Chapter Text
“Seoul State University” the letters read in gold platings at the outer wall of the gate. It was a few days before the start of the semester. Jihoon takes his first step into the gates of the university. With his red Trolley Luggage in tow, the boy stops in place, fixes his backpack and takes in the view of the school. This is where he’ll be spending the next few years of his life, he thinks to himself.
There’s a long tiled path in front of him that stretches farther than his eyes can reach. At the farther end of his sight stands a number of buildings spread out. Many students sit on the grass field, while the others are doing whatever. He starts to walk through the tiled path. Trees with the colors of spring let down their leaves blown by the wind. Jihoon takes out his phone to check where his dormitory is located.
Ping. A message pops out on his device.
Daehwi: Hyung! If you’ve entered the campus through the main gate, just go straight down the main road. When you reach the fountain, you’ll see the sign showing where the Aphrodite house is.
Daehwi: Hurry because I’m already done with my stuff. My room is right next to yours :)
He puts the phone back to his pocket to follow the direction given by his friend.
Jihoon is entering 1st yr college; an omega who was lucky enough to be accepted in Aphrodite. How he was chosen remains a mystery to his friends who know that he is a member of the house. He is usually wearing oversized shirts or pullovers, baggy pants, sneakers, and a pair of glasses that cover half of his face (which by the way he doesn’t really need, but he wears for personal reasons). Unlike most aphrodites who bask in their fame for being a part of one of the most renowned house, jihoon wants peace and serenity so he keeps his obscurity from the public.
When he reached a house with a mailbox that says “Aphrodite,” he calls his friend on the phone to check whether he’s in the right place. “Daehwi ah, I’m right in front of the house that says Aphrodite. Should I just go in or….?”
“Yeah! Just go in, everyone here is nice. But if you see anyone, introduce yourself so they know.” Daehwi answers.
“Ok, I’ll see you there.” Jihoon knocks gently, then proceeds to go inside.
“Hello~” he says as he slowly opened the door. The first thing he sees is a hallway that leads to this grand staircase at the end.
“Oh hi!” A red-haired girl walks out of a room with a box in hand. “Wait, let me put this down first,” then goes straight into the room across, and comes back out immediately. “Hi! I’m Hyejoo. Are you an Aphrodite?” The girl smiles.
“I’m Park Jihoon, 1st year from the college of arts and letters.” Out of habit and shyness, he lightly scratches the back of his ear with his finger. “I was accepted into the Aphrodite house.” The boy says in a low voice and a bashful smile.
“Yeah yeah, that’s right! I remember your name. I’m the President here, so if you have any question, you can ask me.” She looks behind the boy, “Is that all your stuff? You can take them to your room first to settle down. Just go up, turn right, and your room is at the end of the corridor.” Hyejoo holds jihoon by the shoulder to walk towards the stairs. “We’ll have a small assembly later over dinner to get to know the new students. But for now, I’ll be fixing a few things down here. I’ll see you later?” At the question, jihoon nods.
Jihoon enters his room and walks to the window. “Woah! This is actually great! I get to have a room on my own, and the view is nice too!” He smiles to himself. “I better get Daehwi--” Right then, he hears a knock on the door which opens immediately. He sees his friend.
“Hyung! Hyung!” Daehwi launches into a big hug to the older. “Isn’t this awesome! Everything here is great! I love this place already!”
“ooompf! Mmmmhm!” Jihoon tries to speak but the younger locked him in his embrace so he couldn’t speak because the younger is taller than him. Daehwi lets go. “Geez! You’re too excited! But this is great! I can’t believe I got accepted here with you!” Jihoon says.
“Right!!? I can’t believe they accepted you too! I heard this house accepts only pretty faces. I guess from the picture you submitted they couldn’t tell you actually look like this on a daily basis, despite that pretty face of yours, hyung!”
“What’s wrong with how I look?” Jihoon looks down on his black shirt that reaches down to his thighs, obviously too big for him. He takes off his glasses for a while to wipe them. “What I meant was that they only get the top of the class. You’ve been accelerated twice, so I know you’d be accepted. But I guess I could be smart enough too.” Jihoon proudly says while crossing his arms on his chest.
Daehwi only rolls his eyes. At that, the older boy motions as if to hit the other. But the younger doesn’t flinch, they both know he won’t do it anyway.
“Let’s go look around the campus!” Daehwi exclaims as he pulls jihoon’s hand.
“Wait! I haven’t unpacked my stuff yet!” Jihoon tries to pull back but lets his backpack drop on the floor.
“Do it later, hyung!” Daehwi squeals while dragging jihoon away.
“The campus is soooo big! I might get lost, hyung! I think I need a guide!” Daehwi muses as his eyes follow a group of boys walking past them.
“Then go get woojin!” Jihoon could only roll his eyes on his friend’s actions.
“There’s so much I wanna do! I’m so excited! I wanna see the cafeteria! I heard it’s like a mall! I think it’s this way!” Daehwi pulls the older as they make a right turn to the side of a building.
They walk further until they hear a loud slapping sound and found that they only reached the back of the building. The two saw a tall guy with a hand on his face, another boy who was crying, and a girl who seemed to be unamused by what’s happening in front of her.
Daehwi and jihoon look at each other upon realizing they’re at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“seems like a fight. Let’s go before they see us.” Jihoon pushes daehwi back to the front of the building. Daehwi allows himself to be pushed.
As the two friends try to walk back, jihoon takes a peek at the tall guy with silver hair. Even from afar he knows the guy is good looking. His bomber jacket reads “Zeus.” Jihoon reminds himself to steer away from Zeus students to avoid conflicts like this. For a brief second their eyes meet, but this time Daehwi pulls jihoon to walk back.