(no) Strings Attached

Red Flag, Red Face

"Bet you won't even last a day without talking to me first."

Wooyoung nearly dropped his books. "That's—"

San smirked, reaching up to adjust Wooyoung's collar—uninvited, uncalled for, and absolutely unnecessary.

And yet.

Wooyoung froze.

San's fingers brushed against his collarbone for just a second, but it was too much.

Something traitorous in Wooyoung's stomach flipped. His body tensed, his breath came in short. He knew, he knew he should swat San's hand away. Should shove him. Should say something, anything—

But then San's smirk softened into something else.

Something warmer.

Like he was enjoying this.

A flash of something—not mockery this time, not amusement either—passed through San's face.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

San let out an exaggerated sigh, taking a step back.

"Whatever, I'll let you chase after me."

He winked and threw him a lazy salute before striding off.

Wooyoung blinked.

What the hell was that?

Wooyoung glared after him, hands still clenched into fists.

First day at his new university, and already he had a mortal enemy.

The thought should have annoyed him.

Instead, it sent an unwelcome, uncomfortable thrill through his chest.

And that made him even angrier.

"Unbelievable," he muttered.

Maybe I should start looking for an empty seat in the next class.

No, he did not find Choi San attractive. He did not find the way he carried himself magnetic, or the way his smirk curled up just slightly to the left distracting.

And he absolutely did not feel his heartbeat speed up when the idiot leaned in, glanced at him with those dark eyes, and fixed his collar.

That hadn't happened.

Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

"Earth to Woo!"

A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Before he could react, a hand smacked the back of his head. Not too hard, but definitely hard enough to pull him out of his daze.

Wooyoung whirled around. "OW—"

Jongho raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Oh, you're alive. Good to know."

Next to him, Yeosang barely held in his laughter, his fox-like eyes twinkling. "You're in trouble," he sang.

Wooyoung rubbed his head, still scowling.

"What the hell was that for?"

Jongho crossed his arms, his deadpan piercing. "For zoning out like some idiot on his first day."

"You weren't even in my class!"

"You've been standing here for five minutes. Staring at the same wall."

Wooyoung's ears burned.

"Not the whole time!" he lied, shoving his notebook into his bag. "I was just—uh—processing."

Yeosang gasped. "Wait."

Wooyoung stiffened.

He knew that tone. That was Yeosang's 'I just discovered something and I'm about to be annoying' voice.

Yeosang leaned in, studying him, his fox eyes narrowing slightly. "Wooyoung-ah."

"Yes?" he answered, a little too quickly.

"Did something happen?"

"No!"

Yeosang's head tilted, and that alone was a warning sign.

Jongho, still not buying a single second of this, adjusted the strap of his bag. "Are you sure?"

Wooyoung shrugged. "What? I can't just be thinking?"

Yeosang hummed in that knowing way of his, one brow quirking up. "I bet it was San."

Wooyoung almost dropped his bag. "Excuse me?"

Yeosang's grin was way too self-satisfied. "I saw you, you know. You were glaring at each other."

"And then you left looking like you'd just seen God," Jongho added flatly. "So which one is it? Do you want to kill him or marry him?"

Wooyoung spluttered.

"Jongho!" he shrieked. "Are you insane?! I hate that guy!"

Jongho lifted an eyebrow. "You sure? Because you looked like you were about to melt into a puddle."

"I—WHAT—"

Yeosang was beaming now. "You have a crush."

"No, I don't!"

"You do."

"I don't."

"His name is San."

Wooyoung choked.

"Yeosang!"

"Don't 'Yeosang' me!" his best friend cackled.

"You were so flustered. I bet he just smirked and you forgot your own name."

"That is—" Wooyoung hesitated, ears burning.

"That is not what happened."

Jongho sighed, shaking his head. "Denial is the first stage."

"I AM NOT IN DENIAL!"

Yeosang draped an arm over his shoulder.

"That's exactly what someone in denial would say."

Yeosang gasped with mischief, leaning dramatically on Jongho's shoulder. "Oh my god. My best friend is in love with a player. This is just like that one drama."

"Shut up! I am not in love with anyone!" Wooyoung whisper-screamed.

Yeosang sighed , grabbing Wooyoung's face with both hands. "It's okay. I still love you. Even if you have horrible taste."

Jongho hummed. "This is gonna be entertaining."

Wooyoung turned the deepest shade of red. "I—!!"

This was ridiculous.

He was done with today.

Absolutely done.

"Eat dirt," he muttered at them before stomping off.

San was not getting under his skin.

And he definitely, definitely was not thinking about his stupid wink.

There was no way Choi San was getting under his skin.

Not today. Not ever.

A/N
Hello again 🙂‍↔️
I just decided to upload the second chapter on the same day to give you a better insight into the story.

See ya🩶