one

The suitcase Kwangmin bought along with him from LA was not even enough to stuff half the space of the cupboard, he was given in his dorm room.

Min was already lucky to receive a single person dorm with a nice bathroom. From the lavish lifestyle he escaped, Min was freaking over how he will share a room with several other people―but with getting into a global university, such a dorm was expected.

Min collapsed on the floor and closed his eyes. Running away from home had damaged his energy constitution so much that he will have to sleep early a few nights to recuperate.

There go his plans to drink and make new friends in his home country.

Just as Min was about to get up and do the rest of the rearranging in his dorm room, a slight knock disrupted his plans.

Min opened the door and as his intuition told him, it was Ed Lee, his cousin from his mother's side. Min met Ed on one of the tour parties held during his father's business trips. How fortunate it was.

Min used to be a foolish boy till he graduated his school. That's when he faced the cruel reality of his upbringing. He was just a pawn in his father's games, a child just to make Min's father's path to glory easier and nothing else.

"Do I have to stand here and relay my reason for visiting you?" Ed's unfeeling voice pulled Min out of his thoughts.

Min scratched his head and stepped aside, welcoming Ed to his half-packed dorm room.

Ed entered with no change in his expression and casually sat on the unmade bed of Min. Ed stared at the mess of things on the floor but didn't exert any reaction.

Min closed the door and went to stand in front of Ed. "So what's up?"

Ed sighed―his voice seeping with helplessness. "Listen, I agreed to help you just because of Aunt Yunhe. Don't get into trouble."

Min knew that after his mother married his father, the relationship between his mother and her maiden family slowly weakened and at some point just vanished. It was highly advantageous for him to come across Ed and reestablish their relationship.

Min will accept that he's still naive and the moment he heard of his father's plans for him, Min was left with no choice but to run. A person being suppressed was one thing but getting dictated for his whole life, generally, Min cannot accept.

"That's fine. I won't trouble you Hyung." Ed replied generously. [hyung is referred to as older brother in korean]

Ed nodded satisfied and swiftly glanced around the condition of the room. Patting his pockets, Ed stood and gently proposed to Min. "Want to grab some food? Don't worry I'll treat you today."

Min was very happy with the offer and quickly changed to a suitable pair of clothes to go outdoors. His outfit consisted of an olive green sweater hoodie and muddy trousers.

Ed didn't say much about Min's clothing preferences. He knew that, with Min's lanky stature, Min preferred wearing full clothes to emphasize the size of his body. Growing up in a culture, where toxic masculinity was spread as a god conferred belief―it was natural for Min to pick up some of that nuisance.

Min and Ed walked side by side as Ed wrapped up the job of touring Min around the campus altogether.

Standing in a renowned global University, Min was at awe, looking at the big and gorgeous campus. The buildings were painted off white and seemed very pleasing to the eyes. Min ogled around like an amazed child on his first trip to the zoo.

Ed too felt a bit embarrassed at his cousin's action but didn't utter any complaint. Ed's first impression of Min was that of a nouveau rich kid with everything at his disposal 24/7. But after talking, Ed found that Min was really a reckless and foolish child.

"Hyung I could hear loud voices from there. What's happening there?" Min suddenly asked, pointing at the opposite of the main office building of the University.

Ed glanced in the same direction and squinted his eyes. After some time, he lazily answered Min. "Several clubs from our University are holding recruitment programs."

Min grew interested―at the answer. Club recruitments eh?

Back in LA, Min was never permitted to take part in any club activities due to his father's strict orders. All Min had to do was focus on topping the class and accompany his father to business meetings.

So the club recruitment thing fascinated Min.

Min's sparkling eyes met Ed's cold ones and attacked with extreme Aegyo. [Aegyo is the display of affection in cute-coquettish manner]

Ed could only look away and exhale uncomfortably. Among all the things, Ed never thought that his cousin was capable of pulling off such Ayego. But he was again proved wrong.

Min sprinted over to the place from where the cheers came and Ed had to follow. For a moment Ed thought, he had been dumped with parental duties rather than overlooking his cousin.

The square was jammed with people.

Min stopped near the hustle-bustle and gazed around frantically, finding it very difficult to look at everything. Ed just stood behind him like a bodyguard.

A fast beat hip hop music suddenly pricked Min's ears and he turned to that way, searching for the source. Min saw a group of overexcited girls screaming loudly with the music.

Enchanted by the chants of the girls, Min followed there and suffered a heart blockage. Right in front of his unblinking eyes, Min saw a figure suddenly soaring into the sky and doing a somersault before falling perfectly in the arms of three men―who seemed to be consciously waiting for the fellow to drop to catch him.

Min froze there as the image of the beautiful acrobat repeated in his mind. It was so beautiful that Min felt like his breathing had accelerated.