Chapter 4: New things

Sky was eager to tell Unn about his new friend, but the conversation between him and Pal, left him feeling a bit strange. What would happen if Pam was no longer there? Would I be ok? Would it be like that time again? These thoughts swirled around and around in Sky's head as he was walking through campus aimlessly. Although he finished classes, he had so much free time left before the day's club meeting. He couldn't go home because today was not a sanctioned Destress day, so relaxing made no sense. And it was too early in the term for him to have homework or anything he needed to work on so he pondered, for quite a long time. In the end, Sky decided to wait on campus at an empty table for Unn to finish his classes. He thought of how nice it would be to talk and plan a time where he could introduce Pal to him.

As sky waited he read through a textbook for one of his courses. When he checked the time it was about when Unn's class should let out so he messaged him to meet him where he was. After more waiting, Unn finally arrived. With Sun right behind him.

Sun fell quiet, being in the same space as Sky made him uneasy. He didn't know how to approach Sky. Being friendly to Sky was different than being Friendly to anyone else. Maybe it was because Sky was intriguing, and that Sun was worried about what he would say. Maybe it was Because Sun thought Sky would judge him. Or Maybe it was because Sun couldn't quite figure out what kind of person Sky was. Whatever it was it was apparent that around Sky, Sun was not his usual self. "Did you wait here the whole time?" Unn asked Sky as he sat down at the table. "Not long, I was free and didn't want to go home yet" Replied Sky,

Sky looked at Sun as he sat down across from him. As much as Sun felt uneasy around Sky, Sky felt the same around Sun. There existed an inexplicable tension between the two of them that even Unn could notice. In an attempt to ease their awkwardness Unn interjected with a proposal. "So, I have this friend who is throwing a party tonight to Kick off the new term. You guys wanna go?" Sky hesitated with his response. Although he was a friendly and active person, parties seemed out of his comfort zone. But he also thought of this as a chance to try something new since he already was working on establishing a new normal, he might as well see if parties could become a new normal for him.

"Im not so sure.." Responded Sun, his response shocked the two of them. They both had assumed that he would automatically be a party person. That he would jump at the opportunity to drink and have fun given his personality. However, he did not. "Are you sure? I'm sure there will be girls there. Even some that are in the Volunteering club" Unn knew exactly how to convince people, and tugging on Sun's romantic bone was definitely a way to do it. "Alright, you got me. Im in." Sun's decision didnt seem that reluctant at all. In fact, the words Volunteering club seemed to mean a lot to Sun. "Sky? How about you?" asked Unn completely expecting to be shot down.

"Sure, ill go"

"Thats ok I knew- what? You'll go?"

"yeah, Ill go." Unn jumped out of his seat for a moment in excitement. "Really?!" he asked to confirm one more time. Sky nodded and Unn let out a small cheer of excitement releasing a single clap snap motion with his hands. "Awesome" He said. "Awesome." Truthfully Unn couldn't believe Sky's willingness to go to a party. But Unn didn't want to prod too much Knowing Sky could change his mind.

Before going to the party later Sky had to stop by the volunteering club. The club president wanted Sky to handle applications and interviews for this term. Although Sky was apprehensive about this idea, People often trusted Sky with this kind of work. He was generally a good judge of character and knew who would be good additions to what group. Which is a main reason why Sky had no problem with Sun and Unn being friends. Sky knew that Sun would be a good friend to Unn, unlike Sky Had been in the past with his surface level friendship. Sky walked with his head down towards the club room door, he would place his foot in the hallway floor tiles just the right way. He wasn't OCD but felt satisfied when things lined up nicely. He walked and thought about what would happen later that night. He wondered about what he would wear, if people have to dance, if he had to talk to many strangers. But he didnt care he knew Unn would be there and one familiar face was enough.

"Oh Sky! You're here!" echoed a voice from across the room flailing papers around. "Quickly come here!" Sky briefly greeted everyone in the room as he made his way across to Aom. "Hello" greeted Sky" he looked at her expectantly. The people in the club room were not that familiar to Sky so he was much more quiet than he would have been if he were hanging out with Unn or Pal. "Here are the applications for this term. We can only allow so many spots to be filled this term so you need to conduct surveys on these people. There are a few other people doing the Surveys as well. I want you to be our first year representative for this term." Sky agreed.

Sky wasn't completely sure what Aom wanted out of these surveys. Sky's only task was to observe people and jot them down for their actions. Sky's stack had about 10 names listed in it. He tucked the sheets into a folder and placed them into his navy blue backpack. "Thank you Sky, see you at the next meeting" Aom waved goodbye to Sky and Sky left the room. Despite Sky not being one to open up and be social, he really enjoyed the Volunteer club. Interacting with and helping others made him feel calm and valued. And he really liked the current president Aom. She reminded him of Pam, sweet, caring, and reliable. They even had similar scents, not that Sky paid much attention to that.

Music pumped around the room, soft lights flashed here and there there were crowds of people, dancing, drinking, and flirting. Unn seemed to fit right into the scene, chatting boisterously and laughing all the way through to his gut. Sky of course, sat still much like Decha did. Although Decha was actively engaging in the conversation with nods and smiles. "Im going to go to the bathroom" Whisper shouted Sky to Unn from the table booth. Sky stood up and shifted his way through the chairs. Sun observed him as he walked away and took a sip from his drink. "So what's his deal?" Asked Sun sort of rudely. "Why doesn't he talk to me?" Unn plopped down in his seat and poured more into his glass. "Why don't you talk to him?" Pointed out Unn. Sun couldn't argue with that logic. He didn't actively try to talk to Sky because Sky made him nervous.

Over near the bathrooms Sky frantically took out his phone. This was that moment when he needed saving. He was so grateful that earlier that day he had made a friend for exactly this moment. Pal's phone rang in his pocket, "Hello?" he answered. Sky hesitated for a moment was it ok to call Pal? We barely know eachother. Thought Sky. "where are you its so loud" said Pal interrupting his thoughts.

" I'm at a party, do you want to join?"

"Sure! Send me your location!" Sky was so relieved by Pals bubbly and light personality. And soon he would have someone there to talk with other than Unn.

Sky returned to the table, and check his drink suspiciously. "Don't worry, no one messed with it" confirmed Sun "thanks" Sky responded. Sun raised his glass af if that short interaction was a toast worthy celebration.

"Sky!" Pals vibrant voice shot across the bar. Immediately Sky's mood brightened more and more as this ball of pastel sunshine approached him. Pal was wearing a pastel pink sweater with a star pinned to the left side of the chest. His hair was in messy curls with a dangly earring on his right ear. His sneakers had a smiley face drawn on the side. He looked like a member of a kporean boy band that just debuted with the cutesy concept. Sky was elated to see him. Sky introduced Pal to everyone and they began talking. Sun simply watched their interaction. He talks with him so easily, why is it so hard to talk with me? Wondered Sun. Sun looked over at Decha to see how he was fairing. Decha was captivated

"Decha? You ok?" Sun questioned. Decha nodded, and not once did he take his eyes off of Pal. Decha's heart began to beat. Maybe it was the music making the rhythm increase or maybe… it was that he couldn't get over the fact of how cute Pal was. Never before had decha experienced something like falling in love at first sight but if there was ever a moment to describe it, it would be the one when Pal first walked into the room. The night continued on and Decha remained fixated upon Pal, he tried not to make it obvious but it was obvious that he was interested.

"What do you think" Asked Pal suddenly to Decha. Decha wasn't sure what the conversation had come to since he wasn't listening. He didn't want to make it seem like he hadn't heard so he arbitrarily agreed to whatever it was "um yeah, sure"

"Awesome! See Sky, you don't have to worry about me, I can go home with Decha"

What? Thought Decha, Come home with me? Decha turned to Sun hoping he could fill him in. "Sun, why is he coming home with me?"

"Jeez, what's got you so spaced out? Pal lives on campus, and he can't get into the dorms after a certain time so he needs a place to crash. Sky cant take him since Unn is already crashing at his place."

"Ah… but why me? Why not you?"

"My housemate doesn't like me bringing people over." Sun took another sip of his drink confused at why Decha was so out of it. But decided not to question it further.

Vanilla and almonds, the scent filled the air. With this scent alone it shot Sun into a state of flirtatious. Pam appeared into his view. She hadn't noticed him at the moment. She was off in the corner chatting with her friends, drinking, and being social. "Hey Unn, look! It's the girl I was telling you about." Curious about who they were talking about both Sky and Pal peered over. "Hey isn't that Pam? Pa-!"

"Shhh!" Sun shushed Pal really quickly trying not to draw any attention to themselves. "Sun is really shy when it comes to people he likes" Says Unn as if he had known Sun for years and not just a couple days. "Sun likes Pam? Buy Sky likes Pam." Sky choked on his drink as he heard these words come from Pals mouth. Shocked Unn swiftly turned to Sky. "You like Pam?! Since when?!" Unn's question seemed intense and this made Sky feel the need to correct the statement that he likes pam. " I don't like Pam, I just like being around Pam"

"That's totally liking Pam" Said Pal

"No it's not" Said Sky

"That's kinda liking Pam" said Unn, Decha grunted in agreement. Sky was taken back by all of their sudden agreement on the fact that Sky may possibly like Pam. The only one who didn't speak up on this was Sun. Because Sun also liked Pam.

"I have an idea" Unn smirked as these words fell out his mouth. "Let's make a flirting agreement"

"A what?" asked Sun, suddenly in the conversation.

"A flirting agreement. Between you and Sky. and Pam of course"

"I don't understand what you mean" Said Sky, intrigued by the idea.

"Here's the deal, we set up boundaries and rules for when and where you can flirt with Pam. and we let her decide which of the two of you she wants to date. Normally I wouldn't suggest this between friends but since you guys don't seem to like each other it'll be fine right?"

Neither Sky nor Sun could argue with that logic, it's true they didn't like eachother but they also didn't not like each other so it was exceedingly neutral territory.

"But" Unn continued "the biggest rule will be that Pam cannot know that you two know each other. It would influence her decision too much about who she likes better. So how about it? Wanna do it?"

Sky thought about it for a moment… if he were to not do it and Sun started dating Pam, he would lose Pam. If Sky were to do it at least he'd have a chance at not losing her. "Sure, let's do it." Sky was more resolute in that decision than his decision to even attend this party in the first place. Unn looked at Sun, "So? You in?" Sun was more curious about why Sky agreed rather than winning Pam's but he was in. He wanted to see where this would go. "Awesome, said Unn, "I'll bring the contract and all of the written details tomorrow at the cafeteria. Happy hunger games!" Unn said in a joking manner. That was the night that solidified the love story between Sun and Sky….. and Pam.