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Summary:

"For a moment, Mingyu couldn’t move, his eyes wide with shock. He felt a strange mix of emotions– guilt from the past, awe at Wonwoo’s transformation, and slight admiration at how well he’s matured.

This was the boy who wrote him a love letter?"

Or

Mingyu thought he’d left his shameful high school days behind, until he runs into the boy he used to bully at his college orientation. Except now, he looks nothing like the shy, nerdy kid that Mingyu remembers from three years ago.

Notes:

I've had this idea for YEARS and finally got to writing it over the summer. All chapters are written out so I expect to update every few days! Anyway, thank you to Billie Eilish and her music and inspiring this plot. This story is also slightly inspired by my experience attending university in the U.S. hehe. Pls enjoy!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: Lips Meet Teeth and Tongue

Chapter Text

Wonwoo looked down at the folded sheet of line paper in his hands, his fingers trembling slightly. No amount of caffeine could mimic the rate at which his heart was beating at this moment. Swallowing the knot in his throat, he looked over at his friends, both of which looked back at him nervously.

The flickering lights of the already dim classroom only added more of an eerie effect which did not sit well in Wonwoo’s stomach. Some may call it butterflies, but Wonwoo felt nothing but the sensation to hurl the corn flakes he had for breakfast.

“You really don’t need to do this if you don’t want to, Won,” said his friend Jun who sat across from him. It was just a game of truth or dare. He knew his friends were bluffing when they dared him to confess to his crush, but he couldn’t help the adrenaline he felt at the thought of finally telling Mingyu that he had been yearning for him for the past three years. Not necessarily in those words but the sentiment was there.

Maybe it was his friendly demeanor, or his tall stature, or even his perfect smile and those darn canines. Regardless of the reason, Wonwoo was utterly infatuated and that he could not deny.

“I know, but I want to,” Wonwoo said furrowing his eyebrows with determination. He looked over at the table in the corner of the classroom where the younger sat with his three friends. From where Wonwoo was sitting, it looked like they were all gathered around Jaebom who was playing a game on his phone.

“What if you get rejected-” Soonyoung’s sentence was cut off by a slap on the head by Jun.

“Seriously dude?”

“I’m just saying,” the boy clarified, “the last thing you want to do is get your hopes up.”

Jun shook his head. “Worst case scenario he tells you he doesn’t feel the same way and you have no choice but to get over him. Like I said, though, you really don’t need to do this.”

Wonwoo sulked in his seat at the thought of being rejected by whom his friends have called on various occasions the “love of his life”. Of course, it was always a possibility, but one can never be completely prepared to get their heart broken. High school was a scary place, people were still figuring themselves out, and the one thing Wonwoo was sure about himself was that he really, really liked Mingyu.

He even started putting more effort into his appearance in hopes of grabbing some attention from him but to no avail. The most interaction Wonwoo has gotten from the boy was a brief nod of acknowledgement when Wonwoo passed out their homeroom syllabus at the beginning of the semester.

That has to count for something right?

“God, this is pathetic,” Wonwoo said as he buried his head into his hands.

Soonyoung gasped. “Wonwoo, you are not pathetic! You are my best friend and I will not let you talk about my best friend like that!”

“Yeah, don’t say that,” Jun added. “If it comes down to it, Soonyoung and I could just, like, beat him up or something.”

Wonwoo sighed. Maybe they were right. He was being hard on himself. People have crushes all the time. Why should he have to feel bad about his?

I mean it’s not like Mingyu clouds his mind all day, and it's not like Wonwoo has his schedule memorized in order to conveniently pass him in the hallway. It’s not like the possibility of interacting with Mingyu is what motivates him to get up early for the school day. It’s not like he’s already named their children. No, that would be pathetic. And Wonwoo wasn’t pathetic.

With Mingyu’s charms and good looks, he has had plenty of admirers during his high school career. It should scare Wonwoo that Mingyu always seemed to turn them down, but it gave his deranged, parasitic mind a sense of hope for some reason. As if maybe he was just waiting for the right person.

At sixteen years old, nobody should be hooking up with anyone, at least in Wonwoo’s old and wise opinion. However, he knew that just because Mingyu didn’t do relationships, didn’t mean that he wasn’t getting around. Although Wonwoo wanted more with Mingyu, he wouldn’t exactly be disappointed if Mingyu had sex with him once and then called it quits.

But as if that would ever happen in the first place.

He wouldn’t say that they’re in different social groups, but Mingyu was definitely a lot more liked among the student body. Most people below Wonwoo’s grade weren’t too fond of him. Being a student council officer for the past three years, Wonwoo was always there to enforce the rules whether it made the underclassmen hate him or not. It’s for this reason that Wonwoo’s friends were shocked when he confessed to them about his crush on one of the students with the least regard for the school rules and policies. With Mingyu’s popularity and admirability, he got away with a lot.

He wouldn’t be surprised at how many times Mingyu’s good looks probably got him out of trouble.Those sharp features captivated Wonwoo from the moment he saw him on his first day as an orientation aid.

“Welcome to Aldrich High,” he said with a soft smile as Mingyu walked into the large building for the first time.

Wonwoo could not recall what happened that day even if he tried. His mind was completely overcome by thoughts of the tall, skinny boy effortlessly striking conversations with people in his group. Prior to this, Wonwoo had never even had a crush on a boy. Going through middle school, he only really went on dates with girls, even though he didn’t really feel any attraction towards them. Mingyu, however, changed Wonwoo’s world completely.

There is not a single soul who could say that the boy is not better looking than the average sixteen year old. However, something in Wonwoo’s gut sank every time he began to think about his own physical appearance as he knew he would never be good enough to peak Mingyu’s interest.

Wonwoo wouldn’t call himself ugly, but he was definitely not up to par with what Mingyu had going for himself. His prominent jaw and sharp features may have made up for the fact that he is about to hit 6’0” and has yet to be able to fill in his clothes, but he was still lanky and carried himself awkwardly because the truth was he just wasn’t comfortable in his own skin.

It’s your classic high school crush- show up where you know they’ll be, loiter near their hangout spot during lunch just to get a glimpse, every romantic scene from a movie and every love song reminds you of them. Wonwoo had never fallen this hard, and he feared what type of impact getting rejected by him would have on his life. He has yet to understand what about this boy, who he’s never had a conversation with, drew him in.

“Wonwoo!”

Jun’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Did you hear anything I just said? If you’re going to tell him, do it now or you’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Homeroom ends in three minutes.”

With that statement, Wonwoo took a deep breath and pushed his chair back with a loud creak as if the floor tiles had not already been scratched enough. Holding the note in his hands, he timidly made his way over to the table across the room, closest to the window.

He looked back at his friends, both holding an enthusiastic thumbs up, before he turned back around and continued his journey across the half empty classroom. He could do this. He would either go home today with a broken heart or a boyfriend. He really hoped it was the latter. Just the thought of being able to call Mingyu his boyfriend made his knees weak and his heart race. It felt so plausible but so out of reach at the same time. Suddenly, his nervousness turned into excitement and he couldn't help but feel optimistic about the situation.

Wonwoo reminisced on his appearance that day. He knew today was the day, spending a good amount of time deciding what to wear. He threw on one of his ‘special occasion’ jackets and paired it with a white t-shirt that he tucked in the back because it was slightly oversized. He felt good… kinda.

Just as he was about to reach the table, however, the obnoxious but all too familiar sound of the dismissal bell blared in his ears, signifying that he had five minutes to get to his first period class. He looked over at his friends in panic who did nothing but a shoo-ing motion with their hands as if telling him to hurry up and get the deed done. Wonwoo shut his eyes for a few seconds before forcing himself to turn back around and stop the tall boy who was halfway to the door, his backpack slinged over his left shoulder.

“M-Mingyu.”

The tall boy stopped in his tracks and turned around with a slightly annoyed expression.

It’s probably because he’s afraid to be late to class… at least that's what Wonwoo wanted to believe.

Yet, his thoughts came to a halt the second his eyes locked with those of his crush. He realized he had never really held eye contact with him for this long. During the brief pause, Wonwoo took into account that although Mingyu was pretty tall as well, he only managed to tower over him just a few centimeters or so. They were practically the same height. For some reason, the observation brought a fluttering sensation to his stomach and a boost of confidence.

Wonwoo, not realizing that he was staring, was snapped back to reality by Mingyu speaking up.

“I'm gonna be late for class, what do you need?” Mingyu said, looking confused.

“Oh. Uh, this is for you,” Wonwoo practically whispered as he handed the folded piece of paper while avoiding eye contact in an attempt to calm his nerves. However, there’s not much he could do about the slight trembling of his hands.

Fuck, stop shaking.

“This a love letter? From who?” Mingyu asked in genuine curiosity and a small smile as he began to open up the piece of paper. He began to scan over the content of the letter. He chuckled slightly before his face fell at seeing who the letter was from. At this point the classroom was empty as was the hallway. The only occupants of the room being Wonwoo, Mingyu, and his friends who had not even begun packing up, watching the whole situation go down in front of them. While having an audience added more pressure, he also felt a sense of comfort knowing his two best friends were there for support.

“What do I look like to you?”

The hostility in his tone made the hair on the back of Wonwoo’s neck stand up. The question caught him off guard as he built up the courage to look up at the boy’s face.

“What?”

“I'm flattered… I guess, but I’m not gay. Also, don’t you think it’s kinda weird to confess through a love letter,” Mingyu added with a slight chuckle as he briefly eyed the piece of paper in his hands. “Kind of outdated isn’t it?”

Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. He did not necessarily expect Mingyu to reciprocate his feelings. Hell, he didn’t even expect him to read the letter in front of him, but he definitely did not expect to be insulted either. “I don’t know… I thought… I knew I’d get too nervous to just say it so…”

Mingyu barked out a laugh. “You? Nervous? You don’t sound nervous when you give people detention for dumb shit like throwing trash on the floor. Maybe start with writing an apology letter to everyone you’ve pissed off at this school because trust me- there’s a lot.”

Wonwoo was notably taken aback by Mingyu’s accusations. “You don’t have to be rude. I just thought we can maybe get to know each other or something-”

“Yeah, no,” Mingyu responded with an amused laugh. “Again, I’m not gay. Just cause you’re the school’s head police officer or whatever doesn’t mean that everyone you like should like you back. Even if I was gay, it’s not like I would be interested in you of all people.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wonwoo asked, voice hardening slightly.

Mingyu sighed and gestured at him as if it were the most obvious thing. “You’re not… I’m a lot more… you know. Plus, you’re just too uptight, man.”

“That’s… fucked up.”

Mingyu laughed and leaned in closer. “Sorry, what was that?”

“I said you’re being a dick,” Wonwoo replied with a strong accusation. The room got sharpingly silent before he continued. All of a sudden the authority he had over him made him feel a lot more assertive in this conversation. “You know, a simple ‘I’m not interested’ would have been fine but you’re gonna insult me?”

Mingyu stared back, his expression unreadable.

“Oh, what? Was I supposed to just let you talk to me like that, the way your airhead friends talk to you-”

“You better watch your mouth, man,” Mingyu interrupts, his voice low.

Wonwoo stayed silent for what felt like far too many seconds to be comfortable for either party.

“I better head to class before the bell rings, wouldn’t want some loser with a student council badge to give me detention,” Mingyu said, his eyes sharp, not leaving the elder’s. It was almost as if he was challenging him to say something back.

He looked at Wonwoo for a few more seconds, a slight falter in his expression, before he walked out the door without another word.

Jun and Soonyoung watched in shock as the tall boy walked out of the classroom, the bell ringing a few seconds later. Wonwoo slowly reached down to pick up the now crumpled letter he spent all last night working on. His two best friends got out of their seats and came over to him, rubbing his back sympathetically and repeating affirmations in hopes of making him feel better.

Wonwoo was angry, disappointed even. The boy he thought wanted so badly, who he had put so much effort into impressing, just broke his heart in the worst way possible. There was no need to bring up Wonwoo’s social status or lack thereof. All he had to do was tell Wonwoo he was straight and that’s it.

How dare he, how could he. It was like being betrayed by someone you know so well, but that was the problem. Wonwoo never knew Mingyu. He barely even spoke to him before today. God, he was furious. He felt like a fool.

Wonwoo stood there with a stoic look before his face morphed into an expression that can only be associated with pain. He began to let tears fall into Soonyoung’s shoulder.

None of them went to first period that day.

~~~~

Mingyu knew his friends would crack up as he told them about the incident with Wonwoo that happened in the morning. Sure, some might say that laughing at someone else’s misery is evil, but Mingyu found that satisfaction of making his friends laugh was worth it. It made them like him a little more. Plus, he had to admit it was a little funny.

“I can’t believe you got a gay dude to confess to you man. Props,” Jaebom reached out to give Mingyu a high five, still recovering from his laughter.

The boys started hitting him with a series of questions that are all far too inappropriate and made Mingyu smack them all upside the head.

“Did he say anything dirty in the letter?”

“Do you think he fantasizes about you?”

“He’s probably a bottom right?” The thought of Wonwoo doing such activities made Mingyu extremely uncomfortable and even more upset with the older boy than he already was.

“Who else have you told?” asked Siwon, who wasn't as involved in the conversation as the rest of them.

“Um, just you guys.”

That seemed to be an unacceptable answer for Jaebom as he called over one of the girls at the next table, Leia. He recounted the events Mingyu shared with him, not leaving out a single detail, much to Mingyu’s dismay. He knew that that friend group of hers cannot keep a secret. He wasn’t so worried about Wonwoo being humiliated– he was worried about all the shit he would get for attracting a gay guy.

“Oh my god, stop, that’s so weird,” he heard one of the girls say after Leia walked back to her table with the new information. Mingyu felt something in his chest tighten as he thought about the way the boy just stood there stunned as if he just watched someone run over his pet. However, that feeling quickly faded when Jaebom patted him on the back.

“Don’t worry bro, we’ll make this kid's life hell and make sure he doesn't go around asking for some dick shamelessly like that again.” Mingyu only nodded and gave a forced smile.

Needless to say, Wonwoo’s high school career consisted of constant bullying and teasing after that incident. Although it was only one year in which he had to endure the frequent harassment, it did not undermine the severity and just how hurtful the jokes could get.

Wonwoo wasn’t in the closet, but he didn't go announcing he likes men on a megaphone either. Most of the jokes were not even directly about the fact that he was gay, but more about the fact that he thought he had a chance with Mingyu, and although Wonwoo denied it everytime, they were right.

Wonwoo would be lying if he said he never felt a small bit of hope that Mingyu could possibly like him back. There were even times he thought he caught the boy sneaking looks at him too. Looking back now though, Wonwoo just felt fucking stupid. Of course someone like Mingyu would never even spare him a second glance, let alone date him.

What’s worse is it wasn’t even an issue of whether he was physically attractive or not, Mingyu straight up thinks he’s some uptight loser. His position on the student council made him less likable to his peers, which he was aware of. However, it boiled his blood that Mingyu saw his high rank as something he should be ashamed of.

That day after school, Wonwoo went home with wet, swollen eyes and a flushed complexion on his cheeks due to all the crying. He went straight for his room, grateful that no one was home yet. After shutting the door he threw his backpack on his bed and pulled the crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. He read the letter one last time and tore it to pieces, throwing the scraps in his small trash can.

How could he be so stupid? What did he honestly expect to happen? Mingyu was right- the possibility of him being straight never even crossed his mind before the boy brought it up himself. He had every right to be angry with him. He should have started off small, at least tried to be friends with the guy first for fucks sake. Wonwoo never hated himself more than he did at that moment.

The rest of the school year was not easy, but it was manageable. Everytime he would run into the group of 11th graders, they would make some stupid remark about how they better shield Mingyu before Wonwoo tried to jump him. The comments even began to become personal. The day after their spring break, Wonwoo came back to school with a haircut, as most do. His long front pieces that previously covered part of his face were now gone, replaced by a much shorter haircut he decided to get as styling his hair became too much work. He didn’t think much of it until Mingyu’s posse started to call him G.I. Joe and it stuck with him until he graduated.

Everything got worse when Wonwoo decided to make his own facebook account as he knew, applying to college and all, that many people communicate through social media. Needless to say, people from school found his account and spammed him with hateful comments and slurs to the point where Wonwoo got tired of blocking people and decided to just deactivate. If it wasn’t for Jun and Soonyoung, Wonwoo would have probably switched schools.

Finally graduating high school, however, was like a breath of fresh air. No longer having to see Mingyu’s stupid face or his stupid friends’ faces made things almost completely better.

Although he was not able to attend the school of his choice because it was just way too expensive (damn the American school system), Wonwoo was able to snag a full scholarship at a school that wasn’t as prestigious, but still held high academic standards. Things were beginning to look up for him, and that cap and gown signified more than just finishing high school for him. It meant new beginnings.

Unfortunately, Jun decided to go to college back home in China, but he always made sure his two best friends knew he would never forget about them or replace them with anyone new.

“Is that a picture of us in your wallet?” Wonwoo asked. The three of them had decided to meet up for a picnic as a way to wish Jun a farewell.

“Yes it is and no, I will not remove it,” he answered before Wonwoo could protest.

The teenage boys laughed, recalled fond memories, and watched scary ghost videos caught on camera at the park until the sun started setting. When Jun announced that he needed to head home to finish his packing, all three boys began sobbing so loud any onlooker would think that they were doing it jokingly. Even Wonwoo was clinging on to his friends for dear life.

Although Jun moving away was the most painful result of leaving high school, Wonwoo was happy to leave everything else behind and start fresh. No more avoiding crowded hallways, no more skipping class, and most importantly, no more Mingyu.

As time went on, Wonwoo regrettably found himself making excuses for the younger boy. He tried to excuse it by saying that most of the teasing came from Mingyu’s friends and not directly from him, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he still laughed along with them. Mingyu was not a good person, and he probably never was. Wonwoo couldn’t imagine how much worse it would have been if he didn’t graduate a year before him. There was so much relief in knowing he will probably never have to interact with any of those people again.

Soonyoung looked at Wonwoo who sat across from him in the restaurant booth, staring down at the meat grilling in front of them. His eyes were glued to the grill and Soonyoung knew very well that he was not doing it to make sure the meat didn’t burn.

“Won.”

The taller boy looked up with a hum.

Soonyoung sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go to LMU with you? I can still let my school know I don't want to go there anymore. Imagine how fun it would be if we were to go to the same school- we could be roommates! And then when Jun comes to visit he could stay with us-”

“Soons.”

“-it would be like old times! Plus, your school has a pretty good film program too so I honestly wouldn’t mind. I feel like everyone at my school would be so entitled, or at least that’s how I heard it is at these super competitive schools-”

“Soonyoung,” Wonwoo said again, this time a little louder. “What kind of friend would I be if I let you reject an offer from UCLA?”

“You rejected yours,” the other muttered as he grabbed the prongs and began flipping over the pink pieces of meat on the grill.

“I can’t afford to go there but you can. Seriously, I won’t let you rescind your commitment to go there. It’s one of the best universities in the state and besides, we’ll only be like twenty minutes away. We could probably see each other on the weekends if we want to.”

The blonde in front of him put the prongs down with a pout, his bottom lip beginning to quiver. “You promise?” he asked, voice cracking.

Wonwoo chuckled and looked at his friend with endearment. “C’mon, Soons, don’t cry.”

Soonyoung wiped the corner of his eyes with his sleeves before looking back at his friend. “I just don’t know what I’m gonna do without you guys. You know most people think I’m a little… much.”

Wonwoo gave a sympathetic smile and reached over to grab his friend's hand. Maybe having their last meet up before moving away at a public space like a Korean barbecue restaurant was not the best idea, especially considering how emotional Soonyoung can get.

“They’ll love you, I’m sure of it. I don’t want you to get sad about this anymore. We’ll literally be so close to each other.” They know that for a fact- they’ve checked the distance between their schools on google maps at least ten times already. “Most friends don’t get lucky like us. What are the odds we get to go to school in the same city- LA of all places. It’ll be fun,” Wonwoo added with a reassuring smile.

Soonyoung, who had his sleeve covering his mouth, now had tears running down his face.

“You’ve been through so much this year, Won,” he said looking down. Wonwoo could feel a knot begin to form in his own throat. “You deserved so much better than how those asswipes treated you. I can’t wait for you to meet so many great people and find someone who isn’t an actual spawn from Satan, like Mingyu,” he sniffled. “I hope he falls off a cliff.”

“Soonyoung!” Wonwoo exclaimed with a laugh.

“Sorry,” he muttered back. “If anyone does mess with you, though-”

“You and Jun will be the first people I tell.”

Soonyoung gave a sad smile. “I love you, Wonnie.”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes at his childhood nickname. He reached over for the prongs, letting go of Soonyoung’s hand in the process.

“Love you, too, Soonie. I think we burned the brisket.”

Wonwoo was nervous for college, of course, but he was excited and relieved more than anything. He had finally begun to heal from what happened that past year and he knew that the change of setting and challenging his comfort zone might just be what he needed. One thing was for sure, though, and that was that he would probably never have to see Mingyu again. That in itself, made things feel a hundred times better.

Chapter 2: My Heart Skips Eight Beats at Once

Notes:

let the fun part begin ;)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Mingyu’s two years of community college were surprisingly much easier than he thought they would be. He decided what field he wanted to go into after taking a variety of biology courses and receiving high marks in all of them. On top of that, he was about to move eight hours away from home after deciding he would be transferring to a private university in Los Angeles in the fall.

Minghao, a friend he made in college, now his best friend, would be attending a university about half an hour away from Mingyu’s. They excitedly made plans to see each other every so often and visit each others’ campuses. Given how large Mingyu’s new school is, he decided to live in the dorms, despite the extraneous housing cost.

Mingyu was nothing less than optimistic for his upcoming academic journey. Not only was he extremely passionate about his field of study, but he was in a good place both mentally and physically. He took advantage of the gym at his old college and has never been in better shape. He began socializing more and putting more effort into his studies, not letting his poor academic status in high school demotivate him from working hard as an adult. It was through these new intentional habits that Mingyu realized that he was smart, and all those instances in which he flunked a test or failed a class were because he just didn’t care enough.

Things felt like they were looking up, and he could feel himself distancing more and more from the person he used to be in highschool.

It was around nine o’ clock when Minghao decided he should probably stock up his fridge after having Mingyu live with him for two weeks before his own classes started.

“I don’t know if I like the lack of street lights here,” Minghao muttered as he and Mingyu walked back from the car carrying groceries.

“Yeah… this looks like a neighborhood that would appear on Criminal Minds.”

They opened the front door and made their way into the kitchen, putting away an assortment of deli meats, dairy, bread, cereals, and two packs of energy drinks. Mingyu began clearing up all the clothes and items he had left on the living room floor, packing them in his suitcase. Minghao had started his classes a few weeks earlier than Mingyu and allowed him to stay with him to get adjusted to the setting. All this means is that Mingyu has spent the past two weeks staying home and doing nothing until his best friend came back from class.

After putting everything away, they sat on the couch, the only light being that of the TV stationed across from them.

“Thanks for letting me stay here, Hao, I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you,” Mingyu whined with a pout, already on his third beer of the night.

Minghao, with a slightly lower tolerance for alcohol, shook his head profusely. “You will thrive-”

Mingyu smiled brightly and waved him away flustered. “You’re just saying that.”

“No, dude, really! You’re hot, you’re smart, everyone loves you. You’re gonna have girls lined up, I’m sure of it,” Minghao said with a chuckle as he took another sip of his can.

Mingyu, in his drunken state, couldn’t help the way his own smile faltered for a second. He still had yet to unpack the topic of girls and significant others and wasn’t sure he ever wanted to. All his life he thought he just liked girls but as he got older he began to realize that that may not be true. However, Mingyu couldn’t interact with that part of himself without thinking about high school– without thinking about the boy who confessed to him, before he and his friends bullied the shit out of him all because of his sexuality.

Mingyu had mentioned to Minghao how shitty his high school friends were, but never went into detail, leaving out what exactly it was that he was involved in.

The word “guilt” is a complete understatement to describe what Mingyu felt. There were times in which he cried himself to sleep, pondering his own identity and remembering the shitty person he used to be. There was even a period in time during his first year of college where Mingyu would relentlessly look for Wownoo on social media, hoping he could find him and apologize, or at least open the window for a future apology when he was ready to do so. He then remembered the constant cyberbullying his friends would participate in and figured Wonwoo either deactivated most of his socials or didn’t use his name.

He started to realize that maybe there was nothing he could do. He knew he couldn't push away those feelings or let them go unresolved forever, but he couldn’t spend too much time dwelling on the past either.

Mingyu sighed and took a long swig of his lager.

“I hope everyone thinks of me as highly as you do, Hao,” he answered, patting his friend on the shoulder. “Damn, I don’t know if I’m ready to have homework again, though.”

“Well get ready because after this weekend you’re going to have something due… probably every week until Christmas.”

The next morning, Mingyu would be moving into his new home for the next two years. Tomorrow, Mingyu would kick off a new chapter of his life, with, hopefully, no baggage from his past to weigh him down.

~~~~

“Welcome home, Lions!” A cheerleader exclaimed, her red and white pom poms just centimeters away from Mingyu’s face. He flashed a quick smile as he rolled his moving cart past the front doors of the dorm hall he would be living in. The structures were tall, beige, and resembled something closer to an apartment complex. There were multiple courtyards within the living complexes with plenty of tables and benches and were adorned with neatly cut grass and palm trees. Mingyu was beginning to understand why the housing fee was so high.

He waited in front of the elevator, resting his arm on his big nylon cart full of his suitcases, bed sheets, pillows, and knick knacks that he managed to fit in there somehow. He never visited the campus before committing to the school, which was probably a little bit ballsy of him. But he liked what he saw so far. The neighborhood of Playa Vista was just ten minutes away from the beach, which he appreciated, despite the fact that it seemed to be relatively chilly most of the time.

The campus was engulfed by tall palm trees. The nature contrasted just right with the modern style buildings and lecture halls. Large, floor to ceiling windows adorned most of the structures on campus and Mingyu was excited to see what the classrooms would look like. It was definitely a jump from his small community college which only had about five buildings and a small eating area.

He had already started to look into student services available and was eager to hit the gym after taking a break for the past month. He would have never thought that his average marks in high school would allow him to attend an institution like this one. He felt proud.

“Excuse me?”

Mingyu blinked, not realizing that he had even zoned out. “Hi, yeah.”

“Are you in line for the elevator?” A girl with burgundy hair said, laughing at his dazed state. The metal doors in front of him were now wide open.

“Oh, right, sorry.” Mingyu grabbed his cart and made his way inside. The girl stared at the space next to him, evaluating something before she decided to walk in with him, her suitcase trailing behind her.

“Sorry, hope you don’t mind. I didn’t really want to wait for the next one. What floor?” She asked, finger hovering over the buttons.

“Uh, six, please.” She pressed her perfectly manicured fingernail on the six before pressing the eight. It was a slow ride up, making it prevalent that the elevators, like the building, were on the older side.

“Yoohyeon.”

“What?”

“My name is Yoohyeon,” the girl said with a gentle smile, her hand outstretched.

Mingyu smiled and shook her hand back. “Mingyu.”

“You’re not a first year student, are you?” She asked with a laugh.

“Uh, no. Why?”

“Just making sure. You look a little older but you never know nowadays.”

Mingyu let out a chuckle. “I’m a third year student, and you?”

“Fourth year. I’m a resident advisor, though,” she said solemnly pointing at her badge that hung on the pocket of her jeans. Mingyu only just noticed the lanyard around her neck with “Resident Advisor” sewed onto it. “Did you transfer?”

“Yeah. I’m from the bay area.”

“Oh nice!” The elevator doors opened on Mingyu’s floor. He felt a tint of disappointment at the fact that he was just starting to make friends and it was cut short. She scooted towards the wall to allow Mingyu to push his cart out into the hallway. “Hope you enjoy your time here, Mingyu! See you at Lion Day tomorrow!” She waved before pressing the button to close the elevator doors.

Mingyu let out a breath and looked down the hallway at all the open doors and carts pulled over to the side walls. Students and their families were walking in and out of rooms and up and down the hallway. He checked the email with his room information one more time to combat the intense fear of walking into the wrong room, despite having already checked five times earlier today just to be sure.

Making his way in front of the door marked 614, he scanned his student ID on the smart lock and pushed his cart inside. It looked like his roommate hadn’t arrived yet so he set his stuff on the bed closest to the window, knowing that he would want to look at the view from time to time. The sun was in the middle of the sky, and he could see the faint ocean line in the distance.

Minutes went by as Mingyu unpacked, starting with making his bed and then moving towards putting his clothes away. One empty suitcase and two phone calls from his mom later, he heard the door behind him open, revealing a young girl who couldn’t have been older than sixteen.

Mingyu had a staring contest with her, not knowing what else to do, before she eventually spoke up.

“What are you doing here?”

“This is my room… right?” Mingyu rushed to pull out his phone and check the email for the seventh time today.

“What are you doing? Why are you just standing there- oh.” A young man around Mingyu’s age stared at him quizzically before looking up at the room number. He looked around him as if he was looking for someone in the room.

Mingyu finally stood from his spot on the floor. The guy who was now in his room followed his figure as he stood up, making Mingyu just a little bit self-conscious.

“Hi, I’m Mingyu.”

“Hi. Hansol,” he replied almost comically before looking down at the girl, mouth opening to say something but nothing coming out.

“I’ll go get dad,” she said with a bored sigh before walking away.

“Is there a problem?” Mingyu couldn’t help but ask.

“No, no.” Hansol began carrying his large containers into the room and setting them on his bed. “Sorry for… being weird. I was supposed to room with my boyfriend, that's why- but it’s not your fault.” He sighed. “Knowing this school they probably just ignored the request.”

“Oh,” Mingyu replied with furrowed eyebrows. He couldn’t help the tang of rejection hearing that his roommate did not want him here.

“Hey, it’s fine, man. Really, it’s no biggie,” Hansol continued with a reassuring smile.

Mingyu nodded, not liking how his day was starting off. “Do you need help with those?” he found himself asking.

Hansol’s face lit up as he carried the second container from the hallway to his bed. “If you don’t mind,” he said with a shy smile. Once Hasnol’s family left, both boys stayed in their rooms unpacking and decorating. Comfortable silence filled the room for the first twenty minutes before Mingyu spoke up, wanting to get to know the guy a little bit better. They would be living together for ten months after all.

Hours passed and the sun was starting to set, cascading a pink-orange hue into their room. Hansol and Mingyu shared memories of their previous college years, Mingyu specifically curious about the academic rigor at the school.

“What? That’s literally the hardest part about chemistry! I can't believe he didn’t let you use your notes.”

Hansol shrugged with a cheeky grin. “I still got a B, though.”

“Damn dude,” Mingyu chuckled from his bed, his final suitcase half empty and laying on the floor. “Back at my old school most of our exams were open notes. The professors would always say that in the field, if we ever forget anything, we could always just google it anyway.” The consequences of being at a larger school was just beginning to hit him, and he suddenly felt homesick.

“Yeah, well, not here. This is only my second year and I can’t wait to get out,” the younger boy answered, folding a t-shirt. “Don’t let that discourage you, though. You got in for a reason. I’m sure you’ll do better than you think and hey, since we’re the same major we could probably help each other out.”

Mingyu turned over to smile at his roommate. He hoped that they would stay this civil for the entire year. He’s heard plenty of horror stories from friends back home about roommates from hell.

“Hey, my boyfriend and I were planning on meeting at the dining hall in an hour, do you wanna come with us?”

“Oh, uh, sure,” Mingyu said, not being able to contain his smile. “Oh, wait, my friend was gonna come visit me actually so I’ll probably pass.”

“Aww, okay,” Hansol said, finally sitting on his bed after standing for so long. “He can come with us. The dining hall is open to all the families today so they won’t be checking student IDs or anything. If you want, of course.” Mingyu thinks for a second before nodding and sending a quick text to Mingao.

Mingyu leaned back and rested on his elbows. “How long have you and your boyfriend been together?” he found himself asking.

Hansol raised his eyebrows and looked over to the side in thought. “Mmm,” he squeezed his eyes shut. “We’ve been together for about eight months now.”

“Wow… you guys met here?”

“Yeah,” Hansol said with a reminiscing laugh. “He lived on my floor and would constantly bug me about attending the pep rallies they were having. I thought he was pestering everyone about it but turns out no one was getting it as bad as I did. Come to find out it was because he had a crush on me. He confessed the night after they performed at their last game,” he said with a shrug, face fond. “I don’t know. I guess I never really thought about my sexuality or anything I kinda just, you know, liked him and went for it.” Hansol stared off into space for a second before turning back to Mingyu.

“Sorry, you didn’t ask for all those details,” he said with an embarrassed grin.

“No! I mean, thank you for sharing that with me. I can’t wait to meet him, really.”

“Yeah, he’s great. He’s been really busy today because the pep squad is involved in welcoming new students. He probably doesn’t even know that we’re not roommates.”

“Yeah… sorry about that,” Mingyu said lightheartedly.

Hansol laughed. “It’s all good. What about you? Any special person in your life?”

Mingyu’s eyes widened to Hansol's amusement.

“No, not for me. I’ve honestly never even been in a relationship. I’ve been around, you know, hooking up with… people here and there, but I’ve never had a significant other.” Mingyu pursed his lips and looked outside, remembering his journey in discovering who and what he was attracted to.

It was a drunken night at a friend’s party two years ago where he realized that he wasn’t repulsed by doing things with other men. In fact, he craved more encounters like that after that night which only made him feel ashamed of himself. He attempted to attribute them horniness and hooked up with a couple of girls in his classes. While those instances were nothing short of gratifying, he still could not shake the need to further explore things with men.

A brief makeout session with a random guy on the crowded dance floor of a nightclub sent sparks up Mingyu’s spine that he knew were not the result of the alcohol he consumed. Mingyu went home that night and laid in bed awake for hours, trying to convince himself that he only enjoyed it so much because it was a new experience and nothing else. Nights of lying awake became far too frequent, and Mingyu eventually came to terms that he is attracted to men, at least to some degree, but he still likes girls more.

He would never date a guy. He just likes kissing them when he’s drunk. But nothing else. Yeah. He’s pretty much straight.

“Well! If there’s anywhere for you to meet new people, it's college. And you don’t have to feel pressured, either. I came to this school not expecting or even wanting to date anybody and I don’t think I would have had a problem if that was the case all four years- everything just happens when you least expect it,” Hansol said.

Mingyu nodded, a small smile on his face. “You’d make a great therapist, you know.”

“Probably all the time I’ve been spending with my boyfriend. He’s a psychology major.”

Mingyu smiled and laid back in his bed, letting what was left of the pink tint of the sky fall over his face. The window was open just a crack, and the small strip of wind hit his cheeks perfectly. He felt tranquil but also anxious for what’s to come. He was comfortable in his room, he was comfortable with his major, and he was learning to become more comfortable in himself. As much as he looked back at his adolescence with distaste, he recognized that all the choices he’s made have led him here: a renowned university, studying his favorite subject, living in the same city as his best friend, and much more healed than he thought he would have been by now.

He closed his eyes shut for a second, enjoying the fresh summer breeze like it was a gentle caress telling him everything will be okay.

Meeting with Minghao after a long day filled with unfamiliar faces seemed to lessen the blow of homesickness that had hit Mingyu two hours ago. The three of them walked to the dining hall, multiple new students walking in the same general direction. Minghao and Hansol hit it off almost immediately, bonding over different music artists and films. Mingyu walked beside them content at the fact that the “new friend” tension was slowly starting to wear away as the day progressed.

It was finally dark outside, and all the bright, intricate buildings seemed to light up the pathways just fine on their own. The rows of lamp posts through the sea of trees made him feel warm inside.

“Guys! This is my boyfriend, Seungkwan,” Hansol said, a wide grin on his face as he motioned over a boy with dark brown hair in a hoodie.“This is Minghao and my roommate, Mingyu,” he added teasingly as Seungkwan hooked his arm into his.

“It’s so nice to meet you guys. Mingyu, how much do I owe you for taking this slob over here off my hands,” Seungkwan asked in a serious tone, reaching for his wallet. Mingyu laughed.

“Yeah, okay. You don’t have to pretend you won’t miss me. Also, I’m not a slob,” Hansol added, directing that last part at Mingyu.

The dining hall was packed, as expected. Luckily, the wait in line did not feel too long as the four boys conversed and shared funny stories. The pop culture references Minghao and Seungkwan were making went right over Mingyu and Hansol’s heads who just exchanged confused glances at each other occasionally.

The two younger men also tried to help Mingyu adapt to his new environment, telling him where the best food spots are and which fraternities host the best parties.

“To be completely honest, the frats here are full of nerds from rich families. You’ll probably have better luck attending the parties at Minghao’s school if you want to have a better time. Last year, my friend and I went to a party over there… it was in the middle of the day. On a Tuesday,” Seungkwan deadpanned. “Good for them, I guess.”

They were able to secure a table in the far back corner. They laughed and chatted like they have known each other far longer than five hours. They stayed in their seats way past the time they finished their food, being one of the last groups to leave the dining hall.

The food was good enough. There was a pizza bar that was supposedly open every single day in addition to the entree bar. Mingyu figured that if he didn’t like what was being served that day, pizza was always a safe thing to fall back on.

“We should get going, the poor servers look like they wanna go home and they close in ten minutes,” Seungkwan said, looking at Hansol beside him with a pout. “Are you going to Lion Day tomorrow, Mingyu?”

“What? You guys are still doing orientation stuff? When do you start classes?” Minghao asked in disbelief.

“Next week,” Seungkwan and Hansol said in unison.

“They give us a week to move in and settle down. New students get a few days of activities to get more immersed in the school,” Hansol provided as an explanation.

“Thank God, too,” Mingyu said, shaking his head. “I can’t imagine going straight to class after just moving in, my clothes aren't even all folded yet.”

“I asked because I’m going to be a tour guide. Maybe you can be in my group! Look for booth B and sign up there. We start at 9:00am, no exceptions,” Seungkwan said playfully sternly. “Plus, with some eye candy in my group, maybe I’ll attract more people to come join my tour! Wait, you don’t have a girlfriend do you?” Seungkwan asked, concerned.

“I do not.”

“Oh, we’ve found our golden goose!” Seungkwan exclaimed, receiving confused looks. Mingyu chuckled and waited for him to continue.

“Our school has a bad rep,” he explained, voice barely above a whisper. “All the guys here are either ugly or gay. I mean look at him,” he said as grabbed onto Hansol who just chewed on his beef jerky. “Just another hot, gay man. It’s a shame really, but it looks like you might be an exception.”

Minghao coughed out a laugh that was accompanied by Hansol who was smiling into his fist trying not to laugh at his boyfriend's monologue.

“I’ll take that as a complement, I guess,” Mingyu said, amused, as Seungkwan gave him a nod with a wink. Mingyu wondered if it was silly to already feel optimistic about his time here after one outing with his new friends.

~~~~

“Fuck!” Mingyu exclaimed as he watched Seungkwan leave his booth with a large group and begin his tour.

Seungkwan walked backwards wearing the college sweatshirt with a lanyard and his name card attached to it. He spoke into a small microphone which was honestly unnecessary considering how loud and flamboyant his voice was naturally.

Mingyu had stayed up late last night playing monopoly and chatting with Hansol and Minghao in his dorm. Minghao left around midnight, leaving Mingyu and Hansol to stay up and chat. When he woke up this morning, he realized he had slept through his alarm twice and that the event had already started. He picked up whatever clothes he could find on the floor which just happened to be a polo shirt and jeans.

He barely had time to fix his hair before he ran down to the main courtyard, only to see the long line of students waiting to check-in. He accepted that there was no way he was going to make it to Seungkwan’s booth before 9am.

Mingyu sat on a ledge, mostly trying to catch his breath. He pulled out the water bottle that was in the tote bag provided to him and took a drink. Students were running around laughing and smiling, save for the few who looked just as lost and awkward as Mingyu probably did in that moment.

“Hey, Mingyu!”

Mingyu turned to see the burgundy haired girl once again. She wore a windbreaker with the school logo and the same lanyard around her neck. She approached him and gave a gentle smile as she sat beside him.

“Hey,” he replied with a tired smile.

“Did you not want to do a tour? They also include socialization activities, you know?”

“I missed the tour I wanted. I told Seungkwan I would join his group but I got here late,” he replied.

“Ah,” she responded with a nod. “There’s other guides though. If you want I can walk you there myself. I feel a little bad leaving you alone,” she said with a small laugh.

“Oh, uh, I guess.”

“Yeah, why not? Not like you have anything to do. How was your first night, by the way?” She asked eagerly as they began to walk through the field of booths.

Mingyu beamed down at her. “It was good! My roommate and I get along really well, and I got to meet some other friends too. We were up late last night which is why I overslept.”

Before Yoohyeon could respond, a group of girls came running up to them.

“Yoohyeon! Look, I won a frisbee! Dani won a cup of slime but she dropped it in the dirt-”

“You literally bumped into me!”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Yoohyeon chuckled. “Mingyu, these are two of my residents. They live on the floor that I’m in charge of.” Mingyu nodded in understanding.

“Hi! Is this your boyfriend?” the first girl asked with a dramatic look at her RA.

“Nope. This is my friend Mingyu.”

“Oh… well does your friend need a girlfriend?” she asked with pursed lips as she shot glances at Mingyu who just raised his eyebrows. These girls were definitely straight out of high school.

Yoohyeon turned to look at Mingyu with a bored expression. “Do you?”

“I’m all right, thanks,” he answered, amused.

The young girl rolled her eyes before saying goodbye and walking off with her friend.

“That’s Eunchae. She’s from Korea and only arrived here a few months ago. She's a good kid, sorry if she made you uncomfortable.”

Mingyu laughed and waved her off as they continued walking. “No worries. I’ve been here for less than twenty four hours, and I’ve already had two people call me attractive. I’m over the moon, actually.”

Yoohyeon scoffed before she stopped in front of a row of booths labeled L through Z. They were the same type of booth that Seungkwan was working at.

“This is where the later tours happen. You just go up to them and sign up and they send you a text once it’s time to head back.” She pulled up her watch. “The next one leaves in fifteen minutes so I would head over there now if you want to catch it. Like I said, you do a brief tour around campus and then you’ll be doing some icebreakers. It’s honestly a lot of fun. I met most of my friends through my orientation,” she added with a warm smile.

Mingyu nodded, simultaneously bopping his head to the Dua Lipa song blasting on the speakers all over the courtyard.

“Good luck!” she said, patting his arm before walking away.

Mingyu blinked out of his daze. “Thanks, Yoohyeon!”

He walked down the small grassy hill, already noticing the lack of people here compared to the busy field where Seungwan’s booth was located. His gaze wandered, taking in the hustle and bustle of new students getting acquainted with their surroundings.

He walked towards the nearest booth, assuming that it would provide the earliest tour time when suddenly, his eyes locked onto the person sitting behind the table.

Mingyu stopped in his tracks and looked around. Was this a prank? Was he going crazy? He continued his slow stride to the booth in hopes that his eyes were deceiving him.

They were not.

His heart skipped a beat, and time seemed to slow as he watched Jeon fucking Wonwoo talk to another student that had approached his booth. Mingyu thought he could recognize that face anywhere, but there was a significant, notable difference that would have literally made Mingyu’s jaw drop if he wasn't standing in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by other students.

Wonwoo was standing there, looking nothing like the scrawny, awkward kid Mingyu remembered from high school. Wonwoo, Mingyu hates to admit, had always been an easy target back then– nerdy with oversized glasses and a shy demeanor that made him an easy victim for cruel jokes. But the person standing in front of Mingyu now was different. Wonwoo’s once awkward hair length was now just right, perfectly framing his face and neatly styled. His lanky stature was no longer, as he now looked lean and athletic, his posture confident. His jawline had become more defined, his broad shoulders filled out his shirt, and his expression held a depth that wasn't there before.

Mingyu’s steps slowed down as he neared the orientation booth apprehensively. Wonwoo’s once-boyish features had sharpened into something more rugged and attractive, and Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a weird sense of longing.

For a moment, Mingyu couldn’t move, his eyes wide with shock. He felt a strange mix of emotions– guilt from the past, awe at Wonwoo’s transformation, and slight envy at how well he’s matured.

This was the boy who wrote him a love letter?

Yet, Mingyu could not stop himself from walking over. Maybe it was the fact that he was the closest booth or maybe it was intrigue and the subconscious urge to confront him, but Mingyu continued to walk over, even after the other student left.

Wonwoo looked up, and their eyes met.

Suddenly, Mingyu couldn’t remember how to walk and had become extremely self aware of the pace of his steps.

There was a flicker of recognition in Wonwoo’s gaze, followed by a flash of something else– irritation? confusion? Wonwoo’s expression quickly turned professional, masking any personal reaction. Mingyu didn’t miss the deep breath he took before speaking.

“Hi there,” Wonwoo said, his voice steady and warm. “Welcome to LMU.”

Mingyu swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. “Uh, hey. I’m Mingyu. I just transferred. I just wanted to get some information about the campus and sign up for a tour.”

Wonwoo nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Sure thing, Mingyu. We have maps, schedules, and plenty of information about campus resources.” He gathered an array of flyers and pamphlets and handed them to Mingyu. “To sign up for tours, just scan the QR code right there,” the older man said, pointing at one of the info cards in Mingyu’s pile.

“Thanks,” Mingyu said, his voice a bit shaky.

Does Wonwoo remember him? Should he apologize? Maybe now isn’t the best time. But what if he thinks Mingyu is still a homophobic piece of shit who gets off on making people feel bad?

He definitely remembers him because there is absolutely no way he just forgot about the asshole who rejected him and bullied him relentlessly afterward. Plus, Mingyu literally introduced himself and gave him his name. Oh God, he’s going to be sick.

He could feel Wonwoo’s eyes on him, assessing. Mingyu cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. Wonwoo’s eyes were sharp, hidden under his glasses as his facial expression remained neutral. It's disorienting, unsettling even, to see the object of his past looking so… captivating.

“You’ve, uh, changed a lot since high school.” What the fuck is wrong with you? Mingyu scolded himself.

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, a subtle challenge in his gaze. “People do change,” he replied evenly. “It’s good to see you, Mingyu. I hope you’re doing well.”

Mingyu nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment that Wonwoo hadn’t said more about their past.

Just leave, damn it.

“Yeah, I’m… doing well. College is a fresh start, right?” he added with an awkward laugh.

“Yeah,” Wonwoo agreed, a professional smile playing on his lips. “If you have any questions or need any help, feel free to ask. That’s what we’re here for.”

Mingyu nodded again, gripping the packet of information tightly. “Thanks, Wonwoo.”

As Mingyu finally walked away, he was unable to shake the feeling of Wonwoo’s gaze on his back, nor the rush of conflicting emotions swirling within him. This had definitely reopened old wounds he thought he fully healed.

Notes:

Let me know what you think: @/mwqts on X

Chapter 3: See What You Wanna See

Notes:

just an fyi, not every member of svt will be in this story :/ i tried to squeeze them all in bc i love them but honestly it started to feel forced. at most they all make like a cameo here and there lol

Chapter Text

After signing up for the tour, Mingyu ran into the bathroom and processed what the fuck just happened. The gut wrenching realization that he had no one to talk to about the situation almost formed tears in his eyes before he splashed some water on his face and made an effort to tell himself everything was fine. With a few deep breaths and reassuring self-talks, Mingyu regained his composure and joined other students back at the booth once he got the notification that the tour was about to start. 

Wonwoo didn’t even look upset, and he’s obviously doing so much better for himself. So it's fine, right? Maybe it wasn’t even as bad as he thought. For all he knows, Wonwoo could have just called him and his friends a bunch of cunts and moved on with his life.

Little by little, it began to sink in that that is probably not what happened. Wonwoo was definitely affected by what happened and Mingyu knew that for a fact. Yet, here Mingyu is, trying to downplay everything to make himself feel better. Maybe he hasn’t changed as much as he thought.

Mingyu trailed behind the group of students, establishing a spot at the back of the line as they walked through the campus- Wonwoo leading the group at the very front, of course.

Despite the extraneous circumstances, he found the tour very helpful. Once again, he was entranced with how beautiful the campus was. The school was perched on a hilltop that easily looked over the city. Palm trees sat in rows along the walkways, really setting the essence of Los Angeles. 

“This is Crescent Courtyard What you see surrounding it is the fine arts buildings but for this first activity I’m going to need everyone to make a circle.” The new students did as told, although confused about the long rope on the ground with two small flags attached to it.

“Mr. Wonwoo, are we playing tug of war?” A girl asked, looking down at the rope and chalk marks.

Wonwoo chuckled. “Just Wonwoo is fine and yeah. Once we go around and introduce ourselves we will be playing tug of war.”

Mingyu watched intently as Wonwoo made his way to the front of the circle, clipboard in hand, ready to guide the introductions. His eyes scanned over the students, landing briefly on Mingyu before quickly moving on.

"Alright," Wonwoo began, his voice steady but friendly, "let's go around and introduce ourselves. Name, major, year, and something interesting about yourself."

The introductions started, with each student sharing a bit about themselves. Mingyu listened, trying to calm his racing heart. Finally, it was Wonwoo's turn. He stood a bit taller.

"I'm Wonwoo, as you guys know," he said, followed by a few giggles from students. "I'm a senior studying cognitive science, and I've been an orientation leader for three years already. Something interesting about me is that I spent the summer interning at a startup in Silicon Valley."

As Wonwoo spoke, Mingyu did his best not to look any more or less interested than the rest of his peers, but how could he not be? Here was the guy who Mingyu probably helped shape in the worst way possible. Here he was as if nothing ever happened and living his best life despite everything Mingyu and his friends put him through.

The introductions continued around the circle, and finally, it was Mingyu's turn. He took a deep breath, standing up straight and forcing a smile.

"Hi, I'm Mingyu," he began, feeling everyone’s eyes on him. "I'm a third-year student, majoring in biochemistry. Uh, something interesting about me is that I love to cook.”

One of the students, a girl with bright blonde hair, leaned forward slightly. "What’s your favorite thing to cook?" she said, her eyes appraising him. 

Mingyu looked up in surprise, not having expected to be asked any questions. “Um, anything? I kinda just… replicate recipes I find online. My favorite thing to make right now, though, is beef wellington.”

There was a murmur of interest from the group, and Mingyu felt a flicker of pride, the corner of his lips quirking into a small smile. 

Wonwoo cleared his throat. "That's really cool, Mingyu," he said, his tone a bit softer. "That’s a challenging dish to make."

Mingyu was taken aback more so by that unexpected compliment as a blush creeped up his neck. "Yeah, it's been a hobby of mine for a while," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

A moment lingered before the next student spoke up, Mingyu’s mind racing with the implications of that brief interaction. He mentally scolded himself for putting so much thought into a small comment. 

Once it was time for the next activity, Mingyu, like many of the others, practically froze when they were given instruction to get into teams. 

“Hey. Do you wanna be on our team? We could probably use the strength,” a shorter boy said to him with a sheepish smile. He stood over to the side with three other girls.

“Sure,” Mingyu said with an enthusiastic nod.

“You’re definitely gonna have to be in the front, though. Mingyu, right? My name is Chan- first year.”

Mingyu smiled as he walked to stand next to the rope on the ground. “Nice to meet you, Chan.”

Mingyu placed himself at the front of the team, per Chan’s request, gripping the thick rope with determination. 

“Alright, everyone!” Wonwoo called out, his voice carrying across the field. “Remember, it’s all about teamwork and strategy, not just strength.”

The two teams squared off, and Mingyu could feel his competitiveness rising in anticipation.

“On my count,” Wonwoo began, raising his hand. “Three, two, one, pull!”

The game began with a burst of energy, both teams straining against each other. Mingyu dug his heels into the ground, his muscles burning. Yells of encouragement and giggles came from both teams.

Mingyu’s team started to gain an advantage, pulling the opposing team closer. The students continued to cheer each other on, growing livelier with each pull. Finally, with a final pull, Mingyu’s team won, sending the opposing team stumbling forward.

Breathless and sweaty, Mingyu let go of the rope. His teammates clapped him on the back, congratulating him on their victory. He looked over at Wonwoo, who was walking towards the group, a small smile on his lips.

“Nice job, guys. Great teamwork.”

Mingyu wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling a strange mix of pride and nervousness. 

Wonwoo readdressed the group. “The lesson here is that college is a lot like this game. It’s not just about individual effort, but how well you work with others. Keep that in mind as you navigate your time here.”

The students murmured in agreement, and Mingyu felt a surge of respect for Wonwoo. He really had grown into someone that now demanded respect and admiration– a complete shift from how he was last time Mingyu saw him.

As the group began to disperse and make their way to the water fountain during a break, Mingyu lingered, feeling the need to bridge the gap between them once and for all. “Hey, Wonwoo,” he said, approaching him.

Wonwoo looked up, his expression guarded but curious. “Hey.”

“You’re, uh, really good at this. Leading, I mean,” Mingyu said, his voice sincere.

Wonwoo’s eyes narrowed briefly before they softened slightly. “Thanks, Mingyu. I appreciate that.” He smiled, eyes twinkling with something Mingyu couldn’t really read. “I guess I had to work a little harder than others to get here.”

Mingyu blinked, momentarily taken aback. Was that a dig at how Mingyu treated him? 

Mingyu forced a smile, trying to keep the conversation positive. “Well, it shows. You’re doing great.”

Wonwoo nodded hesitantly. “Thanks.”

Mingyu waited a few beats before he gave an awkward smile and walked away. He breathed out dramatically as soon as he was out of earshot.

 

What the fuck possessed me to do that? Oh my God Mingyu you’re such a loser.

 

The group walked back in the direction of the booth, going a different way and touring the other side of campus. Mingyu trailed behind, feeling fatigued and hot from the long walk as well as all the strength he had to exert at once just ten minutes ago. The bright sun that now sat in the very middle of the sky didn’t help very much either. 

They stopped in front of a tall, golden, lion statue where a few of the students stopped to take photos. “Hey, Mingyu!” Chan said, turning around to face the taller boy. “Do you want to come grab lunch with us? This is Minnie and Jungkook by the way. They’re transfers too!”

Before Mingyu could reply, he felt a poke on his side that made him jump. He looked around to see Yoohyeon walking away, laughing at his reaction. Mingyu watched as she excitedly walked up to Wonwoo and hugged him from behind. The taller looked behind him in confusion before his features softened and he gave a small smile, giving her hand a small pat but not doing anything to remove her off of him.

Mingyu’s heartbeat quickened. 

Were they dating? 

Wait, isn’t Wonwoo gay? Oh my god, did he accidentally befriend the girlfriend of the guy he used to bully? Just his luck. 

He must have been staring a little too long as Yoohyeon turned to look at him. She laughed. “Won, have you met my bestie Mingyu yet?”

 

Crap.

 

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral. “Yeah. We went to high school together actually.”

Mingyu felt his stomach drop down to his ass. This was the first indication Wonwoo made at recalling their past together and something about having him acknowledge it so openly made his blood run cold.

“Yeah…” Mingyu responded, not sure what else to say. He fought the urge to roll his eyes at himself and silently prayed that the lion statue would topple over and crush him.

Yoohyeon looked at him with wide eyes, her expression amused. “Oh my god, no way. That’s so funny! Oh my gosh Mingyu I bet you were so stinkin’ cute,” she said, letting go of Wonwoo and reaching over to ruffle his hair. “Were you guys friends?”

Mingyu’s heart raced, panic setting in. He glanced at Wonwoo, unsure how he would respond. Wonwoo, however, simply chuckled, the sound both surprising and unsettling to Mingyu.

“Friends, no. Mingyu was more of a... character builder.”

Yoohyeon laughed at the ambiguity of Wonwoo’s statement. “Are you saying he was annoying?”

Wonowoo just raised his eyebrows and huffed out a laugh, his gaze on the floor in front of him.

"Wow, that's cool, though," Yoohyeon said, oblivious to the tension. "I’m sure it's nice to see familiar faces when you start at a new school like this."

"Yeah," Mingyu managed to say, his voice a bit strained. 

Wonwoo's eyes met Mingyu's for a brief moment, a silent understanding passing between them. Mingyu swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure.

“Well, I’m glad you’re in Wonwoo’s group, Mingyu! I’m sure you know already but this guy is the biggest brainiac so if you ever need someone with crazy problem solving skills,” she motioned over to Wonwoo with her thumb. “The amount of times he’s gotten me out of trouble…” she reminisced with a shake of her head.

Wonwoo gave a soft smile at the compliment. 

“Anyway, the tour I’m leading is about to start. Just saw you guys on my way there and wanted to say hi. Be good, Mingyu. Make good choices!” She turned to Wonwoo and gave his hand a squeeze. “I’ll see you later.” 

Okay. They have to be dating. Was Wonwoo bi?

After rounding up those who remained preoccupied making up funny poses in front of the statue, Wonwoo finally led the rest of the group back to the booth. 

“Bye Wonwoo!”

“Yeah, thanks Wonwoo!”

“Of course. Don’t be a stranger!” Wonwoo replied to the students who smiled and waved at him in gratitude.

As the group began to disperse, Mingyu stayed behind for a moment, needing to collect his thoughts. Wonwoo noticed and lingered as well, keeping a professional distance but his eyes still holding curiosity.

“So… how long have you and Yoohyeon been together?”

Wonwoo squinted his eyes slightly, his flat affect completely dropped and replaced by confusion. He stared at Mingyu as if trying to figure out some underlying meaning in his words.

Mingyu stared back nervously, wondering if he said something wrong.

Wonwoo let out a dry laugh. “I’ll see you around, Mingyu,” he replied before walking off.

Mingyu stood there in shock, realizing that this was going to be even more challenging than he had anticipated. The past was far from forgotten, and the road to any kind of reconciliation was going to be tricky.

As he walked away from the field, Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a strange mixture of frustration and admiration for Wonwoo. He had changed a lot, and Mingyu found that both intimidating and intriguing.

~~~~~

That day Wonwoo walked to his dorm, took a shower, and laid on his bed, processing everything that happened that day. With only two hours to rest before starting another shift of tours, he closed his eyes in attempts to calm his mind.

What the actual fuck?

Wonwoo hadn’t thought about high school or Mingyu in the past two years at least . He had moved on, he was healed. But alas, the universe thought it would be fucking hilarious to make Wonwoo think he could make it the rest of his life without ever encountering him again and then plant him in his life during his final year at university.

All he felt right now was irritation. Acting friendly and cordial with the person who completely shifted his sense of self for the worst is probably one of the hardest things Wonwoo has ever had to do. He wanted to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and keep in mind that people can change, especially after three years. Mingyu had him convinced that was the case, up until his last question about him and Yoohyeon.

Wonwoo reached for his phone and hesitated. Soonyoung is most likely at work right now. Even then, he didn’t want to give the situation more attention than it warranted. He and Mingyu are in different majors, different school years, and while Wonwoo wasn’t sure, he would like to hope that they weren’t living in the same dorm building.

Wonwoo’s feelings for Mingyu were gone- that’s been the case since he left high school- but the immature part of him, the part that has yet to recover, wanted nothing more than for Mingyu to see how he overcame everything he put him through. Maybe Mingyu’s not attracted to men, but Wonwoo could still make the younger feel inadequate by showing him how much more accomplished and sociable he is compared to his high school self.

But that would be stupid. That would require effort which means that Wonwoo would be acting just as petty and immature as Mingyu was. 

Wonwoo sighed and was about to put his phone on his night stand when he saw his lockscreen light up with a text notification. His heart sank the same way it has been for the past few months when he read who it was from.

 

Alex:

Hey babe, how did orientation go? I was wondering if you’re done if you could pick me up from work pretty pleaseeee

 

Wonwoo took a deep breath before responding. His boyfriend would have to wait another four hours before Wonwoo could pick him up. He felt bad, of course, but he also couldn’t help the frustration that built up as he recalled all the other times his partner refused to take the bus and made Wonwoo drive forty minutes to his place of work and then back to his apartment.

His boyfriend must have not liked that response very much as noted by the ‘k’ he replied with.

They met back in Wonwoo’s first year and started dating during his second. Alex was a good guy, and he’s just Wonwoo’s type: tall, dark, and a great smile. The only thing that ever really caused any friction in their relationship, not that Alex was aware of it, was his lack of ambition. 

His boyfriend dropped out last year and while that in itself isn’t an automatic dealbreaker, the lack of direction and the comfortability in going nowhere really created problems for Wonwoo specifically. He had made plans to become a mechanic, but has so far made no moves towards that goal, claiming he’ll “get to it” once he and Wonwoo move in together.

In other words, he’s waiting for Wonwoo to secure his stable career so that he can live off of him. Wonwoo had no problem supporting his boyfriend if he could, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was being taken advantage of and like that support would never be reciprocated.

He loved Alex, really, but he wasn’t sure if he liked him very much anymore. Yet, he wanted them to work so badly. It was his first ever romantic relationship and he fell for him for a reason, but his boyfriend’s choices started to build up some resentment in Wonwoo which made him feel like absolute crap.

He closed his eyes and rested his hands over his chest, trying his best to shut his thoughts out. 

From his highschool bully to his now distant boyfriend, Wonwoo wondered why he always chooses the hardest people to give his love to.

~~~~

Welcome week was coming to an end and Mingyu found himself spending more time with the friends he made at orientation: Minnie and Jungkook. Considering the three had spent all other days attending activities together, they thought they would go look for their classrooms before classes started to avoid getting lost on the first day.

“Pledis Hall! Found it!” Jungkook exclaimed, receiving a groan from Minnie who looked down at the piece of paper in her hands.

“What the heck, why are yours so easy to find?” She complained, looking back and forth from the entrance of the building and her class schedule.

“I feel like they do it on purpose,” piped up Mingyu. “Most schools prioritize their STEM majors because they bring in the most money.”

“What the fuck is ‘STEM’?” Minnie asked, sounding irritated.

“You don’t know what ‘stem’ means?” Mingyu asked, genuinely shocked. 

“No? Should I?”

“Stem stands for Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math. Any field that involves those is considered STEM,” Jungkook responded exasperatedly.

“Oh… so like mine?” she replied. 

Jungkook looked at her like she was crazy. “What? No. Did you not hear me? You’re an art major-”

“Digital Art. That involves technology,” she deadpanned.

Jungkook scoffed, looking genuinely offended. “That is not the same thing.”

“How? How is it not the same thing?”

“Because it has nothing to do with math!”

“You said any field that involves-”

“I know what I said. I just meant like… like stem fields!”

“Like digital art?”

“No!”

“You’re so sexist.”

“What?”

Mingyu watched as the two bickered for the second time that day. They only met for the first time at their orientation. How they have already begun arguing like an old married couple was a mystery to him. 

Mingyu, being the same major as Jungkook, found his classes pretty easily, with all of them being in the more well known, larger buildings on campus.

Minnie had only been able to find one which was located in a bungalow set on one of the school parking lots, much to Jungkook’s amusement.

Mingyu was relieved to meet other people in his school year, especially Jungkook who shared some of his classes. He was surprised at how fast they all became comfortable with each other, texting frequently in their group chat and already making plans to hang out together during the school year.

Mingyu almost completely forgot about the whole Wonwoo thing and was starting to feel less anxious about potentially seeing him on campus. It’s not like he’ll have to talk to him, and while Mingyu would still like to apologize, it was obvious that Wonwoo was not trying to mend any past dues at the moment. 

Mingyu did hope that he would be ready soon, though. He really didn’t want the situation to weigh on his conscience anymore.

On his first day, Mingyu entered the lecture hall with a spring in his step, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The room was already buzzing with students, all eager to start their first class. He found a seat near the front, hoping to make a good impression and stay focused. 

As he settled in, he glanced around at his fellow students. They all seemed so confident, chatting animatedly about their summer internships and advanced courses they had already taken. Mingyu felt a pang of doubt in himself but quickly pushed it aside. 

The lecture hall was just as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside. The large windows adorned the learning space with plenty of natural light, cascading shadows all over the rows of seats. The ceiling was tall and concave at the top, almost like a dome.

The door at the front of the hall swung open, and a stern-looking middle aged woman walked in. She wore a "no-nonsense” expression and carried a stack of papers under her arm. The room fell silent.

“Good morning, class,” she said, her voice firm and authoritative. “I’m Dr. Harper, and this is Biochemistry 640A. I hope you’re all ready to work hard because this course will be demanding.”

Mingyu let out a deep breath and straightened in his seat, determined to meet the challenge. Dr. Harper handed out the syllabus and began to outline the course expectations. As she spoke, Mingyu’s eyes widened at the sheer volume of work they were expected to complete.

“We’ll be covering a lot of ground this semester,” she continued. “You’ll have bi-weekly quizzes, two midterm exams, and a comprehensive final. In addition, you’ll need to complete a research project, which will count for a significant portion of your grade.”

Mingyu’s head spun as he tried to fathom what the would even look like. Just seeing all his assignments listed on the piece of paper made him feel nauseous, and he still had three other classes!

He knew college would be tough, but this was on a whole new level. Still, he clung to his optimism, telling himself he could handle it.

Mingyu tried to keep up with the rapid pace of her teaching, typing notes furiously, occasionally writing down formulas. The material was fascinating, but also extremely complex. He found himself struggling to understand some of the concepts.

About halfway through the lecture, Dr. Harper paused and looked out at the class. “I want to see how well you’ve grasped the basics. Please complete this problem set and hand it in by the end of the class.”

She has to be joking.

Mingyu glanced at the sheet she had handed out and felt a surge of panic. The problems were intricate, requiring a deep understanding of twhat they had just covered. He could see other students around him diving into the work with ease, while he stared at the page, feeling lost.

He took a deep breath and started working through the problems, but every question seemed more confusing than the last. Just as he felt he was making some progress, the class ended, and Dr. Harper called for the papers to be handed in.

Mingyu hurriedly scribbled his final answers and handed in his sheet, feeling a mix of relief and dread. As he left the lecture hall, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was already falling behind.

Outside the building, he bumped into Hansol, who was making his way inside the same classroom, probably for the next lecture. “Oh, hey, Mingyu! How was your first class?” Hansol asked, noticing the worried look on Mingyu’s face.

“It was… a lot,” Mingyu admitted, his initial enthusiasm now replaced with anxiety. He shook his head, the list of assignments flashing in his brain like a war flashback. “I just hope I can keep up.”

Hansol clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine, man. Just take it one step at a time. Like I said before, you got into this program for a reason. If you want we can go over class material later.”

Mingyu nodded, appreciating Hansol’s support but still feeling a gnawing sense of defeat. He knew school was hard but in complete transparency, it hadn’t felt hard in the past two years. 

Now, here he was, being challenged, and all he could think about was the kid who could never get anything over a B- in high school and how maybe he is still in there somehow. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was really the fresh start he had hoped for, or if his past would inevitably follow him into this supposed new chapter of his life.


















Chapter 4: But All I See Is Him Right Now

Notes:

two chapters today because honestly the first 5-6ish are a little slow hehe

Chapter Text

Wonwoo pulled up in front of the apartment complex and put the car into park. He fidgeted with his phone as he watched his friend lock the small gate before turning towards him with a beaming smile and make his way towards his car. He wore his hair in a beanie and a basketball jersey from his school team. The attire told Wonwoo that he was definitely not expecting to see him today or anyone for that matter.

“Couldn’t have dressed up a little for me?” Wonwoo called out.

“You’re my best friend, not my husband.” Soonyoung laughed and got into the passenger seat, pulling his friend into a hug. “I’m so glad you wanted to hang out today. I was probably just going to rot in bed all day and maybe eat an entire pizza or two. Thanks for driving all this way.”

“Yeah, thanks for agreeing to hang out today.” Something in Wonwoo’s look and tone must have concerned Soonyoung as he tilted his head back to get a better look at him.

“What happened, Won?”

Wonwoo chuckled, knowing that Soonyoung would definitely have a reaction to what he was about to say. 

“I saw Mingyu. Actually, sorry. Mingyu goes to LMU. He transferred.”

Soonyoung’s eyebrows raised to the roof of the car as his mouth hung open. There was a long pause. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

“Nope.”

“Mingyu? As in high school Mingyu?”

“Yep.”

Soonyoung nodded, still in amused disbelief. “What- did he see you? How did he react when he saw you? Did he say anything to you?”

“Kind of? I was his orientation leader-”

“God,” Soonyoung exasperated, running his hand over his face. “Of course you were his fucking orientation leader. What did he say?”

“It was weird. He seemed... nervous, I guess. He said I changed a lot since high school and then told me I was a good leader.” Wonwoo let out a dry chuckle. “He even thought that Yoohyeon and I were dating.”

“Wait… wait, hold on. Okay. The Yoohyeon thing- let’s start there. He asked if you and her were dating? Did he forget you’re gay or..?”

“I really don’t know. I can’t tell if he was trying to make fun of me or just forgot.”

Soonyoung scoffed. “There’s no way he forgot. What a douche,” he replied, shaking his head. His eyes traveled to Wonwoo’s face and studied him for a while. “You don’t… you don’t still like him do you?”

“No. I mean, I don’t even know him. He still looks good, like, really good. I almost didn’t recognize him. I haven’t thought of him in that way since high school, though.”

Soonyoung nodded understandingly and looked away again, deep in thought.

That was one thing Wonwoo always admired about Soonyoung. He was a great listener. He touched on every single point of the conversation and made sure that nothing went unspoken of. The first year of college took a toll on both of them as their immediate support system (each other) was no longer at their disposal, having gone to different schools and all.

Wonwoo recalls the phone calls he would receive from Soonyoung crying saying he missed him and threatening to drop out of his school. It was incredibly dramatic, but very on brand for somebody like Soonyoung. It felt like the end of the world then, but now they can look back and laugh.

Or at least Wonwoo can. Soonyoung cringes and recoils anytime Wonwoo brings up his “first year phone calls”, and he usually can’t get more than one sentence out without Soonyoung telling him to shut the fuck up.

“Wait, he said you changed a lot? And called you a good leader?”

Wonwoo sighed and nodded, not knowing how the information was relevant considering the last thing he told him practically undid any compliments Mingyu paid him that day.

“Dude…  this is your chance to turn the tables. He might have been the big shot back then, but now?"

Wonwoo looked at Soonyoung, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it," Soonyoung said, leaning forward. "Back in high school, he was the popular one, the one who everyone liked. But now, you’re the one with the upper hand. You're older, you’ve changed, and let's be real, you're pretty hot now. People notice you now. You’re probably a lot more confident and secure in yourself than he is.”

Wonwoo shrugged. “I guess so.”

“He’s probably intimidated by you now. Use that. Don’t let him get under your skin. He’s starting to realize you're not the same person he used to bully with his stupid friends and honestly, that probably scares him."

Wonwoo nodded and took his time to really think about what Soonyoung was telling him. “Well what do I do then? What if I run into him again?”

"Just be yourself. Play it cool, be confident, and if the opportunity arises, let him see how much you’ve grown."

Wonwoo leaned back in his seat, feeling a new sense of resolve. "Okay.”

Soonyoung sighed at Wonwoo’s distant gaze. “Your senior year of high school was unenjoyable because he and his fuck ass friends went out of their way to make sure you were not having a good time. They took something away from you, Wonwoo. This is just you reclaiming your story and finally getting the senior year that you deserve.”

A smile tugged at Wonwoo's lips. He definitely had grown a lot, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. Soonyoung was right, there was no reason that Mingyu should mess this up for him again. He was graduating this year with his bachelor’s degree for fucksake. 

He looked over to his friend. “You always know what to say.”

Soonyoung smiled sweetly, eyes turning into crescents. “I know. I love you.” He reached over and put on his seatbelt. “I’m starving. Please take me to WingStop,” he said, sitting up straight with his hands folded in his lap.

Wonwoo let out a laugh and obeyed, putting his car into drive. 

 

~~~~~~

 

They were less than three weeks in and Mingyu already had his first small project due which is why he sat in the library in one of the quietest corners he could find at 10:00pm on a Thursday. He was starting to get a better grasp of the content, but was still struggling to catch up. While it wasn’t very hard to understand, it was quite overwhelming and felt like his brain needed to process multiple things at once. He stared at the dense text in his biochemistry book, the words seeming to jumble and blur together. 

He rubbed his temples, feeling the onset of a headache. 

“Mingyu?” a voice interrupted his thoughts. Mingyu looked up to see Jungkook in a bright red hoodie with the draw strings tightened completely. “Are you working on Dr. Mendez’s problem set too?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I’m kind of stuck, actually.”

“Felt that,” he laughed. “A few of us are working on it together over there. Want to join us?”

Mingyu nodded. “Yes, please.”

He gathered his things and followed Jungkook to a nearby table where Minnie and another student were deep in discussion. 

“I don’t know if you met Gabi yet? She’s in our class too,” Jungkook said, motioning to the person Mingyu didn’t recognize. She had platinum blonde hair that Mingyu thinks he might have recognized from class.

“Hi,” she said with a wave.

“Hey,” Mingyu replied with a smile and sat down next to her.

“And as for Minnie I don’t know why she’s here. She invited herself,” Jungkook continued as he took a seat across from Mingyu.

“Asshole!” Minnie said with a punch to Jungkook’s arm. “Gabi lives on my floor. She’s my friend ,” she said, emphasizing the last part to Jungkook who just shook his head and opened his textbook.

“Okay,” Jungkook announced. “Problem number one…”

Mingyu was soon immersed in their conversation. Gabi explained a concept that had been eluding him, and Jungkook chimed in with tips and tricks. Minnie sat there with them, not participating in the conversation very much but typing away at her laptop.

As the homework session progressed, Mingyu felt a sense of relief. They shared notes, debated solutions, and even laughed over how mind racking the assignment was. 

“Thanks, guys,” Mingyu said as they wrapped up. “This really helped.”

“No problem,” Gabi replied. “Jungkook and I were thinking of coming back on Wednesday evening to review everything. You should come!”

“I will,” Mingyu said, smiling. “I’ll see you guys next week.”

As Mingyu walked back to his dorm, he felt lighter, more confident. He was hoping he could build a support system in his classes, and tonight felt like he had finally taken the first step.

He swiped his key card and entered the dorm to Hansol lifting weights, his color changing speaker behind him blasting an old Kesha track. Closing the door, he set his backpack near his desk, feeling relieved now that he got that cursed problem set done. However, there was something looming on the back of his mind.

He and Minghao were going to meet up for dinner tomorrow, and Mingyu wanted to tell him the entire truth of what happened in high school with Wonwoo. 

The whole situation was eating at Mingyu's mind, even though he hadn't run into Wonwoo since that day in orientation, which he was grateful for. Despite the constant distractions with his heavy course load, he still couldn't help but feel like he had some unfinished business with the older boy. 

He needed to apologize.

If not for Wonwoo than for his own conscience. He was at a point where he wanted to feel like a completely blank slate with no baggage from his past carrying him, but he couldn’t do that without addressing the wounds he still had open.

Minghao was one of the most insightful people he knew. Mingyu would be doing himself an absolute disservice by not opening up to him. He was scared, of course, to disappoint his best friend, but he would like to think that they’ve been friends long enough that Minghao could look past everything and hear him out.

Mingyu made his way over to the communal bathroom and pulled out his shower caddie, placing it beside him. He took a good look at himself in the mirror, looking at  how much he’s changed over the years, but also how much he hasn’t. 

His facial structure had mostly changed, sure, but his facial expressions had remained the same. His lips still sat at a natural pout and his eyes still looked big and full of life. 

Not like Wonwoo’s. No, Wonwoo’s were sharp and angular. Mingyu’s soft boy-ish features, or at least what he had left of them, contrasted from Wonwoo’s more mature, handsome features. 

Mingyu would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little bit envious of the transformation made by the older boy. He had no problem with his own looks- he could acknowledge that he’s always been relatively attractive, but he didn’t change enough. He barely looked older.

Meanwhile, Wonwoo made a complete one eighty and presented as a whole other person. He was never really ugly, but he was undeniably handsome now. He was no longer lanky and weak looking. He was built and definitely had to be hitting the gym pretty regularly.

Mingyu sighed.

Maybe he hadn’t changed as much as he thought he did. He’s just the same Mingyu who happens to have lived three additional years than the prior.

He shook his head and took out his toothbrush, hoping he felt some relief after tomorrow.

 

~~~~~~~

 

“How’s your soup?”

“Clammy…” Minghao replied, lifting his spoon and watching the thick, pasty condiment slowly fall back into the bowl.

Mingyu put his utensils down, looking at Minghao with a done expression. “You ordered the clam chowder-”

“I thought it would look like the one I saw on the food network! It tastes fine… just not the prettiest to look at,” Minghao replied, following up with a spoonful of clam chowder in his mouth.

Mingyu looked down at his spaghetti and meatballs and sighed. “I need to tell you something.”

Minghao raised an eyebrow and looked up from his soup, calculating how serious the situation was through Mingyu’s expression. He gently set his spoon back in the bowl.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah! Everything’s fine I just… I could use some of your wisdom.”

Minghao nodded, not saying a word.

Mingyu ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the ceiling, contemplating the best way to word what he was about to say.

“Are you coming out to me right now?”

Mingyu’s eyes went wide, his eyebrows furrowed. “What? Minghao!”

“Sorry. Continue,” the shorter boy said with a flat expression.

Mingyu took a few seconds and sighed. “Do you remember I told you that my friends in high school were… awful?”

Minghao nodded, expression intrigued as he leaned towards Mingyu with his arms resting on the table.

“I told you that they used to bully this one kid because he was gay? They would find him between classes and call him names, send him mean messages on social media, spread rumors about him?”

Minghao turned his head to the side slightly as if he was trying to figure out where Mingyu was going with this. Mingyu feared that he might have.

Mingyu let out a deep breath. “I… I was part of that… I would also bully him and call him names and so on…” Mingyu cursed himself for not being able to look his best friend in the eye. 

Minghao let out an unamused laugh. “Jesus, Mingyu.” He ran his hand over his face and back through his hair in one motion. He shook his head in disapproval. “Okay… it’s fine. It’s not like you would do that now… right?”

“God, no. I was a piece of shit. I know that now.”

Minghao nodded, face more relaxed. “Okay. Good. Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

“No, uh. That kid… I found out he goes to my school. And I really want to apologize to him, Hao. I just feel like I can’t leave some things unsaid. I don’t know why, but I just really don’t want this guy to think I’m the same person I used to be and plus, maybe apologizing to him would bring him some closure too, who knows. I just don’t know how to go about it,” Mingyu said, looking at his friend with a pleading look. 

Minghao nodded in understanding and gave a sympathetic smile. “I think it’s really noble that you want to apologize after all these years, Gyu. How is your relationship with this guy now? Does he remember you? Does he avoid you? Are you friends?”

“He definitely remembers me. He was like ‘It’s good to see you, Mingyu’” Mingyu said, mimicking a deep voice. “I don’t think he avoids me? I can’t tell if we got off on the wrong foot. I thought we were fine until I asked about him and his girlfriend. He got weird after that.”

Minghao squinted his eyes and looked at Mingyu in confusion. “The guy you used to bully for being gay has a girlfriend?” 

Mingyu shrugged and took a sip of his lemonade. “I guess he’s bisexual or something.”

“Oh. You know for sure he has a girlfriend though, right?”


Mingyu looked around and pursed his lips. “Uhh…”

“Oh my God, Gyu.”

“She hugged him around the waist and then grabbed his hand! What would you have thought?”

“I’m not saying you’re wrong,” Minghao replied waving his hands around as if he was trying to calm Mingyu down. “I’m just saying if that wasn’t his girlfriend and you, the guy who used to bully him for not liking girls asked him about a girlfriend, it is possible that he thought you were mocking him or something.”

Mingyu’s mouth hung open as he stared back at his best friend. “I’m an idiot.”

“Hey, that’s only if you were wrong. Maybe he is bisexual, hm? But he made it clear he wasn’t comfortable talking about significant others or his sexuality regardless, so I would avoid that from now on.”

“Ugh. Hao! He’s never going to let me apologize now! No, now I have two things to apologize for,” Mingyu said with a pout. He couldn’t believe how ignorant he had been. It was disheartening how many times he felt like he had gone back to his old self despite actively trying not to do that.

“Gyu. Really. It’s okay,” Minghao took in the distressed sight of his friend and grabbed his hand. “Next time you see this guy, assuming the setting is appropriate, just apologize on the spot, okay? All you have to do is say sorry for bullying him. Maybe he’ll appreciate it or maybe he’ll tell you to fuck off and walk away. Either way, that poor boy deserves an apology from at least one of his bullies. Plus, you’re just one of the few so maybe your role wasn’t as big as you think it was-”

“Oh I forgot to mention,” Mingyu interupted, watching Minghao’s face contort into worry for what Mingyu is about to say. It was like he knows everything Mingyu’s about to say just by the tone he uses.

“Uh, the reason my friends and I started to make fun of him in the first place was because he confessed to me specifically…”

Minghao looked at Mingyu with a done expression and sighed. “This is going to be harder than I thought. I feel like a lawyer trying to advise his obviously guilty client.”

“Hao!” Mingyu whined.

“It's fine. It’s fine! In that case, to put it simply, you traumatized that boy. He opened up to someone, you specifically, and it backfired in a way he probably could have never expected. It’s possible he doesn’t want anything to do with you and getting him to talk to you at all will be difficult.”

“When does the advice start?” Mingyu deadpanned.

“Sorry,” Minghao replied with a sympathetic smile. “If I were you, I would just try to show him that you’re not the same person you were back then, because you’re not. If you run into him again just be kind and sociable- literally just be yourself. What’s his major? How does he like it?” Minghao sighed before continuing. “The aim isn’t to be fake with him. Actions speak louder than words- he’s not going to believe your apology if he thinks it’s coming from sixteen year old Mingyu, so have it come from twenty one year old Mingyu, and show him who that is.”

Mingyu nodded. Minghao was right as always. 

“I get scared that sixteen year old Mingyu is still in there sometimes: when I struggle in school, when I make stupid mistakes…”

“Hey. I would not be your friend if I thought at any point you would be capable of doing something like that and you said it yourself- you never would. We’re all struggling in school Mingyu, struggling doesn’t make you dumb. Struggling in school is what got you into the school that you’re in right now. You have to believe in yourself a little bit more, hm?”

Mingyu’s lip curled up in an attempt to hide his smile. “I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. So once again. My advice to you is to be yourself. Everything you say, make sure it's something that you truly mean. That boy has every reason not to believe a damn word you say so give him a reason why he should.”

“Got it,” Mingyu said with a determined expression.

“Also, if he ever wants you to just leave him alone or doesn’t want to hear what you have to say, which may totally be a possibility, he deserves to have that option too.”

 

~~~~~

 

Wonwoo glanced at his watch, noting it was almost time for the dorm’s weekly meeting. He headed to the common room, where residents were already gathering.

“Okay, guys,” Wonwoo called out, clapping his hands to get their attention. “Let’s get started.”

He ran through announcements, answered questions, and reminded everyone about the upcoming dorm social. Residents chimed in with witty remarks and funny comments, reminding Wonwoo why he liked being an RA so much. 

As the meeting wrapped up, Wonwoo felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Wonwoo, can I talk to you for a minute?” Mark, a freshman, asked.

“Of course,” Wonwoo replied, leading Mark to a quieter corner. “What’s up?”

“It’s about the noise,” Mark said, fidgeting nervously. “The guys in the room above me play loud music late at night. It’s really hard to sleep and concentrate on my studies.”

Wonwoo nodded, listening intently. “Have you talked to them about it?”

“I tried,” Mark admitted, “but it didn’t change much. I don’t want to cause trouble, but it’s really annoying. Can’t even sleep.”

Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrow. “Yeah, that’s not okay. I’ll talk to the RA on the floor above and see what we can do.”

“Thanks, Wonwoo,” Mark said, relief evident in his voice.

As promised, after their short meeting, Wonwoo made his way to the floor above and walked towards the decorated door at the very end of the hallway. He swiftly admired the Paw Patrol decorations that adorned the rooms and bulletin boards along the walls.

He gently knocked on the door and waited a few seconds before a tall girl with braids opened the door with a welcoming smile. An upbeat pop song could be heard coming from inside her LED light lit up room.

“Oh. Hi, Wonwoo! What’s up?”

“Hey, Lisa. Is this a good time?”

She nodded. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah I just have a resident, Mark, who has a noise complaint about one of the residents on your floor. He’s in room 504 so it would be whatever resident is in room 604.”

Lisa nodded and walked out into the hallway shutting her door. “Noise complaints are always tricky,” she said as she pulled out her phone, searching for something. “Room 604 would be Kai and Jake. Let’s go talk to them.”

They walked over to the room and knocked but were met with no response. Wonwoo looked intently at the name placards taped to the door that portrayed an animated dalmatian in a fireman suit and bulldog in a construction hat. 

“Let’s try again,” Lisa said, knocking once more.

After a moment, the door opened to reveal a shorter brunette, who looked slightly annoyed.

“Hey Jake! This is Wonwoo, he’s the RA from the fifth floor,” Lisa began. “We’ve had some complaints about the noise level coming from your room.”

Jake sighed. “Sorry about that. We’ll keep it down.”

“It’s been disturbing the residents below you,” Lisa added. “Remember that quiet hours start at eleven.”

“Yeah, no problem,” Jake said, nodding.

“Thanks, we appreciate it,” Wonwoo added. 

“If you need to listen to music, maybe headphones are a good alternative!” Lisa added with enthusiasm but Wonwoo couldn’t help but find a tinge of sarcasm. 

The boy nodded with a bored expression before slowly closing the door.

“Let me know if they’re still being loud,” she said in a quiet tone once they were out of earshot.

“Thanks, Lisa.”

“See you, Won!

As Lisa made her way back to her room, Wonwoo walked back towards the stairs. As he reached the end of the hallway, he nearly collided with someone coming out of the communal bathroom.

“Shit, sorry!” the person exclaimed.

“Mingyu?” Wonwoo said, his voice catching slightly.

Mingyu stood there, shirtless, his hair damp as if he’d just showered. His eyes widened in surprise and he instinctively crossed his arms over his chest. “Wonwoo,” he said, a little breathless. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Wonwoo blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sight of Mingyu’s current presentation. “Yeah, I’m, uh, heading back to my floor. Had to deal with a noise complaint upstairs.”

Mingyu nodded, looking down the hall and then back at Wonwoo. “Right, makes sense. I, um, was just heading to my room. Wait, do you work in this building?”

“Mhm,” Wonwoo responded, eyes forcefully glued to Mingyu’s face. “I’m the RA for the floor below you. I didn’t know you lived in this building.”

“Yeah,” Mingyu responded, huffing out a laugh. “I’m just down the hall. Room 614.”

There was an awkward silence. Wonwoo tried to keep his gaze steady, but his eyes betrayed him, darting over Mingyu’s chest and shoulders. “Are you settling in well?” he asked, forcing a casual tone.

Mingyu shifted nervously. “Yeah, it’s been okay so far. How about you? Being an RA must be a lot of work.”

“It is,” Wonwoo admitted. “But it’s rewarding too.”

They stood there for a moment, the air thick with an awkward lull. Wonwoo cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Well, I should get going. Lots to do.”

“Right, of course,” Mingyu said, stepping aside. “Good to see you again, Wonwoo.”

“Yeah, you too,” Wonwoo replied, managing a small smile before walking away. His mind raced. 

Mingyu stood there for a moment longer, watching Wonwoo’s retreating form. He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and headed back to his room, his mind equally unsettled by the encounter. 

With no other outlet to express… whatever he was feeling right now. He made his way back to his room and immediately grabbed his phone from where he had left it charging on his desk. Hansol’s loud snores told him that a phone call was probably not the most respectful thing he could do at the moment.

 

I’ll never understand this guy’s sleep schedule.

 

Mingyu sighed and pulled up his pinned chat at the top of his messaging app.

 

Mingyu:

I just ran into Wonwoo

 

Minghao:

Aaaandd????

 

Mingyu:

He didn’t seem mad at me! He asked if I was settling in and stuff

 

Minghao:

Were you able to apologize???

 

Mingyu:

Oh yeah. No.

 

Minghao:

Bruh

 

Mingyu:

I was half naked!!! I bumped into him while I was coming out of the shower

 

Minghao:

Oh ew. That’s awkward

 

Mingyu:

Yeah it wasn’t exactly ideal

 

Minghao: 

At least he doesn’t hate you

 

Mingyu:

I’m sure it's hard to hate someone whose body looks like this 

 

Minghao:

Goodnight Mingyu

 

Mingyu scrunched his face at his friend’s message and walked over to his bed, stripping to his boxers. He turned off the lights and laid in bed, staring at the ceiling.

He replayed the events that just transpired and felt himself grow a little giddy at the thought of Wonwoo seeing Mingyu in that state. Maybe Mingyu didn’t have as dramatic of a glow up as Wonwoo did, but he still looked good. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of the hard work you put into your physique and enjoying it when other people admire that hard work too.

Then, the aching realization that Wonwoo used to have a crush on him dawned on Mingyu like a weighted blanket being draped over his entire body. He had not considered that aspect of their dynamic at all.

Shutting his eyes tight, Mingyu turned to his side, hoping to shut out the excitement, confusion, and guilt that he was feeling all at once.

Chapter 5: I'll Sit and Watch Your Car Burn

Notes:

thank you sooooo much for all your nice comments!!! they made my week <3333

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The biochemistry lab was buzzing with activity. Students were hunched over their benches, adjusting tubes and scribbling notes. Mingyu stood at his station, carefully observing his test tube, his brows furrowed in concentration. A faint smile played on his lips as the solution turned the desired color.

Dr. Mendez, a short woman with graying hair and a warm demeanor, made her way around the room, stopping to check on each student’s work. When she reached Mingyu’s station, she paused, watching him for a moment before speaking.

“Mingyu, could I have a word with you?” She asked, her voice carrying a note of interest.

Mingyu looked up, slightly startled, but quickly nodded. “Of course.” He set down his tube and turned to face her, a shy grin spreading across his face. “Did I mess something up?”

Dr. Mendez chuckled softly. “Quite the opposite, actually.” She picked up his lab report and skimmed through it. “Your work on these projects has been exceptional. The precision, the attention to detail– it's impressive for someone who hasn’t taken a lab before this.”

Mingyu’s cheeks reddened, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Thank you. I mean, I just try to follow the protocols as best as I can.”

“You do more than that,” the woman said, her tone turning serious. “You have a natural talent for this. Have you considered what you want to do after you graduate?”

Mingyu hesitated, excitement peeking through as he started to speak quickly, his hands gesturing animatedly. “Well, I’ve thought about it a lot. I mean, biochemistry is such a broad field, and there are so many paths to take. Sometimes I think about research, maybe even teaching, because I love explaining things to people. I don’t really know though.”

Dr. Mendez leaned in slightly, her eyes twinkling. “Have you considered a career in the medical field? With your skills and dedication, you’d make an excellent doctor or researcher.”

Mingyu blinked, taken aback. “Me, a doctor?” He chuckled nervously. “I don’t know, that sounds pretty intense. I’ve only been in your class for like a month.”

“You have the aptitude for it,” she insisted. “You’re thorough, and care about what you’re doing. Those are the qualities that make a great medical professional.”

Mingyu gave a small laugh. “I do like helping people. And I guess I do spend a lot of time doing this stuff anyway.”

His professor tilted her head, eyeing him with curiosity.“Think about it. You have a lot of potential, and it would be wonderful to see you apply it in a field where you can make a significant impact. Come to me if you have any questions about it.”

Mingyu looked down at his work, feeling a swell of pride mixed with uncertainty. “I’ll definitely think about it. Thank you.”

Dr. Mendez patted his shoulder. “Keep up the excellent work.”

Mingyu stared at his lab bench, lost in thought. He had always loved science, and the idea of making a difference in people’s lives was appealing. But the path to becoming a doctor was fucking daunting.

He picked up his pen and doodled absentmindedly on his notebook, his mind racing. 

Just then, Jungkook, who was a bench over, nudged him. “What did she want?”

Mingyu gave a small smile. “She just wanted to compliment one of my assignments.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “Come on, Mingyu. You’re really good at this stuff. Own it.”

Mingyu laughed. “Yeah, okay.”

As he turned back to his project, Mingyu felt a renewed sense of determination. He couldn’t recall the last time he was commended for doing well in school. It was encouraging to hear that the one subject he truly enjoyed was one of his strengths. Frankly, finding out that biochemistry was not his strong suit would have crushed him and his ego. 

With a little more pep to his step, he made his way back to his dorm, hoping to eat some instant ramen for lunch as the line in the dining hall was way too long.

Ever since Mingyu found out Wonwoo lived in the same building he’s been anxious to run into him again. Luckily, he’s been able to go the past week without seeing the tall boy, but something about their last interaction made Mingyu feel uneasy, as if there was too much left up in the air.

He knew that after apologizing it would all go away, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to do that just yet. 

“Actions speak louder than words,” Minghao’s voice would play in his head from time to time. And he was right. Apologizing isn’t enough, he had to be a better person than he used to be. After today’s conversation with his professor, he felt optimistic that he might be achieving that little by little.

He walked up to his room and scanned his key card. He opened the door to find Seungkwan splaying what looked like stickers all over Hansol’s bed. Hansol stood out of his way with his arms crossed, looking at the items with curiosity.

“Hi Mingyu! Do you want any face gems? I have thirteen packs- oh! Not these though. These are for Hansolie and I,” Seungkwan said as he assorted the small cardboard sheets covered in plastic.

Mingyu set his backpack down and walked back towards his roommate's bed. “Face what?” 

“Face gems. For Mighty Roar on Saturday,” Hansol replied nonchalantly. 

Mingyu nodded, having recalled hearing something about the school wide music festival coming up. “Mighty Roar?”

“Yeah, it’s not the best name. What are you gonna wear? Maybe I can find some gems that coordinate with your outfit,” Seungkwan asked enthusiastically.

“Oh, uh, I wasn’t gonna go-”

“What?!”

“Seungkwan…” Hansol chuckled at his boyfriend’s dramatic reaction.

Seungkwan rolled his eyes. “Why aren’t you going?”

Mingyu sat in Hansol’s desk chair, ignoring the empty take-out container that’s been sitting atop his desk for the past three days. “I don’t know. I don’t think my friends are going so-”

We are your friends!”

Hansol gently pushed Seungkwan aside with an amused expression. “What Seungkwan is trying to say is if you want someone to hang out with there, you can hang out with us. You also get a free guest entry, you just have to register them on the portal. You could bring Minghao if you want.”

Mingyu raised his eyebrows and looked off to the side. It didn’t sound like a bad idea.

“Is it any fun?” He asked.

“Super fun!”

“I don’t know.”

Seungkwan and Hansol responded at the same time, causing them to look at each other before looking back at Mingyu in synchronization.

“This is Hansol’s first time going. It can be really fun if you’re with the right people. There’s food, games, and obviously all the performances. No one super well known will be there but it’s still a good time.”

“Plus, you’re old enough to drink,” Hansol added. “You get a voucher for one free drink but you’d have to pay after that. I don’t know how fucked up you plan to get.”

Mingyu pondered on the potential experience. He had never really gone to a college party or “festival” before. His school didn’t really hold many events and his classmates were not necessarily the party type. He figured it was more common at a school where the majority of the students live near or on campus.

“Could you… help me choose what to wear?”

“Yes!” Seungkwan exclaimed, making a bee line for Mingyu’s closet.

After having some instant ramen with Hansol and Seungkwan and debating outfit choices for what felt like hours, Seungkwan finally helped him settle on a casual but stylish combination of clothing pieces. Mingyu felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, imagining the lively atmosphere of the festival. The thought of mingling with so many people, some of whom he had yet to meet, made his stomach flutter. Needing a break from the clutter of clothes, Mingyu decided to step out for some fresh air.

He wandered down the lobby, so lost in his own thoughts that he almost didn’t notice the scene ahead of him.

In the distance, he saw Wonwoo busily putting up flyers and decorating a bulletin board. Mingyu’s heart skipped a beat. Minghao’s advice replayed in his mind once again. 

Seizing the opportunity to do something productive and perhaps ease some of the lingering tension between them, Mingyu took a deep breath and approached Wonwoo.

The golden rays of the setting sun filtered through the large windows and casted a warm hue on everything they touched. The tranquility of the setting made him feel more at ease.

Wonwoo was so engrossed in his task that he didn’t notice Mingyu until he was right beside him. He glanced up, startled, but quickly composed himself. “Oh, hey Mingyu,” he said, his voice containing a hint of surprise. “Didn’t see you there.”

Mingyu smiled, trying to project confidence. “Hey. Need any help with those?”

Wonwoo blinked, clearly taken aback by the offer but smiled. “Sure, that would be great. Thanks.”

Mingyu picked up a stack of flyers from the nearby table and began pinning them alongside Wonwoo’s. The initial silence between them was a little awkward, but Mingyu couldn’t help but steal glances at Wonwoo. 

Wonwoo wore a navy blue hoodie and loose jeans, but even in his relaxed attire, he looked effortlessly attractive. His glasses, which once added to his awkwardness, now seemed to suit him perfectly, giving him an intellectual charm. The way his hair caught the light, the ease with which he moved, and even his build– almost comparable to Mingyu’s– stood out starkly.

 

So unfair , Mingyu thought. How did he manage to change so much?

 

“So,” Mingyu began, trying to break the ice, “how’s the turnout looking for the festival?”

Wonwoo shrugged, glancing over at Mingyu. “Pretty good, I think. People seem excited about it.”

Mingyu nodded, focusing on pinning another flyer. “Yeah, my roommate and I were just talking about it. It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The conversation paused, the only sounds being the rustling of papers and the hum of the air conditioning. Mingyu decided to take a small risk to lighten the mood.

“Speaking of parties, do you remember how terrible the sound system was at our high school dances?” He asked, a nervous smile playing on his lips. 

Wonwoo laughed, the sound surprising him. “Oh man, yeah. It always cut out at the worst times. I think we spent more time fixing it than actually dancing.”

Mingyu chuckled, feeling the tension dissolve a little more. “Definitely. And then there was that one time it started playing two songs at once. I think people just pretended it was a remix.”

Wonwoo grinned. “Good times, sort of.”

The awkwardness melted away. The sun dipped lower, casting longer shadows across the lobby. 

 

Do it. Do it now. Apologize.

 

Mingyu’s mind raced as he aligned one of the flyers with a decorative pink border and secured it with a push pin. He tried to hide any sign of mental turmoil but he wouldn’t be surprised if Wonwoo could hear how loud his heart was beating anyway.

Even during this conversation, Wonwoo had an open window to call out Mingyu for how he used to treat him, but he didn’t take it. No, instead he laughed along with him and kept the conversation light and comfortable for everyone. The least Wonwoo deserved was a genuine apology.

Mingyu took a deep breath which the elder noticed, turning to Mingyu with attentive eyes. Something stirred in Mingyu’s stomach- he attributed it to anxiety.

“Um, I don’t know if this is the right time,” he began before taking a pause, thinking over the wording he would use. “I just wanna say I’m really sorry… you know, for how I acted back in high school and how my friends and I treated you…”

Wonwoo’s expressive eyes left Mingyu’s as he looked down at the pieces of paper in his hands. It was evident that he was not expecting Mingyu to give any sort of acknowledgement of their past, at least not while they were putting up dorm decorations. He remained silent, his lips pursed and the tips of his ears turning red.

“Sorry! I just… I couldn’t just not apologize. I was a shitty fucking person and I want you to know that’s not me anymore- I don’t think the same way I used to. You didn’t deserve any of that. You…”

Mingyu cursed himself for getting emotional at a time like this. This wasn’t about him, it was about Wonwoo. 

He took another breath and recomposed himself. “You’re actually really cool- not that you weren’t before! I’m sure you were but, like, in the sense that you do all this leadership stuff now and- ow!”

A sharp prick on his arm snapped Mingyu’s attention back to the boy in front of him. Wonwoo sighed and placed the push pin back on the bulletin board as Mingyu rubbed his bicep. His expression was serious but Mingyu could see his mouth twitch at his pained reaction.

There was a brief silence that only made Mingyu’s heart accelerate once again.

“It’s in the past, Mingyu,” Wonwoo replied before he reached back down for the flyers and continued the task at hand.

Mingyu’s eyebrows furrowed in shock. He looked back and forth from Wonwoo and the bulletin board in front of them. “That’s it?”

“What do you mean?” Wonwoo hummed, not looking up.

“I don’t know, I guess I was expecting you to tell me off or beat me up or something.”

Wonwoo chuckled, relaxing the tension a little bit. “I’ve called you enough things over the past three years. I'm not sure there’s anything else left.”

Mingyu released a breath.“I see. So beating me up is still on the table?”

Wonwoo nodded, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Tempting. I used to think about it a lot back then. It doesn't seem worth the energy now, though.”

Mingyu began spacing out the flyers once again, feeling something in his stomach flutter:  probably relief. “You’re better than me Wonwoo. But seriously, if you ever need to vent or... a punching bag, I’m here.”

Wonwoo’s eyes softened slightly. “I’ll keep that in mind. But for now, just keep putting up those flyers. I’m not done bossing you around yet.”

As they finished putting up the last of the flyers, Mingyu felt a sense of accomplishment and a surprising lightness in his chest. He hadn’t expected this encounter to go so smoothly.

“Alright, I think that’s the last of them,” Wonwoo said, stepping back to admire their handiwork.

“Looks good,” Mingyu agreed, feeling a genuine smile spread across his face despite the small pang of guilt he still felt.

They stood there for a moment, the moment feeling like a small step toward something better.

“Thanks again, Mingyu,” Wonwoo said, turning to him. “I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah, see you around,” Mingyu replied, nodding. He pursed his lips in an attempt to hide the smile on his face as Wonwoo made his way up the stairs. Feeling content at how well the day was going for him, he reached for his phone and made his way outside of the building.

 

Mingyu:

Where are you guys? Let’s go get drinks

 

Jungkook:

I’m at the gym

 

Minnie:

I’ll go Mingyu 🙂

 

Jungkook:

Now I’m gonna have fomo,,,, fine I’ll go

 

Mingyu: 

Meet you guys at LJT in an hour

 

L.J.’s Tavern was a relatively large sports bar located two blocks away from the main campus. String lights and a variety of sport team flags adorned the brick walls which made for a warmer, more cozy environment. This was hardly the place where people got blackout drunk and puked in the bathroom- even though there have been very few instances- but more so where people would host trivia nights or attend a happy hour with coworkers. Having only been a student here for a month, Mingyu and his friends have visited the establishment three times, already being greeted by name by the bar tenders.

“I told you! You should be a doctor!” Jungkook exclaimed, beer swishing in its cup that he held in his hand.

“Yeah, dude. They make a lot of money,” Minnie replied before downing her drink. Mingyu didn’t miss the way Jungkook curiously raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t say anything.

“It’s so much school, though,” Mingyu whined with a pout.

“Just be, like, a less impressive doctor. Like a pediatrician! Oh, you’d have to work with kids, though,” Minnie said, shaking her head.

“You don’t like kids?” Jungkook asked.

“They’re okay.”

Mingyu sighed. “If I do become a doctor, though, I want it to be a specialty that I’m actually interested in. Maybe internal medicine or something.”

“Ohh, I like that. I don’t know what it is but it sounds like it pays well,” Minnie said before waving over one of the waiters. 

Mingyu waited for her to ask for her second drink before continuing. “Yeah, well, it’s only been a few weeks. For all I know I won’t do too great in my future classes.”

Jungkook chuckled. “The way you’re doing in our classes you would think the curriculum was tailored to you specifically.”

Mingyu nodded his head in thanks at the compliment. “You’re really good at boosting my ego, you know that?”

“That’s what friends are for,” Jungkook replied with a cheeky smile. 

The way Minnie sat in silence didn’t go unnoticed. Mingyu and Jungkook gave each other a look of contemplation before Mingyu spoke up.

“Minnie, is everything okay?”

“I’m failing two classes,” the brunette said with a flat expression.

Jungkook's head turned toward her, worry written all over his face. “What?”

“Well, not failing, per se,” she added, followed by a sip of the margarita that was just placed in front of her. “I got a ‘D’ on my first quiz and ‘C’ on my second one. For my other class, I got a ‘C’ on the midterm project.” Minnie looked down, lips pursed, trying to conceal a pout.

“Hey, you still have two months left. Have you tried talking to the professor?” Mingyu asked.

She let out a sigh. “Yeah but they both pretty much said the same thing- try harder next time.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Well, that isn’t very helpful.”

“It’s not like your major. There’s not like a problem set I can study and formulas I just need to make sure I memorize,” Minnie replied, shaking her head in frustration. “I can do my best to meet the rubric but at the end of the day, art is subjective. If these stingy forty year olds don’t like my work then there’s nothing more I can do.”

Mingyu could see how much this was affecting his friend and felt his heart sink. Jungkook must have had a similar reaction as he affectionately put an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. 

The sight was odd, Mingyu must admit, considering how often these two bickered. However, he felt a sense of peace knowing that ultimately his two friends do care for each other and don’t absolutely hate each other.

“Sorry Mingyu, I didn’t mean to make this about me,” she said with an embarrassed chuckle, fanning her eyes with her perfectly manicured hand. “I think you would make a great doctor.

Mingyu shook his head and reached over to pat her on the head, earning another giggle out of her. “Don’t be sorry. I really think you should demand more answers from your professors, though. Telling you to just try harder is unacceptable- no matter how many students they have. I've seen your work, Minnie. I’m not an expert, but it looks really fucking good to me. ”

“Yeah, fuck those guys,” Jungkook replied “Let us know if you want Mingyu and I to fight them for you,” he added in mock seriousness. 

She laughed. “Yeah because if I ever need to really mess someone up I’ll call two biochem majors for back up.”

“You know what we need?” Jungkook asked, ignoring Minnie’s comment. “We need to get fucked up, like plastered, like wasted-”

“I’m trying,” Minnie mumbled with the small margarita straw between her teeth.

Mingyu took this as an opportunity he couldn't pass. He looked up to the ceiling and pretended to think. “You know, I heard you get a free drink voucher at Mighty Roar.”

Minnie’s eyebrows raised comically as Jungkook’s eyes squinted, not very convinced.

Mingyu sighed. “They have $1 hot dogs.”

Jungkook took the last swig of his beer and set his empty glass on the table. “Say less.”

 


 

Wonwoo sat at his desk, running his fingers through his hair for the nth time as he attempted to solve the final equation in his statistics homework. With the amount of work he did that day, putting up decorations and doing outreach for school events, his school work was once again left to be done at the very last minute. 

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling of his dorm room. Mingyu’s apology played on a loop in his mind, and he couldn't shake the conflicting emotions it stirred. He had spent so many years burying the hurt and resentment from high school, where Mingyu's bullying had left deep scars. Now, hearing an apology was like ripping off a scab he thought had long healed.

Wonwoo wanted to believe in the possibility of change, but the cynic in him whispered that Mingyu didn’t deserve to be forgiven. Part of him wanted to accept the apology and move on, but another part, the part still attending to old wounds, wasn't ready to let go. He didn't want to spend too much time mulling over it, though. He had responsibilities, and he couldn't afford to let the past drag him down again.

Shaking his head, Wonwoo forced himself to focus on his coursework sprawled across the desk. Statistics was demanding enough without the added burden of emotional turmoil. He took a deep breath and dove into his textbooks, trying to lose himself in the familiar comfort of equations and line graphs. 

“Yeah, no,” Wonwoo muttered to himself after minutes of being unable to concentrate. As most students do in the middle of working on an assignment, Wonwoo reached for his phone. He clicked the all too familiar message chain and scrolled up to the small camera icon before propping his phone against his water bottle.

After a few rings, Soonyoung’s grinning face popped up on the screen.

“Hey, Won! What’s up?” Soonyoung said, his voice full of energy. 

“Hey,” Wonwoo replied, leaning back in his chair. “You won’t believe what happened today.”

Soonyoung’s eyes widened in anticipation. “Oh, do tell! 

“It’s about Mingyu.”

Soonyoung’s expression immediately soured. “What about him?”

Wonwoo sighed, scratching his head. “He apologized.”

Soonyoung raised an eyebrow, sitting up slightly. “Wait, what? Apologized? For what? Being a giant douchebag?”

“Yeah, pretty much. For all the bullying in high school. He seemed sincere about it.”

Soonyoung rolled his eyes dramatically. “Oh please, Won. That’s like a lion apologizing to a gazelle after eating its entire family. ‘Oops, my bad, sorry you’re dead.’”

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow. “It’s not quite the same, Soonie.”

Soonyoung leaned closer to the camera, narrowing his eyes. “Still, just because he said sorry doesn’t mean he’s changed. People don’t just flip a switch and become good overnight.”

“I know, I know. But he seems different. I don’t know. And he offered to help me with the flyers I had to put up in the lobby.”

Soonyoung snorted. “Wow, helping with flyers? Call the Nobel Peace Prize committee! Be serious, Won.”

Wonwoo laughed. “Come on. I know he’s done a lot of damage but, I don’t know, I feel like I should give him a chance.”

The other boy crossed his arms, his expression serious but with a playful glint in his eyes. “Wonwoo, you’re too nice for your own good. Remember what he did to you. He made your life hell. And now he’s all, ‘Oh, I’m sorry’? No. It’s a little too late for that."

Wonwoo leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Maybe. But people do grow up, don’t they?”

Soonyoung sighed, rolling onto his back.“Yeah, but sometimes they grow into bigger jerks. Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

Wonwoo smiled softly. “‘I’ll be cautious.”

Soonyoung suddenly sat up again, his playful grin returning. “So, how did he apologize? Did he cry? Beg for forgiveness?”

“No, nothing that dramatic,” Wonwoo replied with an amused expression. “He just... apologized. Said he’s sorry and that he’s changed.”

The blonde boy shrugged. “Well, good for him, I guess. But I’m still keeping my eye on him. I’m not above going to jail for you, you know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Besides, it’s not like that. He looks... different now. More put-together. It’s kind of weird.”

Soonyoung’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh, he’s all handsome and grown now, is he? Seriously, Won. Be careful. Don’t fall into old habits.”

“I am. I just mean he looks different, that’s all. Doesn’t change the past. Plus, I have Alex.”

Soonyoung’s grimace was quickly concealed by an insincere smile. “Yeah. Great.”

Wonwoo looked at him in silence with a stern expression.

Soonyoung sighed. “I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “I tried to like that guy, you know I did. He’s just… it feels like he takes advantage of you sometimes.”

“I know,” Wonwoo replied with a sigh. “That’s another bridge I’ll have to cross later, I guess.”

Soonyoung gave a sympathetic smile. “My previous warning applies to him too, not just Mingyu, by the way. If he ever hurts you, I won't hesitate to call one of Jun's mafia cousins.”

Wonwoo sighed at the exaggerated, empty threats but figured he should probably feel lucky to have a friend like Soonyoung.

 

Notes:

dont do it mingyu DONT go to medical school!!!

 

love,

a fed up grad student

Chapter 6: With The Fire That You Started In Me

Notes:

writing this chapter was actually so fun i literally listened to EDM as I wrote it to really get the feel of it. also yes, alex is an oc

Chapter Text

Upbeat music played on Hansol’s speaker, and the room was cluttered with clothes and a variety of accesories. Mingyu stood in front of his mirror, carefully adjusting the red, small face gems he had just applied near his eyes. He tilted his head to one side, inspecting his handiwork. The small, shimmering gems caught the light, adding a sparkle to his look.

“Looking good, Gyu!” Hansol called from across the room. He was sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his phone, but glanced up occasionally to offer opinions. Seungkwan was sitting beside him, their legs tangled together, leaning over to see Mingyu’s progress.

“Thanks,” Mingyu replied with a grin, turning to face his friends. “What do you think, ‘Kwan?”

Seungkwan smiled warmly. “Those gems really do suit your outfit. Ugh, I blow my own mind sometimes.”

Mingyu laughed and turned back to the mirror, running a hand through his hair to give it a final tousle. He was wearing a cream short-sleeve button-up shirt, with intricate roses embroidered on one side, paired with light-washed jeans that fit him just right. His wrists jingled with bracelets, and a couple of rings adorned his fingers, catching the light with every movement. To top it all off, he rested a brown pair of sunglasses over his head.

Jungkook and Minnie were lounging on the other bed, rummaging through a box of jewelry and accessories. Minnie was trying on different earrings, holding them up to her ears and asking for opinions, while Jungkook was adjusting his own outfit– a bright, patterned shirt and denim shorts that came just above the knee.

“All right, guys, we need to hurry up if we want to be at the front of the line,” Hansol said, rummaging through a pile of clothes on his bed and wrapping a black bandana around the top of his head.

Minnie twirled in front of the mirror, eyeing her own festival outfit. “Seungkwan, I think I need some of those face gems.”

“Say less!” Seungkwan exclaimed from the bed as he practically jumped off. He grabbed his small cosmetics bag and got to work on Minnie’s face. He strategically and very carefully placed hot pink gems underneath her eyes to match her velvet pants.

Jungkook, who was now sitting cross-legged on the floor while tying his shoes, looked up and laughed. “Those gems were a nice touch, Gyu. Looking very ‘festival chic.’”

“You can never overdo it at a festival. The more extra, the better,” Seungkwan replied, now fixing Minnie’s hair.

Just then, Minghao walked in, balancing a twelve pack of seltzers. “Alright, pre-festival drinks are here. Get them while they’re cold. For Hansol and Seungkwan, if anyone asks, I said you can’t have any.”

Mingyu sat up, grinning. “Perfect timing, Hao.”

Hansol took a drink, still fussing with his own face gems. “Thanks, Minghao. I think we’re almost ready.”

Seungkwan studied Minnie for a moment before nodding approvingly. “We’re ready.”

Minghao raised his drink. “To…college, I guess.”

They all clinked their drinks together, laughing and chatting excitedly about the upcoming event. As Mingyu took a long sip, he glanced at himself in the mirror again, admiring the way the light washed over his outfit and the carefully placed face gems. He felt a surge of excitement and a tinge of nervousness, and hoped the night would go smoothly.

Hansol, noticing Mingyu’s slight hesitation, nudged him playfully. “You’re going to have a great time, trust me.”

“This is your first time going,” Mingyu responded with a chuckle.

Hansol shrugged. “I would like to think Seungkwan wouldn’t vouch so hard for it if it was lame.”

Mingyu smiled, feeling reassured. “You’re right. Let’s do this.”

They finished their drinks and headed out of the dorm. Mingyu’s thoughts briefly flickered to Wonwoo, wondering if he’d run into him at the festival. He quickly brushed the thought aside, focusing on the excitement of the night ahead.

They made their way to the door, with Mingyu grabbing his phone and wallet, stuffing them into his pocket. As they stepped out into the hallway, they could hear the distant sounds of music and laughter from other neighboring rooms.

Walking through the dorm lobby, Mingyu felt a surge of excitement. As they made the ten minute walk to the large field, Minghao and Mingyu trailed behind, catching up with each other. Their group walked adjacent to multiple other groups of people dressed in similar attire, all excitedly walking in the same direction.

“So… is the guy you used to bully going to be there? What’s his name again?” Minghao asked, leaning in slightly so the others couldn’t hear, although they were all deep in their own conversations.

“Wonwoo. I don’t know if he’s gonna be there. I didn’t have time to ask when I apologized to him on Thursday.” Mingyu figured the older would be there considering he was trying to promote the event as much as possible, but that also just seemed to be his job.

“If you see him, you should say hi. I kinda feel bad for the guy after everything you told me.”

Mingyu nodded. “Yeah I definitely will. Wonwoo’s actually pretty cool,” Mingyu added, smiling to himself.

As they reached the field and finally approached the front of the line to get in, Mingyu was greeted by a familiar face.

“Oh! Hey, Seungkwan! Not working today I see…” Yoohyeon said with a playful smirk, eyeing where his hand was interlocked with Hansol’s. She pulled out the black phone-like device and began scanning their tickets.

Seungkwan shook his head. “You’re just jealous because your plus one is always that lanyard around your neck,” he retorted, his tone defensive. Mingyu would have thought he was serious if he hadn’t already met the boy.

Yoohyeon dramatically gasped, a smile hinting at her face. “For that, I’m not giving your friends a drink voucher,” she said, pulling out a small stack of lilac cards.

Seungkwan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You’re single ‘by choice’. I get it.”

Yoohyeon laughed as she began to pass out the cards to everyone but Hansol and Seungkwan. “Exactly. Have fun guys!”

“Thanks, Yoohyeon!” Mingyu replied with a grin. 

It was only a few seconds until he caught on to the conversation that just transpired.

“What’s up?” Minghao asked, noticing the pained expression on Mingyu’s face.

“Remember I told you I thought Wonwoo had a girlfriend- that was her.” Mingyu internally face palmed, only refraining from physically doing so because of the face gems he spent twenty minutes trying to get right.

“What?!” Seungkwan exclaimed from where he was walking in front of them. “You’re talking about Wonwoo? Tall with glasses? You thought he had a girlfriend?” he asked with an amused expression.

“I saw them hug at orientation. I don’t know,” Mingyu whined, now realizing how silly he must have sounded.

“Hm,” Seungkwan replied, unimpressed. “Yoohyeon hugs everyone. Wonwoo doesn’t play for that team, though- thought it was obvious,” he added before his attention was pulled by the security officer checking his bag.

Minghao looked at Mingyu and shook his head with an amused expression.

The outdoor music festival was probably one of the biggest highlights of the semester, drawing in students from all over campus. Two small stages were set up on the school’s large, grassy softball field, with food trucks and booths lining the walkways. Lights strung between trees added a magical touch as the sun continued to set, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. 

As they made it past the festival entrance, the vibrant sounds of live music and laughter filled the air. A kaleidoscope of colors greeted them– bright lights, sparkly decorations, and art installations scattered throughout the grounds. The walkways were filled with an array of food, drinks, and festival merchandise.

The main stage loomed ahead, illuminated by a colorful light show that danced in sync with the pounding beats of the music. 

A small ferris wheel spun slowly in the distance, its seats filled with people. Food trucks and pop-up stalls emanated delicious smells, from sizzling street food to sweet pastries.

“Wow, this looks a lot cooler than I thought it would,” Jungkook said, eyes wide with excitement. “Look at all the lights!”

Seungkwan nodded, grinning. “Yeah, they really went all out this year.” He grabbed Hansol’s arm, pointing towards a nearby booth. “We should get some glow sticks first!”

Minnie twirled around, her sequined top catching the light. “Jungkook, take pictures of me!”

Jungkook groaned and rolled his eyes before pulling out his phone and doing as instructed.

Mingyu took in the lively surroundings. The festival-goers around them were dressed in all sorts of creative and colorful outfits. Groups of friends laughed and danced together.

As they made their way deeper into the festival, Minghao pointed towards a smaller stage where a band was performing an upbeat, catchy tune. “We should check them out first.”

“We still have three hours for the main act to go on: some DJ or something. We can split up and regroup later if you guys want? Hansol and I are gonna get on the ferris wheel before the line gets too long,” Seungkwan said.

“Sounds good, we’ll catch you guys later!” Mingyu replied, watching as the two boys excitedly walked away with their arms interlocked. The four remaining friends looked at each other, trying to determine where to head first.

Minnie spoke up first. “Let’s go get drinks?”

They all agreed, making their way to one of the bar booths. Mingyu glanced at the long line ahead and sighed. “Of course, everyone wants a drink at the same time.”

Minghao nudged him playfully. “Good things come to those who wait. Plus, it gives us more time to decide what to get.”

Jungkook, scrolling through the drink menu on his phone, chimed in. “Maybe I’ll get a piña colada. Or should I go for a mojito? Just want to make sure I get what’s gonna get me the most drunk without the taste of acetone.”

“As long as my drink has a little umbrella in it, I’m happy,” Minnie added.

As they inched closer to the front of the line, the group’s excitement grew. The EDM from a nearby stage provided the perfect backdrop to their lively banter.

“Just don’t get too drunk. One time Hao almost got kicked out of the bar for dancing on the counter,” Mingyu said, laughing.

Minghao’s head snapped to Mingyu, eyes wide. “I didn’t almost get kicked out—I was politely asked to step down.”

Mingyu snorted. “Yeah, ‘politely asked’ by a very large security guard.”

As they finally reached the front of the line, he turned to his friends. “Alright, has everyone decided what they want to order?”

As he turned his head back to the bar, Mingyu felt his blood pressure drop. Standing behind the bar, looking more relaxed and festive than ever, was Wonwoo. He was dressed in a sleeveless shirt with a colorful pattern, revealing his toned arms. A few festival-themed accessories, including a beaded necklace, completed his look. Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a flutter of nerves.

Wonwoo’s eyes widened slightly when he saw Mingyu, and he offered a polite smile. “Hey, Mingyu. Glad you can make it.”

Mingyu swallowed hard, trying to steady his voice. “H-hey, Wonwoo. I didn’t know you were bartending tonight… you look great.”

Wonwoo’s smile softened. “Thanks. What can I get for you guys?”

Mingyu quickly turned to his friends, who were oblivious to the internal panic he was feeling at the moment. “What do you guys want?”

Minghao paused and looked at Mingyu amusedly for a few seconds before he leaned over the counter. “I’ll have a mojito.”

Jungkook and Minnie followed suit, ordering specialty cocktails that they saw on the menu.

Wonwoo nodded, his movements fluid as he started mixing the drinks. “Coming right up. And for you, Mingyu?”

Mingyu hesitated, then decided to keep it simple. “Just a beer, thanks.”

As Wonwoo collected their vouchers and worked on their drinks, Mingyu couldn’t help but steal glances at him, admiring how effortlessly he moved and how he mixed and poured drinks with a rhythm. He noticed the way the colorful lights and the setting sun caught his features, accentuating his sharp jawline and the slight curl of his hair, seemingly a little damp from sweat. He swallowed, not understanding why he was so affected.

When Wonwoo went further into the back of the booth, Mingyu felt Minghao tug him down so that his mouth was to his ear.

That’s Wonwoo?” Minghao whispered.

Mingyu looked over to make sure Wonwoo wasn’t in an ear shot. He nodded.

“The guy you used to bully?”

Mingyu nodded again.

“From high school?”

Mingyu nodded once again.

“You rejected him ?”

“Yes, Minghao!” He exclaimed, growing frustrated.

Just then Wonwoo came up to them and handed over the drinks one by one. “Enjoy the festival, guys.”

Mingyu gave a small smile, though his heart was racing. “Thanks.”

As they moved away from the bar, Jungkook nudged Mingyu. “You know him?”

Mingyu forced a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, just... an old friend.”

Minnie raised an eyebrow. “Old friend? He’s cute.”

Minghao laughed, nudging Mingyu. “Yeah, he is.”

The four walked absentmindedly to the closest stage where a small band played a mainstream pop rock song.

“Should we chug these and go have a good time?” Minnie asked motioning to the plastic cups in their hands.

Mingyu looked down at the hazy, very thick beer in his hand, knowing the consequences of consuming a beer too fast. He sighed. “Fuck it,” he said with a shrug. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!” They all exclaimed in unison before attempting to take large, fast gulps of their respective beverages.

As the sun dipped into the horizon, the ambiance of the festival transformed completely, with colorful strobes and bright spotlights being the main source of light among the now dark field. After the first set, against their better judgment, the four had decided that they were not drunk enough and approached the closest bar taking advantage of the $5 vodka shots that were being advertised on a sign near the booth.

After agreeing that they would spend $15 each and consuming the hard liquor, they made their way back to the crowd, feeling a lot lighter and happier than they were before. They found themselves in the heart of the crowd of a pop punk cover band.

The music was loud and infectious, the kind that made it impossible to stand still. The band's high-energy performance had the crowd jumping and dancing in unison, and the group was no exception. Mingyu could feel the vibrations of the music through the ground, the rhythm syncing with his racing heartbeat. With each song, he felt lighter, the weight of past anxieties lifting with the chorus of every familiar tune.

Minghao was the first to start lip-synching dramatically to the music, his exaggerated expressions drawing laughs from the others. Mingyu laughed, feeling the effects of the alcohol. He joined in, mouthing the lyrics and gesturing wildly. Jungkook and Minnie weren't far ahead, belting out the words. Minnie, perched on Jungkook’s shoulders, had a perfect view of the stage and the sea of people. 

Mingyu couldn’t help but smile as he watched his friends. The sight of Minnie on Jungkook’s shoulders, her silhouette outlined against the colorful stage lights, was a picture of pure joy. He glanced at Minghao, who was typically very timid and reserved, as he jumped and threw his arms around. He turned to Jungkook and lip-synched the next line of the song, their faces inches apart as they laughed and sang.

For a moment, Mingyu forgot about everything else. All that mattered was the here and now, the music, and the simple happiness of being surrounded by friends. The feeling of pure joy had officially set as he began to ponder on how great his college experience has been so far. Not only was he doing amazing academically, he managed to build close friendships a lot faster than he thought.

The night was young, and the festival was their playground. In that moment, with the music and the lights and the laughter, Mingyu felt truly free.


Wonwoo scanned the crowd, searching for his friends. It didn’t take long to spot them; they were near the hot dog booth where they said they would be, laughing loudly and swaying to the music, already well into their drinks. He weaved his way through the throng of students who were waiting for the main act to start, a smile spreading across his face as he approached them.

“Hey, there he is!” Jeonghan shouted, raising his drink in a toast as Wonwoo arrived. “Finally done with your shift, huh?”

Wonwoo nodded, grinning. “Yep. Looks like you guys have been enjoying yourselves.”

Seungcheol slung an arm around Wonwoo’s shoulders, nearly spilling his drink in the process. “You bet we have! Come on, you need to catch up. What’s your poison?”

Wonwoo laughed, holding up his own cup. “Made myself an AMF,” he said with a slight smirk.

“What?! Okay. Now I really wish I had my bartender license,” Jeonghan said, shaking his head.

Wonwoo smiled. “What’s the plan? Main stage?”

Jeonghan nodded eagerly. “Yep. We’re gonna head over there now. But first, there’s something you should know…”

Before Wonwoo could ask what the surprise was, he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind. He turned, finding himself face-to-face with none other than his boyfriend. Alex’s eyes were bright with excitement, and he leaned in for a quick kiss.

“Hey, babe! I thought I’d surprise you,” Alex said, beaming.

Wonwoo forced a smile, though a part of him felt a twinge of awkwardness. There was a reason he didn’t invite him in the first place. It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy his company- he just wanted to have a good time without being reminded of  his stressors: his relationship being one of them. 

“Hey, Alex. This is a nice surprise. Are you having a good time?”

Alex nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, it’s been great! I’ve been with Jeonghan and Seungcheol. They’ve been keeping me company.”

Jeonghan smiled, raising his drink again. “We’ve been making sure he’s having a good time, don’t worry.”

Wonwoo glanced at his friends, grateful for their enthusiasm. He took a sip of his drink, feeling the cool liquid calm his nerves. “Alright, let’s head to the main stage.”

As they made their way through the crowd, the music grew louder, the bass reverberating in Wonwoo’s chest. Jeonghan and Seungcheol led the way, their laughter and playful shoves guiding them through the sea of people who were excitedly waiting for the DJ to come on stage. Alex stayed close to Wonwoo, holding his hand tightly, which made Wonwoo feel a bit more trapped than he liked to admit.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked, noticing Wonwoo’s slightly distant expression.

Wonwoo nodded quickly, guilt settling in as he squeezed Alex’s hand. “Yeah, just getting used to being off work. I’m good, promise.”

They reached the main stage just as the main act walked out. A guy wearing a giant panda head made his way in front of a DJ set up as the crowd erupted in cheers. Animated visuals and different colored strobe lights adorned the screens behind the stage, and Wonwoo couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement. He turned to Alex, pulling him closer as they began to sway.

Jeonghan and Seungcheol were already in full party mode, jumping along to the music and encouraging Wonwoo and Alex to join in. Wonwoo took a long swig of his bright blue drink and allowed himself to get lost in the moment, the music and the energy of the crowd helping to push his worries to the back of his mind.

“This is amazing!” Alex shouted over the music, his face lit up with joy.

Wonwoo nodded, smiling genuinely this time. “Yeah, it really is.” He took another gulp of his drink, this time disregarding the straw.

As the EDM set progressed, Wonwoo found himself relaxing more and more with every sip. He danced with his friends and laughed at their drunken antics. Despite his reservations about their relationship, he couldn’t deny the happiness he felt being surrounded by his two friends and boyfriend.

“You look really hot in this shirt, you know?” Alex said against Wonwoo’s neck, his arms wrapped around him from behind. Wonwoo giggled, the alcohol beginning to kick in.

“It’s a good thing I came. Someone would've stolen you away from me,” he added with a kiss to Wonwoo’s temple.

The music continued to pound through the night air. Wonwoo, feeling more affected by the drinks he had consumed, swayed in time with the music, his hand resting in the back pocket of Alex’s jeans. Jeonghan and Seungcheol danced nearby, laughing and stumbling around.

Wonwoo’s thoughts were pleasantly hazy, everything seeming more vibrant and carefree. He looked around, taking in the sea of people dancing and enjoying the night. It was then that his eyes landed on Mingyu, who was dancing with the same girl he was with at the bar. The two were lost in the music, moving together in a way that was both sensual and captivating.

Her arms were draped around Mingyu’s neck, her body pressed close to his. Mingyu’s hands rested on her hips, their movements perfectly synchronized with the beat. Wonwoo felt an unexpected and uncomfortable sensation stir within him as he watched them. His hand slipped out of Alex’s back pocket, and his expression faltered.

“Hey, you okay?” Alex asked, noticing Wonwoo’s sudden tension.

The hard bass and powerful beat only made the thumping in his head worse. Wonwoo forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, just... caught up in the music.”

His eyes drifted back to Mingyu and the girl. He couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly Mingyu moved, how attractive he looked even in the dim festival lights. Mingyu’s carefree laughter and the way he and Minnie seemed to fit together so perfectly on the dance floor made Wonwoo feel something he didn’t want to acknowledge.

His body language betrayed him, though. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched them. He took the last swig of his drink, hoping the alcohol would dull the uneasy sensation gnawing at him.

Alex, sensing Wonwoo’s lack of interest in the music, leaned in closer. “Do you want to go somewhere else? We can check out some of the games.”

Wonwoo hesitated, then shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Just a little dizzy. I think it’s the drink catching up to me.”

He didn’t understand why it bothered him so much. It was just dancing. But the sight of Mingyu looking so free, so different from the person he remembered, stirred a mix of emotions he wasn’t prepared to deal with.

As the song changed and the tempo slowed, Wonwoo forced himself to look away. He focused on Alex, trying to be present and enjoy the moment and blaming the alcohol for the unwelcome feelings that were arising within him.

“I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” Wonwoo all but slurred before he hurried off in the direction of the porta-potties. He intentionally walked quickly in hopes that Alex wouldn't be able to catch up to him He drunkenly made his way out of the bustling crowd, the scene of Mingyu dancing with that girl replaying in his head.

His self-destructive mind couldn’t help but make parallels to high school, when he would watch Mingyu dance with other girls at school dances, wondering if he would ever be given the chance to dance with him like that. How after he confessed to him, he saw Mingyu sitting in the cafeteria with a group of girls who were fawning over him. Mingyu would look at Wonwoo, whisper something to the group of girls, and they would all start laughing. How Wonwoo wished that he could be normal and just like girls like everyone else.

Yeah, he was definitely drunk.

Finding an empty spot on the grass, he sat down alongside other festival goers who must have had a similar idea. A few others laid down on the grass, having conversations as the music from the main stage filled the air, but not loud enough to drown out any conversations. Wonwoo leaned back on his hands, staring blankly at the strobe lights that could be seen peeking out from the side of the stage.

 


 

The festival lights painted the night with vibrant colors as Mingyu and Minnie moved to the music. Mingyu, still slightly drunk, laughed as Minnie twirled around him, her hair flying around. 

Minnie leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear as she shouted over the music, “This is so fun! I almost forgot I’m on academic probation!”

Mingyu let out a laugh, grinning wide.

“We should go clubbing more often!” she shouted.

Mingyu nodded. “Yeah! Who knew college could be so fun?”

Their dancing was a mix of playful and sensual, the alcohol loosening their inhibitions and making them bolder. Minnie wrapped her arms around Mingyu’s neck, pulling him close as they swayed to the steady rhythm of the song that had just started.

“You know,” Minnie said, her voice a bit slurred but cheerful, “you’re a great dancer. Who knew Mr. Biochemistry had moves?”

Mingyu laughed, his hands resting on her hips. “You underestimate us too much.”

They continued to dance, the world around them blurring into a sea of faces and lights. Mingyu caught sight of Jungkook and Minghao nearby, both seemingly moshing to the loud beat of the techno song that was currently playing. 

Minnie pulled back, looking up at Mingyu with a teasing smile. “You’re gonna break some hearts tonight, you know that?”

Mingyu gave her an inquisitive look. “Is this your way of flirting with me?”

She laughed, poking his chest playfully. “You’re the total package, my friend. I think you know who I really want, though,” she said, motioning over to her left with her head, where Jungkook was now jumping, waving around his hands wildly.

Mingyu gave a pleased smile. He knew she was only admitting this to him because she was drunk, so he decided not to press more on the matter. A blind person could have seen that Minnie had a crush on Jungkook and vice versa.

Minnie laughed, spinning around and pulling him with her. They continued dancing, lost in the moment. As the song shifted to a more upbeat tempo, Mingyu and Minnie’s movements became more energetic. They jumped and danced, their laughter mingling with the music. 

“I’m gonna go buy another drink!” she yelled spontaneously before turning and walking away.

“Wait, us too!”  Minghao yelled running after her, Jungkook following on his tail just as enthusiastically. Noticing the effects of the alcohol starting to decrease in his own system, Mingyu followed suit.

Being a few meters behind, Mingyu stumbled as he tried to make his way out of the now larger crowd. Two different people had attempted to dance with him: one grabbed his hand and the other just flat out began grinding on him. While the second instance was definitely distracting, Mingyu continued walking forward, focusing on the quest at hand.

Once he was out of the heavy crowd, he made his way in the direction of where they bought their shots earlier. However, a certain individual caught his eye.

Wonwoo laid on the ground on a large empty patch of grass where a few others seemed to be doing the same. He was on his phone, his knees bent.

If Mingyu was sober, he probably would have just kept walking to catch up with his friends. But he wasn’t.

“Wonwoo?”

Wonwoo looked up, the lenses of his glasses reflecting colorful lights. Mingyu found that endearing for some reason.

He quickly sat up. “Oh, hey.”

“Mind if I join you?” Mingyu asked, gesturing to the spot next to him.

“Sure.”

Mingyu sat down, the grass cool against his skin. He glanced at Wonwoo. The festival sounds seemed to fade into the background as the two of them settled into an awkward silence.

“Enjoying the festival?” Mingyu asked, trying to break the ice.

Wonwoo nodded, his eyes flicking to Mingyu briefly before returning to the sky. “Yeah, it’s fun. Needed a break, though.”

“Yeah, it's a lot,” Mingyu agreed, fiddling with the grass. The silence stretched out again.“You seemed pretty busy at the bar earlier.”

“Yeah, it was hectic. But it’s over now,” Wonwoo replied, his gaze finally meeting Mingyu’s. “You looked like you were having a good time, dancing with your friends.”

Mingyu smiled, realizing Wonwoo was watching him on the dance floor. “Yeah, it’s nice to let loose once in a while.”

Wonwoo’s eyes lingered on Mingyu for a moment longer than necessary before he looked away. “You’re different than I remember.”

Mingyu’s eyes widened, unsure how to interpret his words. “Different good or different bad?”

Wonwoo laughed softly. “Different good, I guess. You seem... happier. Nicer for sure.”

Mingyu considered this, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I think I am happier. College has been really good for me so far, if I’m being honest.”

There was a brief pause. Wonwoo looked around the field. “It’s weird, isn’t it? Running into each other after all this time.”

“Yeah, it is,” Mingyu agreed. He hesitated, then added, “But maybe it’s a good thing. A chance to start over.” The last statement came out more like a question.

Wonwoo’s eyes met Mingyu’s again, his expression unreadable. “Maybe.”

Mingyu looked up at the stars, feeling a bit bolder as a result of the alcohol. “So, what do you do for fun when you’re not working at festivals?”

Wonwoo laughed. “When I’m not playing bartender for drunk college students? I like to read, watch movies, and hangout with friends. Nothing crazy.”

“Any favorite books or movies?” Mingyu asked, genuinely curious.

Wonwoo thought for a moment. “I’m a sucker for classic literature and old films.”

Mingyu grinned. “You really haven’t changed that much.”

Wonwoo chuckled. “Maybe not. How about you? What do you do when you’re not doing… whatever biochem majors do?”

Mingyu laughed. “I like to cook, actually. It’s a good stress reliever.”

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Ah, that’s right.”

Mingyu nodded. “Yeah, it’s something I picked up after high school. Maybe I’ll cook for you sometime.”

Wonwoo’s expression softened, and he nodded. “I’d like that.” He looked up at the sky. “I can’t cook for shit.”

“You know, for some reason, that doesn’t surprise me.”

“What? Jerk.” Wonwoo playfully punched Mingyu’s arm, making him laugh.

Just then, a voice called out, cutting through their conversation. “Won! There you are!”

Mingyu turned to see a tall guy making his way toward them. 

“Alex,” Wonwoo said, standing up quickly. He looked between Mingyu and Alex, an awkward expression crossing his face. “Uh, Mingyu, this is Alex, my boyfriend. Alex, this is Mingyu– a friend from high school.”

Friend.

Alex's eyes flicked to Mingyu, a hint of confusion and curiosity in his gaze. “Hey, nice to meet you,” he said with a lack of expression.

“Hi,” Mingyu replied, forcing a smile. He stood up too, feeling a bit out of place. He took in Alex’s athletic build, his tan skin, curly hair, long eyelashes, and the way he seemed almost protective of Wonwoo. 

“I’ve been looking for you,” Alex said, his gaze shifting to Wonwoo. “You disappeared on me.”

“Sorry,” Wonwoo replied, scratching the back of his neck. “I just needed some air. Mingyu was just keeping me company.”

Mingyu noticed the subtle tension in Wonwoo’s voice, and it made him feel even more uncomfortable. “Yeah, just catching up.”

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “Well, glad you’re okay. We should probably get back to the festival, though.”

“Right,” Wonwoo agreed. He turned to Mingyu, offering a hesitant smile. “Enjoy the rest of the festival, Mingyu.”

Mingyu nodded, then watched as Wonwoo walked away with Alex. 

He couldn’t help but feel a pang of something he didn’t quite understand. Alex seemed nice enough, but Mingyu couldn't help but feel like he had done something wrong.

Wonwoo probably told him about you.

Defeat fell on Mingyu’s shoulders at the thought. Of course Wonwoo would open up to his boyfriend and tell him about what happened in high school. It’s no wonder it seemed like Alex didn’t like him very much.

Soon after, his friends walked up to him with a new drink in their hands. Feeling comfortable at his level of influence, Mingyu decided he wouldn’t drink for the rest of the night.

“We’re going to be at one of the side stages. Minnie wants to listen to pop music,” Jungkook announced as the two turned and made their way to the other side of the field.

Mingyu sighed and looked at Minghao, trying to read him– figure out what he wanted to do. 

Minghao took a long sip from his cocktail before moving to stand directly in front of Mingyu. “I saw you talking to Wonwoo. I tried to stall the guys otherwise we probably would’ve interrupted your conversation. You looked like you needed that time,” Minghao explained, slightly swaying.

Mingyu smiled at his friend’s thoughtfulness. “Thanks, Hao. Yeah, we were catching up. It was nice.”

Minghao gave a small smile back. “Who was the other guy? Did you know him too?”

“Nah. That was his boyfriend,” Mingyu answered, head pounding.

Minghao studied Mingyu for a few seconds, before nodding, not saying anything else.

“Wanna get in line for the ferris wheel?” Mingyu suggested.

Minghao raised his drink. “Lead the way.”

Chapter 7: But You Never Came Back to Ask it Out

Notes:

thank you so much for the kudos wtf i just saw it was over 100??? thank u thank u thank u!!!!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

“I’m never having even a lick of alcohol ever again,” Minghao said as he walked back into Mingyu’s dorm room after his second trip to the bathroom. He plopped next to Mingyu on the small twin bed and placed his hand over his own stomach.

Mingyu, luckily, was not paying the consequences for consuming so much alcohol as much as Minghao was, but he only had one beer and three shots when Minghao had almost double. He couldn’t even imagine how messed up Jungkook and Minnie must be this morning. 

The conversation with Wonwoo replayed in his mind like a broken record from the moment he realized he was awake. Moreso, the feelings that arose as he was talking to Wonwoo replayed in his mind. The truth was that he really enjoyed the older boy’s company. May it be guilt or whatever the reason, Mingyu couldn't wait to run into him again. He wants to know what else he’s been up to since high school.

The door of the Mingyu’s dorm room opened, welcoming a tired looking Seungkwan who was still in his pajamas. He didn’t give much other than a lazy ‘hey’ before crawling into bed with Hansol who was still asleep.

Mingyu and Minghao looked at each other with confused expressions.

“I think that’s my cue to leave,” Minghao said as he sat up and got off the bed.

“I’ll walk you down.”

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft, yellow light over the campus. Mingyu walked Minghao to the dorm entrance, his head still pounding slightly from the night before.

"Thanks for letting me crash," Minghao said, adjusting his backpack. "I had a lot of fun.”

Mingyu smiled, though he felt a bit hazy. "No problem. If your school ever does something like that, you have to invite me.”

“All that happens at my school events is hard drugs and fist fights.” Minghao scoffed. “Also… you know if you ever wanna talk about anything, you can always come to me. I know I tease you a lot but I don’t want you to think I’d ever judge you or anything.”

There was a brief pause as Mingyu studied Minghao for a few seconds, taken aback and slightly confused by the statement. “Yeah, man… I know. Thanks.”

The two shared a quick hug, and Minghao walked out. Mingyu watched him go, before he turned back towards the stairs to head back to his room.

As Mingyu ascended the steps, he almost collided with someone coming down. He stepped back, eyes widening as he realized who it was: Alex. He was wearing a crumpled band tee and sweats, his hair a tousled mess that suggested he hadn't spent the night in his own bed.

"Oh, hey. Morning," Alex said, his voice slightly gravelly.

"Morning," Mingyu replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Alex stretched, his shirt riding up slightly to reveal toned abs. Mingyu couldn't help but notice the faint purple marks on his neck and collarbone, marks that hinted at a rather… busy night. 

"Mingyu, right? Did you have fun at the festival?" Alex asked casually.

"Y-yeah, it was great," Mingyu said, forcing a smile. "How about you? Did you... enjoy yourself?"

Alex smirked. "I had a fantastic time. I’d say Wonwoo and I definitely made the most of it."

Mingyu felt his face heat up, unsure how to respond. Before he could think of anything, Alex gave a quick nod and started down the stairs. "Good to see you, man. Catch you later."

As Alex walked out the front doors, Mingyu let out a breath of relief. Why has every interaction he’s had with him make him feel so fucking uncomfortable? Mingyu made his way up the stairs, deciding he officially did not like that guy.

Over the next few days, Mingyu settled back into the routine of school life. His classes picked up pace, with the material becoming more challenging and lab work more demanding. Still, despite the stress, Mingyu found himself enjoying the sense of accomplishment that came with learning new things. In one of his labs, he partnered with Jungkook, whose humor and unserious personality made the long hours more bearable. 

They occasionally gathered for study sessions with Minnie that inevitably turned into light-hearted banter with snacks and inside jokes. 

On campus, Mingyu would sometimes notice Wonwoo walking to class, chatting with friends, or working on RA duties. Their interactions remained minimal, with a smile or nod in acknowledgment of the other.

The memories of the festival eventually began to fade into the background, replaced by upcoming exams and project deadlines. 

Textbooks and notes spread out before Mingyu. The late afternoon sun filtered through the window. Mingyu rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of these dumb concepts he’d been studying for hours.

Hansol looked up from his own stack of notes, letting out a long sigh. "Damn, finals are creeping up so fast… I feel like I haven’t had a break in ages."

"Tell me about it," Mingyu replied, flipping through his notebook. "The workload is insane. Feels like my body is ready to shut down at any point.”

Hansol leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. "When was the last time you hit the gym? I feel like you haven’t gone in a while– could give you a break from all this." He gestured to the sea of papers surrounding them.

Mingyu chuckled, shaking his head. "I’ve been meaning to, but I just haven’t had the time. It feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day,” he said, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands.

Hansol raised an eyebrow. "Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me you’re too busy to eat. Or sleep. Or breathe-"

Mingyu interjected him with a defeated groan. “Fine. I guess a quick workout wouldn’t hurt."

Hansol smirked. "That’s the spirit. I’d hate to see you buried under a mountain of textbooks. Not a good look for you."

Mingyu tapped his pen on his desk. \He only had a little over a month until the end of the quarter and while he wouldn’t say he’s completely out of shape, his lack of consistent strength training and poor eating habits probably didn’t do much to fuel his mind.

The dorm gym late at night was brightly lit, long windows allowing people passing by to get a glimpse of the intricate machinery and equipment. It was an hour before midnight. Sure, Mingyu miht lose some time he could have used to work on his assignments, but the truth of the matter was that he was getting no work done anyway. It was like his brain had been on overdrive for so long that the battery eventually died.

“There’s a term for that. Seungkwan taught me,” Hansol said, following Mingyu’s description. “They call it… burnout? I think.”

Well burnout sucks. Burnout is a disease. A disease that Mingyu has.

The hum of the air conditioning and the faint sound of music were the only noises breaking the stillness as Mingyu found himself alone in the weight room. He set down his things and walked towards the machine closest to him.

As Mingyu finished his set on the bench press, he heard the creak of the gym door. Glancing up, he was surprised to see Wonwoo walk in, dressed in a fitted gray T-shirt and shorts, a water bottle in hand. 

"Oh, hey," Mingyu greeted, trying to keep his voice casual as he set the weights back in place. "Didn’t expect to see anyone else here this late."

Wonwoo gave a nod, a hint of surprise on his face "Uh, yeah, same. I like to come when it’s quiet. Helps me focus."

Mingyu watched as Wonwoo walked over to the free weights, noting how much more defined his muscles looked as he picked up the heavy object. 

The scrawny kid he once bullied was really long gone, replaced by someone who clearly took care of himself.

They worked out in silence for a while, the occasional clank of weights punctuating the air. Finally, Wonwoo broke the silence. "I see you’ve been staying in shape," he remarked.

Mingyu did his best to ignore the implications of using the word staying . He chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah, trying to. You too. You’ve really... built up since high school."

Wonwoo chuckled, a wry smile on his face. “Guess I've gotten pretty good at this.”

After more comfortable silence and a few more sets, Mingyu made his way over to the treadmill. As he started his light jog, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Wonwoo through the mirror, who was now doing bicep curls. 

"You’ve definitely put in the work," Mingyu said, trying to keep the conversation going. "Looks like it’s paid off."

Wonwoo looked over, his eyes catching Mingyu’s. "Thanks. I didn’t think I would ever see the day Kim Mingyu compliments me.”

Mingyu laughed, not knowing if that was meant to be a jab or not. “It’s hard not to.”

What the fuck?

His own statement caught him off guard as it came out of his mouth. He slowed down the machine and feigned messing with the buttons on the treadmill and to mask the small amount of embarrassment he was probably showing. He didn’t look at Wonwoo or wait for a response.

After a few seconds he heard the other set hit weights down. "I guess I should have pegged you for the gym rat type."

Mingyu was grateful his already sweaty and flushed state hid the additional blush creeping on his cheeks, as he began to walk the treadmill instead. "Surprises all around, I guess. But yeah, it’s good to get away from the stress."

"Well, you look like you know what you’re doing," Wonwoo said, his tone light. "Maybe you can share your regimen with me.”

Mingyu raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh, so now you’re asking for tips? I thought you had it all figured out."

"Even the pros can learn something new,” Wonwoo said with a laugh. “Besides, it’s more fun with a gym buddy."

"True," Mingyu agreed. "I would say we could make this a regular thing but I’m not sure you could keep up.”

Wonwoo’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Guess I still have some work to do.”

There was a comfortable silence for a moment. Mingyu felt a strange mix of admiration and something else he couldn’t quite place whenever he looked at him.

As Wonwoo walked over to the water station adjacent to the treadmills, he glanced sideways at Mingyu. "I guess the gym’s another thing we have in common now."

Mingyu smiled, nodding. "Yeah, looks like it. Who would’ve thought, right?"

"Not me,” Wonwoo muttered more to himself.

Mingyu felt a flicker of something— was it hope? Curiosity? Whatever it was, it made him feel lighter, more at ease. As he continued his stroll on the treadmill, Mingyu found himself thinking about the past, the bullying, the regret. 

He took a deep breath and decided to take a chance. "Wonwoo, can I ask you something?"

Wonwoo looked over, a bit wary but curious. "Sure."

Mingyu hesitated, then plunged ahead. "I know things were... rough between us back in high school. But I was wondering if you’d like to grab coffee sometime. You know, just to talk."

Wonwoo’s expression shifted, a mix of surprise and hesitation. He seemed to weigh the idea, his gaze searching Mingyu’s face. "Coffee, huh?"

Mingyu nodded, trying to keep his tone light and his heart from racing. "Yeah, just coffee. If you want, of course."

There was a long pause, during which Mingyu feared he had overstepped. Wonwoo twisted the lid of his water bottle back on and turned to Mingyu. Something in his gaze made Mingyu feel awful. He looked apprehensive with a mix of defeat. 

Wonwoo gave a slow nod. "Alright. Coffee sounds good."

Mingyu felt a wave of relief and a tentative smile spread across his face. "Great. Give me your number. We can plan something"

Wonwoo nodded again, his own smile faint but sincere. "Sure."

As they finished their workouts and prepared to leave the gym, Mingyu couldn’t help but feel that this was the beginning of something new. Not necessarily a friendship, but perhaps an understanding– closure for not only Wonwoo but Mingyu too. 

What Mingyu wasn’t expecting, however, was for Wonwoo to not respond to his text for three days. Like most people, his anxiety got the best of him after he sent a brief message asking Wonwoo when he was free and the elder seemed to just blatantly ignore him.

Of course Wonwoo didn’t want to see him. Mingyu couldn't help but think that if he was in Wonwoo’s situation, he would have probably not spoken to him at all. 

The added pressure and insecurity only made Mingyu recall the events from their adolescence more often, the guilt feeling like it was physically burning Mingyu from the inside. 

It was a cold afternoon on the school courtyard, the kind of day where the sky was a sad gray and it looked like it could rain at any moment. Mingyu stood with his friends, clustered together in a tight circle, laughing. They were taunting Wonwoo, who sat at a table reading a book a few feet away. 

Jaebom was leading the charge, of course, his voice loud and mocking.“Hey Wonwoo, still dreaming about your prince charming?” he called out. “Too bad he doesn’t swing that way, huh? What’s it like having a crush on a straight guy?”

Wonwoo’s cheeks flushed with humiliation. He tried to maintain some dignity, but his trembling hands betrayed his fear. “Just leave me the fuck alone,” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the wind.

But Jaebom was relentless.“Aw, come on, don’t be mad. Tell us all about your little fantasies. Do you picture Mingyu sweeping you off your feet? Did you ever think about him in a sexual way?” Their laughter echoed in Wonwoo’s mind.

Leia chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm.“Yeah, Wonwoo, did you write any more love poems about Mingyu? Maybe he’ll read them and fall madly in love with you this time.”

Wonwoo’s eyes flicked up for a moment, filled with a mix of anger and sadness, before he looked away again. “I don’t... I don’t do that,” he stammered.

“Careful guys. He might give us detention,” another one of Mingyu’s friends said, causing the others to laugh.

Mingyu stood there, silent but complicit. He wasn’t joining in the taunts, but he wasn’t stopping them either. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of shame and discomfort swirling within him. He could see the hurt in Wonwoo’s eyes and wanted to say something, but couldn’t.

Jaebom pushed further. “Come on, Mingyu. Aren’t you flattered that Wonwoo here has a crush on you?”

All eyes turned towards Mingyu, and for a moment, he was frozen. The pressure from his friends was overwhelming, and Mingyu felt himself caving in. He forced a weak smile and fake laugh, trying to play along. “It’s a little weird, honestly,” he said. “I mean, come on, Wonwoo, get real.”

Jaebom laughed again, louder this time. “Damn, Wonwoo. Even your dream guy thinks you’re pathetic.”

Wonwoo slammed his book shut and stood up from his seat. He walked away, the laughter of Mingyu’s friends following him.

The memory replayed in Mingyu’s mind, and he could see every detail hauntingly clear: Wonwoo’s pained expression, the way he flinched at each cruel word, and the realization that Mingyu had done nothing to stop it. Worse, he had participated. The guilt gnawed at him. And there were plenty other times like that as well.

Just as he was considering sending Wonwoo a text telling him to ignore his last message and that he completely understood if he never wants to see him again, his phone buzzed. Without reservation, he reached to his bed side table to take a look.

 

Wonwoo:

Sorry. Got caught up with a project. I’m free this Sunday after 12pm.

 

Mingyu:

No worries! Afternoon might be a little late for coffee lol do you like boba?

 

Wonwoo:

Yes

 

Mingyu:

Cool! Wanna meet at Boba Spot at 2?

 

Wonwoo:

Sounds good. Goodnight.

 

Mingyu: 

Goodnight!

 

Mingyu cringed immediately after hitting send, hoping he didn’t sound overly enthusiastic. Not to mention Wonwoo was a dry texter which only made Mingyu feel more self conscious. He set his phone down and rolled over onto his side, feeling more nervous about meeting up with Wonwoo than he probably should. He recalled their past few interactions, analyzing them to find any sign that Wonwoo didn’t absolutely despise him and wasn’t just conversing with him to be nice, although he wouldn’t blame him.

He thought back to their conversation at the festival and how effortless it felt and how it left him wanting more. It was the time in which Mingyu got to know him most and he couldn't help but feel a longing for a conversation like that again. Mingyu wondered what else they could have talked about had they not been interrupted. 

Mingyu came to the realization that he didn’t even know what he was going to talk about when he saw him this weekend. Would he apologize again? Try to explain himself? No, it would sound like he was trying to justify everything. 

Mingyu sighed. In all honesty, he couldn’t really understand why he was so adamant on talking to Wonwoo. Possibly the guilt.

Hansol’s rhythmic snores and the lack of desire to continue pondering his own thoughts made for the best lullaby as Mingyu closed his eyes and let out the deep breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

 


 

Mingyu’s heart pounded with each step he took towards Boba Spot. Why was he so anxious about meeting Wonwoo? Why did he spend an extra ten minutes in front of the mirror, making sure his hair was just right and choosing an outfit that looked effortlessly casual yet put-together? It didn’t make sense. It was just boba. It was just Wonwoo.

He tried to brush it off, telling himself it was just because he wanted to make a good impression, to show him that he had changed. But deep down, he knew there was a part of him that still cared what Wonwoo thought of him, that wanted him to see him as more than the person who stood by while his friends tormented him.

As he walked, Mingyu rehearsed potential conversation topics in his head, trying to anticipate what Wonwoo might say. Would they talk about high school? Would Wonwoo really want to hear another apology, or was it better to just leave it be? He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. 

The front door made a jingle noise as Mingyu walked in, immediately looking for the tall boy with glasses at one of the small tables. He was taken aback to see Wonwoo already seated at a corner table, casually sipping on a drink, scrolling through his phone. Wonwoo looked up and gave a small nod, signaling Mingyu to join him. Wonwoo’s calm and collected demeanor made Mingyu even more conscious of his own nerves. 

“Are you not gonna order anything?” Wonwoo asked as Mingyu sat in front of him.

The taller man stared back blankly. “Right.”

Wonwoo chuckled as Mingyu made his way to the luckily empty kiosk and put in his order, grabbing his drink from the counter after a few minutes.

“Were you waiting here long?” Mingyu asked as he poked his straw through the cup.

“Like ten minutes. I’ve never been here so I came early to decide what I want. What did you get?”

Mingyu smiled, for some reason finding it cute that he came early to look at the menu just to order a mango smoothie with boba. “Uh, this is an Ube milk tea,” Mingyu said, examining his own lilac drink. “I’ve never had it before but I like the ice cream flavor so…”

The conversation took off, starting with relatively surface level topics. Mingyu began feeling more relaxed than he had in a while. He watched Wonwoo laugh at something he said, only now realizing how nice the older boy’s smile was. They talked about their favorite shows, the best study spots on campus, and the latest music releases. Mingyu couldn’t help but notice how Wonwoo’s eyes sparkled when he talked about things he was passionate about.

Mingyu’s thoughts drifted, and he found his mind wandering back to high school. He took another sip of his drink, the boba pearls a comforting familiarity.

Wonwoo leaned back in his seat, the remnants of his drink in hand. “Any plans for the rest of the day?”

Mingyu shrugged. “Probably just catching up on some studying.”

Wonwoo nodded. “Same here, unfortunately. 

Mingyu looked down at his drink before hesitantly glancing back up at Wonwoo. “Can I ask you something?”

Wonwoo looked at him curiously and nodded.

Mingyu took a deep breath, deciding to just go for it. “Why are you so willing to hang out with me despite everything that happened in high school? I was pretty awful to you,” he said, his eyes just as curious as his statement.

Wonwoo’s expression shifted slightly. He sighed and looked down at his drink. “I’ve asked myself that, too,” he said with a dry chuckle.

Mingyu’s heart raced.

Wonwoo looked at him, his eyes serious but not unkind. “Yeah, you and your friends were pretty awful. But I think people can change. You seem different now, and I guess I’m willing to give you a chance. Holding onto all that anger...it’s exhausting.”

Mingyu nodded slowly, his throat tight. “I get that. I’m really sorry for what I did. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but... I think you’ve just been a lot kinder to me than I deserved.”

Wonwoo took a moment to respond, adjusting his glasses before speaking. “I can see that. Honestly, it’s kind of nice to see this side of you, though. I’m not saying we’re best friends now, but I don’t see the point in staying enemies either”

Mingyu felt a weight lift off his shoulders, a tentative smile forming on his lips. “Yeah, I agree.”

Wonwoo’s smile returned, a bit softer this time. 

Still feeling curious, Mingyu took advantage of having Wonwoo here in front of him. “Can I ask you something else? It’s about... well, your confession to me in high school.”

Wonwoo’s face reddened slightly, he looked off to the side for a second before turning back. “The love letter?” he asked, his voice pained, sounding embarrassed. 

Mingyu nodded.

Wonwoo’s eyes darted around the room.“What about it?”

Mingyu felt a pang of guilt as he saw his discomfort, but he pressed on. “I was wondering... why did you confess to me, knowing how my friends were?”

Wonwoo looked down at his drink again, stirring it absently, recalling the silly dare his friends had given him. Granted, they did tell him they were joking, but it was Wonwoo who took it upon himself to actually go through with it. The memory of going through multiple drafts of the damn letter the night before played in his mind for the first time in years.

“I guess I thought it was worth the risk. I really liked you back then, even though the people you hung around with were pretty…”

“Oh, they were horrible,” Mingyu said, finishing his statement for him.

Wonwoo’s lip curled. “Yeah.”

“But I was always with them. Why did you like me then?”

Wonwoo could feel the heat rush to his face once again. He pushed his glasses up his nose and shrugged. “I thought you were cute, I guess. You had a lot of friends so I assumed you must have been pretty cool. You never seemed as bad as them. I thought maybe you’d be different one-on-one. Seeing how you reacted after I told you I liked you though… I realized I misjudged.”

Mingyu felt a lump in his throat, the weight of his past actions heavy on his shoulders. “God, Wonwoo, I’m really sorry for how I handled that. I don't even think I minded too much that you liked me, I was just worried what other people would think. I know that’s not an excuse, though. It was still... cruel.”

Wonwoo nodded, still not meeting Mingyu’s eyes. “It was. You seem to have changed, and that’s what matters now.”

Mingyu swallowed hard, feeling like he could cry. “Thanks, Wonwoo. It means a lot to hear that from you.”

Wonwoo finally looked up, his eyes meeting Mingyu’s and his gaze softening, seeing the same boy he used to dream about in high school but more mature. This Mingyu was way better. “Let’s just focus on the present, okay? We’ve both got our own paths to figure out.”

Mingyu nodded, feeling determined. “Yeah, okay. Um, I’ll probably be saying sorry everytime I see you, sorry.”

Wonwoo chuckled. “I mean, if you’re not on your knees begging for my forgiveness does it even- Mingyu!” Wonwoo reached over to grab the taller boy’s wrist as he pushed his chair back, ready to kneel on the ground. 

“Sit down, I was joking,” Wonwoo said embarrassed but not being able to hold his laughter.

Mingyu looked at Wonwoo for a few seconds before giving an ‘If you say so’ expression. He reached back for his chair and sat down. 

“You’re insane,” Wonwoo pointed out with amusement.

“Hey. At this point you could tell me you never want to see me again and I will happily drop out and switch schools.”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes and shook his head. Mingyu pursed his lips in an attempt to hide the smile that was making its way to his face. He couldn’t help but feel satisfied at how much he was making Wonwoo laugh today.

“Speaking of school, this is your last year right? That must be so nice. Do you know what you want to do with your degree yet?”

Wonwoo shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “I’m not entirely sure yet. There are so many possibilities with cognitive science, and I’m still exploring them.”

Mingyu grinned, the tension between them easing. “Well, whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll be great at it. You’ve always been pretty smart.”

Wonwoo chuckled. “Thanks. What about you? Any plans yet?”

Mingyu hesitated for a moment before answering. He stirred the straw in his practically empty cup. “I’m thinking about going into the medical field. I think I want to become a doctor.” 

Wonwoo always knew Mingyu as someone who did pretty poorly in school, meanwhile he himself was a genius with perfect grades to show for it. Mingyu couldn't help but feel a little insecure telling him he wants to become a doctor knowing how ambitious and unrealistic it might sound.

Wonwoo’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. “Really? Wow, Mingyu, that’s… wow. I assume you really like your courses then?”

Mingyu didn’t try to hide his smile. “Honestly, they’re great. They’re challenging, of course. But instead of it feeling like I’m getting my ass kicked, it just feels like I’m learning so much and my brain is just adjusting to the amount of information. It was one of my professors who told me I should consider the medical field, actually.”

Wonwoo looked at him in awe. “That’s incredible, Mingyu.”

Mingyu felt a warmth spread through him at Wonwoo’s praise. “Thanks. It’s a lot of hard work, but I think it’ll be worth it. I hope so, at least.”

Wonwoo nodded, a look of admiration in his eyes. “You’ve got the drive, that’s for sure. I believe in you.”

Mingyu couldn’t help the large grin that spread across his face. He felt a surge of gratitude and optimism that he noticed came pretty consistently after his conversations with Wonwoo. They continued to talk, their conversation moving smoothly now as if they were old friends reconnecting with one another. 

“Yeah, I really thought you went to Yale or something,” Mingyu said, both of their cups now sitting empty on the edge of the table.

“Well, I got in. I couldn’t afford it though. Realistically, I was between this place and USF since they were the only schools that gave me a full scholarship. I wanted to get away from home though.”

Mingyu nodded in understanding, feeling sympathy. “That’s understandable. I’m glad you came to LMU, though. I almost went to a school in San Diego.”

Wonwoo’s attention perked up at this. “Oh. My boyfriend Alex is from there. It’s a pretty nice area.”

Mingyu felt a sudden, unexpected twist in his stomach at the mention of his boyfriend. He forced a smile, trying to keep his tone casual. “Oh, really? That’s cool. San Diego is beautiful.” Mingyu has never been there.

Wonwoo nodded, oblivious to Mingyu’s discomfort. “Yeah, he’s always talking about how much better the beaches are there.”

Mingyu nodded again, but his thoughts were racing. The mention of Alex made him feel awkward and uneasy, even though he had no right to be upset. 

“Well, I’m sure you’ll get to visit again soon,” Mingyu said, hoping to steer the conversation away from Alex.

“Yeah, maybe,” Wonwoo replied, his tone distant.

Mingyu beat himself up internally but just couldn’t help himself from pressing on the subject. “Um, so, how’s that going? Your relationship, I mean.”

Wonwoo was noticeably caught off guard. He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of something passing over his face. “It’s... fine. You know, relationships can be hard sometimes, especially after two years together.”

Mingyu sensed that there was more to it, but he finally decided not to push. Still, the annoyance gnawed at him. 

He didn’t understand why it bothered him so much. 

“Yeah, I’ve heard that. Must be hard to keep things going.”

Wonwoo nodded, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Yeah, it can be. But we’re managing.”

Mingyu forced a smile, irritation lingering. Why did it matter so much to him? He glanced at Wonwoo again, noticing how even in his casual attire and glasses, he still looked effortlessly attractive. Something about the man sitting before him, who has shown nothing but patience and compassion to him, being in a relationship with someone who just didn’t seem to share the same traits, fueled a little bit of frustration in Mingyu.

“Well, I hope it works out,” Mingyu said, keeping his tone neutral. “You deserve to be happy.”

Wonwoo gave him a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks.”

After another half hour of chatting and laughing together, Mingyu and Wonwoo went their separate ways. Mingyu realized that they had even more in common than they thought, even though their personalities definitely contrasted one another. The thought that they got along so well made something in Mingyu swell.

“I’m probably gonna hit the dining hall, right now. My body runs on five meals a day, unfortunately. Wanna come with?”

Wonwoo grinned. “I can’t. I have a paper to get started on. It’s due tomorrow, so I was going to head to the library.”

Mingyu’s eyes widened. “You have a paper due tomorrow? You should have told me to shut up. I just talked your ear off for, like, three hours!”

Wonwoo laughed, his nose scrunching. “It’s fine, Mingyu. I shouldn’t have left it for the last minute.”

Something about seeing Wonwoo’s wide smile, which he didn’t see very often, gave Mingyu the urge to pinch his cheeks.

He didn’t though. Because that would be weird. 

Mingyu smiled.“You’re so smart. Okay, go ahead. Wouldn’t want to have to pull an all nighter.”

Wonwoo nodded with a small chuckle. “See you later, Mingyu.” He turned away and walked down the string light lit path of their school shopping center.

As Mingyu made his way to the other side of the campus, he couldn’t shake the slight feeling of annoyance at the mention of Alex. He wasn’t ready to confront what it might mean, but he was afraid he knew deep down. It was a part of him he hoped he never had to interact with. He never thought it was true, but he should have known better. 

He thought of what Minghao said after the festival. He told Mingyu that if he ever needed to talk about something, he could come to him without the fear of being judged. It’s almost like he knew. 

Mingyu sighed, disappointed in himself, but he knew what he had to do.

Notes:

what do ya'll think Mingyu is gonna tell Minghao??? any guesses??? mwahaha

Chapter 8: Your Love Feels So Fake

Notes:

sorry for the late update. its midterm season and i always wanna give each chapter one quick read through before i post lol

anyway, this one was so fun to write hehe things are movingggg

also if u haven't listened to watch by billie eillish pls do!!!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

“Mingyu?” Minghao questioned as he opened the front door to his apartment. The taller boy wore a hoodie and sweats and his hair was tousled. He fidgeted with his fingers, eyes wavering. Minghao grew concerned as Mingyu just stood there. “Hey, you okay?”

“I think I’m homophobic.”

Minghao stared at him for a few seconds before coughing out a laugh. “You what?”

Mingyu didn’t say anything else as he walked past him and made his way into the living room, sitting on the couch. “I’m homophobic, Hao. I don’t know what to do.”

Minghao slowly shut the door and walked over to him, sitting on the loveseat across from him. He did his best to control his laugh but was genuinely confused. “Mingyu, what’s going on? You show up at my place at 7:00am to tell me that you’re homophobic?”

His eyes finally meeting Minghao’s, Mingyu took a deep breath. “I… I couldn’t sleep last night,” was all he said.

Minghao studied Mingyu’s face as he struggled to find the words. “Is this about Wonwoo?”

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows. “How did you know?”

“Wild guess,” Minghao replied with a knowing glint in his eyes that Mingyu definitely noticed but ignored.

Ever since his meet up with Wonwoo over the weekend, the guilt has been eating at Mingyu like a parasite. So much so that he could barely sleep last night. Only having an afternoon class today, he decided to take an uber to Minghao’s, as he didn’t think he would be satisfied with a phone call.

“Why do you think that Mingyu? Because you used to bully the guy?”

Mingyu rolled his eyes. “Well there's that, yeah.”

“Mingyu, that isn’t you anymore. You’ve never once said anything that would make me think you’re homophobic.”

“I know but…” Mingyu looked off to the side as if recalling something. He shook his head and looked down at his lap. “I’m scared I haven’t changed as much as I thought.”

Concern washed over Minghao’s face, and he leaned forward. “Did you say something homophobic to Wonwoo?”

“What? God, no.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

Mingyu sighed. “It’s not so much what I say, it’s what I think.”

Minghao turned his head slightly to the side, eyes not leaving Mingyu’s. “What…what do you think, Gyu?”

Mingyu whined. “I feel bad.”

“Hey, I’m glad you're coming to me. It means you recognize that it’s an issue, yeah? You can tell me,” Minghao replied in consolation. It was evident in his expression that he could see how much this was bothering him.

Mingyu hesitated.“The other day when I got boba with Wonwoo…” He blew a raspberry at the air before continuing. “Everything was fine, Hao! We talked about what happened, I expressed how sorry I was, talked about TV shows and music… then he brought up his boyfriend.”

Minghao tilted his head. His expression showed a tint of amusement, but he let Mingyu continue.

“I forgot what the context was. I think we were talking about what other schools we got into, but he said his boyfriend used to live in San Diego. Point is, I was really fucking annoyed from the moment he mentioned him. Oh! He also said they have been together for two years. That annoyed me. Can you believe it?” 

Mingyu sighed, disappointment falling over his face. “I don’t like his boyfriend very much, but I guess he’s never really given me a reason not to. And then with Wonwoo mentioning he was in a relationship with a man, it just… I don’t know. I got upset. It’s none of my business but I just felt so uneasy, I don’t know. Why else would I feel that way if I wasn't homophobic?” 

Minghao watched as Mingyu rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and shook his head. He felt bad that his friend seemed to really be struggling with this, but he also couldn’t help the amusement from watching Mingyu freak out, especially because he had his own theories as to why he was so worked up.

Minghao nodded in thought. “It made you upset that Wonwoo is with a man or that he is with this man?”

“Uhh…”

“Like if anyone else were dating Wonwoo, would it still make you upset?”

“Well, duh! I don’t want to hear about him with a man, period. I’m homophobic!”

Minghao wished that he could hold up a neon sign in front of Mingyu with the message he was trying so hard to convey but failing. He gave it another go.

“Okay. What if you found out Wonwoo also liked women and he had a girlfriend? That wouldn’t bother you then?”

Mingyu squinted at Minghao like he couldn’t figure out why he was asking such a question. Mingyu thought about it. When he thought Wonwoo was dating Yoohyeon- he’s still very embarrassed about that- he wasn’t really upset, just surprised.

He explained his reasoning to Minghao who just nodded. “So seeing a man dating a man makes you uncomfortable?”

“I guess!” Mingyu exclaimed, growing frustrated at himself.

“Okay…Mingyu, I’m bisexual.”

“What does- wait, what?” Mingyu looked at his friend in shock.

Minghao nodded with a solemn smile. “Yep. My first ever partner was a boy in high school. We didn’t last very long but I liked him a lot. Does that bother you?”

Mingyu eyed Minghao as he processed the information he’d just given him. In their two years of being friends they have never brought up sexuality, mostly because Mingyu was still trying to avoid the topic altogether for his own sake. He was more surprised that Minghao never told him but in his defense, there was never a reason to. At their old school, Minghao was in a weird situationship with a girl for a few weeks, so Mingyu had assumed the guy was straight.

Minghao’s face showed pride in his statement. He didn’t look afraid of what Mingyu would say at all. In fact, he looked confident- confident that Mingyu wouldn’t think negatively of him. And the truth was that Mingyu didn’t think negatively of him at all. On the contrary, he felt glad that his friend trusted him enough to tell him. He was happy for him, and he wanted nothing more than to support him. 

“No… no, it doesn’t bother me, Hao,” he said, feeling relief. “Thank you for telling me that.”

Minghao gave his friend a grin and chuckled.

“But wait,” Mingyu said as he closed his eyes to think. “Then why do I feel so annoyed when Wonwoo talks about Alex?”

Minghao gave Mingyu a sympathetic smile and Mingyu’s brain began to connect dots. He immediately disconnected them.The taller boy sat there frozen, like he had glitched for a few moments.

 

“It must be because of how trashy the guy is.” Mingyu finally said, scoffing in attempts to answer his own question. “I ran into him after you left the day after the festival. He had hickeys on his neck,” Mingyu said, shaking his head in disapproval. “How indecent! Like, at least cover them up, you’re a grown man. You know, I’ve never liked people like that.”

Mingyu looked over at his friend who slowly nodded at him with a deadpan expression. He continued.

“L-like, Wonwoo doesn’t go around trying to show everyone his business like that.” Mingyu scoffed again. “At least one of them has some decorum.”

Minghao was now staring at Mingyu, barely moving. “You've never seen hickeys on Wonwoo, I assume?”

Mingyu felt his throat tighten at the thought. He envisioned the boy’s slim neck, pink and blue marks decorating his pale skin. Maybe there would even be some on those delicate, yet prominent collar bones of his.

He swallowed.

“Nope.”

Minghao nodded in feign understanding. “Ah, I see. They would probably be somewhere where people can’t see them. You’re right- very classy.”

Mingyu’s eyebrows raised unwillingly at the thought, as he tried to push his imagination as far away as possible. Before his thoughts could get the best of him, though, Minghao’s voice snapped him back to reality like a light switch.

“You good, Gyu?” Minghao asked with an amused smile.

Mingyu clapped his hands together, forcing a smile. “Yep! Thank you, Hao, I really needed this. Do you want me to make you breakfast?” He said in one breath, motioning to the kitchen. Before his friend could reply, he stood up from the couch and walked out of the living room.

Minghao sighed, now sitting alone. This would take more time and effort than he thought. 

 


 

With three weeks left until finals, the atmosphere on campus had completely shifted. Spots that were previously packed with students looking for an excuse to socialize were now relatively empty, while coffee shops and study lounges began to fill up more and more each day. Wonwoo, with less than a year left until he graduated, could feel laziness beginning to creep in as his brain rationed that because he’s done so well the past three years, one year of doing average wouldn’t hurt.

While Wonwoo was extremely tempted, he did his best to put his all into his work, even if he felt like all the effort wasn’t worth it. Now, here he was: sitting at his desk with his laptop open and notes spread out before him. The soft hum of music played in the background, a calming melody to aid his concentration. He glanced over at the clock; it was late, but he still had a lot of work to do. 

With two presentations due by the end of the week, Wonwoo had made an effort to get started early on so that he wouldn’t be stressing this close to the deadline. However, with RA duties and his good old friend, procrastination, he was barely through the halfway point of his first set of slides, meaning he had two days to complete a week and a half worth of work.

Just as he was about to dive back into his studies, Alex burst into the room, his presence disrupting the tranquil environment Wonwoo had managed to create.

Wonwoo did his best to hold in a groan. To save himself some gas and time, he’s been bringing Alex back to the dorm after picking him up from work instead of taking him home. Wonwoo thought it was the most practical thing to do. He wouldn’t have to spend almost 50 minutes driving every other day and he'd get to spend some time with his boyfriend. However, Wonwoo didn’t account for what it would mean for his sanity taking care of him and keeping him entertained while he’s here.

"I forgot how gross communal bathrooms are," Alex said, flopping onto Wonwoo's bed without so much as a greeting. "What’s for dinner?"

Wonwoo looked up, trying to hide his irritation.  “I haven’t had time to think about dinner yet. I’ve got these important presentations due Friday."

Alex pouted, his brows knitting together. "But I'm starving,” he said with a whine. “Can't you just take a break and cook something? I don’t know how to use your little electric cookpot thing."

Wonwoo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alex, you could order takeout or make a sandwich. I really need to focus right now."

Alex groaned, dramatically throwing an arm over his eyes. "But takeout is so expensive, and sandwiches are boring. Can't you just help me out? Please, baby. I had a long day at work today."

“You had a four hour shift,” Wonwoo wanted to retort.

Yet, he felt a pang of guilt, even though he knew he shouldn't. "Alright, give me a few minutes. I'll make something quick."

Alex immediately perked up, his mood shifting in an instant. "Thanks, babe! You're the best."

As Wonwoo reluctantly got up to head to the small counter where he kept all his instant foods and kitchen supplies, Alex pulled out his phone and started scrolling through social media, completely oblivious to his boyfriend’s mounting irritation. Wonwoo quickly whipped up some macaroni and cheese, placing a bowl in front of Alex before returning to his desk.

"Enjoy," Wonwoo said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

Alex barely looked up. "Thanks," he mumbled, digging in.

Wonwoo sat back down, trying to refocus on his project. But it was hard to concentrate with Alex munching away and occasionally asking questions or showing him something on his phone.

"Look at this, Won!" Alex said, shoving his phone in Wonwoo's face. “Tell me that’s not the funniest thing you’ve ever seen.”

"Yeah," Wonwoo replied, not really looking.

Alex didn’t notice or didn’t care. "So, what are we doing this weekend?" he asked between bites. He scooted to the end of the bed, now sitting directly beside the distressed student.

Wonwoo resisted the urge to sigh. "I’ve got a lot of work and studying to do this weekend. Finals are coming up."

Alex frowned. "But we never do anything fun anymore. You’re always busy with school stuff. You guys have a basketball game Saturday night! I can stay over on Friday when you pick me up and if you want, you can even spend all day doing work. I promise I won’t bother you!” 

It took everything in Wonwoo not to roll his eyes. Everytime Wonwoo tried to do work with Alex there, they ended up going out because Alex gets bored or making out and having sex, all of which would not happen if Alex knew how to preoccupy himself or had something to do.

“I don’t know if I can go to that anymore...”

“What? C’mon, Won. Can't you take a break?"

"I’m doing this for us, Alex. If I don’t keep my GPA up, I can’t land a good job and I can’t provide for us.” Wonwoo almost winced as his own words as he realized how much he was feeding into his boyfriend’s codependent expectations.

Alex huffed. "I know, I know. But sometimes it feels like you don’t care about me anymore."

Wonwoo sighed. "That's not true, Alex. I care about you a lot. But I need to do well in school. Can you please understand that?"

Alex shrugged, looking away. "Okay."

Wonwoo stared at him for a moment, feeling the weight of their relationship pressing down on him. He loved Alex, he wouldn’t have stayed with him this long if he didn’t, but the constant demands and lack of support were starting to take their toll.

"Listen, Alex," Wonwoo began gently, choosing his words carefully. "I just need you to start being more independent. I can't always be there to take care of everything. I need to focus on school, and…you need to find something that makes you happy and fulfilled, too."

Alex looked hurt. "Are you saying you don't want me around?"

Wonwoo shook his head. "No, that's not what I’m saying. I want us to be together, but it has to be a partnership. We both need to support each other."

Alex was silent for a moment, then he nodded slowly. "I’m trying, Won. I’ll try harder, though."

Wonwoo managed a small smile. "Thanks."

As he turned back to his work, Wonwoo couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Things needed to change, but was Alex really willing to make the effort? For now, he just had to hope that their relationship could survive the strain, and he hoped that he didn't have to break up with him even though he knew at the back of his mind he couldn’t live like this forever.

At the end of the week, once Wonwoo had turned in his presentation slides, he made it a goal to start working on his study guide that was somewhere around ten pages long which wasn’t a lot, but once filled out could easily double. 

It was 5pm and Wonwoo was beginning to dread the half mile walk to the school parking lot to get his car. He just felt like the last thing he needed at the moment was to be responsible for more things, such as picking up and dropping off his boyfriend at work.

He kept telling himself that it was worth it. He loved Alex, but being with him was so hard sometimes. If he’s relying so much on him now, what will happen once he graduates? Wonwoo and Alex had planned to move into an apartment as soon as Wonwoo secured a job. Was he really ready to practically be a caretaker?

Sure, they are only 22 years old, and don’t need to have everything figured out, but Wonwoo couldn’t understand how the guy had no real goals.

When asked about his ambitions, Alex shrugged, saying he would like to start a business one day. That made Wonwoo smile, but when he asked for details, Alex simply laughed and replied with, “I don’t know. It could be anything. I just want to say I’m a business owner.”

Wonwoo didn’t have everything planned out yet either, so he felt like he was being a hypocrite at times. He considered working for a year and then returning to get his master’s degree, but all of that was still up in the air.

He thought about Mingyu- how his previous high school bully was achieving crazy good grades in his college courses. He admired the switch he made and how ambitious the boy was now. Given Mingyu’s social and (newly) friendly nature, Wonwoo could absolutely see him working in the medical field. Truthfully, he really admired Mingyu for genuinely wanting to become a doctor and make such an incredible career for himself, but he was also a little jealous that he seemed to be so sure of himself when Wonwoo had a whole year over him.

Regardless, Wonwoo really admired Mingyu’s drive, and felt a little better about the fact that he used to have a crush on him, his mind justifying that he must have seen the potential in him all along, despite how he treated him. Wonwoo knew there was more to him that meets the eye, and he selfishly was relieved that he was right. He even wished he could see some of that ambition, some of that potential, in Alex, but the boy was doing a really poor job of showing Wonwoo that that was the case.

Wonwoo sighed as Alex’s ringtone rang and his contact picture lit up his phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, babe. I just wanted to let you know you don’t have to pick me up today. I’m going over to my friend's and going to stay at hers. She’s having a pasta cooking party, wanna come?”

Wonwoo closed his eyes, feeling guilty for being relieved he didn’t have to be around him, when all he was doing was inviting him out with his friends. Either way, he still had a lot of work to do. “Okay, no worries. I, uh, still have a lot to do today, but you have fun okay?”

He could practically hear his boyfriend’s mood change. 

Alex sighed, audibly upset. “Thought you might want to see each other after being distant for so long, but I see. It’s fine.”

“Alex…”

“I have to go. Bye.”

Wonwoo closed his eyes and tossed his phone off to the side. 

Everything was fine when he and Alex first started dating: they would attend study sessions together, make dates out of going to the library, respect each other’s busy schedules and were arguably a lot more affectionate towards each other. Then Alex dropped out and the dynamic slowly shifted into something so exhausting for Wonwoo. He tried to be understanding when Alex told him he wasn't planning on enrolling again next year, but had he known it would lead him to be so codependent and cause so much friction between them, he probably would have tried harder to stop him.

Wonwoo tried to push back the guilt as much as he could and focus on getting some work done. The next morning, he woke up bright and early to walk to their building’s study lounge, hoping to find it relatively empty so he could focus. He was disappointed to see a large figure in a black hoodie hunched over the center table, facing away from him. The person had a laptop and pieces of paper scattered around the table, which left no space for anyone else to sit there.

Wonwoo rolled his eyes and made his way towards a single desk that was secluded in the far corner. He dropped his backpack on the desk rather obnoxiously before unzipping it and pulling out his computer. He glanced over to the individual at the table and finally got a good look at their face.

Mingyu sat there in concentration, eyebrows furrowed as he read through a passage of his textbook, occasionally picking up his pen to take notes on his very noticeably worn out notebook. His lips would pout from time to time as he looked between his textbook and his notebook. For a split second, seeing Mingyu in this setting brought Wonwoo back to their high school days and the way he used to admire Mingyu from the far end of the classroom because, well, he just looked so damn cute.

His mannerisms seemed to have not changed very much, and something about that realization made Wonwoo feel just a little bit jittery.

“Wonwoo? Hey!”

Wonwoo’s eyes widened in horror, realizing he was definitely caught staring. “Oh. Hi, Mingyu. Working on something too, I see.”

Mingyu smiled softly. “Just a dumb study guide. Our professor didn’t provide us one so I’m making one myself,” he replied, looking down at the array of notes in front of him. 

“I’m not even gonna lie. That sounds awful.”

Mingyu laughed, perfect teeth on display. “It is.”

“Is there a specific reason you came here so early?” Wonwoo asked.

The taller boy pursed his lips. “I got here three hours ago, actually.”

Wonwoo smiled, obviously amused. “What? Why?”

“I just felt bad waking up my roommate. There’s also a basketball game today I wanted to go to so I wanna get as much work done as possible before then. Are you going?”

“Hm? To the basketball game?”

Mingyu nodded, his eyes fixed on the other.

“I was,” Wonwoo said, taking a seat, his bag sitting on his desk still unpacked except for his mac. “I don’t know now, though. I also have a study guide to work on.”

Mingyu’s gaze faltered for a second and then settled directly on Wonwoo again. He lowered his eyebrows slightly in curiosity. “Who were you gonna go with?”

Wonwoo sighed.“I was gonna go with Alex, but I told him I probably wouldn’t go.”

Mingyu nodded in understanding. “I think you should go, though. It could be like a reward for working so hard,” he said sincerely.

“Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t think Alex would want to come with me anymore,” Wonwoo replied, recalling their last interaction. Sadness and anxiety stirred in his gut at the memory.

Mingyu licked his lips and looked away in thought. “If you want you can hang out with me and my friends. They’re the ones you made drinks for at the festival, not sure if you remember. It’s only three of us right now so it wouldn't be awkward or anything if you were to come.”

Wonwoo considered it. He remembered Mingyu’s friends. Well, he remembers the girl that was grinding on him on the dance floor. He only barely remembered the others.

When Wonwoo didn’t say anything, Mingyu spoke up. “Okay, what if we do this: we set goals for ourselves and work here all day together. That way, we can hold each other accountable. So like, if I see you on your phone or something I can call you out and you can do the same for me. Then, if we get enough done, we can go to the game. Together."

Mingyu’s determination at having Wonwoo attend the game was endearing. Wonwoo couldn't help the grin that spread on his lips and did his best to ignore the heat that flushed on his face. “I guess that couldn’t hurt.”

Mingyu smiled. “Great. And of course if at the end you still have work to do, you don’t have to go. I just… I know how hard you work Wonwoo. I think this could be fun,” he said feeling purposeful. His face changed into playful concern. “Unless, you absolutely hate my company I would never force you to have to be around me-”

“Yeah, you know, I wasn’t gonna say anything….” Wonwoo played along.

“No, I understand. It’s the nasally voice isn’t it?”

“The nasally voice, bumping into things all the time…”

“Right. Right.”

“Just a walking safety hazard.”

Wonwoo and Mingyu looked at each other for a few seconds with serious expressions, before they both burst out laughing. Mingyu moved his stuff over so that Wonwoo could sit at the far end of the table. Wonwoo walked his things over and began to set up his work space.

“Okay. Let’s work until…” Mingyu glanced down at his phone. “9:30. After that, we can take a thirty minute break and then keep going until lunch time.”

Wonwoo nodded along. “Sounds good.” He put on headphones and got to work as did the boy a few seats away from him.

For the first few hours, the room was filled with the sound of typing and the soft sound of pen on paper. Wonwoo was working on his own study guide, his notes meticulous and color-coded. Mingyu, on the other hand, deep into his biochemistry review, occasionally muttering chemical formulas under his breath. They found a steady rhythm, occasionally glancing up to share a smile or a look of mutual exhaustion.

A few hours after their first break, they decided it was time for lunch. Mingyu and Wonwoo both made their way up to their dorm rooms, cooking up something quick or, in Wonwoo’s case, microwaving some leftovers he had from the day before. They returned to the study room and sat back, stretching their legs and chatting about anything but school. Wonwoo laughed at Mingyu's dry humor about the intensity of their workload, and Mingyu teased Wonwoo about his perfectly organized notes.

“You can’t just write Dementia in a glitter, gel pen,” Mingyu said laughing as he looked at Wonwoo’s notebook. 

“Sure I can,” Wonwoo replied with a flat expression. “It’s the title, see?”

After lunch, they dove back into their work, refreshed but still feeling the weight of the work they still had to do. They worked in silence for another hour or so, only breaking it to ask each other for the time or to stop and complain to one another.

 By mid-afternoon, their focus began to wane, and they decided to take another break. This time, they headed to the campus café for a quick coffee run.

When they arrived at the café, Mingyu reached for the door handle but pushed it instead of pulling. He stumbled slightly, nearly knocking into Wonwoo, who laughed.

"Smooth," Wonwoo teased with a playful grin.

Mingyu rolled his eyes, cheeks flushing. "I was just testing the door's integrity."

"And did it pass your inspection?" 

Mingyu shrugged dramatically. "Barely. Might need to file a report."

They returned to the study room, iced coffees in their hands. The sunlight had shifted, casting a warm light through the windows. 

Wonwoo's thoughts occasionally wandered to the basketball game, imagining the excitement of the crowd and the break from their studies. The desire to go was suddenly more prevalent.

As the clock neared 6:30, they started wrapping up their work. Mingyu stretched his arms above his head, feeling the stiffness from sitting for so long. They shared a look of relief, knowing they had put in a solid day's work.

"So… the game?" Mingyu asked with a hopeful tone, as he began packing up his things.

Wonwoo glanced at his notes and felt a sense of accomplishment, even though there was still much to do. He feltrelief, knowing he had put in a solid day's work. He definitely got more done than he expected to.

Wonwoo smiled as the tall man in front of him made something dangerously close to puppy eyes. “Sure, why not.”

Mingyu grinned excitedly, eyes crinkling as he patted his friend on the back. “That’s the spirit!” 

After going back to their rooms to shower and change, they made their way to the front of the building. Mingyu and Wonwoo stepped out of the dorm hall, the evening air crisp and filled with the sounds of distant chatter and excitement. They spotted Jungkook and Minnie already waiting. Minnie was gesturing animatedly about something, while Jungkook listened with a bemused expression.

As they approached, Minnie turned her attention to Mingyu, her face lighting up. “There he is! We were beginning to think you’d bailed on us.”

Mingyu laughed. “Minnie, Jungkook, this is Wonwoo. He’s...”

“Oh, the bartender!” Minnie interrupted, her eyes widening in recognition.“I remember you.”

Wonwoo gave a shy smile. “Yeah. Nice to meet you both properly.”

Minnie nodded as they all began to walk. “So, Wonwoo, what was it like being trapped in a room with this yapper?”

Mingyu shot her a glare. “Look who’s talking.”

As they walked towards the school arena, Mingyu realized that he had never been to this side of campus. The arena was a little off to the side, a busy street between it and the main campus. The walk was challenging, though, thanks to the hills that practically made up their campus.

“I told you we should’ve left earlier,” Minnie said, looking at her phone as she walked ahead of them and beside Jungkook. “We’re gonna miss the tip-off.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “We’ve got plenty of time. You always worry about nothing.”

“It’s not nothing! I don’t want to stand at the back and miss all the action.”

“Well, if someone hadn’t taken so long to choose an outfit…”

Minnie smacked his arm lightly. “You know I have to look good.”

“All that time just to throw on a school hoodie. Wow, Minnie, you look so good,” Jungkook retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mingyu and Wonwoo exchanged amused looks.

“They seem...fun,” Wonwoo pointed out.

“They are. Honestly, I don't know where the bickering comes from,” Mingyu said, shaking his head. 

Wonwoo stayed silent for a few moments before he breathed out a laugh. “You can definitely tell they like each other.”

For some reason, Mingyu felt his face heat up. He let out a chuckle. “That obvious, huh?”

“Yeah. The bickering, teasing each other but always together? That’s how it always starts…”

Mingyu swallowed, unable to look at Wonwoo as he just focused on the path in front of him. He wondered if that’s how it began with him and Alex, but he also really didn’t want to fucking know. God, he can’t stand that guy.

“Yeah…” Mingyu said after a few beats.

They finally arrived at the arena and got in line, the tension Mingyu felt on his chest lessening as they approached the entrance. The sounds of the crowd grew louder, and the energy was infectious.

They got their mobile tickets scanned and made their way inside, the anticipation of the game adding a hop of excitement to their steps. 

“Snacks?” Jungkook suggested as they all stood there, admiring the massive structure that their tuitions probably helped fund.

The four walked through the crowds of people in sports gear, the environment so much more lively than what Mingyu could have imagined. An array of people in the notorious red and white school colors stood around, excitedly chatting among each other and taking photos in their basketball gear and fan jerseys. 

“What are you gonna get?” Mingyu asked, looking down at Wonwoo who stood in front of him in the queue in the snack bar. The line was packed and relatively crowded which left little space between them. 

“Huh?” Wonwoo hummed, spaced out. “Oh, um…” The older boy looked up at the menu, pushing his glasses up.

Suddenly the group of rowdy college kids behind Mingyu bumped into him causing him to walk into Wonwoo, steadying himself on the sides of his jacket.

“Sorry,” Mingyu muttered, immediately letting go. 

What the fuck are you so nervous about? He asked himself as his eyes began to blink profusely and his heart began to race.

Wonwoo merely turned to the commotion and back to the menu, completely unphased. “You’re good. I think I’m gonna get a corn dog."

They made their way to the front, Minnie and Jungkook ordering three different platters to split between the two of them. When Wonwoo walked up, Mingyu found himself following behind him as he ordered.

“Hi, can I just have a corn dog please?” Wonwoo asked politely as the young student worker typed in the order.

“And a plate of nachos, please,” Mingyu added, pulling out his credit card and handing it over. The worker smiled and took his card to complete the transaction.

“Oh, I- I can pay you back-”

“It’s fine. It’s, like, seven dollars,” Mingyu said with a chuckle as he took his card back. The two grabbed their food and walked over to Minnie and Jungkook who were waiting for them over to the side.

“Seriously, Mingyu, you didn’t have to-”

“Oh my God, shut up. Think of it as me paying you back for helping me study today,” Mingyu said, playfully rolling his eyes.

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, his lips pulling to a small smirk. “If I had known coming to this basketball game with you included free food I would’ve said yes much sooner.”

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows in fake offense. “Are you saying just my company isn’t enough?”

Wonwoo looked at him dead in the eye, taking a large bite of his corn dog, expression flat. “Yeah,” he deadpanned, mouth full of food.

Mingyu gave an amused look, shoving Wonwoo who just chuckled.

They found their friends, and the four of them made their way to their seats in the middle of the upper section of the stadium.

By the beginning of the second quarter, the game was going well, with their team maintaining a solid lead. All four of them were caught up in the excitement, cheering and clapping as the players made impressive shots. The energy in the arena was electric, but Mingyu couldn't help but notice that Wonwoo seemed… distracted. 

Mingyu watched as every few minutes, Wonwoo would glance down at his phone, a deep frown on his face

"Everything okay?" Mingyu asked during a particularly loud cheer, trying to keep his tone casual.

Wonwoo forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, just some stuff… with Alex."

Mingyu sighed. He wanted to pry further, but he held back, not wanting to overstep. He returned his attention to the game, but his mind kept drifting back to Wonwoo. He rolled his shoulders, trying to ground himself and release the irritable tension he felt in his gut at the mention of Alex.

When the buzzer signaled a timeout, Wonwoo's phone buzzed again. This time, he sighed heavily and stood up. "I'll be right back," he muttered, making his way toward the exit.

Mingyu poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, trying his best to remain neutral, although frustration and worry began to build up and stack inside of him. 

“Is he okay?” Minnie asked with genuine concern. A drinking helmet with two root beers on either side sat on top of her head with the straw hovering near her mouth.

It was really hard for Mingyu to take her seriously.

“Yeah, he’s good.”

Roughly ten minutes passed, and Mingyu's concern grew. Unable to focus on the game, he shot up from his seat and decided to go check on his friend. 

He looked in the men’s restroom and then near the snack bar again.After a bit of searching in the empty hallways, he found him near the exit of the arena, pacing and talking on the phone in an agitated tone.

"Alex, I told you, I wasn’t planning to come here without you I just- no! It's not fair to just expect me to drop everything for you," Wonwoo was saying, his voice strained.

Mingyu hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but he could hear Alex's loud, angry voice even from a distance. He couldn’t make out what he was saying but he knew it was probably dumb and selfish and most importantly, hurtful to Wonwoo. 

Taking a deep breath, he approached Wonwoo who glanced at him, a mix of frustration and relief on his face.

"Alex, I need to go, seriously… I’m sorry, too. We'll talk later," Wonwoo said abruptly, hanging up and shoving his phone into his pocket. He took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes before putting them back on. 

The sight made Mingyu’s distaste for Alex grow even more if possible.

"Sorry about that."

Mingyu shook his head. "No need to apologize. You okay?"

Wonwoo shrugged, looking away. "It's just...Alex can be so needy sometimes. He hadn’t talked to me since last night. I texted him multiple times today but he left me on read. He only replied after I told him I was going to the game with you guys and got upset because I didn't invite him, but why the hell would I invite someone who’s upset with me?” 

Mingyu frowned, feeling for the obviously stressed out boy in front of him. "That sounds tough. He needs to understand you have other things going on in your life too."

Wonwoo nodded, leaning against the wall. "Yeah. It's like he expects me to be just one call away at all times. I care about him, but it's fucking exhausting."

Mingyu bit his lip, debating whether to say what was on his mind. "You know, Wonwoo, Alex...doesn't sound like he's being fair to you. I know I’m not the person who should be lecturing you on how you should be treated given everything I’ve done, but you deserve someone who respects your time and independence. I honestly don’t think he’s doing that.”

Wonwoo looked at Mingyu, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes. "You think?"

Mingyu nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I can tell how much this is bothering you. I’m not here to tell you what to do but… you shouldn't have to deal with someone who's so controlling."

Wonwoo's expression softened."I know that… I guess it’s just nice to hear someone else say it. I’m so tired of feeling like the bad guy, you know?” he said, his eyes pleading. The expression made Mingyu want nothing more than to pull him into a hug and tell him to dump that ugly bastard once and for all. “Thanks, Mingyu."

Mingyu gave a hesitant smile and shrugged. "Just speaking the truth. You deserve better."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the sounds of the game fading into the background. Mingyu felt a rush of emotions—sympathy for Wonwoo and something he couldn't quite place.

"Come on," he finally said, gently nudging Wonwoo's shoulder. "Let's get back to the game. Our team needs us."

Wonwoo gave a grateful smile and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

As they made their way back to their seats, Mingyu couldn't shake the feeling that this was a turning point. He glanced over at Wonwoo who sat beside him, his expression still a little bit distant, obviously phased by his phone call with Alex. Mingyu swallowed and curled his fingers where they sat on his lap, his heart still racing. He wasn’t sure what was going on with him today, but he knew one thing for sure: he was determined to be there for Wonwoo, no matter what. He owed it to him.






Notes:

"DUMP HIM!" mingyu and i say in unision

Chapter 9: My Demands Aren't High To Make

Notes:

wonwoo i love you

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Now with one week until finals, Wonwoo’s body began to shut down due to fatigue. He found himself lying down and taking a nap any opportunity he had. While most of his assignments were completed, the weight of having to take four exams in one week was still a dreadful thought.

His phone dinged and he groaned. Who could be texting him this early? He grabbed his phone, a bored expression on his face replaced by a wide grin when he saw the sender.

He and Mingyu have been texting pretty regularly since the basketball game- mostly to send each other memes or TikToks. Mingyu had just sent him a meme of a cat seemingly cooking with multiple small fires all over the stove. 

 

The caption read: When you have multiple things going on at once but have to pretend everything’s fine. Wonwoo laughed and typed out a response.

Wonwoo : Tell me about it. I think I've consumed more coffee than water this week.

Mingyu: Think I have more coffee running through my veins now than blood

Wonwoo: We'll both be walking zombies by the end of finals

Mingyu: Zombie study group? We can groan about how much we hate school while eating brains... I mean snacks 

Wonwoo: Sounds good. I’ll bring the snacks if you bring the brains

Mingyu: Just don’t expect gourmet brains. I’m on a student budget :/

Wonwoo: It's ok I'm not picky

Mingyu: We should celebrate after finals. Maybe hit up that boba place again? Person with the lower grades pays

Wonwoo: Easy for you to say mr. “I haven’t received anything lower than an A- this entire quarter”

Mingyu: damn I thought you would forget about that

Wonwoo: You know what though? let's do it. I’m feeling lucky

Mingyu : That’s the spirit! It’ll be our post-apocalyptic reward

 

Smiling to himself and feeling a little lighter than he did when he woke up, Wonwoo got up from bed and made his way to the bathroom to get ready. Wonwoo, despite the upcoming stressors that would present themselves next week, felt a sense of relief. He reflected on the past quarter- how it seemed to just fly by and all the surprises and unexpected events he encountered. He would be graduating in no time, and he couldn’t help the bittersweet sensation of starting a new chapter of his life but leaving one that did so well by him.

College was where Wonwoo was able to heal and truly find himself. He was able to achieve things for himself that went beyond just doing well in school. He was able to make friends, find love, and even get to know himself a little better, establishing a stronger sense of his identity. 

When he returned to his room, he was greeted by his phone ringing. 

“Hello?”

“Won!” Soonyoung screeched in his ear. “Let me facetime you!”

Before Wonwoo could respond, a facetime request appeared on his phone. Confused but intrigued, Wonwoo pressed his thumb on the bottom of the screen to accept the call.

Soonyoung’s face appeared, taking up the entire screen. He wore a large grin, his eyes turning to crescents.

“What’s up?” Wonwoo asked, feeling even more confused.

“Look who I’m with…” Soonyoung sing-songed as he panned the camera to his left. 

Wonwoo’s eyes widened, his face expression now resembling Soonyoung’s. “Jun?!”

“Wonwoo!” The now red haired man exclaimed as he took the phone. “I’m in L.A.!”

Wonwoo laughed in disbelief. “I can see that, what are you doing here?”

“My parents wanted to visit family up north. I thought I would stay here for a few days, and I wanted to surprise you!”

Wonwoo could cry. He hadn’t seen Jun in nearly two years, only talking every so often through social media and over text as Jun’s school work was a lot more rigorous than Wonwoo could probably imagine. There were instances where they went weeks without speaking to one another, but being childhood friends, reconnecting always felt like no time had passed.

Soonyoung took the phone, extending his arm so they were both in frame. “He surprised me at my apartment but he won’t be able to stay because I have a roommate. We were thinking if he could stay with you since you have your own room?” Soonyoung asked, hopeful.

Jun took the phone once again. “I’m only here for two nights. I can cook, clean, buy dinner, you name it. Soonyoung told me you have finals coming up. I can be out most of the day if you need.”

Wonwoo could tell Jun felt bad asking and looked at him like he was crazy. “Are you kidding? You could stay here for a month if you needed. Of course, Jun.”

“Oh, thank God,” Soonyoung exasperated rather dramatically. “I’m done with my classes. What time can we swing by?”

Wonwoo gave them a rundown on his schedule for the day, taking into account that he would have to drive Alex home from work. Knowing his friends’ disapproval of his boyfriend, he didn't think that detail was worth mentioning.

After a few more minutes on the phone with them, Wonwoo said his goodbye, already feeling optimistic and excited for this upcoming week. It felt like his worries were diminishing little by little. He had completed his study guides and turned in his assignments already. All that was left now was to attend his class review sessions and study, but the busy work was practically done.

There was one thing looming over him like a gray cloud ready to start raining on him any second: Alex. The day after the basketball game, he and Alex were able to talk, both of them apologizing to the other. Yet, Wonwoo couldn’t help the looming feeling that this wasn’t going to get any better. It was entirely possible that Wonwoo wasn’t communicating the best he could, but that’s hard to do when the other person refuses to change. That’s the thing, though, maybe he shouldn’t be with Alex if he needed him to change.

But it was so hard. They have been together for a little over two years now. Most of Wonwoo’s college experience included him. They grew together and made so many memories with one another. At this point, breaking up with him was like dropping a habit cold turkey. Despite all their issues, Wonwoo knew this break up would not be easy for him.

Wonwoo went about his day attempting to push the stressful thoughts aside and focus on the fact that his two best friends were coming over to visit him tonight. He thought about catching up with Jun, maybe going out for a few drinks as the three of them now that Wonwoo has significantly less work to do. Still, he couldn't help the slight dread as he waited in traffic later in the day on the way to Alex’s place of work. He pulled into the parking lot and texted him to let him know he was outside.

After a few minutes, he saw his boyfriend walk out of the glass doors of the shopping mall, giving him a small smile as he walked to the car. Wonwoo returned the smile and unlocked the door.

“Hey, babe,” he said, leaning over to give Wonwoo a kiss at the temple. 

Wonwoo sighed internally. He couldn't help the part of his mind that kept telling him he would miss this, as if it knew that this would come to an end soon even if Wonwoo himself didn’t want to admit it.

“Hey,” Wonwoo replied, tone casual. He put his car in reverse and pulled out of his parking spot before making his way out of the parking lot. “How was work?”

“Oh my God, Won. I think I encountered a ‘Karen’ today,” Alex replied with a laugh. The twenty five minute drive to Alex’s mom’s place was mostly filled with Alex ranting about work with Wonwoo occasionally sharing a laugh with him. He did his best to ignore the feeling of doom that would stir in his gut every time Alex mentioned something in the future tense.

Alex gave his hand a squeeze before getting out of the car once they arrived. “Love you!”

“Love you too,” Wonwoo replied, a little less enthusiastically. He watched as his boyfriend made his way inside before he let his head fall onto his steering wheel, mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Wonwoo was sprawled out on his bed, idly scrolling through his phone and listening to music. 

There was a knock on the door, and he jumped up to his feet, already smiling. He opened the door to find Soonyoung and Jun standing there, grinning widely. 

"Jun!" He exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. "God, it's been way too long."

"I missed you, man," Jun said, his voice thick with emotion. "It's so good to be back."

Soonyoung rolled his eyes playfully. "Okay, okay, save some of the love for me too," he joked, stepping into the room and making himself comfortable on Wonwoo's bean bag chair. "You didn't hug me that tight when I got back from my internship that one time."

Wonwoo rolled his eyes, patting Soonyoung on the back. "Make yourself at home, Jun. You can put your suitcase in my closet.”

Jun smiled and did as told before taking a seat on Wonwoo’s bed, looking around the room. His dorm room was a cozy space, adorned with posters of his favorite bands and plenty of plants. "This place is nice. Very...Wonwoo."

"Thanks," Wonwoo said, sitting down at his desk and grabbing his phone. "So, how was the flight?"

Jun launched into a story about his journey. Soonyoung and Wonwoo listened, occasionally interjecting. 

"And then there was this kid sitting behind me who must have had like ten energy drinks before the flight. He wouldn't stop kicking my seat and when I turned around to ask him to stop, he flicked me off,” Jun recounted with a shake of his head.

Soonyoung burst out laughing while Wonwoo gave a sorry expression. "You should’ve offered him some sleeping pills."

Jun grinned. "I wish! The kid somehow managed to spill his orange juice on my seat, too. So there I was, sitting in a sticky mess for the rest of the flight."

Soonyoung snorted. "Damn. Did you at least get some compensation?"

"No! The flight attendant just gave me extra napkins and a tiny fucking bottle of water. And then, towards the end, the kid's mom finally noticed and tried to apologize by giving me her tiny bag of airline pretzels."

"Wow, that's rough,” Wonwoo said in amusement. “But hey, at least you made it here in one piece."

Jun sighed. "Yeah, barely.”

"Well, we’re glad you survived the trip. Maybe next time, take a boat," Soonyoung replied with a serious expression.

Jun looked at Soonyoung, nodding in sarcastic agreement. “Right. Yeah. Nothing says 'smooth journey' like crossing the Pacific in a rowboat."

Soonyoung narrowed his eyes at his friend. “I never said row boat, loser, you could easily take motor boat or some-”

Wonwoo let out a loud yawn and stood up, stretching his arms. “All right. You guys hungry? I can swipe you into the dining hall.”

The three friends made their way to the dining hall, weaving through the bustling crowd of studen ts. Jun's eyes lit up at the sight of the food options, and he piled his plate high with burgers, fries, and a generous slice of pizza. Wonwoo and Soonyoung laughed at their friend’s antics, slightly embarrassed at the exaggerated amount of food on his plate. They eventually found a table at the back, away from the noise, and settled in. The atmosphere was cozy, filled with the familiar comfort of one another that they haven’t experienced in way too long as the last time Jun came to visit was over three years ago. 

As they dug into their meals, their conversation flowed easily, mostly filled with laughter and typical banter. But eventually, the topic shifted to more personal matters. Soonyoung, being the blunt person he is, brought up a topic Wonwoo had tried his best to avoid, though he should have known it was going to come up anyway. 

"So, how's your, uh, boyfriend?" he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral but failing to hide his disapproval completely.

Wonwoo sighed, leaning back against his chair. "He's... okay. You know how he is.”

Jun frowned, concern evident in his eyes. "What's going on,Won?"

"It's just... Alex has been really dependent on me. It's starting to feel more like a chore than a relationship," Wonwoo admitted, running a hand through his hair. “And I just don’t know how much longer I could put up with it. He said he would try to change but… nothing has.”

Soonyoung shook his head, looking frustrated. "I've told you before, Won, you deserve better than someone who just leeches off you,” he said gesturing with his fork, cheeks filled with spaghetti.

Jun nodded in agreement, though his tone was more gentle. "We just want you to be happy, you know? If he's not making you happy, maybe it's time to reconsider things."

Wonwoo looked down at his plate, feeling a mix of emotions. He rubbed at his eyebrow."I know you guys are right. It's just hard. He’s not a great partner but he’s a good person. I don't want to hurt him."

"We get that," Soonyoung said, his voice softer now. "But you can't sacrifice your own happiness for someone else's sake. You've done enough of that. It’s like he wants to indirectly control you or something."

Wonwoo sighed. “Yeah, that’s what Mingyu said. I guess it’s just hard because I’m still fixating on all the good times we had. It’s hard to let go and…what?” 

Jun and Soonyoung, who sat across from him, were leaning forward, looking at him like he just grew a third eye. 

“Did you say that’s what Mingyu said?” Soonyoung asked in disbelief.

Wonwoo’s eyes widened for a split second before he sighed and nodded. “Yeah. Mingyu.”

“What?!” Soonyoung practically yelled, getting some looks from the tables near them. 

“Wait. Mingyu? Like from high school? You talk to him?” Jun questioned, also beginning to raise his voice.

“S-Soonyoung said I should act apathetic about everything to show him I don’t care anymore!” Wonwoo argued in his own defense.

“Yeah!” Soonyoung exclaimed with a dry laugh. “As in make him your bitch not open up to him about your relationship problems?”

Jun looked at Wonwoo in disbelief. “Do you talk to him a lot? Oh my God. Are you guys friends?”

Wonwoo looked up at the ceiling then back to his plate. “We don’t see each other really we just, you know, run into each other. We live in the same building so…”

Jun and Soonyoung squinted at him, not fully convinced.

“Okay fine. We’ve hung out a few times and text from time to time. Guys, I swear, he’s changed. He’s really nice and apologized multiple times for what happened. If you guys were to meet him now you wouldn’t even recognize-”

“Kwon Soonyoung, put the knife down,” Jun said with a stern expression as he looked over at the blonde who was gripping the utensil.

Wonwoo sighed. “I know you guys are wary of him and you have every right to be. But Mingyu’s been good company this past semester. We’re just acquainted with one another- that’s it.”

Soonyoung remained still, visibly upset.

Jun hesitated for a few seconds before he spoke. “We believe you, Won. But you have to understand it from our point of view. We watched that boy and his friends torment you, and occasionally us, everyday. He turned you into someone… broken. Do you know how hard that was? To watch you lose yourself like that?” 

Jun paused for a few seconds and regained his composure. “We just don’t want you to go through that again. The only thing we know about this guy is what he showed us in high school.”

Wonwoo sighed, eyeing his friends. Jun gave a sympathetic look, while Soonyoung looked down with a distant expression, not saying a word.

“I know you guys don’t like him, and that’s fine, really. It’s possible you guys won’t ever have to interact with him anyway. Just… don’t be upset with me, and please trust me. I’m not the same broken kid I used to be- you guys don’t have to take care of me anymore.”

Jun nodded in agreement with a soft smile. He looked over at Soonyoung and immediately rolled his eyes. “Oh brother…”

The blonde boy was pouting and patting his teary eyes with his sleeves. “I’m sorry I gave you such shitty advice.”

Wonwoo laughed. “It’s okay, Soon. It’s not your fault. If it makes you feel any better- I didn't take it.”

Soonyoung nodded, sniffling. “Okay, I’m glad- wait what? Hey! Why not?”

Jun and Wonwoo laughed at the complete shift in his tone as it went from sulky to offended.

Jun reached out and squeezed Wonwoo's shoulder. "We're here for you, no matter what.”

Wonwoo managed a small smile, feeling grateful for his friends' support. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."

Soonyoung nodded in response, wiping his nose with his sleeve. “You should definitely break up with that moron, though.”

The conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics, the tension easing as they caught up on other aspects of their lives. Laughter filled the table once again as they shared old stories and new updates about their individual lives. As the evening wore on, Wonwoo felt a sense of comfort and relief. It was comforting to know that no matter what happened with Alex, he knew he had friends who genuinely cared about him and wanted the best for him. 

The next two days were probably some of the most enjoyable ones Wonwoo has had all quarter as they made the most of Jun’s visit. They typically started with lazy mornings, lounging in Wonwoo's dorm room, talking about everything under the sun. Jun shared hilarious stories from his time in China, keeping Wonwoo in the loop. The nostalgia was comforting, and their bond felt as strong as ever. Soonyoung made sure to drive over to Wonwoo’s early in the morning so that he could spend the day with them.

When Wonwoo was in class, Soonyoung and Jun would explore the campus. Wonwoo had shown them the student center, where they grabbed coffee and played a few rounds of pool. 

Exiting class to Soonyoung and Jun waiting for him outside the lecture hall almost made Wonwoo emotional. He felt like this is what it would have been like if they all went to the same college. It reminded him of old times.

In the evening, they headed to a local brewery, treating themselves to a few beers and some food. Jun indulged in a heavy meal, savoring every bite as if it were a rare treat. 

"God, I’ve missed this," Jun cooed, after their server had left. "Good old American grease!"

Soonyoung shook his head in disgust. "You know that stuff is going straight to your arteries, right?"

"Don’t care." Jun retorted, sliding over his plate with burgers and fries with another side plate of bacon. "Besides, I need to bulk up. I’m skinnier than Wonwoo now. We can’t have that."

Wonwoo laughed, poking at his asada fries. "Just don’t blame us if you pass out from a food coma halfway through dinner."

Jun took a big bite of his burger. "If I go down, I go down happy."

Wonwoo smirked. "Yeah, you say that now. Wait until you try to button your jeans tomorrow."

Jun shrugged, unbothered. "Worth it."

The next morning, they hit the gym, where Wonwoo showed off his workout routine. Jun and Soonyoung tried to keep up, but they ended up laughing more than working out and teasing Wonwoo in the process. By noon, they were all in high spirits. As they walked back to Wonwoo's room, they reflected on how good it felt to be together again, even if just for a short time. However, they all felt the unsettling feeling as Jun began to pack up. A car that his parents had chartered would be picking him up soon to take him to the airport. He would be taking a one hour flight up north to meet with his parents and visiting extended family there.

“We’ll walk you to the pick up spot,” Wonwoo said with slight sadness as Jun pulled up the handle of his suitcase. After a long group hug, the boys made their way into the elevator and then out the building.

“Thanks for letting me stay, Won. I promise I’ll come often once I graduate,” Jun said with a sad smile.

“Fuck that, dude. Just move back!” Soonyoung exclaimed with a hopeful expression.

Jun laughed and shrugged. “Hey, I’m not completely against the idea. As long as I can find a job, I’m totally-”

“Hey! It’s Wonwoo!” a female voice yelled, causing them all to look around for the source.

Wonwoo finally spotted Minnie who was waving enthusiastically at him, holding a cup of frozen yogurt. Behind her, trailed her sidekicks: Jungkook and Mingyu who also held their own frozen desserts in their hand. 

Mingyu was wearing a large white t-shirt with a backwards cap, and with the sunlight hitting him directly like this, he almost looked like a model. Before Wonwoo could scold himself for his thoughts, he saw Mingyu’s expression morph in a matter of seconds. The taller boy smiled pleasantly at Wonwoo before he glanced at Soonyoung and Jun. He squinted his eyes slightly before his face went from confusion, to recognition, and ultimately, fear.

Wonwoo swallowed and made the ballsy decision to look at his friends’ reactions. Jun looked apprehensive, not knowing what to do. He looked over to Soonyoung and his heart almost fell to his ass. Soonyoung was looking directly at the approaching figures, pissed off beyond Wonwoo’s comprehension. If looks could kill, Mingyu would be dead yesterday.

“Hey, Wonwoo! Are these your friends?” Minnie asked, the three of them stopping in front of them. Bless this girl and her extroversion.

Mingyu’s eyes wavered sporadically as Jungkook devoured his frozen yogurt, oblivious to the tension.

“Y-yeah. This is my friend Soonyoung and this is Jun- he’s visiting from China.”

“Hi!” She said waving sweetly at them. “I’m Minnie.”

 

God, this is awkward

 

Mingyu nodded, facial expression now a little more relaxed. “Soonyoung, Jun, it’s good to see you guys again.”

“Hi, Mingyu,” Jun deadpanned, forcing a small smile.

For a few seconds it was silent, nobody said a word. Then, Wonwoo watched in horror as Soonyoung walked in front of him and Jun. He wanted to pull him back but Jun grabbed Wonwoo’s wrist to stop him from doing so.

Soonyoung, being just a few inches shorter than Mingyu, looked up at him, a painful look on his face. Wonwoo wasn’t sure if he was going to cry or yell at the guy.

Mingyu stood his ground, looking down at him, but not appearing intimidating. Rather, his face was calm, like he genuinely wanted to listen to what Soonyoung was gonna say. 

Soonyoung’s nostrils flared slightly before he spoke up. “I should punch you across the face right now, you know that right?”

“Yo, what the fuck?” Jungkook said defensively, walking towards Soonyoung. Mingyu put his arm out, giving Jungkook a reassuring look.

He looked back at Soonyoung. “I know,” Mingyu said, sincerely. “I don’t think there’s anything I can say to make you guys forgive me and I’m not trying to get you to do that…but I do regret the way I acted with you guys-”

“Good,” Soonyoung spat. He looked over at Jungkook and Minnie. “Nice to meet you guys.” He walked away, in the direction they were originally headed. Minnie and Jungkook looked upset and confused, glancing at Mingyu for some answers.

Jun nodded in acknowledgement, eyeing Mingyu one more time before walking away with his suitcase. 

Wonwoo stared at Mingyu, who had taken it upon himself to acknowledge the two boys, knowing they were unhappy with him- how he was willing to listen to what Soonyoung had to say. He could have just stood there in silence or left, but he didn’t.

“I’ll catch you guys later,” Wonwoo said, throat feeling dry. He turned on his heel and walked away, still processing what just happened as well as his own emotions.

Mingyu watched them leave, biting his lip, feeling slightly disappointed, but also a little bit of relief.

Jungkook nudged Minnie. “Way to go, dude.”

“What did I do? Mingyu, what…what was that all about?” she asked, frowning at him.

Mingyu sighed, realizing it’s probably time he told his friends about his history with Wonwoo.

 

~~~~

 

Saying goodbye to Jun was just as hard as Soonyoung and Wonwoo thought it would be. As soon as the expensive looking SUV arrived, the tension that was still lingering from their encounter with Mingyu had completely diminished. Soonyoung cried, of course.

After both of his friends left, Wonwoo made his way back to his room, realizing he had to go pick up Alex soon. Wonwoo groaned.

On top of missing his friends, he had to make the long, traffic-filled drive for his boyfriend whose company he didn’t even enjoy.

He was not in the mood to see anyone at the moment, especially Alex, who seems to just drain him every time he’s around. With his best friend leaving again for who knows how long and what happened with Mingyu, Wonwoo wanted nothing more than to lock himself in his room and go to sleep. It was like his brain was processing too many feelings at once.

His phone chimed. He reached for it thinking it may be Jun letting him and Soonyoung know he’s at the airport. But he was wrong.



Mingyu: Hey I’m sorry if I caused more drama today, I’m sure that was the last thing you need. 

Hope you don’t mind, I told Minnie and Jungkook about the situation. They’re more upset with me than anything but I think they’ll come around. Hope everythings okay…



For some reason, reading that text in his state made Wonwoo want to break down in tears. Feeling emotionally overwhelmed, he decided to take a shower and then make his way to pick up Alex. Wonwoo had told him that he could stay at his place that night to make up for their mix up last weekend, and he was really regretting it.

Locking his phone without responding, Wonwoo headed to his closet and pulled out a fresh set of clothes and a towel, his mind now on autopilot. He got out of the shower, styled his hair, and walked to his car. The drive to the shopping mall was quiet and long but exactly what Wonwoo needed.

He and Alex made their way back to Wonwoo’s dorm where they chatted and watched a movie. Wonwoo did his best to seem enthusiastic as they conversed but could feel his mouth pull to a frown everytime Alex wasn’t looking. He did his best to keep his responses short but sweet, avoiding talking about his own day, to which Alex didn’t mind as he had the tendency to rant anyway.

When Alex suggested they have sex, Wonwoo didn’t decline. He hoped that it would not only distract him from his issues, but also that he could hopefully feel a connection to Alex- that he could find a reason to stay.

While it did distract him, he felt even more disconnected from his boyfriend than he did before. A sense of dread began to build up in his gut as Alex finished, falling to Wonwoo’s side under the sheets and resting his head on his bare chest.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful. Wonwoo stroked Alex's hair absentmindedly, his mind drifting. They had just shared an intimate moment, one that should have left him feeling content and close to Alex. Instead, a familiar sense of dread gnawed at him.

Alex began to talk, his voice cutting through Wonwoo's thoughts. "You know, Wonwoo, I've been thinking," Alex said, a hint of excitement in his tone. "Maybe you could take next quarter off. I heard that you can still graduate in June even if you take summer courses. I could use more of your time, and we could finally take that winter cruise to Alaska."

Wonwoo felt his chest tighten. He had heard this before, the same suggestion wrapped in a different package. "Alex, we've talked about this. I need to stay on top of my school stuff. I don’t want to have to do summer school,” he pleaded, rubbing his eyes, incredibly tired.

Alex pouted, a slight whine creeping into his voice. "But we hardly get to spend time together. It’s not fair to me. I need you, Won."

Wonwoo sighed, trying to keep his irritation in check. “I’m trying my best. But I can’t just drop everything. I have goals for my future, you know."

Alex sat up, a frown playing at his features. "Future, future, future. That’s all you ever talk about. What about now? What about us? Do you even see me in your future?"

Wonwoo felt his patience slipping. "Alex, I’m doing all of this for us too. So we can have a better life, so I can provide… for both of us.”

Wonwoo’s heart sank at his own words. He felt disappointed in himself. How did he let it get this far?

Alex huffed, crossing his arms. "We could be happy now if you’d just loosen up. You’re just too obsessed with your stupid degree, babe."

That was it. Wonwoo sat up, turning to face Alex with a steely gaze. "My degree is not stupid, Alex.” He let out an unamused laugh. “I’ve sacrificed so much of my time and well being to be there for you and you can’t even give me a weekend to study without complaining. You don’t have to care about school the same way I do, but you can at least be supportive. My degree is my future, and if you can’t support that… then maybe you don’t belong in it."

Alex blinked, taken aback. "What are you saying, Won?"

Wonwoo took a deep breath, the weight of his decision settling in here as he lay bare next to the man he spent the last two and a half years with. He felt a lump begin to form in his throat. "I’m saying that I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep sacrificing my goals and my sanity for someone who doesn’t respect what I’m working for."

Alex’s eyes widened, his voice rising in panic. "Are you breaking up with me? A-after everything? Everything we’ve been through? Wonwoo…"

Wonwoo felt a pang of guilt. "Yeah, Alex. I am. This isn’t working. I love you so much, but…do you have any idea what it’s like for the person you love to constantly undermine your efforts? I've supported you in every decision you made, but you can’t do the same for me.”

Alex stared at Wonwoo. His expression showed anger, but the tears forming in his eyes said otherwise.

Wonwoo continued, despite the tears falling down his own face. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “We want different things. I just need someone who understands and supports me. "

Alex scoffed and wiped his tears with his hands. "Fine. If that’s how you feel, then maybe you’re right. Maybe I deserve someone who actually cares about me."

Wonwoo could feel his tears falling even faster, but he held his ground. "I do care about you, but this isn’t healthy for either of us! We need something different from each other."

Alex covered his mouth with his arm, his eyes shutting as he fought tears of his own. “But…I- I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, Won,” he croaked out. “You’re all I have…”

Wonwoo swallowed, voice cracking. “That’s not true. You have plenty of people who love you and care about you. You just need something I can’t give you right now.”

Alex stared at him with a pleading look, and it took everything in Wonwoo not to say “nevermind” and try and fix this. But he’s been trying to fix this. His mind went back to when they first met, then to when Alex found out about Wonwoo’s crush on him and told him he felt the same way, then to their firsts that they experienced together, and lastly to all the times they talked about their future together like it was something inevitable. 

But here they were, ending their time together as the future they envisioned vanished in specks. 

After a few moments, Alex nodded, looking defeated. Without saying a word, he crawled out of the sheets and began to put on his clothes. Wonwoo laid back down and looked up at the ceiling, the soft rustling of clothing being the only indication that Alex hadn’t left yet.

“Bye, Wonwoo,” Alex practically whispered.

“Bye,” Wonwoo managed to say, his voice hoarse. He heard his door open and close and that was it. After more than two years, Alex was no longer in his life. He had made the right decision, he knew that. But it didn’t make the pain any easier to bear.

As he got out of his bed, the room feeling emptier than before, Wonwoo took a deep breath. He had taken a step towards his own happiness, his own future. Yet, all he wanted to do was cry. Maybe out of sadness or relief or both, but he could already feel his body itching to recover and finally achieve the things he’s been held back from doing.

The only thing in the way of that now was a strenuous healing process.

Notes:

bruh FINALLYYYYYY

also i LOVE to hear what yall have to say. pls know that i've been giggling and kicking my feet at every comment and id love to hear more about what yall think or where you think the story is going bc its low key just getting started hehe

Chapter 10: If I Could Get To Sleep, I Would've Slept By Now

Notes:

SO sorry for the wait. I hope the end of this chapter makes up for it?

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Mingyu and Jungkook stood at the front of the lecture hall, their PowerPoint presentation projected on the large screen behind them. It was relatively bland- a beige background with black text because they just couldn’t be bothered to give a fuck about aesthetics when they were struggling to find the information in the first place. The room was filled with their classmates, all eyes focused on the two of them. 

Mingyu took a deep breath, glancing at his companion, who gave him an encouraging nod.

"Um, good morning, everyone," Mingyu began, his voice steady but with an underlying tone of hesitation. "My name is Mingyu. Today, Jungkook and I will be presenting our research on the applications of technology in gene therapy."

Jungkook clicked the remote, going to the first slide, which showed an image of an odd shaped blob with arrows attached to it. "Right, so, this is a well known tool in genetic engineering. It allows for editing of DNA for treating specific genetic disorders." He provided other specifics, his voice rushed as a means to hide his own nervousness.

Mingyu continued, "Yeah, so, um, we focused on how this can be used to treat a specific hereditary disease that affects the lungs.” He cleared his throat and adjusted the cap on his head. “This tool can potentially correct the genetic defect and restore normal function."

The next slide showed a detailed diagram of the gene-editing process. 

Mingyu explained, "Here, you can see how it can be programmed to target the specific mutation in the gene. Our research showed that this method can successfully correct the genetic mutation. The implications of this are extensive as it means that we could potentially cure hereditary illnesses by editing the patient’s own cells." His voice had begun to pick up, his enthusiasm peaking through as he touched on what this would implicate for medical practice.

They continued to move through their slides, Jungkook explaining their findings and potential future applications, and the students remained engaged, much to both of their surprise. 

When they finished, the room erupted in applause, followed by a few questions from their fellow peers. A boost of confidence and excitement eluded Mingyu as he answered their questions concisely and factually.

Once their mini Q&A was over,  the two boys at the front of the room exchanged relieved looks as they returned to their seats.

“Holy shit, I think we just secured  an A,” Mingyu whispered, as they set up for the next presentation.

Jungkook nodded enthusiastically, a large grin on his face. “I know! Honestly, man, you saved us. I blanked on half of those questions.”

Mingyu shook his head with a laugh, rubbing his friend’s shoulder, “What matters is it’s over.”

After the lecture, the two boys stood up and packed their things, Jungkook pulling the other into a tight hug. 

“I’ll see you after break. When are you leaving?”

“My flight leaves this Saturday. You?”

“I’m driving back tonight. I told Minnie I’d give her a lift. Wish me luck,” Jungkook bemused, rolling his eyes.

“Right. Mhm,” Mingyu responded teasingly, eyes downcast as he zipped up his backpack.

Jungkook tilted his head back, getting a better look at him. “The hell? What was that?”

“Nothing,” Mingyu replied innocently. He reached over and ruffled the other’s dark hair. “Good luck.”

Jungkook gave him one last playful apprehensive look before throwing his bag over his shoulder and walking out with a wave good-bye.

Mingyu shook his head, about to head out as well when he saw his professor approach him with a warm smile.

"Excellent presentation today, Mingyu. You guys were incredibly thorough."

Mingyu blushed slightly, smiling wide. "Thank you, Dr. Mendez. It was a team effort."

She nodded. "Of course. Mr. Jeon did well too. But I know you specifically are thinking about going into the medical field, correct? If you're seriously considering it, I have a list of advanced courses I would like to recommend you take next quarter. They're challenging, but I think you're more than capable."

She smiled and handed Mingyu a piece of paper with a list of courses. Mingyu scanned it, recognizing several upper-level classes in the six hundred, even seven hundred levels. The ones that were usually reserved for students in their final year.

"These are definitely… advanced," Mingyu said, his eyes widening.

The older woman chuckled reassuringly. "They are, but I can put in a good word for you to skip ahead, if you like. Think about it, Mingyu, and let me know by the end of your winter break. I have no doubts that you would be able to handle it."

Mingyu felt a surge of gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Dr. Mendez. I'll definitely consider it."

As she walked away, Mingyu felt a renewed sense of purpose and pride.

He walked back to his dorm, relieved that his presentation was done and satisfied with the outcome. He felt lighter. He felt like skipping back to his dorm while whistling a silly tune like Happy the dwarf. 

He felt confident. Free, even, despite all the assignments and exams he still needed to attend to. His first quarter at a university had gone, arguably, the best way possible. All the worries and fears he had at the beginning just didn’t seem to come true. He made a good chunk of friends, had a great living situation, and passed all his classes. 

Of course, the biggest plot twist was running into Wonwoo again, but that definitely could have gone a lot worse. In fact, Mingyu hadn’t heard from Wonwoo since that day he saw him with Soonyoung and Jun. He texted him to make sure everything was okay, but Wonwoo never responded. He assumed the older boy was upset at the altercation so he didn’t press further, but still couldn't help feeling anxious thinking Wonwoo was unhappy with him. It felt like all that effort he put into making things right was flushed down the toilet, all because he thought he was being the “bigger person” by engaging Soonyoung and Jun first.

Of course, he had spent the past few days scolding himself for doing that.

He secretly hoped that he would run into Wonwoo on campus or in their dorm hall, but to no avail. It was driving him a little bit crazy, if he was being honest. So much so that every time his phone would go off, he would hop to check if it was a message from the elder.

Not only was he worried he messed up, he genuinely just missed talking to him. He missed his humor and his unsolicited but helpful advice. He missed watching him slowly get out of his shell as the conversation progressed. 

Mingyu especially missed the way that Wonwoo would laugh at his jokes. He couldn’t help but feel an unwavering sense of pride in those instances.

But alas, it had been almost five days since they last spoke, and it wasn’t under great circumstances either. Mingyu just wished this didn’t have to happen so close to winter break. 

What if he doesn’t get to talk to him before he leaves? Would it still be acceptable to reach out during break? What about after? 

How the hell was Mingyu supposed to come up with an excuse to talk to him after so long?

Mingyu sighed, finally arriving at his room. He pulled out his key card from his back pocket, and opened the door to be greeted by a sight he absolutely was not expecting to see.

Mingyu’s eyes widened. “Oh, I-”

Standing to the side of the room was Hansol and Seungkwan, passionately making out against Hansol’s closet door. The two jumped.

In a panic, Seungkwan placed his hands over his groin and his chest, covering them (he was fully clothed), while Hansol walked away to the furthest end of the room, scratching the back of his neck.

Mingyu stood there, raising an amused eyebrow. He slowly shut the door.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he teased as he made his way to his side exaggeratingly slow and set his stuff down. He hopped on his bed, adjusting to get comfortable and pulled out his phone. “Please, don’t mind me.”

Hansol grabbed his frog plushie and flinged it at full force at Mingyu’s face with a deadpan expression, causing the taller to release an involuntary “ umph

Seungkwan laughed awkwardly. “Sorry about that. We’re usually much better at making sure no one walks in on us but Hansol got a little excited,” he said with an excited grin, eyeing Hansol who was now grabbing his plushie from Mingyu’s bed and dusting it off.

“Seungkwan got us an all inclusive trip to Cancun,” Hansol said, trying to conceal his smile, but failing.

“Damn, what?” Mingyu said, his eyebrows shooting up. “That’s sick! When do you guys get to go?”

“Our flight is tomorrow night,” Seungkwan replied smiling but looking stressed at the same time. “When I bought the tickets I got the dates wrong and thought finals week was last week. Luckily Hansol and I have no more exams, just papers and projects we need to turn in online.”

Mingyu chuckled. “Well it worked out then. Have fun, guys.” 

Mingyu genuinely felt happy for the two. Hansol never voiced it, but he could see how difficult the quarter got once assignments picked up and Seungkwan had to pick up more responsibilities being on the pep squad. He started to notice that Seungkwan was coming to the room less and less as they approached the end of the quarter, and could tell that it was affecting Hansol too.

“Oh. We will,” Seungkwan replied with a smirk.

“Yeah. I’m gonna leave most of my stuff here except for clothes and all that. If you’re gonna have someone over, please don’t do it on my bed,” Hansol pleaded. 

“Noted.”

“I thought you said Mingyu has never brought anyone over,” Seungkwan voiced out loud.

“He hasn’t.”

Seungkwan sighed. “For someone who looks like you, Mingyu, you’re doing a really shitty job at taking advantage of it.”

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows and laid back on his bed with a pout.

The brief conversation of significant others and hook up partners opened a can of worms in Mingyu’s mind once the happy couple left the room. Mingyu knew there was a part of him he still needed to unpack, but he was scared. In high school, being hot and getting girls was what he was conditioned to find his value in.

But the instances where he became physically involved with men and liked it, contrasted what he thought he was supposed to enjoy. The day after he made out with that guy at the club, he cried. He was scared of what this meant for him. After his second encounter and confirming he did in fact enjoy men in that way, he hoped to never have to address the topic ever again.

But then there were people like  Minghao who very obviously wanted to open that conversation with him, especially when it came to Wonwoo. Regardless of the specifics, though, Mingyu just wasn’t ready to have that conversation yet.

 


 

"So, how's it feel to be the golden child of the biochemistry department?" Minghao asked as he looked at his menu. He and Mingyu were sitting at a small cafe that they saw trending on social media. It was the next day, and Mingyu had taken advantage of Hansol no longer being here and asked Minghao if he wanted to sleepover for a night.

"Pretty surreal, honestly. I never expected to be pushed ahead like this."

Minghao smiled. "Well, you deserve it.”

Mingyu grinned as he fidgeted with his own menu, glancing at the overpriced pastries before looking back at his friend. "Thanks. I just… I don't want to disappoint anyone."

His friend gave him a reassuring look. "You won’t. But, hey, what about outside of academics? You were spending a lot of time with Wonwoo recently. How’s that going?"

Mingyu’s expression changed slightly, a mix of confusion and irritation.

"It's... going okay, I guess. I think he’s upset about the situation I told you where I encountered his old high school friends. But yeah, he was really helpful with stuff, and it was nice to hang out."

"Yeah? Just nice?" Minghao pried, taking a sip of his cucumber water.

"...what do you mean?"

A satisfied chuckle came out of Minghao’s mouth, like he’s been waiting to say this. "I mean, you light up when you talk about him, you know? It's different."

Mingyu shrugged, a bit defensive. "He's just... different from what I expected. He’s really cool and smart. And... kind."

Minghao nodded, a knowing smile on his face. “Sounds like you really like him."

Mingyu looked down at the menu, avoiding eye contact. "As a friend, sure. He's... been through a lot. And he’s still so... I don’t know, strong, and he’s compassionate, especially to me."

"Uh-huh.” Minghao sighed, deciding to just come out and say it. “But, Mingyu, it's okay if you did like him as more than just a friend, you know. It’s not a big deal."

Mingyu's eyes snapped up to meet Minghao’s. “Stop.”

"I’m just saying that if you have feelings for him, it’s perfectly fine-”

“Hao, seriously-”

“You don’t have to fit into some mold, Mingyu. You should follow what feels right for you ."

Mingyu shifted uncomfortably, frowning. He swallowed, taking a few seconds to let his words sink in.“I’ve never thought about guys like that before, okay?"

Minghao leaned forward, lowering his voice. "There’s always a first for everything. And sometimes, the right person just happens to be someone you didn’t expect."

Mingyu’s mind raced. He can’t deny that there’s something about Wonwoo that draws him in, but that doesn’t have to mean anything. 

He shook his head.“I enjoy his company, okay? That’s it.” He glanced up, still avoiding meeting his eyes. “The waitress is coming, you should decide what you want to order.”

Later on, their sleepover consisted of getting high and playing video games on the TV in the common room. With it nearing the end of finals week, most of the residents had already gone home for break, leaving most of the amenities relatively unoccupied. 

“Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch !” Minghao exclaimed as Mingyu tossed a blue shell at his cart, making him drop from first to third place. He watched as the small, green dinosaur waved his fists in the air, absolutely livid.

Mingyu smirked. “And…. first place, baby!” Luigi drove through the finish line, jumping up and down once he had passed it.

“I hope he crashes,” Minghao muttered, shoving his arm into a Pringles cylinder. 

Mingyu, with permission, slept on Hansol’s bed that night, allowing Minghao to sleep on his own. 

“Yeah, man, of course just don’t… do anything on it,” Hansol warned over the phone. Mingyu rolled his eyes. “And don’t get in the sheets. I don’t know where you’ve been. You can sleep on top of the comforter and use one of your throw blankets.”

Mingyu sighed as he climbed on the maroon comforters and pulled his gray knitted blanket over himself. Having taken an edible just a few hours ago, sleep was creeping in on them a lot stronger and earlier than usual.

“Hey, Mingyu?” Minghao spoke up a few minutes after Mingyu turned off the lights.

“Yeah?”

“I love you, man.”

Mingyu giggled, comfortably tucked underneath the soft fabric. “I love you too, Hao.”

The next two days flew by, one exam and one presentation later, Mingyu was in the communal kitchen, trying out a recipe that he saw on the food network. He was having a great time cooking all by himself and could feel stress decrease with every stir, chop, and pour. However, he didn’t account for how long it would take for their ancient oven to reach 375 degrees. 

All he had left to do for school was transfer his handwritten notes to a typed out document. With at least fifty pages of notes, Mingyu hoped he didn’t underestimate how long it would take him.

After roughly four hours of cooking, Mingyu finally achieved the perfect lasagna. He washed his pans and utensils and cleaned up his mess before taking all his supplies back to his room, making a second trip to grab the pan of lasagna. He cut up a small square, almost moaning when the rich flavor of cheese, tomato sauce and a wide variety of spices touched his tongue.

Jesus ,” he muttered to himself in approval as he continued to dig in.

Before he knew it, three plates of lasagna later, it was almost 8 o’clock. He jumped up from his desk where he had been eating and reached over for his backpack, pulling out his laptop and notebook. He set up his work space and got to it immediately.

The night felt long, but also strangely quick. There was something about working on a task so meticulously that makes time just fly by. At around page 24, Mingyu stole a pack of Hansol’s powdered donuts from his “secret” stash, hoping it would give him the energy to power through the night. 

His lab report and notes were due in person at 9:00am, printed out and placed on the professor’s desk. Mingyu figured leaving it for the very last minute wouldn’t cause that much of an issue because all he was doing was copying something that he had already written.

However, his eyelids had begun to droop at 1:30am, and he still had twelve more pages to go. He told himself that his professor’s office was only a swift ten minute walk and if he really wanted to, he could head over in his pajamas. After that, he would be all done with the quarter and wouldn't have to think about school again for the next four weeks.

Feeling more motivated, and slightly rejuvenated by the processed sugars in powdered donut form, Mingyu typed away non-stop, occasionally stopping to click and drag diagrams he curated earlier in the quarter.

Stress can make people do crazy things. Most become moody, erratic, or forgetful. Mingyu wasn’t one to lash out on someone, his relatively calm demeanor throughout the quarter can testify to that. However, like most students at this point in the quarter, he may miss small but crucial details when focusing on a task at hand. Small details can include typos, grammar errors, or in Mingyu’s case, a notification at the top of his computer screen letting him know his computer would shut off in ten minutes if not plugged into a power source.

When his screen went black on page forty six, he was surprised but not very worried. Mingyu pressed the power button, thinking that it must have just glitched. When the screen didn’t turn on, panic slowly began to set in.

Mingyu shot up from his desk chair and rummaged through his backpack, pulling out the cubed white charger. He waited for it to turn back on, nervous but hopeful. He saved his work after all- it should be fine.

Wait. Did he?

Once the manufacturer logo came on the screen, Mingyu leaned forward- hoping, praying that he could pick up from where he left off. He knew he should have put it on auto save.

To his relief, the document appeared, a full first page displaying as the cover.

“Thank, God,” Mingyu said, letting out a breath. Scooting his chair closer and preparing to get back to work, he opened the document entirely. As he scrolled down, his stomach dropped. He stared in absolute horror as his near fifty page document of notes was now only a mere seven pages. He furrowed his eyebrows, heart beginning to race.

“No, no, no, no, no…” Mingyu whined as he closed and opened the document again. The last time he saved his work must have been when he was still on page seven, meaning the additional 39 pages were now completely erased. He scurried to the home page, hoping that he just clicked the wrong document. After opening every single document, he realized that wasn’t the case.

“This can’t be happening,” he whined in utter shock. He ran his hands through his hair which must have looked like a bird’s nest. Feeling defeated and still in disbelief, he sat at his desk looking up ways to retrieve a deleted document. He wasn’t sure if the nerves prevented him from clearly conveying his question on the google search bar but nothing useful seemed to be coming up.

Mingyu took a deep breath, pulling out his notebook and flipping back to the first few pages. Before he started everything from scratch again, he sent out a text—a cry for help—to Minghao, Jungkook, Minnie, Yoohyeon, Hansol, Seungkwan, and a few random classmates whose numbers he managed to find. Surely, he couldn't be the only one this has ever happened to.

However, it was currently 2:27AM, and the odds of anyone responding were slim to none. Usually he could rely on a few people to be up doing homework or studying, but most people were finished with their classes by now.

Mingyu sighed, well aware that there was one person he didn’t reach out to. He always took Wonwoo as someone who slept early anyway. Besides, he’s probably not dumb enough to make a mistake like this one. 

Mingyu continued to make more and more excuses for not shooting Wonwoo a text, convincing himself that it would be no use. Not only for the reasons mentioned, but the fact that Wonwoo might still be upset with him loomed in his mind, and truthfully, he was more afraid of the older man not answering him again than of him just telling him he can’t help him out.

He stayed put for another five minutes, fidgeting as he waited for someone, anyone, to respond to his severely desperate sounding text message. 

Nobody did.

“Shit,” Mingyu groaned. He stared down at his thick, worn out notebook. 

Fuck it.

He copied the same generic question he sent everyone else and scrolled down to his text chain with Wonwoo, pasting it and hitting send without giving himself much time to think about it.

His eyes widened when he saw three dots appear on Wonwoo’s side of the messages almost immediately. He was typing.

However, that was short lived when the three dots disappeared as quickly as they had popped up. Mingyu frowned and stared at his phone, expecting the three dots to reappear, but they didn’t. One minute passed, then two, then three. Feeling desperate but reassured that the elder was at least awake, Mingyu pressed the telephone icon near Wonwoo’s contact and held his phone up to his ear.

After two rings, Wonwoo finally picked up. Hearing his voice again after a week brought relief to Mingyu that even he didn’t comprehend. “Mingyu?” His voice was deep and hoarse, but it didn't sound like he was sleeping at all. Mingyu pushed away his concern

“Wonwoo, did you get my text?” 

“Where have you been?” he wanted to ask instead.

“Yeah. Sorry I was gonna respond, but I wanted to look it up first. What happened? Did you accidentally delete something?”

“Yeah, I had almost fifty pages written. Now they’re gone, and I don’t really know what to do. It’s due tomorrow morning.” Mingyu couldn’t help but still wonder why Wonwoo was up so late. He damned the part of his mind that told him he probably had Alex over. The thought made him want to hang up.

“Oh, that sounds rough. Sorry about that. Was it an essay? Do you at least have an outline?”

Mingyu sighed, growing irritated for some reason. “No. I-it was my lab report notes. I have them written but he wants them typed so I was just copying what I had written. It’s fine, though. Thanks anyway.”

“Wait,” Wonwoo said before taking a long pause, contemplating something. “I’ll be there in five minutes.” With that, he hung up the phone.

Mingyu looked down at his phone in confusion. He assumed that Wonwoo would be coming to take a look at his computer, maybe download some program to retrieve it or something. He did say he was thinking of becoming a software engineer, after all. Feeling a little hopeful that his problem would be solved, he got up from his desk and stretched his arms and legs. If Wonwoo could actually find a way to recover his work, then he would just have to pick up where he left off, meaning he’d only have about four pages left.

Remind me to just type my notes from the get go.

Mingyu walked over to the full body mirror and began to fix his hair. Should all go well, he could be done within the next half hour. He could wake up early tomorrow to print everything and have it on his professor’s desk in no time.

After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. Mingyu’s stomach lurched, realizing he didn’t really have time to clean up his room.

“Coming!” Mingyu called out, kicking random articles of clothes underneath his bed and out of sight. 

Mingyu opened the door to Wonwoo whose hair was disheveled, his glasses slightly crooked on his nose. He wore an oversize t-shirt and was carrying his open laptop on his arm. 

When Mingyu first saw Wonwoo at orientation, the older boy looked so tall and poised, oozing confidence. Now, however, Wonwoo looked the complete opposite. The very few inches Mingyu had over him were prevalent and Wonwoo’s muscular build was now completely swallowed by the oversized shirt.

Something about seeing Wonwoo look so small in comparison to himself stirred something in Mingyu that he was ashamed to admit. He must be delirious due to the lack of sleep.

“Let’s get to work,” Wonwoo said as he walked past Mingyu and set his computer on his bed.

“What? Wha- What are you going to do?” Mingyu questioned as he closed the door.

Wonwoo hopped onto Mingyu’s bed, pulling his computer on his lap. “I’m gonna help you re-write those notes,” he said as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

Mingyu blinked at him in disbelief. “You’re going to what?”

“Is this your notebook?” he asked, gesturing to the thick blue spiral notebook on Mingu’s desk. Without waiting for a response, he grabbed it and began taking photos of the second half of the pages. “I’ll start here where it says…” he squinted at the title of the page. “Gluta… Glutama… whatever. This one,” he said, turning the notebook to show Mingyu.

Mingyu watched in shock as Wonwoo opened his laptop and set aside his phone, pulling up the photos. 

“Why are you doing this?” Mingyu asked, unintentionally sounding accusatory. Only now in this lighting did Mingyu realize how puffy Wonwoo’s eyes were. Was he crying?

Wonwoo shrugged. “You would’ve done the same for me.”

Mingyu shook his head. “No, I mean, I thought you were mad at me.”

Wonwoo’s eyes snapped up at Mingyu, confusion displaying on his features. “What? Why?”

Mingyu flushed and shrugged. “You didn't answer my text last Friday. I guess I thought I said something wrong when I saw you with Jun and Soonyoung.”

Wonwoo sighed, taking a few moments before speaking. “I’m not mad at you. I… actually really appreciate you for trying to talk to them. They’re just a little, you know, stubborn.” Wonwoo hesitated before opening his mouth again.  “I’ve had a lot on my mind recently. Sorry if I made you think I was upset at you.”

Mingyu instantly regretted saying anything. He felt like an idiot thinking it had anything to do with him. Of course Wonwoo has other things going on besides him. He fought the urge to ask what was wrong. “You don’t have to apologize. I’m sorry for assuming. Thanks for doing this.”

Wonwoo opened his mouth like he wanted to say more but then closed it, giving Mingyu a nod before beginning to type. The two of them worked in silence, the only sound being that of keyboards clicking. 

The clock read well past three in the morning, and both of them began to show signs of fatigue, but they pushed on. 

After completing five pages, Mingyu glanced up from his notebook, catching Wonwoo’s profile in the dim light of his lamp and Hansol’s string lights. His glasses had slid down his nose slightly, and his hair was even more tousled from running his hands through it. The soft light accentuated the gentle curve of his jawline and the faint freckles on his cheeks. Mingyu couldn’t help but notice how stunning Wonwoo was, even in this casual setting.

"Thanks again for helping me with this, " Mingyu said, breaking the silence. "I don’t know what I’d do without you right now."

Wonwoo looked up from his own notes. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled made Mingyu's heart skip a beat. "What are friends for, right? Besides, it’s kind of nice to have a distraction."

“Still, I owe you. Next time, boba is on me.”

Wonwoo groaned. “Boba sounds so good right now.”

They both laughed softly, the sound filling the quiet room. After a moment, Mingyu’s eyes drifted back to Wonwoo, and he felt an odd sensation in his stomach. 

"Everything okay?" Wonwoo’s voice broke through his thoughts, and Mingyu blinked, realizing he was staring.

“Yeah, sorry," he said quickly, looking back at his notes. "Just spacing out a bit."

Wonwoo nodded, a small smile on his lips.

“Actually, um,” Mingyu began. He wasn’t sure what possessed him to ask this next question. “You said you had a lot on your mind recently… is everything okay?”

Wonwoo paused, taking a deep sigh. He looked up at Mingyu hesitantly.

“I’m sorry,” Mingyu said quickly, shaking his head and looking back down at his work. “You don’t have to tell me. We can get back to wor-”

“Alex and I broke up.”

The room fell silent.

"What?” Mingyu’s eyes widened in surprise. He sat with a surge of feelings that immediately erupted in his chest for a few moments. “Wonwoo, I’m…I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of the other.

Wonwoo nodded, his expression calm but sad. "Yeah. It happened just after Jun and Soonyoung left. It was a long time coming. Being with him was just… it was causing more stress than it was worth. I still… kinda miss him, though."

Mingyu gave him a reassuring look. "Yeah, I can imagine breakups are never easy."

Wonwoo let out a dry laugh. “Definitely not. I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of those.”

Mingyu’s head tilted, his expression amused as he tried to lighten the mood. “Did you just call me a man whore?”

Wonwoo puffed his cheeks and shrugged.

Mingyu laughed and shook his head. “I’ll have you know I’ve never been in a relationship, but I can’t imagine what it must be like to break up with someone after such a long time. You’re stronger than you look, Wonwoo.”

Wonwoo gave him a playful glare. “Thanks.”

Mingyu’s heart pounded in his chest. He felt sympathy for Wonwoo, relief that Alex is out of the picture, and an inexplicable excitement he couldn’t quite understand. He pushed the confusing feelings aside, focusing on being there for his friend.

"I know it’s tough now," Mingyu continued, "but you deserve someone who really gets you and makes you happy."

Wonwoo nodded with a grateful smile. "I know that now. It’s just weird being single again after so long."

Mingyu forced a grin, though his thoughts were swirling. "The single life can be so fun, though! I know you'll get through this. Plus, you’ve got dumb friends like me to distract you by doing shit like this," he added, hand motioning vaguely to their current situation.

Wonwoo’s smile grew a bit more genuine as it looked like he tried to stifle a laugh. "That’s nice of you, Mingyu."

As they returned to their work, Mingyu couldn't shake the strange thrill running through him. He found himself glancing at Wonwoo more often, admiring his features and wondering why, for the life of him, he couldn’t keep his eyes away.

They continued working, the atmosphere light and filled with a growing sense of camaraderie. As the hours ticked by, Mingyu found himself completing the notes a lot faster than he did the first time around, probably because of the practice. 

He couldn’t shake how grateful he was to have a friend like Wonwoo. He had known him, well technically for over five years, but he’s really known him for a little over three months now and he was practically the perfect person in every way. Mingyu couldn’t pinpoint a time where Wonwoo did or said something he disagreed with or thought was annoying. The guy was bullied by him for fucksake, and here he was staying up to help him with an assignment because Mingyu made a stupid mistake. 

Mingyu didn’t think he had ever known someone so selfless and understanding. He admired Wonwoo for that. He had every right, every opportunity to get back at Mingyu- to call him out for everything he’s done. But he didn’t. Instead, he made the choice to listen to Mingyu and befriend him, showing no indication of wanting to get even.

What an extraordinary person Jeon Wonwoo was. And what an awful person Mingyu was for taking advantage of that in high school.

Something in Mingyu’s gut fluttered, and instead of pushing it away this time, he welcomed it, starting to like how the boy next to him was making him feel.

The clock neared closer to 6:00 AM, and Mingyu had two pages left. They worked relatively distraction free for the remainder of the morning, save for a few updates on how far they had gotten. Wonnwoo had gotten more done than Mingyu somehow, which Mingyu attributed to the man’s very impressive and rapid typing. 

Mingyu’s back was beginning to hurt from his hunched over position. Wonwoo had asked if he wanted to switch with him, but Mingyu declined. His eyes felt heavy and even burned if he blinked too slowly. He was definitely going to sleep after this and didn’t plan to wake up until the next day.

He imagined Wonwoo felt pretty similar as he had yawned at least ten times in the past hour and Mingyu had caught him nodding off for a minute before his head snapped up and he got back to work. Mingyu felt bad, but had to hold in a chuckle at the sight. If he wasn’t in debt to Wonwoo before, he definitely was after this.

A wave of relief and instant joy fell over Mingyu when he finally finished typing the last page. He felt like he could shout from happiness. What a fucking roller coaster this night was.

With a large grin, Mingyu turned to his companion. 

But his smile faltered as he saw the state the boy was in. 

Wonwoo was leaning on Mingyu’s pillow, half laying down, half sitting up. He was asleep. His was slightly digging into his nose bridge as his mouth hung slightly open, quiet breaths coming out. 

Mingyu swallowed and slowly stood up, trying not to wake him up, but not really sure what he was getting up for in the first place. He approached him and  reached over for his computer, briefly looking at all the work he did. As promised, Wonwoo had typed out over twenty pages of notes, looking almost identical to the ones Mingyu originally wrote. He set the computer down and reluctantly leaned over Wonwoo. 

He gently removed his glasses, slowly folding them and placing them neatly on the bedside table. He grabbed his throw blanket that was at the end of the bed and pulled it over him, stopping right below his shoulders.

A worried expression played on Mingyu’s face as he slowly backed away. Not for Wonwoo, but for himself.

Mingyu stared at the boy, and something warm began to creep within him. The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on Wonwoo’s soft features. Mingyu felt a rush of tenderness as he took in the sight—Wonwoo's long eyelashes, the curve of his lips, his perfect nose, the way his chest rose and fell with each breath. 

Wonwoo was not only exquisite on the inside, but on the outside as well. How on earth can such a person exist? 

Realization hit Mingyu like a tidal wave as he gave a pained expression, kneeling next to the bed and taking in the sight of the sleeping angel in front of him. As warmth and admiration washed over him, so did a sense of defeat. He'd been trying so hard to deny it, to push these feelings away, but in this quiet, tender moment, there was no denying the truth.

Notes:

fun fact my beta reader told me this chapter gave him chills :')

Please continue to leave comments or lmk what you think on twitter! Not sure if I've said this before but this is my first time completing/ posting a fanfic so I appreciate any feedback

Also, would ya'll be interested in a mini playlist for this fic? I have a long one that I made to help me write this fic but I can condense it and share on my twt if anyones interested. Lmk!!!

Chapter 11: Your Lies Will Never Keep

Notes:

ok its looking like updates will be coming every thursday or friday lol

anyway enjoy ;)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

 

Winter break was a much needed rest for Mingyu after the whirlwind of the past few months. Returning to his hometown felt like a breath of fresh air. The familiar sights, the warmth of his childhood bedroom, and the comforting presence of his parents and younger sister all brought a sense of peace he hadn't realized he was missing. 

Having not visited since the summer, Mingyu spent his time catching his mom up on everything that had happened while he was away at college. His dad shared stories from work, and his sister filled him in on all the high school gossip.

However, Mingyu didn't completely shut off from his academic responsibilities. He took advantage of the quiet mornings to get ahead on readings for his upcoming advanced courses which he decided he would be taking– Minghao bullying him into doing so. 

He immersed himself in online textbooks, making detailed notes and highlighting key concepts. The anticipation of the challenging classes kept him motivated. He felt a mix of anxiety and excitement about pushing himself academically, especially with everyone’s high expectations.

In the midst of the holiday cheer and academic preparation, however, Mingyu couldn't stop his thoughts from drifting back to Wonwoo. The break gave him enough if not too much time to reflect on everything that had happened last quarter. He thought about their boba outing, their study sessions, and how he had been there for him during his homework crisis. Each memory of them, of him , brought warm but nerve wracking feelings. Mingyu found himself replaying moments in his head, analyzing every interaction, every word they exchanged.

Admitting to himself that he might like Wonwoo as more than a friend had been a revelation. It was terrifying but also… exhilarating? Mingyu had spent countless hours lying awake at night, contemplating his feelings and what they meant. The thought of seeing Wonwoo again made his heart race with both excitement and fear. 

He was excited to explore these emotions, but he also wanted nothing to do with them. He also worried about how it would change the dynamic between him and Wonwoo. He thought that maybe he was getting ahead of himself and found that Minghao, like always, was exceptionally helpful at calming his nerves.

“Just because you may have a little crush on Wonwoo, doesn’t mean it has to change anything, you know? You like him. So what?” Minghao asked, hand over his eyes to block the sun. Mingyu had invited him over for lunch at his place where his mom had set up a nice eating area in the backyard. Despite being friends for over two years now, Minghao had never been to his place.

“What do you mean ‘so what’, what if I make it obvious? I don’t want it to ruin our friendship or anything,” Mingyu replied with a pout.

“Do you want to date him?”

Heat rushed to Mingyu’s face at the question. He would be lying if he said he never thought about it. Hell, he’s thought about doing a lot of different things with Wonwoo. Dating him just felt like a whole other bridge to cross while he was still just getting his feelings in order.

“I… I don’t think I have that goal in mind. At least not yet. I just like him.”

“Okay! So all you’re doing is acknowledging you find him attractive. That’s it. Doesn’t have to mean anything,” Minghao reassured with a small smile. Mingyu nodded slowly, considering what he just said.

“I brought you boys some appetizers while the food’s still cooking!” Mingyu’s mom exclaimed as she made her way out of the kitchen and onto the grass. She placed a plate of apples and peanut butter on the table for them to share.

“Thanks, Mrs. Kim,” Minghao said as he grabbed a slice. Mingyu’s mom gave a warm smile before making her way inside.

“Actually I changed my mind, I do want to date him,” Mingyu blurted once he was sure his mom couldn’t hear him.

Minghao raised his eyebrows. “Oh, then maybe-”

“Actually nevermind. I don’t want to.”

“O-oh okay,” Minghao stammered out.

Mingyu made a pained expression, contemplating. “Wait, no. I think I do.”

“What? Mingyu-”

“Wait, actually-”

Mingyu.

As the days of winter break dwindled, Mingyu began to pack his bags with a new sense of purpose. He was determined to face the next quarter head-on, both academically and personally. While the thought of seeing Wonwoo again made him nervous, it also filled him with hope. 

Leaving just a week after Christmas, Mingyu set off on the seven hour drive down south, hitching a ride from Minghao instead of booking another expensive flight. The drive was relatively smooth, only hitting traffic a few times. 

“Cows!” Mingyu and Minghao exclaimed at the same time as they passed a large grassy field. The scenery had to be Mingyu’s favorite part. From tall trees to large meadows to mountains, it was hard for Mingyu to believe they were still traveling within the same state.

Mingyu sat in the passenger seat, soft tunes of Minghao’s R&B playlist filling his ears as he watched pretty landscapes pass them by. He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was to be going to school in the same city as his best friend. He reminisced on how they met and how quickly they had gotten so close. 

He remembers it like it was yesterday. Minghao was sitting across from him at their old school library, neither of them paying any mind to the other. All of a sudden, a fight broke out between a couple a few tables away, catching everyone’s attention, including theirs. Between the offsetting but funny situation and the occasional amused glances they sent at each other, he and Minghao began having a conversation after the couple had left. Being early in the semester and not having any other friends at the time, they exchanged contact information and remained close.

His friendship with Minghao was a lot less stressful and pressuring than his friendships back in high school. Not ever finding a reason to, Mingyu never reached out to his old friends, and as expected, they didn’t bother to reach out to him either. Mingyu was relatively caught up on what they were doing, having been following them on social media and what not, but he never bothered to get further details or check in on them.

In a year, he would be just a few months away from graduating. Just like that, his college journey would be over, at least at the undergraduate level. Mingyu always thought he wouldn’t get very far and never had the desire to. But now, having the right people in his life for once, he began to see his own potential, which is something he was never previously encouraged to do.

As Minghao drove up the hill to Mingyu’s school, Mingyu admired the familiar, picturesque campus and manicured lawns. They passed a water fountain at the entrance and then a large field in the middle of campus where students lounged on the grass, studying or enjoying the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean in the far distance. The palm trees swayed gently in the winter breeze, emphasizing that southern California charm. 

The air was filled with a sense of possibility and excitement, the kind that hit Mingyu at the beginning of the school year. He had only fond memories here so far, and began to appreciate coming back to this school more than he thought he would. Despite the butterflies in his stomach, he felt a sense of determination as Minghao parked the car. 

Grabbing his small suitcase from the trunk, he hugged his friend goodbye, confident that they would see each other again soon.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Minghao said, pulling back.

Mingyu laughed. “Have you met me?”

“Yeah. That’s why I said that. Oh! Let me know how it goes with… you know who,” Minghao said, whispering the last part.

Mingyu shook his head. “I’m afraid there won’t be anything to tell. I’ll try to keep things interesting for you, though.”

“Thank you…” Minghao sang as he made his way back to the driver’s seat. Once he was gone, Mingyu walked a few yards to his building, making his way inside. Despite living in the same building as Wonwoo, Mingyu didn’t run into him as often as he thought he would. For that reason, Mingyu was able to walk back to his room relatively anxiety free.

His room was just the way he left it: looking like an Ikea set up. There was something about coming back to a neat space that made Mingyu feel oddly accomplished. Being neat when he was living there every day was a different story, though.

He set down his suitcase and backpack and took off his shoes, plopping himself onto his bed. It’s strange how tiring sitting in a car for seven hours can be. Mingyu could feel his feet slightly throbbing from being placed flat on the car floor for so long. He opened the window next to his bed and took a deep breath, welcoming the (polluted) fresh Los Angeles air, light chatter and laughter easily overheard from students outside. 

Just as he closed his eyes, heard a knock on his door. He fought the urge to just stay quiet and pretend nobody’s home, but figured it may be Hansol or something.

“Mingyu!” Yoohyeon exclaimed as soon as he opened the door. Mingyu’s mind took a few more seconds to recognize her as her previous red hair was now a grayish blue.

“Hey,” Mingyu returned with a soft smile.

“How are you, kiddo?” she asked, pulling him into a side hug. “I saw you walk in right now. Sorry, I’m sure you want to settle down first…”

“No, it’s okay. I’m good. What’s up?”

“Some friends and I are gonna go to an arcade bar tonight if you wanna come!”

Mingyu smiled. Yoohyeon was always there to make him feel included from the moment he stepped foot on campus. He appreciated her a lot.

He looked over at Hansol’s clock, and Yoohyeon must have noticed because she spoke up again. “We’re leaving around 8 o'clock so you have some time to unpack and stuff but otherwise if you’re too tired, no worries.”

Mingyu thought about saying no because truthfully, he felt way too exhausted to even leave his room. However, the devil on his shoulder did a great job at reminding him how close Yoohyeon was with Wonwoo, realizing that there was a good possibility he would be there too.

“I’ll go,” Mingyu said, perking up.

“Oh.” Yoohyeon replied, noticeably surprised that he agreed. “That’s great! Okay, cool. A friend and I are going to drive there so you can just ride with us. I’ll come get you around 7:30, okay? Yay! So glad you’re back!” Yoohyeon exclaimed, pulling Mingyu in for another short hug before walking down the hall.

Mingyu laughed and closed the door. He made a bee line for his bed, determined to sleep for at least the next two hours before he had to begin unpacking. 

He was 90% sure Wonwoo would be there, and while he wasn’t sure what his angle was yet, he definitely wanted to keep the good impression he already has on him. It was early January, so he made sure to throw on a thick leather jacket with his classic t-shirt and jeans combo. He figured jewelry was overdoing it and still wanted to look somewhat effortless.

Now that he was getting ready, the nerves had mostly gone away. He just felt excited to see Wonwoo again. The last time they spoke was when he slept over at Mingyu’s to help him re-write all his notes. Mingyu wished that he had sent a text afterwards telling him how grateful he was for his help, but after his little revelation, he wasn’t even sure how he was supposed to talk to the guy. 

He was excited to catch up with him, regardless. He wanted to hear about what he did over break, get his thoughts on graduating at the end of the year and hopefully make time to see each other again. No matter what Mingyu felt for Wonwoo, he definitely enjoyed his company and liked talking to him. 

When Yooohyeon arrived for him, they walked down to the front of the building together, briefly catching up on their winter breaks. Mingyu hopped into the back seat of the gray honda, giving a shy ‘hi’ to the person driving whose face he couldn’t see from his angle.

“Oh, this is my friend, Karina. She goes to a different school. Karina, this is Mingyu- the guy I told you about.”

Mingyu raised a playful eyebrow. “You’re talking about me?”

“Only good things!” Yoohyeon reassured from the passenger seat. “Right, Karina?”

“Mostly good,” Karina’s voice spoke up, causing Yoohyeon to nudge her in the arm.

The drive was relatively silent but comfortable. Mingyu went on his phone while Karina and Yoohyeon would occasionally speak to one another. 

As the navigating system began to announce they were getting closer, the nerves that Mingyu thought had disappeared suddenly creeped back. He felt like he was jumping ahead of himself . What if Wonwoo wasn’t even there? Disappointment settled in his gut at the thought. 

Mingyu was the last one to get out of the car. He shut the door and walked around to meet up with the other two. Walking up to the two girls who hugged themselves from the cold, Mingyu’s eyes were practically drawn to Karina almost immediately.

She had thick, black hair that cascaded down her back, catching the light in a way that made it shimmer. Her eyes were striking, they sat on her face at an angle that kind of reminded him of Wonwoo’s. As he got closer, he couldn't help but notice how pretty she was.

“Let’s go. Everyone should be inside,” Yoohyeon announced as she looked down at her phone. They walked a few feet to the front entrance, exchanging their money for a cup of quarters they could use to play the arcade games. They stepped into the arcade bar, the neon lights flickering above and the hum of electronic beeps and laughter filling the air.

Mingyu scanned the room, looking for familiar faces among the crowded space.

He noticed a group of people he recognized as other RA’s near the back, gathered around a row of classic arcade games. As he approached, he spotted Wonwoo intensely focused on a game of Street Fighter, his fingers dancing over the controls with practiced ease. Wonwoo’s hair was slightly longer than the last time Mingyu had seen him, brushing just past his ears in a way that framed his face perfectly. He wore a fitted black quarter long sleeve that hugged his athletic physique even more perfectly, his signature glasses topping it all off. Mingyu’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. 

He looked good. Like, really good.

A mix of excitement and anxiety churned in his stomach.

He swallowed and made his way over to him, who had just won his game and was stepping back from the machine. The elder turned and almost walked into him.

“Oh, Mingyu! Hey,” he said with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up as he saw him.

“Hey,” Mingyu replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He swallowed. “Did you win?” he asked, motioning to the game in front of them.

Wonwoo’s eyes lingered on him for a few seconds before turning back to the machine. “Y-yeah. I think so. Not sure to be honest.”

Mingyu laughed, heart swelling and eyes mesmerized at how the different colored lights danced in the reflection of the other’s glasses. “How was your break?”

“Pretty good. You know, I just spent time with my family. How about you?” Wonwoo asked, leaning against the arcade machine.

“I- It was nice. Got some rest, caught up on readings for my next classes. Uh,” Mingyu hesitated for a moment, unable to help himself before continuing, “your hair looks really good.”

Wonwoo’s cheeks tinted slightly, and he ran a hand through his hair, smiling. “Oh. Thanks. I figured I’d try something different.” He gave a shy smile. “You think it suits me?”

Cute.

Mingyu felt something churn in his stomach and gave a crooked smile. “Definitely,” he said, feeling a surge of warmth at Wonwoo’s reaction. “Makes you look way cooler.”

Wonwoo chuckled. “Well, I’m glad you like it.”

As they caught up on their respective breaks and shared stories, Mingyu found himself getting lost in the way Wonwoo talked, the way his eyes sparkled when he laughed, and the easygoing charm that seemed to come so damn effortlessly to him. Despite the noise and chaos of the arcade, it felt like they were in their own little world. 

“Also, I’ve been meaning to tell you. I really appreciate you for staying up late to help me with my notes. I realized I never really said anything to you afterwards,” Mingyu said with sincerity.

Wonwoo huffed out a laugh. “It’s no problem. It was a very much needed distraction for… everything,” he said gesturing with his hands in a vague manner.

Mingyu nodded. “Well you seem to be doing better, so that's good.”

“Yeah,” Wonwoo said with a distant look in his eyes. “It’s gotten a lot easier but just, you know, takes some getting used to.”

“Yeah, I can imagine,” Mingyu replied as they both fell into silent people watching around the arcade.

“Wanna grab a drink?” Wonwoo suggested after a while, pointing towards the bar.

“Sure, sounds good,” Mingyu breathed out, trying to hide his excitement. As they made their way through the crowd, Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of anticipation. Spending time with Wonwoo felt different now, charged with a new kind of energy that he was still trying to understand. But for now, he was content to just enjoy the moment, happy to be back in his company.

 


 

“Your cat?!”

Wonwoo laughed and nodded at Mingyu’s enthusiastic reaction. “Yeah. My mom’s going on vacation for a few weeks so no one would be home to take care of her. I decided to just bring her to school with me,” Wonwoo said with a shrug.

“I wanna meet her,” Mingyu said with a whine, drinks beginning to kick in. “What’s her name?”

“Luna. Wanna see a photo?” Wonwoo pulled out his phone, displaying his lockscreen. A black cat was pictured perched on a window still.

Mingyu pouted in adoration. “Aww, she’s so cute.”

“Yeah, she’s a little bit old. I’ve had her since I was like ten,” Wonwoo said, looking lovingly down at his phone. 

Mingyu smiled. “You must really love her, then. I’m sure she’s very wise by now.”

“I do. She’s my best friend,” Wonwoo said with a soft smile. He turned to look at Mingyu. “Funny. I took you more as a dog person.”

Mingyu raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his drink.”What made you think that?”

Wonwoo shrugged. “You give dog energy.”

“Wha- What does that mean?” Mingyu asked with an amused expression.

“Like you’re so…” Wonwoo’s eyes lingered over Mingyu’s face, glancing at his figure before going back up. “You’ve got that kind of energy that makes people just want to engage with you. Plus, you have those puppy-dog eyes that can get you out of any trouble."

​​Mingyu nodded in understanding. "Ah, okay. So, what you're saying is, I’m adorable and everyone loves me?"

"Exactly," Wonwoo said, still grinning. "But also, a bit clumsy, always running into things and getting yourself into all sorts of trouble."

“I’ll take it,” Mingyu said with a pleased shrug, taking a sip of his drink. “And I am a dog person.”

Wonwoo smiled and shook his head. “So,” he said, leaning against the bar, “any big plans for this quarter?”

“Just trying to survive, honestly. My professor vouched for me to be able to take advanced classes because she said it would look good when I apply to medical school. Kinda nervous, though,” Mingyu said with a shy chuckle.

Wonwoo expression changed, now looking at Mingyu in awe. “What? Mingyu, that’s great. I don’t know much about your major but taking fourth year courses as a third year is super impressive."

Mingyu shrugged, feeling bashful. “Thanks. I just hope I can keep up.”

Wonwoo eyed the other for a few seconds before playfully nudging him. “You know, you’re kind of a nerd now.”

Mingyu gave a look of mock offense. “Hey, I can’t help that I have a brain,” he shot back. “Besides, you used to be pretty studious yourself. Don’t think you’re off the hook just because you’re all hot and cool now,” he teased.

Wonwoo rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. I just learned how to dress better.”

“No, seriously,” Mingyu said, his voice shifting slightly into a genuine tone. “You look good. Own it.”

Wonwoo paused and opened his mouth to speak before he was interrupted.

“How are we doing guys? Play any fun games yet?” Yoohyeon said, walking over with Karina. She smirked at her friend and motioned to Wonwoo. “Oh, Karina, this is my boyfriend Wonwoo.”

Wonwoo nearly spit his drink as he and Yoohyeon began to laugh. Mingyu’s mouth fell open as he realized what was happening. They were making fun of him.

“You told her?” He whined, nudging Wonwoo.

Wonwoo recomposed himself, still laughing and wiping his drink from his chin.”I’m sorry, Min.”

Mingyu ignored the way his heart lurched Wonwoo’s nickname for him. 

“Yeah, sorry. I couldn’t just not make fun of you for that,” Yoohyeon said, switching sides to give Mingyu a quick side hug. “Mingyu thought Wonwoo and I were dating at the beginning of the school year,” she explained.

“Ah, I see. So he’s not your boyfriend?” Karina asked, looking lost but amused. The three of them chuckled.

“No. This tall, handsome, dork of a man is single, but doesn’t play for our team,” Yoohyeon replied with a dramatic, disappointed shake of her head. 

Karina nodded in understanding. Her eyes wavered over to Mingyu. “W-what about you?”

Mingyu looked at the pretty girl in front of him, blushing. “Um. What about me?”

She shrugged, hunching in on herself and appearing more shy. “Are you single?”

Mingyu’s mind went through a plethora of neuro passageways in desperate search of the right thing to say, the immediate silence from everyone not helping at all.

On one hand, Karina was really pretty, and he probably wouldn’t mind becoming involved with her. On the other hand, Wonwoo was sitting right in front of him and while he wasn’t sure what he hoped to achieve with Wonwoo, he definitely wanted to appear available. 

“Uh,” Mingyu said with a nervous chuckle. He glanced over at Wonwoo who looked back and forth between Mingyu and Karina. He couldn’t help the pang of disappointment at the way Wonwoo’s expression showed more amusement than anything.

“Yeah,” Mingyu replied with a soft smile. “I am single.”

Karina pursed her lips, trying not to smile as she nodded and looked down at her feet. Regret washed over face at the tension that arised from her question.

Yoohyeon looked back and forth between them with a shit eating grin. “Okay… we’ll be right back,” she said before grabbing her friend’s arm and walking away.

Mingyu stared blankly at where they were standing, absentmindedly grabbing his drink and finishing it. He sighed and looked up to see Wonwoo receiving the tab from the bartender. Mingyu practically jumped and reached over him, taking the tab for himself and causing the other to laugh.

Mingyu groaned as he saw that it was an already paid receipt. “No! Why did you pay?”

Wonwoo chuckled. “Because my card was the one they had on file? It’s fine Mingyu, you paid at the basketball game, remember? And you can just cover it next time.”

Next time.

Mingyu pouted. “Fine. I still owe you for pulling that all nighter with me, though.”

Wonwoo shrugged, smiling playfully. “Fine by me.”

As Wonwoo stood there, Mingyu found himself lost in Wonwoo’s features, the way the colorful lights highlighted his cheekbones and the way he smiled. He shook his head slightly, clearing his thoughts. “So, what game am I gonna destroy you in today?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Oh, you’re on,” Wonwoo said, his eyes narrowed. “Prepare to lose at air hockey.”

 

...

 

Mingyu’s hands made their way underneath Wonwoo’s shirt and caressed his sides. He indulged in feeling his smooth skin under his slightly calloused hands. He cornered Wonwoo further until he was completely against the wall, his lips continuing to move in a steady rhythm against his own.

Wonwoo let out a soft moan as Mingyu pressed his leg firmly between his. Mingyu took it as an invitation to explore even further, moving his lips down Wonwoo’s jaw, until they eventually landed on his neck. 

There was something about it that always drove Mingyu absolutely crazy. It was long, slender, soft, and perfectly draped into those goddamn collar bones that teased Mingyu everytime they were in eyesight. 

Mingyu sucked on different points of his skin, groaning in satisfaction at the thought of Wonwoo covered in marks that he had left on him.

“Mmm,” Mingyu moaned against Wonwoo’s neck as his hands continued to move up and down his torso, not getting enough of the older man’s strong but lean figure. “You taste so good.”

Wonwoo groaned, grabbing Mingyu by the hair and pulling him up so that their lips could meet again. Mingyu’s hand moved away from Wonwoo’s side and went around, placing it on the small of his back. His other hand made its way up to his face, caressing his cheek with his thumb.

Mingyu pulled back slightly to take a good look at the fucked out man in front of him. Wonwoo’s hair was all over the place, his cheeks flushed, lips swollen and eyes slightly hooded. His glasses were somewhere on the ground. 

Mingyu made a pained noise when Wonwoo placed his hand on his groin and gave his already hard bulge a squeeze. Wonwoo demonically began to rub, eyes dark and intentional. Mingyu slid his hand from Wonwoo’s cheek down to his pretty neck.

He wrapped his fingers around it. His grip was strong enough to keep him up against the wall but not enough to cut any airflow.

“Fuck, Won,” Mingyu whispered, closing his eyes and concentrating on the friction that came from Wonwoo’s hand rubbing over his jeans. Wonwoo stopped, causing Mingyu to grind his hips, this time against Wonwoo’s own erection.

Wonwoo let out a moan so vulgar it caused even more heat to rush to Mingyu’s aching dick. Their lips were millimeters away, not touching each other but occasionally brushing, opening and closing at the pleasure that had hijacked their nervous systems. 

They continued to grind their hips against one another, with Mingyu’s hand around Wonwoo’s throat, pinning him in place and both of Wonwoo’s hands placed on Mingyu’s hips, guiding his movements.

Soft gasps and groans filled Wonwoo’s small dorm room and Mingyu wondered if any of the other residents could hear them. 

“Mingyu- agh,” Wonwoo said, breathing heavily as Mingyu pressed his body even closer to his. “Mingyu, stop,” Wonwoo said, this time voice sounding clearer.

Mingyu stopped moving, letting his head fall onto Wonwoo’s shoulder and nosing slightly at the spot where his neck met his shoulder. He licked his lips and pulled away just enough to be able to look at Wonwoo’s face. He was just as flushed with a little bit of sweat collecting at his brow. 

Mingyu wanted to lick it off.

“Sorry,” Mingyu said slightly out of breath. “I can go-”

“No,” Wonwoo said, voice low and strained, grabbing Mingyu’s wrist before he could turn to leave. “I said stop because I don’t want you to get tired… yet.” Wonwoo glanced over to his bed and back down at the bulge between Mingyu’s legs. 

 

 

Mingyu woke up with a start, his heart pounding and his sheets tangled around his legs. The remnants of his dream lingered in his mind, vivid and disorienting. He quickly sat up, running a hand through his hair that was slightly damp from sweat. 

"What the hell..." he muttered to himself, throat dry and face flushed as the details of the dream played back in his mind. Every touch, every whisper, every look – it all felt so real .

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the coolness of the floor against his feet. It wasn't the first time he’d thought of Wonwoo in a way that made him question everything, but this dream had been different. It was intense, visceral, and it left him feeling more conflicted than ever.

He focused his eyes on the hardwood floor beneath him. His thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of what he was feeling. It wasn’t just the physical aspect of the dream that threw him off, it was the emotions that came with it. The tenderness, the connection—it was all so overwhelming.

Mingyu stood up slowly and paced his room, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. He felt a mix of embarrassment, guilt, and an odd sense of longing that felt far different from the innocent crush he thought he had. 

This can’t be happening.

But even as he tried to push the thoughts away, he knew he couldn't deny the truth that was slowly becoming clearer. 

He sighed deeply, rubbing his face as he sat back down on his bed. The dream had brought everything to the surface, and now he had to face it, whether he was ready or not.

 


 

Hansol and Seungkwan made their way down the hallway with their small suitcases in tow. Being only one day before classes start, the resident hall was already filled with the usual commotion of students catching up with one another after the month-long break and leaving their doors open: an invitation for others to come socialize.

“I was thinking next time we should go to South America. I heard Peru is nice,” Seungkwan perked. Their five day vacation to Cancun was unbelievable and all they had been talking about over break. With the assortment of delicious foods, excursions, and activities like scuba diving and paragliding, coming back to their mundane student life felt like a punch to the gut and made it all the much harder to talk about anything else.

Hansol thought about it. “That sounds nice. I heard they have good food.”

Amazing food,” Seungkwan added in excitement as they stopped so Hansol could open the door. “It would probably be even more fun since we got to- what the fuck ?”

Hansol and Seungkwan stood there in: fear? Disbelief? Maybe confusion, at the sight before them.

The blinds were completely drawn, which was unusual since Mingyu always liked to have sunlight peek in. There were a few candles spread around the room and Hansol’s white noise machine was on, playing sounds of trickling water with birds chirping in the distance. With the dim lighting and soothing sounds, Hansol would have thought he just walked into a massage parlor.

“Mingyu?” Hansol asked in shock, only now realizing that the man had been laying flat on his back in his bed the whole time.

Mingyu sat straight up, mimicking a corpse rising from their grave. He reached over and turned off the noise machine and pulled off his eye mask. 

“What.”

Hansol stared for a few moments. “Hey…” he said, obviously confused as he slowly made his way over to his own bed. “What- what are you doing?”

Mingyu looked around, his face bored and unamused. “Meditating.”

Seungkwan barked out a laugh causing Mingyu to glare at him. “I didn’t know you were so into mindfulness, Mingyu.”

Mingyu sighed dramatically. “I’m not but WikiHow fucking,” he angrily tossed his eyes mask on the ground, “said this would work.”

Hansol nodded in understanding, trying to hold back his laughter. “Work for what exactly?”

“Stress! God, I’m having an identity crisis,” Mingyu muttered in the last part, rubbing his eyes.

“The quarter hasn’t even started-”

“How did you know you liked men?” Mingyu asked with a straight face. 

Hansol and Seungkwan eyebrows shot up comedically at the question. They turned to look at each other, shock and concern prevalent in their expressions. There was a few seconds of silence before Seungkwan spoke up, his tone no longer playful but reassuring.

“For me at least, I just never saw myself with a woman. Everything I was supposed to want with women, I wanted with men,” he said, carefully eyeing Mingyu. 

Mingyu hesitated. “I- I had a dream of this guy that, well, I guess I kind of already knew I liked him but-”

“Oh. That doesn’t have to mean anything… I’ve dreamt about making out with girls before. It’s your brain’s way of exploring things you may be curious about but may not be interested in actually getting involved in,” Seungkwan said.

“No, but, I…” Mingyu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “For the past few years I’ve kind of known that I’m interested in guys or at least… exploring the subject, I guess. But now… I think I might actually like someone… who’s a guy,” he added, avoiding eye contact. Hansol and Seungkwan shared concerned looks at their friend’s defeated expression.

“Mingyu…” Hansol stopped when he saw his roommate begin to tear up. “Hey, man, it’s okay,” he said, walking over and sitting next to him. The taller pouted and nervously fidgeted with his finger nails.

“Realizing you’re into guys can be scary- I know. But hey, I’m here to answer any questions or listen, whatever you need,” Seungkwan said, taking a seat on Hansol’s bed. “And I’m, like, the gayest person you’ll probably ever meet, so I would take advantage.”

Mingyu let out a chuckle, Hansol patting his back reassuringly. “I like girls, too. That part I know. I’ve just only ever liked guys in some weird, detached way but now I’m scared I actually want more than that.”

Seungkwan nodded. “Okay. The guy you like, does he like guys?”

“He does.”

“If this guy walked into the room right now and asked you out, would you say yes?” Seungkwan asked with a raised eyebrow. Hansol eyed his boyfriend, not sure what he was trying to get at. 

The thought of Wonwoo being interested in him brought butterflies to Mingyu’s stomach. He pondered on what that would be like. They would probably go on dates and spend a lot of time in each other’s room, living in the same building and all. They would meet between classes and Mingyu would help him with his RA duties whenever he could. Mingyu could imagine attending his graduation, extremely proud of all that he’s accomplished, especially considering all the setbacks he faced to get there. Mingyu would make sure everyone would know Wonwoo was taken. Wonwoo was shy, so it would probably be Mingyu showing more PDA while Wonwoo would attempt to be discreet. 

Mingyu would be so proud to be with someone like Wonwoo. Not only was he fucking gorgeous, he was one of the most likable people he’s ever met. Being able to introduce Wonwoo as his boyfriend felt almost too good to be true- it was way more than what Mingyu deserved.

His heart sank.

“I think I would… but I doubt that would ever happen.”

“What? Dude, you’re hot,” Hansol said, looking at the taller man like he was crazy.

Mingyu sighed, growing frustrated at how many times he found himself telling people his and Wonwoo’s whole back story. “Can I trust you guys?”

The two boys looked at each other with confused expressions. “Yeah, of course,” Hansol said sincerely.

“Okay,” Mingyu breathed out. “When I was in high school, my friend group and I… we used to bully this kid because he had a crush on me- because he was gay.” Mingyu looked up to see Hansol nodding with a solemn expression and Seungkwan looking around the room, no longer making eye contact with Mingyu. “I was sixteen years old and really stupid, obviously. I was too much of a pussy to tell my friends to stop or that I thought we were going too far,” he continued, really getting tired of telling the same story. “I would never do that now-”

“We know,” Hansol said confidently, looking over at Seungkwan who stared back at him with an unreadable expression. 

“The guy I like now,” Mingyu said, “He’s the kid that I used to bully. We went to highschool together.”

“Jesus fucking christ,” Seungkwan muttered behind his two hands that were now rubbing at his face. Hansol took a deep breath beside him, recognizing the complexity of Mingyu’s situation.

“Him and I have talked about it, though! I apologized multiple times. We’re cool now I think-”

“Yeah, but that’s not just something you can forgive and forget, Mingyu. For him to choose to be on talking terms with you is different from choosing to enter a romantic relationship with you. Can you imagine the dissonance that would come with dating your high school bully?” Seungkwan reasoned.

Mingyu blinked at him. “I don’t know what that word means.”

“What he’s saying is, and I’m sure you know this, it’s going to be a lot harder because you guys have a rough past. There’s a lot more layers to this than I thought,” Vernon said with a chuckle.

Mingyu frowned. “You guys are making me feel worse.”

Silence followed Mingyu’s statement as Hansol and Seungkwan shot each other sympathetic glances.

“I’m sorry, Mingyu, we didn’t mean to,” Hansol said, resting his hand on Mingyu’s shoulder. 

Seungkwan took a dramatic breath before speaking. “Okay, to start off with your first… concern, I guess: yes, you obviously like men.”

Mingyu whined and fell back on his bed. He didn’t have a problem with it, per se, it was just a lot to process for someone who had been trying to avoid it for so long. 

It’s not that he believes it would be an issue. Fortunately, his friends and family are rather progressive and probably won’t have much of a problem with it. However, to make a breakthrough in your own sense of identity when it feels like everyone around you figured it out ages ago is rather intimidating. Mingyu couldn’t help but feel like he was behind- like he didn’t belong.

“So what? I’m gay?” Mingyu asked where he lay flat on the mattress.

“Well, you like girls so technically no, but you don’t have to label yourself at all. Hansol doesn’t use labels,” Seungkwan perked.

Mingyu looked over at Hansol who shrugged. “I don’t really care what limits who I’m attracted to. I just know I love Seungkwan, who just happens to be a man.” Seungkwan smiled sweetly at his boyfriend before turning back to Mingyu.

“So that’s established: you’ve liked girls and you’ve also liked guys,” Seungkwan said, clapping his hands together. “Now, for the tricky part,” he said, crossing his legs and looking up in thought. 

“I think if you said you guys are cool now then getting him to like you isn’t completely off the table,” Hansol said with a shrug. Seungkwan looked at him intently. “What? I mean if he liked him once, he could like him again.”

Mingyu’s eyes widened in surprise as he sat back up and looked at his roommate. He had never considered that perspective before, and a sudden surge of hope welled up within him at the thought.

“Well, what if he just wants to get back at you? Does he seem like the type to do that? Wait, do I know him?” Seungkwan asked in one breath, tilting his head quizzically. 

Mingyu hesitated, playing with his hands, a slight pout on his face. “It’s Wonwoo.”

Hansol’s eyes widened comically as he looked over at Seungkwan who’s jaw dropped. 

“Wonwoo?!” Seungkwan exclaimed so loud that Mingyu was afraid Wonwoo would literally hear it from his room. “Oh, Mingyu, you just can’t stop digging your own grave, can you?” 

Mingyu looked around, face alert. “What? Why?”

"I mean, aside from the fact that you turned him down—which is insane—you're definitely not the only one who's drawn to him. Quite the opposite, actually."

Mingyu swallowed, not sure how to respond. 

Hansol hesitated before he spoke. “Yeah I know one guy who’s had a crush on him since his orientation last year and another who’s slid into his DMs a few times,” he said with a sorry look.

“Yeah, and especially now that he’s single,” Seungkwan exasperated with a shake of his head. “You’ve seen the guy, right? Did you really think you would be the only one interested in him? I hate to break it to you, Mingyu, but Wonwoo he… he has a lot of options.”

Mingyu's running thoughts came to a halt, finally beginning to feel fatigued at all the information. Maybe pursuing Wonwoo wasn’t worth it. Seungkwan was right- out of everyone, why would Wonwoo choose the one guy who used to mistreat him? Mingyu once again felt hopeless and could feel himself lean towards giving up. He got so caught up in his feelings that he didn’t take the time to step back and look at the reality of the situation.

At the very least, he and Wonwoo could still be friends. Plus, the last thing Mingyu would want to do is scare the older boy and make him feel uncomfortable. 

“Wait, you had a wet dream about Wonwoo ?” Hansol asked, amused.

Mingyu groaned and allowed his body to flop back down to the mattress for the second time.

“It’s okay. We’ve all been there,” he heard Seungkwan mumble nonchalantly.

Notes:

hehe sorry dont hate me i promise theres more spiciness to come... when i said slow burn i really meant slowwwwwww

appreciate the comments and kudos always! <3

Chapter 12: I Think You Need to Blow ‘em Out

Notes:

im sorry im sorry im sorry!!! ik this is late. recent election got me all types of fucked up and I'm not even from the U.S.
BUT i got to see svt for the first time this past week!!! i cried. honestly still recovering.

this is just a filler chapter but i hope it still builds their relationship a bit :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The cool morning air peaked through the small crack of Mingyu’s open window, hitting him directly on the face and waking him before his alarm could go off. 

It was his first day of classes for this quarter, and he somehow was already feeling tired and worn out, despite the month break. Throwing on a hoodie and a random pair of jeans, Mingyu made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. He took advantage of the fact that most people chose to avoid morning classes, especially on Mondays and used up all the counter space in the communal bathroom as he was the only one there.

Having a vague idea of where his class was, Mingyu put on his earphones and set off. His first class was one of the ‘advanced’ courses that his professor encouraged him to take. Mingyu had time to look up the syllabus and confirm that he indeed had no idea what the fuck molecular statistics is. He just hoped that he’d be able to catch up rather quickly.

At a time like this, Mingyu would usually be a little more nervous, anticipating what the upcoming quarter had in store for him in terms of the challenging course content he was about to face. But truthfully, all he could think about was his conversation with Seungkwan and Hansol the night before.

Mingyu couldn’t pinpoint what exactly he was feeling, just that there was a lingering anxiety ever since he came to terms with the fact that he and Wonwoo ever happening was far too unrealistic. Maybe he was disappointed, defeated even, but more than anything, he felt embarrassed. He felt embarrassed for letting his mind go there in the first place. He should be grateful Wonwoo doesn’t absolutely hate him, not jumping ahead of himself and wanting something more than friendship. Especially after the god forsaken dream, Mingyu couldn’t help the immense feeling of shame that weighed on him ever since.

Mingyu walked into his classroom, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been looking forward to this class, but recent events had him on edge. He scanned the room, hoping to find an empty seat near the front of the lecture hall. 

His eyes landed on the far corner and suddenly felt his stomach twist.

His breath caught when he spotted none other than Wonwoo, casually chatting with another student.

Mingyu’s eyes wavered around the classroom, the recent events making it incredibly difficult for him to keep calm in the presence of the elder. He could feel his hands get clammy as he pulled on the strap of his backpack, trying to decide if he should go up and talk to him or not.

Before he could fully conceptualize what was happening, though, Wonwoo looked up and noticed him, a bright smile spreading across his face. 

 "Mingyu? What are you doing here?" he asked pleasantly, waving him over.

Mingyu felt his brain literally stutter as he gave a smile back. He took a deep breath and made his way over, hyper aware of his steps. 

"Hey," he greeted, taking the seat next to Wonwoo. "My professor told me this course would be good for my med school plans, so she vouched for me and I was able to enroll."

Wonwoo chuckled and nodded in understanding. "Ah. Of course you did, overachiever."

Mingyu grinned, feeling a warm flush of pride, his nerves settling. He took off his backpack and placed it on the desk. "And what about you? Didn’t know you were into molecular stats."

Wonwoo shrugged. "It’s a requirement for my major. Gotta keep up with the nerds like you."

“You say I’m a nerd, but I don’t want to hear it when you’re asking me for help later on.”

Wonwoo scoffed as Mingyu raised a teasing eyebrow. “Bold of you to think I’ll ask for help instead of just copying off of you.”

Mingyu leaned back, looking at the other, his eyes wide. “Damn, I never thought I would see the day the Jeon Wonwoo, rule enforcer, openly admits to academic dishonesty like that.” He shook his head in disapproval and made a ‘tsk’ sound. “Not a good look for you.”

Wonwoo laughed. “People change, Mingyu. Soon you’ll be the one giving out detention slips.”

And you’ll be the one to reject me this time.

Mingyu scolded his lizard brain for getting so self deprecating and angsty in the middle of his stats class of all places.

Soon after, the professor walked in, and the class settled down. He introduced the course, outlining the rigorous curriculum and the importance of staying on top of the material. Mingyu felt a familiar determination settle in– he was ready for this challenge.

The professor announced that there would be a semester-long project and that students were to get into a group of 2-3 people. Immediately, chatter and commotion erupted in the lecture hall as students got into groups with those who were already in close proximity to them.

"Looks like we’re stuck together," Wonwoo said with a sigh as he nudged Mingyu’s shoulder.

Mingyu shrugged, playing along. "Could be worse, I guess."

Mingyu found himself less focused on his nerves and more on the content of the lecture as the class proceeded. He was in his element, and having Wonwoo by his side felt surprisingly natural despite the inner turmoil he seemed to be causing Mingyu over the weekend.

As they packed up their things at the end of class, Wonwoo turned to Mingyu. "Want to grab a coffee? We can start brainstorming for the project."

Mingyu nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. "Sure- oh wait. I have another class after this." Mingyu hesitated, but spoke, not being able to restrain himself. “If you want I can pass by your place later tonight. I can meet Luna.”

Wonwoo eyed Mingyu before giving him a soft smile. “Works for me.”

Walking out of the classroom, Mingyu was thankful for Wonwoo’s easygoing nature for putting him at ease. Yet, his heart still raced at the thought of visiting Wonwoo’s dorm room, and he wondered if it looked similar to what he had imagined in his drea-

Bad Mingyu.

Arriving early for his next class, Mingyu took a seat at the front of the room and scrolled through his phone. This one was not an advanced course, which allowed him to let down his guard just a little bit.

“Mingyu!” he heard a voice call out. Jungkook walked into the room with his typical wide grin, emphasizing how the boy was easily entertained by, well,  anything. 

Mingyu smiled, happy to see his friend after so long. “Hey.”

“How was your break? Do anything fun?” Jungkook asked as he took a seat beside him, the room still mostly empty.

Mingyu blew a raspberry. “Just went back home. What about you?”

Jungkook’s eyes went wide with excitement before he went into great detail of what his winter break consisted of. Mingyu took a deep breath, fully aware of how much Jungkook could ramble when given the opportunity.

"First, I went skiing with my family. I swear, my mom almost ran over a snowboarder. It was hilarious. She was all like, 'Watch out!' and the poor guy had to literally dive out of the way. Then, we went to this super fancy restaurant. I tried caviar for the first time. It was... weird. Slimy, but kinda tasty? Anyway, after that, we went to this cabin, and my brother got us all into this insane snowball fight. We built these huge forts and everything. Felt like a kid again."

Mingyu nodded along, eyes glazing over slightly. "Cool, sounds fun."

"Oh, and then there was this New Year's party. You remember Eric, right? The guy who tried to chug a whole bottle of champagne last quarter and ended up passing out in the bushes? Well, he was at it again. This time, he brought fireworks. It was wild! And illegal. We set them off at midnight, and I swear, one of them almost hit a car."

Mingyu nodded, not being able to help the laugh that came out of his mouth at Jungkook’s animated way of speaking and hand gestures that accompanied it.

"Oh. I also ran into Minnie at the party. We were both pretty tipsy, and one thing led to another... We hooked up."

Mingyu nodded. "Uh-huh... Wait, what? You and Minnie?!" he asked, eyes going wide.

Jungkook smiled, looking shy. "Yeah. We were arguing in a random bedroom upstairs, and it just kind of happened. It was pretty great, honestly."

Mingyu was fully awake now, shaking his head in disbelief. "Dude, that's... a surprise. H-how do you feel about it?"

Jungkook sighed, smile faltering slightly. "I don't know yet. We haven't really talked about it since, but I think we're cool?”

"Well, good luck with that…” Mingyu said, concern evident in his voice. “Just don't mess it up.” He made a mental note to text Minnie later to see how she’s doing.

Jungkook scoffed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. But enough about me, how was your break, really ? Give me more details. Anything exciting?"

"It was... quiet, I guess.” Mingyu said, thinking back to his time at home. “Spent a lot of time with my family, did some studying. Nothing too wild, but it was good."

"Yeah? Any epiphanies while you were hitting the books?"

Mingyu smiled to himself. "You could say that.”

"Ooh, mysterious.” Jungkook clapped his hands together. “You know what you need? A girlfriend… or at least to get laid.” 

Mingyu almost winced at the connotation, his dream of Wonwoo starting to replay in his mind like an old film. He quickly pushed those thoughts away and let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, maybe.”

“I should bring you to one of those house parties! Before the workload becomes too much.”

Mingyu smiled, not completely against the idea of getting wasted. 

“Also,” Jungkook began. “You know I’m always here if you need to talk about anything, right?”

Mingyu's face faltered for a moment, wondering if there was some invisible sign on his forehead broadcasting to the world that he had something weighing on his mind. For Jungkook to notice, it must be a lot more obvious than he thought,

Mingyu shook his head. “I’m okay, Kook. I appreciate it, though.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, not completely convinced. As the professor finally arrived and began the class, Mingyu couldn’t help but reflect on the bomb his companion had just dropped on him. The quarter was already off to a messy start, and Mingyu felt the anxiety begin to creep back into his system as he began to wonder if he should try that meditation thing again.

On his walk home, he took the time to reflect on his first two classes of the quarter, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. The workload was already proving to be intense, with dense reading assignments, intricate problem sets, and looming project deadlines.

Molecular Statistics, in particular, demanded a level of analytical thinking that pushed him to his limits, while Advanced Biochemistry delved into complex… somethings that required hours of brain power just to study. 

Still, Mingyu felt a sense of determination. He knew this quarter would be a grueling test of his capabilities, but he still wanted to prove himself. The demanding coursework would require him to balance his time efficiently, and he expected even more late nights and early mornings to become his new norm.

The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the university grounds as he continued to walk. He made a quick stop at the school convenience store before pulling out his phone and dialing Minghao’s number, needing to talk through the whirlwind of thoughts that had been plaguing him since that morning.

"Hey, Hao," Mingyu said as soon as the call connected.

"Mingyu. How was your first day?" Minghao’s court voice came through the speaker.

"It was...interesting," Mingyu replied, trying to find the right words. He sighed. "So, remember how I told you about the dream I had about Wonwoo?"

"Yeah," Minghao practically giggled. "Why, what happened?"

"Well, guess who is in my fucking molecular statistics class," Mingyu said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Seeing him there just threw me off completely. Totally fucked up my day."

Not really.

"Oh damn, that's an unfortunate coincidence, um.." Minghao supplied thoughtfully. "Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah, we talked. He was friendly, as usual. But I felt...distracted," Mingyu admitted. "And now I’m heading to his dorm to go over a project we have due at the end of the quarter. Oh, and to meet his cat."

"His cat?" Minghao asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Is that code for something or…”

“Hao!” 

Minghao laughed on the other line. “I’m sorry. I’m kidding. Well, that sounds like fun. But seriously, Mingyu, you need to calm down. You're overthinking this."

"I know, I know," Mingyu sighed. "But it's hard not to. Especially after that dream."

"You’ll be fine. Just be yourself. And maybe try not to act like a lovesick puppy," Minghao teased.

"Thanks for the advice," Mingyu replied dryly, but with a small smile. "I'll let you know how it goes."

"You better. Good luck!" 

Mingyu took a deep breath as he approached the dorm building. He made his way inside and headed towards the elevator, making sure to click the button for the floor below him. As Mingyu stepped out onto the familiar yet unfamiliar hallway, he took a good look at the decorations, finding them especially endearing knowing Wonwoo was the one to choose the theme and put them up.

While Mingyu’s floor consisted of an assortment of Paw Patrol cutouts and name placards, Wonwoo’s floor was decorated from one end of the hallway to another with Super Mario characters, which Mingyu found quite fitting for some reason.

He reached the end of the hallway where the RA’s dorm was typically located and laughed to himself at seeing a large cutout of Bowser taped to the door with flames behind him with a sign that said ‘Bowser’s Castle’. 

As he knocked on the door, he felt panic set in, and he couldn't help but feel the sudden urge to sprint in the opposite direction and never look back.

The door opened to Wonwoo smiling warmly. "Hey, come on in."

Mingyu stepped inside, taking in the cozy atmosphere of Wonwoo's dorm room. Band posters, personal photos, and a good amount of plants adorned the small space, giving it character. A small, black cat with striking blue eyes greeted him, purring and rubbing against his leg.

"And this must be the famous Luna," Mingyu said, kneeling down to pet the feline. Her age definitely showed as she felt a lot skinnier than she looked. She moved slowly, and closed her small eyes as Mnigyu scratched beneath her chin.

"Yep," Wonwoo replied, watching them with a fond smile. "I think she likes you.” Wonwoo looked around his room. “Sorry, I didn’t have much time to clean up or anything.”

The space was relatively clean, save for a few things that looked like they were just tossed out onto the desk and Wonwoo’s half made bed.

“It’s nice,” Mingyu said with a smile as he examined the wall full of photos behind Wonwoo’s closet. “I like your hall decorations by the way.”

Wonwoo scoffed. “Shut up. I heard you laughing at my door.”

Mingyu chuckled and turned to Wonwoo. “I laughed because I thought it was cute. Besides, it’s better than our Paw Patrol theme.”

Wonwoo smiled down at the ground as Mingyu took a seat in his bean bag chair in the corner. “It must be so nice to have your own room,” Mingyu said leaning back.

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow and took a seat at his desk. “It is. Well, I guess it doesn’t matter to me much anymore. Back when I had Alex, though, it was super convenient.” 

Mingyu did his best to hide his frown and nodded. “Makes sense.”

“How were your other classes today?” Wonwoo asked.

“Meh, they  were fine. Typical biochem. Oh! I found out today that Jungkook and Minnie hooked up on new years.”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Wow… not sure if I saw that coming but I also can’t say I’m shocked. So are they…”

“No, no,”  Mingyu said, shaking his head. “They’re not together. I just hope they’re not weird because then I have to be in the middle of it,” he said with a groan. He wondered if he should be telling Wonwoo his close friend’s business like that.

But also Wonwoo wasn’t necessarily the type to gossip.

“Mm,” Wonwoo nodded in understanding. Mingyu watched Wonwoo open his mouth to speak and then close it, shaking his head.

“What?” MIngyu asked quizzically. 

“No it’s nothing. I just… at some point thought that you and Minnie were a thing.”

“What?” Mingyu practically shrieked, sitting up a little bit. “Why?” he added with a laugh. 

Wonwoo chuckled, face flushing a little bit. “I don’t know. I think it started when I saw you guys dancing at the festival. It looked very… intimate.”

Mingyu eyed Wonwoo’s expression which was hard to read. He looked a strange mix of uncomfortable, embarrassed, and amused all at once. Truthfully, if Mingyu didn’t know any better, he would think Wonwoo was jealous, which was crazy.

Still, Mingyu couldn’t help the underlying hope he felt at the thought. Wonwoo saw him on the dance floor, even though Mingyu hadn’t even seen him . If Wonwoo was jealous, that meant that he saw him dancing with Minnie and wished that it was him instead. 

But he’s not jealous. Mingyu reminded himself.

“Oh, that,” Mingyu said with a laugh. “I mean don’t get me wrong, Minnie’s super pretty but she’s just a good friend. We were just having a good time. Plus, it was always so obvious that she liked Jungkook.”

Wonwoo glanced at Mingyu, a quick smile playing on his lips."Yeah, totally," he replied, forcing a chuckle. He ran his hand through his hair. "Anyway, wanna start planning for the project?”

 

Mingyu sat cross-legged on Wonwoo's bed, surrounded by textbooks, papers, and Luna, who had claimed a cozy spot on the corner of the bed. Wonwoo was at his desk, tapping away on his laptop as they brainstormed ideas for their project.

"Alright, so what if we focus on statistical modeling in genomics?" Wonwoo suggested, glancing over his shoulder at Mingyu.

Mingyu leaned back on his hands. "Okay. We could analyze the mutation rates in different populations or something like that."

Wonwoo turned fully around in his chair, his eyes lighting up. "Oh, good idea! We could use data from public databases and..."

As Wonwoo continued to talk excitedly about their project, Mingyu found himself getting lost in the way Wonwoo's face lit up with passion. He maintained prolonged eye contact, fully engaged in Wonwoo's enthusiasm. He noticed the way Wonwoo's lips moved, the intensity in his eyes, and the way his hair fell a little over his face. He wanted to reach up and move a few strands for him.

"And then we could compare those rates with, like, environmental factors," Wonwoo concluded, looking expectantly at Mingyu for feedback.

"That sounds perfect," Mingyu said, giving Wonwoo a smile. "You've really thought this through."

Wonwoo smiled back, a hint of a blush creeping up his cheeks. "Thanks. I just get really into this stuff."

Mingyu shifted closer to the edge of the bed. "It's great to see you so passionate. It makes working on this project a lot more fun."

Wonwoo's eyes softened. "Same here. It's nice having someone who gets it. Plus,” he added with a shrug, “not many people can say they’re working with the little prodigy of the biochem department."

Mingyu's gaze flickered to the cat, then back to Wonwoo with a playful smirk. "That’s the only reason you wanted to work with me isn’t it? For my brains?”

Wonwoo sighed and looked at Mingyu with a sorry expression. “You weren’t supposed to find out this way.”

Mingyu gave Wonwoo a gentle punch in the arm, and they continued to discuss their project, throwing ideas back and forth. Mingyu occasionally found himself getting distracted, fighting the urge to just zone out completely and just stare at the pretty boy in front of him.

During a break, Mingyu gathered the courage to reach into his bag and pull out a small bag of sour skittles. "Thought you might need a sugar boost," he said, tossing the bag to him.

Wonwoo caught it, his smile widening. "What? These are my favorites- how’d you know?" he said, his voice soft with appreciation.

Mingyu shrugged, giggling at the other’s reaction. "You told me," he said, though his heart was pounding. “I remember thinking only a psychopath could find those things enjoyable.”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes, a grin still plastered on his face as he ripped open the package. “Well I appreciate it. Thanks, Min.” He poured some of the small candies directly into his mouth, and Mingyu winced at the sight,

However, the earlier nerves were replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling. 

At one point, Wonwoo noticed Mingyu staring at him for a bit too long. “Are you okay?”

Their eyes met, and Mingyu quickly looked away, a blush creeping up his neck. "Uh, yeah... I was thinking maybe we could also incorporate some data from the CDC. We can argue that there’s a correlation between certain genetic combinations and specific types of diseases."

"Yeah, that sounds good," Wonwoo said, trying to ease the tension. "But seriously, Mingyu, are you okay? You seem a bit distracted."

Mingyu’s blush deepened. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... you know, thinking."

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow."Thinking about what?"

"Just the project,” Mingyu replied a little too quickly with a tight smile.

Wonwoo leaned back, letting out a soft laugh. "Okay, if you say so. But if you need to take a break or something, just let me know. I think we’ll be able to wrap up soon, though."

Mingyu nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Yeah, thanks. I'll be fine."

 

The first week of classes passed in a whirlwind. The workload was intense, far more demanding than anything he had experienced before. His schedule was packed with lectures, labs, and study sessions, leaving little room for anything else.

Despite the stress, though, Mingyu felt a sense of exhilaration. He was finally taking the courses he had been looking forward to for so long, and every lecture felt like a step closer to his career goals. The molecular statistics class, in particular, was both challenging and fascinating. Each time he walked into that class, his heart would race a little faster… but not just because of the challenging material.

Wonwoo’s presence in the class added an extra layer of excitement for Mingyu. He found himself looking forward to their interactions, no matter how brief or casual. There was something comforting about having Wonwoo nearby, and it made the otherwise daunting coursework feel a bit more manageable.

By the end of the week, Mingyu was exhausted but satisfied. He felt a sense of accomplishment for surviving the first week, but the looming pile of assignments and readings kept his stress levels high. 

Throughout all this, though, thoughts often drifted to Minnie, who had been uncharacteristically silent since he got back from break Both he and Jungkook had tried reaching out to her but hadn’t heard back.

“You’re an asshole,” Mingyu said to Jungkook after their professor told them to get into pairs to discuss a reading.

Jungkook looked around, making sure none of their classmates were listening to their conversation. “Me? Why?”

“You shouldn’t have hooked up with her! What were you thinking? You made things weird. Did you do anything to make her uncomfortable? I’ll murder you,” Mingyu said erratically, just above a whisper, hoping to be concealed by the humming chatter of the other students.

Jungkook’s eyes widened, offended by Mingyu’s implications. “How dare you. I didn’t do anything. I promise we both had a good time-”

“Then why hasn’t she spoken to us?!”

“I don’t know!” Jungkook shook his head and looked away for a second before turning back. “Why are you so concerned anyway? Wait…did you like her?” he asked, realization over his face.

Mingyu groaned. “Why does everyone think that?”

“This makes so much sense,” Jungkook said, ignoring Mingyu and burying his head in his hands. Mingyu glared at his friend. “Mingyu, if I would have known-”

“I don’t like Minnie, Jungkook.”

“No, it's okay! I’m glad you told me. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“Oh my God. You’re annoying.” Mingyu took a deep breath before continuing to speak. “I don’t like Minnie, I’m just concerned because she has always liked you , and I’m scared that a casual hook up to you could have meant more to her than you think.”

Jungkook’s expression softened, a look of confusion washing over him. “What?”

“Are you stupid?” Mingyu asked, unbelieving that his friend could be this oblivious. “She’s liked you this whole time.”

Jungkook stayed silent and looked down at his desk with concern. “Oh.”

Mingyu sighed and wondered if this is what his friends felt when trying to make him realize that he had feelings for Wonwoo. He felt bad for airing out Minnie’s business that way but didn’t doubt that this was the reason why their friend hasn’t been in contact with them since school started. Mingyu felt anxious at what her reaction would be when she found out.

Mingyu hoped that his friends would get the situation dealt with. After class, Jungkook muttered something about paying her a visit later. Mingyu prayed that he would follow through as he didn’t really want more drama in his life than there already was. With his classes being more demanding than last quarter and the whole Wonwoo situation, he couldn’t really afford to occupy his mind with anything else.

He figured Minghao was right. Just because he liked Wonwoo didn’t mean he had to do anything about it. His crush can be just that: a crush. It could be something to look forward to and maybe give him some motivation to put effort into his appearance. That’s it.

All he needed to do was focus on his studies, hope for Jungkook and Minnie makeup, and keep being a good friend to Wonwoo. Everything should go smoothly after that.

 


 

Wonwoo stepped through the door of "The Velvet Lounge," his senses immediately assaulted by a symphony of sights and sounds. After deep reflection over winter break, Wonwoo thought it might be safest to look for a job now, so he had something to fall back on if he couldn’t get a job immediately after graduation. 

Yoohyeon, being the extremely helpful and resourceful social work major that she is, was able to jump through a few hoops and get Wonwoo a virtual interview with the owner of the bar her friend works at within a week's notice. Wonwoo made a mental note to send her a gift basket.

The place was relatively calm and casual, even during the evening rush. Dim, ambient lighting cast a blue hue over polished wood and leather stools, while a gentle hum of conversation filled the air. The scent of beer and a hint of citrus from freshly cut limes mingled together.

As he made his way to the bar, he couldn’t help but notice the stained glass behind the shelves, casting colorful reflections over the rows of high-end liquor bottles. The bar itself was a sleek, dark wooden piece with a mirrored backdrop.

The owner, a middle-aged woman with a confident stride and a warm smile, approached him. She extended her hand in greeting.

“Wonwoo, hi. We met during your interview- I’m Linda.”

Wonwoo shook her hand. “It’s great to be here.”

The woman led him behind the bar, pointing out where he'd be working. As they moved, she explained the layout and the workflow, her voice clear and authoritative but not unkind.

“This is the main bar. You’ve got your beer taps on the left, wine and spirit shelves in the middle, and mixers down below. We keep the glasses on these racks above and below the counter. Over there’s where we make cocktails for the waitstaff to take to the tables. Any questions so far?”

Wonwoo shook his head. “Not yet.”

As they continued the tour, Wonwoo’s eyes scanned the room, absorbing the details. The lounge area was filled with some couches and tall tables, while a small stage in the corner promised live music on certain nights. The atmosphere was fun but relaxed, a place where people came to unwind and enjoy good company.

They rounded a corner to the prep area, where other staff members were busy with their tasks. A familiar girl with soft features and was busy slicing lemons, her hair in a slicked back ponytail. She moved with an effortless grace, her focus entirely on her work. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and she smiled up at him and waved like she recognized him too.

“And this is where we prepare all the ingredients for the cocktails. Make sure everything is fresh and ready before the evening rush. That’s Karina over there – one of our best bartenders. She’ll be working with you tonight.”

Wonwoo nodded, gaze wandering over the interior of the place for the tenth time.

The woman led Wonwoo back to the main bar area, explaining the final details of his responsibilities and the evening’s setup.

“We get pretty busy around here on weekends. Just stick to your training, ask for help when you need it, and you’ll do great. Any questions before we get started?”

Wonwoo smiled. “No, I think I’m ready. Thanks.”

The woman patted him on the back. “Good to hear. Let’s make tonight a great first shift.”

As Wonwoo took his place behind the bar, he glanced once more at Karina, who gave him an enthusiastic look. With a deep breath, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to officially dive into the all too familiar world of bartending.

Notes:

love reading ur comments so so much!! theres a few people in particular who shared that they've been staying up late reading this story omg i hope you all got some time to catch up on ur sleep and dw the story will always be here in the morning xd

appreciate yall!!!

Chapter 13: Go Ahead And Watch My Heart Burn

Notes:

do NOT try to consistently update a fanfiction and complete your final year of ur doctorate at the same time DONT

no regrets tho. pls pls pls share your thoughts w me here and or on twitter :)

Chapter Text

The brightness of the fluorescent lights and white walls contrasted with the gray, foggy scenery that could be seen outside of the windows. Dr. Park went through the lecture slides that were projected onto a white screen at the front of the classroom. While Wonwoo knew he should probably be paying more attention than he was, the monotone voice and repetitive material made it incredibly difficult for his mind to stay focused.

Wonwoo glanced over at Mingyu, who was furiously scribbling notes. The professor’s droning voice was starting to fade into the background. Wonwoo couldn’t help but smile to himself; he and Mingyu had been heavily relying on each other in this class over the past few weeks, and he found himself looking forward to these moments more and more.

Mingyu must have sensed Wonwoo's gaze because he turned and raised an eyebrow. "What’s up?" he mouthed.

Wonwoo shook his head, leaning in slightly to whisper, "Just thinking how you’re probably going to fill up that entire notebook by the end of the month."

Mingyu chuckled softly. "Well, I don’t want to miss anything important," he whispered back.

Wonwoo grinned. "You’d think that you would have learned your lesson and tried to avoid writing everything by hand after what happened at the end of last quarter. Plus, if you actually paid attention instead of just writing everything down, you might remember more."

Mingyu’s eyes widened, mock-offended. "I’ll have you know I’m an excellent rememberer." Just as he responded, he turned his body, grazing his elbow over the desk and accidentally pushing his notebook onto the ground. Students around them peered over to the source of the sound.

Wonwoo stifled a laugh, trying to keep quiet as Mingyu reached down to pick it up. “I’m telling you. It’s time to switch to typing out your notes like a normal person in this century,” he whispered.

Mingyu grinned as he picked up his notebook, brushing off some dust. "Typing is for quitters, Wonwoo. Real geniuses prefer the ancient art of penmanship."

"Excuse me," the professor’s stern voice cut through their laughter. "I’m going to have to ask you young men to keep it down."

Wonwoo bit his lip, nodding apologetically while Mingyu turned an impressive shade of red. The professor continued the lecture, but the two of them kept exchanging amused glances, barely containing their giggles for the rest of the lecture.

As soon as they stepped out of the classroom, Mingyu gave Wonwoo a small shove. "I can’t believe you got us in trouble," he pouted, shaking his head. "I haven’t been told to be quiet in class since high school."

Wonwoo laughed, his eyes downcast as they made their way out of the building. "Sorry about that. Wasn’t trying to mess up your perfect student streak.”

Mingyu stopped walking and turned to Wonwoo, eyeing him for a little longer than he probably should have. "You’re a bad influence, you know that?"

Wonwoo’s eyes lingered on the taller boy, and he smiled. “That’s crazy coming from you.” 

They continued to walk in comfortable silence for a moment before Mingyu hesitantly spoke again, eyes twinkling. "No, but honestly I’ve been having a lot more fun in this class since we started hanging out."

Wonwoo felt a flutter in his chest. "Me too," he admitted. "It’s nice to have someone to make fun of– I mean joke around with."

Mingyu glanced at him, eyes narrowed in a playful glare. The other smiled and so did he. "Did you want to meet up again today after my class? I thought we could start an outline for the project now that our proposal got approved.”

Wonwoo nodded. "Sounds like a plan. You can stop by after dinner.” 

Mingyu grinned. "Deal."

They said their goodbyes and Wonwoo made his way home to get ready for his five hour shift that day. Having been working for two whole weeks already, Wonwoo could already feel himself getting the hang of it and already began to feel more comfortable. His co-workers also played a large role in his ability to assimilate so easily. With the majority of the staff being other college students in their early to mid twenties, the environment felt a lot more lenient and fostered a sense of community that made Wonwoo feel like he could let his guard down.

“Ah, look who finally made it!” his co-worker, Kevin announced as Wonwoo walked through the door.

“What are you talking about?” Wonwoo laughed, making his way behind the bar. “I’m ten minutes early.” Being a Monday in the middle of the day, the bar was relatively empty save for two patrons who sat in the far corner chatting over a beer.

“He was just waiting for you to get here so he can leave,” Karina chimed in with a laugh as she wiped down nearby tables.

“Nuh uh. Just wanna make sure our new guy isn’t slacking off,” he argued, already removing his apron. “But I do appreciate you for your punctuality.”

Karina rolled her eyes and turned to speak to Wonwoo. “You’re on ice making duty.”

Wonwoo groaned and pushed the black swinging doors to make his way into the kitchen. He filled up the machine and pressed the pattern of buttons that have been ingrained into his mind at this point. While he was glad that there were little to no customers, he resented the fact that it meant he would be doing more maintenance duties than actual bar tending. 

The day dragged on at the bar, the usual hustle replaced by a tranquil lull. Wonwoo found himself immersed in the rhythm of background work: loading the dishwasher, mopping the floors, and wiping down equipment. The hum of the dishwasher and the swish of the mop were his companions throughout the day, his thoughts wandering to everything but work. The steady routine offered a quiet reprieve, but as the clock neared the end of his shift, Wonwoo’s mind drifted to Mingyu and their planned study session that night.

He did his best to ignore the slight excitement he felt at getting to spend more time with him.

As he was finishing up mopping, Karina approached him, her expression hesitant. “Hey, Wonwoo,” she started, her voice slightly uncertain. “I wanted to ask you something.”

Wonwoo looked up, surprised by the unusual tone in her voice and anxiety creeping up on him. “Sure, what’s up?”

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing around nervously. “So, um, the other night at the arcade bar, I had a really good time. And… I was wondering if you could give me Mingyu’s number.”

Wonwoo froze for a moment, caught off guard by her request. His mind raced as he tried to formulate a response. The thought of giving her Mingyu’s number felt strangely uncomfortable. “Mingyu’s number? For what?” he asked, trying to sound casual, eyes downcast as he placed the mop in the bucket.

Karina’s face flushed, a small smile playing at her glossed lips. “I thought he was cute, I don’t know.” She bit her lip and spoke quietly. “Thought I’d try to get to know him, I guess. Yoohyeon said she doesn’t have it so she told me to ask you.”

Wonwoo forced a smile, trying to buy himself some time.“Oh, um, I’m not sure if I have his number on me right now,” he lied, glancing away to avoid her eyes.

Karina's hopeful expression faltered slightly. “Oh, okay.”

Wonwoo made an attempt to sound nonchalant. “I’ll see if I can find it.”

What type of excuse is that?

Karina hesitated, sensing his reluctance. “Okay… if it’s too much trouble, don’t worry about it.”

Wonwoo quickly shook his head, trying to cover his unease. “No, it’s fine. It’s just... you know, Mingyu’s a bit private. I don’t want to give out his number without asking him first.”

Karina’s expression softened. “Oh, I get it. You’re a good friend. Maybe you could ask him if it’s okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll do that,” Wonwoo said, relieved to have a way out. “I’ll talk to him and let you know.”

Karina smiled, her initial nervousness replaced with gratitude. “Thanks, Won. I appreciate it.”

As she walked away, Wonwoo’s mind buzzed with confusion. The idea of Karina and Mingyu together left a bitter taste in his mouth- one he couldn’t quite shake as he finished his shift. He left the establishment once the clock out front hit 5:30, waving goodbye to the remaining bartenders.

He drove home, trying to ignore the way his mind clouded his head with what just happened with Karina. He felt a mixture of annoyance and guilt as he replayed their conversation over in his head.

I shouldn’t feel guilty. I’m just being a good friend.

Then it dawned on him: he would have to ask Mingyu if he wanted Karina to have his number. 

Wonwoo might be gay but he still had eyes. Karina was gorgeous, and he wouldn’t doubt that Mingyu was attracted to her too. There was nothing wrong with them potentially dating per se. In fact, Wonwoo really liked Karina. She was really funny and super kind, she was the one who took Wonwoo under her wing when he started his job which is why Wonwoo was able to settle in as well as he did.

But if Wonwoo ‘approved’ of Karina, then why was he not jumping for joy at the thought of her and Mingyu being interested in one another?

Not feeling like making the walk from his assigned parking lot to his room, Wonwoo decided to park outside near his dorm, promising himself that he would move his car later that night. He took the elevator up to his floor to see Mingyu coming up the stairs and walked towards his door.

Wonwoo laughed softly to himself as he watched Mingyu knock on the door, face contorting into a pout when a few seconds passed and nobody opened the door. Before he knocked again, Wonwoo reached where he was standing.

“Someone’s a little eager to see me,” he teased as he reached over Mingyu to unlock his door and open it.

“Oh shit. Sorry. I thought you would’ve been back already. I can come back later,” Mingyu said, his cheeks tinting pink.

Wonwoo chuckled. “It’s fine. You can stay. I’ll just be eating if you don’t mind,” he said, holding the door open for Mingyu.

“I can cook for you!” Mingyu perked, eyes expressive. 

Wonwoo blinked at him.

“If you want,” Mingyu added, tone quieting down as he scratched the back of his neck.“I just feel bad that I’m taking up your personal time. I’m sure you’re tired after work.”

Wonwoo glanced over at his makeshift pantry and his small pink electric cookpot. He raised an eyebrow. “Do you know how to make pasta?”

Mingyu scoffed before walking into the room. “You insult me. ‘Do I know how to make pasta’- I’ll make you the best fucking pasta you’ve ever had in your life,” he said, walking towards Wonwoo’s cooking supplies. 

Wonwoo closed the door, not being able to fight off the grin that made its way onto his face. He looked over at Mingyu who was pulling out ingredients from his cabinet and setting them on the counter after he plugged in the cookpot. He took advantage of the fact that he was looking away and began to change out of his work clothes. 

Mingyu opened the box of pasta and shook around the noodles inside. Using an electric cookpot was a bit unconventional, but it was the best option given the lack of a kitchen. As he turned to ask Wonwoo for the water, his words caught in his throat. Wonwoo stood shirtless by his closet, rummaging through his clothes, his back muscles flexing with every movement. 

Mingyu blinked, feeling a sudden rush of heat that had nothing to do with the cookpot. He quickly turned back around, trying to focus on the task at hand. "Uh, Wonwoo, where do you keep the water?" he managed to say, hoping his voice didn’t betray his distraction.

Wonwoo glanced over his shoulder. "There should be a few gallons in that bottom cupboard," he said casually, pulling on a fresh shirt without hurry.

Mingyu nodded, fumbling with the handle of the cupboard below him. He could still feel the lingering image of Wonwoo’s toned, bare chest etched in his mind. Taking a deep breath, he focused on pouring the water into the cookpot, determined not to let his thoughts wander.

“Thanks again,” Wonwoo commented as he approached, now fully dressed but with a relaxed air about him. “You really do like cooking, huh?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu said, forcing a smile. “It’s one of the few things I’m actually good at.”

Wonwoo laughed, a warm, genuine sound. “You’re good at a lot of things, Mingyu. Don’t sell yourself short.”

Mingyu shrugged, trying to downplay his flustered state. “Well, cooking’s just one of those things that makes sense to me. It’s like chemistry, but with tastier results.”

Wonwoo laughed. “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it…”

Mingyu stared at the water, waiting for it to boil. “You can go hang out or something. I’ll take care of the food.” 

Wonwoo hesitated but nodded as he pushed off the counter and grabbed two bowls from his small cupboard. “Alright. You know, you’re welcome to cook here anytime. Beats the hell out of my usual ramen routine.”

Mingyu chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind. Definitely just feels like you're freeloading off my talent, though. You should be ashamed.”

Wonwoo pondered for a second. “Eh, I’ll get over it.”

Mingyu let out a laugh, hunching over slightly. “You’re awful.”

Wonwoo headed over to his bed, pulling out his laptop to catch up on some readings while Mingyu played some soft tunes on his phone and placed it near his cooking space. When the water came to a boil, he poured the noodles in, pulling out the jar of pasta sauce shortly after.

He turned to his companion who was sat on his bed, chewing on his thumb nail as he concentrated on the text he was reading. Mingyu turned back with a small grin, feeling giddy. The whole ordeal felt oddly domestic, and he was really enjoying it. So much so that his demented brain began to imagine scenarios of them actually being partners.

If Wonwoo did decide to go to grad school while Mingyu finished his undergrad, Mingyu would be more than happy to take care of the elder. He could cook and clean while the other focused on his studies.

Wonwoo would probably stay up late trying to tackle the pile of assignments, and Mingyu would be there to support him every step of the way. He could pick him up from his late classes, cook him breakfast in the morning, spontaneously bring a bowl of sliced fruit to his desk during his late night study sessions…

He could see how his ambitions to go to medical school might get in the way of that, but he was willing to be there for him in any way he could.

Mingyu blinked, realizing he was getting way ahead of himself. But yet, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling like a shy school girl. He excused himself to go pour the water out into the communal bathroom sink.

Damn. This college life is rough.

He did his best to pull himself together, taking a few deep breaths before making his way back to Wonwoo’s room. He placed two servings of pasta into the bowls and handed one over to Wonwoo who looked up at him with the cutest, pleased look that made Mingyu want to jump out the window at the thought of never being able to have him.

Once they settled down to eat, Mingyu stole another glance at him. Wonwoo’s tossed around look, and his effortless charm still captivated Mingyu in ways he was just beginning to understand. 

“This is really good,” Wonwoo said with a mouth full of pasta.

“Really?” Mingyu questioned with a chuckle. “I didn’t even add anything to it besides the sauce.”

“Well you have magic hands or something because it doesn’t come out like this when I make it,” Wonwoo said, taking another bite. 

Mingyu could feel the heat rise up in his face at the compliment. “I see.”

Wonwoo chuckled, eyes turning into crescents. “You’re blushing.”

“What?” Mingyu exclaimed. “No I’m not.”

“You are.”

Mingyu’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he let out a whine. “Shut up.”

Wonwoo set down his empty bowl. “Wow, who knew you could get flustered with just a compliment?” he asked, amused.

Mingyu rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I’m not even blushing. I’m probably just allergic to this stuff,” he said motioning to his bowl with his fork, contradictingly taking another bite. 

With both their bowls empty and their stomachs full, Mingyu and Wonwoo moved back to the bed where they sat on opposite ends with notes and Wonwoo’s laptop between them. After a few jokes and distracting, lighthearted conversations they finally decided that they should actually try to get some work done. 

Mingyu clicked his pen, trying to come up with the next point for their outline.

"Okay, so for the introduction, we need to highlight the significance of our research," Mingyu said, glancing at Wonwoo. "Any ideas?"

Wonwoo nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, we should definitely mention how our study could improve statistical models. Maybe include an overview of previous research?"

Mingyu scribbled down Wonwoo's suggestion. "Good call. Now for the methodology, we need to be detailed but keep it short."

Wonwoo leaned back, tapping his chin. "We can start with data collection methods, then move on to data analysis. We should include any software we'll be using."

"Perfect," Mingyu said, writing it down. "I think we're making good progress.”

Wonwoo smirked. "Could have been making progress sooner if you didn’t keep getting distracted."

Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? And who was it that spent ten minutes trying to decide whether to use Arial or Times New Roman for the presentation slides?"

Wonwoo gasped. "Font choice is important, okay? It literally sets the tone for the whole presentation."

Mingyu rolled his eyes playfully. "Sure, sure. But just so you know, Arial is the way to go."

Wonwoo shook his head, grinning. "You have no taste. Times New Roman is classic."

"Classic and boring," Mingyu retorted.

Wonwoo leaned in, his eyes teasingly narrowed. "Well, at least I’m not the one who nearly burned the dorm down trying to bake in the communal kitchen last week."

Mingyu’s eyes widened."What the fuck? That was one time! I knew I shouldn’t have told you about that. And for the record, it was that faulty stove’s fault, not mine."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, chef."

Mingyu shook his head. "Alright, back to work. For the results section, should we use graphs or tables?"

"Both? You know, for maximum impact."

"Good idea. You might just be on to something for once," Mingyu teased, jotting it down.

Wonwoo gave Mingyu a light nudge. "And you might just be a decent project partner after all."

Mingyu tilted his head to one side. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

Wonwo chuckled, his eyes lingering on Mingyu. "It is a compliment. You’re, like, scary good at this."

Mingyu felt his heart skip a beat. "Thanks. You’re not the worst at this." He felt the older boy chuckle beside him, inducing a rush of pride in him. “Let’s wrap up this outline.”

Wonwoo nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Right."

Suddenly, Wonwoo's phone buzzed with a new text message. He glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted from focused to visibly upset.

Mingyu noticed the change immediately. "Everything okay?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Wonwoo sighed, running a hand over his face. "It's Alex. He's been messaging me."

Mingyu's stomach twisted. "What does he want?" he said, not attempting to hide the distaste in his tone.

Wonwooo shrugged. "I don't know. He says he wants to talk, but I really don't want to get into it with him again. I do need some of my stuff back, though."

Mingyu reached out, placing a comforting hand on Wonwoo's knee. "You don't have to meet him if you don't want to, Won. You don’t owe him anything, all right? If you want I could go pick up your stuff for you."

Mingyu’s not sure why he suggested that. He actually really didn’t want to see the guy again. Like at all. 

Wonwoo looked up, meeting Mingyu's eyes. The frustration in his expression softened slightly. "Thanks, Min. It’s fine, though, I told him he could stop by here already. I don’t plan on talking much to him, to be honest."

Mingyu gave him a reassuring smile, trying to push down the surge of relief he felt. "Anytime. Just… don’t worry about him too much. You have much more important things going on now."

Wonwoo nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, you’re right,” he sighed. “Back to work."

After an hour and a half of creating an outline and organizing their presentation slides, they began to put away all the scattered pieces of loose paper and notebooks. The sun had already set, leaving Wonwoo’s lamp as the only source of light in the small room.

“I still can’t believe we live in the same building,” Mingyu said with a chuckle as he zipped up his backpack. “Imagine our luck.”

Wonwoo laughed. “Not gonna lie, I thought the universe was plotting against me when I found out you lived here too.”

Mingyu let out a sigh. “Understandable. You hate me a little less now, though, right?”

Wonwoo looked over at Mingyu and squinted. “Like a tiny bit less.”

Mingyu nodded, pursing his lips. “I’ll take it.”

Wonwoo laughed and shook his head. “You’re right, though. Living in the same dorm makes this a lot more convenient.”

Mingyu glanced around the room, making sure he didn’t leave anything before he slowly made his way to the door. “Thanks for the pasta.”

Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. “You were the one who cooked it.”

“Well, yeah, I know but I still ate your food,” he retorted as he made his way out. He looked at Wonwoo in confusion as he watched him pick up a coat that was on his chair and put it on. “Are you headed somewhere?” he found himself asking.

“I left my car parked here in front of the building. I have to move it to the parking lot or I’m gonna get a ticket,” he said as he walked out the room and shut the door behind him. 

“What? You’re gonna walk from the parking lot late at night by yourself?”

Wonwoo looked around in confusion. “It’s not that late and I’ve done it before. Besides, I’m a big boy, I can fend for myself if needed,” he said with a laugh.

“I know that,” Mingyu said with hesitancy. “Let me go with you, though.”

Wonwoo’s eyes met Mingyu’s, confused but also surprised at the offer. 

Mingyu rolled his eyes. “I can’t let you go out there alone. This is America after all: college campuses are all types of dangerous nowadays. Plus, I’m an even bigger boy.”

Wonwoo coughed out a laugh in an attempt to hide the slight blush that made its way onto his cheeks. “All right. I guess some company wouldn’t hurt.”

Mingyu gave his little closed mouth smile and began walking towards the elevator. Wonwoo was still taken aback by Mingyu’s generosity but held back any comments. 

They pushed the glass doors of the building, being welcomed by the cool, winter air. The breeze was especially cold today, making the hairs on the back of Wonwoo’s neck stand up.

Wonwoo led the way to his car: a relatively new silver five seater. He unlocked the vehicle and got into the driver seat. Mingyu found his seat next to him.

“Sorry for the mess,” Wonwoo said, eyeing a few granola bar wrappers and loose change that seemed to be scattered around the interior of the car.

Mingyu laughed. “Mess? You should see mine,” he responded as he put on his seatbelt. “I left it at home and my sister’s been driving it. She definitely didn’t get me and my mom’s clean freak genes.”

Wonwoo started the car and put it into drive, making his way down the long street and turning into the large parking garage. It was crazy how a quick five minute drive somehow managed to translate to a twenty five minute walk. 

Wonwoo entered the parking lot and drove his way up to his designated floor in a comfortable silence, yet he still couldn't help but be hyper aware of the presence right next to him.

On their way back, Mingyu and Wonwoo walked side by side, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night as they made their way back to their dorm. The cool air was refreshing, and the campus was eerily silent except for the distant hum of a few cars passing by.

Mingyu glanced over at Wonwoo, who seemed lost in thought. He wanted to say something, anything, to keep the conversation going and perhaps peel back another layer of Wonwoo's feelings. But what?

"You know," Mingyu began, breaking the silence, "I've been thinking- it’s kinda crazy how we, um… how quickly we’ve gotten comfortable around each other.”

Wonwoo looked over at him, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it’s been nice. I wasn’t sure how it would go, given our… history, but I’m really glad we became friends.”

Mingyu felt his heart skip a beat at Wonwoo’s words. He took a deep breath, deciding to take a chance.

"Do you ever think about how different things might have been if… we had been friends in high school?" Mingyu asked, his voice soft but cautious.

Wonwoo's smile faded slightly as he looked up at the sky, his glasses reflecting the faint light of the street lamps. "Barely. It’s strange to think about, especially considering how things were back then. Hard to imagine it going any other way, you know?”

Mingyu nodded, trying to ignore the gut sinking feeling that he’s not sure where is from.  He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I’m glad we’re friends now, though. I know I haven’t always been the best person. I’m… really sorry about that… again."

Wonwoo slowed down slightly, turning to face the taller boy. His eyes searched Mingyu’s face, as if trying to read his thoughts. "It’s okay, Min. People change. Really, you don’t have to beat yourself up over that.”

“Are you sure?”

Something in Wonwoo’s expression flickered. It was strange. It was as if he was ready to take the conversation somewhere completely different before changing his mind.

“Yeah, of course,” he said with a grin. If his glasses were not completely reflecting the fluorescent lights around them, Mingyu would have noticed that the smile he was so caught up in admiring didn’t quite meet his eyes.

By now they had completely stopped walking.

Mingyu’s heart swelled with a mix of relief and something more—something that felt a lot like hope. He took a step closer to Wonwoo, feeling the urge to close the gap between them. He grinned."I’m so glad to hear you say that. You… you kinda got this way of making everything feel like it’s gonna be okay."

Wonwoo chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You give me way too much credit."

"No, I mean it," Mingyu insisted, his voice steady. "You’re different from most people, Wonwoo. In a good way. And I… I really appreciate that."

Wonwoo's gaze softened, and he took a deep breath. "Thanks, Mingyu. You’re a lot different than I thought you would be too.”

Mingyu felt a warm flush spread across his face, emboldened by Wonwoo's response. He took in the other’s appearance: his hair was now disheveled from their walk. His fair skin was a stark contrast to his rosy lips and cheeks that were probably a result of the cold weather.

“Oh, um,” Wonwoo began, snapping Mingyu out of his thoughts. “I almost forgot. I don’t know if you remember Karina from that night at the arcade bar…” Wonwoo said, feeling anxiety begin to build up in the pit in his stomach but doing his best to not show it.

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows in confusion before realization set on his face. “Oh, yeah. What about her?”

Wonwoo tried hard to fight the frown that was trying its best to make its way onto his lips. “I work with her, actually… at the bar. Uh, she asked me if I could give her your number because she’s, um, interested in you,” he said, matter of factly.

Mingyu stayed silent, watching as Wonwoo’s eyes averted his gaze. He cleared his throat. “Did you give it to her?”

“No,” Wonwoo replied, a little too quickly.

Mingyu was visibly taken aback by Wonwoo’s swift response, a subtle amused grin making its way onto his lips. “Why not?”

Wonwoo felt like his heart sank to his ass as his brain tried so hard to make his next statement as believable as possible. What was going on with him? 

“Well, I didn’t just wanna give out your number to someone without asking you first. I see her on Thursday, though, I can still give it to her if you want?” Wonwoo said with a friendly smile.

Mingyu narrowed his eyes for a few seconds. He blinked and nodded slowly. “Okay. Yeah, you can give it to her.” His eyes searched Wonwoo’s, now starting to feel hopeless.

“Okay,” Wonwoo said after a few beats. He turned his head and began walking down the street again towards their destination.

“I guess I should have known she liked me. She did ask if I was single, after all,” Mingyu said as he walked alongside Wonwoo, more thinking aloud to himself than anything.

“Yeah, she made it pretty obvious,” Wonwoo said with a chuckle, eyes not moving from where they looked directly in front of him. “She’s cool, though. I think you guys could get along great.”  

“Yeah,” Mingyu said, slightly spaced out. “Me too.”

The flicker of hope Mingyu had felt slowly began to dwindle and sizzle out. The warmth of Wonwoo’s presence was almost suffocating now. He thought there was something there, he swore there was something unspoken that lingered between them, but he must have misjudged. 

“Thanks for walking with me. I’ll see you later,” Wonwoo said as they went their separate ways inside the building. Mingyu nodded, watching the other walk up to his floor and feeling like he could almost cry.

Wonwoo walked into his room, the room feeling even more dim despite the same lamp being left on. He took off his shoes and jacket and plopped himself onto his bed.

Luna must have sensed his distress as she jumped from her spot on Wonwoo’s desk to curl up beside his leg. Wonwoo absentmindedly scratched behind her ear, the soft fur grounding him.

He doesn’t know what’s gotten into him. He doesn’t think he likes Mingyu- he can’t like Mingyu. Mingyu likes girls.

He’s been in this position before, and it didn’t turn out very well for him. He knew he had to stop, that he needed a reality check. And he knew just the thing for that.

~~~~~~

“He’s homophobic, his head is big, he’s a STEM major, he’s an aries,” Soonyoung ranted through the screen, counting each of Mingyu’s ‘flaws’ on his fingers. “Oh yeah, and he’s straight !”

“Okay, okay,” Wonwoo said, throwing his arm over his eyes. He rested his head on his pillow and held his phone above him.

Soonyoung sighed. “Look, Won. You could argue that half the stuff I mentioned isn't true, that he’s changed and he’s different and blah blah blah. But at the end of the day, as far as we know at least, he doesn’t like guys.” Soonyoung’s features changed from something a little more stern to sympathetic. “You just got out of a two year relationship, which is a long time. Do you think maybe you’re just eager to move on?”

Wonwoo thought about it. Anyone else saying that to him would have probably pissed him off, but he knew Soonyoung didn’t say it with malice. In retrospect, he could see that he had a point. He didn’t really begin to think of Mingyu that way until after he and Alex broke up. Sure, he had acknowledged how handsome and generous he was, but that was it, right?

“Maybe,” was all Wonwoo said. 

“It’s okay. This guy, he’s….” Soonyoung shook his head. “He’s caused you so many problems, Won. Don’t give him more power over you than he deserves. You can be his friend, but you shouldn’t have to rack your brain over him like this. You’re single! Go out, meet new people, sleep around. I’ll even go out with you, if you want.”

Wonwoo chuckled, although the defeated sensation remained in his gut. “Thanks Soonie.”

“No, seriously. We should get wasted soon, you know, before we graduate and become working adults and it becomes less socially acceptable to get messy drunk.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“There’s a guy on my dance team who’s always throwing the craziest fucking house parties. His parents have a mansion in, like, Malibu or something. He’s hosting one in a few weeks and we’re all invited. I wasn’t gonna go, but we could go together if you want?” Soonyoung said, his eyes were expressive like he was scheming something.

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know the exact date once I have it. Don’t overthink anything, okay? Even if you feel okay, you still just went through a break up which was probably a lot harder on you than you think. Be patient with yourself.”

Wonwoo took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. My emotions are probably all out of whack.”

“It happens. And even if Mingyu did like guys- you don’t want to be with someone who was able to say all those harsh things to you. People change, sure, but he’d be getting away with a lot with no consequences if you let him get close to you,” Soonyoung said, voice wavering as if he was worried Wonwoo would respond negatively to what he was saying.

Wonwoo took a few seconds before simply nodding. “Yeah, true. I think I should get some sleep, I have class tomorrow. Thanks for picking up.”

“Thanks for calling,” Soonyoung said with a smile. They said their goodbyes and Wonwoo made his way down the hall to the bathroom to wash up. Soonyoung ws right, he was probably just extra emotional, that’s all. So much has changed within the past month and a half and it was probably causing him to get all angsty. The more he sat with the feeling, the more he realized he was happy for Mingyu. Not only was he super successful in terms of his academics, he had grown into someone far more kind and considerate than Wonwoo thought was possible. 

Mingyu deserved to be happy. They both did.

Chapter 14: With The Fire That He Started In Me

Chapter Text

Mingyu walked down the hall toward the lecture room, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the upcoming class and the shit ton of assignments he had to tackle later. Jungkook was in this class with him, but didn't respond to Mingyu’s text asking him if he was able to find them seats. Ever since Mingyu told him Minnie liked him, he had been a little distant. They would still talk in class, but it would be almost strictly about the course material. 

Mingyu knew Jungkook also liked Minnie, no matter how much he tried to deny it. When Minnie finally responded to their group chat saying that she was just too busy with school (Mingyu wanted so badly to call her out on her bluff), Mingyu was the only one who responded while Jungkook said nothing. Something in Mingyu told him that Minnie and Jungkook must have talked privately prior to that. With all his own emotional turmoils, though, he couldn't really be bothered to pry.

Mingyu walked towards the large floor to ceiling window at the end of the hall, the white hue of the early sun lighting up the entire building. As he rounded the corner, he spotted a familiar pair tucked away at the end of the hallway, partially hidden by a row of pillars..

Jungkook and Minnie were standing close, very close. Jungkook’s hand was gently brushing a strand of hair from Minnie’s face, and Minnie was smiling up at him with an expression that Mingyu had never seen on her before. It was unmistakably affectionate.

He fought the urge to gag.

Mingyu blinked, stopping in his tracks. For a moment, he considered backing away and giving them their privacy, but what was the fun in that? He thought of making an obnoxious gagging sound or even clearing his throat to see what they would do.

"Hey, Jungkook! Minnie!" he called out, trying to sound casual.

Jungkook and Minnie jumped apart like guilty teenagers caught by a parent. Jungkook’s face turned a shade of crimson that Mingyu had never seen before, and Minnie was quick to adjust her bag on her shoulder, pretending to look for something.

Mingyu laughed to himself.

“Oh, hey Mingyu!” Jungkook said, his voice a little too loud. “We were just, uh, talking about the… project we have… for a different class.”

Mingyu raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I didn’t know biochem  and digital art majors had overlapping requirements. I guess they have more similarities than we thought.”

Minnie shot Jungkook a glare, then forced a smile at Mingyu. “Yeah, you know, just discussing strategies and all that. Nothing major.”

“Right,” Mingyu said slowly, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Well, I’ll leave you two to your… strategy discussion. Don’t want to interrupt.”

He walked past them into the lecture hall, trying to stifle his laughter. As he took his seat, he could still see Jungkook and Minnie in the hallway, exchanging hurried whispers.

Jungkook finally walked in and slipped into the seat next to Mingyu, looking sheepish. Mingyu couldn’t resist. “So,” he began, keeping his voice low as the professor started the lecture. “When were you going to tell me about your new ‘study partner’?”

Jungkook groaned, slumping in his chair. “Dude, I swear I was hoping to break it to you gently.”

“Break it to me gently?” Mingyu repeated, barely containing his laughter. “You two looked like you were about to write your names in each other’s notebooks with little hearts.”

Jungkook covered his face with his hands. “Alright, alright. Minnie and I are dating. Happy now?”

“Very,” Mingyu replied, grinning. “I’m just… surprised? And amused. Mostly amused.”

Jungkook punched Mingyu in the arm. “I knew you would make fun of me.” 

As the class continued, Mingyu kept nudging Jungkook and whispering questions. 

“When did this start?” 

“When were you guys gonna tell me?”

“Did you guys have some sort of secret pact I wasn’t aware of?”

Jungkook answered as best as he could, shooting Mingyu exasperated looks. “We’ve been dating for like a week and a half, okay? We were going to tell you, but then you had to catch us in the act. It’s still early on, and we’re both just seeing how it plays out, I guess.”

Mingyu chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, as long as you two are happy. But seriously, next time you’re planning a ‘strategy session,’ maybe find a more private corner.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Noted. Now can I focus on the lecture? I’m paying a lot of money to be here, you know.”

Mingyu nodded, still grinning. “Okay. But don’t think this means I’m done asking questions.”

As they settled into the class, Mingyu’s amusement lingered, happy for his friends and looking forward to seeing how their relationship would unfold. However, he also couldn’t help but reflect on his own dating life, or lack thereof. 

Last time he was in class with Wonwoo, the latter had notified him that he gave Karina his number. Mingyu couldn’t help but notice a slight shift in their dynamics compared to the week before. There was no more joking around, no more teasing, just conversations surrounding the project. Mingyu had wondered if he was too forward in asking to accompany him to the parking lot that night.

As if that didn’t already sting enough, the fact that Wonwoo seemed so eager to set him up with his co-worker felt like a kick in the face on its own. He thought, for a split second, that maybe Wonwoo didn’t want Karina to have his number.

He was wrong once again. 

Now, with his best friends in a relationship, Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a little bit left out. Granted, he’s never dated anyone at all, and doesn’t really know what he’s missing to being with, but he’d be lying if he said he never wondered what it would be like to have a significant other- to have someone to kiss, to hold, to do everything with. The recent times that Mingyu’s mind had gone there, he could only really envision all those things with one six foot man with shaggy hair and glasses.

Karina had messaged him a few days ago, introducing herself and suggesting they go out for coffee sometime soon. Mingyu had responded that it sounds like a fun idea, but didn’t reply when she asked when he was available. The feeling of guilt that weighed on his shoulder everytime he thought about seeing her weighed heavier as the days passed.

Mingyu knew he could potentially like Karina, or they could at least be friends, but it didn’t seem fair to pursue potential when it sounded like Karina knew she already liked him. With Wonwoo living rent free in his mind for a couple of weeks, seeking something else as a distraction just seemed incredibly cruel, and Mingyu vowed to never be the same awful person he was in high school.

Mingyu pushed open the door to his dorm room, balancing a stack of textbooks in one hand and fumbling for his key card with the other. He was exhausted from a long day of classes and all he wanted was to collapse on his bed for a few minutes before tackling his mountain of assignments.

As he stepped inside, he was greeted by the unmistakable sound of giggles.

Hansol and Seungkwan were sprawled across Hansol's bed, caught in the middle of what appeared to be a tickle fight. Hansol's shirt was half off, and Seungkwan was desperately trying to yank it the rest of the way while Hansol protested through fits of laughter.

“Oh, God!” Mingyu exclaimed, averting his eyes and raising his free hand in mock horror. “My eyes! Why didn’t I knock?”

Hansol immediately stopped laughing, his face turning bright red. Seungkwan froze, mid-tug, and they both stared at Mingyu in shock.

“Mingyu! Hey!” Hansol scrambled to sit up, trying to pull his shirt back down. “We didn’t expect you back so soon.”

“Clearly,” Mingyu said, with an amused expression, dropping his textbooks onto his desk with a thud. “Should I, like, come back later or something?”

Seungkwan managed to smooth his hair and sit up. “No, it’s fine. We were just—uh, you know—messing around.”

“Rightt,” Mingyu said, finally daring to glance their way again. Seeing happy couples made him sick. “I don’t know how long I can keep walking into you guys being all… intimate.”

Seungkwan gasped dramatically. “We’re gonna turn him homophobic again,” he said, turning to Hansol.

Mingyu glared. “I like boys, remember?”

Seungkwan scoffed. “Of course. How could I forget your little revelation? You had the room looking like you were performing witchcraft or something.”

As Mingyu settled into his chair, Hansol’s playful expression shifted to one of concern. “You don’t look so great, man. Something up?”

“Yeah, you do seem off,” Seungkwan added, his sarcastic expression replaced by genuine curiosity. 

“I don’t know. I found out the other day that Wonwoo wants to set me up with his co-worker and then today I found out my two best friends are dating,” Mingyu reflected with a frown and a distant look in his eye.

“Damn,” Seungkwan said, shaking his head. “Minnie and Jungkook?”

Mingyu tilted his head. “How did you know?”

“It was obvious. But wait let’s go back to the first thing you said: Wonwoo is trying to set you up with his co-worker?” Seungkwan asked in disbelief.

“Ouch,” Hansol added.

Mingyu nodded, a small pout on his face as he played with his fingernails. “Yeah. I guess I didn’t expect him to like me back, but it still kinda stung. Just confirmed it if anything.”

Hansol and Seungkwan shot each other sympathetic glances. “I mean,” Hansol said slowly, “there’s still time in the school year. Maybe there’s still a chance for you guys.”

“Nah,” Mingyu said, shaking his head. “I think that train left from the moment I decided to be an absolute cunt to him when we were kids.”

Seungkwan pursed his lips. “I’m sorry, Gyu. That sucks.”

“The person he’s trying to set you up with, though… I assume you’re not interested in them?” Hansol asked. 

Mingyu squinted one eye, making a questioning noise. “I don’t think so? She seems great. It’s just… Wonwoo’s the only person I could really focus on right now.”

Seungkwan nodded. “I get it.”

“I’m not gonna lie,” Hansol said, hesitantly. “I saw you guys walking together on campus once and it looked like he really liked talking with you. I’m kinda surprised he hasn’t caught feelings for you yet.”

Mingyu sighed.

“Wait,” Seungkwan said, apprehensively. “Mingyu… does Wonwoo know you like guys?”

Mingyu thought about it. The topic has never really come up between them. “No, I guess not.”

“Ohh,” Seungkwan and Hansol said in unison as if that explained anything.

Mingyu looked back and forth between them.

“Well, duh!” Seungkwan exclaimed. “Even if he did have any feelings for you, he probably just thinks you’re straight. Once we’ve concluded someone is unavailable to us, we don’t really let our minds see them as anything more than a good friend.”

“But…why would he assume I only like girls?”

Seungkwan and Hansol stared at Mingyu with blank expressions.

Mingyu sighed. “Right.” He shook his head, still trying to process everything. “So if I tell him that I do… like guys… then he might start to like me back?”

“Well…” Seungkwan squeaked, voice going up multiple octaves. “That’s not guaranteed, but him thinking you only like girls definitely brings your chances practically down to zero.”

“Yeah, and that could also explain why he didn’t think much of trying to set you up with his female co-worker,” Hansol added.

Mingyu groaned, walking over to his bed and letting himself fall face first with a ‘umph’. He sat up and blew out a heavy breath, running his hands through his hair. “So what? I just go up to him and go ‘hey, I like boys, you know, just in case you were interested in me’.”

“Well, no,” Hansol said like it was obvious. “You guys talk a lot, right? I’m sure you could find a way to sneak it in somehow.”

“We haven’t had a real conversation in like a week. All we’ve talked about is our dumb project,” Mingyu practically whined. As much as he hated to admit it, not being able to have a regular conversation with Wonwoo for the past few days has been driving him crazy. They only talked in class and when Mingyu had tried to continue the conversation as they walked out of the lecture hall, Wonwoo said that he was in a hurry to get to work. He wasn’t acting angry at him or upset, but it looked more like the boy had more fun and important things to do than talk to Mingyu anymore.

Maybe Mingyu was overthinking, they only started to spend time with one another at the end of last quarter, and only really got close after winter break. He probably just looked too deep into things and saw progression in their relationship that was never truly there.

“Next time you guys work on your project together, you should say something. You don’t have to straight up tell him, you can be subtle,” Hansol said reassuringly.

Seungkwan opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it. Mingyu narrowed his eyes on him.

“What is it, Kwan?”

Seungkwan looked up to the ceiling as if trying to find the words to use. “I just feel like… if my high school bully who bullied me for being gay, came out and told me they liked boys this whole time and that they liked me… I’d be pretty… pissed off? Like… the last thing on my mind would be to give this person a chance,” he said slowly as if trying to lessen the blow.

“But everyone’s different!” Hansol said, noticing Mingyu’s defeated state.

“Yeah! M-maybe Wonwoo won’t think of it that way!” Seungkwan exclaimed in attempts to do some damage control.

Mingyu shook his head. “No, I apologized multiple times and Wonwoo’s never brought it up on his own. I’m pretty sure he’s over it.”

Seungkwan took a long, deep breath as Hansol rubbed his shoulder. "I believe you, Mingyu. But you should know, it's not easy for someone to befriend their former bully without addressing the past. The fact that Wonwoo hasn't shown any anger about it yet... that's a bit strange."

Mingyu could feel goosebumps arise on his arms. He just assumed that Wonwoo had gotten past it, but Seungkwan makes a good point: Mingyu has paid little to no consequences for what he did, at least at Wonwoo’s hands.

“You think he’s just gonna blow up on me one of these days?” Mingyu asked with a small chuckle.

“Not if you don’t give him a reason to,” Hansol responded. “Which is why you have to be super careful with all this. Your history puts you in a pretty touch spot.”

Mingyu forced a laugh, but Hansol's words lingered in his mind. Was Wonwoo really holding back all that anger? It wasn't like Mingyu hadn't thought about it– about the pain he'd caused, about the weight of his actions. Every time he looked at Wonwoo, there was a reminder of the past– a gray cloud seemed to hang between them. He had been trying so hard to make amends, to be a better person, but what if it wasn't enough? What if Wonwoo was just waiting for the right moment to let it all out? The thought made his stomach twist. He didn't want to lose Wonwoo, not when he was finally starting to realize just how much he meant to him.

Hansol, ever perceptive, noticed Mingyu’s growing anxiety. “Hey, man,” he said, walking over to pat Mingyu on the shoulder. “Stressing yourself out isn’t going to help. How about we go to the dining hall and get some ice cream? Just the three of us.”

Mingyu hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, okay. Ice cream for dinner sounds like a plan,” he grumbled.

The dining hall was relatively quiet, the usual dinner rush having already passed. They made their way to the dessert station, where the soft-serve ice cream machine awaited them.

Hansol grinned as he handed Mingyu a cone. “This is the best stress relief there is. Trust me.”

Seungkwan, who had already started on his own cone, nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. Nothing like ice cream to make everything better.”

Mingyu took a bite of his chocolate ice cream, feeling the cool sweetness melt on his tongue. He appreciated his friends’ efforts at cheering him up and while ice cream did help, he still couldn't shake the uncomfortable sensation of anxiety in his chest.

They found a table near the window, the campus only being lit by the tall lanterns as the sun had gone down hours ago. As they sat down, Hansol and Seungkwan started sharing funny stories from their day, trying to lighten the mood, but Mingyu couldn’t do much more than stare out the window and think about the shit show that he caused by being a dick all those years ago.

After an hour had passed, the three made their way back to the dorm, the atmosphere feeling at least a little lighter than it did when they were all cramped in Mingyu’s room. As Hansol and Seungkwan made their way to the opposite end of the building to Seungkwan’s room. Mingyu turned a corner and headed up the stairs, feeling a sense of longing as he passed Wonwoo’s floor.

That’s when he saw him. 

Coming out of Wonwoo's room, shutting the door, was Alex. He wore a white polo which was slightly unbuttoned, causing Mingyu’s brain to explore a plethora of possibilities as to what just happened in that room. A wave of nausea and something eerily similar to possessiveness took over his senses.

Alex walked straighter, and looked more put together– his hair styled neatly and his newly grown out beard casting a more mature look to him. 

Mingyu didn’t think he had ever experienced heartbreak, but if he had to guess, it would feel something similar to what he was feeling at that moment– like someone was repeatedly punching him in the abdomen without the intention to stop.

Alex turned towards the stairs and they made eye contact. Mingyu wanted nothing more than to slap that smirk right off his face. 

Mingyu stiffened as Alex sauntered toward him. Mingyu’s fists clenched at his sides, trying to keep his composure.

“Hey there,” Alex drawled. “Late night?”

Mingyu fought the urge to stare the shorter man down. “You could say that. What were you doing in Wonwoo’s room?” He winced at how irritated his tone rang out.

Alex chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Just catching up, you know. Old times’ sake.” He raised an eyebrow. “We have a lot of history.”

“Yeah, I know all about your history,” Mingyu snapped, recalling all the times Wonwoo had complained about their relationship. He struggled to keep his voice steady. “Doesn’t explain why you’re here now.”

“Relax, man.” Alex lowered his voice. “Just wanted to see if there was still a spark. And, well, let’s just say… some things never change.” He began to rebutton up the top three buttons on his shirt.

Mingyu’s heart pounded in his chest, his eyes narrowing on his hands and how they fumbled with those stupid buttons. “You’re full of it,” he spat. “Wonwoo deserves better than you.”

Alex’s smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. “Maybe you’re right, maybe he does deserve better.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “But he still let me in, didn’t he?”

Mingyu felt a surge of anger, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. “Fuck off. Wonwoo’s moved on.”

“Has he?” Alex’s gaze flickered over Mingyu, his smirk turning into a knowing grin. “That’s not what it looked like in there.”

Mingyu took a step back, needing to regain his composure but didn’t respond.

Alex laughed softly, shaking his head. He patted Mingyu on the shoulder as he walked past him, heading down the stairs. “I always suspected you had a little crush on him. Good luck, man. You’re going to need it.”

Mingyu watched Alex disappear down the stairs, his jaw clenched tightly. His mind raced with thoughts of Wonwoo, the anger and jealousy mingling with his new growing determination. He swallowed the knot and his throat and walked up one more floor, deciding against checking in on Wonwoo to see if he’s okay.

He was grateful that Hansol wouldn’t be coming back for a while. He wanted to cry. He wanted to call Wonwoo and confess everything. He wanted to go back in time and slap sixteen year old Mingyu for ruining everything. He had to do something, anything.

He paced back and forth, trying to get his brain to work to determine what this means.

Alex is a dick, but people hook up with their exes all the time. It wouldn’t be a far fetched assumption that that was what happened. 

Mingyu opened and closed his fists in anger at the thought of Alex feeling all big and mighty because he slept with Wonwoo. Would Wonwoo really let Alex back into his life like that? There was no way.

Mingyu had to do something but he wasn’t sure what. A part of him took this as motivation to show Wonwoo he could be what Alex couldn’t, while another part of him wanted to just give up, feeling angry at Wonwoo for some reason.

Maybe that’s why he’s been so distant- maybe he was spending so much time talking with Alex that he just didn’t need Mingyu anymore. He did say that Alex had been messaging him lately, maybe he caved and invited him over to drop his stuff off and one thing led to another.

Mingyu took a shaky breath, not bothering to go brush his teeth as he changed into his pajamas, turned off the lights and got into bed. Everytime he closed his eyes he was met with flashbacks of his interactions with Wonwoo- from meeting at orientation to sitting on his bed and working on their project together. Flashing images of Wonwoo’s smile, his tousled hair, his bare chest, and his delicate hands played in Mingyu’s mind like it was trying to mock him.

Mingyu sighed and turned so he was laying flat on his back, watching as the branches of the trees outside left shadows on the ceiling, resembling a black and white drawing. He wasn’t sure what he had to do, but he couldn't go on like this anymore. 

 


 

Mingyu pushed open the door of the bustling coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee immediately enveloping him. He scanned the small establishment, his heart pounding in his chest. He spotted her at a corner table, her long dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders as she looked down at her phone. She wore a college sweatshirt which put Mingyu’s mind at ease about his own casual state. She looked up, their eyes meeting, and she smiled warmly, waving him over.

Mingyu took a deep breath and walked towards her, trying to steady his nerves. He reminded himself that this was just a coffee date. He was just here to get to know her.

“Hey, Karina,” he greeted, pulling out the chair opposite her and sitting down.

“Hey, Mingyu,” she replied, with a knowing smile as she placed her phone in her bag. “Good to see you again”

“Yeah, same here,” Mingyu said, trying to sound casual, the laid back energy she exuded putting him slightly at ease. 

“Okay,” Karina exasperated with a small laugh, putting her two hands on the table. “I know I kinda asked you out on a date, but this could be a totally platonic coffee run. I just wanted to get to know each other if I’m being honest,” she said with an embarrassed look on her face. “I was thinking back and I realized I was probably being a little too forward, so… sorry.”

Mingyu chuckled. She was cute. He shook his head and waved her concerns with his hand. “You weren’t too forward, don’t worry. We can just get to know each other.”

Karina nodded, looking satisfied with Mingyu’s response. “Yeah… yeah that sounds good.”

They ordered their drinks, and Mingyu felt the initial awkwardness start to dissipate as they began to chat. Surprisingly, Karina had a way of making him laugh with her witty remarks and great storytelling. She was easy to talk to, which Mingyu appreciated.

“So, what made you decide to study biochemistry?” Karina asked, leaning forward with genuine interest.

Mingyu smiled, always excited to talk about what he was passionate about. “Well, it’s a broad field. I’ve always been interested in biological processes. Plus, it’s a challenge, and I love a good challenge.”

Karina laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Ah. You’re a bit of a nerd, aren’t you?”

Mingyu chuckled, feeling more relaxed. “I guess so. I wanna work in the medical field one day.

"Ah, okay. You like money," she smiled teasingly.

Mingyu rolled his eyes playfully. "It's more than that, okay? But what about you? What are you studying?”

“Animal sciences. I wanna be a vet,” she perked, her eyes lighting up. 

“Aww, that's like me but with... cuter patients.”

“Yep,” she said, taking a long sip of her latte. "I've always loved animals. Gonna hate euthanizing them, though."

Mingyu almost spat out his drink. “That’s horrible! Don’t say that!” he said with a laugh as he wiped his chin. 

She laughed. “It's true though! I'm preparing myself for the worst. You should start too. It's a sad world out there for us healthcare workers, Mingyu."

He chuckled, eyes crinkling. "Well damn, I didn't know this coffee date included a blunt reality check."

Karina smiled, amused. "Sorry. But hey, at least we're going through this together, right?"

“Right,” Mingyu agreed, feeling a warmth spread through him. Karina was funny and had a spark that drew him in. Whether that was romantically or platonically, he still had to wait and see. 

But he regretted not responding to her messages earlier.

Chapter 15: But I'll Never Let You Back To Put It Out

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text




“Look at him.”

“He makes me sick.”

“Who even is he anymore?”

“What a simp.”

“I can hear you guys,” Mingyu said looking up from his phone at his two friends. They were currently at L.J.’s Tavern enjoying a “celebratory mid-quarter beer” as Jungkook liked to put it. 

“I know. We were talking out loud on purpose. Tell your girlfriend you’re busy and put your phone away,” Minnie grumbled.

Mingyu rolled his eyes. “First of all, she’s not my girlfriend. Second, I was just checking my emails. I applied for a summer internship doing admin work at a hospital and I haven’t heard back,” he said with a pout, locking his phone.

“I’m sure they’ll be reaching out sooner than you think,” Jungkook said reassuringly.

“How long have you been seeing her, like two weeks? When do you plan on asking her out then?” Minnie asked bluntly, disregarding the second half of Mingyu’s statement.

“I told you guys: I don’t even know if I like her like that. She’s super cool… super pretty too… and really smart but …I kinda just like where we’re at now. We have a lot in common in terms of what we’re studying and our career paths,” Mingyu took a long swig of his guinness.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you say she wants to be a veterinarian? That is not similar at all.

“Aww, she wants to be a vet? That’s cute. I like her,” Minnie said with a warm smile.

Mingyu sighed. Ever since he and Karina met for coffee, they’ve been talking pretty consistently although they hadn’t made any plans to see each other any time soon. He enjoyed talking to her, they had a lot in common and never really ran out of things to talk about. Not to mention Karina was really funny, which came to a surprise to Mingyu as he originally just took her as someone more shy and reserved. 

But his statement was true– he wasn’t sure if he liked her more than a friend. He could see potential as there was nothing about her that was unattractive, but everything about their interactions felt nothing short of friendly. They weren’t even flirty yet, which Mngyu was grateful for, but it was hard to see her as anything else.

“Mingyu, please. We just wanna go on double dates already.” Minnie leaned in and lowered her voice. “Watching you third wheel us is getting kinda sad.”

Mingyu gasped in shock. “You guys said you liked when I hung out with you guys!”

“We do, dude. It’s just… we feel bad sometimes, you know?” Jungkook reasoned.

Mingyu pouted and leaned back in his seat. “Well you don’t have to feel bad. I like being single. If I wanted a girlfriend I would have one, I mean, look at me,” he muttered defeatedly before chugging the rest of his drink.

Minnie shook her head in sympathy. “You poor thing.”

Mingyu was partially telling the truth. He didn’t mind being single, but he also wouldn’t mind a significant other, or more specifically a boyfriend, or more specifically, Wonwoo. The fourth year had barely spoken to Mingyu in the past two weeks save for a very surface-level conversation about the weather which quickly turned into discussing the project. With most of the planning done, there hadn’t even been a reason to meet up after class like they used to, only resorting to shared powerpoint slides and word documents for collaboration.

Mingyu had even tried going to the gym the days he knew Wonwoo would be there but to no avail, the older boy never showed up. 

He could recognize that there was nothing wrong– it’s not like he was being ignored and if he really wanted to hang out with Wonwoo, he could probably just ask, but Mingyu wasn’t blind. He knew there was a shift and the demon in his brain kept telling him that it was due to that rat of an ex boyfriend of his. 

It irked Mingyu beyond his comprehension, but he knew better than to let his emotions get in the way of whatever small connection he had left with him.

Mingyu did his best to put on a brave face and act like nothing was wrong, but of course, his closest friends would see right through his facade, which could explain why Minnie and Jungkook were currently staring at him like he was a puppy that was abandoned on the highway.

Even fucking Minghao , noticed the change in Mingyu’s mood. Which was rather impressive considering they only really talk over text.

His approach, however, was a lot different from Jungkook’s and Minnie’s.

 

~~~

 

“Come to a house party with me,” Minghao mumbled before taking a bite of his burger. They had decided to meet at In-n-out a few days prior since Mingyu still technically owed Minghao for driving him back to school after winter break.

Mingyu blinked, eyes feeling heavy. “What?”

“A house party. There’s a guy on my dance team who’s, like, stupid rich. His parents have a huge house on the beach and everyone from the team is invited,” Minghao chimed, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “I heard it’s really fun. You should come.”

Mingyu narrowed his eyes, looking at Minghao in disbelief. “Who are you and what have you done to my best friend?”

“Ha-ha,” Minghao spat sarcastically. “Seriously. Can you blame me for wanting to live the stereotypical college experience? We have like one year left.”

“I don’t know, Hao. Being around a bunch of drunk, horny twenty somethings just doesn’t feel like what I need right now.”

“I’m not saying you have to go hook up with people, it just might distract you from everything. You need to let loose a little, Gyu.”

Mingyu looked at Minghao with a hesitant expression. 

Minghao sighed. “We can get ready at my apartment, and look, if we hate it, we can leave early and get plastered at my place, just the two of us, hm?”

Mingyu groaned. He picked up his burger and pulled back the wrapping before taking a bite. With his mouth full of food, he spoke.

“When is it?”

That Saturday, Mingyu found himself getting into Minghao’s car. It was still early in the day, just a little bit before noon. Mingyu threw his duffle bag in the back and got into the passenger seat with a childish frown.

“Aww, come on. Let me see that smile…” Minghao said, leaning forward with a large grin.

Mingyu opened his mouth just enough to see his teeth, then closed it again, not bothering to turn up the corners of his mouth.

Minghao reached over and put his hand under Mingyu’s jaw, using his thumb to move his bottom lip. “Thank you for taking me to your sick college parties, Minghao. I wish my school was as cool as yours,” he said, moving Mingyu’s lip up and down as if the words came out of his mouth. 

“Oh, anytime, Mingyu, anytime,” he cooed as he pulled back and put on his seatbelt.

Mingyu stared at Minghao with an unamused expression which lasted for a few seconds before he gave in, a small grin making its way onto his face. “You’re stupid.”

Minghao sighed. “What would you do without me?” He set the car in to drive and they were on their way. 

They stopped at a breakfast spot, Minghao insisting that they should have full bellies if they planned on drinking. Mingyu took advantage. Having not eaten breakfast most of his days at school, he couldn’t help but sit and savor the taste of bacon and eggs as if he didn’t know when would be the next time he’d be able to eat them.

When they finally arrived at Minghao’s apartment, Mingyu kicked off his shoes, tossed his bag and threw himself onto the couch. Minghao patted him on the thigh to sit up and he obliged. The two of them spent the next few hours switching between playing video games and watching movies.

Just as Minghao was going to say something to him, Mingyu’s phone buzzed. The taller boy looked down at the notification. It was Karina.

“Is that her?” Minghao asked with a knowing smile.

Mingyu chuckled. “Yeah. I just told her I was going to a party tonight and all she sent me was a link to a hangover soup recipe.”

Minghao laughed. “That’s thoughtful. How are things going with her by the way?”

“Um,” Mingyu chimed, locking his phone and setting it face down. “Fine, I guess. Not much going on, we kinda just talk like friends.”

“Do you wish you talked as, like, more than friends?”

Mingyu squinted at the TV in front of them. “No. I don’t think I mind too much. It’s still pretty early, and I don’t wanna rush anything.”

Mingyu wasn’t lying. It definitely was early, but not wanting to rush into things was far from the real reason why he hasn’t taken any initiative to take it further.

The rest of their time consisted of getting ready for the dreaded party which was mostly just Minghao bluntly judging Mingyu’s wardrobe choices. They made their way into his bedroom and dumped out Mingyu’s duffle bag that was filled with different outfit combinations Mingyu thought might have potential. They stood in the middle of the room, clothes scattered across the bed as they sifted through the clothing pieces. 

“Seriously, Mingyu,” Minghao said, holding up a plain gray, loose fitting t-shirt and raising an eyebrow. “This is what you brought to wear to the party?”

Mingyu pouted. “Hey, I like that shirt. It’s comfortable.”

“Comfortable is for lounging at home, not for making an impression,” Minghao retorted, tossing the t-shirt back onto the bed. He rifled through the pile, pulling out a deep blue button-down shirt. “This, on the other hand, has potential. It would hug your figure.”

Mingyu glanced at the shirt and then at Minghao, skeptical. “You think so?”

The shorter man nodded, his expression serious. “Trust me. And pair it with these,” he added, holding up a pair of dark jeans. 

Mingyu sighed, taking the shirt and jeans from his friend. “Alright, alright. I’ll try it on,” he grumbled and headed to the bathroom to change, the sound of running water and shuffling clothes filling the brief silence.

When Mingyu emerged, Minghao let out a low whistle. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

Mingyu glanced at himself in the mirror, a small smile tugging at his lips. The blue shirt did look good, and the jeans combined with it perfectly. “I guess it’s not bad,” he admitted.

Minghao grinned, clapping Mingyu on the shoulder. “You look great. Now, let’s fix your hair a bit.”

They moved to the bathroom, and Minghao fussed over Mingyu’s hair.

“So, who’s going to be there?” Mingyu asked, trying to sound casual but feeling a flutter of nerves.

“Pretty much everyone from my dance team,” Minghao replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Maybe one of them will bring a cute plus one.”

Mingyu rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile that followed. “Not really looking for anyone right now.”

Minghao smirked. “Why not? You like guys and girls. Your dating pool is twice the size now. Take advantage.”

Mingyu chuckled.“Thanks for the confidence boost, Hao.”

“Anytime,” Minghao said, stepping back to admire his work. “Alright, you’re ready to go. Just remember, be yourself, and have fun.”

Mingyu nodded, feeling a little excitement creep into his system for the first time that day. 

Once Minghao threw on his own outfit, which he had planned from the moment he was invited, they popped open a few drinks for some liquid confidence. After calling an Uber, they grabbed their jackets and headed out the door, the anticipation of the night ahead filling the air. 

Mingyu felt a surge of gratitude for Minghao’s support. He hoped that the night could offer a sense of release that he knew was way overdue. The last time he was able to really let loose was at the festival and even then, he left feeling even more at war with his internal turmoil about his feelings for Wonwoo. He wasn’t sure what exactly he was expecting to get out of the night, but he figured a drunk night couldn’t hurt.

They sat in a comfortable silence in the back of the car as the driver exited the highway and turned onto a secluded road, driving up a hill, with the pacific coast on one side and rows of large houses on the other. Mingyu watched as the intricate homes passed them, each one appearing more large and grand the higher they drove.

Their car eventually turned onto a small street, pulling up near a brick house that was mostly obscured by bushes and a large gate. It was still relatively early in the night, so seeing so many people already hanging out by the front entrance was surprising to both of them. 

They gave a quick ‘thank you’ before hopping out of the car and walking to the house that was lighting up the entire block with its different color strobe lights peaking through the windows. The bass of the loud hip-hop track that was playing could be felt far long before Mingyu could actually hear the song itself.

Once directly in front of the gate, Mingyu almost gasped at the sight. The large house exuded elegance and luxury. Surrounded by tall palm trees, the house stood proudly among the sea of other large houses. A wide cobblestone driveway led up to the entrance, where sleek cars were parked in neat rows. The house itself was a blend of modern and classic design, with large windows that offered glimpses of the lively scene inside. Soft lighting illuminated the exterior, casting a warm glow on the manicured gardens that framed the property. 

As the two friends walked into the house, they were immediately greeted by the vibrant hum of laughter and conversation mingling with the bass of the music. The spacious living room was adorned with expensive looking decor– a mix of chic furniture and vibrant art pieces. The ambiance was lively, with groups of people chatting and dancing.

The two boys exchanged smiles, feeling energized and excited by the environment around them.

Just then, a tall, blonde man made his way over with a wide, enthusiastic grin. 

“Minghao!” he exclaimed over the loud music, pulling Minghao into a quick hug.“I’m so glad you guys made it! You must be… Miguel?”

“Mingyu,” Minghao corrected with a laugh.

The guy nodded with a smile, extending his hand which Mingyu shook. “Nice to meet you, Mingyu. Sorry I’m, like, four drinks in. I’m Shane.”

Minghao laughed. “Damn, you’ve really outdone yourself,” he said, eyes wandering around the scene in front of him.

Shane beamed, clearly pleased. “Thank you! Yeah, I mean, I just wanted to make sure everyone has a great time. Let me give you a quick rundown.” He threw his arm around Minghao and gestured around the expansive room. “Living room for dancing, kitchen for drinks and snacks, the patio outside has a bonfire going and a jacuzzi, and upstairs there’s a quieter lounge if you need a break from the noise. Bathrooms are down the hall to the right.”

Mingyu nodded, absorbing the information, knowing he wouldn’t remember any of it. 

Minghao, noticing Mingyu’s shy demeanor, gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “Come on, Gyu. Let’s grab a drink first.”

Shane nodded enthusiastically. “Be my guest! Make yourselves at home. And if you need anything, just holler.”

Mingyu managed a warm smile, giving Minghao an amused grin before hooking his arm with him and walking away from the entrance.

They made their way to the back of the house, a few of the party-goers stopping to greet Minghao on the way. Once in the kitchen Minghao mixed up some drinks– a cloudy drink with at least three different types of liquor in them.

Minghao noticed Mingyu eyeing the content in his plastic cup he had just handed him. “What?” 

“What is this?” Mingyu asked loudly, trying not to be drowned out by the music.

“Not gonna lie– I kinda just mixed all those bottles over there. Oh, and lemonade.”

Mingyu suppressed a laugh. “It looks like backwash.”

Minghao frowned and punched Mingyu on the arm. “Just drink it, asshole.” 

As the evening progressed, the two found themselves more immersed in the party. They navigated through the crowd, stopping to chat with various groups of people. Minghao introduced Mingyu to a handful of his friends, each greeting them with warm smiles and enthusiastic handshakes. Drinks flowed freely, and the two quickly began to feel the effects of the alcohol. 

With each passing hour, their laughter grew louder, their conversations more animated. Mingyu felt a pleasant buzz, the stress and worries of his day-to-day life melting away. At one point, they found themselves in a spirited debate about the best local food spots, with Mingyu passionately defending his favorite ramen place while Minghao argued for a specific sushi bar he swore was the greatest discovery he ever made. The energy around them was infectious, and for the first time in a while, Mingyu felt genuinely carefree.

Mingyu stood in the living room, leaning against the doorframe as he conversed with one of Minghao’s dance teammates. Mingyu could feel his focus wavering every so often as the guy talked about why he decided to switch majors in the middle of his college journey. 

“Mingyu!’ Minghao’s intoxicated voice rang. “Let’s dance!”

Mingyu’s brain didn’t even have time to process what was happening when Minghao ran past him and grabbed his wrist, pulling him to the dance floor.

The music pulsed through the living room, a steady thrum that matched Mingyu’s heartbeat as he danced alongside Minghao– a casual sway and step combo. Their movements were loose and exaggerated, and the crowd on the dance floor swayed and jumped around them.

Mingyu laughed, enjoying the moment, when he stumbled into someone as he took a few steps back. He turned to apologize, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw who it was.

 Soonyoung stood there, looking just as confused as he did.

“Oh, sorry about that…” Mingyu said over the music, trying to sound casual.

“Uh … it's fine,” Soonyoung said shortly, looking confused. “W-what are you-”

Before the awkwardness could fully settle, Minghao, oblivious to the tension, threw his arms around Soonyoung in a drunken hug. “Soonyoung! You made it!” he exclaimed, swaying slightly.

Soonyoung looked taken aback but patted Minghao on the back awkwardly. “Hey, Minghao,” he said, his tone softer but still wary. He looked over Minghao’s shoulder at Mingyu, his eyes unwavering as if they were searching for answers.

Minghao pulled back, grinning. “Mingyu!” he shouted, making Mingyu jolt. “This is Soonyoung! He’s on the dance team too- wait. Do you two know each other?” he asked, looking between Mingyu and Soonyoung with a wide, drunken smile.

“We, uh, we went to high school together,” Mingyu yelled over the music, trying to keep his tone light and swaying slightly. He may be drunk but he could still feel the tension radiating off Soonyoung.

Just then, the very beacon of Mingyu’s thoughts for the past month and half walked up to them, the strobe lights reflecting on his hair making it look like he wore a halo. Well, at least it did in Mingyu’s impaired and deranged mind.

Wonwoo’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw Mingyu. “Mingyu? What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice a mix of surprise and something else Mingyu couldn’t quite place.

Mingyu felt his heart skip a beat. “Wonwoo,” he breathed out. “Didn’t expect to see you here.” He felt like he was going to pass out. His intoxicated brain urged him to say more, but he knew better.

Minghao looked between the two of them, his mouth slowly opening in amusement. “Woah!” he said, putting his hands in front of him as if to stabilize himself. “What’s going on here?”

Wonwoo glanced at Soonyoung, who gave him a look that said they’d talk later. “It looks like Minghao and Soonyoung go to the same school,” Wonwoo said with a slight smile. “Small world.”

Minghao, still grinning and seemingly entertained by the whole situation, wrapped an arm around Mingyu. “Let’s all dance!” he declared, trying to pull Soonyoung and Wonwoo into the rhythm of the music.

Soonyoung stepped back, shaking his head. “I think I’ll pass,” he said, before disappearing into the crowd.

“Wait, Soonyoung!” Minghao called, going after the blonde, holding his cup in the air to prevent his drink from spilling among the sea of people.

Wonwoo looked at Minghao’s retreating figure before turning back at Mingyu, an awkward smile on his face. “Guess it’s just us, then,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Mingyu nodded, feeling a strange mix of emotions. “Yeah,” he said, determined to enjoy the moment despite the awkwardness. “Wanna grab a drink?” he asked, attempting to steady his voice.

Wonwoo laughed. “Can you handle another one?”

Mingyu pouted, tilting his head slightly back. “Don’t know what you mean.” He made his way to the kitchen, smiling when he heard Wonwoo following after him.

To their luck the kitchen was relatively empty with most of the guests occupying the dance floor. Mingyu walked behind the counter, stumbling slightly and grabbing onto it for support. Wonwoo laughed silently, the distance from the dance floor granting them a somewhat quieter space to talk.

Any other time, Mingyu would be panicking and racking his brain after running into Wonwoo so unexpectedly, but thanks to his liquid courage, he couldn't really identify a feeling besides relief. He was happy that he finally had an opportunity to talk to Wonwoo after feeling like he was pushed aside for the past two weeks. In all honesty, Mingyu preferred this feeling and began to understand why people turn to drinking to escape their problems.

He watched with full concentration as Wonwoo began to make his own drink, reaching for different mixers and liquors that were placed out on the island of the kitchen. Mingyu felt a sense of awe as he observed the fluidity and precision in Wonwo's movements. The way his slender hands deftly maneuvered the bottles, seamlessly blending the ingredients, was captivating. Each swift motion seemed effortless but intentional and left Mingyu entranced. He couldn't tear his eyes away, marveling at the grace Wonwoo exuded as he poured the last liquid into his plastic cup.

God .

Mingyu took a deep breath in. “So… how have you been?”

Wonwoo took a swig of his drink, licking his lips as he put his cup back down. Mingyu’s eyes unwillingly settled on his now glossed lips for a split second before moving back up to his eyes. 

“Good,” he replied with a chuckle. “I had no idea Minghao and Soonyoung both went to UCLA. What are the odds?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu said, nodding, eyes wide. “And they’re friends too,” he muttered. He grabbed a cup of his own and poured the first liquor in his reach, pouring in some raspberry lemonade afterward, hoping for the best. 

Wonwoo looked at Mingyu with an amused expression, glanced down at his cup and then looked back up at him.

“How dare you judge my drink,” Mingyu said with feign offense. He took a gulp of his drink and smacked his lips, his face slowly contorting into a sour expression as the taste of alcohol overpowered his taste buds. 

Wonwoo laughed at his facial expression as Mingyu did his best to cover up his reaction. 

“Wanna try mine?” the older boy asked, extending his cup with a grin. Mingyu received the cup and took small sips, the beverage tasting like a mix of orange and pineapple juice with a hint of lime, the alcohol barely noticeable. 

“Whatever,” Mingyu grumbled, handing the cup back.

Mingyu figured it wasn’t worth bringing up Wonwoo’s lack of contact the past few days and focused on trying to keep things lighthearted. Whether it was the alcohol that had taken the edge off their nerves, or Mingyu’s determination to keep the older boy engaged, the conversation flowed effortlessly. 

In the warmth of the kitchen, he could hear the faint hum of background music and the occasional shouting. Mingyu and Wonwoo found themselves in their own little world, the alcohol loosening their inhibitions.

“Seriously, it looks like you're trying to turn this place into a speakeasy,” Mingyu slurred as he gestured towards the array of bottles and mixers strewn across the counter. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

Wonwoo chuckled, leaning in closer as he refilled his cup. “Well, I haven’t yet figured out how to make you stop being a smartass.”

Mingyu narrowed his eyes, nudging Wonwoo playfully with his elbow. “Don’t tell me you’re not a fan of my charm.”

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow. “You’re definitely a work in progress. That girl over there might be, though.”

Mingyu turned to look behind him, his eyes blinking slowly. A petite girl with curly hair in space buns was looking directly at him, eyes unwavering, practically an invitation for him to approach her. She was stunning, her tight dress highlighting her fit figure and makeup incredibly flattering on her tan skin.

Mingyu turned back around, gazing sleepily at the boy in front of him. He shrugged and took the last swig of his drink. “Can you make me a drink?”

Feeling bolder under the influence of alcohol, he found himself inching closer to Wonwoo. He watched the shorter boy’s hands as he poured another round, admiring the way his fingers danced with the bottles. 

“You know,” Mingyu said, his voice dropping, looking over Wonwoo’s shoulder as he then curated his own drink. “You’ve got this whole bartender thing down. It’s kind of... mesmerizing.”

Wonwoo glanced up.“You think so?”

Mingyu nodded, his eyes lingering on Wonwoo’s face for longer than necessary. 

“Yeah,” he eventually said as he stumbled away from Wonwoo, putting more distance between them once again.

Wonwoo chuckled as he swirled the drink in his cup. “Well, I’m glad I can impress you.”

Mingyu tilted his head, eyes slowly working their way from Wonwoo’s face, down to the floor and back up again. “You always impress me,” Mingyu perked casually before taking another sip of his drink.

Wonwoo smiled, about to say something when his eyes widened slightly, looking behind Mingyu. The taller boy turned around, confused, to see Shane and the pretty curly haired girl walk up to them.

“Hey, guys. What are we talking about?” the blonder boy asked casually. “This is my friend Jaz, she’s on the Spirit Squad.”

Mingyu fought the scowl on his face due to his conversation with Wonwoo being interrupted. He looked up to see Wonwoo looking uncomfortable as well, his urge to put a stop to whatever the fuck was happening suddenly a lot more prevelant.

“Hi,” the girl said with a wave, eyes lingering a little longer on Mingyu. “You wouldn’t happen to be friends with Minghao Xu, would you? I think I saw you walk in earlier,” she said with a smile.

Mingyu nodded, subconsciously making his way away from her and closer to Wonwoo.

“Yeah, that’s me.” Mingyu tried his best to sound steady, but cursed himself when his words came out slurred and obviously impaired.

Shane looked back and forth with a satisfied smile. “Okay. Wonwoo, my man, why don’t you and I go-”

“There’s no need for that.” Mingyu wasn’t sure where the confidence came from. He turned to look at the girl in front of him. “I’m so sorry. You seem really nice, but I’m already in a relationship.”

The girl and Shane stood there awestruck. Mingyu’s eyes widened slightly as he processed the words that came out of his mouth but he stood his ground. They were not going to ruin this precious moment he was having with Wonwoo.

The girl shook her head apologetically. “I… I’m so sorry. I guess I should have known. You guys have a good night.” She and Shane walked away looking embarrassed, her slapping him on the shoulder and scolding him once they were further away.

Mingyu sighed, only now aware of how close he was standing to Wonwoo.

“Why’d you do that? You’re not in a relationship and she was cute,” Wonwoo asked, genuinely confused. He did his best to not overthink Mingyu’s looming and almost… protective stance beside him.

“Was she? Honestly my vision is pretty blurred right now,” Mingyu chuckled to himself.

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows, a goofy smile on his face. “You’re unbelievable. God, you’re drunk,” he said with a slight slur.

“So are you! You just don’t feel it because you’ve been in the same spot this whole time. C’mon,” Mingyu said, setting his drink down and extending his hand. 

Wonwoo looked down at Mingyu’s upturned palm, eyes squinting and the corners of his mouth twitching. He looked up at Mingyu’s face. The taller boy was blinking slowly, a small closed-lip smile playing at his lips. Mingyu stood illuminated by the vibrant, multicolored lights of the party. Wonwoo observed the way the lights caught in his eyes made them sparkle with a kind of mischievous charm that was all too familiar to him. His hair was styled and framed his face perfectly, giving him a casual demeanor about him while also demanding attention.

His shirt highlighted his broad shoulders and the subtle curve of his muscles, a reminder of how fit he was without being overly showy. His jeans were well fitted, complementing his easy going style. But it was his smile– sweet and inviting– that really drew all Wonwoo’s attention.

Wonwoo gave a wide grin, feeling especially giddy, as he placed his hand in Mingyu’s and let the taller boy walk him to the dance floor. 

Mingyu walked them to the far corner, avoiding all the people in the middle trying to show off their skillful breakdancing skills. They were at a party full of dancers, after all.

The hip-hop track pulsed softly through the speakers, its steady beat mixing with the haze of warmth and laughter that filled the room. Mingyu's heart fluttered as he watched the way Wonwoo's body moved effortlessly, his hips swaying in time with the beat. 

Mingyu stepped closer, feeling the heat of Wonwoo's body against his own. The space between them dwindled to nothing. Mingyu’s hand brushed against the leather of Wonwoo’s jacket. The touch felt electric, and Mingyu couldn't help but savor it.

Feeling daring, Mingyu's hand found its way to Wonwoo's waist, resting there with a casual confidence. He smiled to himself when Wonwoo placed his own on Mingyu’s shoulders, both of them breaking into a fit of giggles when making eye contact but not moving their hands from where they were placed. 

Their bodies moved as if they were a single entity. Mingyu was acutely aware of every shift in Wonwoo’s posture, the way his chest pressed lightly against Mingyu’s as they swayed. Mingyu’s gaze drifted to Wonwoo’s face, his features softened by the gentle illumination, and his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled at the scene around him. 

They danced for what felt like hours while simultaneously feeling like it was just a few minutes. After a while, the dance floor had begun to thin out. Mingyu and Wonwoo stumbled off the floor, their laughter spilling into the air. The buzz they were feeling made everything feel lighter and more enjoyable as they found their way to the edge of the room.

Mingyu's steps were still uneven as he attempted to walk straight. Wonwoo steadied him with a hand on his back, their shared laughter making it a little more difficult to exert any strength. They finally reached a couch towards the back of the house by the patio entrance.

With a playful grin, Mingyu flopped onto the couch, his movements a bit clumsy. He looked up at Wonwoo with a mischievous look in his eyes. “Join me,” he said, patting the space beside him. The request was slurred but earnest, and Wonwoo couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Mingyu’s drunk state.

Wonwoo sat down, and Mingyu immediately shifted to sprawl out across the cushions. His head found its way to Wonwoo’s lap, and he looked up at him with a contented sigh. The position was slightly uncomfortable, but there was a kind of tenderness to it that made Wonwoo’s heart skip a beat.

Wonwoo looked down at Mingyu, eyes softening as he took in the sight. Mingyu’s face was flushed, and his smile was wide, canines on full display. WOnwoo couldn’t help but find the view endearing.

Mingyu’s hand reached up and lightly poked at Wonwoo’s cheek once, and then twice, before lowering his hand. “This is nice,” he mumbled, his voice full of sleepy satisfaction. “You’re really comfortable, you know.”

Wonwoo laughed softly, petting Mingyu’s tousled hair. “Glad to hear,” he said with warmth in his voice. “I didn’t think I’d be your personal couch tonight.”

“You can be anything you want,” Mingyu said, looking up at him with a toothy grin. 

Wonwoo laughed, wishing he could record the younger man, assuming that he probably won’t remember much once he sobers up.

“I’m serious!” Mingyu whined, gently hitting Wonwoo’s forehead with his hand. “You’re smart, you’re hard working, you’re funny, you’re nice…”

Wonwoo looked down at the flushed boy, suddenly aware of his rapidly beating heart, unable to identify if it was still a result of the alcohol or something else. 

He let out a low chuckle. “Yeah?”

“You’re so nice- so nice to me. I’m sorry I used to be mean to you.”

Wonwoo breathed out a laugh, looking away for a few seconds before turning back to look at him. “It’s okay, Mingyu.”

“It’s not,” Mingyu replied, voice more stern this time. “You liked me and I was mean to you.” He blinked slowly, the desire to sleep beginning to take over.

Wonwoo knit his brows together. Even as his inhibitions seemed to deteriorate, this wasn’t a conversation he was trying to have right now. “Seriously, Mingyu. You can stop,” he said with a reassuring pat on his head.

“You asked me out and I said no,” Mingyu spat, ignoring Wonwoo’s request. His eyes ached to just close once and for all. “I rejected you,” he added, sounding disappointed in himself.

Wonwoo felt like he was being suffocated. He was irritated but also confused. His heart pounded intensely in his chest, now a fair competition to the loud bass that came through the speakers. However, he felt a lingering anticipation that he couldn't quite find the root of.

Wonwoo swallowed. “Yeah, Mingyu. You did. It’s fine-”

“If I asked you out, what would you say?” Mingyu asked, eyes squinted as he looked deep into Wonwoo’s, almost like they were searching for something. Hopeful.

It felt like all the air left Wonwoo’s lungs and suddenly they were the only two people in the room. Wonwoo wanted to look away, to break eye contact. But he couldn't. Not when Mingyu was here, on his lap, looking at him like he… like he was yearning for something.

“What?” he croaked.

Mingyu huffed out a small laugh that gradually turned into giggles. 

“If I asked you out…” he slurred, eyes closing as he smiled to himself. He slowly opened them again, scanning Wonwoo’s face. “I hope you would say yes,” he murmured softly. 

Then just like that, his eyes fluttered shut, not showing any sign of opening again any time soon. Within moments, his breathing evened out as he fell into a deep, alcohol-induced sleep.

Wonwoo froze, taking in the implications of what Mingyu just said. His mind raced, trying to process what he just said. The alcohol in his system was not making it any easier to understand the situation. A whirlwind of emotions churned within him.

Was Mingyu being genuine, or was it just the alcohol talking? As he replayed Mingyu’s words in his head, he felt his heart sink and lurch at the same time.

Wonwoo was grateful Mingyu probably wouldn’t remember this conversation, but oh, how he wished he could forget it too.

Notes:

cliffhanger hehehe

pls share your thoughts w/ me! it keeps me motivated :)

Chapter 16: When You Call My Name, Do You Think I'll Come Running?

Notes:

hola

here is the spotify playlist i created for this story for those who were interested: https://x.com/mwqts/status/1865982523320529026?s=46

fun fact: my original playlist i have that i made back when i was writing has 70 songs so i definitely filtered some lol
at first i was gonna split it into what songs i imagine from mingyu's pov vs which ones reminded me of wonwoo's pov, but i decided i rather have people perceive it in whatever way makes sense to them... and then theres some party songs bc college yk

if u do give it a listen, lmk what you think!

otherwise, enjoy the chapter :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Mingyu woke up startled with residual anxiety. He blinked profusely as he took in his surroundings, realizing he was in Minghao’s room. The sunlight peeked through the curtains, a small sliver of sunlight hitting him directly in the eyes leaving a burning sensation. Nausea began to creep into him as he slowly began to gain more consciousness.

His head throbbed as he tried to recall what happened the night before, leaving an aching feeling of pressure on his forehead. He blinked profusely, but realized nothing would help the shitty sensation of fatigue and pain that spread all over his body.

He groaned as he rubbed his eyes with his hands. He laid back in bed and took deep breaths, hoping to ease his pacing heart.

Just then, he heard the bedroom door open followed by a dip on the space next to him. Mingyu groaned again and turned to his side to see Minghao laying beside him as he rested his head on his hands.

“You have some explaining to do,” Minghao said, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

Mingyu squinted, the light creeping through the curtains still feeling uncharacteristically bright. “What are you talking about?” he asked, throat still dry.

“The fact that I found you asleep with your head on Wonwoo’s lap yesterday, that’s what I’m talking about.”

“What?” Mingyu asked, horrified, quickly sitting up. “Are you serious?”

Minghao furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “You don’t remember? Damn, you must’ve been pretty gone. No wonder you could barely walk to the car.”

Mingyu racked his brain, trying to put together the pieces of what happened the night before, his headache getting worse. “I remember talking with Wonwoo in the kitchen… we danced, and then I guess I vaguely remember being on the couch with him?” Mingyu felt heat rush to his face as he recalled their close proximity and the lingering touches they exchanged on the dance floor.

Minghao sighed, an amused grin on his face. “Soonyoung and I were coming downstairs and we saw you two asleep on the couch. Not gonna lie, the way you were laying on him made you guys look like a couple,” he said with a chuckle. “Soonyoung wasn’t too happy about it, though.”

Mingyu wanted to feel happy at the thought that he and Wonwoo had gotten so close, but he couldn’t help but feel some anxiety and disappointment at not being able to remember how they ended up in that position. 

Mingyu backtracked. “What were you and Soonyoung doing upstairs?”

“Oh that…” Minghao said, looking embarrassed.

Mingyu’s eyes widened, a large grin spreading on his face. “Did you guys hook up?!”

“What? No! I…” Minghao rolled his eyes. “I was throwing up over the balcony,” he muttered.

“Oh,” Mingyu said, tilting his head back. “Gross.”

“I’m not proud of it. I can never listen to another Sean Paul song again.”

The two sat in silence as Mingyu did his best to remember what had happened. At this point he wasn’t sure if he was trying to remember if he said anything stupid or if he wanted to remember any moment that could indicate that Wonwoo feels the same way.

He vaguely remembered looking up at Wonwoo at some point which could be explained by the position they were in. Mingyu felt almost angry that he couldn’t remember something as intimate as falling asleep on the other.

“Did I say anything? You know, after you woke me up?”

Minghao narrowed his eyes and looked off to the side. “Not really, you were just making funny noises. Wonwoo said you fell asleep on him and he didn’t want to wake you up so he didn’t try to move you. I guess he fell asleep waiting there.”

Mingyu groaned and put his head in his hands. “I feel so bad. What was I thinking?”

“Hey, this is a good sign. He cares about you, dude. I’m telling you, I thought you were reaching a bit trying to start something with this guy but… I don’t know. You guys looked good together.”

A small bit of hope arised in Mingyu as he listened to his friend. Hope: it was a feeling that he tried so hard to push away. He knew his chances were slim, but maybe pursuing Wonwoo wasn’t as ambitious of an idea as he thought. 

Mingyu reached over the bed side table for his phone. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but couldn’t help but feel disappointment when he saw that the only person that had texted him was Karina, and not a certain brunette with glasses.

Minghao patted Mingyu’s leg. “How does wonton soup sound for lunch?”

Mingyu pouted. “Really good.”

Minghao gave a playful sigh and hopped off the bed.

“Wait, lunch?” Mingyu questioned.

“It’s 1:30!” Minghao called from the kitchen. 

As he pieced together the previous night's events, he could only recall having good times with Wonwoo despite their turbulent past few weeks. Well, turbulent in Mingyu’s mind. 

Dancing with Wonwoo, the warmth of their bodies close and the moment they shared on the couch filled him with unexpected determination. He didn’t recall doing anything embarrassing, just the intimate, carefree moments they had shared. For the first time in a while, Mingyu felt like there might be a chance for something real and meaningful between them, a tiny ounce of possibility that made him smile despite the dull throb in his head.

Needless to say, the entire day Mingyu found himself sprawled on Minghao’s couch, nursing a pounding headache and a queasy stomach. The hangover hit him hard, making every movement feel like a monumental effort. Minghao, ever the good friend, handed him water and painkillers, trying to help him recover while simultaneously gloating that he felt just fine. 

Despite the physical discomfort, a mix of anticipation, excitement, and nervousness churned within him at the thought of seeing Wonwoo in class the next day. He constantly went over the different ways the conversation would go. Would Wonwoo bring up the party or would he have to? Does he remember everything? Would it be a good time for Mingyu to sneak in that he’s into guys? Would it even make a difference? 

The memory of their shared laughter and closeness gave him a reason to smile through the hangover, but the uncertainty of what really happened that night kept him on edge, making the wait both exciting and anxiety inducing.

The next morning, Mingyu walked briskly across campus, the early morning breeze doing little to calm the butterflies in his stomach. As he approached the building, he couldn’t help but smile to himself, his heart racing with anticipation. 

He found his usual seat and set up his notebook, glancing at the door every few seconds. Each time it opened, his heart would sink when it wasn’t Wonwoo who walked through.

Minutes went by, and eventually the class started. There was still no sign of Wonwoo. Mingyu tried to focus on the lecture, but his mind kept drifting back to the empty seat next to him. 

By the end of the class, the disappointment weighed heavy on him, shattering any ounce of hope he felt before he got there. He packed his things and pulled out his phone once he left the classroom. He typed out a message, not being able to help himself.

 

Mingyu: 

Hey Won, missed you in class today. The hangover didn’t take you out, did it?

 

He waited for a few minutes, watching the "delivered" status on his message, willing it to change to "read." After what felt like an eternity, his phone buzzed.

 

Wonwoo:

Took an early shift at work today. 

 

Mingyu swallowed, the short response leaving him feeling more disappointed than reassured. He stared at the screen, wondering if there was more to Wonwoo’s absence than just his work schedule. With a sigh, he pocketed his phone and headed to his next class, the excitement he felt that morning now replaced by a gnawing worry.

He felt a little irritated. He thought that the good times they shared at the party would deter Wonwoo from his previous standoff-ish attitude that he had been exhibiting and go back to normal. However, it seems like Mingyu must have overestimated their connection once again. He was suddenly reminded of his run in with Alex as he was leaving Wonwoo’s room pretty late at night. He didn’t want to feel angry, but he couldn't help but feel disheartened and almost embarrassed.

Additionally, they had a project due soon, and the last time they worked on it together was two weeks ago. Sure, they’ve been making good progress working on it independently, but there was still so much up in the air. Mingyu had tried to set up something last week but the older boy claimed it wasn’t necessary and that they should be just fine on their own, not bothering to suggest a later date to meet up.

Mingyu may be upset that their friendship is not looking the way it used to, but he wasn’t going to let this situation impede on his school work.


Wonwoo wiped down the bar counter, trying to keep his mind off Mingyu’s message after missing class earlier that day. After the party on Saturday, Wonwoo wasn’t sure how to approach him. He had assumed Mingyu’s confession was just a result of the alcohol– he probably just got caught in the moment or something. But something about the incident made Wonwoo’s inside twist. Hearing Mingyu imply that he liked him given their tempestuous past made Wonwoo feel resentful for some reason. Above everything, Wonwoo despised the tinge of hope he felt hearing Mingyu utter those words. 

There was no way for him to talk to Mingyu like everything was fine, and if he had to continue creating more space between them, then that’s what he was willing to do for his own sanity. He just couldn’t help but feel like his feelings were being messed with by the same boy who caused him to become such a guarded person in the first place.

Wonwoo huffed.

The bar was moderately busy during lunch time as that’s when food trucks would arrive at the establishment. He found peace in the rhythmic routine of mixing drinks and chatting with patrons. He glanced over at Karina, who was supposed to be helping him, but she seemed more engrossed in her phone than her work.

"Karina, are you gonna help me with these orders?" he called out, trying to keep his tone light.

Karina looked up, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Oh, sorry, Wonwoo! Just texting a friend," she sing-songed as she put her phone away and walked over to Wonwoo with a pep to her step.

Wonwoo's heart sank. He tried to keep his expression neutral as he poured a drink, but his hands felt heavy. "Mingyu?"

"Yeah,” she said with a shy laugh. “He’s actually really funny. Funnier than he looks.”

Wonwoo forced a smile. "Yeah, he’s cool."

Karina opened a pack of napkins and began restocking the empty holders. "I have to thank you, you know. Without you there would be no way I could have contacted him. You’re like my wingman."

"Glad I could help," Wonwoo said, trying to sound cheerful despite feeling a twist of jealousy and confusion. He swallowed with a click. “Is he… are you two, like, together?”

Karina shook her head. “Nah. We kinda just joke around back and forth and tell each other about our day. Send each other medical memes and shit like that. Why? Did he say something to you?”

“Uh, no.”

“Hm,” Karina said with a shrug. “We went on a date so I think if it was gonna go somewhere it would have sooner.”

“You guys went on a date?” Wonwoo asked, letting his mouth drop to a frown.

“Mhm. Well, kinda. Like almost two weeks ago when we met up for the first time. He’s super cute but honestly he's just been such a good distraction from everything. He’s so easy to talk to,” she said, smiling to herself. 

Wonwoo nodded, focusing on slicing a lime. "That’s great, Karina. I’m happy for you."

"Thanks, Wonwoo." Karina gave him a quick side hug before returning to her tasks.

Wonwoo forced himself to keep smiling as he served the next customer, but his thoughts were a whirlwind. He had hoped that his feelings for Mingyu were unrequited, something he could push to the back of his mind and forget about once and for all. But hearing about Karina and Mingyu’s growing connection made it all too real, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret and longing.

He was making the same mistake he made almost five years ago now which was developing feelings for a boy who liked girls. And it just so happens to be the same person he made that initial mistake with. Especially now that he’s in the talking stages with Karina, Wonwoo would just be shooting himself in the foot at that point.

The work day went on as Wonwoo tirelessly mixed and served a wide variety of drinks. While he was exhausted by the end of his shift, he was pleased with the fact that he worked three extra hours and was able to make a little bit more money for the week.

Wonwoo arrived home in the afternoon, feeling the weight of the day’s conversations. He trudged up the stairs to his dorm, only stopping once when a resident called him over to ask him a question about an upcoming activity. Once in his room, the familiarity of the space brought a sense of comfort as he opened the door and was greeted by Luna, whose black fur camouflaged her with the dark room . She meowed softly, weaving around his legs.

"Hey, Luna," he murmured, bending down to pet her. "Did you miss me?"

He turned on his lamp and set down his bag, filling Luna’s bowl with food and changing her water. 

Once he was in his pajamas, Wonwoo settled onto his bed with Luna curling up beside him and his laptop in front of him, getting ready to catch up on some work. He absentmindedly stroked her fur, his thoughts drifting to Mingyu. The memory of the party where Mingyu had confessed, albeit drunkenly, resurfaced. He replayed the scene over and over, wondering if it had really been just alcohol-fueled nonsense.

His mind wandered further back to high school. He recalled the time when he had seen Mingyu in the cafeteria, surrounded by his friends, exuding confidence and charm. Wonwoo had admired him from afar back then, too. They had shared classes, and sometimes Mingyu would catch his eye and smirk, but now that he thinks about it, it was never friendly. 

Mingyu always had a way of making someone feel like they were special to him. Back then he would just smile at people, unbeknownst to them that the reason behind that smile was an inside joke he and his friends probably had about that person. Mingyu was hard to crack– hard to decipher. Wonwoo could say with confidence that he was never as bad as his friends, but he was also never good. He remembered feeling a mix of resentment and longing, not understanding why Mingyu affected him so much.

Now, years later, the dynamics had shifted, but the core of his feelings remained the same. Wonwoo sighed, pulling Luna closer. He couldn't shake off the confusion and was hurt from knowing Mingyu was texting Karina so often. Soonyoung was right: there was no point in holding onto all these feelings for him, but being around someone like Mingyu made not developing feelings practically impossible.

He wanted to believe that Mingyus’s drunken confession had meant something, but even then, it would still mean nothing. Mingyu would still be seeing someone else, and it frustrated Wonwoo how Mingyu could say something like that knowing he has someone else for him. 

But Mingyu didn’t even like guys. He made that very clear in high school and never showed any indication that his preferences have changed, even during their deeper conversations.

As he laid there, Luna purring softly, Wonwoo realized that his feelings for Mingyu had always been complicated. High school had been a mess of bullying and mixed signals, and now, despite the progress they’d made, the uncertainty lingered. He didn't know if Mingyu was truly interested in him or if everything was just a game to him. The thought made his chest ache. He needed clarity, but didn’t plan to directly confront Mingyu anytime soon, genuinely hoping that he didn’t remember what he said to him as he looked up at him with those sharp but kind eyes of his.

It seemed like the universe had no regard for Wonwoo’s wish to not encounter Mingyu when the taller boy knocked on his door a few days later. 

“Wonwoo, it’s Mingyu,” his voice could be heard.

Wonwoo’s mind immediately went to the unanswered text messages Mingyu must have gotten tired of sending and took a deep breath as he got up from his desk and walked to the door.

“Coming,” Wonwoo replied, opening the door a few seconds later. Mingyu stood tall, leaning against the door frame in a navy blue hoodie and sweats. Not an uncommon outfit for being this late in the evening but Wonwoo couldn’t help but notice the way Mingyu could make any clothing combination look like it belongs in a modeling catalog. He carried his backpack on him and made his way inside Wonwoo’s room.

His hair was a little messy and his complexion was more pale and washed out than usual. Wonwoo watched in confusion as he set his bag on the ground near his beanbag chair and turned to face him again.

His eyes glanced around the room and he moved his tongue along the inside of his cheek before he spoke. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if you’re going to ignore my messages about the project that is due in almost two weeks, then I kinda don’t have another choice,” he stated with his hands in his pocket.

Wonwoo sighed and pulled his sleeves over his hands, a habit he practiced whenever he felt embarrassed. 

Truthfully, it didn’t even cross his mind that Mingyu could be reaching out to him about something important. He had kinda just assumed he wanted to chat about what happened on Saturday at the party.

“Mingyu, I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind. I didn’t mean to slack on the project.” 

 

But I did mean to ignore you.

 

Is everything okay?” Mingyu asked, facial expression guarded.

“What?”

Mingyu swallowed. “What you have… going on. Are you okay?”

Wonwoo almost wept. Leave it to Mingyu to show concern for him when he’s been ignoring him for practically  a whole week. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay.”

Mingyu nodded, looking both annoyed and sincere at the same time. “Do you have time to get some work done right now?”

Wonwoo nodded profusely, already feeling bad. He pushed up his glasses on his nose. “Yeah. Yeah, of course. Let me grab my laptop.”

“Okay. The first question I sent you was about the sources. He wants eight peer reviewed clinical studies at least but one of the ones we used was a meta-analysis. I emailed him and he said that’s fine as long as all the sources cited in that one are from actual experimental papers,” Mingyu said, sitting on Wonwoo’s green beanbag chair. “He sent me a list of reputable organizations that are pretty much safe to cite at any point. I looked through them and extracted articles that kinda talk about what we’re trying to research. I’ll send you the list of those so you can look through and decide what you think would be relevant to the paper.”

Wonwoo turned to look at Mingyu from where he sat on his desk, taken aback by how much work he’s already managed to do. “Wow, that actually saves us a lot of time… thanks, Mingyu.”

“No problem,” Mingyu muttered, not looking up from where he typed on his laptop. 

For the next hour or so they remained pretty focused, tying up some loose ends and planning the last few sections of the final project. The tension was not very thick, but it was there. Just the difference in where they were sat made Mingyu fight the urge to confront Wonwoo once and for all. Whereas they used to both sit on Wonwoo’s bed, they now sat on opposite ends of the room, practically facing away from each other. 

Mingyu transferred all the data they collected onto a document into the proper format when he saw something that didn’t look quite right.

“Hey, Won.”

“Hm?” Wonwoo replied, turning to look at Mingyu.

“Why are half of your articles qualitative studies?”

Wonwoo shrugged. “There’s just more of those, I guess.”

Mingyu shook his head, confused. “What do you mean? We’re not allowed to use qualitative data.”

“What?” Wonwoo asked after a few beats.

Mingyu stared at Wonwoo with a bemused expression. “You’re joking right? Tell me you’re joking.”

Wonwoo didn’t respond, still looking at Mingyu with a confused look on his face. Mingyu groaned and put his hands in his face at Wonwoo’s lack of response.

“He literally sent an email about this last week,” Mingyu stated, frustration evident.

“He did?” Wonwoo asked, genuinely bewildered that he didn’t know this crucial piece of information.

“Yes!” Mingyu said with annoyance. “Oh, don’t tell me you were ignoring our professor, too?”

Wonwoo’s gaze went from confusion to irritation as he frowned at Mingyu. “What are you talking about?”

“Wonwoo, please. Ever since that night I walked you from the parking lot you’ve been acting really weird with me.”

“I wasn't…” Wonwoo couldn't get himself to finish his statement. He looked at Mingyu and his heart sank at the taller boy’s hurt expression.

Mingyu pursed his lips and nodded. “Did I do something?” he asked, voice quiet.

“I just… I've-”

“You've had a lot on your mind, got it,” Mingyu said with a defeated tone. “I just wish it didn't have to affect the assignment that we're working on together ,” he grumbled as he turned back to his laptop. “I’ll look for more sources.”

Wonwoo wanted to apologize– to try and explain why he's been out of it but he couldn't. He couldn't even identify what he was feeling half of the time let alone put it into words to the person who's been the center of them for weeks.

An undercurrent of unspoken words hung in the air, but Mingyu could only care so much, completely locked into getting as much done as he could while he had Wonwoo here in front of him. He brought up other issues he ran into to which Wonwoo was pretty receptive to, thankfully, but he couldn't get rid of the resentment and irritation he felt at Wonwoo's lack of explanation.

He pretty much confirmed it was something Mingyu had done and while Mingyu wanted to know so badly, he really couldn't be bothered to bring it up again, especially after it looked like Wonwoo was not willing to tell him.

Mingyu glanced up as Wonwoo’s phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the silence for the 8th time since he got there. Wonwoo glanced at the screen and sighed, his fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Mingyu watched as he typed out a quick reply before setting it down and getting back to work.

A few seconds later, Wonwoo’s phone buzzed again, breaking the fragile concentration. Mingyu’s eyes flicked to the device in Wonwoo’s hands, irritation finally beginning bubble to the surface.

“Can you put that on mute or something?” Mingyu snapped, unable to hide his frustration.

Wonwoo sighed and picked up his phone, pressing a few buttons to silence it. “Sorry, it’s just Alex,” he murmured quietly.

“God, why are you still talking to him? I thought you guys broke up.”

Wonwoo’s eyes narrowed, defensive walls immediately going up. “It’s complicated.”

Mingyu shook his head, his voice rising slightly. “What’s so complicated about cutting off someone who’s toxic for you?”

Wonwoo looked taken aback by Mingyu’s statement. “You wouldn't understand.”

Mingyu scoffed. “I saw him leaving your place last week.”

Wonwoo turned his body completely so he was facing Mingyu. He looked at Mingyu with a challenging gaze. “So?”

Mingyu’s eyes glazed over, his hard expression faltering for a few seconds before the corners of his mouth upturned in an unamused smile. “It’s like you're asking to get hurt again.”

Wonwoo’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Alex and I have history. It’s not that simple.”

“History? You mean the history where he treated you like his wallet?” Mingyu shot back, his tone scathing. “You need to have some self-respect, Wonwoo.”

The older man’s face flushed with anger and he leaned forward. “You don’t get to judge me, Mingyu. I’ll remind you that you and I don’t have the best history either.”

Mingyu stood up, his posture rigid with anger. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. But if you’re so keen on making the same mistakes, fine. Do what you want.”

Wonwoo stood up too, glaring at Mingyu. He took a few steps forward. They were almost the same height, but their close proximity highlighted the 2 to 3 inches Mingyu had over him. “I’m not the only one here who’s made mistakes, Mingyu.”

Mingyu let out a dry laugh in disbelief. “You know what? Fine. Stay with that piece of shit if you want.”

Wonwoo shook his head, not accepting the response. “Why do you even care?” he asked in a tired tone. “Why does it matter to you so much?”

Mingyu hesitated, the heat of the moment revealing more than he intended. “Because... because…” He stared directly into Wonwoo’s eyes, noticing the slight shadow underneath them and the way his eyelashes curled at the ends. Mingyu couldn’t stay mad at him even if he tried.

Mingyu rolled his eyes, more at himself than at the other. “You deserve better, okay?”

Something inside the older boy snapped. “I can’t fucking do this anymore,” he fessed as he walked to the other end of the room, hands running through his hair.

Mingyu looked at him in confusion but didn’t say anything.

Wonwoo sighed and turned around, eyes wet with tears that threatened to fall. “Do you know how fucking hard this is for me? I- I see you going on dates, calling me a good friend, hell you were even homophobic at some point but then…” Wonwoo hesitated before speaking again. “Then you act like this when you find out I talked to my ex a-and you compliment me on how I look all the time and then what you said to me at the party just-”

“What?” Mingyu asked, feeling out of breath due to his rapidly beating heart. His head struggled to really process what was happening. “At the party, what?” The look of panic on his face would have been comical in any other situation.

Wonwoo’s eyes fluttered, attempting to keep any more tears from forming. “You… you told me that you hoped I would say yes if you asked me out.”

Mingyu took a few steps back, eyes wandering around the room. He was horrified. That was definitely a confession. “God…” he whispered, rubbing his temples. “Wonwoo-”

“Did you mean it?” Wonwoo asked sternly.

Silence filled the room as Mingyu thought of what he should say. Something tells him that Wonwoo wouldn’t take it too lightly no matter what answer he gave. He was lost. This was not at all how he expected the night to go. He couldn’t help but feel dread for the outcome of the conversation.

Mingyu took a few steps forward, heart beating seemingly one hundred miles per hour. His mouth was slightly parted but nothing came out. He stopped once he was in arm’s reach. 

Wonwoo’s hard expression had returned into something more vulnerable: defeat.

“Wonwoo…” Mingyu was terrified. His mind told him to just lie- to say he’s sorry he made him uncomfortable and that it was probably just the alcohol. He could clear the air and go back to being just friends once and for all. He could apologize for the misunderstanding and hopefully Wonwoo would be receptive to it and everything would go back to normal.

But he knew in his heart he couldn’t handle being just friends for much longer. He was reaching a breaking point. He was like a balloon filled with a shit ton of feelings and emotions he’s never understood. Hanging out with Wonwoo only filled it up even more. It could only go for so long before it popped.

Mingyu didn’t even realize when he had started walking closer to the other, leaving them only a few inches apart. His heart leapt.

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo whispered, eyes squinted. He looked sad as he glanced down at Mingyu’s lips and then back up at his eyes. “Please.”

Frankly, Wonwoo didn’t know if he was asking for an answer or for Mingyu to kiss him– maybe both. But that wouldn’t matter anymore.

Without missing a beat, Mingyu leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Wonwoo’s lips. He pulled back quickly, eyes observing the older boy's features for any sign of discontent. Wonwoo looked at Mingyu, his eyes searching for something as well. Their brief, wordless communication only lasted a few seconds before Wonwoo put his delicate hands on either side of Mingyu’s face and pulled him down slightly, connecting their lips again.

Mingyu was gentle, but also firm enough to try to release any doubt from Wonwoo’s question about him meaning what he said at that party. He felt any previous anger and resentment disappear from his body as Wonwoo’s hands went from his cheeks to the back of his neck, pulling him even closer. 

He savored his soft lips as their mouths began to move more erratically, opening and closing in rhythm with one another. Mingyu rested his hands on Wonwoo’s waist, thumbs caressing his abdomen.

Mingyu felt fireworks go off in his brain as he did what he had been wanting to do, what he had dreamt about for months.

Wonwoo, on the other hand, felt weak. He felt his body tingle at any touches Mingyu would leave and felt his knees want to give out. He probably would have fallen over if it wasn’t for Mingyu’s tight grip.

While he hated to admit it, kissing Mingyu is just what he thought it would be. He felt safe and cared for in the taller man’s grasp, but he also felt desired– a feeling he never thought he would experience from Mingyu in particular. 

Smacking lips and occasional breaths were the only sounds in the room. Wonwoo pulled back, watching with heavy eyelids as a string of saliva hung between their mouths. He could feel Mingyu’s eyes on him, dark and curious, making Wonwoo’s nerves run with anticipation.

Wonwoo’s cheeks were rosy, his lips a little bit swollen. Being a novice in physical relationships with men, Mingyu wasn’t sure how far they were able to go, but he knew, watching Wonwoo catch his breath with his hair tousled and his oversized long sleeve almost hanging off his shoulder, that this wouldn’t be enough for him for very long. 

Mingyu leaned forward again, this time with a little bit more force. Wonwoo pulled back only slightly, taking off his glasses and setting them aside, his eyes catching a glimpse of the small tent on Mingyu’s gray sweats in the process. 

Mingyu must have noticed his eyes wandering as he lowered his hoodie in an attempt to cover it. Wonwoo pulled him back in, capturing his lips. They skipped all the first few steps, immediately going after each other's tongues. Weeks and months of fighting off feelings and lingering glances led them to really savor this moment, in compensation for the long period of time they went without it.

Wonwoo let out a small moan when Mingyu trailed his hand down until it was right above his ass and pulled him closer to him. Mingyu licked inside Wonwoo’s mouth, finding every lap more enchanting than the last. He wanted to be as close to him as possible and in their current circumstances, this was the only way he could think.

“Fuck, you taste so good,” Mingyu grumbeled before walking Wonwoo backward so he was against the wall. Mingyu tilted his head down and began leaving languid kisses below Woonwoo’s sharp jaw, receiving a satisfied sigh from the ladder. 

Mingyu nipped on the fair skin on Wonwoo’s neck like his life depended on it. Wonwoo wanted to tell him to be careful and not leave any marks, but his mind was too clouded by the pleasure for him to even care.

Wonwoo was also in complete awe of the boy in front of him. Mingyu was in a similar state to him, except he elicited an energy that made him look bigger, stronger, and more possessive. The thought of Mingyu being any of those things ran chills up his spine. He watched with heavy lids as Mingyu’s tan, prominent jaw moved with every lap and every kiss, his mouth soft and wet, slowly and sensually on his skin. 

Wonwoo buried his fingers deep into his hair, heat beginning to pool in his gut as he felt his own erection begin to grow achingly hard. His heart raced until he was able to feel his pulse all over his own body.

This was far better than Wonwoo had imagined it would be. He used to dream of this happening back when he was in high school. He couldn't believe he was living it now.

Then reality dawned on him, shattering all the positive sensations he was feeling like a glass pane.

He removed his hand out of Mingyu’s hair and shoved him off gently, leaving Mingyu staring at his neck with a hungry look in his eyes, wanting so badly to return to what he was doing. Mingyu wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked up at Wonwoo, waiting for him to say something.

Wonwoo swallowed, swollen lips parted as he slowly came back to earth. 

“I can’t,” was all he could muster.

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows, still slightly out of breath, hair pointing in all directions. “You… you can’t?”

Wonwoo frowned, finally getting his thoughts in order. “I just don’t… understand. You like me?”

Mingyu’s eyes moved around the room. “Yes?” he answered like it was obvious.

“Since when?”

Mingyu’s eyes widened for a second, caught off guard by the question. “Uh, I don’t know, like, the end of last quarter-”

“You don’t know?” Something in Wonwoo’s tone told Mingyu he had said something wrong. 

There was a long pause before Mingyu responded, still confused at what was happening. “I mean, it was the end of last quarter.”

Wonwoo frowned. “That was barely like three months ago, Mingyu.”

Mingyu studied Wonwoo, trying to understand what the older boy was getting at. “You need to help me out here, Won.”

“You like girls,” Wonwoo said flatly.

Mingyu licked his lips and shrugged. “Surprise?”

Wonwoo scoffed. “So all that time you were making fun of me because I liked boys, you liked them too?”

“I mean, I didn’t know at the time but… I guess? I’m still figuring it out.”

“So this is you ‘figuring it out’?”

Mingyu’s eyes widened. “No! Oh my gosh, no it’s not like that. I know that I like you. I’ve known I was at least attracted to you since I saw you at orientation. You just… you looked so different.”

Wonwoo winced at the last word and Mingyu knew he fucked up. “What if I still looked the way I did in high school would you just have not ever spoken to me?”

“No. Fuck. That came out wrong-”

“I’m only worth your time now because I'm not ugly anymore?”

“What?” Mingyu asked in disbelief. “No. You were never even ugly. Wait. Stop twisting my words-”

“Whether you really like me or not, you and I can never have anything together, Mingyu. You know that right?”

A deafening silence filled the room. His words entered Mingyu like a knife. Mingyu looked at Wonwoo desperately trying to find a sign of weakness– a falter in his expression that would somehow tell Mingyu that Wonwoo didn’t truly believe that. 

Wonwoo continued. “I don’t know if I could ever forgive you for everything,” he said quickly like he was holding it in.

The knife twisted. 

Mingyu took a few moments to compose himself, a lump beginning to form in his throat. He said the best thing he could think of, knowing that it probably wouldn’t help his case.

“But I apologized.”

Wonwoo scoffed in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“No, I…” Mingyu could feel tears threaten to spill at any second. “I apologized to you multiple times and you always told me it was fine. You never once seemed angry about it.”

“What did you want me to say, Mingyu? I had spent years trying to get over what happened and just when I finally thought I was healed you showed up,” Wonwoo replied sternly. “I didn’t want to go back to that place you put me in, okay? I wanted everything to stay in the past.”

“Then why can’t it?” Mingyu asked, raising his voice.

“Because, Mingyu!”

“Because what?”

“Because everytime I see you, I’m reminded of one of the worst fucking years of my life !”

Mingyu exhaled. The tears he fought so hard to keep at bay were now spilling slowly down his face. Everytime he replayed Wonwoo’s words they hit deeper and deeper.

“You made me miserable. An entire year of my life, a year I was supposed to enjoy, was taken from me by you and your stupid friends. Do you know what high school was like for me? Do you know how I felt every single day, walking those halls, knowing that at any moment, you and your friends would come make my life a living hell for existing? Do you know what it’s like to feel that kind of fear, that kind of humiliation? To feel worthless at such a young age like that?”

Mingyu wiped his tears but they kept falling. Guilt engulfed him like flames on gasoline. He was in shock. He knew his past behavior must have affected Wonwoo, but hearing the boy put his pain into words like this painted a whole new picture that Mingyu could not have even begun to imagine.

“Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep because of you ? How many times I wanted to just disappear because I couldn’t take it anymore? You guys made me feel like I didn’t deserve to be liked, like the thought of someone wanting to be in any sort of relationship with me was fucking impossible. And now, now that you’re different and in my life again, I’m supposed to just be okay with all of that? I’m supposed to just pretend like none of that ever happened?”

“I would never make you pretend like nothing happened,” Mingyu choked out.

Wonwoo had a defeated look on his face as tears streamed down his face. He took a deep breath trying to console himself but the emotions were too overwhelming for it to have any effect. His voice broke as he continued. “You... you don’t get it. You don’t get how hard it is to see you so often, to work on this project with you… to feel things for you. It's tearing me apart because I don’t know if I can trust you. I don’t know if you really changed or if this is just some twisted game.”

“What I feel for you,” Mingyu started, feeling disgrace wash over him. “... is real, Wonwoo. I’ve never… I've never wanted someone this bad.”

Wonwoo shut his eyes as if Mingyu’s words had physically stung him. He looked back up at him, raw emotions evident on his tearstained face and sorry expression. He shook his head. “I like you a lot, Mingyu… more than I wish I did, but you have to understand that I could never be happy with you without also feeling the pain you caused at the same time.”

Mingyu felt his heart sink because deep down, he knew Wonwoo was right. He was being too hopeful, unrealistic to think that this would be as simple as just having Wonwoo want him back. The situation had been complicated from the very beginning, and no matter how hard Mingyu tried to ‘make it up to him’ or how many times he apologized, nothing would have changed.

Mingyu wiped his nose with his sleeve. “Being with me would be painful for you,” he stated, reflecting Wonwoo’s words back to him, almost asking for confirmation.

Wonwoo looked down, fighting off tears that were threatening to spill again. “Yeah,” he said, just above a whisper.

As much as Mingyu wanted to stay and try to fight his case– to convince Wonwoo that the two of them could get through it together and that they could take things slow if that’s what he needed, he knew it would be no use. If being together would hurt Wonwoo even more , it wasn’t something Mingyu wanted either. 

Mingyu doesn’t remember packing up his things. He doesn’t remember leaving Wonwoo’s room or walking to his own room. 

That night he laid in bed, tears threatening to spill but never doing so, all drained out. For the first time, he truly felt the consequences of his past. He knew it was inevitable, but he never could have imagined the price would be so god damn painful.

Notes:

don't hate me...
if you guys have read my twitter aus you know i love drama and conflict :p
they WILL have a happy ending i promise

pls pls leave comments here, on twt, or my neospring! (that i just figured out how to use)
https://neospring.org/@dandelalion?page=1

Chapter 17: You Never Did The Same

Notes:

fun fact: idk how to write in the present tense. i tried to do it for some of the other fics im working on and i genuinely felt like i was going to explode. im afraid my brain is not evolved enough for that yet

i really LOVED yall's insightful reactions to the last chapters. i think we can all agree mg had it coming and i wanna thank everyone for sharing all your thoughts with me and being super sweet about it.

enjoy the chapter!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

It was their lunch break, and Mingyu was leaning against his locker, surrounded by his usual group of friends, the self-proclaimed kings of the school. 

Unfortunately, Jaehbom spotted Wonwoo walking down the hall, head buried in a book as usual. “Oh, look who it is.” He nudged Mingyu. "Come on, let's go say hi."

Reluctantly, Mingyu took a deep breath and followed the group as they sauntered over to Wonwoo. Jaebom was in the lead, with Siwon and the others flanking him like they were some established posse.

"Oh, Wonwoo…" Jaebom sang out, his voice dripping with fake friendliness. "How's it going, buddy?"

Wonwoo looked up, face falling when he realized who was talking to him. He closed his book and picked up his pace. "I have somewhere to be."

"What's the rush?" Siwon sneered, blocking his path. "We just wanted to talk."

Wonwoo's eyes flickered with a mixture of fear and annoyance. He tried to sidestep, but Jaebom moved to block him again. 

"Come on, Wonwoo," Jaehbom said. "No need to be so shy. We're all friends here, right?"

Wonwoo stared back with a done expression.

Mingyu stood to the side, arms crossed, trying to look disinterested and trying to ignore the knot tightening in his stomach.

"So," Jaebom continued, "I need to know- we need to know, on a scale of 1-10, how much of a chance do you think you have with our boy Mingyu? I said, um, zero.”

The boys erupted into laughter. Wonwoo's face turned red, and he looked down at his shoes. 

"Oh, come on," Siwon interrupted. "We’re just playing around. Maybe Mingyu will be a little bit more positive. Hey Mingyu, what do you think the chances are you’ll lke this guy back?”

Mingyu glanced at Wonwoo who was trying to leave but was being restrained by the shoulders by one of his other friends. 

He swallowed.

“You said zero? That’s a little too high, don’t you think?” Mingyu spat, his voice betraying his mind’s desire to just keep his mouth shut.

The laughter that followed felt too loud. Wonwoo looked up, a tired expression, meeting Mingyu's eyes for a brief, heart-wrenching moment before looking away again.

“Damn, Gyu, that’s crazy!” Jaebom said, laughing as he leaned on Mingyu’s shoulder. 

Mingyu gave a hollow laugh, turning to Wonwoo and ignoring the twist in his gut. "Yeah, Wonwoo, if I were you, I would just focus on my studies or something."

Wonwoo's eyes flickered with pain and anger. He simply nodded and quickly tried to push past them, but Jaebom grabbed his arm.

"Hey, don't walk away when we're talking to you," he said. Wonwoo glared back at him before pulling out his small notepad and scribbling something down.

“Mingyu, I think he’s writing you another letter,” Siwon whispered, giggling.

Wonwoo ripped the page off the notepad and shoved it at Jaebom’s, causing him to slightly stumble backwards.

“What?” Jaebom glanced down at the piece of paper. “You asshole, did you just give me detention?!” Wonwoo took that as his cue to push past them and head in the other direction.

“For what? What did we even do?” Sinwon asked innocently, walking over to the pink sheet of paper in his friend’s hand.

Jaebom looked down at it, his eyes widening with fury as he read the neat, black ink. “For ‘being ugly’?! You piece of shit!”

Mingyu held back a chuckle. Wonwoo hurried down the hall, disappearing into the crowd.

The group yelled a plethora of insults and profanities at the older boy, but Mingyu just watched Wonwoo's retreating figure, feeling the all too familiar pang of regret. The tormenting may have been funny at first, but Mingyu felt like it was just getting old now. 

"Come on, Mingyu," Siwon said with a sigh, clapping him on the back. "Let's go grab some food."

Mingyu nodded and followed, but his mind was elsewhere. The image of Wonwoo’s hurt expression stuck with him for the rest of the day.

 

The memory of that night at Wonwoo’s dorm loomed over Mingyu like a dark cloud. He and Wonwoo no longer sat together during their molecular statistics class- an unspoken agreement between them to avoid one another after their heated discussion. Instead, Mingyu found a seat at the opposite end of the room, trying to focus on the lectures despite being hyper aware of Wonwoo in his peripheral vision. The space between them seemed to grow wider with each passing week.

They weren’t able to avoid each other completely, though. Being project partners meant stilted and awkward conversations about their shared assignment. They communicated only through comments and suggestions on their shared documents. The once lively and engaging collaboration had turned into a mechanical exchange of necessary information. 

Most days, Mingyu’s heart ached with a mix of regret and longing. He replayed that night in his mind, wondering if there was anything he could have done differently, any way he could have prevented the circumstances they were currently in. The absolute worst part was that there was nothing he could do. He knew apologizing was out of the picture, and he knew that suggesting they stay friends would only come back to bite them in the ass.

Mingyu tried to throw himself into his studies, hoping to drown out the pain with work. He never expected to be this emotionally affected by Wonwoo’s absence in his life. His friends noticed the change in him, but Mingyu found it hard to explain. How could he tell them that he was mourning the loss of something that he never really had?

Even Minghao, who always seemed to know when something was wrong, had a hard time getting Mingyu to open up at first. Although, he was a lot more well versed on the situation than Mingyu thought.

“Not gonna lie,” Minghao said, looking guilty. “Soonyoung already told me what happened.”

“What?!” Mingyu asked, more shock in his voice than anger.

“Yeah. We were talking about how you both looked so, I don’t know, sad I guess. He told me everything Wonwoo told him. I would really want to hear it from your perspective, though,” he added sincerely. 

Mingyu groaned. “That guy hates me, Hao. Why are you his friend?”

“He doesn’t hate you. At first he did, but we talked about it. Ultimately he’s just afraid of his friend getting hurt, but I think I’m doing a good job of convincing him you mean no harm,” he said, placing his hand on Mingyu’s shoulder. “Now, do you wanna tell me what happened?”

Mingyu then proceeded to explain the situation in so much detail that one would think he was giving a witness statement to a police officer.

Jungkook and Minnie, being in their own little world, only noticed after a few days. Mingyu’s witty remarks became less frequent, creating an obvious shift when the three of them would hang out together. Mingyu settled on telling them a very surface level version of the situation, still garnering empathy and support from the both of them.

Time flew by, and Mingyu couldn’t shake the sense that he was on the outside looking in. He watched Wonwoo from a distance, noticing how he still moved with the same confidence and charm. Every so often, Wonwoo would be in the lobby setting up activities for residents, chatting up a storm with some of the younger students. 

It took almost three weeks for Mingyu to get back into the groove of things without feeling the constant weight of guilt and anxiety. The project deadline was approaching, and he dreaded the thought of their final presentation. It would force them to come together, at least temporarily, but Mingyu couldn’t shake the fear that the rift between them would affect their performance, especially after not doing much planning for the last few weeks. He still stuck to his statement he made to Wonwoo earlier that night: he was not going to let whatever was going on with them get in the way of his academics.

 


 

Wonwoo was sitting at his desk, tapping away on his laptop when he heard a knock at the door.. He knew who it was. Alex had texted earlier about dropping off the rest of his stuff. Taking a deep breath, Wonwoo stood and walked over, opening the door to reveal Alex standing there with a small box in his hands.

“Hey,” Wonwoo greeted, stepping aside to let Alex in. “This the last of it?”

“Yep,” Alex replied, setting the box down on Wonwoo’s desk. “Didn’t expect it to take so many trips but I kept finding stuff. You have a lot of shit.”

Wonwoo chuckled, looking down at the Nintendo charger, action novels, and an assortment of necklaces and bracelets.

He looked back up at Alex. “How are things at the dealership?”

Alex smiled, a confident glint in his eye. “Oh, they’re going great. I’ve been hitting my sales targets and even got a raise last week.”

“That’s great to hear,” Wonwoo said sincerely, folding his arms over his chest. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks,” Alex said, his tone light but carrying a hint of something more. “It’s amazing what a little focus and motivation can do. I feel like I’m really on track now, you know?”

Wonwoo nodded again, sensing where this might be heading but choosing to keep the conversation friendly. “Yeah, I get that. It’s good to see you doing well.”

Alex shifted his weight, looking around the room before meeting Wonwoo’s eyes. “School is still going okay?”

“Kinda,” Wonwoo admitted with a small smile. “It’s that point in the quarter when all the final projects and assignments start to pile up... you know how it is. But it’s good.”

“Good,” Alex echoed, his gaze lingering on Wonwoo a moment longer than necessary. “Are you heading up home for spring break? Tell Gonji I say hi.”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows at the thought of saying hi to his mom on Alex’s behalf, especially considering both his parents knew they were broken up. He wondered if Alex even told his parents yet.

“I feel bad. I never got to learn enough Korean to have a full conversation with her,” Alex added, scratching the back of his neck, looking intently at Wonwoo.

Wonwoo shrugged with a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. I’m sure your parents were hardly impressed by my high school Spanish.”

“Maybe. They loved you, though.”

Wonwoo nodded for an uncomfortably long time, not knowing how to respond to that. “Yeah. Oh, and to answer your question, I’m actually staying here for spring break.”

“Oh, really? How come?”

“I have a few residents who can’t go home over break so I just decided to stay so that they don’t have to get someone to fill in for me. I get paid extra so.”

“Nice,” Alex chimed with a wide grin. “Hey, I mean, if you ever need anything or just wanna grab a beer or something, you know how to reach me.”

Wonwoo gave a small smile. “Yeah, for sure.”

There was a brief, comfortable silence before Wonwoo took a step closer, offering a hand. “Well, thanks for bringing my stuff.”

Alex took his hand, pulling him into a hug instead. “You know, I’m serious. If you ever need anything, I’m here for you. No hard feelings.”

Wonwoo hugged him back, feeling a sense of closure wash over him. “I appreciate that. And the same goes for you.”

As they pulled away, Alex’s smile faltered slightly. “You’re really not going to give us another chance, huh?”

Wonwoo sighed, shaking his head gently. “No, Alex.”

The taller boy forced a smile. “Right. Well, take care of yourself, Wonwoo.”

“You too,” Wonwoo replied, watching as his ex walked out of the dorm room, hopefully for the last time. As the door closed, Wonwoo felt a surprising sense of contentment. The chapter with Alex had finally come to a peaceful end, despite the lingering animosity. 

After what happened with Mingyu, Wonwoo had gone down a spiral of doubt, wondering if he truly did the right thing by rejecting him. Closing this chapter with Alex, though, was without a doubt one of the best things he could have done for himself. Any lingering feelings of loss and heartbreak had turned into that of closure and peace.

Wonwoo would be lying if he said that night with Mingyu didn’t replay in his mind every single day for the past two weeks. He thought back to their heated discussion and while the heartbroken look on Mingyu’s face did ignite a little bit of guilt in him, he didn't really regret anything he said. There was no part of his statement that was exaggerated or said solely out of anger. 

He also thought back to the kiss, or rather, their mini makeout session. He reminisces on what it was like to have his lips on Mingyu’s, to be held in his strong arms and to really feel desired by the taller boy. Seventeen year old Wonwoo could have never imagined it would ever happen.

In fact, seventeen year old Wonwoo had dreamt of only a peck on the lips at most. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he and Mingyu would be shoving their tongues into each other’s mouths and practically rubbing their hard-ons against one another.

The thought still gave Wonwoo butterflies, and it made him feel almost giddy. 

Wonwoo sighed, not feeling like getting dressed for work. He had spent all morning working on a paper for a neuroscience class he was taking and was practically finished, but he couldn’t even enjoy ridding himself of that responsibility because he had to clock in. 

The bar was tame that night, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle that’s typical for Fridays. Wonwoo moved methodically, wiping down the counter, arranging glasses, and checking the inventory. The repetitive motions were a welcome distraction, but everytime he looked over to a certain co-worker, his mind couldn’t help but drift to Mingyu.

It had been days since they last spoke. Their heated exchange echoed in his mind, each word replaying with a clarity that made it hard to focus on anything else. He couldn't help but be curious about Mingyu and Karina’s relationship and how that was progressing.

Wonwoo shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. He picked up a glass and began polishing it, watching the reflections dance in the dim lights. Despite his efforts, his mind wandered back to the dorm room that night. He recalled how Mingyu had looked genuinely remorseful, his usual easy going demeanor replaced with an earnest need to make things right. But Wonwoo's pain had been too overwhelming, the memories he carried still fresh.

“Hi, Wonwoo, I’d like to close out,” an all too familiar voice said, causing Wonwoo to frown before turning towards the bar with his best customer service smile. 

He tossed the rag he was using over his shoulder. “Sure. What’s the name on the card?” 

Wonwoo knew the guy's name: Jefferey… something. He had started to come in about a month ago and seemed to have a liking towards Wonwoo. The guy couldn’t have been younger than forty five, and he wasn’t sleezy or creepy per se, just persistent. It was obvious the guy came from a lot of money– he always showed up after work dressed in a suit, and he always left Wonwoo extremely generous tips.

Jefferey’s habit of only showing up when Wonwoo was working gave him the nickname ‘tornado’ because of the way he was always trying to find excuses to be near Wonwoo, following him around sometimes.

Wonwoo could have put an end to it, but the guy was harmless, really. He also loved being tipped 60% of the tab.

Jefferey’s face fell, realizing Wonwoo didn’t remember his name. He muttered his first and last name and Wonwoo nodded, turning back to the computer and closing out the tab. He placed the card on the receipt and handed it over to him.

“You know,” the man started, grabbing a pen from his suit pocket. “My daughter is getting married next month.”

Wonwoo glanced down at where he had yet to fill out the tip, and leaned towards the counter, getting in the guy’s space a little more. “What? That’s amazing! You must be so proud,” he said with a smile.

“Yeah,” he chuckled. Wonwoo’s eye almost twitched when he put the pen down right before he was supposed to fill out the tip portion. “It’s just embarrassing, I have no date!” he said putting his head in his hands, obviously a little drunk. 

Wonwoo made a face of feign shock. “What? Really? Well, someone has to come around. I’m sure you’re a real catch.”

“Yeah,” the man laughed shyly, scratching his head. He picked the pen back up (thank God) and began to fill out the rest of the check. Wonwoo looked around the bar, pretending to be disinterested in what he was writing. 

Jefferey stood up and placed the pen down, sliding the check over to Wonwoo. “I’ll see you next week,” he said with a lingering smile.

Wonwoo grabbed the check and smiled enthusiastically. “See you!” After the man left, Wonwoo took a good look at the receipt, more than satisfied at the amount written out. 

"Was that Tornado?" Kevin's voice perked as he leaned against the bar.

"Yeah," Wonwoo replied, with a proud smile. 

Kevin raised an eyebrow."Yikes, well, I'm heading out early. Slow night and all. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you," Wonwoo said, watching as he grabbed his things and waved goodbye. The door closed behind him, leaving Wonwoo alone with his thoughts.

The bar felt even quieter now. Wonwoo sighed and leaned against the counter, staring at the bottles lined up on the shelves. 

Wonwoo's phone buzzed, pulling him back to reality. He glanced at the screen, hoping for a message from a certain 6’3” Korean-American college student, but it was just a notification about his shift schedule. He sighed again, putting the phone back in his pocket. The night stretched on, the minutes ticking by slowly.

“Men are so gross,” Karina scoffed as she walked out of the men’s restroom with a mop and a bucket. She looked around the establishment. “Don’t tell me Kevin-”

“He left early,” Wonwoo deadpanned.

“God, I knew it,” she whined. “Anytime business is slow you can always expect him to be out of here before closing. He always does it when I’m gone or distracted with something too!”

Wonwoo laughed, beginning to put away the last of the glasses. “We’re gonna have to start leaving before he does.”

Karina smiled and shook her head. “You might be right.”

Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you still doing here anyway? I thought I was closing tonight?”

Karina raised her eyebrows, speaking as she walked into the kitchen to dump the mop bucket. “I’m taking on extra hours. I’m on my spring break.”

“Damn. Do you just not like breaks?”

Karina came out of the kitchen and gave Wonwoo a playful glare. “Very funny. I do like breaks, but I like money more.”

The two worked in a comfortable silence, the only sound being the light hum of the speakers that played top 40 hits every single day. They cleaned and prepared the ingredients and mixers for the next day as the remaining customers closed their tabs. They went around the bar making a final check for lost items before packing their things and turning off any unnecessary lights that may have been left on.

“Ready?” Karina asked, throwing her bag over her shoulder.

“Yep.”

They made their way out the front door and into the cool night air. Karina shut the door and locked it, pocketing the key after she was done.

The street was mostly deserted, the occasional car passing by and the distant hum of city life creating a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

Wonwoo glanced at Karina. "Well, I appreciate the help today."

"No problem," she replied with a smile. "It's part of the job, right? Besides, it's nice to have some company for a change."

Wonwoo chuckled. "Yeah, it can get pretty lonely in there sometimes."

They reached the parking lot. Wonwoo stopped and turned to her. "Do you need a ride home? It's late."

Karina shook her head. "Thanks, but I'm getting picked up. I’m gonna catch a movie.”

"Damn, I didn’t even know they show movies this late." Wonwoo gave her a friendly nod. "Well, stay safe."

"You too," Karina replied, waving as she started to walk towards the edge of the lot, typing away at her phone.

Wonwoo headed to his car, pulling out his keys and unlocking the door. As he was about to get in, he noticed a familiar, tall figure walking towards Karina. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Mingyu’s face slightly obscured by his hoodie. Wonwoo froze, watching as he approached Karina with a warm smile.

They hugged, and Wonwoo felt something twist in his chest. He leaned against his car, trying to appear casual as he observed the scene from a distance. The two exchanged a few words, both of them laughing softly before they began to walk away together, heading towards the more busy part of the street.

Mingyu hadn't seen him, and Wonwoo felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. He got into his car, gripping the steering wheel as he watched them disappear into the night through his rear view mirror. He reminded himself that it was for the better. Mingyu deserved someone who could offer him a fresh start and so did he.

Wownoo sighed, starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot. As he drove away, he couldn't shake the image of Mingyu and Karina together. They looked good together.

Guilt set into his core, thinking about the kiss he shared with Mingyu, especially when he recalled how Karina liked him first.

Wonwoo sighed again. He made the right decision for both of them.

To distract his mind, Wonwoo pressed play on the bluetooth feature, connecting his car stereo to his playlist. 

To his luck, or lack thereof, an unfortunately relatable Ariana Grande song came on, causing Wonwoo to lay his head on the steering wheel at a red light. 

This was going to be a long drive.

He merged onto the highway. There was no traffic due to it being so late at night. As he was driving, he noticed a familiar exit approaching. That street would take him directly to Soonyoung’s school.

Without much of a thought, Wonwoo turned on his blinker and slammed on the gas pedal. He managed to move over three lanes within a matter of seconds, barely making the exit and turning onto the road. His brain directed him to the familiar apartment complex as he held tightly onto the steering wheel. 

He pulled into the smaller street, feeling relief when he saw Soonyoung’s car parked just a few buildings away.

 

Good. He’s home.

 

Wonwoo found a tight parking spot and got out of his car. He made his way to the front gate and entered in the code for Soonyoung’s unit. The line rang for a bit before Soonyoung’s voice came through.

“Yes?”

“It’s me,” Wonwoo replied, not sure why he was here in the first place.

“Wonwoo?” Soonyoung paused for a bit, deciding not to question anything just yet. “I’ll be right down.”

After Soonyoung let him in, they made their way up the outdoor staircase to the second floor in silence. Wonwoo walked into Soonyoung’s apartment, specifically aware of how dark it was.

“Were you sleeping?”

Soonyoung looked over and gave him a small smile. “Yeah, but, it’s fine. Keeho will probably be back from the gym soon, and he would have woken me up anyway.”

Wonwoo nodded, now regretting coming.

“Hey, it’s fine,” his friend said reassuringly.

The two made their way to the couch, Soonyoung still not asking any questions to which Wonwoo was thankful. The taller boy laid back on the large couch, letting his eyes close for a little bit. The only source of light was a lava lamp placed just near the TV.

“How much would you judge me if I said I still had feelings for Mingyu,” Wonwoo said, eyes still closed.

He heard Soonyoung take a deep breath in and out. “I mean, that was pretty much a given considering you kissed him.”

Wonwoo sighed, still not opening his eyes. “I know I did the right thing, but it just feels so wrong at the same time.” He opened his eyes to look over at his friend who had his entire body facing him, fully engaged in what Wonwoo was saying. “I know you don’t like him and I know I'm not supposed to like him but…”

Wonwoo couldn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t even know if there were any ‘buts’ that would justify his feelings. 

Soonyoung took off his beanie and ran his hands through his hair. “What do you like about him?”

“Hm?” Wonwoo hummed, beginning to zone out.

“What do you like about Mingyu?”

Wonwoo scoffed, feeling like he had been here plenty of times before. “Will it matter?”

“Yes.” Wonwoo turned to look at his friend who just raised his eyebrows at him with a serious expression, urging him to answer the question.

“I like that he’s ambitious. He has goals, you know, and he’s really good at dedicating himself to reach them. I also like that he’s funny. He’s one of the few people I can be sarcastic with and they automatically just… know. Joking around with him is the easiest thing ever,” Wonwoo smiled to himself, reminiscing on their banter. “He loves to help people. He’s always being super considerate of those around him whether it’s his friends, classmates, his roommate, he always wants to make sure everyone’s comfortable. He’s not cocky at all, even though he kinda has every right to be: he’s smart, social, handsome… but he’ll never make anyone feel inferior. He’s really mature and well spoken too. He makes me want to be a better person.”

Wonwoo blinks, realizing the rant he just went on. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he kept his gaze on his lap instead of looking over at Soonyoung.

The blonde let out a groan, startling Wonwoo. “I don’t know that kid. I never really gave him a chance, I know. But Won, you just described the complete opposite of the boy we knew in high school-”

“I-I know, it’s just-”

“Wait. Let me finish,” Soonyoung said, holding out a hand. “If that’s how you would describe him now then… I can’t really argue with you anymore. That kid must’ve really changed.”

Wonwoo swallowed, not knowing how to react. He looked out the window, letting his mind process what this meant, if anything at all. For some reason, hearing Soonyoung say those words was incredibly validating. Even if he and Mingyu could no longer happen, he felt the guilt of having those feelings in the first place lift from his shoulders.

“I’m really sorry, um,” Soonyoung started, “if I ever made you feel like you couldn't talk about this. I…”

Wonwoo couldn’t be sure because of the dim lighting, but from this angle it almost looked like he was beginning to tear up.

“I think, obviously, everything that happened in high school affected you more than anyone. But, it was really hard to watch all of that happen and not be able to do much. Even that time we wanted to go to the principal and you told us not to, Jun and I were so close to just ignoring you going through with it. I don’t ever wanna see you hurt like that again,” Soonyoung paused, grabbing Wonwoo’s arm and putting it around his own shoulder. Wonwoo chuckled. 

“I probably got a little bit too protective, but I trust you, and whatever happens I promise I’ll be more… objective.” 

Wonwooo gave a playful smile. “Cross your heart?”

Soonyoung’s face lit up at the old saying they used to have each other repeat as kids. He adjusted his posture and placed his hand over his heart. “Cross my heart and hope to die. Put a needle in my eye.”

The two burst into a fit of giggles that only died down after Soonyoung knocked over a centerpiece from kicking his legs too much.

“I keep telling Keeho to stop buying so much shit for the apartment because then stuff like this happens,” Soonyoung said as he placed the ceramic monkey back on the middle of the coffee table.

Wonwoo chuckled at his friend’s shift of blame but said nothing. Soonyoung sighed and placed his hand behind Wonwoo’s head and began to pet his hair. 

“You gonna go get your man now?”

The taller boy let out a dry laugh. “He’s taken.”

Soonyoung stopped stroking his hair and leaned to look Wonwoo directly in the face. “What?”

“I think. He was in the talking stages with my co-worker and tonight he picked her up after his shift,” Wonwoo said with a shrug. 

Soonyoung groaned. “Damn. He moved on fast then.”

Wonwoo gave a tight smile. “I guess so.” He still wasn’t sure why he came over to Soonyoung’s in the first place but he was glad he did. Even if the situation wasn't any better, Wonwoo definitely felt a lot better and could probably begin to move on as well. Ultimately, he still had doubts that he could ever even have anything with Mingyu without being constantly reminded, but he found solace in Soonyoung’s words because he was right: Mingyu is very clearly a completely different person now.

“Do you think you could ever be with someone who hurt you?” Wonwoo muttered softly, deep in thought.

Soonyoung hummed. “I think rebuilding trust is more than possible…” He paused and looked up in thought. “I just don’t think it will happen overnight, but in terms of you… I think your heart is starting to remember the good more than the pain, and I think there’s a good reason for that.”

Wonwoo nodded, feeling lighter but heavier all at once. They sat there in the dark, in comfortable silence, just happy to be in each other’s company. Soonyoung’s roommate arrived shortly after, making it clear to Wonwoo that it was probably time to head home. The drive home was even more silent, the roads empty, being a little past one in the morning.

He had taken the next two days off to study and prepare for the upcoming finals week, which means at the very least, he would be able to sleep in the next morning after being up so late.

Over the weekend, Wonwoo couldn’t help but feel anxious. Not so much because of his exams, but because he had a whole presentation to do with Mingyu who he has barely spoken to. The selfish side of Wonwoo kept reassuring himself that Mingyu probably got most of it covered, considering he was always on top of things and was extremely adamant on receiving high marks on everything. However, he couldn’t just hope for the best and not do anything about it now.

Wonwoo contemplated reaching out to Mingyu as it got later on Sunday night. The presentation was the next morning and neither of them have even shot each other a text asking what the plan was.

If Mingyu hasn’t reached out yet, then everything is probably under control, right?

It was nearing 10:00PM and Wonwoo held his phone in his hands, fingers hovering over the keyboard on his text chain with Mingyu. He knew he was being silly, but he couldn't bring himself to even figure out how to word the text. 

Should he greet him first? Ask him how he’s doing? Get straight to the point?

Wonwoo sighed. He was being stupid.

Just as he was about to begin to type, he got an email notification.

 

Mingyu Kim has made edits to Molecular Stats Proj. 

Open document to view changes.

 

Wonwoo could have cried of happiness when he saw that Mingyu highlighted certain parts of their outline in their presentation: green for the parts Mingyu would present on and purple for Wonwoo’s parts. He had even left a few comments saying which parts they should leave out to avoid going over the ten minute mark. 

Thank God for Mingyu, seriously. Granted, Wonwoo probably could have done something similar, but he was grateful that he didn’t have to. 

Wonwoo replied to a few of the comments with a bunch of generic ‘okay’ and ‘sounds good’ before locking his phone and turning over in his bed, feeling a lot more relieved and confident about tomorrow than he did just a few minutes prior. Everything would be okay.

The next morning, Wonwoo found a seat in the back, the classroom holding a lighter atmosphere now that it was the last week and everyone knew this wouldn’t be the same boring old lecture for two hours.

Mingyu walked in soon after, looking around the room before his eyes landed on Wonwoo. He hesitated as if he didn’t know if sitting with Wonwoo was the right move. He eventually decided that it probably was and made his way towards the older man, his backpack hanging off one shoulder.

“Hey,” Mingyu said with a small smile as he sat down beside him.

“Hi,” Wonwoo returned. “You ready?”

Mingyu narrowed his eyes at the projector in front of the classroom, Dr. Park messed around with a few of the wires on the podium to connect his computer to the large white screen. “I think so. We have a good project.”

Wonwoo nodded in agreement. The two of them sat in silence for the first five or six presentations. Mingyu remained relatively immersed in the material while Wnonwoo let his mind wander.

He would occasionally steal glances at Mingyu and caught the younger doing the same a few times. Neither said anything.

When Mingyu and Wonwoo’s names were called the two grabbed their notes and got out of their seats.

The two stood at the front of the class, their presentation projected on the screen behind them. All eyes were on them. 

Mingyu cleared his throat, glancing at Wonwoo briefly before starting. "So, our project focuses on the application of molecular statistics in genetic research.”

Wonwoo nodded, taking over. "We analyzed several studies and data sets to show how statistical models can predict genetic predispositions to various diseases."

The presentation moved forward, but it was clear that their planning had been… minimal. They stumbled over transitions, their points sometimes overlapping, becoming repetitive, and other times leaving awkward gaps. The slides, while containing all the right information, lacked  cohesion.

Wonwoo’s voice wavered slightly as he explained one of the statistical models. "As you can see, the linear regression model here shows a significant correlation, but, uh, Mingyu, do you want to add anything about the variables we selected?"

Mingyu nodded, stepping in. "Uh, sure. We chose these variables because they have been shown to have a high impact in previous studies. However, due to the limitations of our data set, we couldn't control for all possible confounding factors."

The class seemed attentive but not particularly engaged, sensing the disjointed nature of the presentation. They continued to pass the baton back and forth, each trying to cover the gaps left by the other.

“According to the CDC, plenty of diseases such as: type 1 diabetes, peripheral artery disease, ar-”

“Wonwoo,” Mingyu whispered with a tight smile. “I mentioned that already.”

Wonwoo blinked and looked up at their slides then back down at his notes. That part was definitely purple, which means he was the one who was supposed to say it. Mingyu must have gotten it mixed up.

Wonwoo bit his tongue, remembering that they’re in front of their entire class and professor.

“Right. Sorry about that.”

He moved on to the next section and the presentation proceeded for a few more slides.

When it finally ended, the room was silent for a moment before the professor nodded and offered a polite round of applause. The classmates followed suit, their clapping polite but not enthusiastic by any means.

"Thank you, Mr. Kim and Mr. Jeon," the professor said. "You raised some good points, but I think there's room for improvement in how you structure your arguments and present your data. Very interesting topic, though."

The two thanked the professor and walked back to their seats, the tension palpable between them. As they sat down, Mingyu couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration. The presentation had been decent but clearly unorganized.

After class, Mingyu turned to Wonwoo who was already beginning to pack his things. "That could've gone a lot better," he said, trying to keep his voice calm but failing to mask his disappointment.

Wonwoo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I know. We should've talked more."

Mingyu shook his head. "It's not just about talking. It's about actually working together. We didn't do that."

Wonwoo met Mingyu’s eyes, furrowing his eyebrows together. "I know, but it's not all on me, Mingyu."

Mingyu’s frustration boiled over. "I know but I  have something to prove here. My professor had to vouch for me to even take this course, remember? They’re gonna think I’m unprepared.”

Wonwoo’s eyes flashed with concern and a hint of confusion. "I understand that but don’t act like this is all on me. They’re not gonna think you’re unprepared for giving a B level presentation.”

Mingyu took a deep breath and gathered his things. “You wouldn’t get it.”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows, taken aback by Mingyu’s statement. He nodded and threw his bag over his shoulder. “Bye, Mingyu.”

"Wait, fuck, Wonwoo-"

Wonwoo wasn’t sure if that was a goodbye meant for just leaving the classroom or one that held a much deeper meaning. What he did know, though, was that he probably wouldn’t be seeing much of Mingyu anymore, especially with spring break coming up next week. He knew Mingyu was probably in a lot of stress and he knew he himself could have picked up more responsibility on this project, but the poorly executed presentation had been a stark reminder of the gap between them, and Wonwoo was afraid that maybe it was as hopeless as he originally thought.

Notes:

finals are over so i have no excuse to lag now hehehe

next chapter will be a little heavy so stay tuned

Chapter 18: So Good At Giving Me Nothing

Notes:

hi guys

just as a warning!:

this chapter includes a sick animal. she survives but reading about an unresponsive pet and having to urgently take it to the vet could potentially activate some strong emotions or memories for some people so pls take care of ur selves

i wrote Watch over the past summer and unfortunately my baby (13 y/o doggy) passed about a month and a half into writing this story, so this was my way of kinda processing my grief through writing oops

regardless, thanks for for reading and allowing me this space to express myself, enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Wonwoo wanted nothing more than to walk back to his car and drive back home. What was he even doing here? Did he really let his boredom get the best of him this badly? 

He originally thought that staying at school for spring break would be exactly what he needed. He would have plenty of time and space to himself, with access to the school amenities without the crowds or waiting in line. 

Despite his boredom, Wonwoo was being productive, though. 

He spent most of his time working and hanging out in his room with Luna, occasionally taking her outside to explore for a bit. He got back into his computer games that he hadn’t touched in months. He even started a novel that had been sitting in his junk drawer since the beginning of the school year. And all he had to do is be on call in case any of the four residents on his floor needed something.

They were all international students who couldn’t go to their home country for one reason or another. Most of them kept to themselves, barely leaving their rooms and only greeting Wonwoo in passing. Their introverted personalities decreased Wonwoo’s workload significantly to which he was extremely grateful.

He was supposed to go through a period of growth and tranquility, and he was getting there.

But alas, here he was with his arms crossed waiting for the light to change so he can cross the street and make his way into the brunch spot where he would be meeting with his ex of all people.

Obviously, Wonwoo was not dragged here at gunpoint, and he totally could have declined Alex’s offer to grab some food. Yet, Wonwoo had nothing better to do. Luna had been a lot less energetic lately and wasn’t in the mood to play anymore. His novel had reached a plateau in terms of the storyline and Wonwoo just couldn’t get himself to stay awake reading all those filler chapters. Even his computer games had become repetitive, reminding him why he had stopped playing in the first place.

Plus, Alex said he would pay.

Wonwoo walked over to the curly haired man who sat on an elevated stool at one of those high tables. He beamed at the side of him, causing Wonwoo to give a smile as well.

“Hey,” Alex said, standing up and reaching over to give him a hug. “So glad you could come.”

“Good to see you,” Wonwoo replied as he pulled away and settled on the stool in front of him.

“I’m not sure what you wanna order but I asked for some fried plantains while you look. Hope that’s okay.”

Wonwoo nodded. “Thank you. How have you been?”

“Good, good,” Alex said, waving over the server to order some coffee. “Busy with work, you know how it is. How about you?”

Wonwoo nodded. “Same here. School and work have been keeping me on my toes as always.”

The server arrived with drinks, and they placed their orders. As they waited for their food, the conversation went a lot more smoothly than Wonwoo had anticipated. They talked about work, school, and mutual friends. Wonwoo found himself relaxing more than he thought he would, listening to Alex’s stories about his new job as a car dealer and the odd clients he encountered.

“I had this one guy last week,” Alex said, chuckling. “He was convinced that the car I was showing him had been driven by a celebrity in some movie and refused to buy it until I ‘proved’ it wasn't.”

Wonwoo laughed, shaking his head. “How did you manage that?”

“I didn’t,” Alex admitted, grinning. “He walked away in the end, but it made for an interesting day.”

Their food arrived, and they dug in, the atmosphere between them light and easy. Wonwoo marveled at how different it felt compared to their previous encounters. He was skeptical at first, thinking that maybe Alex would try to convince him they should get back together again, but that wasn’t the case. For the first time in a while, he wasn’t on edge around the guy.

Alex glanced at Wonwoo’s plate. “Still sticking to your usual avocado toast, huh?”

Wonwoo shrugged, smiling. “Creature of habit. Plus, it’s ‘healthy’. And what’s with you and that giant stack of… peach pancakes?”

Alex laughed. “Don’t knock it till you try it. Besides, it’s a special occasion. We haven’t hung out like this in ages since… you know.”

Wonwoo took a sip of his coffee. “Yeah. So, any other crazy stories from the dealership this week?”

Alex’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I’ll always have more stories. On Monday these teenagers came in with their learners permits asking if they could take one of our newer models on a ‘test drive'. It took us so long to explain to them why they couldn't do that. Then one of them threatened to have his big shot dad take down our dealership.”

“I assume he didn't?”

Alex shook his head. “No… not yet.”

Wonwoo chuckled. “Damn. Well it sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”

Alex shrugged with a grin. “It definitely takes more patience than you would think. What about you? Any exciting bartender stories?”

Wonwoo thought for a moment. “Well, there was this one guy who tried to pay his tab with a handful of foreign coins. Had to explain to him that German money isn’t an acceptable currency here.”

Alex burst out laughing, eyes softening. “God, I miss this. Just joking around and catching up.”

“Yeah, me too,” Wonwoo admitted, surprising himself. “It’s nice to catch up without any... complications.”

Alex nodded, a hint of regret in his eyes. “I know I wasn’t the best partner, but I’m glad we can still do this. I’ve always valued our friendship, even when we were... more than that.”

Wonwoo felt a pang of nostalgia but pushed it aside. “Yeah. It’s good to see you doing well.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, finishing their drinks. Wonnwoo realized he was genuinely happy that the weight of their past seemed to lighten a little.

As they stood to leave, Alex hesitated. “I, uh, know I’ve said it before, but I’m really sorry for how things ended. I’ll always be here for you, you know.”

Wonwoo smiled. “Thanks, Alex. Likewise.”

They exchanged a hug, and Wonwoo felt glad that he didn't completely blow off his invitation. As they parted ways, he realized that the brunch had been exactly what he needed. It wasn’t about rekindling old flames but rather finding peace and moving forward in a way that wasn’t, well, awkward.

Wonwoo made his way back to his car and drove back to his dorm, being it’s almost time to feed Luna. He decided he would hit the gym as a means of ‘mindfulness’ and ‘self-care’ or whatever Junhui calls it.

It finally felt like he was starting to make peace and closure with every loose end that was present. He would be graduating in the next three months, things with Alex were no longer weird, and he felt like he may be coming to terms that his chapter with Mingyu was coming to an end. Plus, he had a job to fall back on once he did graduate.

Wonwoo groaned internally and rubbed his eyes as he walked up the stairs, remembering that he should probably start applying to jobs in the field soon.

There’s always grad school. The gremlin in his mind would repeat occasionally. Whether he went back to school or not, he definitely didn’t have the funds to go right after he graduated.

Wonwoo reached his room and tapped his key card. He walked in to see Luna perched on top of her scratching post, the sunlight from the window leaving glistening spots on her black fur. Wonwoo smiled and walked over to where he kept her food. He rattled around the bag to signal that it was time to eat, but he was surprised to see that she only lifted her head slightly before tucking it back into her body.

Wonwoo frowned and walked over to her, not being able to help the anxiety that he felt. Luna was nearing fourteen years old and he had been extra vigilant of weird symptoms from the moment she turned ten. He stroked her coarse fur over her back and gave her a kiss on the head. 

She purred and leaned back slightly, inviting Wonwoo to rub her belly. He sighed in relief at the hint of normalcy in her behavior.

“Don’t scare me like that,” he muttered softly as he scratched her white belly for a while. He walked over to the counter and poured her food into her bowl. 

“I’ll leave it here for you in case you get hungry later,” he said, walking back over to her and scratching behind her ear. He kissed her head once more. “I love you.”

Wonwoo changed quickly into his workout clothes, grabbed his headphones and made his way downstairs to the gym. 

He pushed open the glass doors, the familiar scent of sweat and rubber mats hitting his senses. Luckily it was completely empty which was no surprise considering most people went home for spring break. He headed to the free weights section and started with a series of warm-up stretches, feeling his muscles loosen up. 

Each repetition worked to push away to any remaining stress and confusion swirling in his mind. He finished his routine with a session on the treadmill, setting a steady pace that allowed him to lose himself in the rhythm of his steps. The loud pop music blasting in his ears made it easy for him to zone out and rid his mind of any thoughts that bombarded it. Most of which consisted of Mingyu, as he still couldn't shake the sense that things were left unfinished.

He made sure to raise the volume everytime the taller boy made an appearance in his mind.

By the end of his workout, he felt some sense of release.

He grabbed one of the folded towels on a nearby rack and ran it over his face and neck, his shirt hugging him even tighter due to his sweat. He sat down at one of the benches, taking advantage that nobody was here and scrolled through his phone, waiting for himself to dry off.

Of course he planned to shower afterwards, but he didn’t like the feeling of being wet and sticky in his unconditioned dorm room, either. 

After about fifteen minutes, he gathered his things, filled up his water bottle at the nearby dispenser and made his way to his room. His body felt heavier and his legs ached slightly from the physical exertion, but it was a comforting ache.

He moved slowly as he arrived at his door and reached into his pocket to grab his key card. He unlocked the door and reached over to turn on the light now that the sun had begun to go down, leaving his room dark.

He set his water bottle on the counter and glanced at Luna's food bowl, noticing it was untouched. A pang of worry hit him.

"Luna? Where are you, girl?"

He scanned the room, eyes darting from her usual perch on the window sill to the cozy corner where her bed was. His heart dropped when he saw her lying on the floor.

Her breaths were short and hard. She looked exhausted. He rushed over, kneeling beside her and gently touching her fur. 

"Luna, hey, what's wrong, baby?” he whispered, his voice trembling.

At first, he tried to stay calm, gently stroking her and hoping she would respond. But as the seconds ticked by with no change, panic began to set in. 

"Luna, come on, don't do this," he said, his voice breaking. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized the severity of the situation. His heart raced, and his stomach sank as his mind scurried to process what was happening.

He tried to think of what to do, his mind racing at a record pace. "What do I do?" he whispered to himself, his hands shaking as he picked up his phone. His fingers were trembling so much that he nearly dropped it. 

This is it.

The voice in his head said.

This is how it happens, the day you’ve been dreading for the past thirteen years.

His eyes welled with tears and immediately ran down his face as reality began to sink in. He let out a sob, not caring that he left his door open. It’s not like anyone was here anyway.

Maybe he could still save her. She was still breathing. There was still hope… right?

Wonwoo let out a few more sobs, his vision blurry as he called the first number on his recently dialed. 

“Hello?” came Alex’s voice after two rings. Wonwoo kept his eyes on Luna who remained unresponsive but still taking heavy short breaths. Her eyes stayed fixed directly in front of her- an expression Wonwoo had never seen on her face.

He felt like he could hurl.

“Alex… it’s Luna,” he managed to choke out between sobs as caressed her small face with his thumb. 

“What? What happened?” Alex replied, concern evident in his voice.

Wonwoo shut his eyes, letting out a sob. “She’s barely breathing a-and she won’t get up,” he replied, his voice going up an octave.

There was silence for a few seconds before Alex spoke up. “God, Wonwoo, I’m… I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling right now, but you know, you gave her the best life.”

Wonwoo’s heart sank in disappointment as Alex confirmed his worst fear. 

“M-maybe we could still s-save her,” Wonwoo choked out. 

Alex sighed. “Won, she’s… isn’t she like fifteen or something? It might be time.”

Wonwoo winced, the sobs caught in his throat making it incredibly difficult to speak. “W-what?”

“She’s old Wonwoo. She lived a long, happy life. It might be time to let her go,” Alex repeated slowly but sympathetically. 

Wonwoo stared at his phone, very much aware that maybe Alex was right, but also disappointed that he wouldn’t even help him come up with solutions first.

“Can you j-just-”

“Wonwoo?” Wonwoo turned around to the source of the sound, the familiar voice provoking a comfort in him that he thought had died out.

Wonwoo shifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes, removing some tears to make sure the person standing there was actually Mingyu. He was standing in his doorway, eyes wide with concern.

Without thinking much, Wonwoo hung up the call.

Wonwoo shifted slightly and Mingyu’s gaze went from Wonwoo’s wrecked state to the soft, black ball of fur on the ground in front of him.

Mingyu’s face fell as he ran to Wonwoo’s side and crouched down. He began to panic, tears welling in his eyes as well. He reached out to pet the feline, his eyes blinking erratically.

“What… what happened?”

“I don’t know,” Wonwoo sobbed out. “I came back from the gym a-and she was on the floor b-barely breathing,” he practically whined, his vision blurring again.

Mingyu swallowed, his eyes taking in the sight in front of him like he was trying to catch every detail, his hand not wavering from where it caressed Luna’s spine.

Mingyu’s eyebrows furrowed. “Wonwoo, she’s still breathing.”

“I know, but she’s old I don’t know how much time she has le-”

“Where’s her bed?” Mingyu asked, shooting up to his feet and looking around erratically. He wiped his nose with his sleeve and spotted the small red cushion with a soft white blanket bunched up in the corner of it.

“What are you-”

“She has to see a vet.”

Wonwoo looked at Mingyu in shock, still unable to move or do anything for a few seconds before his brain began to work again. Wonwoo watched as Mingyu gently picked up Luna and placed her in the blanket.

Wonwoo sucked in a breath. “Okay,” he choked out, tears running down his face. “Okay, I’ll take her-”

“You can’t drive. Where’s your car keys?” Mingyu asked with Luna in his arms as he looked around the room.

Wonwoo doesn’t know what it was about seeing his baby wrapped in her small blanket that made him start crying again, his hands cupping nose and mouth, unable to answer Mingyu’s question.

Mingyu didn't pay any mind to his reaction as he eventually spotted and reached for the keys placed on a hook near the door. 

“Do you have your room key?”

Wonwoo nodded, his state not improving by any means.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Mingyu ushered hurriedly for Wonwoo to leave the room before closing the door and running down the hallway. Wonwoo followed closely behind letting out chokes and sobs as they made their way down the stairs and out the building.

The cool air felt refreshing and almost therapeutic on Wonwoo’s wet face as he watched Mingyu press the unlock button on the car key and run towards the only car that had its lights flash.

“Get in.”

Wonwoo obliged, moving on autopilot as he got in the passenger seat. Mingyu slowed his movements down as he gently placed Luna into his lap and then ran to the driver’s seat. Wonwoo looked down at his sweet girl. She was still definitely breathing, but her breaths were now a lot more shallow, her eyes still distant and unwavering. He began to cry again.

"Please, Luna, stay with me," he pleaded, his voice cracking.

Wonwoo doesn’t remember the drive to the vet, except for Mingyu speeding at yellow lights and making risky turns. He doesn’t even remember if they spoke the whole way there or how long the drive was. He felt like his mind had completely shut down.

The emergency vet sign came into view and Mingyu pulled into a parking spot, not giving much thought to his crooked parking job. He quickly got out and shut the door, appearing beside the passenger seat window in record time as he swung the door open. 

“Meet me inside,” he said as he took Luna into his arms with care and ran into the building.

Wonwoo got out of the car and shut the door. He ran into the lobby to see vet techs rush out and place his Luna on a small cart, almost like a gurney. He rushed to Mingyu’s side and watched as they quickly rolled the gurney through two large white doors.

Wonwoo watched as the doors shut and prayed to whatever was out there that she would be okay.

“Sir, we’re gonna need you to fill out this paperwork. Then we’ll have one of the nurses escort you to one of the consultation rooms where the doctor will meet with you.”

Wonwoo nodded and received the clipboard, barely noticing Mingyu walk him over to one of the empty seats in the waiting room. Wonwoo breezed through the plethora of questions and checkboxes before signing off. Mingyu took the clipboard and looked through the pages before handing it back to Wonwoo who just sat there frozen, eyes rimmed red and the area below his nose still a little wet.

“You forgot to initial here,” he said gently as he pointed to a small line with his finger.

Wonwoo picked up his pen and scribbled his initials before Mingyu got up and returned the clipboard to the woman at the front desk. Wonwoo couldn’t even begin to imagine what he looked like at that moment. His face must be flushed redder than a tomato and his eyes extremely swollen.

The antiseptic smell of the waiting room and the faint sounds of animals created a tense backdrop to his thoughts. His leg bounced nervously as he tried to calm himself. He couldn’t help the memories of Luna that flooded his mind.

He remembered the day they first adopted her when his parents had taken him to the shelter. Luna had been a tiny ball of fur, her eyes full of curiosity and mischief. She had batted at his shoelaces, making him laugh. He knew at that moment that she was the one.

Luna became his constant companion. She was always finding the most inconvenient places to nap or batting at his pens when he tried to study. He remembered the time she had jumped onto his desk during a Zoom class, her tail flicking across the screen, making his classmates laugh.

Then reality snapped him back to the present situation like a slap in the face. 

The sight of her lying there haunted him. He felt a knot in his stomach, and tears threatened to spill again. The idea of losing her was unbearable. When Wonwoo went through that mess of a time in high school, she was always a constant, soothing presence to come home to. She would always curl up beside him when he felt down, almost like she could read something was wrong. 

She had been his comfort, his friend, his family, his safety. The waiting room felt colder and more unforgiving as he imagined life without her. 

He replayed every happy memory in his mind, clinging to them like a lifeline. He knew she was old, and that this was inevitable, but if there was a way to elongate her life, even by a little bit, he had to try. 

Wonwoo didn’t know how long they sat there, maybe forty five minutes to an hour. It was a nudge from Mingyu that brought him out of his thoughts.

“For Luna?” a vet tech announced.

Wonwoo stood up. He sniffled before speaking. “Yeah?”

“You can follow me,” she said as she began walking towards the end of a hallway.

Wonwoo began to make his way to her but stopped when he realized he was walking alone. He turned to Mingyu who gave him an attentive look, one that said: “What do you need?”

“Can you, um,” Wonwoo made a motion in the direction of the technician. Mingyu nodded profusely and got up from his seat, following Wonwoo to a fluorescent lit room with two chairs placed on front of a stool that was attached to an elevated computer.

“The doctor will be with you guys shortly,” the young woman said before she closed the door.

Wonwoo took a deep breath, beginning to prepare himself for the worst. He could have never guessed that his night would go like this. Everything happened so fast and was only now beginning to catch up to him.

He managed to take a few more deep breaths, stabilizing himself and slowing his accelerated heart rate a little bit. For the first time since they got there, Wonwoo got a good look at Mingyu. His eyes were also red, but nowhere near as bad as Wonwoo’s. 

“Did Luna do that?” Wonwoo croaked, noticing the large wet spot on Mingyu’s dress shirt. 

Wait, dress shirt? 

He only now noticed that Mingyu was dressed formally with his mint green shirt tucked into a pair of slacks. His hair was also neatly styled.

“Oh,” Mingyu said, looking down at his shirt. “Yeah I think it’s just a bit of drool. No biggie.”

“Why are you dressed like that?” Wonwoo found himself asking, too exhausted to find a better way to word it.

“Oh, uh, I was coming back from an interview when I… found you.”

Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows, feeling guilty for some reason. “Oh. Interview for what?”

“Just some internship,” Mingyu said, shrugging it off like it was no big deal.

Wonwoo nodded. “Internship for what?”

Mingyu chuckled awkwardly like he was embarrassed. “Cedars Sinai? It’s a hospital-”

“What? Yeah, I know what Cedars Sinai is, Mingyu, that’s incredible,” Wonwoo said softly, genuinely happy. Well, at least as happy as he could be in their given situation. “I-I’m so sorry. I’m sure this just causes even more stress on top of being anxiously waiting to hear back from them.”

“No, don’t worry about it at all. Really. I, uh, I got the position.”

For the first time in the past three hours, amidst everything going on, Wonwoo could feel a smile creep onto his face. 

“Mingyu, that’s… congratulations. That’s amazing.”

Mingyu gave a small smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Yeah. Thanks. I… just hope Luna is okay.”

Wonwoo swallowed, nodding and looking back down at his feet. 

“I’m really glad you’re here,” he admitted.

 Before Mingyu could respond, they heard a knock on the door. It opened and an older woman in a ponytail and glasses came in. She introduced herself briefly before taking a seat on the stool in front of them.

Wonwoo braced himself for the worst as he felt Mingyu reach for his hand. Wonwoo’s own clasped down on it, feeling comfort in the physical contact. The doctor typed something on the computer before turning to them.

“So, first thing’s first, Luna is stable.”

Wonwoo let out a breath as did Mingyu, the two looking at each other with relieved expressions. Wonwoo leaned slightly towards Mingyu, feeling like he could finally relax a little bit.

“My team and I did multiple exams and tests to figure out what was wrong, two of them being an x-ray and a CT scan. It turns out that Luna, unfortunately, had a large mass near her kidney. We think that the mass grew substantially and burst which is what caused her to go into shock.”

Wonwoo’s eyes welled with tears, the wet droplets feeling hot in his eyes after not having cried in the past thirty minutes. “A mass? I never noticed anything.”

“It was barely noticeable outside the skin. It was more internal- could probably have only been detected with an X-ray,” she said pushing up her glasses. She turned the screen slightly, showing them an x-ray of a cat, seemingly Luna, and sure enough, a large white dot could be seen towards the top of her body. One didn’t have to be a professional to dictate that it wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Oh my God,” Mingyu muttered.

The doctor took out a pen from her shirt pocket and used it to point at the image. “As you can see, the mass was very close to her spine. Did Luna have trouble moving at any point in the past few days?”

Wonwoo nodded, thinking about how she had suddenly lost energy and became a lot more sedentary towards the middle of spring break, almost three days ago. 

The doctor nodded with a sympathetic smile and turned the screen back to herself. “It was a tedious process, but we were able to remove the mass completely without damaging any surrounding organs. Had she waited any longer it's possible the mass would have caused irreversible damage and potentially have taken her life. You guys got here just in time.”

Wonwoo choked out a cry of relief as Mingyu wrapped an arm around him, rubbing his arm in comfort.

“Unfortunately, her kidney was a little impacted by the burst, but we ran a few blood tests and her red blood cell count is where it should be so we have no reason to think she won’t recover. However, we would like to keep her overnight to make sure her kidneys are still fully functioning.”

Wonwoo nodded.

“I would recommend that we also run a few more labs just to make sure that everything’s okay as a result of both the mass rupture and the emergency surgery. I just think it would be a good idea to make sure all the ground is covered due to her age.” She typed away at her computer and pulled up a different screen. She turned the screen towards them again.

“This is the invoice you’re looking at right now including the overnight fee.” Wonwoo stared intently at the large sum of money he would have to pay. He was now extremely grateful he decided to get a job. 

The doctor typed a few more things and the sum grew by nearly $3,000. “This would be the cost if we run those extra labs. They are not necessary, but would be more of a precaution. Is this something you would be interested in?”

“Yes,” came Mingyu’s voice. Wonwoo blinked at the taller man who just gave him a reassuring look.

“Okay. I will go ahead and let the front desk know. Like I said, we will probably only keep Luna until tomorrow morning if all goes well. You are welcome to wait for her but it will be all night. We have your number on file if anything comes up.”

The two boys thanked the doctor as she gathered her things.

The doctor said her goodbye and walked out the door, leaving it open, a signal that they could leave the room now as well. The two made their way back to the waiting room and found their seats once again.

Wonwoo felt like he was over the moon. Luna was okay, and the doctors believed she would make a full recovery, too. He fixated on what she said about how they came just on time. Had they waited any longer, maybe she wouldn’t have made it.

He winced at the thought. And to think that Alex had suggested he just let it happen. 

Wonwoo looked up at Mingyu who was making himself comfortable in the stiff waiting room chairs. Not being able to help himself, he reached over and gave the taller boy a tight hug, suddenly feeling choked up.

Mingyu froze for a second before hugging back, realizing Wonwoo’s need for a hug in that moment. 

“I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”

“Hey, don’t think about that,” Mingyu said as he gently pulled back to look at the older boy’s face. “She’s gonna be okay!” he exclaimed with a smile. “You would’ve figured out what to do, hm?”

“No, I… I just sat there wasting time on the phone with Alex of all people like an idiot-”

“Hey, hey, hey. No one knows what they would do in that situation,” Mingyu said, grabbing Wonwoo’s hand.“I’m just glad she gets to go home. I’m sure she is too.”

Wonwoo wiped his nose with his sleeve, shaking his head. “I was absolutely useless. It’s like you just knew what to do.”

“Yeah, well…”

“Well what?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“No, what is it?” Wonwoo asked, growing concerned as he noticed Mingyu’s expression waver.

Mingyu gave a sad smile. “We found my dog in a similar condition once. Had to scramble to get her to the vet just like this.”

Wonwoo nodded in understanding. “I see. I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“I don’t anymore… she didn’t make it,” Mingyu said lightly, pursing his lips.

Wonwoo’s face fell. “God, Mingyu. I’m so sorry. This must have all been so hard for you to go through all over again.”

“No, it’s… it’s fine. This was almost three years ago. She was older, almost fourteen years old like Luna. She was a labrador so she was already pushing the limit with her age. She was already really sick and one day it was just… bad. I knew something was off, that something was different, but I waited until the very last moment to bring her to the vet. We didn’t get to bring her back home that night.” Mingyu had a defeated look on his face but no tears fell. 

“But what I’m saying is I knew better than to just wait it out this time. I wasn’t going to let you go through the same regret I did,” he added, chewing on his lip. He looked up from his shoes, a sincere, small smile on his face. “I’m really glad that Luna’s okay.”

Wonwoo’s heart broke for the nth time that night. This time it was at the sight of Mingyu’s devastated look. “God, Mingyu.” Wonwoo pulled him into another hug and they stayed like that for a while– relief, love, and grief all coexisting between them in that short embrace.

“It’s okay. I’ve made peace with it now… kinda.”

They pulled away, sad smiles of understanding on both their faces. Mingyu reached up to wipe a few stagnant tears that were resting on Wonwoo’s cheek. The elder sighed, smiling to himself and pulling away as the tips of his ears began to heat up.

“I’m not looking forward to seeing the itemized bill,” he said with a chuckle.

“Let me know if you need any money,” Mingyu found himself blurting out. “L-like if you need to borrow any… I can lend you some. I know I kind of made you say yes to those extra $3,000 at the end there. I just thought it would give you more peace of mind. I can pay for it now if you can’t.”

A surge of emotions rained on Wonwoo as he looked at the charismatic, handsome boy in front of him who just offered to pay for his vet bill. He was grateful, flustered, confused, and in shock all at once. 

“You don’t have to do that, Mingyu. I have a job for a reason, I can just put it on my credit card.”

The taller boy scoffed, making Wonwoo playfully roll his eyes. “It’s literally no problem. Like you said, you have a job so I know you’ll pay me back. Plus, I won’t charge you interest, credit card companies will.”

Wonwoo gave the boy a small shove. He was sounding like a smartass now, but Wonwoo couldn’t help but smile.

“I promise I’ll pay you back.”

“Yeah, I know,” Mingyu said, looking away, trying to conceal his own smile. His lips pursed, and his eyes rounded. His previously styled hair was slightly touseled now from running his fingers through it.

Wonwoo took in their attire. He was still in his workout clothes and Mingyu was cosplaying as some hot shot CEO. They probably looked insane.

Mingyu turned back to the boy beside him, one eyebrow raised, head slightly tilted. “You’re staring at me.”

Wonwoo didn’t even bother denying it, just laughed and pushed his glasses further up his nose. “Just trying to figure out where you got so much money from.”

“Ah. Two years in community college will build you quite a savings, my dear Wonwoo.”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows. Mingyu had a point. “Damn. I did it all wrong then.”

Mingyu shrugged. “It’s okay. Not everyone has great planning and financial skills.” 

Wonwoo shook his head and groaned internally. 

This boy is going to be the death of me.

He looked down at his shoes, grin plastered on his face.

Soon after, they were called to the front desk to figure out the dreaded payment. Wonwoo decided to opt for a paying in full, putting some on his card and some on Mingyu’s.

The woman placed a sheet of paper in front of them, presumably the receipt, requesting a signature. Mingyu brought the paper closer to him out of curiosity, reading over all the procedures and exams that were done. 

“Are you guys married?”

The woman’s voice snapped both of their attention as they looked at her, at each other, then back at her. Their faces were comically shocked as they both began to shake their heads, eyes wide.

Before Mingyu could get his answer out, the woman chuckled. “I only asked because the receipt requires a signature from either the pet owner or a domestic partner of the owner.”

“O-oh,” Mingyu stuttered, sliding the page over to Wonwoo. “Sorry.”  

Wonwoo signed the receipt without a word and they made their way back to their respective seats. Time passed slowly in the sterile waiting room, with the fluorescent lights buzzing quietly overhead. 

"You can go home if you want," Wonwoo said softly, glancing at Mingyu. "I don't want to keep you here all night. I can uber back."

Mingyu shook his head. "No," he replied, his voice firm but gentle. "I can't go home knowing you're here by yourself."

Wonwoo offered a small, grateful smile, his eyes reflecting his appreciation. As the minutes turned into hours, they found themselves growing sleepy, the adrenaline and stress of the night catching up to them. Wonwoo shifted in his seat to find a comfortable position. He looked at Mingyu, who was staring at the wall, his eyes heavy with exhaustion.

"Thank you, Mingyu," he murmured, the words barely audible. "For staying."

Mingyu chuckled, giving Wonwoo a reassuring pat on the back. "It's okay. Just rest."

He hesitated, then leaned his head on Mingyu’s shoulder, feeling a sense of comfort he hadn't realized he needed. Mingyu didn't move away, but adjusted slightly to make Wonwoo more comfortable. The warmth of Mingyu’s shoulder and the rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing began to lull Wonwoo into a sense of calm.

The waiting room grew quieter as the night wore on, the occasional murmur of the staff and the distant sounds of animals the only sources of sound. Before Wonwoo knew it, he was drifting off to sleep. 

Mingyu glanced down at Wonwoo, his expression softening. The events of the past few weeks replayed in his mind, the tension seeming significantly less important.

As the night deepened, Mingyu found himself drifting off as well. For a while they both let sleep take over their bodies, both equally mentally and physically exhausted.

About an hour later, Wonwoo woke up with a jolt, realizing where he was almost immediately. He took notice of the pain in his neck from craning it in his sleeping position. He reached into his pocket and checked his phone, realizing that he hadn’t done that since his phone call with Alex.

Sure enough, he had eighteen text notifications from him. Wonwoo checked the time, not bothering to read the messages. It was just a little past 11pm. They still had at least another eight hours left.

He hadn’t even noticed when Mingyu leaned down and whispered, sending chills down his spine. “Do you wanna go sleep in the car?”

Wonwoo thought about it. He guessed Mingyu had a point. If anything were to happen, they’d be right outside. “Yeah, maybe that’s a good idea.”

They made their way out of the sliding doors and walked to the car, Mingyu taking the driver seat once again. They shut the door, being engulfed in the warmer air compared to the cool, night breeze. 

Wonwoo sighed, feeling multiple feelings at once. He was still exhausted, but his eyes no longer begged to be closed like they did in there. He suddenly became aware of how bare he felt, still being in his short sleeve top from the gym. God, he probably smelled like sweat, too. He made himself smaller hoping to retain more heat.

Mingyu glanced over to him, hesitating before he began to unbutton his shirt.

Wonwoo’s face flushed at the sight. “What are you doing?”

“Here,” Mingyu said, unbuttoning the last few buttons. “Take this.” He pulled his arms out of his dress shirt, luckily wearing a fitted white shirt underneath. He placed the green piece of cloth over Wonwoo who took it with a grateful smile. He put his arms through the sleeves, wearing it backwards, noticing how they barely covered his knuckles.

“Won’t you feel cold?” Wonwoo asked.

“Nah,” Mingyu said, shaking his head. Wonwoo took note of how fitted the white t-shirt was on Mingyu. The material was tight, he wondered if he would be able to even squeeze his pinky in the space between his sleeve and his arm. The bright white shirt was a nice contrast from Mingyu’s tan skin. 

Wonwoo did his best to avert his gaze from Mingyu’s chest that was perfectly outlined with the creases the shirt left on every dip of muscle.

Wonwoo blinked. He needed a nap.

“Hey, uh, sorry for what I said in class the other day. It wasn’t your fault that the presentation didn’t go as planned,” Mingyu said quietly.

Wonwoo leaned back in his seat for a few seconds before sitting up again. “It’s fine,” he said with a yawn. He lifted his glasses up slightly and rubbed his eyes. “I honestly forgot about that.”

Mingyu chuckled, eyes softly admiring the boy next to him. 

They both sat there on their sides, looking at each other, a plethora of unspoken words and unresolved tension present between them. 

Just when Wonwoo thought he was over Mingyu, he showed Wonwoo why he liked him so much in the first place. Typical Mingyu: going out of his way to help and be there for others. 

"Thank you again for staying with me," Wonwoo said just above a whisper, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "I don't know how I would have gotten through tonight without you."

Mingyu’s heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice. "You don't have to thank me. I wanted to be here for you."

Wonwoo nodded, a small, appreciative smile on his lips. "Still, it means a lot. Especially, after I… you know, distanced myself."

The silence returned, but this time it was different– filled with a tension that neither of them could ignore. Mingyu reached out and gently placed his hand on Wonwoo's, their fingers intertwining naturally. Wonwoo looked down at their joined hands, his heart racing, butterflies throwing a party in his stomach.

“Don’t worry about that. I’m really just glad you and Luna are okay… and, um,” Mingyu cleared his throat. “I really missed you, and would like to be friends again,” he hesitantly let go of his hand. “… if that’s okay.”

"Mingyu, I..." Wonwoo started, the words caught in his throat. He looked into the taller boy’s eyes, the intensity in his eyes took his breath away. Even in the dark, Mingyu always managed to look absolutely stunning. Wonwoo could only imagine what he himself looked like at that moment.

Without thinking, Wonwoo leaned in, his movements slow and deliberate. Mingyu’s breath hitched, but he didn't pull away. Wonwoo hesitated for few moments before he closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a tentative, gentle kiss. The world seemed to stop at that moment, the worries and fears melting away.

Wonwoo’s hand came up to cup Mingyu’s cheek, deepening the kiss as he poured all his emotions into it– gratitude, longing, and something that felt a lot like love. Mingyu responded, his free hand resting on Wonwoo's shoulder, pulling him closer.

The kiss was everything they had needed and more. When they finally pulled away, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other.

Mingyu chuckled nervously, his thumb brushing against Wonwoo's cheek. "How long are you gonna go without talking to me after that one?"

Wonwoo pursed his lips and playfully pushed Mingyu away, causing the other to giggle. 

“I’m sorry.” Mingyu wanted to press further, to ask what this meant for them… if it meant anything at all. But he knew now was not the right time. “You should get some rest, though. You’ll feel like shit tomorrow.”

Mingyu was right and Wonwoo knew it. He sighed and pulled back. He reached down to lean the seat all the way back and Mingyu did the same.

They stayed like that for a few moments, staring up at the car ceiling, savoring the newfound connection. The car filled with the soft sounds of their breathing and the distant hum of the city. Feeling like he was finally at peace, Wonwoo let his eyes flutter shut, not even bothering to take off his glasses.

Despite the odd sleeping arrangements, this would probably one the most memorable nights of sleep Wonwoo has had.

 

Notes:

minwon is finally making moves!!

love reading everyone's comments and feedback so pls keep them coming! keeps me motivated lol

Chapter 19: When You Close Your Eyes, Do You Picture Me?

Notes:

happy holidays and happy winter!

Sorry for the delay, I flew home for the winter break and haven't had a stable wifi connection till now lol

Huge thanks again to everyone who's left their thoughts and feedback! reading your comments literally makes my day. i also only realized we're almost hitting 500 kudos??? idk if that's a lot for ao3 standards but it's a lot for me, i can't thank u guys enough :')

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Wonwoo reflected on the past few days and officially deemed that that was the craziest spring break of his life. The past few days had been a whirlwind, mostly due to Luna’s emergency and his unexpected reencounter with Mingyu. 

Wonwoo was surprised at how much he couldn’t wait to not be on vacation anymore. He was grateful, of course, that he could still wake up to Luna curled up at his leg, but that scare made him much more paranoid about her well-being.

He grounded himself as he laid in his rock-hard, school provided bed as his eyes finally decided to blink open. Wonwoo reached down, and his hand found the soft fur ball that he learned to appreciate a little bit more. He shifted his hand slightly, accidentally knocking it into the large plastic cone around Luna’s neck.

“Sorry,” he muttered half asleep. Luna must have not appreciated the gesture as she stood up and plopped down further away, out of her owner’s reach.

Luckily, Wonwoo didn’t have a morning class this quarter. He had one class on Wednesday evening and another on Friday afternoon, that’s it. 

The fact that he would be graduating sooner rather than later began to catch up to him, making him extremely motivated but also extremely lazy. How those two feelings could occur at the same time was a concept Wonwoo was still trying to understand.

However, he did have an eight hour shift that day.

Wonwoo laid flat on his back, not bothering to check the time. The angle the sun was hitting told him it couldn’t be any later than ten in the morning. He smiled to himself, enjoying the lack of immediate responsibility for the day. His eyes slowly began to close, his brain aching to shut off and go back to sleep.

It couldn’t have been more than five minutes later that he heard a knock on his door. He fought a groan, thinking that it may be one of his residents. He reached over for his glasses and mustered the best ‘awake’ voice he could before he called out a “who is it?”

“It’s me!” an enthusiastic voice called out. Wonwoo laughed at Yoohyeon’s response.

“It’s open.”

The door opened slowly, and the burgundy haired girl peeped her head in, glancing around the room before her eyes landed on Wonwoo. She shut the door behind her and walked towards him.

“Hey,” Wonwoo said with a sleepy smile.

Yoohyeon stopped directly in front of him and crossed her arms. “Do you always sleep like that? You look like a hospital patient.”

Wonwoo looked down at his bed sheets that were neatly tucked in under his arms and into the side of the bed, the folded edge of the sheet running across his chest in a straight line.

“Yeah.”

Yoohyeon shook her head. “All right. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I only dropped by to see how my girl Luna was doing- oh, no! Not the cone of shame,” she mused, kneeling at the end of the bed to caress the small black ball of fluff. 

Wonwoo sat up, chuckling. “It’s so she won’t pick at her stitches or move around too much. She has to keep it on for at least a week.”

“Poor girl,” Yoohyeon pouted, moving her hand to scratch behind her ear.  “Is she recovering okay?”

“Yeah. The first night she didn’t want to eat or drink anything but I called the doctor and she said it was a normal response from the anesthesia. She just ate for the first time last night.”

“Attagirl Luna! Has she had any other visitors? I’m sure auntie Yoohyeon is her favorite but I thought I’d ask,” she said with a shrug.

“Soonyoung came over yesterday, and she can’t be alone so I’m having Seungcheol and Jeonghan cat-sit today, actually.” Wonwoo knitted his eyebrows together when he realized he never told Yoohyeon what happened. “Wait, how did you know she was sick?”

She gave the cat one last pet before standing back up. “Mingyu told me. I ran into him yesterday and he asked if I’ve checked in on you yet.”

Wonwoo couldn't help the smile that played at his lips at the thought of Mingyu being so attentive, even when he wasn’t there to witness it.

“Ew. What was that?” Yoohyeon asked apprehensively.

“What was what?”

“That smile– that look.”

Wonwoo shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh my God,” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands for a few seconds before moving them away. “Do you like Mingyu? Wait, are you guys a thing?

“Uhh…yes and… no, not really.” Something in Wonwoo’s chest fluttered at how easily he admitted to liking Mingyu.

Yoohyeon blinked at him for longer than was probably necessary. “Okay, well, you have my full support.”

“Really?” Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows. “But I thought Karina…”

Yoohyeon tilted her head. “But I thought she…?”

“What?”

“Nothing. Never mind. Just don't worry about her,” she said with a nonchalant look. “I support your endeavors with Mingyu. When you have him over just keep it quiet please we don’t want more noise complaints.”

Wonwoo’s face turned red at the insinuation, but he said nothing.

Yoohyeon gave Wonwoo a sweet smile and tousled his hair even more than it already was. “Love you. Glad my queen is recovering well.” She blew a kiss to Luna on the bed and walked towards the door, opening it but pausing before walking out. “Oh, don’t forget you said you’d help out with ‘plant your own succulent night’ on Thursday.” And with that she walked out and shut the door behind her.

Wonwoo groaned and threw his arm over his eyes. He completely forgot about his RA responsibilities. Since he knew he would only be taking two classes this quarter, he had signed to help out for more events than he usually would. 

Hate when I actually have to do my job.

After spending another hour rotting in bed, scrolling through his phone, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to eat something really quick and get ready for work. While he looked forward to normalcy, he was anxious about seeing Karina, not knowing at all what the situation with Mingyu was. He would like to think Mingyu wouldn’t kiss him if he had someone else, but also he never really asked.

And also he was the one who kissed Mingyu.

Wonwoo sighed, trying to think of literally anything else. He threw on a fitted black shirt and dark jeans, barely taking some time to fix his hair in his small mirror. 

He spent the next few minutes arranging Lina's things so they were easy to find and in reach. It's not that he didn't trust his friends, but he also knows that the less things they were in charge of, the better.

“Okay. Her wet food is in these packets, only give her half of one, if she eats too much she’ll get sick. You might have to hand feed her because of her cone. Make sure she always has water, too. She has to take her meds again at 9pm, don’t forget. Do you need me to go over how to clean the litter box again? Also, make sure she doesn’t try to jump on anyth-”

“Wonwoo, she’ll be fine. You can trust us,” Jeonghan said reassuringly, Seungcheol nodding behind him. They arrived just ten minutes before Wonwoo had to leave for work.

Wonwoo sighed. “Okay. Thank you. If anything happens please call me.” He gave Luna a peck on the head and grabbed his keys. “Everything in the pantry and mini-fridge is up for grabs, including the booze.”

“Yes!” Seunghceol clapped his hands together, making everyone jump including Luna. Wonwoo gave Seungcheol a wide eyed look. “Sorry,” he said apologetically, taking a seat on Wonwoo’s bed.

Wonwoo made his way out the door as Jeonghan opened the mini-fridge. 

“Luna, do you want a heineken or a soju?”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes as he shut the door behind him and made his way down the hallway. He felt a sense of gratitude as he drove to work. He couldn’t have imagined his spring break would go the way it did but felt fortunate to have such a strong support system. He let out a laugh imagining how Seungcheol and Jeonghan would spend their day with a temporarily disabled cat. 

He pulled up to his parking spot and made his way inside the bar with five minutes to spare, the familiar scent of wood polish and citrus cleaning spray hitting his nostrils. 

As he put on his apron and began setting up the bar, he noticed Karina moving around the space, her expression distant. Normally, they would chat and joke around as they prepared for the shift, but today she seemed almost avoidant. 

His heart pounded in his chest. Did she know about the kiss? Had Mingyu told her? Oh God. Wonwoo was a terrible friend.

"Hey, Karina," he said, trying to keep his voice casual. "How's it going?"

She glanced at him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Fine," she replied shortly, continuing to arrange the glasses.

Wonwo felt a pang of anxiety. This wasn't like her at all. He decided to just let it go, hoping it was something completely unrelated. He began preparing the mixers and cutting up limes as their happy hour would be starting very soon. The mundane task hardly did anything to distract him from his anxiety, though.

“Hi, Wonwoo. How are you?”

Tornado.

“Hey, Tor- Jefferey. How’s it going? Can I get you anything?” Wonwoo asked with a small smile to the older man as he continued to chop up limes.

“One rum and coke please.” Wonwoo nodded and abandoned the limes, grabbing the liquor from the shelf and placing a small glass on the counter. He could feel the older man’s gaze follow his movements as he prepared the drink. 

The next few minutes consisted of Wonwoo listening to the man blab about who knows what while he chopped up the limes and mint. Wonwoo definitely zoned out at some point, although his reactions and expressions could convince anyone otherwise. He had mastered the art of giving a very convincing “oh really?” and “no way” while plastering his dazzling customer service smile. 

When the man finally left, Wonwoo took all the ingredients to the back to place in a container in the refrigerator. His mood was slightly lifted after seeing the fat tip he received once again. It was almost too easy.

He placed everything in their respective containers and made his way back out to the bar where Kevin was flirting up a storm with some of the female customers. His gaze wandered to Karina who seemed to be making a drink for another customer.

Wonwoo frowned. He waited for her to serve the customer before walking up to her. "Karina, is everything okay? You seem... off today."

She paused, her back to him, and sighed. "I'm fine, Wonwoo. Just... thinking about some stuff."

He lowered his voice. "Okay but…if this is about something I did, I’d really like to know. I don't want anything to be weird between us."

Karina turned around, her expression softening slightly. "It's not. It’s just...well, because of Mingyu."

Wonwoo's heart skipped a beat. "Mingyu?"

"Yeah," she said, fiddling with a bar towel. "He and I had been texting for a while, as you know. But… I recently just told him I just wanted to stay friends.”

Wonwoo blinked. “What does that… I'm confused.”

“I thought you'd be upset with me for rejecting your friend."

Relief washed over Wonwoo like a cold shower on a hot day. "Upset? Why would I be upset with you for that?"

She shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "I don’t know. I know you guys are close. I didn't know if you'd be upset with me for hurting him."

Wonwoo let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Karina, I’m not upset. You have every right to decide what you want. And besides, Mingyu’s a big boy. He can handle it."

Karina looked up at him, a smile breaking through her worried expression. "Really? You're not mad?"

"No," Wonwoo assured her with a chuckle. "I’m just glad you told me. I don't want things to be awkward between us."

"Yeah," she said, visibly relaxing. "I guess I was just overthinking it. Now that I think about it he didn’t seem that upset about it. Just surprised I guess. It was hard to tell since it was over text. Also, I was pretty convinced you liked him."

Wonwoo felt his heart fall to his ass. “W-what?”

“Oh, so you do! Yeah… when I was talking with Yoohyeon trying to figure out how to break it to Mingyu gently, she brought up how she always thought you had a thing for him. Looking back it makes sense,” she said with a chuckle. “I appreciate you for pushing that aside for me, though. I can’t imagine it was easy.”

Wonwoo blinked at her with a blank expression, TV static playing in his mind. Karina laughed.

“Don’t worry, Won. If anything, it made me feel less bad about telling him I just wanna be friends.” She patted him on the back with a reassuring smile.

Wonwoo felt relieved, but also couldn’t help but feel bad at the same time. "I see… well, I’m glad we cleared that up…kinda.”

"Same here, Wonwoo," Karina agreed, obviously amused.

As he watched her walk away, he felt lighter, but couldn’t shake the feeling like he had been completely exposed. First, Yoohyeon was able to figure out that Wonwoo liked Mingyu. He was horrified. Was he really not as subtle as he thought? What if Mingyu knew? Well, now he definitely knew because he kissed him.

On top of that, Karina knew. Wonwoo knew that there was no judgement on her part, but he still felt bad. And embarrassed. Fuck. He was so embarrassed. 

He fought the urge to down one of the liquor bottles on the shelf in front of him.

Wonwoo arrived at his dorm that night to Jeonghan passed out on his beanbag chair wearing his spare glasses. Seungcheol was thankfully awake, sitting on Wonwoo’s bed, watching something on his laptop with Luna curled up beside him, her cone slightly blocking Seungcheol’s view of the screen but he didn’t seem to mind.

Wonwoo removed his glasses from Jeonghan’s face and held them up to Seungcheol. “Why does he have these?”

“Oh. He just found them and started taking selfies with them. I guess he forgot he had them on.”

Wonwoo shook his head and placed them back on his desk. He thanked his friend for his help, and they attempted to wake up Jeonghan, which was surprisingly very difficult. After the latter woke up, the two said goodbye to Luna and made their way out of Wonwoo’s room. He made a mental note to send them an e-gift card to Chipotle or something.

Wonwoo had barely changed into his pajamas when he heard a knock on the door. Assuming it was just Seungcheol or Jeonghan who forgot something, he opened the door without much of a thought.

He was surprised to see Mingyu standing there, looking shy but as cuddly as ever in his tan hoodie. Wonwoo took a step to the side to let the younger man in.

“Hey. Sorry, were you getting ready for bed? I just came to see how she was doing. I would’ve come earlier but I wanted to give you guys some space.”

Wonwoo smiled in fondness of Mingyu’s explanation. “It’s cool. She’s doing much better. I had some friends watch her and they said she ate all her food today. She’s just a little tired.”

Luna remained curled up on Wonwoo’s bed as Mingyu got closer, kneeling beside the bed and reaching out to pet her gently. She opened her eyes and sniffed at Mingyu’s hand with her small, delicate nose. She slowly stood up and walked closer to him, rubbing her body against his arm as he continued to scratch near her neck.

Wonwoo smiled wide, eyes turning to crescents. “Wow, she must really like you. She hasn’t shown affection to anyone like that since she got back.” Wonwoo kneeled next to Mingyu and looked at Luna interacting with him in complete awe.

Mingyu let out a breathy laugh, canines on full display. “Is that true, Luna?” he asked in a baby voice.

“Damn. She probably knows you’re the one who came to her rescue,” Wonwoo added, studying Mingyu’s face that was still down turned towards Luna.

Mingyu shook his head. “Stop saying that. You were there too.” The taller boy stopped petting her as she made her way to the far corner of the bed, and he turned to meet Wonwoo’s gaze. 

“Um, I talked to Karina,” Wonwoo stated, feeling flustered, not knowing where he was going by bringing it up.

Mingyu raised an eyebrow, looking amused. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. She said you guys decided to stay friends, and said you took it pretty hard,” Wonwoo joked.

Mingyu sighed dramatically. “It was rough, Won. I don’t think I’ll ever love again,” he said with a wavering look at the boy in front of him.

“Damn,” Wonwoo exasperated. “That’s a shame.”

Mingyu laughed, eyes almost closing. “No, but to be honest I felt kind of bad. She pretty much just said what I was too afraid to.”

“Hey, at least there were no hard feelings.”

“No, none at all. I liked hanging out with her, still do. But that was it,” he said, eyes twinkling. He held Wonwoo’s gaze, the shadows cascaded from the few lamps emphasizing all his features beautifully.

“What?” Wonwoo asked after a few moments, pursing his lips in a bad attempt to hide his smile.

Mingyu shrugged, his mouth forming into that tight, closed lip smile that drives Wonwoo insane. “I kinda wanna kiss you.”

Those words made heat run to Wonwoo’s face and butterflies erupt in his stomach. “Really?”

“Yeah. Is that weird?”

“Not at all.”

“Are you sure?’

“Hm, yeah.”

“You won’t be mad at me if I did it right now?”

“Only if you're a bad kisser,” Wonwoo said with sarcastic seriousness in his tone. 

Mingyu smiled, wasting no time as he placed his hand on Wonwoo’s cheek and leaned in. The kiss was slow and gentle, Mingyu’s thumb caressing the other’s cheekbone. Their lips moved fluidly against each other, finding a slow but satisfying rhythm. 

Mingyu always thought about kissing those plush like lips and wanted to savor every moment. He couldn’t help himself and inserted his tongue into Wonwoo’s mouth, eliciting a soft gasp from the elder. He let his tongue trace Wonwoo’s lips, the inside of his cheek, and then eventually his own tongue. Mingyu groaned as Wonwoo’s hands made their way underneath his hoodie, feeling the toned muscle of Mingyu’s bare torso.

Wonwoo let his hands run up and down the other’s sides and he let Mingyu explore and completely dominate his mouth. At this point, Wonwoo was leaned back almost all the way, the only thing keeping him from falling back onto the floor was Mingyu’s arm that was wrapped around his waist. 

Mingyu pulled away just a little bit, glancing at Wonwoo’s swollen lips and flushed features before reaching behind himself and pulling his hoodie over his head, revealing that, as Wonwoo suspected, Mingyu had no shirt underneath.

Wonwoo had only seen Mingyu without a shirt once that one time he caught him walking out of the communal showers. However, seeing him look like that in this context while he looks at him like that was completely different. Mingyu’s chest was tan, built, and practically perfect in every way. He wasn’t so muscular that it looked daunting, but his pecs and abs were just the right size to be noticeable from afar. 

Mingyu placed a hand on Wonwoo’s shoulder gently pushing him back so he was laying flat on the floor. Mingyu kept eye contact, licking his lips as he threw his leg over Wonwoo’s torso, caging him in.

The sight above him felt surreal to Wonwoo. He couldn’t help himself and raised his hands to tentatively caress over Mingyu’s shoulders, to his chest, dipping from his prominent pectorals before his fingertips went down his abs. 

“God, Mingyu,” he muttered breathlessly.

Mingyu’s gaze was unreadable, intense but also curious. He said nothing as he gently removed Wonwoo’s glasses from his face and then leaned down to kiss him again, this time more passionate and dominant. Wonwoo could already feel his erection begin to form although he didn’t know how it didn’t sooner from the sight of him alone.

Wonwoo wrapped his arms around Mingyu’s back as the younger boy kissed and sucked on a sensitive spot right below his ear. He couldn’t help but moan when Mingyu moved back up to kiss him on the lips, but placed his hand on his neck, his fingers trailing on his skin. 

Mingyu was on cloud 9, pleasure coursed through his veins like a train on a high speed railway. Wonwoo’s neck felt frail and delicate under his large hand,  just the way it did in his dream, and it drove Mingyu crazy, already struggling with his enlarged hard-on.

And to make matters worse, Wonwoo was vocal.  

Wonwoo was letting out breathy moans for almost everything and Mingyu felt obsessed. If Wonwoo got like this just from making out, he wondered what he was like during sex, and the thought almost pushed Mingyu over the edge– that he could elicit all these sounds out of the man beneath him.

Their lips sloppily engulfed one another’s, beginning to lose rhythm and moving for the sole purpose of feeling the other on their mouth. Wonwoo’s hands worked their way up Mingyu’s chest again, this time his thumbs brushed over the taller man’s nipples, causing him to groan into the kiss. Mingyu had never had anyone play with his nipples before, and he was surprisingly really into it.

Wonwoo moved his thumbs in circles over the small buds, and Mingyu had to pull from the elder’s lips to let out the softest, most angelic sound Wonwoo thinks he’s ever heard. Eventually it became a little too much and Mingyu could no longer resist, grinding his hips down, his erection sliding against Wonwoo’s through their shorts, making the ladder tilt his head back.

“A-ah, fuck, Mingyu” he moaned out in a deep, sultry voice.

The scene below him honestly could have been enough for Mingyu to come there and then. With Wonwoo’s long neck on display, Adam's apple bobbing, his milky skin soft and inviting, Mingyu leaned down and began sucking, kissing, and biting in no particular order.

Mingyu once again grinded his hips down, feeling Wonwoo’s deep voice timbre as he nipped at his throat. Mingyu found a steady rhythm and continued to move his hips. He would have never thought that dry humping would send him over the edge. Even when he hooked up with girls, he couldn’t get very far without his dick getting wet.

But something about Wonwoo– maybe it was the piled up tension or even Wonwoo’s lewd noises and expressions in response, but he felt like he unlocked a whole category of pleasure he didn’t even know existed. 

He moved his hips faster, chasing an inevitable high.

Mingyu could feel himself reaching his climax and based on Wonwoo’s expressions, so was he. Mingyu pulled away from his neck, catching spots of pink and purple as he moved his head up to nudge Wonwoo’s temple with his nose.

His hips continued to move at a steady rhythm, their clothed erections rubbing against each other perfectly every time.

“I’m gonna come,” Mingyu groaned, leaving a light peck right by Wonwoo’s ear.

“Fuck. Me too- fuck…” 

Wonwoo gripped Mingyu’s hips tightly, fingers digging into his skin. Shameless whines danced their way out of his mouth, as he spasmed slightly, body tensing before it relaxed.

As if on cue, Mingyu’s climax hit right after as he buried his head further into Wonwoo’s neck. He sped up, letting out breathless groans before releasing. Mingyu continued to pant after it was done, smiling into Wonwoo's neck as he felt his hand run through his hair.

Mingyu laid there for a moment, catching his breath,  before sitting up and climbing off of Wonwoo, feeling the uncomfortable wet and sticky sensation between his legs. Luckily, it wasn’t enough to show through his shorts.

They laid there, on the floor of the dorm room, side by side.

“So,” Wonwoo started, turning to Mingyu. “How was your first time with a man?”

Mingyu tried to ignore how beautiful Wonwoo looked right now since it literally looked like he was glowing. “I mean I’m not sure,” he replied, still breathless. “Might have to do multiple test runs to really form an opinion, you know?”

Wonwoo let out a deep chuckle, and Mingyu swore he could still feel the vibration of the sound beneath his fingertips. 

Mingyu looked up at the ceiling, feeling serene. He and Wonwoo just dry humped on his dorm room floor. The action itself was admittedly pretty trashy, not at all romantic, maybe unsanitary, but Mingyu would do it again in a heartbeat. He knew he was attracted to Wonwoo– unbelievably attracted to him—but after today, his feelings for him felt like they had been enhanced so much it was almost blinding. Mingyu really liked Wonwoo. In every way possible.

“Wait,” Wonwoo said, abruptly standing up. 

Oh no. Mingyu thought, heart sinking. 

This is when he tells me that we shouldn’t have done this and we can never be together and that I suck and I should just go fuck myself and die and-

“Jesus fucking christ, Mingyu.” Wonwoo had walked over to his closet, looking in the mirror attached to the door. 

Mingyu shot up to his feet, confused as to what Wonwoo was seeing. He walked over and took a good look at the other’s reflection. He felt an amused smile creep onto his mouth and fought hard to prevent it as Wonwoo looked genuinely upset.

All along Wonwoo’s neck were splotches of pink and purple, his pale complexion emphasizing them even more. Wonwoo leaned his head forward as if urging Mingyu to say something.

Mingyu’s mouth contorted into different expressions in attempts to cover up a smile but his intent was obvious. Wonwoo grabbed a pillow from his bed and threw it at him at full force.

Mingyu broke, unable to hold his laughter. “I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed, voice going up an octave, still giggling as he stepped closer to Wonwoo and examined his neck. “It…I mean… honestly, I think it looks fucking hot-”

“Mingyu!” 

“I’m so sorry, but you didn’t stop me! I thought you didn’t care!”

“I have to go to work tomorrow! Fuck, I have the plant your own succulent thing too…you suck,” Wonwoo said with a glare.

“Baby,” Mingyu whined, giving him a hug. Something stirred in Wonwoo at the nickname but he didn't acknowledge it, standing with his arms crossed as Mingyu wrapped his arms around his neck. “I’m really sorry. I swear I just thought you didn’t care and I never saw you with hickies when you were with Alex so I just thought you didn't bruise or something.”

Wonwoo scoffed. “That was only because that dumbass couldn’t figure out how to leave a hickey. Everytime he tried, nothing would appear,” he said, turning to shut his closet door.

“Damn. Everything you tell me about this guy sounds awful.”

Wonwoo shrugged. “Yeah.” He looked at Mingyu up and down and shook his head. “Put on a shirt you… neanderthal.”

Mingyu pouted and reached for his hoodie, throwing it over his head. “Sorry you had to hear all of that, Luna,” Mingyu said to the cat who was now fast asleep on the far end of the bed.

Mingyu made his way to the door and turned to Wonwoo who stood there with his lips pursed. 

“Goodnight,” Wonwoo said with a serious expression but an amused glint in his eye.

Mingyu sighed. “Goodnight.” He opened the door and walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Less than ten seconds later, Mingyu came rushing back in, grabbing Wonwoo’s face and kissing him with so much force that Wonwoo stumbled backwards.

Mingyu pulled away with a pop.“Okay, sorry, goodnight!” He whispered as he scurried back out of the room.

Wonwoo looked around, not sure what to do with himself. He smiled as he made his way to his bed, feeling an intense affection for the boy that only seemed to grow by the day. 

 


 

Mingyu, Hansol, and Seungkwan, made their way down to the dorm building’s lounge room, where the "Plant Your Own Succulent Night" event was taking place. The lounge was buzzing with activity, students clustered around tables filled with pots, soil, and a variety of tiny succulents. There were also paints, markers, and stickers for decorating the pots.

Mingyu noticed Wonwoo immediately, the hoodie over his head making him stand out. He was at the front, helping organize supplies and chatting with students, his warm smile lighting up the room. Their eyes met, and Mingyu felt a spark of excitement. They've texted consistently since that night in Wonwoo’s room but were seeing each other for the first time since. Wonwoo gave him a nod in acknowledgement, a small smirk playing on his lips. 

How is he so fucking hot?

“I’m gonna plant the fuck out of these babies,” Seungkwan said with a scary determination as he looked intently at the different succulent options.

"Looks like it’s gonna be fun," Hansol said, nudging Mingyu. "And you get to see your favorite RA."

"Shut up," Mingyu muttered, trying to hide a smile. Hansol had been making fun of him a lot more after he found out he went to hell and back to save Wonwoo’s cat. 

They chose their plants, found a table and settled down, grabbing some supplies. 

“Don’t forget!” another RA Mingyu didn’t recognize announced. “Tomorrow we’re gonna put up a poll for the best pot so please be sure we get a picture of your work before you go!”

“Yeah and the winner gets free laundry for a week for their entire floor, including your RA,” Mingyu’s RA announced with a playful point at herself.

“We got you, Lisa!” Mingyu shouted back, receiving a bright smile and finger guns from her in response.

“Who’s your RA, Senugkwan?” Hansol asked as he looked through the paint brushes.

“Hm,” Seungkwan hummed, immersed in painting his pot. “Some girl named Jessi. She’s never available, though.” Seungkwan looked around. “Yep, she’s not even here.”

Just then, Wonwoo made his way over to them, his presence instantly making Mingyu’s heart race a little faster. He held back his smile when he realized the elder had pulled the draw strings of his hoodie, covering his neck entirely.

"Hey, guys. Glad you could make it," Wonwoo said, his gaze lingering on Mingyu. "Need any help getting started?"

Hansol smirked. "Nah, I think we’re good. But Mingyu here might need some extra assistance."

Mingyu shot his friend a glare, his paint brush hovering over his pot. 

Wonwoo laughed. "Well, I’m here if you need anything," he said, placing his hand on Mingyu’s shoulder briefly before moving to the next table.

As they started planting their succulents, Mingyu tried to focus on his task but found his eyes drifting back to Wonwoo. The way he carried himself with such confidence, and the way he interacted with everyone–it was hard not to be drawn to him.

"Stop staring and plant your succulent," Hansol demanded, not looking up from his task.

Mingyu rolled his eyes. "I am, I am."

They spent the next hour planting and decorating their pots. Mingyu put a lot of effort into his work, carefully painting intricate designs and adding small details with markers. Towards the end it began to look like something they would sell on shelves at a Home Goods store.

Hansol, on the other hand, seemed to have no artistic direction.

“Babe…babe… Hansol!” Sseungkwan exclaimed after failed attempts at getting his boyfriend’s attention.

“Hm?”Hansol replied, still not looking up.

“What… what is that?”

Hansol seemed to be slapping random colors and stickers onto his pot without a care.

“A swamp galaxy. I was inspired by the Shrek movies we watched last weekend,” he said with a nod. Seungkwan looked at his boyfriend quizzically, not knowing how to respond.

Wonwoo came around again, checking on their progress. "Woah, Mingyu, that looks amazing," he mused, eyeing the white pot with intricate designs. 

Mingyu felt a flush of pride but shrugged. "Thanks. I’m actually really proud of it."

Wonwoo nodded. "And Hansol, um... interesting choice," he said, trying to be diplomatic about his chaotic creation.

Hansol smiled, completely unaware. "Thank you.”

Seungkwan coughed out a laugh, quickly placing his hand over his mouth to suppress it.

As the event wound down, Mingyu and his friends found themselves the last few people there, mostly because Mingyu kept getting soil all over the place when it came to transferring the succulents to their new pots.

As the event ended, Hansol proudly showed off his ugly pot. "Doesn’t it kinda remind you of star wars?" he asked with a grin. He was met with hesitant nods and an encouraging side hug from Seungkwan.

The three of them, being the last ones to leave, set their pots on the table for Yoohyeon to take a photo of them. 

“Oh, yeah, Mingyu, are you gonna be in your room tonight? I’m gonna stay up with Hansol to finish an art project but it’s too big to take out of your room.” Seungkwan asked as they took back their pots and helped put away some of the art supplies. 

Ah. Mingyu thought to himself. That’s what that abnormally large paper mache tooth in their room was for. 

“Uh, that should be fine. Why wouldn’t I be in my room?”

“I don’t know,” Seungkwan shrugged, gathering markers. “I came over earlier this week for a few hours. Hansol told me you went to hook up with a girl.”

“What?”

“What?”

“What?”

Hansol, Mingyu, and Wonwoo all said in that order.

“I, uh,” Mingyu turned behind him to see Wonwoo pause and slowly put his stuff down. Lisa and Yoohyeon had completely frozen, obviously intrigued by the gossip. “I didn’t hook up with any girl.”

“Yeah,” Hansol said with a confused expression. “I never said that, Kwannie.”

“You told me he was getting pussy!” Seungkwan rebutted.

Wonwoo watched from afar, his eyes darting from Mingyu to Seungkwan. 

“I didn’t say that!” Hansol denied, laughing. 

In the corner of his eye, Mingyu could see Lisa and Yoohyeon pretending to be busy, their attention obviously focused on their conversation. He swore he thought he saw Yoohyeon pretend to run a clean paint brush over one of their laminated posters.

“Yes, you did!” Seungkwan crossed his arms, oblivious of the conflict he was creating.

Hansol looked to the side in thought, and then his face contorted to a bemused expression. “I said he was going to go visit a cat.”

Seungkwan shook his head slightly as if saying that doesn’t make a difference. “Yeah- Wait. Oh, did you mean that literally?” Seungkwan stared at his boyfriend in shock. “Why would you word it like that, what’s wrong with you?!”

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?!” Hansol cried out, laughter present in his voice.

Mingyu groaned as the couple went back and forth. He dragged his hands down his face slowly as he watched Wonwoo chuckle and walk over to them.

“Okay,” Seungkwan said, turning to Mingyu. “So you didn’t hook up with a girl?”

“No,” Mingyu snapped. “I hooked up with Wonwoo.” Mingyu’s hands shot up to his mouth, his eyes wide. He hadn't realized what he said until after he said it. 

He dared to look at Wonwoo who was now beside him, looking at him with a wide eyed expression.

“I knew it!” Yoohyeon exclaimed, pointing at them with a paint brush. Lisa stood behind her, dumbfounded.

Seungkwan gasped, a large grin slowly making its way to his face. “Oh my God. You guys hooked up? Are you guys boyfriends?!” he practically shrieked. The question was met with silence as Mingyu and Wonwoo looked at each other for answers, neither of them giving a response.

Mingyu had avoided bringing up labels to Wonwoo out of the fear of rejection. He didn't want to ruin what they have and hear another spiel about how he could never truly be happy with Mingyu. 

He wasn't sure he would take it very well this time around.

Seungkwan gave an uncomfortable smile. “Ooh, nevermind. This is awkward. Let’s go, Hannie.” Seungkwan grabbed his boyfriend, and they made their way out of the lounge room.

The room was now eerily quiet, tension thick, even for those who weren’t involved in the situation. “I’ll, uh, catch you later,” Mingyu said, turning to Wonwoo who nodded, not really meeting his eyes. He waved at the other two and made his way out the door, unsure of what else to do.

 


 

When he, Yoohyeon, and Lisa finally finished putting away the supplies, Wonwoo was exhausted. The whole ordeal with Seungkwan’s question about their relationship status weighed heavy on his mind, especially the way Mingyu reacted. Did he leave like that because he felt uncomfortable with the idea? Did he feel bad because maybe he didn’t want to date Wonwoo anymore?

He guessed it was his fault. The last time Mingyu tried to initiate something, Wonwoo shot him down. Why would he try again? 

Wonwoo, of course, did want a relationship with Mingyu. He was scared, and hesitant, but the boy had shown time and time again that he really isn’t the same guy from high school. And after everything, Wonwoo couldn’t imagine liking anybody else the way he liked Mingyu.

Wonwoo had been much more open to the idea of taking things further with Mingyu since his conversation with Soonyoung, but how could he expect Mingyu to know that?

Wonwoo sighed, grabbed a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, and made his way to the communal bathrooms to take a nice, hot shower. The water trickling down his body was almost therapeutic. The constant physical sensation helped distract his mind from anything else.

He got back to his room, happy to see Luna drinking water despite her cone being slightly in her way. He picked up his phone to check the time. It was almost ten thirty, which meant he should probably get to bed soon. 

The succulent event was a success, especially because it’s so hard to get college kids excited for anything nowadays. It did end up running a little later, though. While they advertised it from 5pm to 8pm, Wonwoo wasn’t out of there until an hour after that.  

He sighed and glanced down at his notifications, surprised to see a text from Mingyu. His heart raced, although he wasn’t sure what exactly he was afraid of. 

Meet me in the courtyard in 5.

Wonwoo’s eyes widened when he realized he had sent the text close to twenty minutes ago, probably while he was in the shower. He grabbed his towel and attempted to dry his hair quickly before grabbing his key and sprinting out the door. 

He hoped and prayed he was still there. He didn’t want to give him another reason to believe he wasn’t interested. He didn't plan to let him get away this time.

He made his way out the back entrance of the building and into the grassy courtyard with plenty of benches and lanterns to light up the dark space in white. His wet hair made the sudden breeze leave goosebumps on his skin. Maybe he should have grabbed a jacket.

Wonwoo looked around, and his heart jumped when he saw Mingyu sitting at a bench at the far end, completely alone.

Wonwoo jogged over, and his footsteps caught Mingyu’s attention. The younger stood up, beaming at the sight of the boy in messy, wet hair and glasses jogging over to him.

“You came,” Mingyu said softly once Wonwoo was in front of him.

“Yeah,” Wonwoo said, smiling but slightly out of breath. “Sorry. I was in the shower.”

“All good…”

“What’s up?” Wonwoo said, looking a little concerned.

“I, um,” Mingyu started, his nervous system feeling like it was on high. “God, this is more daunting than I thought.” 

He took a deep breath and reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. Wonwoo looked at it with a confused expression at first, but realization soon set in. 

It felt like time stopped for a few seconds. Everything was so familiar yet unfamiliar all at once. 

Wonwoo always thought that what goes around does come around, but he could have never imagined it would in this way.

A part of him felt like he was being mocked, whereas the other part felt almost… excited.

He took a deep breath and eyed the piece of paper intently. 

“Um, this is for you.” Wonwoo winced at the all too familiar words that he had said to Mingyu once upon a time.

Mingyu held out the piece of paper for Wonwoo to take

The older boy felt like he wanted to cry but couldn't pinpoint why. His body just pleaded, ached for him to cry, scream, walk away. 

But he couldn't, because only now did Wonwoo realize that he wanted this, just as much if not more than he did the first time around four years ago.

Mingyu wasn’t sure if this was a good idea or not, but it felt right. He only hoped that Wonwoo wouldn’t notice his own trembling hands.

Wonwoo slowly took the piece of paper and unfolded it. Just as he suspected, it was a handwritten love letter, eerily similar to the one he had spent all night writing to Mingyu.

Mingyu awkwardly wandered off to the side, allowing Wonwoo to read it for himself. Wonwoo took a deep breath and began to read, the anticipation and familiarity of it all an almost unbearable combination.

 

Wonwoo,

I’ve been wanting to say all this for a while now. Putting it in a letter just felt appropriate. 

Seeing you so destroyed about Luna the other day made me realize how much I hate seeing you hurt and how I would do anything to prevent it. I can’t believe I was the one to cause you so much pain at one point. I am and will always be so sorry.

From the moment I saw you again, I’ve been drawn to you in ways I couldn’t really explain. I used to think I was just jealous of you for being the perfect person you are, but then I realized it was more than that. 

Spending time with you has become the highlight of my experience here at LMU. Reconnecting with you is one of the best things that could’ve happened to me. I was scared of my feelings then, but I’m not scared anymore. You make me want to be a better person. I can't even put into words what being around you does to me. I love everything about you, and I think I’ve fallen for you, Won.

So, well, here it is: Would you do me the honor of being my boyfriend? I know I don't exactly deserve it, but I promise, if you let me, to be the best partner I could possibly be. I’ll even let you make jokes at my expense.

With all my heart, 

Mingyu

P.S. Please excuse any grammar errors. I’m a stem major.

 

Wonwoo was already tearing up by the time he got to the end of the letter. He couldn't believe this was happening. If you had told him in high school, or even a year ago that he would be asked by Mingyu to be his boyfriend through a love letter of all things he would have laughed so fucking hard.

Wonwoo re-read the letter a second time and then a third time, as if his brain didn’t believe the words in front of him. The only thing that could be heard was the distant chirping of crickets and the occasional window closing and opening. Wonwoo was reading it for the fourth time, tears finally going down his face, when Mingyu walked back over.

“Um,” Mingyu stammered. His eyebrows were turned up in the middle– a pleading expression. His large round eyes sparkled under the tall lamps. He looked like a scared puppy and it made Wonwoo’s heart melt. The beautiful boy in front of him looked devastated at the possibility he could get rejected by him.

Wonwoo folded up the letter, taking his time. His tears had stopped but his eyes remained watery. He looked up at Mingyu again.

“Do I look gay to you?”

Mingyu blinked. “What?”

The older boy stared at him with his eyes narrowed.

Mingyu’s face went from hurt to confusion and then to realization. He sighed and poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, a small smile playing at his lips. “All right, good one.” 

“Who even writes love letters anymore?” Wonwoo added with the same feign disgust.

“Okay! I get it,” Mingyu whined, playfully hitting Wonwoo on the arm. 

Wonwoo let his expression revert back to normal. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t scared, but he thought back to what Soonyoung said. Mingyu was a completely different person than the guy who tormented him in high school. He’s proved it over and over again. Maybe it was time to start treating him as that different person.

Wonwoo took a deep breath.“Yes. I’ll be your boyfriend-” he was cut off by Mingyu almost tackling him in a bear hug, the action making Wonwoo stumble backwards. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's mid section, letting his body relax in his arms. 

Damn. Has Mingyu always smelled this good?

Mingyu pulled away, grabbing Wonwoo’s hand. “Wait, really? You're not messing with me, right? I mean I wouldn't blame you but… really?”

Wonwoo could have melted at the look Mingyu was giving him. He nodded, a wholesome look on his face.

Mingyu let out a breath.“Wow, my first boyfriend. My first… anything actually.”

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you want me to be your first?”

“No. I want you to be my last, too.”

Wonwoo shook his head, eyes squinting. “God, you’re more whipped than I thought,” he joked.

“One of us has to be! You just homophobia-ed me,” Mingyu whined. Wonwoo laughed out loud and pulled Mingyu into another embrace. 

It felt nice to hold each other as partners. All the past tension and unresolved nothings were gone. It felt surreal. They stayed there for a while until Mingyu eventually spoke up.

“Are you just hugging me because you’re cold?”

“A little, yeah.” 

Mingyu let out a dramatic sigh. He threw his arm over his boyfriend’s shoulder and walked them towards the building.

“Can I stay over?” Mingyu asked as they walked inside.

Wonwoo shrugged. “Sure. Is Seungkwan still in your room helping Hansol?”

“No.” 

Wonwoo looked up at the taller boy who just looked down at him and winked. For the first time, it felt like everything was happening the way it was supposed to.

Notes:

lmao this was my first time writing smut ok

also i told u that the angst would be over soon. hope it wasn't TOO bad hehe

Chapter 20: When You Fantasize

Notes:

this chapter is like 3-4k words longer than my usual my bad

enjoy the fluff and amateur smut lol

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The three friends walked into Mingyu’s dorm, their voices loud with complaints and laughter. They had spent the past hour going at it in the downstairs lounge playing video games, only to face a horrible defeat at the hands of Minnie. 

"Okay, you have to be cheating,” Junkook said, flopping onto Mingyu’s bed. "I demand a rematch."

Minnie scoffed, a triumphant look on her face. "It's not my fault you both fucking suck at Mario Kart."

Jungkook shook his head. "Fine. Next time, we’re playing something I’m good at."

His girlfriend groaned. "So, nothing then?"

Mingyu felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a text from Wonwoo– a photo of Luna who was now coneless. He instantly lost focus on the banter around him, a small smile playing on his lips. Wonwoo must be back from work already.

"Who are you texting?" Minnie asked, a teasing smile on her face. "Is it your new boyfriend?"

Jungkook perked up, eyes wide with curiosity. "Yeah, Mingyu! You gatekeeping him or what? When do we get to meet him?"

Mingyu hesitated for a moment, his heart racing. He hadn’t told them it was Wonwoo yet, not wanting to deal with their reactions or the barrage of questions that would follow. All he said was that he started dating a guy who goes to their school. But he knew he couldn’t keep it a secret forever.

“Soon. I promise.”

“No, come on. You should just invite him over,” Jungkook suggested, his teeth playing with his new lip ring.

“Oh my God, yeah. Is he free? C’mon Mingyu we really wanna meet him. Pretty please,” Minnie pleaded from her spot on the floor.

You’ve met him.

Mingyu sighed. "I’ll call him and ask."

Jungkook and Minnie exchanged excited glances as Mingyu dialed Wonwoo’s number. 

“Mingyu.” Mingyu’s heart leapt at how pleased Wonwoo’s tone sounded.

"Hey, are you busy?" Mingyu asked.

"Not really, why?" 

"Do you want to come over? Jungkook and Minnie are here, and they’re …excited to meet you," Mingyu said, glancing at his friends who were practically bouncing with anticipation.

“Meet me?” There was a brief pause before Wonwoo responded. "Uh, sure, I’ll be there in a bit."

Mingyu hung up and looked at his friends. "He’s on his way."

The next ten minutes consisted of Mingyu mindlessly organizing his side of the room while Minnie and Jungkook conversed about which movie they should go watch for their three month anniversary. 

Mingyu genuinely forgot they were a couple sometimes.

He didn’t involve himself in the conversation, feeling a little anxious about his friends seeing Wonwoo although he wasn’t sure why. 

There was a knock and Mingyu shot up from his spot next to Jungkook and went to open the door. 

His anxiety had completely dissipated, now replaced with an intense adoration when he saw his gorgeous boyfriend at the door. Mingyu still couldn't believe he was all his.

“Hey,” Mingyu said sweetly, leaning in for a quick kiss. 

“Let us see- ow! Minnie, what the fuck!” came Jungkook’s voice from inside the room. 

Wonwoo tilted his head in confusion. 

God, he’s so fucking cute.

Mingyu sighed and moved over, letting Wonwoo enter. “Hey guys,” he said casually.

Minnie’s jaw dropped and Jungkook looked back and forth as if he still didn’t know what was going on.

“Wonwoo’s my boyfriend,” Mingyu clarified. 

After further explanation about what happened that led them there, Minnie and Jungkook seemed a lot more on board with the idea. In fact, they were really excited to hear that they worked out their differences.

“This is, like, those enemies to lovers romances Minnie reads!” Jungkook chimed excitedly. “Oh, sorry, Wonwoo, do you wanna sit next to Mingyu?” he asked, moving to hop off the bed.

“Nah, it’s okay. I just got back from work and my hair is still a little wet from my shower, so I'll just sit on the floor,” he said sitting beside Minnie who moved her stuff over to make space.

“Where do you work?” Minnie asked with genuine interest.

“The velvet lounge? It’s a bar not too far from here.” 

“Ah, figures. You were bartending at the festival too, weren’t you?” Jungkook asked. “You make a crazy Long Island iced tea.”

Wonwoo chuckled and looked down at his lap.

“You should take your hoodie off if your hair is wet. It's not gonna dry,” Minnie said, looking at him concerned.

Wonwoo gave an awkward laugh, glancing at Mingyu. “Um, yeah…”

Minnie narrowed her eyes, catching the look between the two boyfriends. “What’s happening?”

Mingyu shrugged with a shy smile.

Wonwoo sighed then proceeded to explain the whole hickey ordeal and how turtlenecks and hoodies with the drawstrings pulled all the way have become a regular part of his wardrobe for the past week. 

Jungkook laughed so hard he was almost wheezing while Mingyu glared at him.

“Can I see?” Minnie asked with a wide grin, obviously intrigued. Jungkook tossed a pillow at her. “What?”

“You can’t just ask someone to show you their hickeys!”

Jungkook was right, it was a weird request, but at this point nothing surprised Mingyu about Minnie’s behavior. 

Wonwoo pulled down his hood to reveal his neck, the slightly faded but still very visible marks scattered all along his throat.

“Jesus!” Jungkook exclaimed as he turned to Mingyu. “Were you trying to give him a blood clot or something?”

Mingyu rolled his eyes but as sick as it was, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at seeing all his work scattered across Wonwoo’s neck like it was a canvas of some sort. His eyes wandered over the faint, purple pattern of shapes as he did his best to keep his cool, although the desire to lick his lips was evident.

“Hm…” Minnie said, eyeing them closely. “Nothing some concealer can’t fix.” She reached over from her backpack and pulled out a small pouch.

“If you could figure out how to cover that up you’d honestly be saving him a lot of turtle necks,” Mingyu said, receiving a playful glare from Wonwoo.

“Do you mind if I…” Minnie asked as she held up the small tube.

“No, please do.” The girl smiled at the response and got to work, using a mix of the applicator and her finger to blend out the pigmented cream.

Mingyu sat with a content smile on his face as he watched Wonwoo and Minnie make small talk, occasionally laughing at something. 

Dating Wonwoo was so easy. It was nice to see his friends get along well with him. How could they not? Wonwoo was so likable. He was typically shy, but what Mingyu admired was his ability to match everyone’s energy regardless. Mingyu never had to worry about Wonwoo making a bad impression. It was impossible.

Mingyu looked over to Jungkook who was typing away at his phone next to him, his back against the wall. He noticed something peeking out the sleeve of his sweatshirt, and he squinted to get a better look. His eyes widened, taken aback as he grabbed Jungkook’s wrist and pulled his sleeve down. Dark ink decorated his forearm with intricate designs and figures.

“What the fuck? You got a tattoo?” Mingyu practically gasped, eyeing down Jungkook’s arm. 

“Oh, shit, yeah! Just two days ago. I didn’t tell you?”

“Dude!” Mingyu exclaimed with a chuckle. “These are sick!” He eyed the artwork on his friend’s arm in awe. “Minnie, what did you think?”

“Oh, she didn’t care. Minnie likes tattoos. She has one on her-” Jungkook got cut off by his girlfriend throwing him the deadliest glare she could muster. He cleared his throat. “Nothing.”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows, exchanging an amused look with Mingyu.

“I think it’s hot,” Minnie said with a shrug. “It’d go pretty badly if I didn’t. He said he wants to get more,” she said with a smirk, eyes not leaving where she was attending to Wonwoo’s neck.

“More?” Mingyu asked with raised eyebrows.

“Yeah… I’m thinking of getting some on my hands. Probably more on my arms too.”

Mingyu nodded, impressed. “Hand tattoos are hot.”

“Right?” Minnie muttered, barely audible. “Would you ever get one, Wonwoo?”

“A tattoo? I have one,” he replied, nonchalant. 

“What?!” Mingyu practically screeched, shock written all over his face as he eyed Wonwoo, trying to recall ever seeing ink on the boy.

Jungkook looked at Mingyu and furrowed his eyebrows. “You didn’t know your boyfriend had a tattoo?” He turned to look at Wonwoo. “Damn, Wonwoo, how well are you hiding that thing?”

Wonwoo shrugged. “Not that well I don’t think. It’s on the side of my rib.”

“What?!” Mingyu repeated, eyes wide in disbelief. He’s seen Wonwoo with his shirt off already, but in his defense he’s never gotten a good look. He tries, but it’s kinda hard when Mingyu is hovering directly over him. Plus, they’ve only been together for about a week.

Wonwoo looked over to see Mingyu’s face, amused at how his boyfriend looked like a mix of  curiosity and betrayal. Wonwoo winked at him, making Mingyu’s stomach fill with those damned butterflies again.

“Okay. All done!” Minnie announced with a smile as she placed the applicator back in the tube and twisted the cap. Sure enough, the marks were hardly noticeable. If someone really concentrated they could probably still see something, but it could also just look like shadows were being casted on him.

“Woah, babe!” Jungkook exclaimed, hopping off the bed and kneeling beside Wonwoo to get a better look. “Nice job.” 

Minnie smiled and shrugged one shoulder.

Mingyu replicated Jungkook’s position on the ground and took Wonwoo's neck into his hands. “Damn. You can barely tell. We need to buy you one of those, Won.”

“Oh, he can have this one,” Minnie replied, handing the tube over to Wonwoo.

Wonwoo looked at her quizzically. “What? Are you sure?”

“Yeah. This is too light for me. I bought it when I was still in my winter shade. See.” She held the product up to her face which was now a much tanner shade than the tube in her hands.

“Okay. Thanks,” Wonwoo said with a grateful smile as he took the tube.

“I wish I could tan like that,” Jungkook said with a pout.

Mingyu turned to Jungkook, hands cradling Wonwoo’s head now for no real reason. “Ha, loser.”

Minnie sighed and threw her backpack over her shoulder. “I think we’re gonna get going now. I have a night class today.”

Jungkook stood up, taking away her backpack and throwing it over his own shoulder. “Thanks for the game, Mingyu! We’ll see you crazy kids later.”

“Bye Mingyu! Bye Wonwoo!” Minnie exclaimed, giving quick side hugs before following Jungkook out the room. The door closed on its own, slamming shut.

Mingyu immediately turned to his boyfriend whose gaze remained on the door. He smiled and leaned in to kiss him, not being able to resist much longer.

Wonwoo laughed. “What was that for?”

“For being cute. Oh, did you wanna go see a movie today? I’m paying.”

Wonwoo smiled up at his boyfriend. “Sure. Can we go eat first? All I had today was a jelly donut for breakfast.”

“What?! Why didn’t you eat lunch?” Mingyu asked, growing concerned. 

“It’s hard to eat when I’m at work. There’s no nearby food spots to walk to and there’s never any space in the fridge. My co-workers usually just buy food from the food trucks but the food from there doesn’t really agree with me.”

Mingyu made a ‘tsk’ sound and shook his head. “Excuses, excuses. Yeah, we can go eat first. What days do you work through lunch, by the way?”

Two days later, Wonwoo was at his job which was relatively empty despite it being a Friday. He poured and mixed drinks, his brain barely working as he let muscle memory take over. He would be going on his break in five minutes which would hopefully help him rejuvenate at least some of his energy.

He finished serving the drinks and leaned over the counter and yawned.

Suddenly, the door to the establishment opened with a chime as it usually does. Wonwoo stood up straight, expecting it to be a new customer who’s order he had to take.

But it wasn’t.

He watched, pleasantly surprised, as Mingyu walked in, a backwards cap on his head and a large white, nylon bag in his hand. Mingyu walked directly to the bar with an excited grin, eyes scanning over Wonwoo’s figure briefly.

His work attire was hardly a uniform, but it wasn’t like Wonwoo wore fitted black button ups everyday.

“Hey, handsome,” Mingyu said, placing the bag on the counter. “I brought you some fried chicken,” he said, taking the styrofoam container out of the bag. 

Wonwoo shook his head. “What? Mingyu, you didn’t have to do that just for me.”

“I didn’t.” He pulled out another container. “I did it for Karina too! Where is she by the way?”

Wonwoo blinked at Mingyu for a few seconds. He was unbelievable sometimes. Wonwoo gave him a grateful smile and made his way to the back where Karina was taking inventory.

“Hey, Karina. Mingyu brought you food.”

Karina gave a confused look. “He brought me food? Did he bring you food too?”

Wonwoo laughed.“Yes.”

“Oh. Aw. That’s nice of him.” She set down the clipboard and made her way to the front with Wonwoo following suit.

“Hey, Mingyu! So, what’s for lunch?” she said, rubbing her hands together. Mingyu distributed the boxes to the two bartenders who happily took them. There was a third box in the bag that was for Mingyu, or at least supposed to be for Mingyu.

“Why does it smell like fried chicken? Yo! What the heck!” Kevin cried out as he walked up to the three friends. 

“Wonwoo’s boyfriend bought us lunch,” Karina explained.

“What? That’s so nice, man. Thank you.” 

Wonwoo watched in horror as Kevin grabbed the box that was supposed to be Mingyu’s without a second thought. “I owe you, bro.”

Wonwoo turned to his boyfriend who just mouthed an “it’s okay” before rolling up the plastic bag that he brought the food in.

“I’m gonna go on my lunch break now!” Kevin called from the kitchen.

Karina shook her head, looking annoyed. “He started his shift less than one hour ago.”

Mingyu sat with Wonwoo in the break room once it was time for his well deserved break, after Kevin returned from his hour long lunch. Wonwoo smiled, pulling out a chair. "You didn’t have to bring us food, you know. But I’m not complaining."

Mingyu grinned, taking a seat next to him. "I know, but I wanted to. Plus, I thought you could use a break from your usual food truck fries.” He grabbed a tater-tot from Wonwoo’s plate and popped it into his mouth. “So, how’s the day going so far?” he asked, looking between Karina and Wonwoo.

"Pretty steady," Wonwoo said looking over at Karina who nodded in agreement. "Nothing too crazy, just the usual crowd. How about you? How’s your day been?"

Mingyu shrugged. "Not bad. Classes were a bit intense, but it's fine. I’m just glad I get to spend some time with you”

Wonwoo smiled, his eyes warm. "Me too. We should do this more often."

Karina, who had been quietly enjoying her meal, chimed in, mouth full of fried chicken. "You two are so cute. Yeah, you’re welcome here anytime Mingyu… if you’re bringing us food, of course.."

Mingyu nodded. “Noted.”

They ate in comfortable concentration, with Mingyu taking a bit of Wonwoo’s food every once in a while. Once finished they began to clean up any trash left over. 

Wonwoo wiped his mouth with a napkin and smiled. "That hit the spot,” he said, taking the last sip of his water bottle. “Thanks for lunch.”

Karina stretched her arms above her head and grinned. "Yeah, I don’t think I’ve eaten this well at work in forever. Thanks, Mingyu.” 

Mingyu laughed. "Anytime.”

Wonwoo glanced at the clock on the wall. "We should probably get back to work."

Once out of the break room, Mingyu slung his backpack over his shoulder, ready to head out of the establishment. He turned around to get one last glance at Wonwoo who situated himself back on his usual side, his lips quirking at the barely visible purple blotches on his neck that were covered with layers of concealer. 

Just as he was turning around to head out the door, he bumped into somebody walking in– an older man dressed in a tailored suit. 

“Sorry, son,” he said to which Mingyu muttered a quick ‘sorry’ back. He watched as the man made a beeline for the bar on the side Wonwoo was attending to. 

“Hey, Wonwoo,” the man said with a smooth grin, leaning against the counter. “Missed seeing that smile of yours.” Mingyu’s eyes widened. 

Wonwoo gave a small smile back. “Good to see you too. Let me guess, rum and coke?”

“Yep,” the man replied, eyes lingering on Wonwoo. “You always take such good care of me.”

Mingyu felt his stomach tighten at the sight. The casual, almost flirty banter between Wonwoo and the man didn’t sit well with him, but he tried to brush it off. He knew Wonwoo was just doing his job, but still, it felt wrong. 

He hesitated for a bit before walking back to the bar, sliding in just a few stools away from the man, determined to make his presence known, although he didn’t really know where he was going with this.

Wonwoo knit his eyebrows but said nothing as he watched Mingyu return to the bar.

“Oh, Won,” Mingyu said, his voice light but with an edge. “I was thinking we should order takeout later, maybe watch a movie or something at your place.”

Wonwoo gave a quick smile. “Yeah, sounds good,” he said. He didn’t make any move to show affection. Instead, he quickly turned his attention back to the man, who was watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow.

“At your place, huh?” the man asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and something more calculating. “Well, I hope you’re not too busy to give your best customer some attention.”

Wonwoo chuckled, trying to keep the mood light. “You don’t have to worry,” he said, handing over the drink with a practiced ease.

Mingyu’s jaw clenched slightly, feeling the sting of Wonwoo’s choice not to acknowledge their relationship. Karina, noticing the tension, leaned over the counter to get closer to Mingyu as he watched the two guys in front of him, one of them being his boyfriend, get seemingly lost in conversation.

“Don’t worry about Jefferey,” she said softly. “We call him Tornado because he’s always here when Wonwoo is, gets in his space when he can, but he’s harmless. Tips really well too. Wonwoo’s just keeping it friendly.”

Mingyu nodded, though he was still annoyed. “Yeah, well, I’d prefer if he didn’t act like he was single.”

The man finally took his drink and moved to a table, though not without a lingering look in Wonwoo’s direction. Once he was gone, Wonwoo sighed, turning back to Mingyu with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, knowing that Mingyu had caught on to what was happening. He walked over to him.

“It’s fine,” Mingyu replied, though his voice was tight. “I get it. But… I don’t like it.”

Wonwoo reached across the counter, squeezing Mingyu’s hand briefly. “I know. Just trying to secure a fat tip, that’s all.” Wonwoo’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he lowered his voice. “I didn’t take you for the jealous type,” he teased, leaning on the bar.

Mingyu’s eyes wandered, averting Wonwoo’s gaze. “I just don’t like sharing what’s mine,” he replied, voice low.

Wonwoo’s smile softened. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

Mingyu sighed, the tension easing from his shoulders. “I know. It’s whatever,” he said with a pout and blush spreading across his cheeks. “I’m gonna head out. I’m over this place.”

Wonwoo chuckled and nodded. “Okay, Min. Thanks again for lunch.”

“No problem.” Mingyu began to walk towards the door once again. “See you tonight!” he called over his shoulder being purposely loud enough for others to hear. He didn’t wait for a response and walked out the door, heading to the bus stop.

That night, he had planned to occupy himself with homework that was already beginning to pile up despite him only being two weeks into the quarter. As he sat at his desk, his textbook wide open, his mind couldn’t help but wander and reflect on the past school year.

What a crazy first year of university it had been. It was like every month came with a new surprise that Mingyu could have never predicted. From accomplishing near perfect grades to getting a boyfriend, it was safe to say that Mingyu felt like he was in very new territory.

This was the first real relationship Mingyu had ever been in and that both excited and terrified him.

He was enjoying it more than he could have ever imagined. The moments of intimacy, the way Wonwoo made him laugh, the comfort of having someone to talk to at the end of the day and that person being Wonwoo– it all felt right, natural even. However, that happiness came with an underlying fear that he couldn’t shake. 

What if he messed it up? What if he wasn’t good enough? Wonwoo was everything Mingyu could have asked for in a partner and more. He was kind, patient, funny, and understanding, but Mingyu couldn’t help but worry that he might fall short in some way.

The thought of losing Wonwoo made his chest feel tight. He didn’t want to be the one to ruin what they had. Was he affectionate enough? Did he show Wonwoo how much he cared? What if he was too overbearing?

The whole incident at the bar made him think. Mingyu wasn’t really a jealous person, or at least he didn’t think he was. He had never had anyone to feel jealous about. Even in his past hook-ups and talking stages, he never liked the person to a deep enough level to where he felt the need to be protective.

But with Wonwoo, it was different. He didn’t want to share him with anyone, and the thought of him with anyone else made him feel physically ill. If someone ever came too close or got a little too touchy, Mingyu would intervene without a second thought. But what about the times when Wonwoo wasn’t in harm's way at all like at his job? Sure, the guy was flirty, but Wonwoo didn’t seem that uncomfortable and actually, he kind of looked like he was the one in control.

Mingyu’s stomach twisted at the thought of other people looking at Wonwoo and thinking of him in ways that were for Mingyu’s eyes only. Yet, there was nothing he could do, and at what point does his jealousy become too much? How jealous is too jealous and how much is not jealous enough?

He knew Wonwoo had been hurt before, knew that their past made things even more complicated, but Mingyu didn’t want to add to that hurt. He wanted to be the one who made Wonwoo feel safe and valued. But the pressure of the rights and wrongs of a relationship weighed on him.

He glanced at his phone and tapped the screen. A smiling Wonwoo holding up Luna greeted him on his lockscreen, and Mingyu felt a surge of affection. This was the person he wanted to be with, but he couldn’t help but wonder if he was capable of giving Wonwoo everything he deserved.

Mingyu shook his head and turned his phone over. He had work to do. 

He pulled out his laptop and opened up a blank document, creating a new page for the class he was about to do homework for. 

“Mammalian Systemic Physiology…” Mingyu muttered to himself, wincing at the terrible name on his class portal. The subject was definitely interesting, but just like any other class, the homework and assignments were brutal.

“No wonder everyone wants to study the arts now.” Mingyu shook his head and got to work, reading carefully through the text, annotating and adding sticky notes to the parts he thought were important while also paraphrasing complicated key points into his word document. 

He stayed locked in for the next hour, his neck beginning to hurt from the hunched over position but his brain refusing to turn its attention to anything else, not wanting to kill the flow of productivity. The room rapidly began to dim as the sun outside began to set.

 As Mingyu re-read a rather complex paragraph for the third time, he felt his desk vibrate under his buzzing phone. 

With tired eyes, Mingyu looked over to the device, face lighting up in an instant when he saw Wonwoo’s contact. He picked up the phone, unable to hide his pleased tone.

“Hi, baby.”

“Hi. I just got home from work. I was just gonna shower and then I was wondering if you wanted to come over?”

“Okay. Are you sure you wanna wait that long, though? I can just join you in the shower,” Mingyu said in a serious tone.

The older boy huffed out a laugh. “Sure. And then when we get caught by other residents using the communal showers do you wanna explain the situation to them or should I?”

Mingyu sighed dramatically. “Fine…”

“I’ll see you soon,” Wonwoo said, his smile able to be heard through the phone. 

Mingyu finished two more chapters before shutting his textbook. He changed into his pajamas and grabbed his throw blanket, assuming he would be spending the night. He grabbed his phone and charger and made his way to the floor below him.

He was walking down the hallway, only a few doors away from Wonwoo’s when he heard a door behind him open and a voice call out.

“Hey!”

Mingyu turned around to see two girls in the doorway of their room giggling. He looked around, not sure if they were talking to him.

“You’re friends with Wonwoo right?” one of the girls, a red head, said trying to keep her giggles at bay. Her shorter friend next to her slapped her on the shoulder and covered her face, embarrassed.

Mingyu blinked at them. “Uh…”

“She thinks you’re cute!” the same girl announced, pushing her friend forward. 

“Oh,” Mingyu said with an awkward laugh, wanting nothing more than to walk the remaining ten feet of the hallway and into the safety of his boyfriend’s room. 

“She always sees you going in and out of Wonwoo’s room. She even knows what time you come over-”

“Oh my God, Yuna, shut up!”

“She wants to know if you’re single!” The two girls burst into a fit of embarrassed giggles, seemingly having the time of their life. 

Mingyu gave a small smile, feeling relief that he could answer, “No, I’m not single. Sorry. Wonwoo’s my boyfriend.” 

“I told you!” the girl named Yuna exclaimed while her friend dragged her feet and walked back into the room. Yuna turned back to Mingyu, completely nonchalant as if all that commotion didn’t just happen. “Carry on.”

Mingyu stared blankly as she closed the door. He stood there for a few seconds, looking around to see if anyone else could have seen but he was completely alone. Unsure of what else to do, he walked over to Wonwoo’s door and knocked.

“Hi!” Wonwoo said brightly as he opened the door and let Mingyu in.

Mingyu tilted his head at his boyfriend’s newfound enthusiasm. “Hi…” he set all his stuff on Wonwoo’s bed. “What are you so happy about?”

Wonwoo pursed his lips in a shy smile. “I don’t know, maybe that I’m talking to the winner of the succulent pot decorating contest!” He brought his arms forward and held up a generic ‘You did it!’ certificate with Mingyu’s name typed out.

“No way,” Mingyu said with a chuckle, taking the certificate from his hands. “Free laundry for a week!”

“Mhm, mhm,” Wonwoo said with a satisfied nod. “I kinda knew you would win. Everyone else’s sucked, no offense.”

Mingyu tilted his head back to look at his boyfriend, his hair fluffy from his shower and his t-shirt clinging to his body. Wonwoo beamed at Mingyu, clearly more excited than he was.

“You’re so fucking cute.” Mingyu tossed the certificate on the bed and wrapped his arms around his  middle, leaning down to place a soft kiss on his lips.

God. He doesn’t think he could ever get tired of kissing him.

Mingyu pulled back, placing his lips on his forehead but not necessarily kissing him. “If you want you can just put some of your laundry in my load,” he mumbled against Wonwoo’s skin.

Wonwoo wrapped his arms around the taller boy, pulling him even closer. “Not gonna lie, I knew you’d offer.”

Mingyu gasped and pulled back to look at Wonwoo’s face that had a guilty smile plastered on it. “That’s why you were so happy, huh?”

“No! I’ll always celebrate your accomplishments. But can you blame me? The laundry machines are so expensive here.”

Mingyu sighed with a playful smile, adjusting his boyfriend’s glasses. “Just don’t tell Lisa.”

The two found themselves cuddled on Wonwoo’s small, twin sized bed. It was still early in the evening and they thought they would wait a little while before ordering take out for dinner. 

Mingyu shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable. The cramped space didn’t bother him; if anything, it made the experience of cuddling even cozier. Wonwoo’s glasses were somewhere on the desk next to them. His arm was draped around Mingyu’s waist, their legs tangled together and the warmth of Wonwoo’s body against his making Mingyu feel at ease.

“This bed is tiny,” Mingyu chuckled, his voice soft as he ran his fingers through Wonwoo’s hair.

Wonwoo grinned, pressing a quick kiss on Mingyu’s neck. “Yeah, I don’t think it was made with the intention to accommodate two six foot something men during a cuddle session.”

“Obviously not,” Mingyu scoffed. He pointed to himself. “One six foot something,” he pointed to Wonwoo, “one six foot.”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes. “I’ll have you know I’m almost 6 '1”.”

“Sure you are, baby,” Mingyu hummed, moving some strands of hair from the shorter man’s eyes.

“You’re annoying,” Wonwoo murmured, leaning in to steal another kiss. This one lingered, slow and sweet, and Mingyu felt himself melt into it, his worries and insecurities momentarily forgotten.

They pulled back slightly, their faces still close, breaths mingling. Mingyu could see the affection in Wonwoo’s eyes, and it made him want to pass out. He still couldn’t believe this was real sometimes.

“Can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer,” Mingyu said just above a whisper, his eyes fixed on Wonwoo who just nodded with a soft hum. “When did you start liking me?”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows and looked off to the side. He looked more in thought than he did uncomfortable, which was a relief. 

Wonwoo blew out a breath, his eyes coming back to meet Mingyu’s. “Well, the first time was during our high school orientation. I was helping welcome new students and you were one of them.” Wonwoo shrugged. “I thought you were cute.”

“Hm…” Mingyu said, trying to recall his high school orientation. Unfortunately, he remembered close to nothing of that day. “What about the second time?”

Wonwoo’s mouth contorted slightly, a small smile trying to make its way onto his face. “Uh…” Mingyu watched amused as Wonwoo rubbed his eyes with his two fingers as a blush creeped onto his cheeks. “Honestly, I think the physical attraction was always there, like, I don’t think that ever left. But I think I really started liking you that time we spent the whole day working on assignments and then went to the basketball game together.” Wonwoo stopped in thought. “I only really admitted it to myself around the first time we met up for our project. Then I went down a spiral trying to figure out what my feelings mean,” he added with a chuckle.

Mingyu laughed and covered his face with his hands. “God, I remember that– working on our project for the first time. That was only a few weeks after I realized I had a crush on you. I was trying so hard to flirt but be subtle.”

Wonwoo smiled and pulled Mingyu’s hands away from this face, placing a quick peck on his knuckles. “Well your flirting worked. I think the real question here is when did you start liking me?”

Mingyu looked at Wonwoo, taking account of every curve, wrinkle and shadow on his face. His sharp eyes contrasted so beautifully with the soft corners of his lips. Recently, Mingyu had a newfound appreciation for his nose that just seemed to slope at the most perfect angle and crinkled when he thought something was really funny. He could stare at him forever.

“Hmm,” Mingyu started. “I think I was attracted to you from the moment I saw you at that booth during orientation, to be honest.”

Wonwoo’s eyebrows shot up, obviously not expecting that answer. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu replied with a small laugh. “I was thinking about you for the rest of the day.”

Wonwoo gave a playful smile. “You thought I was handsome, you wanted to date me, you thought I was hot and sexy…” he sang in a teasing tone, jabbing Mingyu’s sides with his fingers.

“Ah, stop, that tickles!” Mingyu exclaimed with a chuckle as he restrained Wonwoo’s hands with his own. “But yes. I was really, pleasantly, surprised with how hot you were.”

Wonwoo shook his head with a smile as he freed his hands from Mingyu’s grasp. “I guess we both fell for each other at orientation, huh?”

The taller boy gasped at the realization. “Oh my God, you’re right. Can I know what your first reaction was after seeing me after so long?”

“Hmm…” Wonwoo bit his lip, Mingyu’s attention immediately watching his teeth fumble with the plush skin. “I think I was scared you would make fun of me again. That was my initial instinct– to put my guard up. But then you started talking and I realized I didn’t need to.”

Guilt built up in Mingyu’s gut. “Jeez. I’m sorry that was your initial instinct.” Mingyu sighed. “All that and you still weren’t ever hostile towards me at all…” his voice trailed off as he looked into his boyfriend's eyes, feeling like he could see their history play in them like an old film.

Wonwoo shrugged with a small laugh. “If I saw you two or three years earlier I probably would have just told you to fuck off. Maybe I would have punched you. I don’t think there was much anger left anymore, though, just…”

“Just pain,” Mingyu finished and his heart sank when Wonwoo just gave a sad smile.

“Hey,” Wonwoo said, placing his hand on Mingyu’s cheek when he saw the other’s sad expression. “I’m okay now. We’re okay. Look at us, I mean, I don’t think we can get more reconciled than this,” Wonwoo said, referring to their intimate, entangled cuddle position.

Mingyu smiled and planted a kiss on Wonwoo’s nose, making the other let out a small giggle. “You’re right. I could stay like this with you forever.”

Wonwoo chuckled softly. “You’re turning into a sap, you know that?”

“Maybe,” Mingyu admitted, his cheeks flushing slightly. “But I don’t mind.”

They shared another kiss, this one a little more playful, with Wonwoo nipping at Mingyu’s bottom lip before pulling back with a smirk. Mingyu rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile, his heart feeling light.

They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when two people are completely at ease with each other. Mingyu shifted downward and rested his head on Wonwoo’s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and felt Wonwoo’s hand gently rubbing his shoulder.

“Oh. I forgot to tell you. A resident on your floor has a crush on me. Better watch out.”

Wonwoo scoffed with a chuckle. “Let me guess: Yuna and Giselle?”

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows. “I think so. How did you know?”

“They asked about you the other day, asked me if you were single. I told them to just ask you.”

Mingyu’s head snapped up to meet his boyfriend’s gaze. “Why didn’t you just tell her I wasn’t.”

Wonwoo shrugged. “I didn’t think they would actually ask you, to be honest.”

Mingyu couldn't help the frown that spread on its face. If the roles were reversed, he would absolutely let them know Wonwoo was taken and by him. But Wonwoo went about these things so casually that it almost felt like he didn’t want people to know they were together.

“Mingyu, what’s wrong?”

Mingyu’s attention snapped to his boyfriend who was looking at him curiously. His doubts must have shown on his face. His heart raced, not really knowing how to have this conversation. He turned so he was laying on his back.

“I don’t know how to say it. I’m not very good at putting my feelings into words.”

Wonwoo propped himself up one arm to meet Mingyu’s eyes. “Just say it the best you can,” he said with a reassuring look.

Mingyu’s eyes wavered, unable to look at Wonwoo. “It’s stupid. I just feel like… like sometimes you don’t want people to know we’re together. I know it’s not true! But for example with the girls hitting on me–that didn’t bother you or today at the bar with that old guy, I know you’re just getting money out of him but… it still bothered me.”

Wonwoo gave an understanding nod, reaching up to run his hand through Mingyu’s hair. “I’m sorry, Min. I didn’t know it would bother you. I think for me… if it was you who was being extra friendly for tips or had a few eighteen year olds crush on you, I wouldn’t really give it much of a thought. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d feel the same way I would.”

“But that’s the thing,” Mingyu whined. “Why wouldn’t it bother you? If someone else is interested in your boyfriend, wouldn't you be upset?” Mingyu could feel his voice start to raise and immediately regretted it. “Sorry. I’m not upset at you. This is my first relationship so I guess I’m just trying to understand.”

The older boy took a deep breath, trying to think. “I would be upset if you were interested in someone else while we were together.”

“Well, yeah, duh. But I just don’t… is it because nobody’s ever interested in me?”

Wonwoo looked at Mingyu like he grew a second head. “What? Mingyu, are you joking? Everyone’s interested in you.” 

Wonwoo moved to plot directly on top of Mingyu, making the latter grunt at the weight and laugh. “At orientation, there was a group of girls who were following behind you and would turn away and giggle when you looked in their direction. There was the girl at Soonyoung’s friend’s party. There was Karina who was interested after just meeting you once. At the pot decorating thing, there was a different group of girls who kept turning to look at you and whispering to themselves. I overheard one of them tell another that she should just go ask for your number, but I guess she never got to it.”

Mingyu laid there dumbfounded. Besides Karina and the girl at the party, he had no idea about the other instances.

“There was even a bartender at the festival who asked about you– asked me if you liked guys and at the time I didn’t know you did so I said no. My point is, Mingyu, I’ve been in plenty of situations that have shown me that you easily have other options besides me,” he chuckled, running his hand through his boyfriend's hair, soothing. “Now that we’re together, you’ve just never given me a reason to think you would leave me for someone else. Sixteen year old Mingyu would have probably kept me on my toes, but twenty one year old Mingyu… he’s a breath of fresh air that I don’t think I've ever had in a relationship. I like that I don’t have to worry about those things, you know?”

Mingyu looked at his boyfriend, nothing but pure admiration in his eyes. He smiled and leaned to place a chaste kiss on his lips. “Fuck…I’m sorry. I guess it was a little immature of me.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Wonwoo said softly, using his thumb to caress over the other’s cheekbone. “I want you to be comfortable, too. If you don’t like me being friendly with people for tips, we can talk about it.”

Mingyu shook his head, his hands landing on Wonwoo’s hips. “Nah. Take that man’s money. I’ll work on it… I think I’m just afraid to lose you, that’s all.”

Wonwoo’s face softened at Mingyu’s words. “I’ve liked you since high school, if I was gonna completely ditch you, I would’ve done it a long time ago.”

Mingyu scoffed.

“Plus, seeing you jealous was… it was kinda hot,” Wonwoo said with a smile, his cheeks dusting pink.

Mingyu raised an eyebrow, gripping Wonwoo’s hips a little tighter. “Really?”

Wonwoo chuckled. “Just a little,” he whispered before placing his hand on the side of Mingyu’s face and kissing him on the lips for what felt like the hundredth time that day. 

Mingyu groaned as Wonwoo slipped his tongue inside his mouth. He moved his own hands from Wonwoo’s hips and went underneath his shirt, feeling the toned muscle and smooth skin on Wonwoo’s back.

“Wait, wait,” Mingyu mumbled. Wonwoo pulled back and without missing a beat, Mingyu pulled his boyfriend’s shirt off and tossed it on the ground. He sat up to match Wonwoo’s position and placed his hands on his torso, turning him slightly. His heart sped as he saw the black ink that decorated just a few inches of his rib.

Mingyu traced his finger over it, causing Wonwoo to shiver slightly. “Why a rose?”

Wonwoo shrugged. “The shop had a few designs for $10 for black friday. This was just the least ugly one out of all of them.”

Mingyu shook his head and looked at his boyfriend in amused disbelief. He was expecting him to give a much deeper explanation but alas, it was just because it was on sale. He hugged his middle and planted another kiss on his lips. 

Mingyu flipped them, letting Wonwoo lay on the mattress as he climbed over him. He sucked on Wonwoo’s bottom lip before capturing both and using his tongue to explore the inside of Wonwoo’s mouth. Being careful this time, Mingyu moved down his jaw, his neck, and then his chest. 

Wonwoo, despite being relatively lean, was still very toned. His abs contracted at making contact with Mingyu’s mouth as he left gentle kisses all over them. God, Mingyu could do this for hours, probably even days. He dared to look up at Wonwoo who looked at him with hooded eyes and a satisfied smile.

Needing more of a response from the elder, Mingyu crawled up slightly and lapped at Wonwoo’s nipple, causing him to let out a high pitched moan in surprise.

There he is.

Mingyu ran his tongue over the bud, using his thumb to draw circles on the other one. Mingyu licked and sucked until Wonwoo was a squirming mess beneath him, his hands gripping at Mingyu’s hair for dear life.

He leaned back down and took the small bud in his teeth, causing Wonwoo to grunt as his back arched off the bed.

“Fuck, Mingyu…”

Mingyu placed one last peck on his chest and went back up to find his mouth, completely devouring his lips and tongue. Wonwoo wrapped his arms around Mingyu’s neck, pulling him even closer. They spent what felt like ten minutes kissing each other, occasionally nipping and sucking on each other’s lips. 

Mingyu reached his hand down below him, feeling Wonwoo’s erection through his sweatpants. Wonwoo pulled his head from the kissing and let out a gasp. Mingyu smiled and placed his hand directly on the bulge, beginning to palm it through his pants.

Wonwoo tilted his head back, adam’s apple on full display. Mingyu continued to palm him in rhythmic circles in complete awe of the pleasured out Wonwoo below him. He pressed down harder, making him respond with louder, more lewd noises and Mingyu felt like he could come just from the sound alone.

“Fuck,” Mingyu grumbeled as he placed a kiss on Wonwoo’s temple, letting his lips linger there as he spoke. “You look so good like this.”

“Mingyu- agh!” Wonwoo was cut off by Mingyu going under his waist band and reaching inside his pants, getting a better feel for Mingyu’s hand around him. Mingyu didn’t stop, feeling Wonwoo become harder and eventually completely stiff beneath his hand.

He couldn’t stop there, he needed more. He wanted to taste every part of Wonwoo. Pulling his hand out, a little nervous, Mingyu sat up to look at him.

“Can I suck your dick?”

Wonwoo let out a breathy sound at the question. He looked down at Mingyu, face looking exhausted with a pink hue covering his cheeks. “Are you sure?”

Mingyu nodded, leaning over to give Wonwoo a quick but hard kiss on the mouth. “I wanna taste you. All of you.”

Wonwoo looked up at Mingyu, eyes looking like they held an array of stars and galaxies, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. “Okay.”

Mingyu slowly pulled down Wonwoo’s pants and boxers, making the latter wince at the cool air meeting the dampness between his legs. Mingyu held Wonwoo’s length in his hands, which was a lot bigger than Mingyu had expected. 

Mingyu had never held one besides his own. Something about the pale pink skin contrasting against his tan hand made him feel even more turned on.

He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to do it, but at the very least could imagine how he would want it done to himself. His thumb made its way to the tip, smearing the pre-come over the head. 

Here goes nothing.

Mingyu got to work, starting with kitten licks on his tip. He could feel his own hard-on begin to pulse as Wonwoo let out a bunch of low moans and hums. He decided to not waste any time, eager to see how Wonwoo would respond to what he was about to do. 

His nervousness now replaced with anticipation, he took his whole length into his mouth letting it hit the back of his throat with no warning.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck…”

Mingyu looked up and met Wonwoo’s eyes, feeling even more motivated to keep going. He hallowed his cheeks, trying to make the space feel tighter, and began to bob his head at a steady pace.

“Oh my God…” he heard Wonwoo breathe out, satisfaction and pride creeping into his system. Mingyu began to move even faster, picking up tempo but keeping a steady pace, not wanting Wonwoo to lose concentration. He watched as Wonwoo’s mouth opened but no sounds came out as he squirmed beneath him, his hips beginning to jerk, trying to fuck into Mingyu’s mouth.

Mingyu placed a strong hand on his hips, keeping him down.

Never in his life did he imagine being so horny from having a man's dick in his mouth.

“Mmm, Mingyu. I’m gonna come,” Wonwoo practically whispered as his hands reached out to grip Mingyu's hair. Mingyu had to admit, this was a lot easier than he thought. He found himself genuinely enjoying the taste, tongue swirling around the pulsing member and pre-come tricking into his throat. He loved this.

“Mingyu… Mingyu…” Wonwoo said a little more sternly this time, loosely attempting to pry Mingyu off with his hand in his hair. “Unless you want me to come in your mouth, Mingyu, get off.”

Hearing those words turned Mingyu on beyond what he thought was possible from just hearing someone speak. Feeling newly determined, Mingyu placed his hand on the base of Wonwoo’s dick and began to pump him, his mouth directly at the tip, ready to catch whatever would come out.

Wonwoo let out his loudest moan yet as his body trembled and hips stuttered. Strings of a thick liquid sprang out of Wonwoo and directly into Mingyu’s throat. 

Mingyu savored the taste, the sweet and salty sensation dancing on his taste buds. He fixated on the pleasure he felt from feeling cum go down his throat, especially gratified with the fact that it was Wonwoo's. He swallowed as much as he could and removed his mouth from the now soft head. 

He crawled up to Wonwoo who was still catching his breath and took his lips in his, swirling his tongue around his mouth to let him taste himself. Mingyu pulled back, just inches away from Wonwoo who looked at Mingyu like he put the sun in the sky.

Mingyu wiped his mouth, a bit of come on his fingers. He brought his fingers into his mouth, not letting any of it go to waste.

“Are you sure you’ve never done that before?”

Mingyu let out a breathy laugh, fingers playing with the strands on Wonwoo’s forehead. “I can say with full confidence that that was my first time.” He gave him a peck on the forehead. “I knew you’d taste good.”

Wonwoo smiled shyly and shoved Mingyu away with a blush on his face. He looked down, Mingyu’s very obvious erection catching his attention.

“Hm,” Mingyu said, following his eyes and looking down at himself. “Oh. Don’t worry about that-”

“Are you sure?” Wonwoo asked with a smirk. Mingyu looked down at him. His hair was a mess, his neck and chest were flushed pink, hickeys beginning to form over his abdomen

“God, how could I say no?” Mingyu slotted his lips against his and pulled away with a pop. Oh how he wished he could leave more hickeys on his neck and collar bones again. He ran his hand tenderly up and down the older boy's neck. “You drive me crazy, you know?”

Wonwoo stared at Mingyu in awe, eyes still hooded. “I know,” he said with a cunning smile. “I have an idea.”

The elder proceeded to sit up slightly against his pillows. “Okay now walk over to me on your knees.” 

Mingyu was confused, his brain unable to understand the position but did as told. 

“Closer…” Wonwoo pried. 

Mingyu obliged as Wonwoo motioned to him to keep going until he was eventually directly in front of him, his crotch lined up perfectly with Wonwoo’s face.

Oh.

“Just hold on to the headboard if you lose balance.” And without a warning, Wonwoo pulled down Mingyu’s pants and took him into his mouth. 

Mingyu gasped, placing a hand on the wall to steady himself. Fuck. 

Was Wonwoo really having him fuck his mouth?

He watched as Wonwoo bobbed his head with fluttering eyelashes, looking as pretty as ever with his entire length in his mouth. Mingyu began to thrust, small groans leaving his mouth at how good it felt. 

He chased his mouth as he picked up the pace. Soon after, Mingyu had one hand on the headboard and one on the back of Wonwoo’s head. 

He fucked Wonwoo’s mouth silly as the boy below him held onto Mingyu’s thighs to keep him in place. 

“God,” Mingyu breathed, tilting his head back in serene pleasure, hips not faltering in movement. “You feel so good.” He concentrated on the warm wetness of Wonwoo’s mouth and how small it was compared to Mingyu’s girth. He couldn’t help but let out short breathless “ah”s as he felt himself begging to reach his climax. 

Feeling like he needed to be even deeper, he began to push Wonwoo’s head toward him with every thrust, making the older boy let out a few chokes. Mingyu could feel sweat begin to accumulate on his chest.

“Fuck, Won- mmm… I’m gonna come… so fucking hot.” He thrusted faster and tugged on Wonwoo’s hair even harder, his vision beginning to blur. He looked down at his lover, eyebrows furrowed and jaw hanging slack.

The faster pace sent him over the edge. His hips began to stutter and his legs trembled as he released into Wonwoo’s throat, holding his head in place. He watched with dark eyes as Wonwoo looked up at him through his lashes and swallowed down his come.

Wonwoo pulled away once he was done. His lips were red at this point and swollen beyond repair– eyes tearful. Mingyu gathered himself briefly before tucking himself back in his pants.

He slowly sat back down on the bed, heart still racing and mind still swirling. He took in his boyfriend's tearful eyes and bright lips. 

“Are you okay? I was kinda rough there in the end I’m sorry, baby,” Mingyu said as he ran a thumb over Wonwoo's lip.

“I’m okay,” Wonwoo said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “You looked really fucking hot man handling me like that, you know?”

Mingyu groaned. “Don’t tell me that when I can’t get hard anymore.” 

Wonwoo laughed. They let their lips find each other, kissing slowly, this time with a lot more passion and affection than the previous times. The two pulled away from each other, and laid down, agreeing they’d clean up in a bit.

“So…” Wonwoo started, now resting his head on Mingyu’s chest. “Should we order ramen or pizza?”

Notes:

feedback is always appreciated :) happy late new year!!

Chapter 21: Am I Your Fantasy?

Notes:

thirteen thousand reads what the fuck (i'm scared)

no but thank u so much :')

shorter chapter today but i hope it's a nice filler, enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

For Mingyu and Wonwoo, dating each other was so exciting and natural all at the same time. 

Sleepovers became frequent. They’d cuddle up on Wonwoo’s tiny bed, falling asleep tangled together. Their mornings consisted of lazy kisses and whispered good mornings before they had to rush off to class or work.

After Mingyu’s classes, they would meet up for quick lunches as they caught up with each other on their day so far. Wonwoo would surprise Mingyu with coffee or snacks, knowing exactly how he liked his order, while Mingyu would show up to Wonwoo’s work and do some school work as he waited for his boyfriend to clock out, making the long shifts feel more bearable for Wonwoo… sometimes.

 

Mingyu leaned over the bar, eyeing Wonwoo carefully as he mixed a drink. "You know, I’m not sure that twist of lime is up to par. Maybe you need to go back to bartending school," he said with a pretentious look.

Wonwoo scoffed and poured the drink into a glass "Is that so? You think you could do better?"

Mingyu sighed. "Well, I don’t want to show you up in front of your customers…"

Wonwoo slid the drink across the bar. "You’re welcome to try, but I’m pretty sure my tips would disagree with you."

Mingyu took a sip of the drink, pretending to ponder and smacking his lips afterward. "Hmm, alright, not bad. I guess you can keep your job… for now."

"Thanks. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing I’ve got an approval from a biochem major-” 

“Hey, hey! Future doctor.”

“Great. Even more validating,” Wonwoo said flatly as he handed Mingyu a tab for the drink, making him pout.

 

Study sessions also became a regular occurrence, with Mingyu bringing over his books and laptop to Wonwoo’s room. They’d spread out their materials on the small desk, often getting distracted by each other’s presence. These study sessions, however, had the tendency to turn into impromptu debates or heavy makeout sessions, the time slipping away until they realized they hadn’t made much progress on their assignments.

But despite their busy schedules, they still always found ways to be with each other, making even the most mundane college activities feel exciting.

In spending all that time with Mingyu, Wonwoo found himself spending a little more time with Mingyu’s friends. With only having been in the relationship for less than a month, Wonwoo was pleasantly surprised when Hansol told him that Minghao was planning to throw Mingyu a surprise birthday party and that he wanted his input for ideas.

He was even more surprised when he was told that Soonyoung was invited too.

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Minghao sighed. “He said he really wants to make things right. He asked me today if he could come, said one of your high school friends is going to be visiting from China and asked if he could come, too.”

Seungkwan adjusted himself from where he sat on Wonwoo’s desk chair. “Who else is being invited?”

Minghao looked up in thought. “Us, Wonwoo’s friends, Jungkook, Minnie, Yoohyeon, Karina and some friends from our old college. I was gonna look through his instagram too to see who else I could invite.”

“So what are you guys thinking? Like, for the surprise I mean?” Wonwoo asked, looking at the three boys. They had all shown up to Wonwoo’s room without warning when Mingyu was in class in hopes of planning something soon. His birthday was only a week away.

“No idea. My place is too small and everyone else lives in dorms, so we’re thinking of having it at Hasnol’s parents’ house,” Minghao said, plopping on Wonwoo’s bed.

“Oh.” Wonwoo was a little taken aback. “Are you sure that’s okay with your family?” he asked, looking at Hansol with concern.

He shrugged. “Yeah. My parents work remotely so they travel a lot. My sister’s at a boarding school so she wouldn’t be there either. We’d have the whole place to ourselves.”

“We were thinking of having Hansol take Mingyu out for lunch or something and then ask him if he wants to come over to swim in his pool,” Minghao chimed.

“But, the issue is he’d probably want to spend his birthday with you and not his roommate,” Seungkwan added.

“Okay…” Wonwoo said, pondering. “What if I just drive Mingyu to Hansol’s?”

“That would be the obvious solution, but we feel like if you suggested going to Hansol’s place it would kinda give it away,” Minghao stated. He had a point, Wonwoo thought, but he didn’t see another way for it to go.

“Unless you act like you’re busy that day…” Seungkwan says, looking over at Wonwoo. “What if you tell him you have a shift or something and can’t spend the day with him?”

“That could work, actually. What do you think, Wonwoo? That way he would be open to hanging out with Hansol instead,” Minghao perked.

Wonwoo couldn’t help the uneasiness he felt at the thought of lying to Mingyu, especially on his birthday. The younger boy hadn’t yet brought up anything that implied he wanted to spend his birthday with Wonwoo, so at least there’s that.

“Yeah... I can do that.”

“Okay, perfect. I’ll make a groupchat with just us four,” Minghao said, pulling out his phone with an excited expression on his face.

Wonwoo would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous. Not only is there the part where he has to tell Mingyu he can’t see him on his birthday, he would also be meeting some of Mingyu’s old friends. As far as they knew, Mingyu only liked women, so what would happen if Mingyu introduced him as his boyfriend? Or worse, what if Mingyu is too shy or embarrassed to introduce Wonwoo to his friends.

He didn’t think it was likely, but he couldn’t help but feel a sinking feeling at the possibility of his sexuality being ridiculed again. 

 

It was Mingyu’s 17th birthday, which was obvious due to the big obnoxious ‘17’ balloons moving slowly as they hovered above him and his usual crowd in their school courtyard. The sun was bright, and the laughter was loud as they celebrated with a small, red velvet cake and no candles because open flames are against school policy, of course.

“Fucking attention seeker,” Wonwoo scoffed as they made their way towards the school entrance, having to pass by them. 

Jun hummed. “He needs people to give him attention or he’ll die. He’s like Tinkerbell.”

They passed by the group without a glance. All was well until a voice called out behind them.

“Hey Wonwoo! You dropped something.”

Wonwoo shut his eyes, stopping in his tracks. Jun glanced over to Wonwoo, refusing to turn around either. He gave Wonwoo a look that said “what should we do?”

Wonwoo blinked a few times before he kept walking, Jun following hesitantly.

“Did you not hear me? Get your ass over here.”

Wonwoo sighed deeply and turned to the group who was watching him with amused expressions. Jaebom stood slightly in front of them with Wonwoo’s phone in his hand.

“You dropped your phone, silly,” he perked, eyes unwavering as he handed the device to Wonwoo. 

Wonwoo’s eyebrows furrowed as he felt around his pockets and realized that he indeed had dropped his phone. He huffed out a breath and reached out to take it only for Jaebom to pull it back. “Not too fast. Have you wished Mingyu a happy birthday yet?”

Wonwoo’s stomach twisted in knots. “No,” he said with a flat expression.

Jaebom tilted his head. “That’s rude. Actually, he’s got something to tell you, don’t you Mingyu?”

Wonwoo refused to turn away from Jaebom as Mingyu slowly made his way towards him, his stupid friends giggling behind him.

“Uh, hey,” Mingyu started, forcing a smile. 

Wonwoo’s face flushed, and he opened his mouth to respond, but Siwon interrupted, coming out of nowhere and slinging an arm around Wonwoo’s shoulders like they were good friends.

“Yeah, Mingyu here wants to give you a special birthday gift,” Siwon sneered. “How about a kiss?”

The group burst into laughter, but Wonwoo didn’t flinch. Instead, his eyes narrowed.

He turned to Mingyu, looking directly into his eyes. If  Wonwoo didn’t know any better, he would say the taller boy looked guilty. “If you’re going to make fun of me, at least have the guts to do it without using your friends to do it for you.”

Mingyu’s already uneasy expression faltered slightly, his eyes flashing with something that looked a lot like hurt, but Wonwoo didn’t care. There was a moment of awkward silence as Mingyu’s friends exchanged glances. 

Siwon tightened his grip on Wonwoo’s shoulder, his smile turning cold. “What’s the matter? Can’t take a joke?”

Wonwoo tried to shrug off Siwon’s arm, but the pressure only increased, and Wonwoo winced.

“Just… just give him back his phone,” Mingyu muttered, his voice tired as he ran his hand through his hair.

Wonwoo took his phone out of the boy’s hand before turning and walking away, leaving Mingyu and his friends in uncomfortable silence.

Wonwoo made his way back into the school building where Jun was waiting for him. He waved his phone at him to indicate that he got it back. The two walked in silence to their first class, a lump forming in Wonwoo’s throat although his expression remained steady.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Jun asked as they turned a corner.

“No.” Wonwoo let out a deep breath. “I just can’t wait to graduate next month.”

 

Wonwoo sat on his bed, the room brightly lit by the glow of the afternoon sun beaming through the open windows. It was spring, and Wonwoo appreciated that it finally wasn’t too cold where he needed to shut all his windows and turn on his space heater. Luna lay curled up beside him, her soft purring a comforting background noise. His thoughts drifted back to the days in high school when life was different—when Mingyu was different. 

He remembered the taunts, the laughter at his expense, and the way Mingyu had stood by. The hurt of those moments lingered somewhere in the back of his mind, despite everything that had changed between them. 

He glanced at Luna. Keeping her close grounded him, but it couldn’t fully pull him out of the cloud of melancholy that had settled over him. He wasn’t sure why these thoughts were resurfacing, but he should have known they wouldn’t disappear just because he and Mingyu had a good month together.

The door clicked open, and Wonwoo looked up to see Mingyu step into the room with a bright expression. Mingyu had a carefree energy that Wonwoo had come to admire, but today, it made him feel even more distant for some reason.

“Hey, handsome,” Mingyu said with a wide smile, stepping closer. “I finished my last class early, so I thought I’d come say hi before you head to work.” He leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, but paused when Wonwoo didn’t respond. “Everything okay?”

Wonwoo sighed, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. He wanted to push it aside, to enjoy the moment with Mingyu, but the memories clung to him. “I was just… thinking.”

“About what?” Mingyu asked, his smile fading into concern as he sat down next to him on the bed. He placed his hand behind Wonwoo’s head and softly combed his fingers through his hair like he always did.

Wonwoo hesitated, his hand still resting on Luna’s back. “About the way things were between us… back then.”

Mingyu’s expression shifted, a flicker of guilt and understanding passing through his eyes. “Oh,” he said softly, pulling back his hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were still thinking about that.”

“It’s hard not to sometimes,” Wonwoo admitted, looking down at Luna. “Especially when I’m alone. I know things are different now, but the memories… they still kind of sit there and… they hurt.”

Mingyu reached out, gently taking Wonwoo’s hand in his. “If I could go back and change everything, I would. In a heartbeat.”

Wonwoo nodded, appreciating the sincerity in Mingyu’s voice. “I know you’re sorry, and I believe you, but… it’s just not something that goes away overnight. I wish it was, trust me.”

Mingyu’s eyes softened, and he squeezed Wonwoo’s hand a little tighter. “I get that. And I don’t expect you to forget it all just because we’re together now. I just want to be here for you.”

Wonwoo looked up, meeting his boyfriend’s gaze. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “It helps, it really does.”

Mingyu leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of Wonwoo’s mouth. Wonwoo allowed himself to lean into Mingyu’s touch, feeling a small sense of relief wash over him.

Mingyu continued to absentmindedly run his fingers through Wonwoo’s hair, eyeing him in such a honey-dripping, loving way that made Wonwoo’s heart swell in disbelief that someone could care about him so much. All of which made his current emotions all that more conflicting. 

“When all that stuff happened,” Mingyu started, tone soft and eyes focused on the soft brown locks under his fingers. “The teasing, the bullying– I didn’t even want to do it.”

Wonwoo looked at him with curiosity. “I think I gathered that after the first few encounters. Why did you?” he asked. There was no accusation in his tone, just the need to understand.

Mingyu let his hand drop from Wonwoo’s hair once again. “Because… I was scared. My friends thought it was funny, and if I didn’t join in, I knew they’d turn on me. I was a coward,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to lose their approval, so I went along with it, even though it felt wrong.”

Wonwoo watched Mingyu carefully, seeing the genuine remorse etched into his features. “I get it.”

“But that’s not an excuse,” Mingyu quickly added, finally lifting his gaze to meet Wonwoo’s. “I was… I was weak. I was still part of the problem.”

Wonwoo felt conflicted. He could always tell Mingyu’s friends were a lot more relentless than he was. All the times he ran into Mingyu without his friends, the taller boy would just ignore him, sometimes even try to avoid him, but never confronted him on his own even once. 

“I appreciate you talking about this with me.” Wonwoo grabbed his boyfriend’s hand and placed it on his lap, starting to fiddle with his fingers.

Mingyu sighed. “I’m sorry for every time I didn’t stop them. I just… I don’t...”

It was clear that this topic of conversation wasn’t easy for him, and Wonwoo felt a mixture of empathy and sadness as he watched him find the right words.

“I can’t say that it still doesn't come up for me sometimes,” Wonwoo admitted. “But… I know that you’re genuinely sorry, and that you’ve changed. That means a lot to me.”

Mingyu reached out, gently cupping Wonwoo’s face with his hand, eyes full of doubtless adoration. “I don’t care if we have to talk about it every single day,” he said earnestly before pressing a quick peck on his lips. “I want you to feel like you can talk about this with me anytime.”

Wonwoo smiled and leaned in again to press his lips to Mingyu’s. The taller boy reciprocated with a hand to his nape, deepening it a little bit. Their mouths moved in sync for a few moments before Mingyu made a “mph!” noise and pulled back. He quickly hopped off the bed, leaving Wonwoo dumbfounded.

“I have an idea! I’ll be right back!” he said excitedly as he ran out the door, hands waving sporadically. His footsteps were loud as he ran down the hallway.

The commotion must have disturbed Luna as she slowly got up and made her way to her scratch post. Mingyu had the tendency to do that a lot.

Less than five minutes later, Mingyu returned to the room with a simple glass jar, the kind you might find at a thrift store, and a stack of small, colorful paper squares.

Wonwoo watched as Mingyu turned the jar in his hands, a thoughtful look on his face. “What-”

"I saw this on Instagram reels…" Mingyu began, hesitantly. "What if we make a memory jar? You know, we write down little things we want to remember—like funny moments, good days, or even just random thoughts—and put them in here."

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, intrigued and amused by the idea. "Okay,” he said looking at his boyfriend with a warm smile. “And then what? We open it up later and read them together?"

"Exactly," Mingyu said, nodding with a smile. "It’s like a little time capsule for us."

Wonwoo felt his heart fill with emotion at the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. "All right. Let me grab some pens."

They spent the next hour writing down moments they’d already shared—like their first dance at the party, inside jokes that had become a secret language between them, and even the time Mingyu had accidentally confessed to Wonwoo when he was drunk.

Each memory they noted down seemed to fill the room with a warm nostalgia. The papers were folded and dropped into the jar, making the previously empty container look a lot more lively and bright.

As they finished, Mingyu looked at the jar, now speckled with colors, and felt a sense of hope and excitement. "I can’t wait to see how full this gets," he said softly, his voice laced with affection.

Wonwoo leaned in, his lips brushing against Mingyu’s in a tender kiss. "Me too," he murmured. "Do you mind if I keep these with me in the meantime?"

“Go ahead,” Mingyu said as he plopped down on Wonwoo’s bed, leaning his back against the wall. He opened his arms, motioning for Wonwoo to come sit between his legs to which he did. “And we can just add more whenever we want.” Mingyu pressed a kiss to Wonwoo’s temple before wrapping his arms around his middle, his chest pressed against his back.

Wonwoo sighed in content at being in Mingyu’s comforting arms and smiled over at the colorful jar on his desk. He embraced the sense of hope he felt as he focused on the fact that the jar was still mostly empty, with plenty of space and time to make more memories.

"You know," Mingyu began, making Wonwoo turn his head up towards him, "when I realized I liked you, one thought that kept recurring was what it would have been like if I never rejected you. Like, if I had actually taken you seriously and gotten to know you better.”

Wonwoo turned to him and scoffed. "Really?"

Mingyu nodded, his eyes drifting to the jar. "Yeah. I mean, what if I hadn’t let my friends get in the way? I didn’t even know I liked guys back then but what if I had been honest with myself, and with you? I could've at least tried to be your friend and eventually would've fallen for you probably. Maybe we could’ve started dating back then, and things would’ve been so different."

Wonwoo sat up a little straighter and positioned himself so he could face Mingyu. "Can’t say my mind ever went there after I gave you that letter. How do you think it would’ve turned out?" he asked, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Mingyu chuckled softly, leaning back against the wall. "I don’t know…. Maybe I would’ve joined the student council to spend more time with you.”

Wonwoo laughed at the thought, shaking his head. "I don’t know if you would’ve survived the student council," he teased. "But I would’ve loved showing you around, trying to impress you with all my knowledge on school regulations and policies."

"I would’ve pretended to understand what you were talking about just to impress you," Mingyu said, his tone a mix of sincerity and jest. "And who knows, maybe we would’ve gone to prom together.”

Wonwoo barked out another laugh. "We’d make for a very unlikely pair.”

Mingyu nudged his side with a pout. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s true Mingyu. You were super cool and popular or whatever. I was a scrawny, student council kid who nobody liked,” Wonwoo replied, shaking his head.

Mingyu frowned, leaning in closer. “Don’t talk about my boyfriend like that. Looking back now I think you were cool in your own way.”

“You didn’t even know I existed until I handed you that stupid love letter,” Wonwoo said with a snort.

Mingyu shook Wonwoo playfully. “Don’t call it stupid! And of course I knew you existed! I just… didn’t know you aside from your student council role. Maybe we would’ve been unlikely back then, but look at us now! We’re still figuring things out, but we’re doing it together.”

Wonwoo gave a shy smile, turning his body and falling back into Mingyu’s chest. “Yeah. I guess.”

Mingyu placed a loud, dramatic kiss on Wonwoo’s cheek, making the older boy laugh. “Besides, we would’ve been the most interesting couple at school. People would talk about us all the time.”

“Oh, the scandal. I can imagine.”

Mingyu laughed along. “You could’ve let me get away with a tardy once or twice. Really seal the deal.”

Wonwoo scoffed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously into you,” Mingyu teased. 

Wonwoo turned to glare at him for his corniness. Mingyu only smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

“It’s funny to think about how different things could’ve been,” Wonwoo said, pensative. “Imagine if we went to college together? Would’ve been each other’s first everything."

"You already are my first everything. I imagine Alex wouldn’t have been in the picture, though.”

Wonwoo leaned back, considering Mingyu’s point. “True. Maybe it’s better we waited. I was able to have a little lab rat and learn from being with him so that I could make less mistakes with you.”

Mingyu burst out laughing. “Lab rat?! Oh, baby, what did he do to you?” he asked dramatically as he wrapped his arms around him protectively.

Wonwoo laughed, face flushing. “It’s true! Alex sucked but I’m sure I wasn’t the perfect boyfriend either.”

“Doubt it. You are perfect. There’s no mistake you could make that would make me leave you,” Mingyu deadpanned.

Wonwoo hummed. “What if I set the kitchen on fire one day?”

Mingyu waved his hand. “That’s what insurance is for.”

Wonwoo laughed and looked up in thought. “What if I accidentally deleted one of your lab reports?”

“I’ll rewrite it. No biggie.”

Wonwoo smiled, amused that Mingyu still wouldn't crack. “What if I cheated on you?”

“I probably deserved it.”

“Oh my God, Mingyu!”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” Mingyu replied with a laugh. “Try not to do any of those, please.”

“No promises on not setting the kitchen on fire.”

Mingyu sighed and looked down at Wonwoo, adjusting his glasses. “We’ll keep the fire extinguisher in the kitchen.”

Wonwoo smiled, a gentle, almost bittersweet expression. "You know… being with you is challenging for me sometimes, but… it still beats not being with you.”

Mingyu smiled and raised a teasing eyebrow. “Who’s the sappy one now?”

“Still you.” 

Wonwoo reached for his phone to check the time, only to realize his shift started in twenty minutes and he still wasn’t ready. “Fuck. I have to get to work,” he said as he scrambled out of Mingyu’s grasp and to his closet to pull out the first black shirt he could find and quickly change into it.

“Oh shit! Sorry, baby! Actually, I was gonna ask if I can go with you today. I have an assignment that’s kicking my ass and I really need to work on it. You won’t even know I’m there! I’ll just sit where I usually do behind the-”

“Mingyu, if you can be ready to go in two minutes, then yes.”

“O-okay!” Mingyu practically yelled as he scrambled out the door to fetch his backpack from his room. Wonwoo couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as he imagined Mingyu sprinting down the hallway, probably disrupting the poor people below him with his heavy footsteps.

Once they arrived, they headed to their designated spots– Wonwoo behind the bar counter and Mingyu off to the side, still nearby but not in his boyfriend's immediate view.

The bar hummed softly with the low murmur of conversation as Wonwoo’s hands moved through the familiar rhythm of pouring drinks and wiping down surfaces. Mingyu sat routinely, laptop open with a fresh beer beside him. There was comfort in the two of them existing in the same space, even if it was quietly and to themselves.

Throughout his shift, Wonwoo glanced over occasionally, watching Mingyu type with intense focus, his brow furrowed. He laughed as Mingyu looked up at him.

“What?”

“Still not over how you treat this place like a library,” Wonwoo replied with a fond smile.

Mingyu playfully narrowed his eyes at him. “I work better with ambience. Besides, I am a paying customer of this establishment. You haven’t even picked up my empty glass yet. What kind of service is this?”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes as he picked up the empty beer glass. “Anything else, sir?” he asked with mock professionality.

“Hmmm. Actually, I’ll have a gin and tonic, please.”

Wonwoo raised his eyebrows. “You know that’s mostly liquor, right?”

“Trust me, I know. I’ll need it if I want to complete this assignment without ripping my hair out.”

Wonwoo shrugged. “All right then. One gin and tonic coming up.” 

“Thank you, baby,” Mingyu muttered as he turned his attention back to his computer screen.

The night went on with Wonwoo attending to customers, only glancing at Mingyu every so often. The younger boy seemed to be hyper focused on whatever he was working on, though that didn’t stop him from ordering more drinks– more than usual. 

Wonwoo didn’t comment on it, recognizing the stress Mingyu must be under. He also knew his boyfriend well enough to know that he would not get drunk if he thought it would affect his school work. Granted, he was quite impressed at how Mingyu was able to stay on task after his third drink.

It was when he was on his fourth, though, that Wonwoo began to notice the signs– Mingyu’s typing slowed, his eyes lingered on the same spot, and he leaned heavily on one hand.

When Mingyu’s head bobbed forward suddenly, jerking him awake, Wonwoo bit back a laugh. Double checking to make sure Karina was taking care of the customers, he walked back towards where Mingyu was sitting.

“You sure you’re pacing yourself?” 

“I’m good,” Mingyu insisted, blinking hard at his screen. “Just… thinking.” His laptop screen, however, had gone dark, untouched for who knows how long. 

“Right. So productive,” Wonwoo said, clearly amused. 

Mingyu pointed a finger at him, eyes narrowed. “I know what you’re thinking, and I’ll have you know I’m perfectly sober.” 

Wonwoo leaned casually against the bar, his smile growing. “That’s why your laptop’s been asleep for a while, huh?” 

Mingyu glared at his screen, betrayed by the technology. “Traitor,” he muttered under his breath.

Wonwoo sighed and slid a glass of water over to the counter. “Cutting you off. Water for you.” 

“You’re so strict,” Mingyu mumbled, receiving the glass of water. He took a sip, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile as he met Wonwoo’s gaze before he powered on his laptop again. 

By the time Wonwoo was ready to leave, Mingyu’s head had dropped onto his arm, quiet snores barely audible over the music. Wonwoo watched him for a moment, amused.

“We should put his hand in the water cup,” came Karina’s voice behind him.

Wonwoo chuckled, turning to her. “I would be down, but I’m clocking out now. You’d have to be the one to clean the mess.”

“Shit. You’re right. Nevermind,” she said with a shrug before walking away.

It didn’t take much to wake Mingyu up, thankfully. Although he did get a few looks from the other patrons who were probably wondering how he got away with falling asleep at the bar.

“Damn. I needed that,” Mingyu said as he got into the passenger seat of Wonwoo’s car.

“What? Time to work on your assignment?”

“No. A nap,” he replied followed by a yawn. Wonwoo pulled out of the parking lot while Mingyu’s head still spun a little. He stretched and placed his feet on the dashboard.

Wonwoo glanced over at him a few times before speaking up. “Min?”

“Yes?”

“Put your feet down.”

Mingyu pouted. “What? Why?”

“Because you’re gonna get my car dirty,” Wonwoo whined playfully.

Mingyu sighed and put his feet down, fiddling with something below him. A few seconds later his feet were back up, this time in his socks.

“Min…”

“What? My socks aren’t dirty!”

“Your feet smell.”

“I- what?” Mingyu turned to look at Wonwoo, horrified. “Wait, really?”

“No,” his boyfriend chuckled. “But it is a hazard, you know?”

Mingyu scoffed. “Oh no. Wouldn’t want to get into a feet related accident,” he joked, wiggling his toes.

Wonwoo sighed, shaking his head. 

The hum of the tires against the asphalt filled the car for the next few minutes as they drove down the highway, the glow of the dashboard lights casting soft, red shadows on their faces.

Mingyu scrolled through Wonwoo’s phone looking for a playlist when it suddenly began to buzz. The contact name shone on the car screen, connecting to the bluetooth. 

Mingyu frowned. “Seriously?”

“What the fuck?” Wonwoo muttered, eyeing the screen in front of him. He looked over at Mingyu who looked annoyed beyond his mind.

Wonwoo shrugged, thinking he should just let it ring.

“Answer it,” Mingyu said abruptly, looking determined.

Wonwoo gave him a cautious look before he took a deep breath and accepted the call.

“Hey, Wonwoo!” The voice on the other end was overly cheery, almost like it’s trying too hard. “Just wanted to check in. Been a while.”

Mingyu scoffed.

“Hi Alex. Yeah, it has,” Wonwoo replied, his tone polite but clipped.

“How’ve you been? Hey, whatever happened to Luna?” Alex’s tone was annoyingly casual, as if they hadn’t left things awkward the last time they spoke. At this point, Wonwoo had assumed— hoped— that there was no need to speak to him again. Even if he never updated him on the situation, he didn’t see why he owed it to him to do that. Plus, he literally left all his messages after that on delivered. 

“She’s good,” Wonwoo said simply. “And yeah, I’m doing good. Busy.”

Mingyu could feel his eye twitch.

“Busy, huh?” Alex said with a chuckle. “That makes sense. You were always so hardworking.”

Mingyu tilted his neck left and right, making a cracking sound. 

“Miss talking to you, man,” Alex continued. “You’re still in LA, right? Maybe we could catch up sometime?”

Wonwoo glanced at Mingyu who looked like he was ready to punch the windshield “I don’t think that’s—”

Mingyu groaned loudly. “Hey, Alex” he cut in, his voice sharp but not overly aggressive.

There was a pause on the line. “Who’s that?” 

“Remember me? It’s Mingyu.” The words landed with a feign innocence as Wonwoo let out a small laugh, keeping his eyes on the road.

“Oh. Mingyu,” Alex relayed, his tone turning less enthusiastic. “Still hanging around, huh?”

Mingyu leaned closer to the speaker on the car, dropping the phone onto his lap.“Yeah, I'm still hanging around. Permanently, though.”

Alex’s tone stiffened. “Huh. Didn’t think you’d still be in the picture.”

“Funny, I thought the same about you. And yet… here you are,” Mingyu mused with a fake smile.

Wonwoo tried (and failed) to suppress a laugh, his finger already hovering over the red button, ready to end the call at any given point.

“Guess I should have known. You always did follow him around like a lost puppy.”

“Hey, you called him. Don’t get salty now.”

I’m not the salty one here-”

“Anyway, if you’d still like to catch up, Wonwoo and I can coordinate sometimes we’re both free and the three of us can grab a coffee. How does that sound?” Mingyu asked in a sweet tone, already knowing what the answer would be.

There was a silence before Alex spoke up again. “You know what, Mingyu, I never really understood-”

“Okay, we’re not doing this. Bye, Alex!” Wonwoo interjected, ending the call.

Mingyu muttered something under his breath and turned to look out the window with a pout. He was annoyed that this was still something he, no, Wonwoo, had to deal with but was glad that he was here to put Alex in his place. Kinda.

“You had way too much fun with that,” Wonwoo muttered, glancing over at him.

Mingyu raised an eyebrow and reached over to place his hand on his boyfriend’s thigh, giving it a light squeeze. “You think I’m letting him call and flirt with you while I sit here quietly? Please.”

Wonwoo smiled and placed his hand over his, letting it linger before placing it back on the steering wheel. “You’re still a little bit drunk, aren’t you?”

Mingyu sighed deeply, looking straight out at the road in front of them. “A little, yeah.”

 

 

 

Notes:

BYE ALEX (officially this time)

pls pls leave ur comments and feedback here or on neospring i really do love to read through all of them

next chapter is mingyu's surprise party.... ;)

Chapter 22: Now You Know

Notes:

so sorry for the delay long story short my university almost burned in the LA wildfires lmaooooo (actually was super scary). Luckily i was in my home country when it was happening but i had to keep delaying my return till it was safe because that fire was like 2 miles from campus. Fortunately the school remained untouched despite being super close so I am back :)

But unfortunately a lot of people in that area did lose their homes , so i am incredibly grateful.

Anyway, this chapter is all over the place but was super fun to write. Ahhh only one left + an epilogue after this!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Mingyu stood in front of his closet, staring at the rows of clothes with a bit more focus than usual. It was his birthday, and though he was excited, he couldn’t shake the disappointment that Wonwoo wasn’t available. He had said he had to work, which made sense—responsibilities didn’t stop for birthdays. But still, Mingyu had hoped they could spend the day together. Even Minghao said he had rehearsals all day and then a dance competition in the evening.

Mingyu sighed and pulled out a light blue button-up shirt, figuring it was a good balance between casual and slightly special. After slipping it on and adjusting the collar in the mirror, he ran a hand through his hair, trying to push aside the nagging feeling of something missing.

Hansol appeared at the doorway, already dressed in a similar outfit. He looked Mingyu up and down and smirked. “Looking good, birthday boy. Ready?”

Mingyu smiled, appreciating his roommate’s energy. “Yeah, ready. Thanks for setting this up, by the way.”

Hansol had offered to take Mingyu out for brunch when he found out the older boy planned to just stay home and mope. Although he wasn't his first choice, not that there was anything wrong with him, Hansol was insistent that they do something for his birthday. For that, Mingyu was grateful.

“No problem! It’s your day, man,” he replied, clapping Mingyu on the back as they headed out the door.

The brunch spot was small but high-end, with sunlight streaming through large windows and the scent of fresh coffee and maple syrup filling the air. Hansol apparently reserved a more secluded booth with a perfect view of the busy street corner outside. As they settled in, Mingyu took in the hustle and bustle of Rodeo Drive. Some people walked passed with shopping bags of luxury brands while others took touristy pictures and walked around aimlessly.

“Are you sure you could afford this place?” Mingyu couldn’t help but ask.

“Don’t worry about it. Damn… they couldn't have used a more legible font?” Hansol asked, looking quizzically at the menu.

Mingyu eyed the weird cursive on the laminated sheet. “I can only make out one item on here.”

Once they ordered and their plates of scrambled eggs and pancakes arrived, they reminisced about the past school year which admittedly seemed to be going by faster than Mingyu would like.

“I can’t believe it’ll be over soon,” Mingyu said, chewing on one of the decorative flowers that was placed on his pancake. “Feels like I just moved in. I’m still sorry I took Seungkwan’s spot.”

Hansol chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. “It’s okay. It worked out for the better. Even Seungkwan and I need our space sometimes and besides, we wouldn’t have met.”

“That’s true. Who knows who they would have put me with,” Mingyu said, cringing at the thought of getting a horrible roommate. He definitely lucked out with Hansol.

“Yeah thanks to you, I can make a mean ramen now,” Hansol quipped, grinning. “Oh, let me take a picture of you, so you can remember your 22nd birthday with your favorite roommate.”

Mingyu chuckled and rested his head on his hand. Hansol leaned back slightly, trying to get a good angle.

“Whew… have you ever considered modeling?” Hansol said as he looked over the photo and then pocketed his phone.

“Maybe if this doctor thing doesn't work out.” Mingyu stirred around his straw in his smoothie. “Have you decided what you’re gonna do for your living situation next year yet?”

“Yeah. I think Seungkwan and I are gonna go apartment hunting soon. We’re gonna try to live off campus for our last two years. A little inconvenient but probably a lot cheaper. What about you?”

Mingyu sighed. He hadn’t given much thought to it yet. He wanted to stay on campus but he knew his chances were slim as first years and second years get priority. “I’m not sure. I’ll probably have to live off campus honestly. I have an internship starting this summer so I would need somewhere to stay and we need to be out of the dorms in June.” Mingyu shook his head, only now realizing how urgent his situation was. Maybe he should have been looking for places already.

“Oh,” Hansol said, looking pensive. “Would you want to live with me and Seungkwan? We could just get a two bedroom.”

Mingyu’s attention immediately perked up. “What? No, that’s okay, I wouldn’t want to intrude-”

“No, seriously. I can ask Seungkwan but I’m sure he’ll say yes. We’d probably save more money that way. It’s up to you, of course,” Hansol chimed, insistent.

“Are you sure?” Mingyu’s never lived with a couple but Hansol and Seungkwan seem pretty tolerable. He would just feel bad getting in their way. Moving in with your partner is a big milestone.

“Yes! Dude, it's not like we're starting a family together, it's literally just for convenience. Besides, Seungkwan likes you! He thinks you're funny and ‘totally fixable’ whatever that means.”

Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad, Mingyu thought. They would save money that way, and it wasn’t like it would be his first time living with Hansol. They already know each other’s living habits pretty well, and from what he’s seen, Seungkwan was even more neat and organized than Hansol was.

Mingyu nodded with a smile. “Okay, yeah.”

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah. That’d be great.”

“Cool. I’ll talk to Seungkwan.” Hansol gave a large grin before digging into his eggs. Mingyu couldn’t help the feeling of excitement as he thought about getting their own apartment.

They continued to share stories, from late-night study sessions to the spontaneous movie marathons they had on Hansol’s projector that he got on Temu. It was fun until it just suddenly stopped working after two weeks.

“I’m really glad we ended up as roommates. This year wouldn’t have been the same without you, man. Seeing you crash out because you had a crush on a guy was so fun.”

Mingyu rolled his eyes but nodded. “Same here. I’m glad the fun doesn’t have to stop after this year.” He held up his smoothie to Hansol who clinked his orange juice in a toast.

“And we can still make the most of these last couple of months, you know.”

“Oh, yeah. We should try to build that giant fort you showed me on tiktok.”

As they finished their meals, Mingyu felt his earlier disappointment fade, happy that despite not being able to spend this time with his closest friends, he still had people to fall back on.

“So you really have nothing else planned for today?” Hansol asked as they walked out of the restaurant and to the street corner where they stopped to call an uber.

“No. Even Jungkook and Minnie had something to do today. Don’t know why everyone’s so busy on a Saturday all of a sudden,” Mingyu grumbled with a pout.

“Damn. Well, I was gonna ask if you wanted to come over to my family’s pool? They live like twenty minutes away. You can borrow some swim trunks.”

Mingyu raised his eyebrows, obviously not expecting the invitation. “Are you sure? I don’t want to just show up to your parents’ house. Your sister and I didn’t get off on a great foot, either,” he said, chuckling at the memory of he and Hansol’s sister staring at each other, equally confused on move-in day.

The younger man shook his head with a laugh. “Nah, man. It’s cool, really. No one should be home. We can order takeout or something. C’mon, it’ll be fun!”

He did have a point. Mingyu hadn’t been swimming in almost two years, never having access to a pool and not being huge on beaches considering all the beaches where he’s from were freezing cold all year round.

“Okay. Yeah, let’s go.”

“Sick!” Hansol exclaimed, excitedly nudging him in the arm. “Let me call the uber now.”

 


 

Wonwoo, Minghao, and Seungkwan were hustling around Chwe residence, trying to put the final touches on the surprise party. The house wasn't a mansion, but given that it was a two story house in a suburban neighborhood, it was safe to assume that Hansol’s parents were more than well off.  

Wonwoo was meticulously adjusting the decorations, making sure everything looked perfect. He was hyper-focused, his eyes darting between the banners, the table settings, and even his own reflection in the mirror.

“You can relax, you know?" Seungkwan said with a laugh, noticing Wonwoo’s intense concentration. “The place looks great.”

Wonwoo sighed, still fussing with a balloon arch. “I just want everything to be perfect. Does this look uneven to you?”

Minghao, trying to untangle a string of lights, added, “It looks fine, but you need to chill before you stress yourself out.”

Wonwoo didn't have time to respond when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He opened the incoming text message from Hansol and almost threw up.

Posing with his brunch, looking as radiant as ever was none other than his unbelievably attractive boyfriend. The sun hit his skin at just the right angle, making him glow. And of course, his facial expression was striking, confirming to Wonwoo once again that he quite literally hit the jackpot with the most gorgeous man he's ever seen.

“Oh my God,” Wonwoo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in agony. He still couldn't believe that Mingyu currently thinks he would rather be at work than with him on his birthday

Minghao walked over and looked over his shoulder, letting out a laugh and patting his arm.

“Keep it together, Wonwoo, you haven't even seen him in person yet.”

The taller boy dragged his feet into the kitchen.

Just then, Seungkwan’s phone vibrated with his own message from Hansol. “Shit. They're on their way!” He began to rummage through more boxes. “Where are those damn streamers? I know I packed them…”

Minghao laughed, holding up a tangled ball of streamers. “You mean these?”

They all moved frantically, trying to get everything done. Minghao hung the streamers while Seungkwan struggled to get the cake out of the box without messing up the icing.

“Why do cakes always have to be so fragile?” He grumbled, carefully placing it on the table. “It’s like they know we’re in a rush.”

“What flavor is that?” a voice asked, making Seungkwan jump.

“What the? How did you get in?” Seungkwan blinked at Jungkook who stood dumbfounded in the kitchen.

“Door was open.” 

Before Seungkwan could respond, Minnie walked in holding the biggest edible arrangement he’s ever seen. 

She plopped the gift on the counter and smiled brightly. “What time does Mingyu get here?”

In the hallway, Wonwoo checked his reflection again, smoothing out his shirt. “Do I look okay? Is this too much?” He played with his casual, white collared shirt. “I feel like I look like I’m gonna go play golf or something.”

Minghao gave Wonwoo an endeared look. “You look fine,” he reassured. “Here let me…” the shorter man unbuttoned the top three buttons, exposing Wonwoo’s chest a little bit and popped the collar. “Uhhh, here.” Minghao took off one of his own necklaces and threw it over Wonwoo’s head. 

“Thanks, Hao,” Wonwoo said with a shy smile as he looked in the mirror once again, this time more satisfied.

“Why is nobody here yet? We said 2:30!” Seungkwan yelled from the kitchen. Wonwoo checked the time to see it was barely 1:45pm, meaning Hansol and Mingyu were definitely running early.

Seungkwan stormed out of the kitchen with Jungkook and Minnie in tow. Minghao placed a reassuring hand on Seungkwan’s shoulder. “It's fine. At least we’ll be here. And I would argue we’re the most important.”

Seungkwan took a deep breath and nodded. His phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Hansol: We’re just around the corner.

“They’re almost here!” Seungkwan announced, his previous deep breath being completely useless. “Everyone, places! Oh! Someone put music on the speaker! What kind of music should we play? Does Mingyu even listen to music?!”

“Got it!” Minghao yelled, pulling out his phone and connecting to the speaker system. 

Wonwoo, Minghao, and Seungkwan took one last look around the living room. The decorations were a bit chaotic, and the streamers were definitely not evenly hung, but it’s the effort that counts. At least that’s what Wonwoo told himself.

Once the final touches were in place, everyone waited in anticipation. Soon after, the front door creaked open, and Hansol’s voice floated in, “You can go in first.”

As Mingyu stepped through the doorway, the room erupted in cheers of “Surprise!”

Mingyu’s eyes widened in shock, a huge grin spreading across his face as he took in the scene. 

“What?....What the fuck! Who?....” Mingyu looked around taking in the music, decorations and the small group of friends who were present.

“Happy Birthday, bro!” Hansol laughed, patting him on the back. Mingyu’s eyes wavered all over the place before landing on Hansol and engulfing him in a large hug. 

Mingyu worked his way around the room, starting with an excited group hug with Minnie and Jungkook. “You guys knew?!” 

Mingyu let go giving a grateful smile before making his way to Minghao. “You planned this didn’t you?” Mingyu said with a laugh, holding his best friend in a bear hug.

“Of course I did,” Minghao scoffed with a proud look. “Only I could pull off something like this. I couldn’t have done this without their help, though,” he said, motioning over to Seungkwan and Wonwoo who were standing off to the side.

Mingyu’s face softened as he took in his boyfriend’s appearance. He held back, going in to give Seungkwan a hug first. “Thanks, Seungkwan. I’m sure you were the mastermind behind all the aesthetics and decorations.”

Seungkwan sighed, hugging the taller boy back. “You know me so well.”

Mingyu pulled back and quickly walked over to Wonwoo, practically tackling his poor boyfriend who would have fallen if Mingyu didn’t hold him up. 

“Mingyu, I can’t breathe,” Wonwoo said breathlessly with a small chuckle. Mingyu pulled back and placed a kiss on his lips.

Wonwoo gave an amused chuckle. “Happy birthday.”

“You’re the best boyfriend in the whole world,” Mingyu chimed as he leaned back to get a good look at Wonwoo. “Damn, you look good,” he added with a pained expression on his face.

“There’s more people coming. They were supposed to be here for the surprise but you and Hansolie came too early,” Seungkwan informed.

“Yeah, there’s at least like thirty more people coming. I brought you a pair of swim trunks to get in the pool,” Minghao added.

“Thirty? I don’t even know that many people, I think,” Mingyu said with a confused but excited expression. He looped his arms around Wonwoo’s waist from behind and held onto him, resting his head on his shoulder. “Who else is coming?”

 

The seven friends waited around, snacking on the chips and salsa laid out on the kitchen counter and chatting and laughing as they shared funny stories about the birthday boy. Mingyu still couldn’t believe they had thrown this party for him and found himself repeating an array of ‘thank you's' as they waited for more people to arrive.

“Oh, Soonyoung and Jun are here…” Wonwoo said, looking down at his phone. Mingyu looked at Wonwoo absolutely bewildered.

“You invited them to my birthday party?” he asked, mouth full of chips.

“Yeah,” Wonwoo said as he pocketed his phone and made his way to the front door. “It’ll be fine, I promise!” he called out before leaving Mingyu’s sight.

Wonwoo ran up to the door to see Soonyoung and Jun standing on the porch looking extremely shy and awkward which was a first. Soonyoung visibly relaxed at seeing Wonwoo and handed him a large gift bag.

“Glad you guys can make it,” Wonwoo said with an amused glance at both of them as he received the gift. “What did you-”

“A blender. From China,” Soonyoung deadpanned. 

“It has, like, cool settings or something and you said Mingyu likes to cook and stuff so…” Jun added.

Wonwoo nodded, trying his hardest to hide his amusement. “That… that’s so thoughtful guys. Thank you. Come on in.”

The three made their way into the kitchen. Mingyu glanced up and straightened up, nerves beginning to bubble up inside him. Wonwoo’s eyes met his, and he offered a reassuring smile, which Mingyu returned.

“Hey, Mingyu,” Wonwoo said, his voice laced with a hopeful edge. “You know Soonyoung and Jun.”

The two exchanged glances before stepping forward. Jun extended a hand, smiling warmly. “Nice to really meet you, Mingyu. Wonwoo told us a lot about you.”

Mingyu shook Jun’s hand, feeling a bit more at ease. “Nice to meet you too, Jun.”

Soonyoung hung back a moment longer, but eventually followed suit, shaking Mingyu’s hand. “Hey,” he said, his tone neutral. “Uh, happy birthday. Sorry about last time.”

“Thanks. You don’t have to apologize,” Mingyu replied, his tone sincere. “I’m really glad you guys are here.”

Jun leaned against the counter, trying to break the tension. “This place is nice. You’ve got a good setup here.”

Mingyu chuckled, nodding. “Yeah. It’s Hansol’s place. Let me introduce you guys, actually.”

Wonwoo watched as Mingyu called in everyone else and introduced them to one another. He watched the scene with a mix of happiness and relief. It was progress. He knew it would take time for everyone to fully warm up to each other, but seeing them all in the same room and watching his closest friends making an effort gave him hope. 

He was especially pleased to see how Jun’s eyes lit up when Minghao walked into the room. “Wait, you’re Minghao? You're from China too, right?”

Minghao grinned, nodding. “Yeah, I was born there and raised here.”

“Same!” Jun replied, his excitement growing. “I go to university there but I lived most of my life here.”

Minghao’s face lit up even more. “Oh, no way. I feel like it’s so rare to meet someone from back home here. What part are you from?”

Wonwoo didn’t get to hear Jun’s response as they both leaned in and began chatting animatedly in Mandarin, effortlessly connecting over their shared experiences. He watched the exchange, a bit relieved to see Jun so engaged with someone else. Soonyoung even seemed to relax, his outgoing personality revealing itself as he made conversation with Seungkwan.

Mingyu leaned in closer to Wonwoo, chuckling softly. “Well that was easy..”

Wonwoo smiled. “Yeah, it was..”

Minigyu grinned, nudging Wonwoo playfully. “Looks like you’ve got some competition for your best friends’ attention now.”

Wonwoo chuckled, feeling a warmth settle over him. “I don’t mind sharing.” 

Mingyu stared at him for a moment, taking in his appearance once again and snaking his arm around his waist. He smiled slyly, leaning in, lowering his voice. “You know, I wasn't lying when I said you looked good today.”

Wonwoo laughed, eyes fixed on the floor. “Didn't think you were.”

Mingyu gave a breathy chuckle and placed a light kiss below his boyfriend's ear. “You're making this really difficult for me.”

“Good,” the other replied with a smirk.

“The alcohol is here!” Hansol’s voice could be heard from the living room, pulling their attention for a brief moment.

“Don’t get too cocky on me now, babe,” Mingyu muttered as he squeezed a handful of his boyfriend's ass through his shorts, walking away before he could react. 

Wonwoo’s hand instinctively went behind him to shoo him away but it was too late. He looked around to make sure nobody saw before proceeding to follow everyone else, his cheeks tinted a deep scarlett.

Everyone excitedly made their way to the front door to see Seungcheol pushing a dolly stacked with boxes of different liquors and canned drinks. 

“What the…” Mingyu muttered as he watched him roll the dolly into the living room.

Seungkwan laughed, realizing how ridiculous it probably looks. “His dad owns a liquor shop.”

Mingyu turned his attention back to the door to see a blonde guy walking in with a large bottle of whiskey. “Where’s the birthday boy?” the guy asked with a large grin.

“Over here!” Wonwoo called out, appearing beside Mingyu. The blonde guy acknowledged him with a head nod before walking over to them and placing the large bottle in Mingyu’s hands. 

“Just a little something, don’t sweat it.”

Mingyu eyed the expensive bottle in awe.

“Jeonghan where- what? What are you doing? I told you to help me unload!” Seungcheol exclaimed as he made his way over to them.

“I was helping, I gave our new friend his gift.”

“Gift?” Seungcheol muttered, turning to Mingyu. He turned back to Jeonghan with a bemused expression. “Did you tell him that was from me?” Seungcheol turned back to Mingyu. “He said it was from both of us, didn’t he?”

Mingyu only laughed as he watched the dark haired man pull Jeonghan by his arm and make his way back outside to grab the rest of the boxes.

“Let’s get the party started!” Seungkwan yelled, as Minghao raised the volume on the speakers even more. 

The day progressed as more guests began to flood into Hansol’s house, the energy ramping up with each person who walked into the door– some were friends of Mingyu while some were friends of friends. The upbeat music thumped through the speakers, the living room packed with people dancing and or chatting.

Out by the pool, the atmosphere was even more lively. Drinks were passed around and people soon started to waver away from sobriety as the instances of tripping and falling over became more frequent. Someone had started a game of volleyball in the pool as the warm glow of the patio lights reflected off the water, creating tiny bright orbs every time there was movement. 

Wonwoo watched Mingyu in the pool as he laughed and splashed water at Hansol and Seungkwan, who were on the opposing team. His hair was wet and clung to his forehead, but he looked like something out of a magazine. Wonwoo sat on the edge of the pool, watching the chaos unfold with a mixture of amusement and hesitation. He held a drink in his hand, taking small sips as he tried to decide whether or not to join in.

“You working on your tan or what?” Yoohyeon perked from behind him. 

“Yeah, are you not getting in?” Karina asked as she put away a bottle of sunscreen. 

Wonwoo turned to look at them and then back at the water. He was already in his swim trunks, but the fact that there was a whole sports game happening in the middle of the pool wasn’t very appealing to him.

He hummed. “Still debating it.”

Yoohyeon sighed. “Lame. Come on, Karina.”

He watched as the two girls hopped in, going below the water for a few seconds before resurfacing. “It’s, like, not even that cold,” Yoohyeon tried to reassure him, but Karina standing frozen beside her with her arms tucked in and teeth clenched said otherwise. 

Wonwoo looked at them, unimpressed. “I’ll pass.” He closed his eyes and leaned back, enjoying the heat the sun was providing.

Yoohyeon sighed, making her way towards the center of the pool. “Mingyu, please tell your boyfriend he won’t melt if he gets wet.”

Mingyu’s attention snapped towards Wonwoo immediately, completely neglecting the volleyball match he was in. He gave him a sly smile before he swam over, resting his arms on the edge of the pool. “Hey, hottie.”

“I’m not getting in.”

“Come on,” Mingyu whined, flashing a grin that was hard to resist. “Why did you put on your swimming trunks then? Please… it’s my birthday,” he added with a pout.

Wonwoo laughed and glanced around at the others splashing and laughing in the pool. The energy was contagious, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to dive in—literally. “I don’t know.”

Mingyu’s smile softened as he reached out a hand. “C’mon, I want you here. And I promise I won’t let anyone splash you… too much.”

The older boy eyed the body of water below Mingyu. “Is it deep?”

“I mean,” Mingyu looked below himself. “If you stand on your tippy toes I could probably still see your forehead… I'll make sure you won't drown. Come on, babe, please?”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. He took a deep breath and downed the rest of his drink, setting his glasses on a nearby table, praying they would still be there when he got out. “Fine.”

Mingyu beamed, pulling Wonwoo into the water with him. The initial cold shock quickly diminished under the warm sky. Wonwoo surfaced, shaking the water out of his hair as Mingyu grinned at him, clearly pleased.

“See? Not so bad, right?” Mingyu teased.

“Mingyu, come on!” one of Mingyu’s old friends yelled. “We’re losing the game!”

Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows at them playfully. “Play without me!” He looked at Wonwoo who was looking off somewhere in the distance, admiring his soft features that now had water droplets all over.

“You know what? It’s fine you weren’t that good at volleyball anyway,” Mingyu’s friend said jokingly as he made his way over and nudged him in the rib. Mingyu gave him a playful shove as he swam away.

Wonwoo wiped at his own mouth with a grimace. “I hate the taste of chlorine.”

Mingyu giggled.“Wait. Wanna try something?” he asked, his tone mischievous. He didn’t let Wonwoo respond before he went below the surface of the water.

Wonwoo blinked, momentarily confused, before following him underwater. Suddenly the loud music was now muffled. The world became silent. Wonwoo’s eyes locked onto Mingyu’s, their movements slow

Mingyu floated closer, his hand brushing Wonwoo’s arm. They were inches apart, the water distorting their surroundings, making it feel like they were in their own world. Mingyu’s hand found the small of Wonwoo’s back, gently pulling him closer. With a soft smile, Mingyu closed the gap between them, pressing his lips to Wonwoo’s in a sweet, lingering kiss.

Kissing Mingyu underwater felt softer. The water added a new layer to the warmth spreading through them, the silence making it feel all the more intimate.

They broke apart, both grinning as they made their way back to the surface. When they emerged, they were still close, faces just inches apart, both of them catching their breath and grinning from ear to ear.

“See?” Mingyu said, his voice a little breathless. “Told you it would be fun.”

Wonwoo laughed, his cheeks flushed. “It’s even better when you’re a little buzzed,” he admitted with a grin.

“Buzz? How much did you have to drink?” Mingyu asked with a laugh.

“Just like… three drinks?”

“God, babe, let me catch up to you. I’ll be right back!” Mingyu said excitedly as he got out of the pool and padded into the kitchen.

 


 

Mingyu’s swim trunks dripped from the pool as he rummaged through the fridge for a drink. The house was alive with the sounds of laughter and music.

As he finally decided on a cold can of beer, a few party-goers walked by, offering him a quick “Happy birthday!” with smiles. He nodded, smiling back, and thanked them.

He was about to head back to the pool where Wonwoo was waiting when he heard a familiar voice behind him. “Mingyu? Long time no see, man!”

Mingyu turned around, beer can in hand, and his smile faltered slightly as he recognized the guy standing in the doorway. 

“Jaebom?” Mingyu said, forcing a surprised smile as his mind raced. His heart sank. Was this really happening? Who invited him?

“Yeah, man, it’s been forever!” Jaebom said, walking over and clapping Mingyu on the shoulder. He looked the same, which made the whole encounter even more uncomfortable. At most, maybe he put on a little more weight, but that look in his eye, the subtle intimidation in his tone, was still prevalent.“I heard about your party through the grapevine and thought I’d crash it. Happy birthday, dude!”

Mingyu nodded slowly, still trying to process the situation. “Thanks… It’s, uh, good to see you,” he managed, though his tone lacked enthusiasm. Memories from high school flashed in his mind, the taunts and jeers that had haunted Wonwoo, the guilt Mingyu had carried for being a part of it. He started to feel lightheaded, and focused on the cool sensation of the beer in his hand to help ground him.

Jaebom didn’t seem to notice Mingyu’s hesitation. He looked around the crowded kitchen, grabbing a drink for himself. “Heard you’re at LMU now! You look great by the way. Looks like you’re doing well for yourself, man,” he said, taking a swig from his beer.

“Yeah, thanks,” Mingyu replied, glancing toward the pool where he could see Wonwoo laughing with Yoohyeon and Karina. The thought of Wonwoo being in the same space as Jaebom made his stomach twist.

“Man, this party is wild,” Jaebom continued, oblivious to Mingyu’s inner turmoil. “Oh, Siwon’s here too! Don’t know where he went, though,” he said looking around aimlessly. “It’ll be just like old times! Some things never change, huh?”

Mingyu’s stomach sank as he forced a laugh, nodding. “Yeah, some things…” It was strange. Mingyu wanted to engage in conversation with Jaebom, to ask how he was doing and what he’s been up to, but he just couldn’t. He wasn't sure if he was still talking to the same Jaebom he lost at graduation, the one who Mingyu purposely distanced himself from.

Mingyu shifted on his feet, trying to think of a way to steer the conversation or, better yet, end it entirely. “I’m glad you could make it, Jae. I should probably get back to my guests,” he said, hoping to make a polite exit.

“Oh, yeah, totally,” he replied, though he didn’t seem eager to leave. “We should catch up later, though. Talk about the old days.”

Mingyu nodded. “Sure, maybe later-”

“Mingyu?!” another familiar voice yelled. Behind Jaebom popped out Sison who was sipping on something in a plastic cup. He went in for a hug, catching Mingyu off guard in his shirtless state. “How have you been?! Happy Birthday!”

Mingyu forced a smile, pulling away, beginning to feel impatient. “Good, thanks. How are you, Siwon? Good to see you.”

“I’m great! Started a car wrapping business, actually,” he replied with a proud nod.

Jaebom clapped Siwon on the shoulder. “You should see his work, man, it’s sick.”

Mingyu nodded, feeling an ounce of hope that maybe his old friends have changed for the better. “That’s cool. What are you guys doing in LA?”

“I’m opening up a shop here! I’ve been coming back and forth for the past few weeks to check on its progress and your party just happened to be on a weekend I’d be here. Hope you don’t mind that we crashed…” Siwon trailed off as if waiting for Mingyu’s approval.

Mingyu swallowed, not sure how to respond. “No, of course not. I’m happy to see you guys again. Anyway, I was just telling Jaebom that I should really go back to the-”

“Oh my God,” Siwon interrupted. “You guys will never believe who I saw, actually.”  He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Wonwoo from high school is here.”

“Shut up,” Jaebom spat in disbelief. “Our Wonwoo? Where?”

“In the pool! Almost didn't recognize him at first.”

Mingyu felt something twist in his gut, a mixture of protectiveness and anger at his use of ‘our’. His grip tightened on his can as he tried to keep his voice casual. “Oh, uh, he goes to LMU.”

And he’s literally my boyfriend.

“No way!” Siwon exclaimed in shock.

Jaebom looked at Mingyu with a shit eating grin, obviously amused. “Are you guys like friends now or what?”

We’re dating.

Mingyu nodded hesitantly. “Yeah.”

Why did you say yes?

“Oh my God, dude!” Jaebom said, practically squealing like it was the funniest thing ever. “I bet he won’t be happy to see us. I wonder if he’s still gay.”

“Wait, Mingyu, do you think he still likes you? Is it weird? Be honest,” Siwon asked with a laugh, both of them anticipating his answer.

Mingyu narrowed his eyes, beginning to feel annoyed now. “I don’t know.” He watched as his ex-friends’ faces fell, not satisfied with Mingyu’s answer. “Anyway I have to go, I'll catch you guys later.” Mingyu walked out the glass doors without another word, beer in hand. 

He pondered on whether or not he should tell Wonwoo that Jaebom and Siwon were here. Who even invited them? Should he kick them out? They obviously hadn’t matured very much from what it seems like. 

“Mingyu! Your boyfriend’s drunk!” Karina yelled as he got closer. Mingyu turned around on instinct to see if Jaebom and Siwon heard her, but to his luck, they were gone.

Why would it even matter?

And just like that, all the guilt that Mingyu thought he had conquered creeped back in. He walked over to see a very obviously tipsy Wonwoo who’s cheeks were now pink as he fought giggles. 

“I told him I couldn’t finish my drink so he drank it,” Yoohyeon said, her words slurring a little bit.

“I’m not that drunk, I'll be fine.” Wonwoo laughed and beamed up at Mingyu. “You look like a Greek statue.”

Mingyu shook his head and hopped into the water, careful not to spill his beer. The sun had begun to set, leaving the party still well lit but with a pink hue now casted over everyone. 

Chaos ensued and after seeing Jungkook hurl a kicking and profanity spewing Minnie into the pool, Mingyu decided they should probably avoid further commotion. He placed Wonwoo on an inflatable raft, dragging him slowly to the more quiet side of the pool. Mingyu swam beside him, leaning on the raft and grinning as he listened to Wonwoo’s uncharacteristic yapping.

“You know,” Wonwoo said, his words slightly slurred but filled with enthusiasm, “I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He giggled, clinging to the edge of the raft.

Mingyu couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh really? I guess that makes me a pretty big deal then,” he teased, his eyes twinkling with adoration.

Wonwoo nodded vigorously, nearly splashing water everywhere. “If I had to make a list of the best things in my life, you’d be number one. Actually maybe number two. Right below Luna and above, like, naps.” 

Mingyu reached out and ruffled Wonwoo’s hair affectionately. “Well, I definitely would put you at number one.” He took in the sight in front of him, still in awe at how perfect Wonwoo managed to look all the time.. 

Wonwoo gave a lopsided grin. “You make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” He wiggled his eyebrows, trying to look mischievous but failing adorably. “I like being with you. You’re like my personal floatation device.” His arms reached out to pull Mingyu closer, though the attempt was more endearing than effective. “Happy Birthday.” 

“Thanks.” Mingyu chuckled, his heart melting a bit at Wonwoo’s cute antics. “You’re really feeling it tonight, huh?” he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the feelings of affection spreading through him.

Wonwoo simply nodded and leaned his head back, letting his eyes close. Mingyu pushed the raft around for a little while, lost in thought. He still couldn’t believe that this party was for him. He felt a little bad as if he should be doing rounds around the house to say hi to everyone or at least introduce himself to the guests he didn't know. And then there was the fact that Jaebom and Siwon were there and somehow found out about the party.

Mingyu sighed to himself. He looked over at Wonwoo who had his eyes shut, smiling softly to himself as the setting sun lit up his face. Should he tell him? Maybe now wouldn’t be the best time. How would he react? At most, he’d probably just want to avoid them right? Or would he be upset with Mingyu for talking to them in the first place? Not to mention Mingyu left out the minor detail that the kid they used to relentlessly bully for no reason was his boyfriend.

He still wasn’t sure why he left that part out. Maybe embarrassment? Not that being with Wonwoo is anything to be embarrassed about. He briefly made out with him in the pool in front of everyone, he definitely wasn’t embarrassed. 

God forbid Mingyu was still scared of what Jaebom and Siwon think. 

Mingyu was snapped out of his internal monologue by a light touch on his arm. “I have to pee. Can you come with me?” Wonwoo asked, voice a little groggy. 

Mingyu nodded with a reassuring smile as Wonwoo got off the raft. They made their way out of the pool and into the house. Wonwoo led the way to the bathroom, turning a corner in the hallway to be greeted by a couple making out.

Wait… was that…?

“Jun?”

“Minghao?”

The two boys jumped, causing Mingyu to burst into laughter, leaning on Wonwoo to steady himself. “What the fuck?” Wonwoo asked, clearly amused.

“We, um,” Jun started, looking at Minhao for help. The shorter man just stood there with his arms crossed, looking down at his feet.

“Well, don’t let us interrupt you,” Mingyu chuckled as he grabbed Wonwoo’s hand and walked past them, leading him down the hallway. 

“I think that sobered me up,” Wonwoo giggled after some silence. Mingyu laughed and shook his head.

“You go,” he said, stopping in front of the bathroom door. “I’ll go get you some water.”

Wonwoo entered the bathroom with a grateful smile. Mingyu watched him close the door before heading over to the kitchen, relieved to not run into any makeout sessions this time.

He looked through the fridge, pulling out a cold water bottle for Wonwoo and another beer for himself. He closed it and was met with a wide eyed Soonyoung, making him jump.

“Jesus,” Mingyu gasped. “Why are you making that face?”

“Mingyu… do you really like Wonwoo?” He slurred out with a lopsided grin.

Mingyu chuckled. “Yeah, I do.”

Soonyoung nodded profusely, eyes shut. “Okay. Okay.” His expression hardened. “Prove it.”

“What-”

“What’s his favorite color?” The blonde man asked abruptly.

“Uh, blue?” Mingyu replied quickly, suddenly feeling under an immense amount of pressure.

“What’s his middle name?”

Minguy furrowed his eyebrows. “He doesn’t have one-”

“Eh!” Soonyoung yelled, resembling a buzzer that rings when someone is incorrect.

“What?”

“You were right. How many fingers am I holding up?”

Minguy blinked at Soonyoung, unsure of what was going on. “You’re not holding up anything.”

Soonyoung tilted his head back to get a better look at him. His pout slowly turned into a drunk grin. “You’re a good guy, Mingyu,” he said as he clapped him on the shoulder and walked away.

Mingyu stood there, frozen, not knowing what just happened. He blinked a few times and walked back over to the bathroom, looking forward to telling Wonwoo what just happened.

He turned the corner, expecting his boyfriend to be out of the bathroom already. “Hey, Won! I think I just got Soonyoung’s appr-”

Mingyu stopped midway, his heart sinking. The sight before him was disgustingly familiar. 

Jaebom and Siwon, with large grins, were standing directly in front of Wonwoo.

 

 

 

Notes:

someone predicted mingyu would run in to them again in my comments and i was like aw fuck lmao but u were right.

Pls comment and lmk ur thoughts. TY for your patience with me :)

also did you guys see minwons teasers for their dicon thing....

Chapter 23: Now I'm Free

Notes:

This is it guys, the final chapter! before the epilogue at least :')

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Jaebom and Siwon were leaning against the wall, their postures casual but their expressions a little taunting. In front of them, slightly to the side, was Wonwoo. Though Wonwoo had a frown on his face, he didn't appear frightened. Instead, he seemed to be bracing himself for whatever was coming, annoyed.

Mingyu’s heart skipped a beat. Jaebom’s voice, full of ignorant curiosity, carried a bite. “Wait, so, how does it feel to finally be open about... you know, everything? I mean, isn’t it kinda hard? Or are you just pretending to be straight now?”

Siwon chimed in. “Yeah, like, so you know for sure it wasn’t just a phase?”

The tone was so casual yet full of ignorance. It was genuinely difficult to tell if they knew the weight of their words or if they expected a genuine response.

Mingyu’s blood boiled, and he felt a pang of panic and protectiveness spread through him. He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Not this time.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Mingyu approached with a forced casualness, trying to keep his voice steady. “There you are, Won,” he said, giving him a reassuring smile and placing a protective hand on his shoulder.

Wonwoo turned to him with relief in his eyes. “Oh, hey Mingyu. Look who it is,” he said with an unimpressed expression.

“Hey guys,” Mingyu said, his tone firm but controlled. “Enjoying the party?”

The two exchanged glances. “Yeah, just catching up with old friends,” Jaebom said, his eyes twinkling.

Siwon nodded, his eyes flickering between Mingyu and Wonwoo. “Right. Well, we were just leaving anyway. Good to see you, Wonwoo. You look great by the way."

As they turned to walk away, Jaebom’s voice cut through the air with one last jab. “Oh, and Mingyu, I’d be careful with this one. Seems like someone still has a little crush…” he said, motioning to Wonwoo. His tone was innocent, as if he thought it was just a harmless inside joke.

Siwon laughed, trying to lighten the mood but doing the complete opposite. “Yeah, or you could just play along with it. Just try not to break any hearts this time, all right?”

Mingyu’s expression hardened. He could feel Wonwoo stand up a little straighter beside him. He was done pretending to be okay with this. 

With a frustrated hand through his hair, Mingyu met their gaze head-on. “Actually, Wonwoo’s my boyfriend,” he said, his voice steady but filled with defiance. Mingyu watched as their faces fell into expressions of disbelief before they started laughing.

“Mingyu, my man! Just like old times!” Jaebom exclaimed as he reached out his hand. Mingyu simply glanced down at it, expression unwavering.

Jaebom’s eyebrow quirked, confused.

Siwon’s mouth fell open in shock, still a slight smile on his face as if he anticipated to start laughing again. “Wait, you’re serious?”

Jaebom looked between Mingyu and Wonwoo, his eyes scrutinizing. “No, You…you can’t be serious. This has to be a joke.”

Mingyu shook his head slowly, his expression challenging. “No joke.” He felt Wonwoo tense under his hand as he crossed his arms over his bare chest. It was an attempt to look confident, unapologetic, but Mingyu could tell he was getting nervous.

“Mingyu, what the hell?” Jaebom furrowed his eyebrows, expression a little more condescending as he turned to Wonwoo. “What did you do to him?”

Wonwoo raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Excuse me?”

“You turned him gay-”

Siwon stepped forward pulling his friend back with wide eyes. “Jaebom, what the fuck?”

I didn't make Mingyu do anything,” Wonwoo said, stepping past Mingyu, gaze piercing through Jaebom’s. “You were the one who had Mingyu bully me because it made you feel better about yourself. Mingyu’s grown up, and so have I. Maybe one day you will too, but you really need to understand, get it in that stupid head of yours, that nobody cares what you have to say anymore.” 

Jaebom scoffed, momentarily silent. “Shut up, Wonwoo,” he spat with distaste. “No one ever liked you, you know? In high school, everyone hated you-”

“You’re still holding onto that? Jaebom, you’re a twenty three year old man, it's time to leave high school in the past. It’s just sad now.”

Wonwoo stepped closer to Jaebom, Mingyu only now noticing how much taller his boyfriend was. “Don’t think for a second that you can belittle me or my relationship and get away with it again.” Wonwoo’s voice was calm but full of pent up rage, which made it all the more daunting.

Jaebom glared back like he was trying to start a fire with his gaze. He swallowed with a click, turning and almost walking away before looking back one more time, his eyes narrowed in a teasing manner at Mingyu.

“Who knew a good fuck was all it would take for him to win you over?”

Something in Mingyu snapped and suddenly all he could see was red. Before he knew it, he was lunging forward with the sole intention of hurting the guy as much as his physical strength would allow.

“You piece of shit,” Mingyu growled through gritted teeth. He grabbed Jaebom by the collar, ready to slam him against the wall without any reserve. Before he could begin tossing around the now scared bully like an old rag doll, arms wrapped around him and hurled him backward, prying him off.

Mingyu fought against Wonwoo’s hold for a few seconds as he watched an equally frightened Siwon pull Jaebom away as well. 

“Get the fuck out of here.” The taller boy was seething.

Wonwoo didn't think he had ever seen Mingyu so angry, let alone use that tone of voice. 

Jaebom breathed heavily, breaking free from Siwon’s hold and heading down the hallway towards the front door without another word. 

Siwon blinked profusely, an almost apologetic look as he glanced up at them. He opened his mouth to speak but said nothing, shaking his head and walking away in the same direction Jaebom did.

As they disappeared around the corner, Mingyu turned back to Wonwoo, his expression a mix of concern and annoyance. “Are you okay?” he asked as he reached out to touch Wonnwoo’s arm gently. 

Wonwoo looked up at him, a grateful smile breaking through his initial tension. “Yeah, don’t worry.” He placed his hand on Mingyu’s face, caressing his cheekbone with his thumb. “You didn't need to try to kill him, you know?”

Mingyu quipped out an unamused laugh. “That dick. It's taking everything in my power not to follow him outside right now. Are you sure you're okay?” 

Wonwoo nodded, feeling nothing but admiration for the boy in front of him.

Mingyu sighed and pulled him into a comforting hug, unspoken reassurance enveloping both of them. Wonwoo hugged back, letting the tension in his body dissipate in his boyfriend's arms. 

Mingyu pulled back slightly, fixing a few strands at the top of Wonwoo's head. “You dragged Jaebom to filth with so much grace and class…” he muttered, making Wonwoo laugh.

“It was about time I stood up for m-”

“I think I love you.”

Wonwoo’s face fell a little bit, processing Mingyu’s words slowly. 

“Sorry if it’s too soon. I don’t know how long I’m supposed to wait but… I love you. Like a lot,” Mingyu said with a shy laugh, making Wonwoo grin. “Um… you don’t have to say it back. It’s just how I feel and I want you to know.”

Wonwoo huffed out a small chuckle as he looked down at their intertwined hands. “You know, I never thought I would ever be in a relationship with you. Even when I confessed to you, I thought at best we would just go to prom together or something and I would have been completely fine with that.” Wonwoo looked up to meet his gaze. “But I’m glad it didn’t end there. I love you, too.”

Mingyu beamed at Wonwoo’s words pulling him in for a kiss and then a hug. A hug that left goosebumps all over Mingyu’s skin and butterflies in his stomach. He tightened his arms around his boyfriend’s bare torso, loving the feeling of his skin on his fingertips.

“I love everything about being with you,” Mingyu said against his hair. “Even the hard parts like confronting bullies and watching you flirt with customers for tips.”

Wonwoo laughed. “I love everything about being with you too,” he added a little quieter.

“Ew,” a voice said, making them pull back. The couple glanced over to the source of the sound to see Seungkwan sipping on his mimosa. “Why are you guys barefoot? Why are your shirts off?”

Mingyu looked at him like it was obvious. “We just came back from the pool-”

“Actually,” Seungkwan interrupted, holding up his hand. “Don’t tell me. I don’t wanna know.” And with that he padded back out into the living room.

Mingyu sighed and looked back at Wonwoo who stared at where Seungkwan was standing. He felt a renewed sense of determination. Mingyu never felt more committed to Wonwoo than in this moment and it made his birthday all the more special.

They spent the next few hours catching up on their drinking and mingling as they finally fully immersed into the party. Mingyu was able to meet a good handful of people while Wonwoo kept Seungcheol and Jeonghan entertained with his bartending skills.

“Make me a margarita!” Jeonghan demanded, voice strained and raspy.

Wonwoo laughed, barely able to keep his own balance. “I’ve made you three!”

Seungcheol shook his head, eyes shut. “Cutting you off,” he mumbled as he held onto Jeonghan’s arm.

As the night dwindled down, everyone gathered around the table, a large cake sitting in the center with flickering candles ready to be blown out. Mingyu stood with a broad smile, face flushed due to the alcohol, hair pointing in different directions due to air drying after the pool.

As the final note of the crowd singing ‘Happy Birthday’ faded, Mingyu grinned, eyes crinkling. He blew out his candles then glanced over at Wonwoo who was laughing and taking photos. He felt his own heart swell at the sight.

There was no doubt in his mind– Mingyu was in love.

 


 

Like any house party, the cleaning up afterwards was always the most tiring, time consuming part of it all. After the cake cutting, many of the guests began to head out, wishing their goodbyes to Mingyu before leaving.

“Thank you so much for coming,” Mingyu said, pulling away from hugging one of his old friends from community college. “I can’t believe you guys flew down here.”

“Anytime, bro. Glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Yeah, it was a sick party” another one of his friends perked up. “Your boyfriend makes a crazy Long Island iced tea, by the way. Couldn’t even taste the alcohol in that thing and before I knew it I was… trying to climb on the roof,” he said, rubbing his temples.

Mingyu laughed at the memory. “I’m glad you guys had a good time. Get home safe.” They said another round of goodbyes before Mingyu walked back inside to help clean up.

Mingyu walked over to Minghao, who was folding up some of the party decorations. “Hey, Hao,” Mingyu said, as he helped pack the decorations back into a cardboard box. “Thanks again for throwing this party. It really meant a lot to me.”

Minghao looked up. “Of course, Gyu. After everything that’s happened, I felt like you deserved it. Besides, you threw one for me last year.”

“Yeah and it failed horribly.” Mingyu said. He winced as he thought about how his poor planning led to Minghao being the first one to arrive at his own surprise party.

Minghao shrugged. “I still appreciated the sentiment.”

Mingyu nodded, his expression softening. “I know I don’t say it often but I really appreciate you. I don’t think I could’ve made it through this mess of a school year without your words of wisdom”

Minghao chuckled softly, shaking his head. “This year was definitely something else. That’s what friends are for right?”

“Yeah,” Mingyu agreed, his voice growing more reflective. “It's crazy. Sometimes I think about how much things have changed. I’m grateful to have friends like you now, Hao.”

Minghao gave an amused smile at the sentimental state his friend was in. “Same here, Gyu. Here, why don’t you and Wonwoo head out, we’ll finish up here.”

“Are you sure? We can stay and help you clean up, it’s not a problem.”

“Nah,” Minghao said, shaking his head. “We’re almost done and plus, having you around things that can break is kind of a liability.”

Mingyu glared at his friend for a few moments before ruffling his hair. “Love you too.” He made his way over to Wonwoo, who was already waiting by the door, he turned back to yell one last “Bye!” which seemed to have summoned Hansol who came walking over.

“Oh, Mingyu, I won't be coming back to the dorm tonight. Seungkwan and I are just gonna stay here.”

“Okay, cool. You crazy kids have fun now,” he said with a wink, receiving an eye roll from Seungkwan.

They headed out the door and waited for the uber to arrive- a long wait due to it being past one in the morning. The two held hands, a comfortable silence among them as fatigue and sleepiness took over their bodies. The half hour car ride home did not differ much– quiet but comfortable as their hands remained interlocked.

“I’ll get ready for bed and then meet you in your room,” Wonwoo said quietly as they walked into the all too familiar dorm building. Mingyu nodded with a warm smile as Wonwoo walked down the hallway and he made his way up another floor.

He grabbed a clean pair of pajamas from his drawer and headed to the bathroom, being grateful it was empty although not surprised considering how late it was. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth thoroughly, trying not to focus on the taste of liquor that lingered in his mouth no matter how much he tried to brush it out.

His groggy and sleepy state seemed to cause some memory loss as the next thing he knew he was laying in bed with Wonwoo tucked under his arm. Mingyu knew his mind wanted nothing more than to shut off, but for some reason, he couldn't sleep. He stared at the ceiling that had a yellow streak on it—a result of the light from an outside street lamp peaking through the blinds.

“Wonwoo?” Mingyu whispered. Wonwoo hummed in response, surprising him that he was still awake. “I love you.” Mingyu expected Wonwoo to stay quiet, at most mumble it back, but he was wrong.

His boyfriend slowly lifted his head up, eyes squinted and slightly swollen from sleepiness. He gave a small smile. “I love you too, Mingyu.”

Without a second thought Mingyu shifted so that he was at eye level with him and pressed his lips onto his. It was slow and intentional. Kissing now, after saying those three words, felt different. Everything just seemed to hold more meaning now.

Mingyu moved, now slightly hovering over Wonwoo. The latter ran his hands over his shoulders and down his arms, always amazed at how beautifully he was built. Mingyu sucked on Wonwoo’s bottom lip and took it between his teeth, making him let out a gasp. Mingyu tugged on Wonwoo’s shirt slightly, a silent plea for him to take it off to which he obliged. 

The room was still dark, but under the strip of warm light coming from the curtains, Mingyu could see just how brown Wonwoo’s usual dark eyes were– the curve of his jaw and where his collarbone started. 

Mingyu leaned down, capturing his lips again in a hungrier kiss this time. The feel of their chests flush against each other turned him on more than he was willing to admit. Mingyu worked his way down Wonwoo’s neck and chest, earning soft hums and moans from the older boy. 

“You looked really hot today,” Mingyu murmured against his abdomen.

Wonwoo chuckled, the sound vibrating under Mingyu’s mouth. He grasped at Mingyu’s hair as the taller man made his way back up to suck on his nipples. Mingyu gripped at Wonwoo’s small waist as he lapped up the small bud, causing Wonwoo to tilt his head back in pleasure.

“Damn,” Wonwoo gasped. “You really like those, huh?”

Mingyu pulled away with a ‘pop’ sound. “I’m obsessed with all of you.” He climbed back up to meet Wonwoo in a kiss again, this time grinding his hips down, making them both release a moan at the friction. Mingyu continued to move steadily but slowly, their erections getting harder as they rubbed at a steady rhythm against one another.

Wonwoo eventually pulled away from the kiss, letting his head fall back as he concentrated on the sensation he felt against his now rock hard dick. Mingyu watched in awe, completely enchanted by the scene in front of him. Wonwoo’s Adam’s apple caught the light as his mouth opened and closed, his eyebrows knitted together. It was almost too easy.

“God… look at you. Don’t hold back, baby, let me hear you,” Mingyu said, voice low as he grinded his hips down a little harder this time, causing his boyfriend to let out something between a moan and a grunt. The thought that he was the one getting those noises out of him made chills run up his spine. Mingyu wanted to be closer.

He kissed Wonwoo's throat before moving away to remove both of their pants. He let his hands tenderly run up and down Wonwoo’s toned yet soft thighs, feeling lightheaded. He really wished the lights were on right now. He went to palm Wonwoo through his boxers, all the blood rushing to his own dick when he realized he wasn’t wearing any.

“Got too lazy…” Wonwoo explained, his voice hoarse.

Mingyu felt like he could pass out at any moment, turned on beyond his own comprehension. He spread Wonwoo’s legs, placing his feet flat on the bed. He looked over to Wonwoo who was panting a little bit, eyes filled with anticipation to see what he would do next.

Mingyu leaned down, placing small pecks on the inside of his thighs, his mind racing. He knew what he wanted to do, he just wasn’t sure he could execute it well. 

“Can I, um… hold on.” It took everything in Mingyu to remove his hands off of Wonwoo’s legs, missing the feeling of his soft skin under his hands as he got off the bed and walked over to Hansol’s closet. He felt around in the dark until he found a plastic bag, reaching in and pulling out what he desperately hoped was a brand new bottle of lube.

He remembered Hansol acting suspicious after coming home from a Target run and throwing the bag into the closet as if it burned him when he saw Mingyu.

He hopped on the bed, into his previous position and held up the bottle so that the light from outside would hit it. His hunch was right.

“Can I finger you?”

Wonwoo looked up at him with a surprised look that quickly turned desperate— a look that made Mingyu want to take him then and there. “Please do.”

Mingyu wasted no time taking off the plastic and pouring a generous amount of lube into his hand. “Is this enough?”

Wonwoo squinted, his eyes not up to par both in general and in the darkness. However, he could still tell that Mingyu definitely overdid it. “That’s more than enough.”

“Are you sure? I feel like I should-”

Wonwoo grabbed onto Mingyu’s wrist, stopping him from completing his sentence. “Trust me. It’s enough,” he said with a reassuring smile.

Mingyu hesitantly nodded in understanding. He leaned over Wonwoo, now hovering over him as he let his finger trail down until he found the opening, circling his entrance before slowly inserting the first few centimeters of his finger. 

Wonwoo gasped out a breath, his eyelashes fluttering. Mingyu looked down at him, feeling like he has never seen an image more beautiful. 

Wonwoo hummed. “Keep going.” Mingyu kept his eyes on Wonwoo, watching his face contort into blissful pleasure as he put in his whole finger.

“Fuck,” Mingyu breathed out, feeling the warmth around his digit. “You’re so tight.” He slowly moved it back, not completely taking it out before moving it back in. 

Wonwoo breathed and gasped, his eyes hooded as Mingyu pulled it in and until he found a steady pace. Mingyu watched, eyes dark and primal, as the boy below him let out short, high pitched noises everytime Mingyu dug his finger back in, the sight of Wonwoo squirming enough to make him come in his boxers.

After a while, Mingyu added another finger, per Wonwoo’s request, until eventually he was almost three fingers deep. 

“God, baby,” Mingyu said, kissing his boyfriend on the forehead. He looked down, eyes finally having adjusted to the darkness as he watched his fingers disappear and then reappear below Wonwoo. The sight was extremely hot for some reason. “You’re amazing.”

“Mingyu…” Wonwoo whined. It was the loudest noise he’s made so far, and it went straight to Mingyu’s dick that was aching for contact.

“What do you want, baby?” Mingyu breathed out as he began to speed up. He could feel his forearm begin to ache but had no intention of stopping anytime soon.

“Min…” Wonwoo moaned out, tilting his head back. Mingyu kissed his mouth, swallowing those serene noises of his.

He pulled his fingers out, unable to take it anymore. “What do you want?” he asked huskily, his mouth only a few centimeters from Wonwoo’s.

Wonwoo’s lips were parted and wet with saliva, looking almost glossy. “You. In me.”

It felt like his blood pressure was dropping, and Mingyu was loving every second of it. His dick twitched with excitement, and his heart raced. It felt like all the nerve endings along his body were rebooting all at once. 

He kept eye contact as he removed his boxers, revealing his eager, throbbing length. He coaxed his hand with lube, and ran it over himself, careful not to apply too much pressure as it felt like he could burst at even the slightest touch.

Mingyu got into position. He began to feel nervous, afraid that he would do or was doing something wrong.

Wonwoo ran his hand up and down his arm in reassurance after noticing his hesitant state. “You’ve never done this before,” he pointed out, gently.

Mingyu looked down, feeling a little self conscious. “Not with a guy, no.” 

“We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.”

“I am ready, it’s just…” Mingyu trailed off, not knowing if now of all times was the best to tell Wonwoo about his fear of fucking up sex.

“Do you… do you want to switch roles-”

“No.” Mingyu answered abruptly, thankful that it was too dark for the man below him to notice the faint redness on his cheeks. “Sorry. Um, no. I think I would prefer this right now… if that’s okay. I just don't want to mess up.”

Wonwoo nodded and reached down, helping Mingyu by using his hand to guide him. He kept eye contact as he finally positioned Mingyu directly in front of his entrance. “Right there,” he said softly.

Mingyu swallowed.

He took his time, Wonwoo helping him feel at ease before he moved it in slowly, inserting just the tip of his extremely sensitive length. Wonwoo winced, causing Mingyu to freeze.

“I’m fine. Keep going.”

Mingyu hesitated but obliged, pushing through the first bit of resistance. When it was about half way, Wonwoo seemed to relax a little bit, allowing Mingyu to focus on the tight walls around him.

“Fuck, you’re tight,” Mingyu repeated as he continued trying to fit all of himself inside his boyfriend. His dick throbbed helplessly, perfectly stimulated by the tight entrance and the wet sensation of the lube. Mingyu couldn’t help but moan as he managed to insert himself completely.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck…” he whispered out, trying to calm himself down in hopes that he could at least a few thrusts before coming. “You feel so good. Fuck.”

Wonwoo breathed heavily, trying to adjust to the length and width of Mingyu’s dick. He reached up and pulled Mingyu down by the nape, placing a tender kiss on the corner of his mouth as his jaw hung slack in pleasure. “It’s okay. Go.”

Mingyu nodded, a painful expression on his face as he moved back somewhat before pushing back in, lewd moans coming out of both of them. He repeated the action again, and then again, before it was finally entirely pleasurable for both of them.

Mingyu moved slowly but steadily, eyes shutting and mouth parting at how fucking good Wonwoo felt around his dick. Wonwoo, on the other hand, was a wailing mess, letting out a gasp or a whine every time Mingyu pushed it back in. The squeaking of the bed and the thought of Mingyu’s large girth filling him up sending him into sensory overload.

“You sound so pretty,” Mingyu grumbled into Wonwoo’s neck, voice an octave higher. “So fucking pretty. All mine. Mm… feel so good. So perfect for me.”

Wonwoo hummed breathlessly, wrapping his legs around Mingyu’s torso as the latter began to speed up, his thrusts becoming harder and shorter.

“Mingyu I- nghh… you’re gonna make me- ah!” Wonwoo cried out as Mingyu wrapped his hand around his dick and began pumping him mercilessly while still fucking him into oblivion.

“Fuck, Wonwoo,” Mingyu grunted through gritting teeth, mouth against his temple. 

Hearing his name used in that way while having his dick pumped and hole filled was far more than enough to send Wonwoo over the edge, coming all over Mingyu’s hand and stomach with a hoarse cry.

“Yeah. Yeah just like that,” Mingyu gave a tired grin as he looked down at the mess his boyfriend made.

The thrusts started to become erratic, losing rhythm as he fucked Wonwoo to the point where he had to place a hand over his head so he woudln’t hit it against the headboard. Not soon after, Mingyu let out a deep groan, his body tensing before he moved slowly and eventually stopped.

The two laid there panting, catching their breaths for a few moments before Mingyu sighed and pulled out, reaching over for a tissue box and handing some to Wonwoo. They cleaned themselves off without a word– a silent agreement that they needed to finish cleaning up before all else. 

After wiping themselves down to the best of their abilities and kicking off the bed sheets, the two settled back into bed, a pile of cum covered sheets on the floor next to them. Mingyu threw a large throw blanket over them, making sure Wonwoo was more covered than he was.

“What time is it?” Wonwoo asked groggily.

Mingyu grabbed his phone from the nightstand. “Almost 4:00am.” He turned his attention back to the boy tucked in his arm. He shook his head in disbelief at the intimate moment they just shared together.

“Holy shit. That was…”

“The best sex you’ve ever had? Happy Birthday,” Wonwoo completed jokingly.

Mingyu nodded, completely serious. “Honestly, yeah.”

Wonwoo rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious. I’m not gonna be able to think about anything else for the next few weeks, just so you know,” Mingyu muttered into Wonwoo’s hair. “I don’t even think I can look at you the same way after that,” he said, leaving kisses along his earlobe. 

Wonwoo shook his head, also glad that it was dark so Mingyu couldn’t see the blush on his cheeks. “I think it’s time to go to sleep, Min.” Wonwoo could basically hear Mingyu pout as he muttered a ‘fine’ and shifted so his arm and leg were draped over the elder, under the blanket.

“I love you, Wonwoo.”

“I love you, Mingyu.”

“I love you more,” was the last thing Wonwoo heard before he drifted into a much needed, deep sleep.

The quarter went by in a blink of an eye. They found themselves creating a routine that worked for both of them, prioritizing each other while simultaneously keeping up with school. 

It was safe to say that sex became a usual activity, typically in Wonwoo’s room, occasionally in Mingyu’s, and once in Wonwoo’s car which they found to be extremely inconvenient and mutually agreed it was not worth the hassle.

Mingyu went out of his way to do his own research on sexual intercourse with men, even though Wonwoo told him it wasn't necessary.

“Can we try this one?” Mingyu asked innocently, showing Wonwoo a clipart of two figures in a lewd, and rather complicated, sex position. 

Wonwoo squinted at the image. “Absolutely not.”

“But why,” the other pouted.

“Mingyu.” Wonwoo took the phone from him zooming in. “My feet would be right in your face.”

“So?” Mingyu furrowed his eyebrows and took his phone back. “I eat your ass. You think I care about your feet?"

Wonwoo gave him a blank expression before turning back to his assignment. “Let me finish this first.”

Needless to say they quickly became closer, even more so than they already were, unlocking a whole other level of comfortability that they didn’t even know could exist. Mingyu’s friends became Wonwoo’s and vice versa. Wonwoo was especially thrilled to see Soonyoung and Mingyu get along fairly well at his graduation

“Wonwoo, lift up your head a little more,” Soonyoung instructed as he stood in front of him and Mingyu, ready to take their photo.

Jun shook his head from where he was standing off to the side.“No, not like that. Like, tilt it a little.”

“Like this, babe,” Mingyu muttered, positioning Wonwoo’s head so that the light hit it perfectly.

Soonyoung beamed.“Yes! See, Mingyu knows. Now, say cheese!”

Mingyu couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as he watched Wonwoo wrap up his Bachelor's degree and become more and more lively as it got closer to the end. However, he also felt a pang of regret, maybe longing, at the fact that they no longer would be living in the same building and have easy access to one another.

“I checked and your apartment with Jun will only be like, seventeen minutes away from my place with Hansol and Seungkwan,” Mingyu perked from where he sat at the bar. 

Wonwoo gave a lazy smile, looking over Mingyu’s phone as he agitated the cocktail shaker in one hand. “See? I told you it wouldn’t be that bad.”

Mingyu pouted, looking up at his boyfriend with puppy dog eyes. “I’m still gonna miss you, though. We should’ve just moved in together.”

Wonwoo laughed, pouring out the mixture into a glass. “We don’t wanna be the couple that moves in after a few months together and besides, now that Jun’s moving back it was the perfect opportunity for us to find a place together.” He reached over to grab Mingyu’s hand. The taller boy gave him a wink and left a lingering kiss on his knuckles, making Wonwoo smile.

“It’ll work out better than you think,” Wonwoo concluded before getting back to work.

As much as Wonwoo tried to console Mingyu, he would be lying if he said he didn’t also feel a bitter sensation as he prepared to leave LMU. His residents made it especially difficult, writing him thank you letters and bringing him goodbye gifts. Even the quiet ones Wonwoo barely had interactions with had expressed their gratitude. He hated to admit it, but he did get attached to some of the students living on his floor. They were always relatively entertaining and eager to participate in the silly activities Wonwoo would curate.

When the last resident left, an extroverted and troublesome second year named Liz, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of sadness as she asked if they could take a selfie together.

“Thanks for putting up with me,” she said, offering a small side hug. “You made this the best second year ever.”

Mingyu, on the other hand, only really mourned not being able to have Wonwoo near him, but was glad that he had this place to come back to, especially as he said goodbye to his first group of friends here.

“I’ll miss you guys,” Mingyu said. “Don’t do anything stupid please.”

Minnie nudged her boyfriend. “He’s talking to you.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes and ignored her comment. “We’ll send you plenty of photos from Thailand. Are you sure you can’t come? We can still modify the reservations.”

“Yeah, Mingyu, come on! We’re staying at my uncle’s hotel, you would only have to pay for your flight,” Minnie pleaded.

Mingyu gave a sad smile. “I can’t. I start my internship in a few weeks but you guys have fun without me.”

“Fine,” Jungkook grumbled. “We should definitely do something next year after graduation, though.” 

Mingyu nodded. “Definitely.”

Minnie’s eyes softened, meeting Mingyu’s gaze. “Have a good summer, Gyu. See you next year.”

Mingyu gave them both a hug, exchanging goodbyes multiple times before Mingyu decided it was time to make his way back to Wonwoo after he promised him he would help him load everything from his dorm into his car. Mingyu arrived at the front of the building– their building– and spotted Soonyoung standing next to Wonwoo’s car, holding Luna’s crate.

“Hey. I think this is most of it but he might still have like two or three boxes left up there,” Soonyoung informed.

Mingyu nodded and made his way up to the fifth floor of the building, realizing that it would be the last time he did so.

Wonwoo stood in the center of his nearly empty dorm room, surrounded by the remnants of his college life packed into boxes and bags, the walls previously adorned with posters and photographs now bare and dull.

His heart swelled with a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. The room had been his sanctuary for the past two years, the school his home for the past four. 

He picked up a small photo frame from his desk, containing a picture of him, Seungcheol, and Jeonghan from a school fair back in their first year. Wonwoo chuckled to himself as he set the frame down carefully in one of the boxes. 

As he finished packing the last few items, he took a moment to sit on the edge of the bed, which had been stripped of its sheets. He closed his eyes, letting himself drift back through the highlights of his college years– the friendships formed, the relationships he outgrew, the deep conversations, and the unexpected twists that had led him to where he was now

Lost in his thoughts, Wonwoo was momentarily startled by the sound of a knock on the door. He looked up to see Mingyu’s head pop through the door frame. His toothy smile and disheveled hair felt as familiar and comforting as ever.

“Hey,” he said cheerfully, “Are you ready to go?”

Wonwoo blinked, momentarily taken aback by him. He admired him– his bright eyes, the way his smile could light up a room, and the way he carried himself with an optimism that was incredibly contagious. A surge of excitement and anticipation welled up inside Wonwoo as he thought about their future together.

“Yeah,” he replied, standing up and walking towards Mingyu. 

Mingyu stepped inside, his gaze softening as he looked around the empty room. “It’s a big change, I know,” he said, wrapping an arm around Wonwoo’s shoulders and placing a kiss on his temple.

Wonwoo leaned into his boyfriend’s embrace, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. “I’m excited, though.”

Mingyu giggled, obviously equally excited. “Me too. Let’s get going.”

The two grabbed the last few boxes and bags, leaving the room completely empty, looking unlived in. 

As they walked down the hallway together, Mingyu felt a renewed sense of hope and excitement for the future, feeling confident that he could face whatever was coming because he had Wonwoo by his side.

Wonwoo was thankful for all the times his defenses came up– his mind and body always trying to protect him from experiencing that same pain all over again. But something told him he didn't need those defenses up anymore. Something told him that it was okay for that wall to come down.

He was safe now.

 

 

Notes:

wahhhhh my characters i'll miss you guys D;

but thank u guys SO much for engaging and showing so much love to this silly little story my overworked mind came up with. i looked forward to reading your comments every week and it made this hell of a semester feel much more tolerable so thank you :')

i'll see yall in a few days for the epilogue!!

this is also way more than the promised 130k words oops

Chapter 24: Epilogue: Never Gonna Let You Burn

Notes:

This part honestly isn't necessary for the plot of the story but just something i whipped up while I was in the middle of writing it.

A million thanks for reading this far. All the support I received whether it was just reading or leaving kudos or sending comments/messages has meant so much to me :')

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

 

6 years later…

 

Mingyu stood in line almost drenched in sweat and looked around anxiously, his nerves starting to catch up to him. It was mid June and the large white tents that covered the courtyard only did so much to block out the heat from the beaming sun that seemed to shine directly on them like a spotlight. Mingyu could hear the complaints of his fellow graduates surrounding the school’s decision to hold the ceremony outside instead of the cool, indoor arena that their tuition paid for. The heavy gowns and thick caps only further trapped the heat, leaving Mingyu feeling suffocated and sticky.

“You good?” his friend Jihoon asked, smiling. This had to be the happiest he had seen him in the past four years. 

Mingyu swallowed. “Yep. Just a little toasty,” he replied, pulling on the front of his gown. 

“Tell me about it!” Joshua retorted, fanning himself with the program. “I guess there’s no better place to have a heat stroke than surrounded by a bunch of doctors.”

Mingyu stood on his tippy toes, trying to see his family in the crowd that was seated at the far back of the rows of chairs but to no avail.

Mingyu took in the environment around him, still in disbelief that he managed to make it this far and that his final day as a student had finally arrived. 

The air was heavy with a mix of excitement and anticipation as families and friends filled the rows of seats. Colorful banners and balloons bobbed in the breeze, while the scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the warm, summer air. 

The stage stood at the front, adorned with flowers and the university's emblem, ready to welcome the next generation of medical professionals.

Jihoon groaned and pulled his sleeve back, taking a quick look at his watch. “We were supposed to start eight minutes ago.”

Joshua and Mingyu exchanged an confused glance. “What's the rush?”

Jihoon scoffed. “Well besides the fact that we're getting second degree sunburns, my shift starts at 4:00pm.”

Mingyu looked at his friend with an incredulous expression. “You're working after this?”

“Yes.”

“You're telling me Olive Garden couldn't find another waiter on your graduation night?” Joshua asked.

“Probably. But you know I don’t play about my paycheck,” Jihoon deadpanned.

Mingyu stared at him before laughing. “Dude, what? You're graduating from medical school!”

“So? I’m not a doctor yet. We can't all have a rich, engineer boyfriend to take care of all our expenses for us.”

“Hey!” Mingyu corrected with furrowed eyebrows. “He's not rich, he just makes a lot of money.”

His two friends rolled their eyes.

“Shots! Who wants a Pink Whitney shot?!” Their attention was drawn by a male voice calling out like a salesman. The three boys turned to see their fellow graduate, Seokmin, walking down the line of students, pulling out mini bottles of pink liquor from his large sleeve and handing them out.

Mingyu looked around in horror as he yanked his friend over by the elbow.

“Hey, guys! You’re in luck, I have exactly three left,” he said oblivious to the shock on his friends’ faces.

Jihoon pulled Joshua’s program out of his hand and whacked Seokmin over his head. “Dumbass, you’re gonna get in trouble!”

Seokmin scoffed. “What are they gonna do? Take my degree? Here, if you don't want it I’ll drink it for-”

Jihoon swatted Seokmin’s hand away and pulled his tiny bottle towards himself.

Mingyu looked at his friends, not sure what to do. “Cheers?”

Joshua and Jihoon looked at each other and shrugged in deafeat. “Cheers.” The three of them twisted the cap off and chugged the small vile in one go, wincing as the strong taste made its way down their throat.

“Oh, I see my mom!” Seokmin exclaimed, waving at someone in the audience. 

“Shut up! We’re starting!” A female student snapped from the front of the line.

The four friends turned to look at each other in anticipation, any discomfort from the heat no longer bothersome. They adjusted each other’s caps and gowns, with large grins on their faces, before they stood in a straight line as they were instructed.

Mingyu’s heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nerves as they began to step down the aisle, the familiar notes of "Pomp and Circumstance" filling the air. The weight of his robes and the cap perched on his head felt surreal. 

Rows of graduates in identical robes moved in unison, the sea of caps and gowns a testament to years of hard work and perseverance. Mingyu’s mind drifted back to the countless nights spent studying, the laughs he shared in medical school, and the sacrifices made to get to this very moment.

Trying to maintain his composure, Mingyu took advantage of his tall stature to discreetly scan the audience. The chatter of proud families and the occasional cheer from the crowd blended as one single hum. 

His eyes flickered over the sea of faces until they landed on a group standing just a couple rows away from the very front. His mother, father, and sister seemingly beamed with pride, waving energetically with their phones out. Beside them, Minghao was holding up a large cutout of Mingyu’s head, making him chuckle.

Then, his gaze found him. Even from a distance, Wonwoo's smile lit up his entire view of sight. The sight of the man who had been by his side through thick and thin, filled Mingyu with a deep sense of gratitude and love. His boyfriend's presence was a reminder of how far he’d come, not just academically but personally. 

As he took his seat among the other graduates, Mingyu allowed himself a moment to take it all in. The journey had been filled with both challenges and successes. And now, surrounded by friends, family, and his beloved boyfriend, he felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and joy. 

Once all the graduates took their seats, the dean of the program made her way behind the podium, the chatter and cheers from the audience beginning to die down.

“Good afternoon family, friends, staff, and graduates. Welcome to the Stanford School of Medicine 2026 commencement ceremony.”

The ceremony began with an inspiring speech, which spoke of resilience, dedication, and other things that Mingyu missed from zoning out mid way. The procession of speakers continued, each offering words of wisdom and encouragement.

Minutes turned into hours, and Mingyu’s anticipation grew with each name called. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the formal proceedings seemed to stretch on endlessly. 

Finally, the moment arrived. The dean announced the start of the individual recognitions, and Mingyu’s heart rate quickened. As the names were called, he listened intently, each one bringing him closer to his turn. His row was ushered to begin to line up at the side of the stage. The graduates walked across the stage one by one, their expressions showing a mix of relief and pride.

Then, the dean’s voice rang out clearly, “Mingyu Kim, Doctor of Medicine.”

Mingyu took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked across the stage. The applause from the audience grew louder as he stepped onto the platform. He couldn't help but beam as he spotted his family and friends cheering excitedly, everything fading away briefly as his eyes locked with Wonwoo’s.

With a firm handshake and a nod from the dean, Mingyu accepted his diploma. The weight of the parchment in his hand felt heavy, monumental. He paused at the center of the stage, a broad smile spreading across his face as the camera flashed, capturing the years of hard work and sacrifice.

As he descended the steps, the reality of his achievement began to sink in. He could cry. He did it. Mingyu, a young man who had made plenty of mistakes, who always questioned his own intellect, just graduated from medical school. It almost felt too good to be true, and if all goes well after tonight, everything would really be perfect. 

The cheers from the crowd followed him back to his seat, where he sat down next to Joshua, Seokmin, and Jihoon who all gave him a pat on the back, genuinely happy for one another. Mingyu glanced back at his loved ones, feeling an immense sense of gratitude and fulfillment. 

After the last of his cohort walked the stage, the ceremony went by a lot quicker, concluding with one more speech from their class valedictorian. Just like that the ceremony concluded as quickly as it began.

The familiar hymn played once again as the graduates walked out of the seating area. Mingyu and his friends were then pulled over to the side by another classmate who was collecting friends from their cohort to take a group photo.

After a variety of group selfies and silly poses, the group made their way to a nearby fountain to take a more wholesome photo that they could share with their families.

After saying goodbye to everyone and taking a few more pictures with Joshua, Seokmin, and Jihoon, Mingyu made his way back towards the seating area, weaving through the sea of people and scanning for familiar faces. 

"Mingyu, over here!" his sister called, waving energetically and holding a large bouquet of flowers. 

Mingyu quickened his pace, his heart swelling with happiness. "Eomma, Appa!" he exclaimed, enveloping them both in a tight hug. "I’m so glad it’s over,” he muttered, getting laughs out of both of them.

"We're so proud of you, Mingyu," his mom said, her eyes glistening with tears. "You worked so hard, baby," she said softly, her hand on his cheek.

His dad pulled him in for a tight hug, beaming. "I can’t believe it- a doctor in the family!"

Mingyu turned to his sister, who shoved the bouquet of flowers in his arms. “I’m still the smartest one in the family, by the way.” 

Mingyu received the flowers and lightly shoved her away. He moved to pull Minghao into a hug as his family gathered around his mom’s phone, looking at the pictures she took.

Minghao chuckled, patting his back. "I still can’t believe it, man. A doctor?"

Mingyu pulled back, still holding Minghao's shoulders. "I can’t thank you enough for putting up with me this long.”

Minghao laughed. “I know. I deserve a reward. You can pay me back once your first paycheck comes in.”

“Yeah, right. Still got at least three years of residency left,” he said absentmindedly looking around for a certain tall boy with glasses. “Where’s Wonwoo?”

“He said he was gonna look for you- oh, there he is!” his sister chimed in, pointing behind Mingyu. Mingyu turned around to see Wonwoo looking lost in the crowd, eyebrows knitted together as he looked around.

Mingyu laughed in endearment at the sight of his boyfriend looking absolutely terrified and confused among the chaos. He handed Minghao his bouquet and made his way through the sea of people once more to reach Wonwoo.

He caught his eye, causing them both to exchange large grins as they walked to each other.

Wonwoo looked even more handsome than usual, dressed in a white t-shirt and black blazer, his eyes shining with pride. All those years and the older man still made Mingyu's heart race like a school girl.

"Hey," Wonwoo said softly.

Mingyu pulled him into a tight embrace, feeling Wonwoo's arms wrap securely around him. "I couldn't have done it without you, Won," he murmured. 

Wonwoo pulled back slightly, looking into Mingyu's eyes and adjusting his cap. "God, I’m so proud of you, Min. This is… you're incredible." His tone was gentle and sincere, and held the same tenderness as always. 

Mingyu didn't know how he got so lucky. He felt a rush of affection and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his lips.

“I love you,” Wonwoo said after they pulled away.

“I love you more,” Mingyu said with a small giggle, placing another kiss on the shorter man’s forehead.

Wonwoo huffed a laugh as he ran his hand down Mingyu’s arm, observing his graduation robe. “This is quite a look for you, you know?”

“This? You like it?”

“Oh, it’s horrendous. It makes you look like a giant teddy bear, though.”

Mingyu shook his head. “Wow, and here I was thinking you were gonna tell me I should keep it on during sex-”

Wonwoo whacked him in the stomach, cutting him off and causing him to double over slightly and groan in pain. Wonwoo looked at his boyfriend with a look of disbelief, a tinge of amusement in his features.

"Sorry. Let's go back to the others," Mingyu said with a pained chuckle, taking his boyfriend’s hand. They walked back to where his family and Minghao were standing, Mingyu feeling complete with everyone he loved surrounding him.

“Aww, look at the happy couple,” his sister cooed dramatically. Mingyu ruffled her hair and she slapped his hand away.

“Pictures!” his mom exclaimed as she proceeded to order his loved ones to pose with Mingyu in different combinations. 

After Mrs. Kim was satisfied with the amount of pictures that were taken, they all made their way back to the car and to their dinner reservations. The post-graduation dinner was held at a cozy, upscale restaurant that Mingyu's family had reserved for the occasion. The table was adorned with elegant floral arrangements and soft candlelight, creating an intimate environment that perfectly matched the significance of the occasion. 

Laughter filled the room as everyone shared stories and memories from throughout Mingyu’s life. His dad recounted a funny story from Mingyu's childhood, involving a treehouse mishap that ended with a crying Mingyu stuck in a tree for hours. Mia chimed in with her own funny, and a little embarrassing, in Mingyu’s opinion, stories about her life as his younger sister.

Minghao recalled Mingyu’s struggles during their first two years of college, complete with a spot-on impression of their old professor. "And then he said, 'If you don't understand this now, you never will' And Mingyu just nodded like he totally got it, but it was so obvious he was about to start crying. And he did when we got home," Minghao chuckled, earning a shove from Mingyu.

Wonwoo beside him laughed unapologetically at every story and anecdote about his long-term boyfriend, making the other pout and roll his eyes. 

“Ah but we can’t forget about that one time Mingyu tried to assemble furniture without instructions when we first moved in together,” Wonwoo added with a grin as he leaned back in his chair.

Mingyu groaned, cheeks turning crimson. “Shut up, Won. You don’t need to tell them everything.”

“No, no! Keep going, Wonwoo,” Mingyu’s sister encouraged, laughing. 

“Okay,” Wonwoo started, ignoring his boyfriend’s whines. “So this was when we just moved in together. I’m unpacking boxes like a normal person, and Mingyu is determined to be all manly and get this table set up without, you know, looking at the instructions.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Mingyu breathed out desperately.

“So, he’s just confidently putting it together like he’s been doing this his whole life. Next thing you know, he’s standing up, so proud of himself, and I look over—and of course, the legs of the table are completely backward.”

Mrs. Kim burst out laughing, her eyes twinkling with adoration for her son as Mr. Kim covered his mouth to hide his smile. 

Mingyu peeked up from where he was hiding his face behind his hands. “It was an honest mistake!” 

Wonwoo rubbed his boyfriend’s arm in comfort. “We spent the next three hours trying to take it apart and put it back together according to the instructions.’”

Mingyu groaned again, shaking his head. “I was just trying to impress you. Plus, I built everything else just fine!”

‘“Everything else? Is that why the coffee table always looks like it's about to collapse?” Minghao asked, amused.

“And why your couch so wobbly?” his sister added.

Mingyu stared at his best friend and sister with a done expression, confirming their theories, making the laughter begin once again.

“And to think Wonwoo still wanted to live with you after that?” Mr. Kim joked with a large grin, eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Dad!”

Wonwoo chuckled, reaching over to squeeze Mingyu’s hand on the table. “He keeps things interesting.”

Mingyu tried not to stare at his boyfriend for too long, but his soft spoken mannerisms and calming presence always seemed to put him at ease. He couldn’t be upset with him if he tried. Wonwoo was perfect.

Mingyu couldn't help but feel the sudden flutter of nervousness in his chest as the elder let go of his hand and continued to eat his dinner. 

Tucked away in his pocket was a small velvet box that only he, his sister and Minghao knew about. Every time he glanced at Wonwoo, the weight of the proposal hung in the air, making his pulse quicken with anxiety, sure, but mostly excitement.

As the evening progressed, they moved on to dessert, with everyone toasting to Mingyu's achievements and future. His mom stood up, raising her glass. "To Mingyu, our doctor-to-be. Baby, we are so beyond proud of you and we love you so much.”

She turned to look at her son’s best friend. “To Minghao for being such an amazing friend. My Mingyu grew so much after meeting you.”

She then turned towards Wonwoo whose lip curled, feeling shy at the attention. Mrs. Kim gave him a knowing smile. “And to Wonwoo. A mother can only hope that her baby will find someone who loves and cares for him unconditionally. Thank you for being such a wonderful partner to our Mingyu.”

Mingyu looked over at Wonwoo with an amused expression, knowing how flustered the other must be. Sure enough, Wonwoo simply smiled and nodded, the tips of his ears turning pink. Mingyu nudged him and winked.

“Cheers,” his mom said.

"Cheers!" Everyone echoed, clinking glasses and taking sips of champagne. 

Mingyu looked around the table. As the dinner drew to a close, he knew that the moment to ask Wonwoo the question that's been on his mind for the past few months was to happen sooner rather than later. The thought of it made his stomach flip with anticipation, but also with a deep, abiding love that made every bit of the nervousness worth it.

His sister caught his eye from across the table and gave him an encouraging nod. Minghao winked at him, subtly signaling that he was ready to help.

“Oh, no,” Mingyu’s sister said abruptly, leaning over and holding her stomach. “I have cramps. Mom, come with me to the bathroom please?”

Mrs. Kim eyed her daughter quizzically. “Mia, you’re twenty five years old-”

“Please, mom!”

“Okay, okay,” Mrs. Kim exasperated, throwing her napkin on the table and excusing herself as she walked her daughter to the bathroom.

Minghao cleared his throat after a moment. “Hey, Mr. Kim, did I ever show you the patio my dad built in our backyard?”

Mr. Kim’s attention snapped up to Minghao. “No, son. Can I see?” he asked, excitedly putting on his glasses as Minghao moved to where Mrs. Kim was sitting and pulled out his phone.

Wonwoo chuckled and looked at Mingyu. “Your family’s funny.”

Mingyu smiled down at his boyfriend, always in awe at how beautiful he was, especially under the warm lighting. He couldn’t wait to call him his husband one day. 

Hopefully.

“Now you see where I get it from,” he answered back casually. “Wanna go check out the balcony area?”

Wonwoo agreed and the two boys got up from the table. Minghao gave Mingyu a knowing glance, silently wishing him luck while attempting to look subtle. He smiled to himself as his best friend made his way to the other side of the restaurant and to the terrace. 

Mingyu and Wonwoo stood on the long, glass balcony that wrapped around the restaurant which was located on the top suite of a skyscraper in the city. The restaurant overlooked the San Francisco bay which looked ethereal as the sun was setting, cascading a yellow and pink hue over everything exposed to sunlight. The sun left small specks of glimmering reflection on the water as the waves in the bay moved slowly and erratically. 

While there were other people on the terrace as well, there was a reasonable distance between each party, allowing for Mingyu and Wonwoo to still feel like they had this moment to themselves. 

Mingyu looked to the man standing to his right. The wind blew at the short locks on his forehead as he looked peacefully at the breathtaking view in front of him. Feeling his gaze on him, Wonwoo turned to look at Mingyu, a raised eyebrow and a small smile playing at his features.

“What?”

“Thank you again... for everything you did for me while I was in school,” Mingyu said, looking intently into Wonwoo’s eyes that glistened as the sunlight reflected onto his pupils.

Wonwoo laughed and shook his head. “I already told you, Min. You don't need to thank me for that.”

“Wonwoo,” Mingyu started, “The whole time I was in school, incredibly busy and unemployed, you provided for us- you provided for me. Never once during those four years did you complain about it. You made sure we had somewhere to call home, you made sure we had food on the table. Even as you juggled your own job, you still managed to be there for me like some fucking super hero.”

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo said with a chuckle, grabbing his hand. “I watched you slave away with assignments and late clinical hours. I lost nothing by making your life a little easier. Watching you walk on that stage was all the more worth it. Sure, I had to work hard these past four years, but you worked hard too."

Mingyu sighed. He wanted to tear up at Wonwoo’s words but held back, telling himself to save his crying for later. “Besides,” Wonwoo joked, “once you become a doctor I plan on quitting my job anyway. You can return the favor then.”

Mingyu rolled his eyes playfully and pulled his boyfriend in for a hug. “You know I actually wouldn't mind taking care of you, right? I kind of like the idea of providing for us completely."

“Is that so?”

“Mhm,” Mingyu said, nodding before pulling away. “Just give me, like, three years.”

Wonwoo sighed dramatically and let his shoulders drop. “Fine.” 

The two stood in silence for a bit more, and Mingyu began to panic, not knowing how to revert the conversation back to themselves. He was suddenly hyper aware of the slight weight in his left pocket and could feel his hands begin to clam up. His heart raced even faster as he tried to ignore the wave of nausea that took over in nervousness.

To his luck, Wonwoo finally spoke up.

“Did you ever imagine we’d be here?” he asked, not looking at Mingyu.

Perfect.

Mingyu scoffed. “No. Did you?”

Wonwoo laughed. “Definitely not. I remember when you told me you liked me back in college. Not gonna lie, I wanted to punch you in the face- to tell you you had a chance but you blew it.” He laughed with a shake of his head. “I still can't believe we made it this far. I guess seventeen year old Wonwoo would be pretty stoked though.” 

Wonwoo turned to look at Mingyu, a soft smile playing at his lips, but he quickly realized Mingyu was no longer beside him. Confusion flickered across Wonwoo’s face as he glanced around, only to find Mingyu kneeling behind him, a small velvet box in his hand. 

The world seemed to slow down as their eyes locked, filled with love and determination.

“Mingyu?” Wonwoo whispered, his eyes glancing from Mingyu’s face to the box in his hand, trying to make sure he wasn’t imagining things.

Mingyu took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Wonwoo, from the moment you came back into my life, you’ve made everything brighter. You’ve been my rock, my best friend, and the love of my life. I’ve truly never met anyone as kind, smart, and caring as you. I… I can’t imagine my future without you in it.”

Wonwoo’s eyes welled up with tears, his hands trembling as he brought them to his mouth.

“I want to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you’ve made me. I want to share every sunrise and every sunset with you, every joy and every challenge. You deserve the best, and I promise to try and be nothing less than that. Wonwoo… will you marry me?”

Mingyu opened the box, revealing a silver band, adorned with one row of small diamonds along the middle, that sparkled in the fading sunlight. Wonwoo’s tears flowed freely now, his heart overflowing with emotion and mind still a little hazy. He dropped to his knees in front of Mingyu, taking his hands in his.

“God, Mingyu. Yes. A thousand times, yes,” Wonwoo choked out, an excited grin on his face.

Mingyu picked up the delicate band and slipped the ring onto Wonwoo’s finger, his own eyes shining with unshed tears. 

They stood and embraced tightly, the world around them fading away as they held each other close. Everything around them seemed to disappear.

The patrons of the restaurant, who had been watching the scene unfold, erupted into applause and cheers. Mingyu’s parents who were brought to the scene by Minghao and Mia applauded along, with tears beginning to well in their own eyes. Mingyu and Wonwoo pulled back slightly, sharing a chaste kiss. The sun finally dipped below the horizon, but the light between them only grew brighter.

“I can’t believe you,” Wonwoo choked out with a chuckle. “Today was supposed to be about you.”

“I would choose becoming your husband over becoming a doctor any day,” Mingyu said with a cocky smile. “I love you, Wonwoo,” Mingyu whispered, his voice full of reverence.

“I love you too, Min,” Wonwoo replied, his smile radiant.

They returned to their tight embrace, feeling like they could’ve stayed there for hours.

Life had come with an unexpected turn of events that neither Mingyu nor Wonwoo could have predicted. The boy who had caused Wonwoo so much pain had become the man who now held his heart with the most gentle hands, and the very person who once represented pain and regret for Mingyu had now become the source of his greatest happiness.

 

 

Notes:

I DID IT I INCLUDED EVERY MEMBER OF SVT IN THIS FIC !!

Don't have the words to express how much I appreciate yall for putting up with my hectic inconsistent schedule as I balance grad school and regularly updating (especially since i had to ditch my beta reader mid way omg what a mess)

This has been SO fun and I really hope to be back with another mw story soon once my work load for school gets to a more manageable amount

but anyway, pls feel free to come talk to me on neospring or my twt. let's fangirl and giggle about minwon hehe

take care of yourselves! until next time :)

Notes:

Let me know what you think: @/mwqts on twt

https://neospring.org/@dandelalion