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For a majority of Soobin’s collegiate career, he has had a profound hatred for cultish organizations.
Let him specify. By cultish organizations, he specifically means Greek life.
He’s developed this perceived notion that those who participate in Greek life are uppity, narcissistic, airheaded, and probably a child of nepotism. And freshman year, witnessing the inner workings of a frat ala Kai’s boyfriend, such notions were proven correct. So, he avoids them like the plague and perceives them with disdain.
However, during the first few weeks of the academic year, a flurry of events arise to help students get settled into any university activity they could ever think of, and they’re practically impossible to avoid. From team tryouts to alumni meet-ups, it exists and is - in Soobin’s opinion - utterly useless. Conveniently enough, as Kai, Beomgyu and him pass by the quad, an endless stream of booths line the brick pathways in hopes of recruiting clueless freshman or desperate seniors as new club or organization members.
Look, it’s not that Soobin hates the idea of being involved in anything during his college career; in fact, he’s an active member of the Linguistics Society and ASL club, and was a member of the anime club until Woozi - the last club president - had graduated two years ago. Clubs are crucial to add something to his resume and prevent his homebody self from rotting away in bed.
Unironically, they end up in the very section of booths that Soobin was just grumbling about.
Kai ignores him, dashing towards his boyfriend with a lovesick grin on his face. Beomgyu attempts to follow, though stops halfway when he notices Soobin stood still in the same spot, glaring repulsively at the sight of men playing spikeball and bean bag toss on the lawn.
“C’mon Soobs, the least you can do is greet Kai’s boyfriend.” His gaze becomes distracted as they fall upon the sight of said bean bag toss participants playing the game without a shirt for whatever reason. It’s almost the middle of autumn. What the fuck. “And, y’know, help me find a cute guy, maybe.”
“You are not going to find a cute guy among these animals,” Soobin counters with a scowl.
Beomgyu rolls his eyes, grabbing at Soobin’s backpack strap and tugging him towards the Greek life booths. “God, not only are you shit at support in League, but you suck at it in real life, too.”
Soobin scoffs, mouth flapping open and closed like a goldfish. “...that was uncalled for?!”
An amused, lighthearted voice greets them. “Funny seeing you twinks here.”
Beomgyu bounded up to their friend with a friendly smile. “Tyun! Have you seen any potential recruits that you think might be my type?”
Taehyun smirks teasingly, replying, “No, I haven’t met anyone short, lanky, and obnoxious, if that’s what you’re asking.” Kai chuckles beside him with an arm thrown over his boyfriend’s shoulders.
Beomgyu glowered in exasperation. “If it weren’t for Kai dating you, I would’ve joined Soobin’s dark side by now.”
Ignoring his friends bickering and giving Taehyun a quick greeting, Soobin silently analyzes his enemy’s territory. Taehyun’s booth seems to be more tame than the others, the guys dressed nicely in simple polos and jeans, a neat trifold board displaying all that Gamma Alpha Chi has to offer. He’s a hundred percent sure that Taehyun hard-carried the entire design.
“These buffoons don’t deserve you,” Soobin sighs, admiring the designs created on the frat’s flyers sitting on the booth table, which are obviously Taehyun’s handiwork. “I can’t believe you’re wasting all your creative energy on these alcoholic heathens.”
“We’re a group of overworked STEM majors in an academic frat, Soobin,” Taehyun chuckles. He’s been around Soobin enough to have developed an immunity to the latter’s snarky remarks. What a shame. “We’re the farthest from ‘alcoholic heathens’ out of all the fraternities here.”
“You’re just jealous that my Tyunnie is nothing like the stereotypical frat boy you wanted him to be,” Kai mocks with a tongue sticking out of his mouth.
Soobin frowns at him, shoving his friend lightly in irritation. “Whatever. He just happens to be an outlier, that’s all.”
Taking it as his cue to leave, Soobin turns around to leave the overly-masculinized warzone, but not before Beomgyu is practically a koala on his arm, pulling at his sleeve like a spoiled child.
“Soobin. Soobin. Soobin .”
“What, you insolent brat?” Soobin snaps.
Beomgyu jerks his chin across the pathway in-between the lines of booths. “Over there, do you see that over there?”
At the Alpha Nu booth, Soobin sees exactly what Beomgyu is ogling at. Honestly, it was a waste of his time to even put in the effort to think about looking over that way - the guy is a 6/10 at best. With hair gelled back like a helmet and cargos that fit way too tightly, he looks exactly like Beomgyu’s type. Kinda short, kinda lanky, and definitely obnoxious.
Without another thought, Soobin finds himself being dragged over to yet another Greek life booth, scowling at the sight of the more stereotypically frat boys loitering the table, sleazy eyes dragging up and down freshman girls’ bodies and shirts practically forgoed to reveal a set of a sad excuse of abs. Nearly half of them have a baseball cap worn backwards, and he’s pretty sure that someone is throwing around a frisbee. How despicable.
“Welcome to the Alpha Nu booth, fellas!” Beomgyu’s dream man greets jovially. The buttons on this boy’s short-sleeve button up are completely useless, as it flows against the air to reveal a lightly toned stomach. To his right, Beomgyu is unresponsive, mouth slack with drool threatening to cause both embarrassment and second-hand embarrassment. “I’m Jeongin, and I'm the rush chair, so anything you need to know about Alpha Nu and how to rush, I’m your guy!”
Beomgyu suddenly snaps out of his idiotic daze, a flirtatious smirk donning his face as he leans against the flimsy booth table, crowding Jeongin’s personal bubble with a newfound confidence that Soobin has never seen before.
Man, he’s serious about this guy. Soobin feels betrayed. First Kai, now Beomgyu?
“If I rush, does that mean I get to see more of you?” Beomgyu asks with a sleazy smile and wiggling eyebrows. Soobin doesn’t just want to, but he needs to throw up.
What’s infuriating about the interaction between these two is that Jeongin is eating. It. Up. His smile widens like a kid in a candy store, and he’s just happened upon the best looking treat in the shop.
“I think that’s definitely in the cards for someone as pretty as you,” Jeongin replies smoothly, eyes suggestively darting down to Beomgyu’s lips before going back up to his eyes.
Soobin clears his throat in annoyance, popping the boys’ bubbles and successfully preventing them from literally fucking on the spot.
Sadly, Jeongin interprets his annoyance as impatient enthusiasm to learn about rushing, and honestly, with the way Beomgyu is still ogling Jeongin like he’s tonight’s dinner, he can’t find it in his heart to interrupt him. Yet.
“Right! So, rush week with Alpha Nu will be super fun this year! Thanks to our president, the increase in budget allowed us to host a few events for potential pledges to meet with us and see if we’re a potential fit for them.” He winks at Beomgyu not-so-subtly. “We’re throwing a crossover party with Kappa Omega Delta tomorrow night. I really hope to see y’all there.”
“Hehe,” Beomgyu pathetically giggles.
Alright. That’s enough.
“We’re not interested in attending your orgy-fest, thank you very much,” Soobin scoffs, moving to drag him and Beomgyu out of there. “Let’s go Beomgyu, I’m not letting you get brainwashed by some moron in a snapback.”
A foreign hand slaps onto Soobin’s wrist, effectively pulling him away from Beomgyu. Jeongin shoots him a friendly (not-so-friendly) glare. “Dude, you don’t get to make decisions for the lovely gentleman here.”
Beomgyu grins stupidly, nodding alongside Jeongin. “Yeah, Soobin! What if I actually wanted to rush?”
Soobin rolls his eyes, completely unconvinced by his friend’s claim. It doesn’t take a genius to see the bedroom eyes he’s giving Jeongin. “I don’t think you want to rush, Beomgyu. Unless you want the stench of a moldy, communal bathroom to lower your IQ by twenty points, then I suggest you snap the fuck out of it and give the opportunity to the arrogant and cocky himbos who actually want to be here.”
Jeongin’s eye twitches at the blatant insult and it leaves Soobin’s chest puffing with pride. Frat boys are so easy. “C’mon, not all of us are arrogant and cocky himbos. We’re people too- look, you’re Soobin, right? I know you’re friends with Taehyun, so that’s gotta mean something, right?”
Soobin goes numb. Of course he knows him. It seems that everyone here knows. And he knows that Beomgyu has completely snapped out of it when he’s glancing at Soobin with pity.
“Taehyun doesn’t count. He didn’t get completely propagandized into the cheating and one-night-stand lifestyle like the rest of you,” Soobin counters, practically growling with how much his blood is practically boiling.
Soobin is not going down without a fight. It doesn’t matter how breathtakingly and heart-stoppingly gorgeous the man could be - if he’s a frat guy, it’s an automatic blacklist in his book.
So, when he walks away from Alpha Nu’s club fair booth, he decides he will never give them the time of day again. Never -
“What’s going on?”
Huh- oh.
Oh no.
Oh God.
Soobin is pretty sure he’s just seen the light.
He finds himself captivated by plump and juicy lips, sharply captivating eyes, and lean muscles tracing down biceps like soft hills that seductively add to his silhouette. Soobin turns a blind eye to the DIY muscle tee and backwards cap, undecided if he wants to devour or be devoured by this gorgeous man. However, what he does know is that he will never admit such thoughts aloud. That would be very OOC of him.
Jeongin shakes his head, though the uncomfortable, quivering smile on his face begs to differ. “Nothing, all good here, prez. Just chatting with some potential pledges.”
So the man of Soobin’s dreams in question is also the president of Alpha Nu. How tragic.
The Alpha Nu president laughs, his nasally voice bringing Soobin back to reality as the man stares him and Beomgyu down in intimidation. “I don’t know, they seem less like pledges and more like hecklers to me.”
Beomgyu’s eyes nearly fall out of his head with how wide they become. “N-no, not at all! In fact, uh-“ he snatches a flier off the table. “We’re very interested in rushing!”
Soobin’s heart stops in its place, not a single heartbeat indicating life within him.
“No, we’re very much not. ” Venom seeps into his voice, eyes narrowed towards the two frat boys as he rips the flier out of Beomgyu’s hand and drops it on the ground. As he reiterated before, no gorgeous, salivating man could ever entice him to refuse him of his self worth. Not even Beomgyu’s romantic interest in Jeongin could make him feel such remorse.
The president doesn’t seem fazed - in fact, he seems intrigued . It sends a shiver down Soobin’s spine when he cocks his head and smirks towards them, arms crossed as if challenging him. “I don’t know, for someone who claims they hate frat boys, you sound more obsessed than disgusted.”
Soobin scoffs in appalment, taking a step forward to poke the man on the chest. He nearly pauses for a second, just making out the feeling of a firm, muscular chest underneath. “I would shut your pretty mouth if I were you. You’ve got some nerve, thinking you have me all figured out. You’re just some narcissistic asshole horny for attention, just like the rest of your ‘brothers’.”
To Soobin’s disappointment, it doesn’t seem like a single word has gotten through this dunce’s head as his lips curl in a feline smile.
“You also think I’m pretty.”
Soobin blinked owlishly, stunned by his own words used against him. Fuck, this guy’s not wrong.
Why did he say that. Why did he say that?
“But I still think you morons are a bunch of jerks,” Soobin grumbles under his breath.
The boy laughs outrageously, picking up another flier to hand over to Soobin. He doesn’t know why he simply takes it, feeling hypnotized by those haughty, chocolate eyes.
“Tomorrow night, Greek Row. I hope to see you there and maybe prove your point wrong, big boy.” His gaze flits towards Beomgyu, pupils startled as if he hadn’t realized his presence until now. “And your little friend too, I suppose.”
When Soobin and Beomgyu walk away from the booth, he silently thanks his friend for not acknowledging the weakness in his legs.
Yeah, he may have a hate boner for frat guys, but he’s also pretty sure he’s just met the love of his life.
🏛️🏛️🏛️
Soobin might as well drop out of college and join the circus, because he is a clown putting on nothing but clown makeup. Despite his resilience for the past two years, here he is. Dressing up to go to Alpha Nu’s first party of rush week.
“Hey Soobin, Tyun’s about to leave for his frat’s rush party, do you wanna-”
Warmth creeps up his entire body like fuel in a gas tank when Kai enters his room, bearing witness to Soobin donning something other than his uniform hoodie and sweats. It’s uncharacteristic enough that Kai has to come back with Taehyun in tow.
“Dude, since when do you own slacks,” Taehyun blurts with eyes as wide as saucers. It’s already enough that he’s pointing at him like he’s a zoo animal.
Soobin rolls his eyes, doing his best to ignore the pointed stares from both his friends as he continues to evaluate his outfit in the mirror. “You guys are acting like you’ve never seen me dress up before. It’s really not that uncommon.”
“It is!” Kai practically explodes, looking equal parts giddy and curious. “Soobin, the only times I’ve seen you dress up is when we go to a bar and you’re trying to find someone to-”
A dramatic gasp escapes Kai’s mouth, practically a personification of The Scream painting with the way he gawks at Soobin like he’s just had an epiphany. Taehyun watches on, completely clueless.
However, before Kai can even think of uttering a word, Soobin stops him with a sharp glare. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, it’s not.” He jerks his head, gesturing towards the direction where Beomgyu’s room lies across the hall. “I’m just accompanying Beomgyu to Alpha Nu’s rush party - he wants to go, and he doesn't want to be alone.”
Kai’s eyebrows furrow in contemplation, not totally convinced of Soobin’s partial lie. It’s technically true, Beomgyu had insisted that he needed Soobin to be his wingman tonight, because he was clearly adamant in both his interest in Jeongin and Alpha Nu. Despite the loyalty Beomgyu held for his best friend’s unwavering hatred towards frats, Soobin had caught glimpses of Beomgyu researching Alpha Nu when he thought he wasn’t being watched. Curiosity turned into genuine interest, and at some point, Soobin had to be the bigger man and set his ego aside. He would never rob Beomgyu of an opportunity that he so clearly wanted, especially when he knows that his friend would never be like He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named .
“You’re rushing…?” Taehyun inquires carefully, as if afraid he might set Soobin off with the word. “Because there’s a few things you need to know about it. First, don’t get too drunk. Second, talk to every single brother possible.”
“…and?”
“That’s it.”
Soobin sighs heavily. “I appreciate the advice, but I’m not planning on actually rushing.”
Kai furrows his eyebrows in confusion. “Then what exactly are you going to a rush event for?”
“To prove to a pretty boy that frat boys at the end of the day are still just frat boys,” Soobin answers simply, a pleased smile gracing his lips.
Beomgyu’s head pops in the room through the doorway. “In layman terms, he means that he’s got a thing for the president of Alpha Nu, but is too stubborn in his ways to admit it.”
Soobin’s head whips towards the open door, launching a pillow aimed at Beomgyu’s head. It misses.
“I’m not into him!”
He frowns at his reflection in the mirror, eyes darting from angrily glaring at his friends to glaring at his stupid outfit - black slacks and a black polo. It makes him look like he’s going to a career fair rather than a frat party, and if he’s going to the pits of Greek hell, he might as well look like a snack. Soobin makes his way to his closet, pulling out a pair of jeans and a belt instead.
At that, Kai gasps again. “Oh my God, he does . He’s pulling out the jeans.” When Taehyun looks at him in confused horror, Kai places his hands on his boyfriend’s shoulders, fixing him with a serious expression. “Soobin only wears jeans when he really likes someone. They always make his ass look fat and his legs look longer. They’re the ultimate man killer.”
Taehyun gapes with an impressed smile. “You’re telling me that the number one frat hater is into the Choi Yeonjun?”
Yeonjun. Soobin can finally put a name to the devil(ishly gorgeous man).
“Well, Beomgyu likes Jeongin or whatever,” he attempts to deflect the attention off himself, but for obvious reasons, it doesn’t work. Beomgyu is much too shameless and not anti-frat to have not already announced to the entire world that he wants nothing more than to dick down Alpha Nu’s rush chair. And, well, Kai isn’t wrong about the jeans theory. As he slips them on, they really do make his ass and legs look amazing. The realization leaves a scowl on his face.
“Well, Beomgyu’s Beomgyu . He’s horny and desperate, and clearly,” Taehyun’s eyes trail downwards, and Soobin follows, noticing that the polo’s buttons are completely undone, exposing a good chunk of his chest, “so are you.”
Soobin huffs sharply, abruptly standing up from his place on his bed as he shoves past his friends in annoyance. What the hell do they know about him, anyway? It’s like they’ve forgotten the one, defining moment in his life that made him loathe frat boys with an undiluted passion.
“I’m not desperate enough to fraternize with a frat boy ,” Soobin hisses, twirling around and smacking Kai’s hand away with a scowl as the latter attempts to soothe him, “and I’m definitely not stupid enough to be hurt by one again, either. You all know I’m better than that.”
Kai and Taehyun glance at each other with a wince, a wash of sympathy masking their once mischievous expressions.
“Soobs, we didn’t mean to-”
Beomgyu steps out of his room, completely unaware of the debacle happening before him. With a grunt, Soobin grabs his arm and pulls him to hastily pull on his shoes and stomp out the door.
He’s a man on a revenge mission tonight.
🏛️🏛️🏛️
Greek Row is exactly how Soobin remembers it.
As he and Beomgyu exit the bus and start walking down the long road lined with two-story Georgian architectural houses, the sidewalks littered with autumnal leaves become littered with beer bottles and soda cans. Every other house is swarmed with desperate young adults dancing the night away in hopes of impressing their potential brothers or sisters to invite them as pledges. The sight almost makes Soobin pity them.
Eventually, they find a house with the Greek letters Alpha Nu nailed on a brick house, people mingling and spilling out onto the front lawn.
“Geez, I can’t believe the number of idiots wanting to rush increased exponentially,” Soobin scoffs in disgust.
Beomgyu sighs in exasperation, mirroring Soobin’s lament. “Yeah, I can’t believe my competition to win Jeongin’s heart doubled .”
Soobin shoots him a tight-lipped smile in sympathy. Unfortunately, it’s not just Alpha Nu members and rushees present - Kappa Omega Delta sorority members and rushees are also intermingled in the mix, which means not only do they have to deal with drunk and titillated men, but drunk and titillated women as well.
“You guys actually came!” Speaking of the devil, Jeongin appears from within the depths of the house, greeting the two boys at the doorway. He’s dressed much more formally this time around, with a buttoned up polo and slacks. Soobin can’t tell if he’s trying to impress potential pledges or Beomgyu, with the way he eyes his friend like food on a platter. He wants to throw up.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Beomgyu answers with a giddy smile, arms looping around Jeongin’s own. “So, I heard Alpha Nu’s a social frat. What does that mean, exactly?”
Jeongin’s eyes widen in surprise, and for some reason, he glances at Soobin inquisitively before looking back to Beomgyu in awe. “I’m surprised you did any research at all, but yeah. We host a lot of social events for members to connect with each other, as well as our alumni. It’s basically a hub where you make friends for life. Why, is that something you’re interested in?”
“I’ve seen first-hand that such relationships are surface-level, but I digress,” Soobin butts in flippantly, ignoring Jeongin’s glare with a roll of his eyes. “Though I’m sure Beomgyu is very interested in creating a different kind of relationship with you.”
Before Beomgyu can dropkick him into oblivion, Soobin saunters past them with a smirk. His work as a wingman is done, Beomgyu will be just fine on his own. Now, he desperately needs a drink if he’s going to survive the night.
The house is just as packed as it was outside . The number of Ralph Lauren polos and khaki shorts on all the boys present were killing him on the inside. There were so many of them that Soobin couldn’t even differentiate Alpha Nu members from rushees. (Not like he cares, he’s just here for the free booze and opportunity to loiter. That’s it.)
Soobin startles at the feeling of a finger tapping his shoulder. How dare someone disturb him as he pours a second cup of this suspiciously good punch concoction.
“Are you an Alpha Nu brother?”
It’s a boy much larger and taller than him, with round eyes and the beginnings of a mustache, sauntering up to him with extremely gelled back hair and an already empty Solo cup. Soobin has never been more turned off in his life.
He can’t help but scoff at the question. Him, passing off as a frat member? Please .
“Sure,” Soobin snorted, deciding to entertain the boy. He’s going to need some way to pass the time, anyway. “Go ahead and give me your elevator pitch, I haven’t got all day.”
Maybe this will teach the kid a thing or two about snooty frat boys, Soobin thought triumphantly. It wouldn’t be too harmless acting like an Alpha Nu member; the more hopeless rushees he deters, the better.
However, his decision doesn’t seem to sway in his favor, as the boy’s eyes narrow smugly, invading Soobin’s personal bubble with an arm thrown around his shoulders and face dangerously close to his.
“I’m a man of few words and the influence of a king.” His eyes drag up and down Soobin’s body slowly, and suddenly the music fades in Soobin’s ears. His heart thrashes out of his chest in fear, because of course he had to end up with a sleazebag.
Soobin scoffs, his lips trembling in fear as the boy’s veiny hand grips Soobin’s wrist. Tightly. “No hi? Hello? Or even your name?” He jokes nervously.
The boy smirks, tugging an unwilling Soobin towards the stairs. “I’d rather you learn my name when we’re in bed, when every single Alpha Nu brother in this house will hear just how amazing I am.”
Soobin is just about to punch this shameless dick in the face, extremely disgusted by his unsolicited and displaced confidence, before someone rips his arm out of the boy’s grip.
“Fuck off, kid. Shit like this doesn’t fly at Alpha Nu.”
Soobin gawks at his rescuer. He barely even recognized him, the Alpha Nu president donning a sleek leather jacket and ripped skinny jeans in lieu of his more stereotypical attire. And lord , his hair is gelled back in the sexy kind of way Soobin likes. A few strands falling against his forehead, strong eyebrows and sharp eyes fully exposed.
He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment in shock. No, bad Soobin. You can’t think about a frat boy like that .
As the sleazeball disappears, Soobin jerks himself out of Yeonjun’s hold, huffing at the confused president in annoyance. “I could’ve handled that myself, idiot.”
It annoys him even more when Yeonjun just smiles in amusement. “I know, but I just wanted to help.”
Soobin doesn’t know why that statement warms his heart, but he shoves that feeling down as quickly as it came up.
“You could help by taking note of how dull this party is,” Soobin sighs in exasperation. He wants to wipe that stupidly cute smile off of Yeonjun’s face immediately. How dare he not be bothered by Soobin one bit. “There’s nothing exciting to do, that’s why horny adolescents like that guy resort to preying on anyone that looks remotely like someone from Alpha Nu.”
Yeonjun’s eyebrows rise, seemingly impressed. “For someone who hates us so much, you exude potential Alpha Nu energy more than anyone else I’ve met today.”
Soobin’s eyes widen like saucers, chugging his drink down and blinking at Yeonjun in disbelief. Why the hell does Yeonjun take everything he says in stride? He should be on his knees (in defeat).
“I don’t understand how me finding this party ‘dull’ makes me Alpha Nu worthy,” Soobin chuckles. He realizes that it’s his first laugh of the night. He quickly wipes the smile off his face, though it’s too late when Yeonjun notices and mirrors his expression.
“Rushees usually blindly try to win our favor. You, on the other hand, aren’t afraid to voice your opinions. We want someone outspoken like you to strengthen Alpha Nu’s potential,” Yeonjun explains easily, bumping his red Solo cup against Soobin’s. “Asskissing isn’t attractive, all in all.”
Soobin smirks, eyebrows rising suggestively. “Hey, some people might be into that, y’know.”
Yeonjun, surprisingly, guffaws . Soobin is particularly proud of that joke, but really? He’s self-aware to know he’s not that funny.
“You’re cute, Soobinnie. Real cute.”
Soobin’s cheeks flush without his permission, eyes darting away from Yeonjun’s intense gaze. He can’t tell if Yeonjun means he’s being endearing cute, or annoying cute. Maybe the fact that he hasn’t gotten any action in a few years is getting to him.
Despite his conflicting feelings, Soobin can’t help but stay glued to Yeonjun’s side, opting to press himself firmly against the wall next to the president as more and more people file into the house. Yeonjun seems to notice his discomfort, silently grabbing his hand and leading him towards the back of the house, the noise quickly becoming nothing but muffled noise as they step out into the frat house’s backyard.
“I’ve never seen a nice frat house backyard before,” Soobin comments in wonderment, silently admiring the pristine pool before him, where people are dipping their toes in the water, a low murmur of much calmer chatter filling the crisp, chilly air.
Yeonjun raises an eyebrow at him inquisitively. “ The frat anti himself has been to a frat before?”
Soobin's blood goes cold, whipping his head to shoot Yeonjun a forbidding glare. “Don’t ask.”
The scowl succeeds in shutting Yeonjun up, raising his arms up in surrender. Though the look of concern in Yeonjun's eyes doesn’t get past Soobin. “Sorry… but, um yeah. This is the backyard. We like to use it for spring and summer events, like barbeques, post-game celebrations-”
Soobin chuckles, shaking his head in amusement, effectively cutting Yeonjun off. “You don’t have to explain all this to me, Yeonjun. I'm not actually joining, and that’s final.”
To his surprise, Yeonjun doesn’t look fazed. The Alpha Nu president looks at him in fascination, like Soobin is some sort of challenge. Which, he supposes he is, in a sense. He’s notorious for his hatred against Greek life, and it seems that either Yeonjun is completely oblivious to all that, or he sees him as an opportunity.
However, there’s no need for him to join another goddamn organization - a cultish one at that - and there's definitely, absolutely, and certainly no need nor want to relive the trauma of his freshman year. Soobin is a person that learns from his mistakes to never make them again, and combined with his stubborn nature, he’ll make sure he doesn’t go down without a fight.
“That's fine,” Yeonjun decides to say. He seems to mean it. “I'm not trying to make you join Alpha Nu. I would never force a rushee to do something they don’t want to.”
Soobin furrows his eyebrows in confusion. Was that not the whole point of him getting invited to come to a rush-only party? To fall for his antics and rush?
“What exactly are you trying to do, then?”
Soobin shivers, and without hesitation, Yeonjun slips off his jacket and throws it over Soobin's shoulders. His cheeks burn in flames. He must have hypothermia or something. Or maybe it’s the alcohol. Asian glow, probably.
“Prove you wrong. That we’re not all as bad as you put us out to be.”
🏛️🏛️🏛️
From: [email protected]
Subject: Alpha Nu Rush Update
Congratulations, rushee! You left a lasting impression on some of our members, and we would like to exclusively invite you to the next rush event in order to better evaluate you as a potential pledge. We’ll be having a movie night tomorrow at the Alpha Nu house, so just come in your comfiest clothes as we hog out on popcorn and bond over some fun films!
Hasta la vista,
Yang Jeongin
Alpha Nu Rush Chair
Soobin gawks at the email staring back at him through his laptop screen. How the hell did these demonic Greek barbarians figure out his email from the slew of other Choi Soobins at this goddamn school?
“This has to be a joke.”
Taehyun and Beomgyu are sitting across from him in the library, noses that were dug in their textbooks are now pointed towards Soobin in curiosity.
“If you’re complaining about Chomsky’s theories again, I get it, dude,” Beomgyu sighed tiredly.
Soobin’s eye twitches. That’s an entirely different irritation to go on a tangent on, but that’s for a later time. He twirls his laptop around to face the others. “I got this from Alpha Nu. It’s a prank, right? They can’t be serious.”
Taehyun’s jaw falls open in surprise while Beomgyu lets out a garbled squawk, shaking his head as he responds, “No, this is real. I got the same email, actually.”
“How the fuck did you get invited back?” Taehyun blinked owlishly, eyes darting between Soobin and the email. “What happened to proving to frat boys that they’re ‘just frat boys’?”
Soobin opens his mouth, ready to tell the story of how he almost (read: unsuccessfully) converted a potential rushee into the opposite, but then the image of Yeonjun’s fierce eyes and oddly soothing voice flooded his mind, and he was left gawking at Taehyun, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
“He miserably failed at that. The last thing I remember was seeing him walk hand-in-hand with Choi Yeonjun out the backyard,” Beomgyu answers for him, an evil grin sitting nastily on his lips.
Soobin scowls at him, willing the flush rising up his neck to go back down to where it came from. “Just because you had Jeongin wrapped around my finger doesn’t mean that I couldn’t see what you were up to.”
Taehyun accidentally lets out a cackle, all three of them startling when someone shushes them from afar. “This is fucking hilarious. If I’d known that someone like Yeonjun would break down your walls, I would’ve introduced him to you ages ago.”
“He is not breaking down my walls, I’m a man true to my word,” Soobin grumbles, a fire igniting in his eyes as he types furiously on his keyboard. He’s starting to see red, and it seems like his friends realize it when their teasing expressions become looks of unease. “We’re going to this stupid movie night and I’m going to make sure I never get invited back.”
🏛️🏛️🏛️
The next night, Soobin and Beomgyu are taking the same trek back to Alpha Nu, and to be honest, Soobin is fucking tired .
His weird intuition to study the day before had definitely caught onto something, because later on that same day, his professor shocked the class by announcing a pop quiz for tomorrow on - surprise - Chomsky’s theories. Soobin hopes that the man is rolling uncomfortably in his grave right now.
Soobin had crammed as much as he could last night, up until the wee hours of the morning. It’s safe to say that after almost pulling an all-nighter (he awoke to a drool filled textbook after passing out at 5 in the morning), he’s sure to pass. It was crucial that he kept his grades up, considering the requirements to remain in his other extracurriculars.
The Alpha Nu house looks much more tame without the throngs of people flooding the place. The lawn looks freshly cut, the Alpha Nu letters have been straightened out, and there isn’t a single beer bottle left astray. When they knock on the door, Jeongin greets them once again, though instead of a shy glance thrown towards Beomgyu’s way, he confidently holds Beomgyu’s hand and pulls him inside. Soobin rolls his eyes when he’s completely ignored, though he can’t help the smile on his face when Beomgyu quickly glances back at him with a giddy grin.
Soobin has never seen his best friend so happy like this and he supposes if he didn’t hold such a grudge with frat boys, this could’ve happened sooner. Though he shakes the guilt off his shoulders - better late than never, he supposes. If Jeongin proves himself, then maybe he can be placed in the same league as Taehyun.
They shuffle into the living room, which is bigger than Soobin had expected. There are two couches lined to face the opposite wall where a large flat-screen TV above a faux-fireplace sits and a hoard of beanbags scattered in front of the couches and behind a large coffee table, which is filled to the brim with movie-appropriate snacks. Chips, popcorn, soda, candy - you name it. Surprisingly, it looks extremely cozy, with extra blankets and pillows provided to build the comfiest movie viewing experience. (The basketball game machine in the back corner looks extremely out of place, but Soobin ignores it. Typical frat amenities.)
There are about fifteen to twenty guys in matching black hoodies with purple puff lettering spelling out Alpha Nu in Greek, which helpfully separates them from the much larger group of presumed rushees who have made the next cut. Soobin doesn’t recognize any of them, thankfully. He doesn’t need anyone in his circle finding out that he came here willingly.
It seems like he and Beomgyu were one of the last people to arrive, as nearly all the beanbags, make-shift floor seats, and couch space were full. Jeongin and Beomgyu had taken the last armchair with Beomgyu settling in Jeongin’s lap. Geez, those two are moving fast.
To his disappointment, the last seat available is next to the Alpha Nu president. Soobin sighs inwardly, trudging towards the end of one of the couches and plopping himself unwillingly next to Yeonjun. He supposes he can’t blame the other rushees; they must’ve been too intimidated to sit next to the president. Even though he’s actually anything but.
Yeonjun grins in delight, immediately throwing the other half of the blanket over his lap onto Soobin’s. “Saved this seat just for you, gorgeous.”
Soobin’s eyes roll so far back his head that he’s sure he can see his brain, yet his lips quiver as he tries to stop them from smiling at the unexpected compliment. “How gallant of you. I am swooned.”
He allows himself a chuckle when Yeonjun huffs at his sarcasm, taking a pillow and weakly hitting him on the chest. Soobin catches it, pulling it over his lap comfortably.
“It was brave of you to invite me back, considering the miniscule chance that I would even come,” Soobin says. He’s not sure why he’s attempting conversation with Yeonjun. He isn’t a big fan of awkward silence, but that shouldn’t be a problem when the point is to not be amicable. “I’m not planning on enjoying this night either, just so you know.”
“Well, I’m just glad you decided to come. I missed your annoying temperament. It’s adorable.”
“The girls must love that pickup line,” Soobin jokes with an amused scoff.
Yeonjun smirks at him, countering, “I would hope not, I only reserve it for cute boys like you.”
Soobin blushes abruptly, whipping his head away from Yeonjun’s weirdly adoring gaze. The discovery that Yeonjun’s attraction towards men is real should not be exciting him this much. Besides, he knows exactly what game Yeonjun is playing. He’s trying to rile him up - gas Soobin up so much that he blindly joins Alpha Nu without a clue. He is not going to give him that satisfaction.
Thankfully, one of the Alpha Nu members runs up to the TV, blabbering on about how rushees should feel comfortable socializing with them and all that nonsense. Honestly, a movie night is not a great activity when the goal is to encourage people to talk. So, Soobin decides the best way to challenge them is to do the exact opposite. Not talk.
It’s an easy feat, especially when Soobin realizes that they’ve got the Sleepless in Seattle playing on the screen. He’s seen this movie a good handful of times, and he’s enjoyed it so much that sometimes he plays it to serve as white noise on nights where he can’t fall asleep. Tonight is an exception, so falling asleep is going to be a piece of cake.
He doesn’t mind when he hears a murmur of chatter across the men before him, using it to his advantage by utilizing it as ambiance. Yeonjun doesn’t seem to notice this, weirdly engrossed in the film as he munches on a bag of popcorn, making sure it’s in Soobin’s vicinity if he wants a bite. Don’t mind if he does. He doesn’t even care that at times, he’s grazing Yeonjun’s hand when they’re reaching into the bag at the same time.
With his inhibitions released, Soobin allows himself to indulge in a bit of sleep, eyes drowsily falling shut.
And when he awakens again, the movie has just finished and Alpha Nu members and rushees have started to converge into smaller groups, discussing amongst each other as if the movie is some Oscar winning film. Even Beomgyu is engaged in conversation with someone other than Jeongin.
Though that’s not the thing that truly wakes Soobin up. It's actually the uncomfortable sensation of his head against a bony shoulder that jolts him upright, realizing that he was practically snuggled into Yeonjun’s side the entire movie. It especially pisses him off because damn, that was an amazing nap.
“I’m so sorry,” Soobin apologizes in panic, then he frowns. He shouldn’t have to apologize.
But Yeonjun just smiles that sparkling smile that hasn’t dimmed one bit since they’ve met. “Don’t worry, you must’ve been tired.”
Soobin exhales through his nose in frustration. “You’re so annoyingly nice, it almost feels fake.”
Yeonjun rolls his eyes fondly, “And you snore in your sleep.”
He goes to gasp in distraught, though as sleepiness takes him over again, a yawn escapes instead. Yeonjun’s lucky he doesn’t have the energy to fight back right now. “Well, that’s my cue to leave. I can’t be caught snoring in public.”
Beomgyu’s got Jeongin, hopefully the rush chair is decent enough to make sure his best friend comes back to their apartment in one piece. As for Soobin, he’s too fucking sleepy to stay any longer, and he’s sure that with the nonexistent interaction made with any of the other guys here, the probability of an e-mail from Alpha Nu in his inbox has gone to 0%.
Though as he’s going to stand up from the couch, Yeonjun’s rising with him. “Let me walk you home.”
Soobin’s eyes widen, heart palpitating in a weird mix of anticipation and anxiety. “Absolutely not. I’m not about to get a target on my back just because I look like I’m close with the president of Alpha Nu.”
Yeonjun’s lips curl diabolically, face leaning precariously close to Soobin’s. He gulps. Why is he so intimidated by this shorter man? “Then would you rather sleep over? I’ve got a queen-sized bed, and I’ve been waiting for a king to fill the space.”
Soobin squeezes his eyes shut, cringing at the pickup line. Yet, his face burns. “That was even worse than the pickup line from two nights ago.”
“Well, your choice. Sleepover or I walk you home. I win either way,” Yeonjun says with a shit-eating grin. Soobin wants to kiss it right the fuck off.
Wait. What ?
Soobin sighs heavily, feeling much too groggy to argue any further with the president. It’s not like he’ll be invited back. Bailing on an event when it has barely started shouldn’t be a good look on him anyway.
When everyone has left the living room, Soobin begrudgingly makes his way out from under the warm blanket and towards the front door, Yeonjun quietly following him like a puppy excited for his daily walk.
They walk side-by-side in silence. A part of him itched to fill it with something, but he also didn’t want to give Yeonjun any sort of satisfaction. It was already enough that he let the guy walk him home.
He decides to sneak a quick look at Yeonjun and assess the situation, though he finds himself a bit stunned by his view. It’s no secret that Yeonjun is objectively attractive; looking past the hideous hoodie and beanie, he’s got sharp angles that leave their viewers captivated, yet soft features that make him look as innocent as a newborn kitten. If Soobin could overlook everything he hated about frat boys, he could almost imagine falling for the Alpha Nu president. It’s a scary thought that has persistently pervaded his mind the past few days, one that he never expected to have after the very thing that had caused him to hate frat boys in the first place.
Soobin startles when Yeonjun’s head turns to look at him, quickly looking away with an embarrassed flush, pretending to admire the leaf-littered road before him.
“Y’know, I used to look down on Greek life just like you do,” Yeonjun says unexpectedly. “When I came to tour the university, I thought the frat boys trying to recruit me were pure idiots. Like, I can get by just fine without joining, right?”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Rude, first of all,” Yeonjun scoffs with a roll of his eyes, “Second of all, I don’t care. I just thought you should know that the reason why we join Greek life isn’t all that superficial. We have stories, too.”
Soobin presses his lips together, the twinge of hurt in Yeonjun’s voice making him feel a forbidden emotion towards the frat president: compassion. This jackass makes him feel things he didn’t want to feel again.
“...I suppose you’re right.”
Yeonjun smiles gratefully, kicking at a rock before speaking. “The first few months of university were difficult for me. I didn’t know a single person coming in, and as unbelievable as it sounds, I had a hard time making friends.”
Soobin gasps insincerely, earning a smack on the arm from Yeonjun. “Ow!”
“Deserved. You’re a bigger jerk than me,” Yeonjun laughs and Soobin can’t find it within himself to retort. “The people I was meeting in class, around the dorm, or even the clubs I was trying to join - all those relationships felt surface-level. No one really cared about me as a person, only the things that I could transactionally give them. Lecture notes, an extra bar pen, someone to pretend to have a real conversation with.”
Soobin feels a pang of sympathy in his heart. He knows that feeling all too well. He also feels disbelief, because he’s actually commiserating with a goddamn frat boy.
“Then, I met this guy named Mingyu at the campus gym. I was a gym rat back then and I was serious about working out at six in the morning. It seemed he was too, and at some point, we just hit it off.” Yeonjun smiles nostalgically. “We got closer and closer, and halfway into the school year, he asked if I wanted to join his frat.”
Soobin furrows his eyebrows in confusion. “Wait, you can’t join a frat like that… can you?”
He regrets the question when it spills out, mentally reprimanding himself for showing interest, though it all melts away when Yeonjun grins up at him excitedly.
“You can! Though, I guess it helped that I had befriended an Alpha Nu president.”
“So nepotism, basically,” Soobin says with a raised eyebrow.
Yeonjun chuckles in amusement, shrugging his shoulders. “You could say that. I’m grateful to him, though. If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have met some of my closest, most precious friends.” His eyes sparkle, then. They walk through the spotlight from a lamppost and Yeonjun’s eyes twinkle, looking like what Soobin would imagine a star would look like up close. It enraptured him. “And, I guess in a way, you.”
Soobin scoffs, quickening his stride in order to hide the sight of his reddening ears away from Yeonjun’s prying eyes. “You’re an annoying piece of shit.”
Yeonjun cackles, his ridiculous laugh echoing across the empty street. He skips to catch up to Soobin, his cat-like eyes rounding in inquisitiveness. “What about you, what’s your story?”
“Hey, just because you decided to share your life story to me - unsolicited, by the way - doesn’t mean that I have to reciprocate.”
Yeonjun pouts, stopping abruptly and stomping his foot before pivoting, heading back towards the house. “Fine then! I’ll just go back and make sure you get invited to our last rushee event. Maybe I’ll hear it from you then.”
Soobin gapes at him in shock, taken-aback from the unexpected childishness that erupted out of Yeonjun. God, dare he say it, but it was kind of… cute .
“No! Please, don’t invite me again. I’ll tell you, swear.”
The Alpha Nu president turns a complete 180 and prances back up to Soobin, smiling brightly as if nothing had happened. He’s hot and manipulative. Soobin wants to die.
“Go on. I’m listening.”
Soobin curses under his breath. Screw Yeonjun.
He takes a deep breath in, contemplating for a second if this is really it. He’s about to pour out his deepest, darkest secret to the very species of man that Soobin has loathed the most for the past two - going on three - years.
He has only known Yeonjun for a total of three days, and though he feels genuinely wary, he also feels uncomfortably trusting. Maybe it’s in the way Yeonjun has appeared to act like nothing other than his sincere self, and instead of checking all the boxes of what a frat boy is typically like, Yeonjun is just Yeonjun. Challenging, mischievous, and dorky.
“When you asked the other night if I had been to a frat house before, my answer is that I have.”
Soobin glances at Yeonjun beside him, the latter politely keeping his gaze forward. “I’ve been to a particular frat house so many times that I think I’ve got the entire floor plan memorized,” he laughs in exhaustion, the thought of just the setting of the memory draining his energy.
It seems Yeonjun senses this shift when Soobin feels a smaller, softer hand slip into his, fingers squeezing his hand in comfort. He can’t help but let a small smile creep through his lukewarm facade.
“And the reason that I have this specific frat house memorized is because… my ex-boyfriend is a member.”
He hears a small gasp escape past Yeonjun’s lips and looks to see the Alpha Nu president staring with wide eyes at him in anticipation, ready to hear the rest, no questions asked. But this is where Soobin starts to feel his walls slowly start to build themselves back up again. The memories of his ex begin to suffocate him, his throat tightening and tears threatening to expose his stupidly sensitive and broken heart.
Thankfully, they arrive at Soobin’s bus stop, and that’s when he decides to let go of Yeonjun’s hand. Though the latter’s face falls in realization, he can tell that Yeonjun also understands. And he hates that Yeonjun just gets him.
“Thank you for trusting me,” Yeonjun says, a gentle smile gracing his beautiful lips. It feels warm and inviting, and Soobin feels a strange pull in his heart. He needs to be closer, but he doesn’t budge.
Yeonjun’s eyes dart away from Soobin’s for a moment, and he notices that his bus is approaching from far away. When he glances back, Yeonjun is a step closer than before. “I don’t expect you to tell me everything, but I just thought I would warn you that I intend to do more than just prove you wrong.”
Soobin’s chest tightens. “And what would that be, exactly?”
“I want to prove to you that I’m genuine.” Yeonjun steps forward again. He’s a breath away, meeting Soobin’s trembling eyes with a confident gaze. “I’m not a toxic frat boy playing around. I’m just a boy, standing in front of another boy, asking him to give me a chance.”
The bus’ headlights cascade a heavenly shine on Yeonjun’s face. The walls shake, bricks falling down one by one in the abyss of his soul.
His breath is caught in his lungs. “Why do you make me hope, Choi Yeonjun?”
The sound of the bus screeching to a halt behind him does nothing to shake him out of his trance. It’s only when Yeonjun’s hand pushes against his chest, prompting him to walk backwards towards the bus. Though the night is never finished without Yeonjun’s signature surprise uppercut.
Before he’s out of the other's grasp, Yeonjun leans up to press a fleeting kiss against Soobin’s cheek. “Because as unfortunate as it is that you hate guys like me, it doesn’t change the fact that I like you, Choi Soobin.”
🏛️🏛️🏛️
From: [email protected]
Subject: Alpha Nu Rush Final Update
Congratulations, rushee! Our brothers found you impressive enough to be invited to our third and final rush event of the year: a pool & barbeque party! To wind down a long week of quizzes and assignments, the Alpha Nu brothers and Kappa Omega Delta sisters want to help you relax and feel supported as a potential pledge. We hope to see you there!
P.S. Hi Soobin! Hopefully, by the time you read this email, you’ve received a special package from a specific special someone. *wink wonk*
Treat our Yeonjun well <3,
Yang Jeongin
Alpha Nu Rush Chair
“A pool and barbeque party at the end of the week? Isn’t it too fuckin’ cold for that right now?”
Taehyun gawks at Soobin, appalled by his weirdly nonchalant behavior. “That doesn’t fucking matter right now, what matters is that you failed to not get an invite,” he gapes.
Beomgyu peers at his laptop screen, letting out a breathy laugh that turns into cackles when he finishes reading. “I can’t believe it… you actually want to join this frat. This is history in the making.”
Even Taehyun is giggling alongside his best friend, and that’s saying something. This is the first time Soobin has heard him so jovial for his failures.
“ And you’ve got a present from a special someone?” Kai rises from the couch, heading towards the door and opening it to reveal a bouquet of roses on their welcome mat. He picks it up and fishes out a card from the middle of the bouquet, reading it out loud, “ My beautiful Soobin, make sure to dress up in the cutest little pair of trunks. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Love, Yeonjun. ” He lets out an over dramatic gasp, eyes as wide as saucers as he stares at Soobin in awe. “Are you dating Yeonjun?”
“No!” Soobin insists, his cheeks burning in embarrassment. They all fix him an unimpressed look, leaving him to surrender the already losing battle. “I… he got me, okay? He’s stupidly convincing.” When his friends’ expressions don’t budge, Soobin lets out a defeated sigh. “ Fine . He quoted Notting Hill . I almost cried.”
Kai gasps again and so does Beomgyu. Taehyun eyes them in alarmed perplexity.
“No way, that’s like, your favorite romcom,” Beomgyu relents dreamily, pulling Soobin into his arms and patting his head like a mother to a child. His tone becomes softer and more cautious like a mother, too. “If he hurts you, I’ll beat his ass, alright?”
Soobin chuckles weakly, gently pulling Beomgyu’s arms away from him. “Don’t worry. He won’t have an opportunity to hurt me. I’m not going to join the frat, and I won’t see him after this last party.”
Taehyun’s eyebrows wrinkle, his bewilderment increasing. “Then why are you still going?”
That’s a good question , Soobin thought. There really shouldn’t be any reason he should go. Despite Yeonjun’s attempts, there hasn’t been anything enticing about joining Alpha Nu. Social events drain the fuck out of him, and he can’t imagine going to them, let alone organizing them for an entire year.
The only motive he has is Yeonjun. Being close to him and being spoiled by his attention makes him so much more, but he doesn’t want to be with him under the context of becoming a pledge. He wants to be with Yeonjun more than that, and that scares him. That kind of thought is dangerous, especially when reminiscing on how that kind of thought had crushed him once before. Besides, there’s no guarantee that being with Yeonjun won’t be the same.
So, he decided that what happens at Alpha Nu, stays in Alpha Nu. He’ll allow himself one more selfish night with Yeonjun, then it’s over.
“Because I still haven’t proved him wrong.”
🏛️🏛️🏛️
It’s stupid how routine it feels going to the Alpha Nu house.
The bus ride and walk up Greek Row with Beomgyu by his side feels like second nature. It was a surprisingly warm night despite the cusp of autumn already behind them, though Soobin decides not to question mother nature. In fact, despite how douchey it looks to strut around in nothing but a pair of trunks and the occasional wife beater, Yeonjun looks scandalously delicious in the tiniest pair of trunks he has ever seen.
Not even noticing Beomgyu has run off who knows where (probably to find Jeongin, as always), Soobin gulps as Yeonjun catches his gaze, smiling sinisterly as he swaggers towards the taller. His defined boobs - ahem , pecs - are dripping with fresh droplets of water, supposedly due to a fresh dip in the pool from the looks of his also drenched locks. Soobin needs to eat him and he needs to eat him now .
Yeah, he’s not sure how he’s going to survive without his daily dose of Yeonjun after tonight.
“I knew you’d make it!” Yeonjun exclaims in relief, arms instinctively throwing themselves to wrap around Soobin’s neck.
Soobin feels his neck burn, both from the sudden proximity and the discreet attention of everyone’s eyes on them. Despite it being a co-ed party, it’s a lot sparser compared to the first party at the beginning of the week. Even though there are still a large amount of rushees left to parse through, the number has dwindled down in the past few days. Which means that people are definitely much more aware of this thing that Soobin and Yeonjun have going on.
“Well, it’s hard to turn down an invitation, especially when I deliberately told you not to invite me in the first place,” Soobin says scoffingly. He bites back a smile when Yeonjun giggles brightly. He’ll never understand why Yeonjun finds his dull jokes so funny.
Yeonjun’s hand slithers down to grasp Soobin’s, pulling him towards the ever so familiar backyard. “C’mon, let’s get you wet.”
If Soobin wasn’t blushing before, Yeonjun has definitely made sure that he is now. “ W-wet?!”
“Yeah, in the pool? Did you not read the email, Soobinnie? That doesn’t make you a very good potential pledge, y’know.”
Soobin releases a breath he didn’t realize he was even holding. “Oh, right. Still not planning on joining, by the way.”
They arrive at the pool, which is much more lively than before. Everyone is braving the unexpectedly warm temperature in quite revealing swimsuits. Soobin was planning on keeping his rashguard on, though now he feels a little insecure at the idea of being the only person swimming in the pool with a shirt on. God, since when did he care about looking like a loser in front of all these Greek life folks?
Yeonjun pivots on his heel, eyes gazing up and down Soobin’s torso, a finger flicking upward to indicate that he should lose the shirt. Great. “And I still have the rest of the night to convince you otherwise. Now, shirt off, pretty boy.”
Soobin presses his lips in a tight line, fingers hesitantly twiddling with the hem of his rashguard. Yeonjun seems to notice this and his expression softens, stepping closer to Soobin and pulls his hands away as he whispers, “Sorry, you don’t have to take it off. You’re still pretty, either way.”
Yeonjun throws Soobin an attempt of a wink, and he can’t help but snort in amusement and ease. It’s moments like these where Soobin wants to throw all care and judgment in the wind and let himself fall into Yeonjun.
He lets Yeonjun lead him into the shallowest part of the pool, wincing at the cold water shocking his warm body. “I can’t swim, by the way,” Soobin warns after Yeonjun disappeared under the water, dampening his hair and flipping it back like a mermaid would. The sight is glorious.
Yeonjun doesn’t seem to be fazed by this and embraces all of Soobin like he has been, simply smiling and nodding. “Then let’s just go to where you’d feel the most comfortable.”
The lower depths of the pool are highly populated with other swimmers lounging around with drinks or a skewer of barbeque, which bothers Soobin because 1. he can’t imagine how hard it must be to clean the water if something were to be spilled and doesn’t want to be a burden, and 2. he wants Yeonjun all to himself in this pool. No distractions allowed.
So, he sucks it up a bit and starts tip-toeing and bobbing his way towards the deeper part of the pool, Yeonjun following him at his side. It isn’t until his shoulders are just barely under the surface of the water that Soobin stops. While his feet are still flat against the pool floor, Yeonjun has hit a point where he needs to start floating, and instead of relying on his own perfectly good swimming skills, he latches onto Soobin’s shoulders and feigns ignorance. Soobin lets a tiny smile grace his lips at the thought of Yeonjun wanting to be near him too.
“What, you suddenly can’t swim?” Soobin scoffs playfully.
Yeonjun’s head whips towards Soobin with a pout on his face. “Not my fault you make a great floatie.”
Soobin can barely breathe. Their faces are really close. So close, that with one small movement, he could just kiss Yeonjun. Yeonjun seems to feel it too, eyes flitting towards his lips briefly. Asking for an invitation. A sign. Something.
It would be so easy to just indulge in the desire that burns his heart like the guilt of a sin. In a way, doing so would be. Kissing Yeonjun would be going against everything he fought against. Kissing Yeonjun would be admitting defeat. Kissing Yeonjun would mean that what his ex-boyfriend did to him was justified.
No. He can’t. He doesn’t deserve that.
“So I’m just a means to your survival?” Soobin retorts, ripping his gaze from Yeonjun’s face, effectively creating distance from those unholy lips.
Yeonjun laughs weakly, hands slipping off of Soobin’s shoulders. Even though the pool water has warmed, the lack of Yeonjun’s touch leaves him cold. “Yes. If this was the Titanic, I’d be Rose and you’d be the door.”
“Damn, I can’t even be Jack,” Soobin chuckles awkwardly, though the boring joke falls flat as all Yeonjun can respond with is a lame attempt at a smile.
“I’ll be right back, I think I need another drink,” Yeonjun excuses himself, lightly pecking Soobin’s cheek before wading his way out of the pool. “Feel free to grab some barbecue, yeah?”
Soobin watches him helplessly, feeling a puddle of acid grow in the pit of his stomach. Watching Yeonjun’s dejected figure walk away makes him feel like he did something wrong. Though it’s not the ideal environment to be contemplating what exactly, not when the other people in the pool are smirking and eyeing Soobin like he just went to third base with Yeonjun.
He sighs, hauling himself out of the pool and dragging his soaked body towards the cloud of smoke dancing above the grill on the other side of the backyard. The scent of cooked meat smells delightful, but Soobin doesn’t feel like he can stomach anything right now. Especially not at the sight of Beomgyu and Jeongin taking a love shot and then proceeding to share a skewer like they’re the dogs from Lady and the Tramp .
“Why the long face, pal?” Jeongin greets with a mocking frown. Soobin scowls at him. Just because Beomgyu and him are seeing each other now doesn’t mean he can treat him like a friend. He’s no Taehyun.
“Don’t speak to me in American Dad talk,” Soobin snaps, begrudgingly accepting a skewer from the rush chair.
Beomgyu’s joyful face turns sad, eyebrows furrowed in worry. “You’re lashing out. You only do that when something’s bothering you, so spit it out.”
Soobin glowers at him too, which doesn’t last long when his friend whips out the puppy dog eyes. Even Jeongin is bewitched as well. “Okay, fine. I was in the pool with Yeonjun-”
“We saw,” Jeongin sing-songs. Beomgyu smacks him on the arm with a stern expression before turning back to Soobin with an encouraging smile. “Continue.”
Soobin smiles gratefully, albeit in embarrassment. “We were just taking a dip in the pool for a bit, and I don’t know, I think I might’ve done or said something to hurt him? He seemed kind of down out of nowhere and left to go back inside.”
Jeongin raises an eyebrow inquisitively. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you once deem us as cocky and arrogant himbos ? Why do you care about Yeonjun now if you stand by that?”
Right. Why does he care so much? Yeonjun, at the end of the day, is a frat boy, and as Soobin clearly remembers, a narcissistic asshole horny for attention. However, he’s the one yearning for his attention instead. Though as he already witnessed, no matter how many walls he has built up, someone was bound to break them down - and it just had to be Yeonjun. Behind the stupid athletic attire is a happy-go-lucky, and passionate guy. He’s everything that Soobin never thought he would actually be. It terrifies him that he could fall in love again. Behind the shields is a heart torn into pieces, barely held up by strips of tape. All it takes is one slip-up from Yeonjun for it to break and Soobin would rather die than risk going through all that heartbreak once more.
But he also knows that dying is no different than never again being by Yeonjun’s side.
“I can’t control what I feel, no matter how hard I try,” Soobin mumbles defeatedly. “I care about Yeonjun because I think I might actually like him.”
Jeongin’s jaw practically drops to the ground with how wide his mouth opens, his skewer following right behind it as it plops against the grass. Beomgyu offers him a warm embrace, pulling Soobin into a tight hug as he mutters emotionally how proud he is of Soobin.
Then, Beomgyu pulls him away at arm’s reach, a determined look in his eye as he fixes Soobin a firm stare. “Then you should tell him that, not us.”
“But… what if he thinks it’s a joke? Like it’s some sick and twisted way to win the bet?”
Jeongin surprises them with a burst of laughter, shaking his head in amusement. “Soobin, as Yeonjun’s friend - no, as Yeonjun’s brother , I promise you that the bet is the last thing on his mind. I, alongside every other brother in this frat, can tell you with confidence that the only part of the bet that matters to him the most is you .”
Soobin’s thrashing heart goes quiet, a wave of euphoria crashing over him.
He swiftly steals a full shot glass from a passerby’s hand, downing it in one go. Beomgyu and Jeongin watch him in awe.
“Thanks, Jeongin. Liquid courage and words of affirmation were just what I needed.” He pivots on his heel, sauntering back towards the house.
Just because he had one bad experience with his ex, doesn’t mean he has to generalize it to every single frat boy he meets. Yeonjun isn’t like him; Yeonjun is kind and openly affectionate. His ex was not. The only thing in common they have is their affiliation to a frat, and that’s where it ends. Soobin’s love life doesn’t have to come to a standstill all because of some pathetic guy from his past. His heart can keep living for someone new.
Yet that someone new is not getting another drink like he had said. This someone new is standing against the kitchen counter, lips locked with a random girl.
Soobin’s vision spirals, finding himself face-to-face with someone else. This someone new isn’t Yeonjun anymore, but someone much more familiar. It’s his ex-boyfriend, arms crowding around a gorgeous and petite girl, kissing her like his life depended on it. He’s never remembered this memory so vividly before, as he feels the same emotions as he does before. Hurt, devastation, and utter betrayal.
The sound of glass shattering causes the room to fall silent. The shot glass in Soobin’s hand had dropped to the ground, pieces of it scattered around his feet. Yeonjun pushes the girl off his chest and twirls around, eyes widening in scandal as they meet Soobin’s. As soon as they do, Soobin feels ashamed. The first thing he does is push past everyone, head tilted down so no one can see his tears.
He vaguely hears the chatter turn into murmurs and Yeonjun desperately calling out his name. He pays these sounds no mind, finding the first empty room and shutting himself in it. Thankfully, there’s a lock on the doorknob.
Soobin presses his back against the door, sliding down until he hits the floor. He glances up and desperately tries to find something to stop himself from crying. It turns out to be a mistake, because by the looks of the framed pictures on the desk beside him and the familiar clothes splayed out on the floor, this can be none other than Yeonjun’s room. He can’t help but let out a choked sob, using the palms of his hands to press against his damp eyes in frustration.
Gentle knocks startle him out of his misery. “Soobin. Please, open up, I can explain.”
It’s Yeonjun. Of course it’s Yeonjun. Soobin sighs sharply. Distress replaces itself with exasperation.
“You don’t need to explain, I don’t care to hear it.”
“Then why did you look at me like that?”
“Like what?” Soobin groans. “I just got a little dizzy from the alcohol, I’m a lightweight y’know. I probably looked at you like a ditz-”
“You looked at me like I meant something to you,” Yeonjun interrupts in irritation.
Soobin rolls his eyes, though it does nothing to stop the flush rising up his neck. “You’re deluding yourself.”
He’s met with silence. Soobin scoffs. “If you came up here hoping that I gave a shit about you shoving your tongue down that girl’s throat, then you’re a fucking idiot, Choi Yeonjun. You frat boys are all one and the same. You give people false hope, you make them your boyfriend, promising them you’re their forever person, and then just when you think you’re on top of the world, you humiliate them by announcing to the whole world that you don’t have a boyfriend - you actually have a girlfriend! Then they find out that all those feelings and emotions weren’t real, and that being a dirty little secret wasn’t all that. Not when all you were to him was a play thing. A toy. A fake. A filthy, disgraceful fake.”
Soobin exhales a long breath that he didn’t realize he’s been holding in. The previously diminished music rolls back up to full volume, though Soobin can still hear and feel Yeonjun’s presence on the other side of the door loud and clear.
A strong knock, almost like a punch, shocks Soobin out of his lament. Yeonjun’s voice is thick with rage. “I’m not your ex-boyfriend, Soobin, and I never will be.”
“The sight of your lips on that girl says otherwise,” Soobin laughs coldly. The bricked walls are replaced with ice.
Yeonjun sighs, another thud echoing through the wooden door. It’s probably his head leaning against it. “I wasn’t kissing her. She came onto me. I barely had time to react before you came in.”
Soobin snorts, feeling eerily humored. “What a convenient excuse.”
He’s met with silence again. Soobin’s heart deflates at the thought that Yeonjun had given up the fight.
The doorknob wiggles, and then it clicks open. Soobin scrambles off the floor, staring in astonishment as Yeonjun easily enters the room despite it being locked. “Wha- how?!”
Yeonjun simply holds up a key in his hand. “Spare key at the top of the door frame. Words didn’t seem to work with you, so brute force it is.”
Soobin sighs heavily, shaking his head tiredly as he sits atop Yeonjun’s bed. “Well, sue me for not holding any faith in your words when I’ve only known you for a week.”
“That’s fair, I can’t argue with that,” Yeonjun agrees easily. Soobin stares at him in wonder; Yeonjun takes everything in stride too effortlessly, and even now when the situation doesn’t favor him, Yeonjun is still kind and gentle.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Soobin blurts out, feeling frustration now that the anger has faded away to be replaced with a confusing mix of emotions.
Yeonjun chuckles, settling beside Soobin and reaching to hold one of his hands. Soobin lets him. “Because I get where you’re coming from. You’ve only known me for a handful of days; trust doesn’t come easily. But, you know what, Soobin? It’s also been only a week for me too, and I still mean it when I say that I like you. I like your bratty attitude, your stupidly cute dimples, and the glimpses of the real you when your walls are down.”
The Alpha Nu president is about to say more, but his mouth clamps shut in apprehension. Soobin feels his heart begin to kindle a flame to life, his glacial walls slowly losing form. “Keep going.”
Yeonjun smiles gratefully, his other hand reaching to squeeze Soobin’s other hand. “I invited you to our first rush event because I thought you were cute, and then I kept inviting you back because I wanted to keep learning more about you, and I wanted- no, I needed to know more about you. I wanted to know what you like, what you dislike, and what you feel. I especially wanted you here tonight, because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
Soobin’s lips tremble, head falling against Yeonjun’s shoulder in embarrassment as the tears finally shed down his face in waterfalls. There was a time where he thought he would never hear such words in his life. His ex-boyfriend had made sure to drill that ridiculous notion in his mind when he abandoned Soobin in favor of appearing like “a real man” in front of his brothers.
“That’s a quote from When Harry Met Sally ,” Soobin snivels as he pulls his face away to face Yeonjun properly, not caring if snot is running down his nose or that his entire face is blotchy and red. It doesn’t seem Yeonjun cares either as he giggles fondly, fingers brushing against his skin to wipe his tears away.
“I begged your friend Beomgyu to tell me what kind of movies you liked so I could impress you,” Yeonjun confesses sheepishly, his cheeks dusted in a pretty pink.
Soobin’s eyes widened in realization. “Is that why Sleepless in Seattle was playing at movie night, and why you’ve been quoting all of my favorite rom coms?”
Yeonjun’s abashed smile only gets worse, and Soobin can’t help grinning at the sight of the Alpha Nu president getting all shy and flustered because of him. And he can’t help it when he lunges to capture Yeonjun’s lips in his, pressing himself firmly against Yeonjun’s lithe body as he guides him down towards the bed, determined to convey every single feeling he has for the other through this kiss. When he pulls away, he finds himself salivating at the sight of Yeonjun below him, eyes blown out in lust and shock and plump lips swollen and slick.
Licking his lips, Soobin blinks in surprise. “Why do you taste like toothpaste?”
Yeonjun’s eyes nearly fall out of his eyes, looking like he’s been caught when he rips his gaze away from Soobin, exposing his reddening ears. “I brushed my teeth before I came here. I thought that if I was finally going to kiss you, I didn’t want any trace of that girl on me.”
Holy shit. Yeonjun is so down bad for him. And God help him, so is Soobin.
“You’ve bewitched me, body and soul, you fucking, idiotic dork.”
Yeonjun flashes a stunning smile at him, hands grabbing at his neck like a needy baby. He presses fluttering pecks against Soobin’s pliant lips, cherishing him like he has all week, this time in the form of kisses.
“I don’t think that’s how that line from Pride and Prejudice is supposed to go.”
Soobin shakes his head in amusement. Of course Yeonjun did his homework on him.
“Then why don’t you teach me a thing or two, Mr. President?” Soobin’s fingers dance down Yeonjun’s neck, chest, and all the way down to the waistband of his shorts. “As a rushee, I think it’s only right that you right my wrongs.”
Yeonjun’s eyes darken, eyes twitching in excitement as he flips them around, Soobin now underneath Yeonjun this time. “Are you saying you’re joining Alpha Nu? Because that means I win, y’know.”
Soobin smirks. Two can play this game.
“Rush week is over in thirty minutes. You have until then to convince me.”
Yeonjun grins devilishly, crawling back and settling his hands near Soobin’s lap.
“Oh, don’t worry, darling. It’s on.”