Seojun took a step closer. His posture was relaxed but alert. It seemed like he hadn’t expected to run into him, but now that he had, he was fully aware of the moment. A surprised smile appeared on his lips as his eyes met Yeonjun’s.

“Han Yeonjun? Hi,” he said with warmth in his voice, almost cheerful, as if seeing Yeonjun had genuinely brightened his mood.

Yeonjun gave a small nod in return. He replied politely but kept his guard up, saying, “Hey.”

Now, standing face to face, Yeonjun noticed how different Seojun looked up close. He still appeared confident like that day, but his expression was softer and almost curious.

How does he even know my name? Yeonjun wondered. As far as he could remember, they had never been introduced.

There was a pause. Neither of them moved. They stood in that strange space between strangers and an unnamable familiarity.

Yeonjun broke the silence first.

“I just came to have a couple of drinks.”

Seojun smiled, somewhat unexpectedly.

“I’m meeting my friend Song Ji-hu. He’s in the painting department. I think you know him.”

Yeonjun laughed. “Yeah. You could say we met in an unusual way.”

“There might not be anyone left on campus Ji-hu doesn’t know. His social skills always surprise me,” Seojun said. His smile stayed for a moment, then his expression became softer.

“How have you been since that day?”

“I’m better,” Yeonjun replied, looking away.

“I’m glad,” Seojun said, casually reaching out to give him a light pat on the arm.

He didn’t say anything else, but he thought, This is the first time I’ve touched you. 

The unexpected gesture caught Yeonjun off guard, though he reasoned, Maybe it’s just the alcohol. Glancing around, he said, “I’m going to sit at the bar.”

“Mind if I join you for a while?”

“Why not?”

As they reached the bar, the bartender asked, “What can I get you?”

“White Russian.”

“Black Russian.”

They looked at each other with surprise, silence settling between them.

The bartender grinned. “Coming right up,” he said, before stepping away.

Seojun raised an eyebrow and let out a small laugh.

“It's like we’re falling right into the opposites-attract cliché.”

Yeonjun said nothing but a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

I swear I’d kill someone just to make him laugh at something I said. Really laugh, Seojun thought.

They sat in silence for a while.

Yeonjun barely knew him. Just that punk look, all piercings and attitude. In fact, this was only the second time they had crossed paths, and the first time they were actually speaking. Still, he found himself retreating behind his phone, trying to avoid any real interaction.

Then, a message arrived. It was Ji-a, telling him to come home.

He stared at the screen, unsure whether to reply.

Seojun had already figured out who the message was from, even if he couldn’t see what it said. He couldn’t help being curious. When he noticed that Yeonjun was staring at the screen without typing a response, he wanted to speak up, but held back. Still, the silence was unbearable.

“Did you make up with your girlfriend?” 

“No, that didn’t happen. Not that I care anyway.”

“If you don’t care, then don’t reply to that message. Deal with it later. By the way, I’m Kim Seojun.” 

“Han Yeonjun.” 

That’s the second time I’ve touched you, Seojun thought while shaking his hand. 

When the bartender returned with their drinks, Seojun raised his glass. 

“Well then, here’s to your breakup.”

Yeonjun raised his glass with a small smile. “To the breakup,” he said, and they clinked glasses before taking a sip.

The quiet between them didn’t feel awkward.

By then, the bar had grown crowded. The volume of the music had gone up. Voices overlapped, creating a dull roar in the background, and laughter buzzed through the air. The atmosphere pulsed with energy.

If it weren’t so loud in here, he might actually hear my heartbeat, Seojun thought.

Then, his phone rang. It was Ji-hu. Seojun covered one ear with his hand and answered, laughing. 

“Where the hell are you, asshole?”

“Hyuuuung, I’m not coming tonight. I fell while playing basketball. Everything hurts. You’re on your own, sorry.”

“I’m not sorry. See you tomorrow. By the way, I’m not alone.

“Wait, who are you with?”

Seojun hung up without saying anything, a quiet grin playing on his lips. He leaned back a little, still holding the phone.

Ji-hu is my person. But for some reason, even with him not coming… I don’t feel alone tonight.

He turned to Yeonjun with a grin, like he’d just heard the best news ever. 

“Ji-hu’s not coming, so we can hang out.”

Then he raised his glass and looked over.

“So you go for White Russians, huh? Classy choice. Is that your go-to, or just a random pick?”

“It was the first thing that came to mind,” Yeonjun said. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here, he thought. His energy is too much for me tonight. 

Then, just like that, Seojun spoke and broke his focus.

“You know, this drink was invented in 1949 by a Belgian bartender for an American ambassador. Then in the ’60s, someone added cream and called it a White Russian. The only thing Russian about either of them is the vodka.”

“Are you this knowledgeable about everything?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe the things I know.”

He’s actually kind of interesting, Yeonjun found himself thinking. He leaned in a little, trying to be heard over the noise. 

“What’s your major?”

“Painting.”

Yeonjun’s eyes showed something, but Seojun couldn’t tell what.

—

As the night went on, their talk got more serious. The loud music and the busy crowd faded away. They barely noticed the people dancing and swaying under the dim lights. They talked a bit about school and art. Yeonjun laughed as he told how he met Ji-hu. Seojun said that when he first saw Yeonjun, he felt sympathy because he had been through a fight like the one between Ji-a and Yeonjun before.

Later, they helped a drunk student, left behind by his friends, get into a taxi. They didn’t say much, but moving together felt natural. Then they went back inside, drank a little more, and talked some more.

After the bar closed and they stepped outside, Yeonjun looked up at the bright full moon. He turned to say goodbye, but saw Seojun was already looking at him.

Seojun stood a few steps away, hands in the pockets of his dark jeans. He wore a fitted black top under a light charcoal trench coat that shifted in the breeze. His tall, relaxed posture and worn black high-top sneakers gave him a casual yet intentional look. His head was slightly tilted back, long bangs partly covering his face. A slim steel bar pierced his eyebrow, and his ears were lined with piercings, one dangling chain on the left, a single stud on the right. A small steel hoop in his nose completed the look, subtle but impossible to ignore. He watched Yeonjun with a calm, unreadable look.

He looked undeniably handsome. Almost cinematic.

And yet, the only thing on his mind was how breathtaking Yeonjun looked in that moment.

He’s so pretty, Seojun thought, his eyes fixed on him.

“Wanna keep the night going?”

Yeonjun wasn’t planning to go back to the hotel. He wanted to stay with Seojun a little longer. Being near this punk made the night feel lighter, like he could finally breathe. Being alone never helped him, and not having a panic attack all week already felt like a quiet miracle. After what Ji-a did earlier, he knew tonight wasn’t the night to be alone.

"Yes," he answered right away, like he’d been waiting for the question. “So… where are we going?” 

“There’s a quiet bar near my place,” Seojun replied, smiling.

“Then let’s find a cab. I’m not driving anymore tonight.”

They started walking toward the main street in search of a taxi. 

And for the two of them, the night was just beginning.