Wonwoo had traveled home for a while for Christmas break. College work had been taking a toll on him mentally as well as physically. He asked Jeonghan if he could take a little trip to his parents' home to relax before the second semester started.
He was blessed enough to have such an angel for a roommate, he said yes. "You're just going to leave me here with all your gaming systems? Whatever floats your boat." Was the more accurate way Jeonghan said it.
It was great, at his home, he met his brother's girlfriend, his extended family, and all that great stuff. He still missed his homey apartment with Jeonghan, the way they would have to whine to their HOA about the broken air conditioning was a fun way to spend the day.
"Hey, you're about to go back, right?" His brother sat with him on the balcony, they were both clicking open beer cans as Wonwoo nodded silently. Chugging the beer while his head was tilted up, not stopping until the little iced droplets of beer were dribbling into his mouth.
"Wow," his brother was in awe, "I wish I could do that." Wonwoo chuckled as he gulped down while wincing.
"It takes practice, maybe I'll teach you next family gathering." He suggested as his little brother nodded along with his lips flattening into a line. "Plus, you need some cool party tricks to impress your girlfriend, huh?" Wonwoo teased as his brother's ears flared a light pink fusing into a red hue.
Wonwoo enjoyed being with his family, the atmosphere was so familiar to him, the game boards, going out for arcades, and drinking felt like home. He did enjoy it, except for when every other day, his brother encouraged him to work out at the gym. And holy hell were those pull-ups hard to do.
He felt his biceps and triceps giving up on him once he finished day one. It's been two weeks since he was away from his apartment, he'd better get back. Before his brother molds him into a gym rat. Also before he gets buff enough to break the table when he bangs his fists on the desk as he pitifully loses games that Jeonghan recommended them play together.
He doesn't know what the older does to those games, it's like he automatically becomes terrible. Wonwoo digresses.
He bid goodbyes to his family, hugging his mom, father, and brother before waving at the family as a whole. Wonwoo moved his small luggage he brought into the taxi. Giving the taxi his address information being getting ready for a two hour drive.
Wonwoo rested his head against the faintly cold window, his breath making the window cloudy as he drew little animals before the cloud dissolved. He was digging in his jacket pocket before feeling the touch of his phone, oh wow. He'd dropped his phone from his mind the moment he'd gotten home.
He hadn't even touched it since the beginning of Christmas break. Wonwoo hoped that Jeonghan wasn't looking for a new roommate, assuming that Wonwoo was dead.
He pressed the button on the side of his phone to see his notifications light up. With texts under the name Hannie.
Hannie
hey wonwoo
you got there yet?
Hannie
wonwoooooo
Hannie
if you dont text me right now
i'm messing with ur gaming system
Hannie
your actions have consequences
Hannie
JEON WONWOO
Hannie
ARE YOU DEAD
Hannie
okay i guess ur not dead
just spending time w your family
have fun wonu <3
cant say the same abt ur gaming system
Wonwoo laughed at the texts to himself, getting a few glances from the cab driver as he awkwardly bowed. Wonwoo put his jacket next to him as he was in a dark gray tee, he had a beanie on with his glasses. He couldn't see without them.
He decided to send a photo of himself to announce Jeonghan about him being well alive. Maybe he should puff up his chest more? Show that he went to the gym a couple times too many? Maybe. Wonwoo was having a crisis in the back seat of a cab.
Wonwoo just had a chest shot of him with a small smile. In all honesty, Wonwoo couldn't smile in photos without making it awkward somehow. He sent the photo as he licked his dry lips.
Hannie
WOOOO
WONU IS ALIVEE AND WELL
AND HIS CHEST IS ALIVE AND WELL TOO
Wonwoo elicited another chuckle as he tucked his phone back into his jacket to rest his eyes. He was sort of buzzed, the heat in his ears and resting on the crown of his head lingered.
Officially two hours later and a loud banging noise from the cab driver hitting the seat to wake him up, Wonwoo is back in town. The campus was flourishing with students walking along the food court and finding places to sit near trees.
Winter was fading away in a blur, but spring was bursting with vibrant colors. That means, more Jeonghan trying to get Wonwoo socialize outside of their mutual friends.
Wonwoo pays the cab driver and bows once again before grabbing all his items and heading towards their apartment near the campus. He takes a while, but with the help of his best bud, Seungcheol. He gets to his apartment door in no time.
He nervously lifts his hand to the door as he opens the locked door with his key as he unlocked the door with a small click. Wonwoo holds his luggage in hand as he opens the door.
As soon as he opens the door, he's met with someone clinging to his middle immediately. Wonwoo drops his luggage as he awkwardly lets Jeonghan hug his chest. Jeonghan ran from his room all the way to the door way.
"Uhh, wow." Wonwoo spoke as Jeonghan just was silent, his arms loosening gradually. "I didn't think we were this close—of course we are since like we're roommates. But, you missed me this much?" Wonwoo's hand rested on Jeonghan's back.
He enjoyed the warmth of his roommate while it lasted, Jeonghan pulled away and smirked. "Go check your gaming system."
Wonwoo's heart dropped, rushing to look at his station set up in the living room as he saw a note. He looked behind him at Jeonghan, who was just smiling and waving before reading the letter.
Hey Wonu, at this moment, I am smiling and waving at you. You know why? Because your gaming system, notice anything different?
There is none, check in with me with the words 'Jeonghan is the best roommate' for my next announcement.
xoxo truly the best roommate,
Jeonghan
Wonwoo let out a sigh as he walked towards a standing and waving Jeonghan. He couldn't help but smile at Jeonghan's antics. The older's little pranks is what he sort of missed on his two week break.
"What's the words?"
"Jeonghan is the best roommate."
"I agree, okay so. Don't freak out, I have no idea what's wrong with this apartment. But apparently, rent's way cheaper for couples. Do you want to try?"
"WHAT?!" Wonwoo exclaimed, his glasses almost sliding down his nose before he pushes them back up on his nose bridge.
"I know, it sounds crazy, but rent's way lower." Jeonghan attempted to pout, holding onto Wonwoo's shoulders before whining. "You see Joshuji and Soonyoung? They have rent way cheaper than ours. Let's just try, please?"
Wonwoo gave in, letting out a sigh as Jeonghan's hands lowered along with the younger's shoulders. "How do we even act like a couple?" Wonwoo asked genuinely as Jeonghan stared blankly at him before laughing.
"Wait, you're serious?! We even kissed before, Wonu!" Jeonghan's body racked up giggles as he leaned his head under Wonwoo's chin.
"Well, yeah, but we've never pretended to be in a relationship!" Wonwoo huffed as he patted Jeonghan's back with his hand, smoothening his back until his hand stopped at the small of the other's back.
"Well, we have to try! Somehow, we can announce it first, and every time we get out of our apartment, we have to act lovey dovey. Okay?" Jeonghan articulated a plan from the top of his head before looking up at Wonwoo with his chin on the space above Wonwoo's collar bones.
Wonwoo let air in his lungs as he exhaled a very long exhale. "Fine, but if we get caught, I'm not gonna let you sleep at night, I'll game all I want."
"Is that a threat?" Jeonghan wiggled his eyebrows before moving off of Wonwoo and standing on his own.
"Maybe."
"Okay then Wonu, let's start." Jeonghan suddenly grabbed Wonwoo and dragged him to the couch.
"Perfect, so let's just cuddle. I've noticed that you've been working out, that's fine! I like my pillows a bit tough." Jeonghan placed Wonwoo sitting up straight on the couch as he quickly rushed to lay his head on Wonwoo's shoulder. They sat in silence and watched a show as Jeonghan was uninterested in the show and more interested in the younger's hands.
Jeonghan held Wonwoo's right hand with both of his hands, toying with the fingers and pulling them apart. Wonwoo found it quite relaxing, he kept his eyes glued to the television until he realized that his fingers weren't being moved anymore.
He glanced at Jeonghan, the weight of his shoulder wasn't too bad as he watched his roommate, now fake boyfriend sleep on his shoulder. Wonwoo felt a pang in his heart as he smiled, brushing stray hairs from Jeonghan's face.
"You're adorable Jeonghan." Wonwoo mumbled as he turned his attention back on the television, except for now his head was leaning on top of Jeonghan's head.
He felt comfortable.
Jeonghan had pretended to fake sleep to see what Wonwoo would do. He listened as he felt a hand brush hair away and Wonwoo's voice like a deep hum from his chest.
His insides flushed as he tried to keep calm while pretending to sleep. Jeonghan felt Wonwoo's head lay on his as he couldn't help but smile.
Jeonghan might've been lying, who knows? But Wonwoo will fall for it anyways because he's a fool. A smart but extremely clueless fool.