COLLIDE .. njm

SEVEN

jaemin smiled as he woke to shuffling in his bed. he wasn't new to the feeling of sleepy hands roaming his bare chest, that always felt good, but these hands... their hands felt better.

because these hands were off-limits, at least according to yoon hyeri. and weren't they always saying forbidden fruit was the sweetest?

jaemin let his hand drag low, and nami's little yelp filled his bedroom. hara groaned slightly against his shoulder, warm against his skin, as nami tucked herself beneath his other arm.

"can we stay for breakfast?" nami propped herself up on her elbow, lashes fluttering as she blinked down at the male. jaemin's lip curled lazily. he twisted just slightly to catch a glimpse at the clock on his bedside table and hummed, "more like lunch, but sure. i'll cook for you."

nami and hara giggled and curled themselves against him once more, soaking in the warmth a bit longer before finally getting up for the day.

—

"i just feel bad," hyeri mumbled as she dragged a spoon through her depressing-looking oatmeal. "like i should have tried harder to warn them."

renjun sighed as he stabbed at his pineapple with a fork. "warn them about what? they're adults, hyeri my love. they're excited to experience the new world by sleeping with handsome strangers."

grumbling, hyeri slowly sipped her orange juice and decided to change the topic. "whatever. why haven't you moved in with me, yet?"

"girl, i'm here more than you are."

"and yet i'm paying the bills and you have rent on your apartment. let's combine forces and save money!"

snorting, renjun popped a cube of pineapple in his mouth and pondered as he chewed. once he finished, he dropped the fork into the plastic container and placed it on the counter. "unfortunately, i have a contract. and a roommate."

"your roommate loves having the place to themself! and i love having you here," hyeri tried to compromise. "you'll save money, and you'll get to live with me! it's a win-win."

renjun snickered at that. "okay, okay! how could i turn down an opportunity to live with the yoon hyeri?"

"exactly! i'll call the housing office now—"

"girl."

she waved him off and searched her phone contacts for shannon from the housing office. she hoped the girl still worked there and promised to invite her out for drinks to catch up whether she was still there or not.

after three rings, there was a quiet, "shannon yen?" and hyeri ignored the way renjun rolled his eyes when she jumped in her chair.

"shan! hi, it's hyeri."

shannon gasped on the other line. "hyeri?! oh my goodness, it's been a while, girl! how have you been?"

the two took a few minutes to catch up. renjun let out a snore every once in a while, trying to signal for hyeri to get to the point. eventually, she shot him a quick glare and laughed at something shannon said. "so, true, shan. oh, hey! you still work at the housing office, right?"

"mhm! why, need something?"

hyeri informed shan about her desires to get renjun to move in with her, and the girl hummed as she listened. there was some clicking on the other line, and after a moment, shannon said, "there aren't any rules against moving in or out partway through a semester, since you're both students. as long as his roommate can cover rent on his own, there isn't any reason why you can't move in together."

squealing, hyeri made a kissing noise to renjun and thanked shannon for everything. "text me your schedule when you can! we need to get drinks together sometime, babe."

shannon laughed. "just like old times! i'd love that. good luck with your roomie situation!"

once they hung up, hyeri raised an incredibly smug eyebrow at her best friend. renjun grumbled. "i still have to get my roommate on board, you know."

"don't be that way," hyeri scolded before hopping out of her chair and throwing her arms loosely around renjun's waist. she pressed her cheek against his shoulder and sighed sadly. "makes me think you don't wanna room with me after all—ow!"

she rubbed the back of her head and renjun looked around, as if searching for who could have possibly smacked his best friend upside the head. "weird! must have been a ghost—ow, hyeri!" he clutched the foot she stamped on with a frown.

as they stared at each other a little longer, their frowns melted into grins, which dissolved into giggles.

"we're gonna be roommates," hyeri gasped as she clutched renjun's hands in hers and began jumping up and down. he followed, bouncing with her as they sang, "roomies! roomies!"

once it was out of their systems, the friends collapsed on hyeri's couch. renjun was typing out a message to his roommate while hyeri stared intensely at the phone from over his shoulder, correcting and rewording the text when he asked.

with a sigh, renjun finally hit send and let his hands fall into his lap before leaning his head against the back of the couch. "i really doubt sungchan will mind. i mean, with me gone, he can have his friend group over all the time. i'm sure they'd be willing to help with rent."

hyeri nodded and dropped against the back of the couch, too, so that they could meet each other's eyes. "you seem nervous."

"well, you were always better at studying books than people," renjun joked, which earned him a pinch on the thigh.

"whatever!" hyeri scoffed before sitting up straight and stretching her back. "wanna build your new room on pinterest or something?"

the man's eyes lit up. "you know me so well."

•
updates will be a little late (i have no kpop writing motivation atm 😭)