CHAPTER TWO: HANDS

The probability of being paired with your best friend is 82%. However, certain factors can impact this probability. In this case, the factor at play is the presence of 30 first-year students and 6 volunteers. Due to the addition of these individuals, the probability of being paired with your best friend drops significantly to only 18%.

"We'll be starting today's games with the three-legged race. The objective of the game is to race to the finish line with your partner." Donghyuck announces through the megaphone. "Grab a partner from your respective teams, and then come to the front to take either a red or white scarf to tie your legs. You have three minutes to sort yourselves out and stand at the start line."

Renjun watches the volunteers and freshmen move quickly, swiftly, randomly picking partners out for themselves – regardless if they weren't familiar with each other. Renjun was glued to the ground. His social awkwardness wouldn't allow that for him.

There's a hand on Renjun's shoulder, pushing him from his spot. Renjun doesn't know what's happening. He turns his head to see Jaemin grinning at him. Renjun almost trips over himself. "Hey –"

"We need to hurry if we want to play in the race. I don't think there are enough scarves for all of us to use." Jaemin says. Renjun is surprised that Jaemin hasn't paired up with any of the cute first-year girls – he's positive that some of them believe in love at first sight when they see Jaemin, their eyes giving them away.

"Shouldn't you be pairing with a first-year?"

Jaemin shakes his head. "I should. But I wanted to be paired with you."

"Oh."

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Renjun didn't know what to say to that.

Jaemin picks up a red scarf and guides them both to the start line. He bends down to tie the insides of their legs together. When he's done, he stands back up and smiles at Renjun. "You ready?"

Renjun looks away, feeling his cheeks burn. "Y-yeah."

Jaemin takes Renjun's arm and puts it over his shoulder, and with his free hand, he wraps it around Renjun's small waist. Renjun can feel Jaemin's warm breath on his neck.

Every butterfly in the world has migrated to Renjun's stomach.

"Oh. You guys are also playing?" The two simultaneously look beside them and see Jeno grinning at them. He was paired up with a small first-year girl. The height difference was cute.

Jaemin nods, enthusiastically. "Yeah, we're – "

"Attention, everyone!" Donghyucks's voice booms through the megaphone. "At the sound of the signal, all players must either walk or run as fast as you can to the finish line. The pair who crosses the finish line first will be the winners."

Renjun can hear his heart beating in his ears. His head is spinning with the rush of adrenaline. He notices Jaemin looking straight ahead. His eyes are bright and eager.

Everyone is silent. Waiting for the signal to go off.

Renjun briefly looks back and sees Jeno staring at him and Jaemin. There's a sad look plastered on his face. Renjun can't figure out why that is.

A gunshot shatters the atmosphere. And everyone is running. Renjun tears his eyes off Jeno and follows Jaemin's lead.

He focuses on his breathing.

The idea of doing a three-legged race sounds easy enough, but he's not sure if he can win. The last time he participated in a three-legged race was back in middle school during sports day, and he came in fifth place. Now that he's partnered with Jaemin, Renjun feels more optimistic about their chances of winning.

Renjun feels compelled to turn around and see everyone behind him. They were laughing, screaming, hopping and running at the same time. Renjun wants to laugh along with them, but his sides are beginning to cramp, and he's thirsty for water.

He's dangerously low on iron and unfit for any physical activity, but that doesn't stop him from being athletic. Renjun loves the feeling of his blood surging through his veins, his heart beating in his ears, and the rush of adrenaline making his head spin. It makes Renjun feel alive, but neither of his friends understand the logistics of it.

Jaemin shouts, "We're almost at the finish line, Renjun!"

Renjun can see Donghyuck and another boy with big round glasses, probably a first-year, holding onto the ends of the green finishing line ribbon.

Excitement bubbles in Renjun's chest, and he can almost taste victory on his tongue. That is until he trips over a small rock. Jaemin grabs Renjun's body, shielding him as they both fall to the ground. The breath is knocked out of them, and players run past the two. Renjun tilts his head up and sees Jeno walking fast with the girl ahead of them. He looks like he's having fun.

Jaemin coughs back a grunt. Renjun remembers how Jaemin protected him as they both fell. Quickly sitting up, Renjun looks down to see Jaemin. His eyes are closed shut, and the pain is evident on his face. "Shit, shit. I'm so sorry."

At the sound of Renjun's voice, Jaemin cracks open his eyes. Renjun offers a hand to him, and Jaemin blinks, taking it and pulling himself up. Renjun notices Jaemin's elbow is bleeding, and when he takes Jaemin's arms, Jaemin winces in pain. Renjun looks up at him and says, "I'm so sorry, Jaemin."

Jaemin tries to brush it off. "It's fine. It's only a small cut."

"You're hurt. Lemme take you to the infirmary. Please –"

A gunshot fires once again. Everyone erupts in cheers. The two look ahead and see a small crowd surrounding Jeno and his partner. Donghyuck pushes the first prize onto Jeno's arms, grudgingly.

Renjun sighs. There's no harm in hoping.

Jaemin notices the dejection in Renjun's eyes. He puts a hand on Renjun's head, turns him so he's facing Jaemin, and ruffles it. Grinning, he says, "There's always the next game."

Renjun nods and unties the scarf wrapped around their legs. Then, he takes Jaemin's hands and pulls him up, careful not to strain his injured arm. "Let's go to the infirmary now."

They start making their way down a familiar path towards the infirmary. They stop short in their tracks when someone calls out to them.

"Guys!"

Renjun looks back and sees Jeno running up to them. He's out of breath by the time he reaches his friends. His hands are empty – maybe he's given the prize to the first-year girl he partnered up with. Jeno puts his arm over Jaemin's shoulder.

"It's only the first game, and you guys are already losing," he says, a small smile playing on his lips. "Here's an idea to save you from humiliation: drop out of the game."

Jaemin rolls his eyes. "Oh, shut up. We'll get you in the next one."

"Right, right." He says, his tone laced with sarcasm. Renjun rolls his eyes. "So, what happened back there? You guys were ahead of everyone, but then the next thing I know is that y'all were on the ground."

A smile flickers and fades across Renjun's face. "My fault. I tripped."

"Oh." Jeno chuckles. Clumsy Renjun was nothing new. "Where are you guys headed again?"

"Infirmary," Jaemin responds. "I hurt my arm."

Jeno stops in front of the two boys. "Is it serious? Can I see?"

Jaemin scrunches his face. "Why'd you wanna see it? It's not pretty or anything."

"But –"

Jaemin hides his arm from Jeno. Renjun looks down and notices their hands are still intertwined, causing him to overthink. Does Jaemin not want Jeno to see their interlocked fingers or the sight of his cut? "You can see it later."

It's most likely the latter.

But that doesn't stop Renjun from blushing so hard. He doesn't even know where to look.

Jeno shakes his head and drops the subject. The boys continue to make their way to the infirmary, and Jeno doesn't put his arm back on Jaemin's shoulders. Renjun feels a little relieved, but he's still confused about why he was jealous in the first place. They were friends.

Renjun briefly looks down at their intertwined hands. He considers letting go of Jaemin's hand, but he decides against it. Jaemin notices Renjun's curious eyes and reassures him by squeezing his fingers. Renjun looks up at Jaemin, who smiles at him and whispers, "Your hands are warm."

Renjun has no idea why there are hummingbirds in his heart.