and took a seat at his desk.
A sigh came from his right. “He’s perfection on legs.” It was Jisung, leaning across his desk.
“Right?” Changbin said, before realizing Jisung was staring at Hyunjin, the ferret hybrid who just so happened to be Minho’s best friend. “Oh, wait, you were talking about Hyunjin.”
“I should be talking to a therapist about what I did to end up with you two hopeless simps as my best friends. Where is Seungmin when I need him?” Chan shook his head dramatically and Changbin raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, like you aren’t completely whipped for Seungmin. You literally give him your blood.” Changbin said as he crossed his big arms over his chest and pouted. “You have no room to talk.”
Chan waved his arms around a bit frantically. “He’s literally a vampire! He needs the blood!”
“And I need just one chance with Hyunjin.” Jisung tacked on and Changbin sighed as he let his head fall back. “HyunSung’s ship needs to sail.”
They were all hopeless, really. That’s why they were best friends. Why they had come to college together and why they planned to form their own sorcerers’ coven between them named 3Racha. “Maybe we should rename our coven to 3Simps.”
Both of them laughed. “Probably should.” Jisung said, grinning a bit cheeky. “Seriously though, I really do need just one chance with Hyunjin.”
“You’ve had approximately fifty chances to talk to him last semester and you failed every single time.” Chan pointed out.
Jisung was instantly squirming in his chair. “They were all too forced! I need a natural opening!”
Changbin needed one with Minho too. This was the first time he was ever actually sharing a class with the black cat hybrid. He prayed this would give him the opportunity he was looking for. Honestly, he hadn’t had eyes for anyone else since they started college, but they weren’t freshmen anymore. It was time to try a little harder. It was a pretty big school, afterall. He had no idea when he would get this opportunity again.
Seguine University was the premier institution for all supernatural beings. They housed and taught just about any species of the magical and strange. Sorcerers, witches, vampires, hybrids, elves, orcs, dragonborns, werewolves, fairies, if they existed, they were in attendance.
Changbin wasn’t necessarily the greatest up and coming sorcerer in the world, but he worked hard. He kept his grades up and was able to get admitted into the university without too much trouble. He specialized in ritual spellcasting and spells of song. He struggled in many of the other types of casting. He wasn’t like Jisung, who had gotten acceptance on sheer talent and the word of mouth about it. He could make illusions, elemental magic, alchemy, transmutation, and just about any other type of magic was at his fingertips. He was a legend in many ways, but he was socially shy and usually kept to himself. Well, kept mostly to their group: him, Chan, and Chan’s boyfriend, Seungmin. They were tight knit, didn’t bother with others. Well, except for his wandering eye towards Minho and Jisung’s similar adventurous gazes towards Hyunjin.
Minho kept a similarly sized circle, just four of them as well. Minho’s two best friends were Hyunjin, Jisung’s deep crush, and Felix, an elf who was dating a kitsune named Jeongin. He didn’t know this because he was stalking the cat hybrid or anything either! He just saw them around together often enough to know.
“Seriously though.” Chan said. “You both might actually have a chance with them this semester since we have class with them. Behave, but don’t waste the opportunity either.”
He smiled at the older. His curly brown hair was its usual endearingly frizzy mop on top of his head. “Aw, Hyung. You do care about me.”
Chan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I do. Even if your crush is literally ridiculous. Considering you are actually allergic to him.”
Yeah, that... that was a problem. Changbin was allergic to cats, cat hybrids included, but Minho was so gorgeous. He was worth all the allergy meds he’d have to take, all the nose spray, all the tissues. “They make allergy meds. It’ll be fine!”
“Not with how allergic you are.” Jisung snorted. “You really are tempting fate with that one.”
Changbin waved his hand in front of his face. “You both are being dramatic. I’ll be fine. I could endure anything for him .”
“Simp.” Chan and Jisung spoke in sync and he was about to lay into them both when the professor clapped her hands.
“Alright, class! Let’s get this semester started, yes? Welcome to potions 101.” The professor began.
He settled down and pulled out his notebook and folder, wanting to actually be a good student. They were going through the course syllabus, a lot of routine assignments and protocols when they got to the biggest item on the tasks list for the class.
“As you can see here, there is a semester-long partner project. I will be assigning your partners and you will be expected to meet up every week to work on your own potion and full safety data sheets about it. There will be sections that unfold every week as the project goes along and this will be worth forty percent of your grade so you need to all take this seriously. Part of your grade will be based on an assessment done by your partner so if you are not a good partner, your grade will reflect that.” She explained. “I’ll announce the partners now.”
A flutter of hope sparked in his chest. What... What if Minho ended up as his partner? No, there was no way. There were over seventy students in this class.
“Please, magic spirits, give me Hyunjin.” Jisung said beside him and Changbin wouldn’t be surprised if his natural abilities would somehow reassign Hyunjin to him.
“Han Jisung and... hold on, the writing smudged, one second. Ah, yes, Hwang Hyunjin.” She said.
Jisung’s whole face lit up. “No way!” He cheered and then promptly turned red when Hyunjin was looking at him. He laughed awkwardly and Changbin had to hold back from outright busting a gasket over his friend being caught red handed. To his surprise though, Hyunjin just smirked, almost looking flattered. He had to say though, Jisung magic was something else. It had definitely tampered with the teacher’s list.
Changbin was so lost in his amusement with Jisung’s predicament he almost missed his own name being called.
“Seo Changbin and Lee Minho.”
His jaw fell open. He was dreaming. He had to be dreaming.
His jaw shut as soon as Minho’s dark eyes fell on him. The cat hybrid gave a little wave and Changbin thought his heart was going to hammer out of his chest. He grinned, probably way too wide, probably like a psycho, but he waved back, trying with all his might to look natural.
He had never really outgrown his own awkward phase. He had been a skinny, little thing as a child and teen. Physically he had bulked up a ton as he entered early adulthood. He spent a good chunk of his free time in the gym, something he and Chan bonded over in the early stage of their friendship. Now he was bulky, known for his big arms and chest, but he still often felt as awkward and nerdy as he ever was. His brain hadn’t quite caught up with how much his body had grown and changed.
No one ever hit on him as a teen, but now, sometimes they did. He would stutter, completely lose his words and turn absolutely bright red every time it happened. Oh god. He was going to be partners with Minho.
He had to talk to Minho.
Real conversation.
Oh god. He was going to look like a complete idiot!
A sneezing idiot at that!
“Chan—Hyung.” He pulled the older’s sleeve. “You have to drive me to the store after class.”
“What?” The other asked, confusion bleeding onto his face.
“I have to get all the nose spray, allergy meds, and tissues I can find!” He said, hushed and rushed whispers spilling out of him.
Chan gave him a look, but of course gave in. “Yeah, sure. We’ll go after class.”
“Thank you, Hyung.”
The rest of the class was a jumble of words that didn’t compute in his brain at all. He was too busy staring at Minho’s incredible side profile. He was actually partners with Minho... for the entire semester. The professor must have ended class, but he hadn’t noticed until Minho was standing up and walking towards him. Hyunjin was right beside him. The two were practically supermodels walking down a runaway as they came closer. Changbin was pretty sure he and Jisung were ready to lay down on the floor, ready to be the ground they walk on.
“Hey.” Minho said, sticking a hand out. “I’m Minho, your partner for the semester, I guess.”
Changbin stared at the extended hand in disbelief. He froze until he saw Minho starting to pull back. He quickly jumped forward, wrapping both his hands around the cat hybrid’s. “I-I know! I—I mean I’m Changbin. Hi.”
Minho raised an eyebrow at him, mouth turning up on one side. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” He said, trying to get his unsteady heart to calm down.
They stood, awkward, silence falling when the other’s black cat ears swiveled around a bit. His cat eyes falling on their still connected hands. “I mean, I do like holding hands, but I wasn’t expecting to do so on our first meeting.”
He ripped his hands away as if he had been burned. “I... I’m sorry. I’m not the best with, you know, people.” Gorgeous people. His mind supplied.
Jisung wasn’t fairing much better beside them.
“Hyunjin—wait, that's you. You’re Hyunjin and I’m Jisung.”
The ferret hybrid chuckled, his light brown hair was pulled back in a half up bun on his head, the rest falling around his neck, caressing his shoulders. “That is correct, yes.”
Jisung laughed lightly. “Yeah, of course. Uh, yes. So, project. We have a project to work on—together.”
Hyunjin leaned closer, one hand splaying on the desk as he leaned over Jisung’s smaller frame. “That is also correct.”
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” Jisung breathed out.
Hyunjin laughed loudly then, a smile unraveling on his face. “You know, I’ve heard you’re an ace. That you’re real smart. Guess they were right. Everything you’ve said has been completely on point.”
Jisung covered his face with his hands. “I’m sorry... you are just... Hwang Hyunjin.”
The ferret hybrid leaned over to Minho. “Can you believe how smart my partner is, Hyung?”
“Yet to be determined on mine.” The cat hybrid replied and Changbin felt his nose getting ticklish. Oh, he had to hold it in. Sneezing would surely only make this worse.
Chan stepped in suddenly, his hand coming out to both of them. “I swear these two aren’t so awkward once you get to know them. I’m Chan. Nice to meet you both.”
“Good to know.” Minho said, pulling out his phone after he shook Chan’s hand. “Put in your number.” He slid the device across the desk to Changbin. “I’ll text you and we can figure out when is best to meet up for the project.”
“O-okay.” He stuttered, typing his number into the phone. “Here.”
“Great. I’ll text you then, Changbin.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
Hyunjin opted for sliding his number across Jisung’s desk on a little slip of paper before the two of them walked away. Changbin stared until Minho’s figure disappeared from the room all together. Jisung was busy holding the piece of paper up as if it was the hope diamond between his fingers.
Chan shook his head at them. “You two are hopeless.”
Changbin sneezed in response. “Sorry...”
“Let’s get you to the store.” Chan rubbed his fingers on the bridge of his nose. “This is going to be a long semester.”
“I really have his number.” Jisung said, completely in a world of his own.
Changbin came back to himself a bit, starting to pack up his things when he looked at Chan. “Who is your partner anyway?”
“Hongjoong.” He answered. “We just gave each other the thumbs up. I already have his number from when I took herbalism with him.”
“Ah, makes sense.”
They pulled Jisung out of his stunned state, getting him packed up and to his feet. They made their way to the store, getting all the allergy meds he could afford. Then they had to hype Jisung up for a full hour before he worked up the nerve to text Hyunjin. Changbin didn’t get the same grace. He was just left waiting, praying he didn’t type his number in wrong like a moron.
He worked out his nervous energy at the gym after dinner and then showered and was getting ready to lay down and relax for the night when his phone dinged.
He had almost forgotten, lost in thought as he went through his planner for the semester. He had been trying to figure out when his free time would be and the best time to study when his phone went off. He grabbed it thoughtlessly, assuming it was Chan or Jisung, maybe Seungmin. The digits across his screen made him pause, the message underneath it sent him into the stratosphere.
‘ Hey, It’s Lee Minho from Potions 101. ’
He was frozen, staring with wide eyes when another message came through.
‘ Tuesdays or Fridays are my lightest class days. Do either of those work for you? ’
He sputtered to life like an old lawn mower. It took a few tries of the pull start, but he opened the messages and started typing.
‘Hi, Minho. Fridays would work the best for me. ’—Did ‘Hi’ sound too stiff? He deleted the whole message, trying again. ‘Hey, Minho. Fridays sound great. ’—Was that too short? Once more he deleted the whole thing.
‘I can see you typing, you know. ’ Minho’s message come through before he sent anything
Oh god. He groaned. How was he being embarrassing even over the phone?
‘ Sorry... Hi. Yeah, Fridays would work for me. ’
‘ It’s fine. And good. After potion’s class work for you too? ’ Minho asked and he nodded at the phone. You know, like no one could see considering he had a single dorm and was entirely alone at the moment.
‘ Yes, that works. Where do you want to meet? ’ He was proud of that one. A whole, normal question. Maybe he could do this.
‘ I usually study in my dorm. The library is too loud. ’ The most devastating of replies came his way. If he went to Minho’s room he would surely do nothing but sneeze. His eyes would get itchy and red. There was no way he could do that.
Another message came in then. ‘ Although Felix is usually too loud playing his video games. ’
He almost couldn’t believe himself as he typed the next message. ‘ We could use my dorm. I have a single room. Plenty quiet. ’
‘ Sounds perfect. ’ Minho replied and Changbin couldn’t quite believe it.
‘ Okay, great. ’ He answered before he could embarrass himself anymore.
‘ See you in class. Night. ’
‘ Goodnight, Minho. ’
Changbin barely slept that night. Friday couldn’t come soon enough and yet he had never been so scared of an arbitrary day of the week before. He laid in bed, tossing and turning. He needed to clean his room. What should he wear Friday? Are they going to eat together? What should they eat? When should he take his allergy meds? How was he going to use nose spray without Minho noticing? He’d have to use the bathroom to hide it. Yeah, that could work. His brain ran through questions over and over until the sun was coming up and his alarm sounded. Fuck. It was going to be a long day.
****************
His leg wouldn’t stop shaking, bouncing up and down restlessly under his desk. He couldn’t quite believe how fast Friday had come around. Chan’s hand slipped over his thigh, pressing it down. “Relax. You’re vibrating the whole room.”
“How am I supposed to relax?” He said, looking over with wide eyes. Truthfully, he was scared shitless. This was his big chance. What if Minho thought he was a total loser? Honestly, he probably already did. He had yet to manage a normal conversation with the guy.
“Try breathing first.” Chan said and then Jisung snorted beside him.
“If he breathes too deeply around Minho he’ll just end up sneezing.” Jisung said and Changbin threw a not too hard punch into his friend’s shoulder. “Ow!”
Changbin rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t even hard and you were bullying me so it serves you right.”
Their bickering was about to escalate but the teacher started the lesson. It was the longest and fastest lecture of his life. His leg didn’t stop bouncing really, but before he was ready, class was over and Minho was walking over to him.
He looked so good. All he was wearing was a baggy gray t-shirt and black jeans with his backpack thrown casually over one shoulder, but he was stunning nonetheless. Effortlessly gorgeous. His black hair was parted, exposing his forehead. His cat ears were moving as they often did, listening to the world around him as his long tail swished behind him.
“Hey, you ready to go?” Minho asked before he started chuckling. “Or are you just going to keep staring at me?”
Changbin got to his feet as he looked down, face turning red. He started packing up his things, rushed, crumpling his papers, but he couldn’t seem to slow down. “Sorry. Yeah, let’s go.” To his room. He cleared his throat because the idea was ready to choke him.
“Changbin.” Chan called and he looked back at the older, blinking in question. He didn’t expect it when the other sorcerer wrapped him up in a hug, whispering in his ear. “Relax. He’s just a person. Be yourself. You’re amazing.” He pulled back. “Alright? I’ll see you at the gym in the morning.”
“Thanks, Hyung.” He smiled and took a breath, calming a little. Jisung grinned at him, giving him a thumbs up and mouthing ‘you got this’ to him before they disappeared from the room. It left him very much alone with Minho inside their now empty potions class.
Okay. He could do this. He just needed to not panic. He had taken in allergy meds right before class. He should be good for a little while.
“To, uh, to my room, I guess, yeah?” He asked and Minho nodded.
“That’s the plan.” He answered and started to walk alongside Changbin. Although he walked much more gracefully. Changbin felt like he was using his legs for the first time. Maybe he shouldn’t have done legs at the gym yesterday, it was only making his gait more awkward. As they made their way across campus he was trying to wrack his brain for a conversation to bring up. Everything sounded stupid. He didn’t know how to be casual. Which is why it felt like a gift from the heavens when Minho started talking.
“So, how long have you three been friends? Everytime I see you around campus, it is always the three of you. Sometimes that vampire hangs around you guys too, right?” Minho asked and something about the sheer fact that Minho had noticed anything about him in the past was remarkable to him.
“Oh, yeah. The vampire is Chan’s boyfriend, Seungmin. He only comes out at night, for obvious reasons.” He laughed, was it a weird laugh? “But yeah, Chan and Jisung have been friends since they were in middle school. I met them in highschool. My parents had to move and we ended up in the same school. Chan was big into the gym, even back then. I was kind of inspired by it so I started going with him. Jisung was always around too. I don’t know. We just naturally clicked. I couldn’t really imagine life without them now. We want to make a coven, the three of us.”
“Hm, interesting.” Minho said.
“What’s interesting about that?” He asked.
The cat hybrid smiles, a bit sly in nature. “It’s just interesting that you can speak like a normal person when you actually get talking. It’s nice. You have a nice voice.”
“Do I?” He asked, staring in disbelief at Minho.
“Yes. I’ve actually heard some of your music too. So I already kind of knew you had a good voice, but it’s nice to hear it like this.” Minho stepped aside as they got to the entranceway to the dormitories.
Changbin swiped his ID and watched it light up green as he tried to process what the other had said. Minho had heard his music before? “Did you like it? My music, I mean.”
“I did. Good beats to dance to.” Minho smiled as he shimmied his shoulders playfully. “I really like to dance.”
“You’re an amazing dancer.” He said without a filter.
Minho smiled, eyes looking a bit starry as they wound down the hallways to Changbin’s room. “Oh? You’ve seen me dance?”
Yes. Every single time he’s ever done a performance on campus, Changbin has been there. “Yeah. The showcase and stuff.” He said, trying to not sound like some kind of stalker.
Minho hummed. “Yeah, that was a fun one. I got to dance with Hyunjin and Felix for the first time since we started at university.”
“How long have you known them?” He asked, finding the question easier to ask since Minho had posed it to him earlier.
“Jinnie and I go way back, since we were kids. We met Felix in highschool, he transferred in and we were all friends before long.” Minho looked fond as he thought of his two best friends.
Changbin could relate to that. “Having good friends is the best. Like I said, I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
“Yeah, agreed. Even Felix’s boyfriend, Jeongin. He’s stuck to all of us like glue now. Our little freshman.” He chuckled. “He hates it when we call him that.” He was grinning from ear to ear, a cheshire grin that only enthralled Changbin more.
“Seungmin hates it when we call him a freshie too. It is funny that the vampire of our group is younger than us.” Changbin laughed. He was enjoying the moment, until a tickle started in his nose. Already? What the hell were these allergy meds even good for?
“Is he? I wondered what his actual age is.”
“Only 20.” He said. “He’s been turned for only a year.” They arrived at Changbin's room and he prayed he could hold his sneeze back until they got inside. “We’re here.” He said, gesturing to the blank door. He turned the lock and gestured Minho inside. “Make yourself comfortable... I’m going to use the bathroom quick.” He dipped into the restroom and closed the door, instantly digging through his pocket for the nose spray. He wasted no time stuffed the nozzle up his nose. It cleared him out, even as the spray felt uncomfortable. Okay. He could do this. He flushed the toilet, pretending to go before pulling out the bottle of allergy pills. One more couldn’t hurt, right? He swallowed it down, cupping some water from the sink into his hands to do so.
When he came back out, he almost thought he was dreaming. There sat Minho, the man of his dreams, preached on the end of the bed, looking out the window like some statue of perfection.
He pinched himself once just in case. It hurt and as the hard proof this was real sunk into him, he came back to life. “I guess we should start on the project?”
“Your view is really nice here. We are right up against the other building. Can’t see shit.” Minho said, ignoring Changbin’s statement completely. He found he didn’t really mind. He daringly took a step forward, leaning so he could see out the window as well. It was a nice vista. The trees were glistening around the edges in the sun while the center gave a clear view of the mountains in the distance.
“Yeah, I was happy when I got assigned this room. It’s a nice location and I really wanted a single room. Chan and Jisung always share a room and last year I had the worst roommate. He changed his socks once a week. It was terrible. Seungmin offered to room with me, but I didn’t think we’d be a good match with the opposite sleeping schedules.” Changbin found the words coming out naturally once more. It was funny how easy it was to talk to Minho once the conversation was actually flowing.
Minho started laughing.
“What is it? Did I say something weird again?” He asked, a groan rising in his chest, but the cat hybrid shook his head.
“No, I just really expected you to say something cheesy, like ‘Minho, you’re better than the view’.” The cat hybrid looked smug and Changbin wanted to throw himself in a volcano because honestly... Minho was better than the view.
“Well—I—yes, but I’m... fuck.” He was turning bright red, swirling so his back was to Minho. He was making such a fool of himself. “I’m sorry. You probably think I’m such a loser and—.”
“Changbin.” The other’s voice was firm as a hand came to wrap around his bicep, maneuvering him back around. “I didn’t say that to make fun of you. Well, not in a malicious way. I was just teasing.”
He blinked, trying to figure out why the other would be doing that. “...Why?”
Minho smiled, nothing coy or smug about it. It was soft. “Do you really think I haven’t noticed you staring at me around campus? You aren’t exactly subtle about it.” A melodic little laugh came out of him. “But, you also are quite handsome. I haven’t exactly been bothered by you staring. Now there’s finally an excuse to talk to you.” He shrugged. “I'm not that big on dating. I figure if something sparks with someone, great, if not, oh well. So I figured if an opportunity came to get to know you, I’d take it. Well, or if you ever got the courage to approach me.” He smirked then, Changbin’s cheeks flamed a darker shade of red, he was sure. “But regardless, we’ve ended up paired together. So, I do want to get a good grade, but I don’t hate the idea of flirting and getting to know you while we do that.”
Oh. The most perfect of words entered his ears as the most dangerous of sneezes built in his nose. He ripped himself away suddenly.
“Changbin, I’m sorry if I read things wrong—.”
ACHOO .
The sneeze was so violent another two came right after, just to spite him.
“Oh, bless you.” Minho said beside him.
“Thanks. Sorry.” He laughed it off. “Something must have just gotten in my nose. Excuse me. One second.” He scurried off into the bathroom, blowing his nose as he tried to calm his heart rate because... What the fuck did he mean he wanted to flirt and get to know Changbin? Was this real life? Minho called him handsome? Him?
He looked up in the mirror. His black framed glasses were askew on his face from blowing his nose. His curly black hair was an untamed mess on top of his head. How could he ever be good enough for the princely vision Minho was?
Okay. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t hide out in the bathroom too long. He’d look even weirder. He actually had a chance. He needed to stop acting so all over the place. He used the nose spray once again before dipping back into the room.
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s alright.” Minho said. “And you don’t need to give me any kind of answer about the other stuff. We can just see where things go, yeah?”
“Yes—yeah. I’d really like that.” Changbin answered.
Minho smiled, leaning forward, tail curling up and hooking at the end, a sign of happiness. “I thought you might. However, we need to actually do some work.”
“Yes! We should. Okay, work, yes.” He took a seat in his desk chair, rolling it over to the bed. He sprawled out their assignment sheets, looking everything over.
“What kind of potion were you thinking of?” Minho asked, leaning over to look at the list of options.
“I think one of the medical ones would be nice. They could actually help someone.” Changbin said before shyness seeped into him. “But maybe that’s dumb. What were you thinking?”
“That’s not dumb at all.” Minho said and Changbin was shocked when a finger suddenly poked into his cheek. He looked at the cat hybrid, confused by the action. “Stop overthinking. I want to hear what you have to say.”
“Okay. Sorry... I’ve just... I don’t have a lot of experience in this type of thing.” He admitted.
“Group projects? How have you gone this long without doing them? Teach me your ways.” The cat hybrid said, draping himself down across the blanket.
“No.” Changbin groaned and Minho started laughing. “I meant with... like dating things. Of course I know about group projects.”
The cat hybrid was grinning and he looked beautiful lounging across Changbin’s mattress. It was surreal, actually. “You’re so much fun to tease, Changbinnie.”
Changbinnie .
Oh, the nickname went straight down his body, a shiver like lightning that unfortunately ended up in his nose, a sudden sneeze coming out of him. He turned his head, releasing the mess into his arm. “Oh, sorry.”
Minho frowned. “Take some vitamins. It seems like you might be getting sick.”
He laughed it off. “I’m sure I’m okay. Plus, I take a lot of stuff for my workouts. I’ll… I’ll be fine. I won’t get sick.”
Minho nodded softly. “You can get sick even if you’re healthy. Just be careful.”
They ended up managing to focus after that. Changbin held in most of his sneezes. Only one escaped when Minho leaned over to point at something on Changbin’s laptop screen. The hybrid’s fluffy cat ear graced along his cheek. It sent him to heaven and hell all in the span of ten seconds. He hated Minho’s worried face, but he couldn’t let the other know he was allergic to him. He had a real chance with Minho now. Which was actually crazy. He couldn’t ruin it because of his stupid allergies!
He would get used to Minho, probably. Yeah. It would be fine. Absolutely fine because Minho was so fine. Every interaction they had made him fall harder. The other was witty, amusing, and he just lit up the room around him. He was so passionate. Even for their project. Ironically they settled on making a potion to help cure Minho’s mom of her allergies to flowers. She loves them, but they send her into sneezing fits. Changbin could more than relate.
It was after nine o'clock when Minho flopped onto his back, all cat in his movements. “Enough. I can’t take anymore studying. I’m going cross eyed.”
Changbin chuckled, closing his laptop. He had gotten a little more comfortable as they worked together. Although the butterflies were back now that the project wasn’t giving them something to work on. He was still just in awe that Minho was really laying across his mattress. Eyes falling closed as he sighed and took a deep breath. “We got a good chunk done anyway. I think we can call it a night.”
The hybrid hummed. “So, what’s something you don’t typically tell people?”
“What?” Confusion filled him.
Minho opened his eyes and looked over with an eyebrow raised. “I’m trying to get to know you.”
“Oh. Yes. Okay. That.” He laughed. “Well... I guess most people don’t know that I used to look really different?”
“What do you mean?” The other asked.
Changbin didn’t keep a lot of photos of himself when he was younger, but there were some exceptions. He scrolled up towards the top of the pictures in his phone. It was the first picture of him, Jisung, and Chan after they became friends. They had gone to a local rappers show. Changbin’s mom had insisted they take some photos. He had groaned back then, but he treasured them now. He slid the phone across the bed.
The image was goofy. Jisung was on his left, tongue out, making bunny ears behind Changbin’s head. Chan was leaning sideways, head tucked under Changbin’s skinny teenage arm as he pretended to be getting choked. Changbin was in the middle, sharp jaw, lean body, but a blinding bunny tooth grin on his face. His nose was scrunched. He had been really happy that day.
“That’s me in the middle.” He said as Minho’s eyes roamed over the picture.
The hybrid smiled, eyes twinkling as he did. “This picture is adorable. Look at you, a baby. All of you are here. You’ve all grown a lot.”
“Me the most though.” He laughed. “That’s why I don’t really have much experience dating or anything... No one ever hit on me or was interested in me back then.”
Minho hummed. “I get it now. You were the skinny awkward boy when you were younger and you haven’t grown into the hot man body you occupy now.”
Changbin choked and then sneezed; a tragic combination that sent Minho into a fit of giggles. “ Whatdoyoumean ?” The sentence rushed out of him.
“Oh boy. He’s really not aware that he is ridiculously hot.” The hybrid was speaking as if Changbin wasn’t even there, but it was so much worse when Minho did look at him, talking right to him. “You are so hot, Changbin. Maybe a short king, but that has never bothered me. You are gorgeous and your body is to die for.”
“I-I—I don’t even have abs!” He blurted out and Minho only smirked.
“Who needs those? You’re perfect just the way you are.” He slipped across the bed, feet planting on the ground before he leaned against Changbin’s ear, whispering right into it. “And for the record, you were good looking back then too. People are just blind when it doesn’t fit the standard, but trust me, Binnie, you’ve always been beautiful.”
A pair of lips hit his cheek and he fought with his entire soul to hold in the pending sneeze from how close Minho was. “T-thanks.” He managed to stutter out and then the hybrid was to his feet.
“Welcome.” Changbin dared to turn as the other walked towards the door. “But it’s late. I should be getting back. Have a good night, Binnie. See you in class.”
He sauntered out of the room. Changbin proceeded to sneeze and almost died of a heart attack as soon as the door clicked closed.
Oh, this wasn’t going to be good for his health, for so many reasons.
******************
“What do you mean he wants to flirt and get to know you more?” Jisung’s jaw was hung open.
“It means exactly what those words mean.” Seungmin deadpanned from across the table. They were all in a study room in the library. Books and papers spread out in front of each of them.
Jisung pouted. “Channie, your boyfriend is being mean to me.”
“Oh, he’s harmless.” Chan said. “Doesn’t even bite—well actually, yes he does.”
The vampire flashed his fangs and Changbin just laughed at his friend's antics before getting back to his conversation. “Yeah. He said he’s noticed me, ya know...”
“Endless fond gazing?” Jisung supplied.
“Gawking obnoxiously?” Seungmin added.
“Yeah. That.” He groaned. “Anyway. He noticed and said he was just kind of waiting to see if I would approach or if something would naturally happen? He said he’s not really looking for a relationship. More like, if it happens, great, if not, oh well. So he just let it be, but now that we are paired up, he sees it as an opportunity for us.” Us . It was unreal to be referring to himself and Minho as an us .
“That’s amazing, Binnie.” Chan said, answering like a civilized person. “I hope you two can hit it off.”
Jisung nodded. “Yeah, for real. That’s awesome you have a chance with him now.”
“If he doesn’t sneeze the guy out of the bed.” Seungmin pointed out.
“A future problem for future Changbin.” He said, speaking in the third person.
They all chuckled about that before Chan looked at Jisung. “How are things with you and Hyunjin?”
Jisung groaned instantly. “Well... I don’t know?”
“How do you not know?” Seungmin asked and Chan reached for his boyfriend’s hand, giving in a light squeeze.
“I think what Minnie is trying to say is what do you mean you don’t know?”
Seungmin pouted slightly but gave in, because he always would give in to Chan at the end of the day. “Yes, what do you mean, Sung?”
“He keeps teasing me so much. He giggles at me all the time... I can’t tell if it is because he actually likes how pitiful I am or because he’s actually laughing at me and messing with me.” Jisung sighed. “He’s so beautiful. He’s probably just amused by the dumb simp who is obsessed with him. I’m like a slave at his feet... which I might have rubbed when he asked.” He whined, hiding his face in his arms as he bent over onto the table. “I’m pathetic.”
Seungmin leaned over to Changbin, whispering in his ear. “How is he worse than you?”
Changbin smacked the vampire’s shoulder. “Shut up.” He ignored the antics and put a hand on Jisung’s back. “Sung. You’re not pathetic.”
Seungmin held up his fingers, a centimeter of space between them, but promptly put his fingers down when Chan and Changbin shot him twin glares.
“You aren’t dumb or a simp either. You just like him.” Chan added.
Seungmin suddenly leaned in, tapping Jisung’s head until he looked up at him. “Hey, listen. I know I always mess with you, but you should really address this with him. It’s not okay for him to use you or take advantage of your emotions if he doesn’t return them at all. It’s manipulative and ugly. Beauty on the outside doesn’t mean shit if you’re ugly on the inside. Make sure who he is as a person is worth crushing on and simping over too, alright?”
Jisung’s boba eyes were getting glassy. “Seungminnie... you do care about me.”
The vampire rolled his eyes. “Yeah, for some reason I do.”
Chan was suddenly completely mushy for his boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around Seungmin and nuzzled his face in his shirt. “That was so sweet, Minnie... totally giving you head for that later.”
“TMI.” Jisung and Changbin yelled in sync before laughing.
They went back to studying after that. Changbin was having trouble focusing, his thoughts too lost in Minho. He had been staring worse than ever in potions class, but what added to the problem was the way Minho stared back sometimes now. They had done some texting too.
Well, maybe Changbin hadn’t stopped texting him for the past two days. They struck up a conversation after Monday’s potions class. Minho had texted him that he missed the date the teacher said their quiz would be. His phone hadn’t stopped buzzing on and off since. He was nervous for Friday, but he was also excited. He had talked to Minho a lot more now. Maybe it wouldn’t be so awkward this time. Somehow, knowing himself, he doubted it though.