As Damien and Kian talked, the initial awkwardness melted away little by little.
"I... About earlier," Damien started, covering his face slightly. "In dance class. I really am sorry I tripped you. I swear I wasn't trying to take you out or anything."
Then he suddenly cringed internally.
Of course he wasn't trying to do that! Why would you even say it like that!
Kian just shook his head, waving off the apology. "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Relax." He rested his chin on one hand. "Honestly, if anyone should apologize, it's me. I think I cut in front of you too fast during the routine. Bad habit of mine when I get in the zone."
Damien blinked. Kian's apologizing to him? "No, you don't have to... It's not..." Damien started, but Kian raised a brow as if to challenge him.
"Then, let's call it even. How about it? No bruises, no foul. Though..." Kian glanced down as if to double check, "my pride might have tiny bruise."
Damien's eyes widened in alarm until he saw Kian's lips quirk up, playfully smiling. "Kidding." He laughed. "Honestly, I thought it was kind of funny. But stuff like that happens. We're all exhausted."
"Yeah." Damien nodded, relieved. "Still... I felt bad. I'm glad you're okay."
"I survived," Kian declared in a mocking yet serious tone, and Damien found himself grinning again. There was... a comforting ease to Kian's demeanour that set him at ease too—something about the way he listened so intently and responded thoughtfully, even as he joked.
After taking a bite of his food and swallowing, Kian asked, "So, how are you finding trainee life so far? You're with the batch of new trainees from last month's audition, right?"
"Tough, but manageable. It's only been a day or two but I wonder if this training is trying to kill me. I think I almost passed out during the class."
Kian nodded in understanding.
After a few seconds, Damien mustered his own question. "How long have you been here?"
"About a year or so at this company."
"Really? You carry yourself like you've been doing this even longer." Damien was unable to hide his surprise.
Kian smiled bashfully. "Well, I had a few months of training elsewhere before I transferred here," he explained. "So maybe I've got a tiny head start. But, I'm still learning every day." He gave a self-deprecating little shrug. "Like today, I learned to watch out for flying trainees in physical training."
Damien groaned and covered his face again. "I'll never live that one down, will I?"
Kian laughed. "I'm joking. Really, it's no big deal. If anything, it made the class kind of fun. And," he added, twirling his chopsticks idly, "I got to meet you because of it."
"You wanted to meet me...?"
Kian tilted his head. "I mean, I've seen you around. We hadn't talked before. Then today's incident gave me an excuse to say hi."
He said it casually, but there was a sincerity under his tone that made Damien believe him. But it was strange...
I've only been here for two days...
Damien wasn't sure how to feel about it. He took a sip of his water to buy a moment to collect himself. "Well... I'm glad you did. It's nicer than falling head first onto my food."
Kian's eyes softened slightly. "Anytime you need company to keep you awake, I'm available," he said. "Unless I'm the one passing out, in which case we might need a third person to poke us both."
Then Kian's gaze flickered past Damien's shoulder.
"Like him."
"Huh?"
Damien turned and a familiar figure with fluffy hair wearing an oversized hoodie entered his view. Song Yejun had one arm raised in a casual wave, stride relaxed—at least until he noticed Kian sitting next to Damien. The moment Yejun realized Damien wasn't alone. his steps slowed and a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.
"Hey, Damien... and hi, Kian." Yejun greeted both of them as he arrived at the table. He shifted his weight between his feet, clearly trying to appear casual and failing adorably. Normally, Yejun always sported a radiant smile around him. Right now, though, he stood almost at attention, as if he'd wandered into a meeting with the CEO instead of two fellow trainees.
"Hi, Yejun," Damien said, patting the empty seat beside him. "You're not interrupting. Join us." He gave Yejun an encouraging smile, hoping to ward away the weird tension that had settled.
"Please, have a seat," Kian added warmly, gesturing to the open spot beside Damien.
His polite smile seemed to put Yejun a little more at ease. After a brief hesitation, Yejun set his hands on the chair and sat next to Damien.
"I was actually looking for you," Yejun admitted, placing his phone and a notebook on the table. "We've got songwriting and producing class in ten minutes. Thought we could walk over together." He darted a glance at Kian and nodded his head respectfully. "You can come too, Kian. I mean—" he flushed, realizing how that sounded. "not that you need an invitation or anything! Just, you know, letting you know you're welcome with us. A-And if you have the same class..."
Damien bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Apparently Damien wasn't the only one who'd found Kian a bit intimidating at first.
Kian chuckled softly. "Thanks, Yejun. I'm actually heading to that class as well. Are you in Mr. Lee's class?"
Damien and Yejun both shook their heads.
"No, we're in Mrs. Kim's class."
"What a shame. Thought we could hang out together at class too. Well then," He began gathering his tray, stacking his empty bowl and cup. "Shall we go?" he asked, looking between Damien and Yejun.
"Yeah, we should get going," Damien agreed. He grabbed his own tray and stood up. Before he could take a step, Yejun swiftly reached out.
"Here, I got it," Yejun said, trying to take Damien's tray from his hands. At the same time, he attempted to pick up Kian's tray too.
In the confusing juggle of dishes—Damien's plate teetering, Kian's cup sliding dangerously near the edge—both Kian and Damien let out an alarmed, "Careful!"
Yejun froze, a plate in each hand and an expression of pure mortification on his face. "S-sorry! I just… thought I'd help," he mumbled, carefully setting everything back down. A rosy blush crept up his neck.
Kian gently retrieved his own tray from Yejun with a soothing smile. "It's okay. I appreciate it." Then he chuckled, trying to lighten the moment. "I've got my tray under control, promise. I wouldn't want you hurting yourself trying to carry all our stuff."
Yejun gave a sheepish laugh and rubbed the back of his head. "Right. Got it."
Together, the three of them made their way over to the counter to return the trays. Damien walked in the middle of their little formation, watching the others out of the corner of his eye. The contrast was almost... cute. Kian remained calm and unruffled, while Yejun was clearly still hyperaware of Kian's presence, double-checking that he wasn't doing anything embarrassing.
What a weird little group... He thought.
With the trays returned, the trio headed out of the cafeteria and into the quiet hallway.