#genuinely 24 hours later and i am still not able to articulate how this book makes me feel

[morphseagull]

animorphs 15 the escape has genuinely broken me on all new fault lines. they need to invent a new universe for the ways in which i have been broken tonight. I’ll never be okay again

[goldenscript]

late night studies.

1,912 words | fluff  ↳ roommates au + lee jooheon

author’s note: this idea came to me when i was thinking of an old drabble i wrote for haikyuu!! heh, i hope this was ok!

There’s only one rule to life: Never piss Yoo Kihyun off.

Let’s repeat that once more. Never piss Yoo Kihyun, the pink-haired bastard -ahem- hamster off. Especially if you want to get one measly thing like the desired roommate.

Rule #2: Always make sure there’s water in the ramen before you ever shove into the microwave.

Because somehow, unbeknownst to you, Jooheon managed to do both things though the former still remains to be the biggest mystery. You try not to ask why, not that it bothers you as much as you figured it would’ve in the first place. It’s been working out, living with him though he has his moments where you’re not sure what to say or even do. Not out of genuine, heart-clenching fear, but the kind of heart-clenching fear that leaves you in not only wonder but restlessness.

Lee Jooheon’s quite attractive, you’ll admit. He looks pretty terrifying when he has a set jaw and an unreadable expression washed over his features, but the majority of the time you’ve seen him donning a shower cap (he made you promise to say nothing of it), a smile curved on his lips, and dammit, his proximity a lot closer than you ever anticipate. You actually kind of miss the time when he avoided you for a day and a half straight after catching him with a loofah and a very familiar tune to “What Makes You Beautiful” playing in the background though (again) you’re sworn to secrecy that this event never makes it out of the apartment ever. Regardless, it’s all too undeniable that you enjoy your time with your newfound roommate, even find yourself awaiting a new day, wondering what sight you’ll see then.

At this point in time, you wouldn’t really know. All your focus has been put on getting through these midterms from classes that you’d prefer not to slack off in, especially when it takes up a good percentage of your final grade. So, you’ve opted to studying in the 24-hour study room a few blocks from your apartment complex. It’s been your safe haven since the start of the taxing examinations, and although you loved the comforts of your apartment and your roommate, you knew that coming here was your best bet if you actually wanted to get a good load in.

So, for the past week you’ve offered your friends some good studying  sessions in exchange for accompanying you (some did and others shrugged it off). In the beginning of the year, you asked Jooheon if he wanted to come with you, but you learned to regret that after he tried to play paper football instead of actually looking at any of his rather… scarce notes. And so you’ve just given him a head’s up that you’d be out pretty late studying on little sticky notes before sneaking away to the quiet confines of the room that held books and private desk space with gratitude.

Today is no different. Well, tonight. It’s about 3 AM last you remember.

You’re studying for a midterm at your usual spot, tucked away from other bodies but designated at a spot that gave you an impression of comfort beneath the high fluorescent ceiling lights and cases of books in your peripheral. It’s still and calm as you continue to stare at the pages of notes, all decorated to a certain style of highlights and little sub-notes to bear in mind while you made sure you understood the concepts perfectly.  It’s a particular note about the early modern witch that you’re trying to wrap your head around, mouthing the words just to make sure you’re able to articulate them.

For the most part, it’s there but your brain is screaming at you in fatigue, the dark circles that have grown underneath your eyes weigh them down heavily, leaving you in a battle of whether you should just go back to the apartment but you’re already beginning to convince yourself that having this down will most definitely be beneficial if you cram it in now.

And with much hope you’d be able to do so and get home safely afterwards. The bus didn’t run this late, and those few blocks you walk from this glorious studying haven to your apartment is nothing far from sketchy. Not that most places aren’t very sketchy at late hours anyway, but you haven’t actually stayed out this late to study before. Usually your friends will prompt you or you’ll finish up sooner than you anticipate and return by 1:30 at the latest.

Now that your mind’s on that topic, forgoing any other thought of the witch, you actually consider calling Jooheon, but shake that thought away more than immediately. Although he’s offered on more than one occasion to walk you if need be, you’ve always declined for fear of disturbing him. Plus, as of late, you’re just now sure how to place your own emotions toward him.

It’s just inevitable that you’ve found yourself just a teeny bit attracted to the dark-haired man who eyes the shape of crescents when he flashes you a dimple-accompanied grin. His arms sometimes wrapped around your limbs when you decide to throw on a random movie and it’s some horror flick with too bad lighting but a plot that’s sure to give him nightmares if you don’t let him squeeze the near life out of you. You most certainly can’t deny the dejected look on his features when he showed you his first failed attempt at the ramen, but he makes it up with some grilled meat because somehow he can manage the stove (on some occasions) but not a measly microwave? And in the mix of warm cuddles and 3 AM runs to the 24-hour convenience store a block away, you can only admit to a small part of yourself that maybe -just maybe- you’re housing more feelings for the loudmouth boy than you’d like to admit.

With a shake of your head, you continue your attempt at studying once more, trying to ignore the idea of Jooheon and his warmth and his stupidly adorable dimpled grin.

About one more try into studying, you feel your phone vibrate against the table, eliciting a sudden wave of a heart attack to shock you out of the determined stupor. You actually hadn’t realized it was still on until you remember you left it that way in case someone tried contacting you, so you flip it over, seeing Jooheon’s contact pop up.

Your brows shoot upward in confusion, ready to answer when you rise up from your seat and turn to go to the bathroom to answer and nearly fall over in surprise when you see the grinning, dark-haired boy trying to keep his growing giggles to himself.

“Jooheon!” You mouth, though it’s accompanied by a rush of wind in your slow attempt to slow your heart rate.

He moves closer and holds his hands up in surrender.

“Sorry,” He says with a grin. “I thought you’d notice I was here since I called your name a few times.”

When you feel yourself calm down, you ask, “What are you doing here anyway? It’s late.”

He clicks his tongue at you. “The better question is what are you doing here still? It’s,” He glances at his phone, “exactly three-twelve in the morning.”

“I was studying.” You answered bluntly. “What’s your excuse?”

He takes a moment before he holds up the bag in his hands (how it slipped your mind until now is still beyond you but you can openly blame your fatigue). “I brought you snacks, and an offer for a free walk home.”

You can’t fight the grin growing on your lips, and your brain certainly does nothing to hide this either.

“Were you worried?” You tease, nudging him with your shoulder.  

His features scrunch up and a myriad of complaints slip past his lips before he huffs, “No! You’ve been working hard a lot so I thought I’d get you something as a reward.”

You giggle, nodding your head solemnly.

“So, how about you call it a day?”

You stare back at the notes, feeling the words meld together despite your effort to separate each letter and comprehend the words before turning back to Jooheon. There’s a glimmer of hope and rest when his visage comes to him. His bottom lip seems to be pulled over the top one and even though he said his actions were nothing you can visibly tell that he came out just to go see you. He’s still outfitted in his house clothes just with an additional sweatshirt. His hair is tousled atop his forehead and he actually looks a little tired himself in all his pouty glory.

You release a deep sigh before you acquiesce. The prospect of going back to the apartment is way too tempting to pass up. You no longer have the meager anxiety of trying to run your way back home, and snacks do sound pretty good right now.

“Fine, fine.” You muse, gathering your notebooks into your backpack, carefully placing your laptop inside.

You reach for your textbooks but he beats you to the punch, gathering them in his arms and beginning to take a few steps ahead. He says nonchalantly, “I got ‘em. Let’s go, star pupil.”

You roll your eyes, sticking your tongue out at him when he turns over to you, watching as you transition from walking behind him to beside him.

As you venture into the cold air, a rack of shivers perpetrating your body enough that Jooheon begins to linger closer to shield you from the small gusts of wind. You look over at him gratefully, shooting him a small smile and trying to ignore the erratic beating of your own heart.

Definitely not out of fear.

it kind of dawns on you that this is why you’ve been staying out later. Of course, you like spending time with him whenever you’re both home, but you also know the repercussions if you aren’t as careful as you should be. No wonder you thought the study room was the perfect getaway.

Those feelings kind of bubble inside as you continue your trek back home, listening to his silly quips and stories about his latest venture with Changkyun and the rest of his friends. It’s a nice feeling as you both enter the warmth, settling all your items on the kitchen table before he plops down onto the couch with the bag of snacks.

“Care to indulge?”

The previous fatigue and restlessness of the library begins to melt away just a bit and you take a spot beside him, already watching him flip to some random movie to keep you guys occupied until you both knock out within an allotted amount of time.

Out of bravery you turn to him, “Hey Jooheon.” When he breaks his gaze from the television set and meets your eyes, leaning just to show he’s actually listening, you lean over and plant a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

His cheeks begin to dust with light shades of pink before he stutters out a “Y-you’re w-w-elcome,” the two of you now leaning against one another as the movie begins to play.

From the corner of your eye, you can see a small smile curving on his lips, and you can’t even deny the one curving on yours.

Now you’re really glad you went to the study room today.