Ben didn't remember when exactly he'd passed out. It must have been somewhere between the third can of beer, the second round of soju, and Daniel's shoulder becoming an unexpectedly comfortable pillow. Waking up on the couch was a relief in itself. The warm, worn sheet draped over him told him Daniel must've done it. He pulled it closer.
It smelled like Daniel.
The soft, masculine scent, fresh detergent with a hint of cologne, made his already-hungover head spin even more. He curled under it instinctively, the aroma enveloping him in a strange, disarming comfort. For a fleeting second, it felt like Daniel was holding him.
Ben's eyes flew open.
Di–Did he just imagine being in Daniel's arms?
Like a cartoon character touching a hot stove, he yelped, threw the sheet off like it was cursed, and leapt to his feet.
Right at that moment, Daniel padded out of his bedroom, yawning in a tank top, and stretching like a sleepy cat.
"Mornin', Ben," he mumbled, not noticing Ben nearly having a cardiac event in the corner. "We gotta leave soon. I have a class at nine."
Ben, still internally short-circuiting, glanced at his watch. It was 7:20 a.m.
"Oh–uh–you're gonna be late. I'll just head back to the dorm. My class is at ten, anyway."
Daniel blinked at him, scratching his head. "You can wash up here if you want."
Ben looked at him like he'd just offered him a spot in a pit of snakes. Daniel did not think much of it, but to Ben, whose brain was currently frying on a skillet of emotional confusion, it was like being asked to perform a trust fall into lava.
He busied himself packing, casually swinging his bag over one shoulder. "Nah, I don't have a change of clothes. It's pointless to wash here. I'll just head back. See you on campus."
And before Daniel could say another word, Ben bolted like a man fleeing the scene of a crime.
***
Later, in the Microeconomics Class
Ben sat at his desk pretending to take notes, while his brain hosted a chaotic family reunion of thoughts: NDC's next round, his less-than-stellar grades, the looming group project for Korean Economy (still no group), and of course… Daniel. The name itself now came with footnotes and flashing warning signs.
Ben suddenly felt a pair of eyes boring into him like they knew he was mentally adrift.
"Ben-ssi," Professor Lee's sharp voice cut through his thoughts.
He looked up, caught mid-doodle.
"Your last assignment was… confusing. It was poorly explained."
Ben rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, Gyusonim. I was kinda caught up with NDC and didn't manage my time well."
Her frown deepened, folding into a lecture that lasted ten minutes and felt like an eternity. He nodded through it like a bobblehead, murmuring "Joesonghabnida" and "I'll do better" at all the appropriate intervals.
By the time she handed back his paper and dismissed him, his brain felt half-melted, and his ears were ringing like he'd just survived an academic airstrike.
After class, Ben checked his phone and saw he still had over an hour before heading to the dance studio. He considered squeezing in extra practice, but the thought of being stuck in a room with strangers and an instructor drained whatever courage he had. With a sigh, he slung his bag over his shoulder and strolled out of the campus gates.
He'd barely turned the corner when a car horn blared, sharp and cocky. A sleek silver BMW convertible rolled to a stop beside him, gleaming like it had just driven out of a commercial. Behind the wheel sat Kai, grinning like a delinquent who'd gotten away with murder.
Ben stopped dead. "Kai-ya, what the hell are you doing?"
Kai revved the engine as if announcing his glory to the world. "My class is done, so I thought I'd swing by my place. Appa's off on a business trip, and Mirae's still at school, so I borrowed his car."
"Borrowed?" Ben repeated, unimpressed. "You mean 'stole.'"
Kai flicked his hair with a huff, too smug to deny it, and motioned for Ben to get in. Ben hesitated, staring at the car like it was worth more than his existence. Daniel and Kai's families were both wealthy, but while Daniel pretended money didn't exist, Kai wore it like an accessory.
Ben ran a hand over the hood, half-expecting it to vanish. "Am I even allowed to sit in this thing?"
Kai frowned. "Why wouldn't you be?"
Feeling ridiculous, Ben slid into the passenger seat, hyperaware of the buttery leather and the faint scent of something expensive he couldn't name. He suddenly felt very underdressed for the privilege of breathing in that car.
As they pulled away, Kai noticed Ben sitting stiff as a board and nudged him. "Stop acting like a glitching robot."
Ben muttered, "Can't help it." Suddenly, his eyes narrowed with suspicion, "Hold up, you do have a license, right? This isn't some illegal joyride, is it?"
Kai burst out laughing. "Relax! I got it three months ago. If I didn't, Appa would bury me alive for touching his car."
"Fair. My parents would've had me on house arrest just for thinking about touching one like this."
That got them both laughing, and Ben finally began to relax. "So, what model is it? Sports car?"
"Convertible," Kai corrected, beaming. He pressed a button, and with a smooth whirr, the roof folded back. "It's from the BMW S-series, but I never bothered checking the exact model. Details are boring."
To Be Cont.
IMPORTANT
During revision, I noticed that a few chapters felt a bit too long for a comfortable reading experience, so I've divided them into shorter parts to make things easier for everyone. I've also made sure each chapter stays within about 1.5k words for a smoother, more enjoyable read.
I hope you'll take your time with the updated chapters, and if you enjoy them, please consider leaving a like.
Enjoy!