The Quad

Wraps my arms around a certain tree, looks up at it and throws a rope around it’s branches, ties said rope into a certain knot before tugging on it.
Pulls my legs up and swings on it a little.

Perfect! This works and can hold my weight
One can now ... hang... around when they are not using the tree for other reasons

*nodding happily, handing you a fork*
I did~ Even the noodles are scratch made!

*smiles happily and slides onto the bench beside you, looking over the food eagerly*
did you make it?

*looking up from my phone, spotting you and waving one hand excitedly*
Come sit! Spaghetti time!
*patting the bench next to me*

*arrives shortly after the text, dressed in just the comfiest pair of sweats and a loose shirt*
oh my god he really has a giant bowl of spaghetti

*plops down on a bench with a HUGE bowl of spaghetti, waiting*
I know someone's gonna show up and want spaghetti....
*sits texting the Hell app*

@lee jeno "Ah I know it's nit my fault but still it that it was boring" kyun softly chuckled before rolling his eyes with a playful scoff, "look at you and your sweet talk. You're so cheesy~" he grinned and poked Jeno's side. Kyun loved the breezy weather and this weather was perfect for a easy going hang out like this. He looked at the photo with a soft smile, "Well luckily I have a talented friend to take my photos. Heh- yeah let's take a photo!" He nodded with a wide grin before setting up his camera in the distance, taking the clicker remote in order to snap some shots when they were ready. Waiting for jeno to finish setting up his camera he tugged him along to where they would be in full view of their cameras; his grin was wide and did some bunny ears behind Jeno's head. He clicked to snap a quick photo. "You look like a little bunny jeno, with your pale skin and white hair haha" he teased and poked Jeno's now with his finger.

@im changkyun "What? Why do you say sorry? Aha, not your fault that it was boring. You're so silly". Jeno chuckled at the male's remarks and shakes his head while slowly striding along beside him and momentarily releases his wrist so he can turn on his own camera. Hearing the male's compliments in the background made him feel hot in the face, causing him to bump his fist against the other's arm. "As if you wouldn't look twice as nice? You'd look like an angel for sure". He retorts with a pure teethy grin as he mirrors the male by setting up his camera and looks through the rear to look for his best angle, the dashing wind made Changkyun's hair go all over the place and yet he was still able to take a nice shot, while Kyun is facing the other side, his pointed nose and well-shaped façade peeks through. "Damn, look at you go. You're the photogenic one here, Kyun". He shows his shot to him, with his jaws perfectly showing after taking a photo of his side profile. "How about we set our cameras somewhere and let's take a photo of us? Something to keep as this is our first hang out?"

@lee jeno Changkyun smiled once Jeno looked at him, he grinned and nodded along to his words. "Ah really? I'm sorry it was a little boring. Never an anxious guy hm? We differ there, I can sometimes be a little anxious....." He admitted with a soft chuckle before smirking slightly once he heard Jeno's words, "oh? You think so...then let's take some photos in the garden then....and then you can do some poses for me~ I think you'd look really nice against the flowers if that makes any sense...." He chuckled softly as he was pulled along. Following along he watched Jeno's back, thinking how he really is handsome from any angles. "You're so cute..." He laughed as he continued to walk along with him. He took out his camera and took some shots of Jeno walking in front of him as he tugged his wrist. The sun was hitting just right and it looked like a nice photo. "You're really photogenic"

@im changkyun Before Jeno can even respond to the text, he felt a hand touched his shoulder which made him tilt his head up and sees a tall male standing in front of him, seemingly overshadowing the brightness of the setting sun. A simper automatically curls up on his lips as he stands up and greets you. "Oh hey, you're finally here. Was just about to reply. Class? As usual, it's kinda boring. Lots of business cases to solve and yeah it was somewhat slow- and what? I don't think anxious is in my vocabulary". He emits a chortle as he lightly bumps your chest using his fist, stepping closer just to remove a brown leaf lurking on top of your head. "You, on the other hand might be the anxious one". Jeno watches you go over your equipment while he does the same with a low hum as he tries to narrow his gaze at a spot around the school. "How about by the garden? Flowers are blooming so beautifully these days. You'd look so good in them, flower boy". He comments with a mischievous grin and grabs your wrist as he lead you the said spot. "C'mere".

@lee jeno After changkyun finished his class around 230 he went to his place to drop all of his stuff off and pick up his camera and camera bag. He did have his book with him as well to read while he waited. After having walked back to the quad and reading for about an hour, he felt his phone go off. He chuckled and stands up looking around.

[Text to: jeno]
-I'm here just reading...now I'm walking around looking for you~ :grinning:

As soon as he sent that he continues to look for you. Soon finding you, seeing you taking some test shots, he walks up behind you and taps your shoulder. "Hey! How was class? Did it go by super slow because you were so anxious to see me?" He teased with a grin before putting his book away in his camera bag as he took out his camera to adjust some settings. "Shall we head out to take some pictures? Do you know of any good spots? I'm still getting my bearings in this place"

@im changkyun It's now 4:30pm and just in time for Jeno's last class to finish. He walked straight to the The Quad after dumping his school stuff inside his locker and fishes out his phone from the pocket of his pants while on his way, a sling bag hangs around his shoulder as he carries his camera with him as well. After composing a text intended for his schoolmate, he quickly hits the 'send' button and takes the empty bench chair.

[ text to: kyun ]
- hey kyun. just got off class!
- i'm a freeman now :party: :100:
- where you at? i'm now here at the quad.
- see ya? :)

Group of students are passing by laughing here and there, some are practicing dance steps from afar while the other are just treasuring their time alone. Jeno himself just patiently waits for his companion while he goes over with his camera and starts adjusting its settings, aiming his rear to random subjects like the sky blue and orange skies to perform test shots.

Taking a walk around his new campus he looked around. Changkyun had to change schools because of a stalker situation. It was a bit unfortunate but it had to be.done. He felt relieved to start fresh and he was touring the campus getting a good look around. He took a seat on a nearby bench wondering if he should join a club or something to make friends. He could be a little awkward at times so it was harder for him to make friends but he was hopeful. Sometimes he also gave black cat energy and it seemed like he didn't want to be bothered but actually he'd love some company.

Looking up at the tree, she proceeds to climb up it, making herself comfortable again , but yet while climbing she occasionally stopped to cuddle it. "Sorry I have not been around, I have been moving onto bigger and better things." Lining up nuts on the branches she dangled her arms and legs and lies up there and goes silent. "Perhaps .. I am just ... better off up here you know." Making a small sigh, she just lied there and stares in silence. "I mean it would be nice to cuddle people under the stars but at the same time, wouldn't be surprised if no one came." She emitted a small sigh and just remains lying there, in silence.

@yang jeongin minho could've never imagined love hurting that badly. he had always been particular about the people he allowed into his life, friends, acquaintances and all alike. but his ex, how didn't he notice? why didn't he notice sooner? not only would his whole academic career not have suffered, but his perception of love wouldn't have crashed and burned with it. seeing everybody else in love in the books he read or around him, only made him wonder what was so wrong with him that he couldn't be loved just the same.

his train of thought was stopped, the new warmth on his shoulder forcing him to trail his eyes back up to jeongin. minho was able to hear the sincerity in his voice, his words and it's comfort setting his body ablaze again, stomach pushing more butterflies. normally, this would be an uncomfortable feeling for him. but with jeongin? minho didn't mind it one bit. "thank you," he murmured, hand unintentionally grasping the younger's once it was in his grasp, interlocking fingers. "i think i really needed to hear that. it's been a few years, so i'm able to comfortably talk about it now without it hurting too much, but there's no denying the effect it's had on me since then."

it was undeniably a hard thing to go through, nonetheless alone, but jeongin was right. "i'll be okay," he repeated, smiling blooming atop his lips and eyes shining with endearment.

@lee minho jeongin wished that the night breeze could take away the heat he was feeling in his face after his little 'confession', but the heat never seemed to go away, even in the silence within the two's dialogue. jeongin nodded as he listened to minho, but the shift in the elder's tone made him pause. 'wish it were true?' his head turned slightly to look at minho as he tried to figure out what minho meant.

jeongin had never heard of the incident that minho was sharing. minho was always so focused on his studies, putting in the work and the hours, and he always did so well. jeongin wouldn't have known, and he didn't know, that minho almost got kicked out of school. jeongin had known that minho had dated previously, but he hadn't known how it ended, nor that it ended so cruelly.

jeongin's hand naturally went to minho's shoulder, hoping he could offer even a fraction of the comfort minho had given him. he felt an aching in his heart, knowing that minho's ability to take on anything was built upon such scars. jeongin paused for a while, gathering the right words to say. "you didn't deserve to go through all that, and she didn't deserve to have met someone as great as you." he paused, hoping that the other could feel his sincerity. "i'm not as good as words as you are, but she's not just selfish, she's barely a human. even if it took some time, i'm glad you didn't let a person like her take a part of you away. i don't think she'll ever be happy. but you," jeongin's hand moved to give minho's a squeeze, "you'll be okay."

@yang jeongin it was another instance where he knew if he didn't have the alcohol still swimming in him, he wouldn't nearly have the courage that he did to hold eye contact with him in this way, or even grab his face to look back at him the way he just did. even with the added confidence, he found his stomach to be swimming with butterflies, waves growing harsher and thrashing against his body more aggressively the longer he gazed at him. when jeongin finally looked away it was as if he could breathe again.

minho nodded slowly, throat gulping as he was trying to regain his own composure. he didn't need a mirror to know that the tips of his ears were probably red. "you're too kind." there were a few beats of silence before he had said that and even before he spoke again, he paused to gather what he'd say next. "it feels nice to know that there's somebody in the world that thinks of me like that. i wish it were true, though," minho laughed hollowly. now, it was his own turn to avoid looking at the younger, hand dropping from under his chin to play with his own fingers. "i was actually in the same situation as you before. my freshman and sophomore year. left me so depressed i almost got kicked from the school."

his head had turned slightly, tongue peeking out from behind his lips to wet them, his throat suddenly beginning to feel dry as well. like jeongin, he was over the situation, but that didn't mean the memories didn't sting sometimes. "she claimed she only dated me as it was an initiation into her sorority. to add insult to injury, she was also trying to get back with her ex-boyfriend."

@lee minho the hand on his shoulder, the words he was hearing, they were all so warm, even in the cold. jeongin nodded. "thank you for being there for me." when the hand went back to its owner's side, jeongin didn't know why he wished it could have stayed there a little longer. it must have been too cold. "you can talk to me, too, if you have anything on your mind," jeongin said. "i'll listen to you like how you listened to me."

at minho's guidance, jeongin's gaze shifted from the table to minho's face. he looked at the elder, eyes locked, as he took in the words minho was saying. jeongin had told himself some of these before, but as minho spoke each and every word as if they held onto a piece of his heart, jeongin thought that maybe he could believe these words for once. his breath now shaky, his eyes continued to gaze at minho as jeongin said the only words he could find. "thank you."

the eye contact they had been holding suddenly felt a little too much for jeongin, though for a different reason than before. turning his head, he went back to looking at the stars. "remember how i said you were cool?" he asked. "at moments like this, i think that too. how you just /know/ things, how you handle things, how you don't take ." jeongin's eyes locked onto the star shining the brightest in the sky. "it feels like you can handle anything and everything."

@yang jeongin "i'm thankful you felt comfortable enough to tell me it all, anyways. you can always tell me anything, whenever," he rest his hand on the other's shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze of affection before he reluctantly felt the need to let go. the two may always joke around and tease each other, but they were still close friends at the end of the day.

it was as if a heavy weight was lifted off of his shoulders, relieved that the other didn't find offensive in his question, nor was he uncomfortable with answering it; the last thing he would want to do is open old wounds.

the more he listened, the more he felt his heart clench with distress. how could other people do something like this at all, let alone to jeongin? it was impossible to protect somebody else from everything bad, let alone from something of the past, but minho desperately wished that he could do that for the other. "hey," he murmured, hand reaching forward to gently (yet still firmly) pick jeongin's head up to look back at him again. "don't say that. it's nearly impossible for somebody to agree to date somebody, and not know their feelings for said person beforehand. what he did was selfish and unfair to you. he should've been clear with how he felt before being with you, even if he genuinely was confused. you're not dumb in any instance."

@lee minho they say that eyes are the windows to the soul, and jeongin was sure he could see the sincerity in minho's brown eyes. minho's words comforted the jeongin's younger self, the boy that sat alone on the swings crying in his prom suit. maybe there was someone that would understand, even if it wasn't right then. "thank you," jeongin said, both for the jeongin of the past and that of the present, "for listening." he laughed a little. "i don't think i told anyone about this, and i didn't think i would be saying it today."

jeongin was too caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the senior's hesitation. minho's question was surprising, but definitely not unwelcome. the floodgates had already been opened, but to jeongin, it felt like minho's embrace was large enough to catch whatever poured out.

"it's alright, i don't mind," he said, because he really didn't, because it was minho. "i guess we didn't feel the same way about each other. he said we were better off back when we were just friends," he said, the words playing in his mind like a line from a scene. "i wanted to hold onto him, even if it was as a friend, so i agreed when he asked to break up." jeongin then looked down at the table, his words meant for minho, but it had been a thought in his head for the longest time. "i don't know, maybe i'm not the brightest. i couldn't tell how he actually felt about me the whole time."

@yang jeongin minho's eyes blinked in further confusion, sure that no matter how much he tried to hide it visually, the other knew him well enough to see it. as he further listened, head nodding and throat humming whenever it was needed, he couldn't help but frown in the slightest. while he was over the moon that jeongin was opening up to him, he still felt his heart clench over something that he had no control over, a situation that had long passed and he assumed the sophomore was already over. the smile he gave him only confirmed the thought, chest slowly but surely beginning to lighten with frustration.

"i'm sorry that happened to you," he started, brown orbs boring into the other as he found the next words to say. "i know it was a little while ago, but i can get why you didn't go to our dance last year." the smile on the younger's face was enough for one of own to bloom on his tiers, though more subtle. "and thank you for telling about it."

he wasn't sure if he would be overstepping boundaries by asking more about the other's past relationship, but he couldn't deny his curiosity. minho opened his mouth to ask, shut it, opened it a few seconds later, only to shut his mouth again. maybe there would be another time to ask? a better one, hopefully.

"why did the relationship end? if you don't mind me asking. i'm sorry if i'm talking or asking too many questions." there goes waiting for a better opportunity.

@lee minho jeongin's eyes followed minho's actions, watching him and expecting him to say something, but there was never any explanation. puzzled, the younger could only laugh.

the sophomore quirked an eyebrow at minho's revelation. throughout his time of knowing minho, he had come to know that the senior did have a soft spot. but jeongin hadn't been aware it was to the extent where valentine's day was once his favourite holiday.

jeongin shook his head quickly, waving his hands along with it. "no, no, my friends are good," he said. "to be honest, that's kinda part of the reason too: they were just too nice." jeongin took a breath, realising how confusing his words must have been. he hadn't expected himself to share this that night, but with minho, it just seemed like he could.

"remember that guy i danced with?" jeongin asked. "we were together, but separated before prom." pause. he continued to look at the sky, unable to return minho's gaze for now. "i swore i was over him, my friends all comforted and supported me and . i asked him to dance for old times' sake." another pause. jeongin felt a lump in his throat, but he continued. "i left after that. felt like i couldn't tell my friends why i was being, and feeling, like that."

jeongin turned to minho, giving him a reassuring smile. he was fine now. "yeah, so that's my story."

@yang jeongin minho rolled his eyes dramatically, hand reaching to poke the middle of his forehead gently. his mouth was fixing to say the words "you are my priority," but for the first time tonight, his brain stopped him. truly, what was wrong with him and his emotions tonight?

it was quickly that another laugh left him, sending any worrying thoughts about the way he was acting to the back of his brain. "yeah. valentines day is the worst. but i wasn't always like this. it actually used to be my favorite holiday," he hummed. it was true; he loved love and everything that had to do with it, an extensive collection of his books being on romance in many different languages. it wasn't until his last relationship that he and the holiday had turned sour.

minho's gaze softened, unsure of if his eyes weren't already whenever he laid them on jeongin. seeing the other open up to him warmed up his body again, the two being close, but usually not enough to share things like this. "did you feel like you were outcasted, or something? or as if they were your friends, but you just... didn't fit in?" minho's eyebrows furrowed with confusion, eyes blinking slowly as he was genuinely trying to better understand the all-too-familiar feeling.

@lee minho jeongin saw how minho lit up at the small daydream of theirs. it was cute, how he was simultaneously an old man and a little baby at the same time, how the elder always took care of others but made jeongin want to shower him with care at the same time.

jeongin didn't know if he should have taken minho's words as a passing remark. "i don't think whether i enjoyed it should be your priority," he said, with a small laugh. "what matters more is whether /you/ had fun."

it was music to jeongin's ears, minho's tinkle of a laugh. the younger naturally laughed along, the mental image he had created for himself resurfacing again. "wasn't expecting taehyung to strip on the floor, either. that one was actually wild," he added. maybe he could understand minho's words a little now; hearing that minho enjoyed himself brought jeongin some sort of contentment. "nauseating? damn, you must really not like valentine's," he said, tone still lighthearted.

"but i get it. i'm glad i didn't pass on it this year, too," jeongin said, laughter slowly fading away. "i don't think i feel as strongly about valentine's day as you do," he said, giving minho a look, "but i just couldn't bring myself to attend last year." jeongin turned his head to look up at the vast expanse of the night sky. it gave him the comfort he needed to share a little bit more. "i guess i was afraid it would have been like my high school prom. i was with friends, but it still felt lonely, somehow."

[post deleted by owner]

@yang jeongin minho perked up at the thought of ice cream, another nod— though far more enthusiastic— following afterwards. he was sure they wouldn't get any, the weather being far too cold for a treat like that tonight, but it was still nice to dream; it was such a mundane thing to do, but it was nice to hear jeongin offer it.

"that's good," he spoke after a few beats of just listening to him talk, making a fist to rest his chin on. "i'm glad you had fun. that's all that matters to me." it seemed like even with his brain being far less hazy than inside the ballroom, he couldn't stop these strange words from leaving his lips without processing them first. he felt his heart rate quicken at the mention of their dance, as if it didn't just happen maybe 15 minutes ago. for now, he wouldn't say much on it. why? no clue.

"oh? me?" minho blinked a few times, trying to get out of his head enough to process a response. "well, i wasn't expecting to see mark twerk, let alone expect the music to be anything he COULD twerk to," he laughed, back of his free hand coming to cover his mouth for a few seconds, a self-conscious motion he's done ever since he was a kid. "i did have fun, though. seeing you and our friends really made me feel a lot better, and made the theme a lot less nauseating. i'm glad i didn't skip out on it this year."

@lee minho hearing minho grumble like an old man drew out a snicker from jeongin. "okay, i'll check on you again, in a few minutes," he said. "if you're still feeling hot, we can go get some ice cream from the convenience store. that's what my friends and i like to do." jeongin drummed his fingers on the familiar table as he thought about minho's question. "it was fun," he said immediately. that one was a no-brainer. "i got to talk to a lot of friends, eat good food and dance a little. the vibe was nice."

now, the second question was one that required more contemplation. what /did/ jeongin look forward to doing at the ball? "to be honest, i don't think i expected anything in particular." but a certain scene came to mind, so recent that it almost felt like a fever dream. as he studied how his fingers were drumming against the table, jeongin carefully said, "but you said you wanted to dance, and we did that, so i guess, yes?" was this what he had been hoping for? he wasn't too sure himself.

not wanting to think too much, jeongin turned to minho. "what about you? i know you said you didn't like valentine's day, but were you able to enjoy the ball, at least? was it what you were expecting?"

@yang jeongin the crisp air of the night was enough to keep his mind clear, but not enough to get rid of the heat the alcohol had given him. what was the fun in any of that? it was often his least favorite result when it came to drinking. "i know," he playfully grumbled, "i'm still feeling excruciatingly hot, so maybe i'll feel okay after a few minutes?" minho followed the younger, head nodding and throat humming as he was led closer to their seemingly favorite spot. the first few times they sat at this same table, it was pure luck. over time, though, this spot quickly turned into /their/ table, even sitting here without jeongin whenever he found himself needing space outside of his apartment. "so," he started, plopping himself down in his usual chair beside jeongin, and laying his arm atop the table, "how'd you like the ball? was it everything you looked forward to?"

@lee minho as the two walked, jeongin breathed in the fresh night air, vastly different from the warm ballroom air. he turned to look at minho beside him. "the cold air sure does help to sober you up," jeongin said, though the smile that appeared too easily on his face was a clear reminder that there was still alcohol in his system. "plus, i swear the ballroom felt like a sauna once everybody was partying." the quad soon came into view, a familiar sight after a night full of unfamiliarity. the two party escapees certainly looked out of place at the quad in their fancy suits, but jeongin felt so at home at this place where he had met minho so many times before. "the usual spot?" he asked the senior, though his feet were already leading him to their table.

anywho
still the same

*rolls onto my back and stares at the sky, enjoying the watching of the clouds*