Chapter Text
He shouldn't have chosen dare.
Seriously, what was he even thinking?
Bangchan's finger hovered over the 'make' button on his phone. It's not that he's scared of socialising with strangers or anything, quite the contrary he's actually pretty good at that. Besides, Changbin and Jisung would be in it too, so he wouldn't be alone. But it would be pretty embarrassing if the strangers just left or worse, reported him.
Alas, a dare is a dare.
---
Bangchan added +82 10-1111-2222 to the group
Bangchan added +82 10-3333-4444 to the group
Bangchan added +82 10-5555-6666 to the group
Bangchan added +82 10-7777-8888 to the group
Bangchan added +82 10-1234-5678 to the group
Bangchan added +82 10-8765-4321 to the group
Bangchan added +82 10-0000-9999 to the group
Bangchan changed the groupchat name to 'Strangers'
Bangchan:
Hello!
+82 10-1111-2222:
Wow dude, you actually did it?
I'm impressed
Bangchan:
Why would you doubt me?
+82 10-8765-4321:
What is this.
Bangchan:
Hello again! I got dared by my friends to make a groupchat with random phone numbers to see how it goes ^^
+82 10-7777-8888:
Omg
Hello strangers!!
+82 10-3333-4444:
CHAN HYUNG YOU ACTUALLY DID IT??
HELLO EVERYONE
+82 10-3333-4444 changed their name to Jisungie
Jisungie:
Better
My brain is hurting from all those numbers
+82 10-8765-4321:
Some of you seem to know each other though?
Bangchan:
Ah yes Jisung and Changbin are the ones who gave me the dare!
+82 10-1111-2222 changed their name to Changbinnie
Changbinnie:
Changbin would be me
+82 10-1111-2222:
Fate has finally given me the opportunity to make friends
I shall not miss it
+82 10-1111-2222 changed their name to Lixie!
+82 10-1234-5678:
You know what
Fuck yeah
+82 10-1234-5678 changed their name to Jinnie
Jinnie:
I need human interaction
+82 10-8765-4321:
What if ya'll are predators? Or creeps?
Bangchan:
Well if it helps, we can introduce ourselves!
But I think everyone should atleast get rid of the phone numbers to avoid confusion
+82 10-8765-4321:
You're lucky I'm bored.
+82 10-8765-4321 changed their name to Seungmin
Bangchan:
2 more people left
I didn't think it would actually get this far tbh
+82 10-5555-6666:
Wow a nice opportunity to antagonise strangers
+82 10-5555-6666 changed their name to Leecat
+82 10-0000-9999:
Well, if I'm the only one left...
+82 10-0000-9999 changed their name to Jeonginnie
Jisungie:
awesome now INTRODUCTIONS!!!
I'm Han Jisung, 3rd year university student (major in music production) and I'm super cool if you haven't noticed yet
Changbinnie:
Last part is bs
Anyway I'm Seo Changbin, 4th year uni, also music production
Jisungie:
You're bs
Bangchan:
Ignore them
I'm Bangchan as you already know but you can just call me Chan!
I graduated 2 years ago also in music production
Seungmin:
So you're old?
Bangchan:
wha
Lixie!:
I'LL GO NEXT!!
Hi I'm Lee Felix and I'm also a 3yr uni student! I major in dance ^^
Jisungie:
I have a feeling that we will be great friends Lee Felix...
Lixie!:
So do I...
Changbinnie:
What am I witnessing
Jinnie:
I'm Hyunjin, also 3rd year uni, major in arts minor in dance
Changbinnie:
Woah so many 3rd years
Jeonginnie:
Hii I am Jeongin, 2nd year uni and i study education!
Seungmin:
You already know my name, 3rd year and major in psychology.
Leecat:
I'm Lee Minho, graduated last year with dance major
Jisungie:
So is Chan hyung the oldest here then?
Bangchan:
I suppose, unless someone is older than 25...
Seungmin:
You're old.
Bangchan:
Ouch
Moving ON. So everyone except me and Minho is an university student?
Changbinnie:
Wouldn't it be funny if we all went to the same university lmao
Lixie!:
...
Jisungie:
...
Jinnie:
...
Jeonginnie:
...
Seungmin:
No way.
Jisungie:
JYP?
Lixie!:
YES OMG!!!
Jinnie:
YES? WHAT THE HELL
Jeonginnie:
This is the biggest coincidence I've ever witnessed in my life
Seungmin:
And scariest.
Jeonginnie:
I'm guessing Changbin hyung also goes to JYP Uni?
Changbinnie:
That's right! Chan also graduated from there
Leecat:
Same here
Bangchan:
Well what are the odds huh?
Lixie!:
Guys this is literally fate
Fate has bought 8 lost souls, us, together!
Seungmin:
Lost?
Lixie!:
Yes lost, you included
Jisungie:
here if you have your life put together:
Jinnie:
ehm..
Jeonginnie:
Good question!...
Seungmin:
Okay you got me.
Lixie!:
Dear strangers it was awesome meeting you all but I have class now and I gotta go! :((
Jisungie:
Stay strong twin!
Jinnie:
Oh shit I just realised I have class too
Changbinnie:
Imagine if you and Felix had the same class rn
Jinnie:
I doubt so, I have art history now
Jisungie:
Not to mention they don't know what they look like
OMG
Changbinnie:
Oh no
What now
Jisungie:
WE SHOULD DO FACE REVEALS
But like
IF youre comfortable with it
Bangchan:
Not a bad idea, but I think we should do it once we know each other a little more :)
Jisungie:
Yeah you're right hyung
Bangchan:
I always am!
Leecat:
I doubt so
Bangchan:
Why am I getting bullied in my own groupchat
Leecat:
Skill issue
Anyway
I need to go
Jisungie:
Whereee
Leecat:
Hell
I mean my j*b
Jisungie:
Oh well BYEE
Have fun!
Leecat:
Not possible at a job like mine
Bye
Changbinnie:
Damn you really hate your job?
Seungmin:
Could you please censor the j-word next time it's triggering me.
Jeonginnie:
Same T_T
I also have class now...
Later! ^^
Jisungie:
BYE INNIE!!
Oop the nickname immediately slipped out
Wait is jeongin the youngest here?
Seungmin:
I think so.
Jisungie:
When is your birthday then?
Seungmin:
Sep 22 '00
Jisungie:
OMG SO CLOSE TO MINE!!!
I'M SEP 14 '00
Changbinnie:
Might as well share mine
Aug 11 '99!
Bangchan:
Oh well
October 3 '97 ^^
---
Taking one final look at the groupchat, Seungmin sighs and puts his phone down on the study table.
Class was canceled today, so he has been studying in the library, until his phone started buzzing with notifications. Seeing as he had no friends, nor did he have any contact with his family anymore, Seungmin was curious. When he first saw the groupchat, his initial thought was to leave it and return back to his schoolwork, but after a glance at the blank paper before him that was supposed to be an essay...
A break seemed nice.
Now that everyone had gotten back to their own things, he supposed he should too. After some research and drafting, Seungmin finished his paper essay (his professor, being annoying, refuses to accept it digitally) and starts packing his things. It's already midday, and he's only had cereal this morning, so lunch time it was.
The walk to the cafeteria from the library was a long one. Seungmin kept to the sidelines to avoid coming face to face with the bustling students rushing to who knows where. While walking at a slow and steady pace, his mind wandered to the groupchat. Seungmin didn't have any close friends growing up. Sure, he had been in large friend groups, but they were the kind of friendgroups that wouldn't pay you any mind the moment you stopped opening up to them, and Seungmin didn't like opening up. He never learned how to, definitely not from his parents, at least. But that was okay. He was used to solitude. With his father always working and mother always being out, Seungmin eventually grew to appreciate it. At least having no friends meant no more expectations to be emotionally available.
He briefly wonders if this groupchat would change this, or if it's just another event in his life that leaves as quickly as it enters.
While he was lost in his thoughts, the doors to the cafeteria drew closer, the chatter of students reaching from inside.
Nevertheless, Seungmin is open to the idea of chatting and joking around with a bunch of strangers online.
As long as they stay strangers.
---
