[Fic] A Map That Leads To You Part 2
Something or someone is running its slick tongue over his cheek. Jongin groans and rolls onto his side to try and escape from whatever is trying to pull him out of his sleep. A paw hits his back once, twice, thrice, as if the creature behind him is using his body as a drum set. Jongin throws a pillow but regrets it the moment the silent apartment is filled with a loud string of mewing and screeching a la no other but Felix Thunder Paws, Jongdae’s obnoxious bicolor cat.
The little fur ball has an ego nearly bigger than his owner's, so Jongin knows better than to let him wait for his Sheba Deluxe breakfast. He runs a hand through his hair while dragging his feet into the kitchen. The floor is icy cold, and Jongin can’t help but miss the hardwood floor back at his old home with Minseok.
Minseok. Has a year really already passed? Jongin opens the can of cat food and spoons it into a bowl before sliding it in front of a waiting Felix Thunder Paws without further ado.
Jongin leans against the frame of the patio door, watching how a little bird bathes in the little pit of rainwater that has collected on top of the small table on Jongdae’s balcony. The trees are slowly shedding their leaves, coloring the grey asphalt in various colors and shapes.
Time stops for no one, but Jongin can’t find himself complaining as he watches another leaf drift to the pavement, dropping on top of already brown leaves. If autumn ends soon then his favorite season will begin: winter.
The one season that reminds him of Minseok the most. A man that on the surface appears to be reserved and cold but who Jongin finds more comparable to snowflakes that fall from the sky and set his skin on fire when he opens his palms to catch them. Even if winter only offers the color white to the world, it is enough to Jongin because it calms him. The white snow always looks so peaceful yet charming when it glistens in the sunlight.
Bright and beautiful like Minseok.
As Jongin walks back into the kitchen, he nearly trips over the empty bowl of cat food and inwardly groans about the cat’s appetite. Jongin had asked Jongdae once if he really bought a cat and not a black panther with a pot belly which concluded in Jongdae throwing a hissy fit while hugging his Felix Thunder Paws tightly to his chest.
Jongin smiles around his hot chocolate at the memory of Jongdae throwing pillows at him while Minseok would shield him with both of his arms wrapped around him. He misses him. The thought has him sighing because it was he who walked out on Minseok.
He carefully closes the fridge with his foot, balancing his cup of hot chocolate and bowl of cereal before heading over to the living room. Jongin places everything on the coffee table, flipping through the news on television, absentmindedly chewing his breakfast.
Jongdae won’t be up for another two hours at least, but Jongin has dance rehearsal in the morning. And anyway, he has the pleasure of working the Saturday afternoon shift this week at his part-time job.
Rain is falling outside; Jongin can even hear it over the television. The heavy drops drill through the leaves outside, washing away the traces of yesterday, turning the colors of autumn brown. The taste of regret is bitter, but Jongin insists that it was the right decision at the time. Minseok is a kind person- collected, organized, and down to earth, while Jongin is more of a dreamer- waking up in the morning excited for whatever the day could offer him.
Jongin pulls his legs up against his chest and wraps his arms protectively around them, recalling how Minseok would shower his nape with soft kisses every morning to wake him up, how he would chuckle when Jongin would pout at him with his disheveled hair before pulling him down for more kisses.
They were happy. But Jongin has a talent of self-sabotaging his relationships; he always tends to see the cracks even if there are none. But this time there was a definite crack; Jongin could feel it tearing him apart as time went by living with Minseok, loving Minseok, listening to Minseok while they were eating dinner together. He noticed they Minseok never asked about Jongin's activities- never asked about his classes, his dance practices, his part time job, or even just his day. It was like Minseok didn't care at all.
Jongin felt wronged and upset. Disappointment grew inside him the more he noticed the passing time and the lack of interest from Minseok. He should have talked about it with Minseok- should have told him how he felt so that the two of them could have tried to fix it! Instead, he acted on impulse, packed his bags to leave everything behind, and was gone before the sun had even risen.
Jongin bites his bottom lip, digging his toes deeper into the soft material of the couch as his gaze wanders over to the entrance door of Jongdae’s apartment. He remembers showing up on his best friend’s doorstep with startling clarity as if it were yesterday. He recalls Jongdae’s baffled yet worried expression when Jongin dropped his head on his shoulder and started crying without a word of explanation.
Jongdae didn’t ask question at first, and for that Jongin was grateful. Jongdae never asks, and this time was no differed. He waited for Jongin to tell him what happened when he was ready. And when Jongin opened his mouth, tears already gathered at the corners of his eyes, Jongdae wordlessly wrapped him in a thick blanket and stayed by his side while Jongin sobbed against his chest and sputtered his way through the reason for his tears. A mere week later, Jongdae offered Jongin his couch as a temporary bed and his apartment as a temporary home. He was very strict though, clarifying that he didn't agree with the way simply avoided a problem by running away from it.
“You won’t be able to run forever," Jongdae had said. "One day you’ll have to face the obstacles life is throwing at you.” And Jongdae had tossed another dirty dish into the sink. Jongin felt a lot like that dish at that moment.
It’s been a year now, and Jongin is still avoiding the cracks in his heart, still on the run from his own feelings and insecurities. In a way he feels sorry for being a burden on Jongdae even though he is paying part of the rent right now, feeds the cat with the prince syndrome, and cleans and picks up Jongdae’s dirty laundry if the other is once again running late because of work.
Jongin is good at making excuses and justifying the way he lives to himself. He says it's convenient, but just like Jongdae said, he knows if really just running away. The only one his life is convenient for is his tender, broken heart. The hideous truth that his selfishness keeps Jongdae from finding his own happiness. His friend always seems to feel responsible for Jongin. It isn't fair of him to keep taking up Jongdae's private life like this. Jongin puts on a freshly washed pair of tight, grey jeans and a black, wool sweater to block the autumn chill. His time here is running out. Jongin promised Jongdae he would move out after New Year's, and he is determined to keep his word although he still has to figure out where to go once he exits his comfortable bubble.
Minseok probably has moved on, Jongin thinks bitterly. He's probably living a comfortable life as a lawyer with someone else filling the empty space Jongin left in his bed and heart. The thought of being nothing but a fading memory to Minseok has Jongin tightening the scarf around his neck, the cold suddenly swallowing him. Jongin swallows around the heavy lump stuck inside his throat.
He shakes his head in an attempt to clear the picture of Minseok and someone else out of his mind before fake bowing into the direction of Felix Thunder Paws who flicks his black tail in return, pointing his nose to the side. Jongin's eyes snap open wide as he realizes that he almost forgot to grab his bag with his wallet and keys inside. Gratefully he crouches down to quickly scratch behind the cat’s ear. He gets a purr of appreciation in return.
As Jongin flies down the stairs, he makes a mental note to buy a little something for Felix Thunder Paws on his way home. The cat is the only reason Jongin won't be starving his way through his day, after all. Maybe the cat isn’t as bad as Jongin thought, just good at hiding his kind nature beyond its thick fur. He thinks back to Felix Thunder Paws demanding food by batting him awake. He smiles. Or not.
~*~
Minseok grimaces at his reflection in the mirror, peering at his dark circles and blood-shot eyes. His throat is still dry, but he mostly chased his headache away already with advil and a gallon of water.
Late night outs inside clubs are obviously not his thing anymore, Minseok thinks. He's especially not a fan of the hangover that follows in the morning. He curses Luhan for dragging him out. He’s going on thirty now; he should watch his late ventures.
Then again, he's going on thirty now, which means he should swallow his pride in terms of his broken relationship.
Ignoring the loud drumming of his heartbeat inside his chest, Minseok gets himself showered and cleaned up before checking his phone for the address of the location Jongdae picked out for their little meeting later. There's no message yet, and Minseok sighs. When Jongdae says "Let's meet for breakfast!" he really means "Let's meet at lunch time and eat breakfast!" Sure enough, around noon Minseok's phone vibrates with the address to a Starbucks he's fairly certain is right next to where Jongdae lives if his memory serves him well. He shoots the message off to Luhan and receives a short "busy!" in reply. It's just as well; this is probably something Minseok should face without Luhan drooling over Jongdae to distract him.
Minseok shrugs on a coat and adds a black scarf just to be sure to not catch a cold. He's got an important case to start working on next week, so falling sick isn’t an option.
The sun is out to light up a clear blue sky when Minseok exits the subway station and heads down a small alley with a couple of small antique shops. A glance at his watch tells him he's still too early, so he takes his time window shopping, peering through the glass storefronts with interest. He links the little vintage items to Jongin just like he links most things to Jongin and smiles as he sees a small keychain of a ballerina.
Minseok checks his watch. Jongdae always runs late by at least ten minutes, so he pushes inside the store and asks the lady behind the counter to sell him the keychain. Even if he’ll never get the chance to give it to Jongin, Minseok feels the need to take the trinket home with him.
The Starbucks is overflowing with people; the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and cafe au latte indulges his senses as he walks inside. Luckily, he spots an empty table in the very back of the coffee shop and fights his way through a crowd of chatty college students and sour looking business men to claim it for himself and his eventual companions.
Some popular pop song is playing in the background, but Minseok doesn’t recognize it over the loud chattering inside the cafe. He's a little bit worried that Jongdae won’t see him through the crowd, but five minutes later the familiar face of his friend appears. Jongdae nonchalantly shoves a few scandalized students out of the way to flop into the seat across of him, and Minseok almost feels at ease with how typical that is of Jongdae.
“I see you didn’t bring blondie. Bummer," Jongdae greets him as he shrugs off his black leather jacket.
“His name is Luhan," Minseok says, and watches Jongdae mouth the name before nodding to himself. Minseok snaps his fingers in Jongdae's face. "But that's not the reason we're here, is it?" It's an actual question. Knowing Jongdae, it might be. And Minseok isn’t in the mood for Jongdae’s games.
“Right. Jongin," Jongdae agrees. "Oh, and you own me breakfast. I'll take a sandwich and a coffee.”
“Black like your soul, right?” Minseok mutters as he rises from his seat. He doesn't wait for Jongdaae's reply as he ambles towards the back of the line, ignoring Jongdae's obnoxious hyena cackle behind him.
Ten minutes pass before Minseok returns with a tray in his hands. Two black coffee and two sandwiches rest on top. Jongdae watches him carefully as he puts down the plate with his bacon and egg sandwich in front of him as if he is pondering on something. Minseok settles back in his chair, appetite gone.
“Why didn’t you call all these months?” Minseok freezes. That's not what he expected- being put on the spot like that- but it is what he should have expected when it comes to Kim Jongdae.
“I was busy,” he defends, smoothing down the wrinkles in his sweater.
“Bullshit Minseok! We’ve been friends for what- eight years? Eight years and just because things didn’t work out with Jongin, you decided to circle me down the drain with him?! Are you kidding me?” Jongdae’s voice is ice cold, and it causes goose bumps to rise all over Minseok’s skin and guilt to gnaw on his conscious.
“I’m sorry.” It’s sincere, and that seems to catch Jongdae off his guard. He grabs his sandwich and shoves it inside his mouth.
“You should be,” Jongdae mumbles around a mouthful of bacon. It’s the first time in a long while that Minseok notices how much he has actually missed Jongdae. He hears the pain that lies in the other’s voice, and he regrets how he neglected him. Minseok grabs a napkin and hands it to Jongdae, gesturing for his friend to wipe a bit of the food off of his cheek.
“I know," he says simply.
Jongdae just scoffs at him but continues to eat his sandwich while occasionally sipping on his cup of coffee. A silence falls between them, but it isn’t an uncomfortable one. They're just two people lost in their own thoughts until Minseok finally feels like he might burst out of his skin.
“I need to know where he is Jongdae.” Minseok has never been a particularly patient person, and his time as a lawyer has made him someone who does not beat around the bush. Jongdae simply raises an eyebrow at him.
“I’m no fairy godmother, Cinderella," he says. "Nor am I Tinkerbell. You need to solve this puzzle yourself.”
“But- “ Minseok tries to complain. Jongdae stops him with a raised hand,
“The connecting dots are already inside your head, but, well, I'll give you a hint because I'm feeling particularly generous today." Jongdae slides a brochure across the table, and Minseok catches it under his palm. It’s from the National Theater of Korea, and Minseok furrows his brows in confusion.
“It’s a start dumbass. Go look there.” Jongdae sighs in defeat before kicking Minseok’s shin which earns him a pained groan in return.
Minseok doesn’t want to waste time, especially not since talking to Jongdae has provided him with some kind of courage that there is still hope. And Minseok should definitely make use of that courage while he has it. He snatches up his coat and wallet and is about to race out the coffee shop when he remembers something,
“Does he still...?" He starts, and it's just like in the bar. His throat closes, and he isn't sure what he wants to ask, but he knows the answer he wants. Does he still love me? Think of me? Want me back? Jongdae has his back turned to him, his red snapback and the back of his white sweater all Minseok sees when his friend clears his throat.
“Would I waste my time here if that weren't the case?” It's all Minseok needs to hear, and he's gone from the coffee shop, a small smile curling up the corners of his mouth as he rushes to find the quickest route to Jangchung-dong.
~*~
Jongdae stretches his sore limbs, loosening some kinks in his neck. He downs the last sip of his coffee, and he is about to head back home when he catches sight of a certain blonde haired man stumbling inside the Starbucks. Jongdae smirks. Today is definitely a good one.
“Hey gorgeous, over here,” he calls out. Luhan freezes in place mid-step, and his gaze locks on Jongdae's. He's got this conflicted look on his face, but Jongdae is willing to make the decision for him.
"Come on," he calls out again. Slowly, Luhan ambles over, plopping down in Minseok's abandoned seat.
"Whose is-?" He questions, vaguely gesturing at the sandwich and coffee in front of him. Minseok hadn't touched them, so Jongdae grins.
"A gift," he says sweetly, and Luhan looks way too impressed. "Actually, Minseok didn't eat or drink any of that. So go ahead." Luhan takes a bite of the sandwich, and his pleased face has Jongdae desperate to know what his pleasured face looks like. He's so pretty.
“Where is Minseok?” Luhan asks, and the spell is broken. "He said you were meeting here, right? I wanted to come, but. Stuff came up." He shrugs. "Work sucks."
“You missed him by like three minutes,” Jongdae answers. "He's racing off to who knows where now." Jongdae grins at Luhan over the table, poking his tongue out before leaning forward to take a closer look at the other.
“Do you always look at people like you are about to savour them alive?" Luhan asks dryly, and it's unexpected. Jongdae laughs.
“Only the one’s with cute accents," he returns. "I’d love to hear you use it somewhere else.” He drums his fingers on the table top. "Maybe saying my name?" It’s way too early on a Saturday for such a conversation, but Jongdae is willing to do anything for someone who looks like Luhan.
“Listen, Jongdae- that's your name, right?" Luhan starts, and Jongdae knows this tone of voice. "I'm awfully hung over and not in the mood for your annoying presence." He nods as if reassuring himself he's said the right thing, and Jongdae knows he's still very much interested. Jongdae watches him brush his bangs back with his fingers.
“You remember my name," Jongdae half cheers. "Such an honor.” Jongdae gives Luhan a challenging wink, and Luhan's cheeks color.
"I didn't think you would still be here," Luhan confesses. "The meeting time was awhile ago, and I was in the area after a work thing. Though if I was one of you, it'd be Minseok. Not you."
"I sent Minseok somewhere," Jongdae shrugs. "A little hint on Jongin's whereabouts." Luhan glares at him, and he's starting to make some excuse about leaving, making to get up, a young guy with dark brown hair and hazel eyes stop at their table.
“Jongdae? You didn’t tell me that you’d stop by today,” he says.
Luhan looks confused as he looks back and forth between Jongdae and the new arrival. The guy is pretty damn attractive, long legs and full lips, and Jongdae hopes beyond reason that he himself is more of Luhan's type.
“Ah, Jongin just who I was waiting for,” Jongdae greets casually, and Luhan stumbles, nearly falling off of his chair as Jongdae addresses the young man who points an accusing finger at him which is just met with a piercing stare from Jongdae.
“Be a darling and bring me another cup of coffee and" -he glances at the half-empty and no doubt cold mug of coffee Minseok left behind. A devilish grin spreads over his lips- "A fresh mug for my newest conquest here.”
Luhan looks murderous, and Jongdae is ready to wink at him again when he's suddenly hit over the head.
"Jongin, you-!"
"I apologize for him," Jongin says to Luhan, pointedly ignoring Jongdae's whining about hurting an innocent customer. "He's a born ass, but I promise he's got a soft, sensible side somewhere." Jongin offers his hand to Luhan, and Jongdae feels pleased that his latest soon to be partner is clearly okay in Jongin's book. "I'm Jongin."
“I’m Luhan, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Jongin.” Luhan's voice is steady and calm, but he looks on the edge of bursting. Jongdae doesn't have to wait long, just until Jongin has wandered off to place an order for a new coffee for Luhan, for Luhan to launch himself forward and hit Jongdae's shoulder.
“Who are you? Satan?" Luhan shouts, his hand twisted in the collar of Jongdae's shirt. "Jongin is right here, and you sent Minseok off on a scavenger hunt?" He looks livid, and honestly, Jongdae thinks it's really a good look for him- matures his baby face. Jongdae winks again.
“Where’d be the fun in that?”
Luhan slowly loosens his grip and sits back, running a hand through his hair and sighing. Jongdae glances out the window before he's caught staring for too long. Outside the sky is suddenly dark, thick clouds chasing away the last rays of sunlight. The first roar of thunder echoes in the distance. A new couple rushes into the coffee shop to find shelter from the oncoming rain.
Jongin returns with two big steaming mugs, both topped by a mountain of whip cream, caramel syrup, and cocoa sprinkles.
Jongdae is horrified at the sight of the rather sweet treat in front of him. He screeches at Jongin, "Will I even be able to taste the coffee under all that sugar? I asked for coffee! Not a diabetic coma!” Jongin simply shrugs it off.
“A certain amount of sugar is good for you," He says, giving Jongdae a pointed look. "And besides. It's the best way to chase away a hangover." He gestures to Luhan's disheveled form. Luhan finches and tries to hide himself behind the whipped cream, lapping up the top with his tongue. His ears are red with embarrassment, and Jongdae can't stop from thinking about how cute he is.
"Jongin!"
The boy straightens up. "That's my boss. Gotta go."
Jongdae counts to three before slipping his foot out of his shoe and sneaking it up the curve of Luhan's calf, over his knees, and to the inside of his thigh- Luhan jumps and snaps his legs shut. Jongdae breaks into a laugh, the one Jongin affectionately calls "the obnoxious witch cackle."
“Ok, gorgeous, let's pay a little more attention to me here," Jongdae sing-songs. "Especially since I asked for your assistance.”
“Assistance? Why would anyone help an asshole like you?” That stings a bit, but Luhan grabbing his napkin to clean his cheek which suffered under Jongdae’s sudden attack and has whipped cream smeared all over it makes up for it.
“Well," Jongdae starts, dipping a finger into his whipped cream and licking it off. He watches Luhan's eyes widen and focus on his mouth. "Would you rather sit back and watch me handle this game of cat and mouse all by myself?” Jongdae’s tone is daring, like he's provoking Luhan, which he is. Luhan gives him a helpless look before he turns, no doubt looking for Jongin up at the counter. Jongdae thinks about Minseok, about the stilted way he and Luhan had talked at the club. Minseok is damaged; Jongdae has no doubt Luhan would do anything to help him.
Luhan turns back to face Jongdae. Hook, line, and sinker.
“Fine," he says. "I’m in." Jongdae grins, reaching out towards the man across from him. Luhan recoils.
"B-but if you touch me- then I’ll castrate you and feed your balls to some street rat!” Jongdae's hand drops instantly, but he keeps up his cool demeanor.
“We’ll see about that.”
~*~
It takes over an hour for Minseok to finally arrive at the National Theater of Korea. He gives partial blame to rush hour, but really it's his own fault since he went home to get his car to drive himself there. During the drive, the beautiful autumn day turned into a living nightmare, and Minseok flinches at the first clap of thunder.
The wind is strong, hurling the colorful leaves in different directions, bending the trees under its force. Minseok quickly jogs up the stairs, his palms sweaty and his heart almost jumping out of his rib cage from beating too fast.
After all this time, what is he even supposed to say? Should he talk about the weather? Ask how Jongin has been? He thinks it might be better not ask that if Jongin has been feeling even half as shitty as Minseok. The question would only add fuel to the fire.
He takes another deep breath before he pushes inside only to find the entrance hall empty. Minseok awkwardly shifts his weight from one leg to the other. He glances to the side and, bless his luck, he spots a guy with platinum blond hair and a lean build walking up to him with a timid smile.
“Are you looking for something or someone?” the stranger asks politely, and Minseok clears his voice while nodding his head.
“I was wondering if Kim Jongin is here?" He asks. "I heard we a part of this...production?"
“Jongin?” the guy says with surprise and amusement. He rests one arm on his hip. “Yeah, he's the lead role this time around." He gestures to a promotional poster on the wall, and sure enough, Jongin's face is in the forefront, his arms spread like wings over the title Swan Lake.
Minseok swallows, feeling the knot in his stomach twist and turn with guilt. He's aware that Jongin is indeed a talented dancer, but he would have never guessed that Jongin’s talent could land him the lead role in a world famous ballet. With a jolt he realizes it's because he never asked.
“You just missed him though," the guy continues. "Jongin was here in the morning to rehearse with the rest of us, but he's working right now. Part-time job and all that. Oh, yeah. I’m Taemin, by the way.” Taemin offers him his hand, and Minseok takes it.
"Minseok," he returns. He pushes his hair back, feeling frustration and disappointment rise like a winter gale, so he hurriedly thanks Taemin and he leaves the theater. Inside his car, he sends Jongdae an annoyed text message, threatening to burn down his friend’s yaoi manga collection if he doesn’t give him the address of Jongin’s part time job.
As he waits for Jongdae to reply, he drums his fingers against the steering wheel and his mind wanders off. He remembers being in his old home with Jongin. He's just arrived home from work with his tie hanging loose around his neck and the top button of his white dress shirt undone. Dinner is in the oven and ready to be served in a few more minutes, and Jongin twirls through the room, practicing his pirouette while he giggles and calls out for Minseok to pay attention.
Minseok tiredly flops down on their brown couch, and Jongin lands in his lap, sprawling out all over him with a cheeky grin. His lips form an adorable pout, and even though Minseok wants to lecture him on being so hyped up, he finds himself leaning in for a chaste kiss instead. Jongin sighs contently against his lips before flinging his arms around Minseok’s neck to keep him close.
“Dinners is almost ready,” Minseok remembers himself saying as Jongin’s pink tongue licks over his bottom lip in open invitation, one that Minseok was never good at rejecting. He sucks on it hungrily before pushing it back inside Jongin’s mouth, his own tongue following to flick it against Jongin’s needy one.
They almost burned down the kitchen that night, and they definitely ruined the carpet. But Minseok recalls that Jongin had wanted to tell him something about a production he would dance in. Minseok remember he had brushed him of that night because he was tired from cleaning the kitchen.
What if he had listened that night? Would it have made Jongin stay?
His phone vibrates inside his pocket, and Minseok jolts back out of his vivid memory. If he had thought that his mood couldn’t drop any lower, than the text was obviously proving him wrong.
“I’m going to kill you, Jongdae,“ he curses under his breath while starting the engine.
I already gave it to you, Minseok.
~*~
It's not raining anymore when Jongin locks up the store, exhaustion written all over his face. Minseok would never have allowed him to work a part time job in the past, always insisting that he could take care of the rent by himself with his steady income and that Jongin should concentrate on his studies only. After the break up though, when Jongin had still half a year of university to face and nowhere else to go except for Jongdae’s place, he had no other choice but to look for a job.
Even now with him dancing the lead role in his company's rendition of Swan Lake, he still continues to work since his monthly paycheck only covers his part of the rent and not all other living expenses such as food or clothing. The chilly autumn wind has him wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck, chin and nose hidden by white wool.
At least he has the day off tomorrow. A bitter smile forms on his lips because Sundays used to be their day. Minseok would wake him by peppering his neck with soft kisses before ordering take out so that they could stay in bed all day, maybe watch a sappy movie or play some video games (Jongin always lost). He didn’t mind losing though, not when the penalty for losing and the prize for winning involved Minseok claiming his body or Jongin giving his boyfriend a lap dance.
Jongin looks up at the sky disappointed by the thick layers of clouds that are keeping the stars out of sight. Feeling his heart grow even heavier inside his chest, he tears his gaze away from the sky and pads down the road to Jongdae’s apartment.
~*~
Minseok hits the steering wheel in frustration, honking for what feels like the millionth time just to have the driver in front of his him flip him off with an equally annoyed frown on his face.
Of course the one time Minseok really needs to hurry and fly to the other side of the city, there is a traffic jam that has had him trapped between roaring engines and fumes for at least two hours at this point.
Lowering his head onto his forearms, he listens to the announcement by the police through the speakers. It looks like he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. If Jongin were here with him now, he’d have started poking Minseok's cheek in boredom, then his thighs before boldly flopping his head into Minseok’s lap to smile up at him with sparkling eyes. Minseok would run his finger over Jongin’s pink bottom lip before pulling him in for a kiss. They’d spend the time making out until a police man knocks against the driver’s window to politely point out to them that the traffic jam has been long been resolved and that they are the ones blocking the highway. But it is only him and his radio inside the car, no warm body pressed against his or cheerful chatter filling the silence.
This is all Jongdae’s fault.
It’s pitch black outside when Minseok finally pulls up to the Starbucks where he met Jongdae this morning. He stops the loud engine of his car and peers at the Starbucks ahead of him. All of the lights are turned off, and he is greeted with nothing but a devastating emptiness.
The traffic jam had trapped him for at least six hours- a record even for a busy city like Seoul. Since this part of the town tends to be quiet at night, the coffee shops usually close around eight or nine.
His watch tells him that it’s only five minutes after nine which means that Jongin probably just locked up the store for the day.
“It seems like we always miss each other by a heartbeat,” Minseok whispers to himself, eyelids heavy from spending most of his day inside a stuffy car. He waits for another minute or two before he decides that it’s time to go home and send Jongdae a couple of death threats if that’s what it takes to get more information out of him.
Before he drives off though he pulls out a small notebook, where he marks both the Starbucks coffee and the National Theater of Korea down on the small map of Seoul that is attached inside the book to keep record.
Tomorrow is another day to find more dots to connect, more places that would lead him back to Jongin. He feels like he can gather the autumn leaves in his hands again.
~*~
Jongdae is talking to Felix Thunder Paws in a weirdly high pitched voice reminiscent of ones that mother’s use when they coo at their newborns, but Jongin has long stopped analyzing the odd phenomenon that is Kim Jongdae.
“The guy from this morning seems nice," he says conversationally, throwing his bag next to the couch to heat up some cup ramen in the microwave.
"Luhan?" Jongdae replies instantly, snapping around to face Jongin. He narrows his eyes at Jongin's choice of dinner. “You should eat more vegetables, kid.”
“Yes mom," Jongin teases. "So tell me about this Luhan.” The microwave squawks vehemently, and Jongin still has no idea how Jongdae was able to order a squawking microwave online. But just like most things that involve Jongdae, he doesn’t question it and sets his bowl of ramen on the table.
Jongdae sits down across of him, his cubby panther sprawled all over his lap and purring loudly as his owner scratches behind his fluffy, black ears. Jongdae seems to ponder the right way to answer for a moment before the usual malicious glint sparks in his eyes.
“Well, if I were Sherlock, then he’d be my Watson!” Jongdae claps his hands ecstatically. Jongin is one breath away from throwing a chopstick at him, but that would stall his dinner. He snorts instead,
“Sherlock wasn’t eager to get into Watson’s pants though.”
“How do you know? It seems to me that Sherlock and Watson have a lot of alone time together. These poor men have needs, Jongin!” This is why Jongin usually doesn’t start any deep conversations that revolve around relationships with Jongdae: they end up bickering over stupid gifs or memes Jongdae found on the internet to prove his point.
Jongdae’s phone announces its present with a rather catchy pop song and has Jongdae singing along before he chuckles at the text message he has just received. “Speak of the devil," he chimes, waving his phone in Jongin's face. "If he acts just as feisty in bed as the way he talks, then I can’t wait to have him under me.”
Jongin shakes his head in defeat, watching Felix Thunder Paws pad through the living room to curl up in front of the television. They sit in silence for a moment while Jongdae eagerly types an answer to Luhan’s text, and Jongin finds himself nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
“Do you ever regret something to the extent where you wished to be able to go back in time and undo it?"
The typing stops, but Jongin doesn’t dare meet Jongdae’s intense stare right now. Especially since it’s all too obvious to what he is referring. He can hear Jongdae throw his phone onto the couch before he audibly exhales through his nose.
“How can we have regrets if we are still young enough to turn it all around again?”
The soft hand on his shoulder is unexpected but not unwelcomed. Jongdae stands beside Jongin, gently ruffling through his hair before cheekily flicking Jongin’s forehead. Jongin whines like a kicked puppy.
“Just go talk to him," Jongdae insists. "You two have wasted enough of my precious time, and I’m not willing to keep watching you moping around my apartment like a zombie for much longer.”
Facing his fears head on isn’t Jongin's forte, but Jongdae has a point. If it weren’t for dance rehearsal and his part time job, he would have lost track of time and space a while ago. A year is a long time though, and Jongin is scared to have lost Minseok to someone else already. What other reason has Minseok had for not trying to contact him even once?
“He didn’t come looking for me….” He says weakly. He doesn’t care if he sounds like a brat because it hurt him. The more days that passed without a single message, the more his heart clenched inside his chest,
“A-and even if I considered talking to him...I don’t even have an address.”
“Drop the childish act; you aren’t five anymore!" Jongdae snaps. "Minseok has always been too prideful for his own damn good, and you knew that he wouldn't just change overnight. Grow up and take the first step.” Jongdae grumbles in annoyance before throwing himself face first onto his couch, ignoring Jongin’s grumpy comment.
“You're one to talk with your squawking microwave.” Jongdae just flips him off nonchalantly and turns on the television to catch the daily news.
“Put on some adult pants and sleep a night on it," Jongdae says without even looking up from the television screen. "A friend of mine is able to get me the address, so you can’t use that as an excuse anymore.” He says nothing else, and Jongin takes that as his signal to leave the room before they get into a serious argument. He drops the topic, grabs his empty bowl, and puts it into the sink before disappearing into the bathroom to take a warm shower.
The water is soothing running over his cold skin, causing goose bumps to rise all over his body. Jongin leans his head against the white tiles and forces the urge to smash his fist against them in frustration down.
Jongdae doesn't have to tell him that he needs to grow up: he knows that all too well. Had he not always been a dreamer, blindly tripping and dancing through life as if it is nothing but a beautiful fairytale, he thinks he may not be hurt like this now. His jaw clenches, but he does not cry. Not tonight. Minseok might have not listened to him as much as Jongin wanted him to, but Minseok always let him dance freely. Allowed him to fly without wings wherever he wanted as long as returned to his arms at night.
Jongin wants it back, that life where he's greeted with a kiss in the morning, a warm embrace whenever he feels like drowning in too many emotions, and a warm hand lifting him up once he falls down.
He wants Minseok.
This night when Jongin curls up under the blankets on top of the couch with Felix Thunder Paws snuggled up to his side, he makes a silent oath under the faint moonlight that falls into the living room.
He'll forgive. He'll reach out and start again with him by his side.
~*~
Sunday passes by in a flash of pictures and maps in Minseok’s mind. He has spread out a map of Seoul that covers half of his living room with little pins here and there, marking the many places he connects back to Jongin.
There's the Yeouido Park where he had taken Jongin to on their first date, which ended in total disaster with Minseok spilling spicy rice cake sauce all over his white dress shirt and Jongin laughing like a human version of a clapping seal while trying to stop the mess from spreading with a wet tissue. There's Jongin’s college, the vintage coffee shop which they liked to visit over the weekend because Jongin loves the waffles they make, and even Jongin’s old family residence in one of the little suburbs outside of Seoul.
Places, acquaintances, memories all in one map and yet Minseok can’t seem to connect the right dots which will be able to lead him to the place where Jongin is currently hiding. After another few hours of prodding around and procrastinating, Minseok calls it a day, flings himself into bed, and dreams of his favorite dancer.
~*~
Monday is fully packed with whiny clients and filthy rich housewives who want to sue their own husbands for cheating. In the end it’s all about money, and Minseok just can't bring himself to want to wrap his head around these cases right now.
There isn't even a knock anymore when Luhan stumbles into his office, a bright smile plastered all over his face as per usual and carrying two steaming mugs in his hands. Maybe Luhan truly deserves the title of his ‘best friend’ these days, especially since his other so called friend doesn’t even answer a single one of his text messages.
One day he’ll take Jongdae to an all women university and throw him into the crowd. The one thing he remembers clearly is his friend’s phobia of woman. It would be a treat to watch the ladies tear him apart like starving vultures.
He accepts the coffee with a grateful smile, motioning for Luhan to sit down across of him while they discuss the details of their current case. A greedy CEO had embezzled money and thought he could outsmart the prosecutors.
Midway through, Luhan’s phone goes off, and Minseok is surprised that his friend excuses himself to take care of something downstairs. He furrows his brows. Even happy go lucky guys like Luhan have things to worry about, he assumes.
Instead of paying it any mind he reaches for his leather bag, pulling out the wooden ballerina keychain and holding it up to dangle it in front of his face. He resolves to make sure he finds Jongin this week.
~*~
Luhan checks the message again. Jongdae is using way too many emoticons for his liking, but the content is rather serious.
‘My kid might come to your company today. Do me a favor and lend that boy a hand or a kick in the ass. Whatever is needed.’
By kid Jongdae is probably referring to Jongin, and Luhan can't fight the warmth spreading inside his tummy making him feel all mushy inside since the way Jongdae is caring for Jongin is rather unique and endearing.
~*~
Jongin feels like a little boy about to meet Santa Claus in a few minutes as he nervously paces up and down in front of the law firm whose address Jongdae had given to him over dinner on Sunday. He had hardly slept last night and almost crushed Felix Thunder Paws underneath him by rolling around and shifting too many times.
This morning he woke up with eye bags like canyons, a kink in his neck and angry scratch marks on his left hand due to the wrath of the cat. He stopped at the sandwich store to buy the one with eggs and tuna salad- Minseok's favorite at this bistro they frequented a lot back in their dating days.
After riding the subway for about twenty minutes, he arrives in front of a silver gate. With the sandwich bag clutched to his chest, Jongin still doesn't have the courage to take a step inside the impressive, white building. Jongin's legs feel like jelly, and he considers calling Jongdae for mental support but the mere thought of Jongdae calling him a child again has him abandoning the idea.
"Jongin?" The soft voice startles him, and Jongin almost drops the sandwich as Luhan pops up right in front of him.
~*~
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Jongin stumbles over his own words, and his cheeks redden in embarrassment. Luhan laughs before pointing at his nametag and then the building ahead of them.
“I work here, so I’m rather curious as to what brings you here. Do you need a lawyer?” The question is rhetorical since Luhan has already been informed about the reason for Jongin’s visit. He thinks it’s cute how the boy is holding onto the brown sandwich bag as if his life depends on it.
Jongin’s eyes grow wide as he grasps this piece of information that he was just served. He gapes at Luhan like a goldfish struggling for air before he finally gets a grip on himself and asks, “Are you familiar with a certain Kim Minseok? Jongdae told me I could find him here.”
Luhan’s chest fills with warmth as he slowly nods his head and sees Jongin’s face light up immediately.
“Yeah," he answers. "He's my boss and friend. Do you want me to take you to him?” He smiles cheekily, watching Jongin fidgeting, conflicted due to Luhan’s offer.
Then the sandwich is quickly shoved into Luhan’s hands. He tilts his head to the side in confusion when Jongin mumbles something along the lines of ‘can you give this to him? Thanks and bye!' before the boy sprints off and disappears around the next corner.
Luhan blinks at the bag in his hand before brushing his blond hair back. This situation is turning out to be more complicated than he thought it would be.
“That was underwhelming,” he mumbles to himself while pulling out his phone to inform Jongdae about what happened. The only response he gets is Jongdae telling him about how he would be growing more grey hair because of those two.
They set up a place and time to meet over drinks later to discuss where to go from here. Luhan bites his bottom lip as he returns to Minseok’s office, knocking this time before entering to find Minseok reading through their case documents while sipping on his coffee. Luhan doesn’t like mingling in other peoples' business, but he likes Minseok and takes pity on him.
He throws the bag with the sandwich into his friend’s lap who looks up at him quizzically.
“Someone just gave this to me, so eat up.” Luhan tries to sound as neutral as possible even as he sees Minseok’s face falter a little bit at the sight of the sandwich. It must be another thing that he connects with Jongin; otherwise, Luhan would judge him for getting emotional over a piece of bread. Luhan doesn’t think much of it when Minseok suddenly pulls out his planner, brows furrowed in concentration and circles something on a little map of Seoul.
“Who gave you this?” he demands quietly, and Luhan just meets his friend’s gaze without mouthing out the answer. It isn’t needed anyways. Minseok leans back in his chair, a defeated sigh leaving his lips.
“Always by a heartbeat….” he mutters quietly before going back to reading the documents.
Another few minutes pass before something in Minseok's brain visibly clicks, and Minseok smacks Luhan’s arm,
“You went to the Starbucks on Saturday?”
“Um. Yeah. I missed you by like a few minutes and had the pleasure of keeping that asshole you call a friend company. And yes, that’s how I know what Jongin looks like.” Seeing Minseok’s scandalized expression, he quickly raises both hands in the universal gesture of defense before adding. “I forgot my phone and wallet- don’t look at me like I'm public enemy number one.”
“Fair enough.” Luhan gets him coffee every morning, so Minseok decides to let him off the hook. There is something else bothering him, but he pushes the thought away to deal with after he's finished with work. Unfortunately, life doesn’t stop just because he's are in love, and it surely doesn’t pay either.
( part 3 )
The little fur ball has an ego nearly bigger than his owner's, so Jongin knows better than to let him wait for his Sheba Deluxe breakfast. He runs a hand through his hair while dragging his feet into the kitchen. The floor is icy cold, and Jongin can’t help but miss the hardwood floor back at his old home with Minseok.
Minseok. Has a year really already passed? Jongin opens the can of cat food and spoons it into a bowl before sliding it in front of a waiting Felix Thunder Paws without further ado.
Jongin leans against the frame of the patio door, watching how a little bird bathes in the little pit of rainwater that has collected on top of the small table on Jongdae’s balcony. The trees are slowly shedding their leaves, coloring the grey asphalt in various colors and shapes.
Time stops for no one, but Jongin can’t find himself complaining as he watches another leaf drift to the pavement, dropping on top of already brown leaves. If autumn ends soon then his favorite season will begin: winter.
The one season that reminds him of Minseok the most. A man that on the surface appears to be reserved and cold but who Jongin finds more comparable to snowflakes that fall from the sky and set his skin on fire when he opens his palms to catch them. Even if winter only offers the color white to the world, it is enough to Jongin because it calms him. The white snow always looks so peaceful yet charming when it glistens in the sunlight.
Bright and beautiful like Minseok.
As Jongin walks back into the kitchen, he nearly trips over the empty bowl of cat food and inwardly groans about the cat’s appetite. Jongin had asked Jongdae once if he really bought a cat and not a black panther with a pot belly which concluded in Jongdae throwing a hissy fit while hugging his Felix Thunder Paws tightly to his chest.
Jongin smiles around his hot chocolate at the memory of Jongdae throwing pillows at him while Minseok would shield him with both of his arms wrapped around him. He misses him. The thought has him sighing because it was he who walked out on Minseok.
He carefully closes the fridge with his foot, balancing his cup of hot chocolate and bowl of cereal before heading over to the living room. Jongin places everything on the coffee table, flipping through the news on television, absentmindedly chewing his breakfast.
Jongdae won’t be up for another two hours at least, but Jongin has dance rehearsal in the morning. And anyway, he has the pleasure of working the Saturday afternoon shift this week at his part-time job.
Rain is falling outside; Jongin can even hear it over the television. The heavy drops drill through the leaves outside, washing away the traces of yesterday, turning the colors of autumn brown. The taste of regret is bitter, but Jongin insists that it was the right decision at the time. Minseok is a kind person- collected, organized, and down to earth, while Jongin is more of a dreamer- waking up in the morning excited for whatever the day could offer him.
Jongin pulls his legs up against his chest and wraps his arms protectively around them, recalling how Minseok would shower his nape with soft kisses every morning to wake him up, how he would chuckle when Jongin would pout at him with his disheveled hair before pulling him down for more kisses.
They were happy. But Jongin has a talent of self-sabotaging his relationships; he always tends to see the cracks even if there are none. But this time there was a definite crack; Jongin could feel it tearing him apart as time went by living with Minseok, loving Minseok, listening to Minseok while they were eating dinner together. He noticed they Minseok never asked about Jongin's activities- never asked about his classes, his dance practices, his part time job, or even just his day. It was like Minseok didn't care at all.
Jongin felt wronged and upset. Disappointment grew inside him the more he noticed the passing time and the lack of interest from Minseok. He should have talked about it with Minseok- should have told him how he felt so that the two of them could have tried to fix it! Instead, he acted on impulse, packed his bags to leave everything behind, and was gone before the sun had even risen.
Jongin bites his bottom lip, digging his toes deeper into the soft material of the couch as his gaze wanders over to the entrance door of Jongdae’s apartment. He remembers showing up on his best friend’s doorstep with startling clarity as if it were yesterday. He recalls Jongdae’s baffled yet worried expression when Jongin dropped his head on his shoulder and started crying without a word of explanation.
Jongdae didn’t ask question at first, and for that Jongin was grateful. Jongdae never asks, and this time was no differed. He waited for Jongin to tell him what happened when he was ready. And when Jongin opened his mouth, tears already gathered at the corners of his eyes, Jongdae wordlessly wrapped him in a thick blanket and stayed by his side while Jongin sobbed against his chest and sputtered his way through the reason for his tears. A mere week later, Jongdae offered Jongin his couch as a temporary bed and his apartment as a temporary home. He was very strict though, clarifying that he didn't agree with the way simply avoided a problem by running away from it.
“You won’t be able to run forever," Jongdae had said. "One day you’ll have to face the obstacles life is throwing at you.” And Jongdae had tossed another dirty dish into the sink. Jongin felt a lot like that dish at that moment.
It’s been a year now, and Jongin is still avoiding the cracks in his heart, still on the run from his own feelings and insecurities. In a way he feels sorry for being a burden on Jongdae even though he is paying part of the rent right now, feeds the cat with the prince syndrome, and cleans and picks up Jongdae’s dirty laundry if the other is once again running late because of work.
Jongin is good at making excuses and justifying the way he lives to himself. He says it's convenient, but just like Jongdae said, he knows if really just running away. The only one his life is convenient for is his tender, broken heart. The hideous truth that his selfishness keeps Jongdae from finding his own happiness. His friend always seems to feel responsible for Jongin. It isn't fair of him to keep taking up Jongdae's private life like this. Jongin puts on a freshly washed pair of tight, grey jeans and a black, wool sweater to block the autumn chill. His time here is running out. Jongin promised Jongdae he would move out after New Year's, and he is determined to keep his word although he still has to figure out where to go once he exits his comfortable bubble.
Minseok probably has moved on, Jongin thinks bitterly. He's probably living a comfortable life as a lawyer with someone else filling the empty space Jongin left in his bed and heart. The thought of being nothing but a fading memory to Minseok has Jongin tightening the scarf around his neck, the cold suddenly swallowing him. Jongin swallows around the heavy lump stuck inside his throat.
He shakes his head in an attempt to clear the picture of Minseok and someone else out of his mind before fake bowing into the direction of Felix Thunder Paws who flicks his black tail in return, pointing his nose to the side. Jongin's eyes snap open wide as he realizes that he almost forgot to grab his bag with his wallet and keys inside. Gratefully he crouches down to quickly scratch behind the cat’s ear. He gets a purr of appreciation in return.
As Jongin flies down the stairs, he makes a mental note to buy a little something for Felix Thunder Paws on his way home. The cat is the only reason Jongin won't be starving his way through his day, after all. Maybe the cat isn’t as bad as Jongin thought, just good at hiding his kind nature beyond its thick fur. He thinks back to Felix Thunder Paws demanding food by batting him awake. He smiles. Or not.
~*~
Minseok grimaces at his reflection in the mirror, peering at his dark circles and blood-shot eyes. His throat is still dry, but he mostly chased his headache away already with advil and a gallon of water.
Late night outs inside clubs are obviously not his thing anymore, Minseok thinks. He's especially not a fan of the hangover that follows in the morning. He curses Luhan for dragging him out. He’s going on thirty now; he should watch his late ventures.
Then again, he's going on thirty now, which means he should swallow his pride in terms of his broken relationship.
Ignoring the loud drumming of his heartbeat inside his chest, Minseok gets himself showered and cleaned up before checking his phone for the address of the location Jongdae picked out for their little meeting later. There's no message yet, and Minseok sighs. When Jongdae says "Let's meet for breakfast!" he really means "Let's meet at lunch time and eat breakfast!" Sure enough, around noon Minseok's phone vibrates with the address to a Starbucks he's fairly certain is right next to where Jongdae lives if his memory serves him well. He shoots the message off to Luhan and receives a short "busy!" in reply. It's just as well; this is probably something Minseok should face without Luhan drooling over Jongdae to distract him.
Minseok shrugs on a coat and adds a black scarf just to be sure to not catch a cold. He's got an important case to start working on next week, so falling sick isn’t an option.
The sun is out to light up a clear blue sky when Minseok exits the subway station and heads down a small alley with a couple of small antique shops. A glance at his watch tells him he's still too early, so he takes his time window shopping, peering through the glass storefronts with interest. He links the little vintage items to Jongin just like he links most things to Jongin and smiles as he sees a small keychain of a ballerina.
Minseok checks his watch. Jongdae always runs late by at least ten minutes, so he pushes inside the store and asks the lady behind the counter to sell him the keychain. Even if he’ll never get the chance to give it to Jongin, Minseok feels the need to take the trinket home with him.
The Starbucks is overflowing with people; the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and cafe au latte indulges his senses as he walks inside. Luckily, he spots an empty table in the very back of the coffee shop and fights his way through a crowd of chatty college students and sour looking business men to claim it for himself and his eventual companions.
Some popular pop song is playing in the background, but Minseok doesn’t recognize it over the loud chattering inside the cafe. He's a little bit worried that Jongdae won’t see him through the crowd, but five minutes later the familiar face of his friend appears. Jongdae nonchalantly shoves a few scandalized students out of the way to flop into the seat across of him, and Minseok almost feels at ease with how typical that is of Jongdae.
“I see you didn’t bring blondie. Bummer," Jongdae greets him as he shrugs off his black leather jacket.
“His name is Luhan," Minseok says, and watches Jongdae mouth the name before nodding to himself. Minseok snaps his fingers in Jongdae's face. "But that's not the reason we're here, is it?" It's an actual question. Knowing Jongdae, it might be. And Minseok isn’t in the mood for Jongdae’s games.
“Right. Jongin," Jongdae agrees. "Oh, and you own me breakfast. I'll take a sandwich and a coffee.”
“Black like your soul, right?” Minseok mutters as he rises from his seat. He doesn't wait for Jongdaae's reply as he ambles towards the back of the line, ignoring Jongdae's obnoxious hyena cackle behind him.
Ten minutes pass before Minseok returns with a tray in his hands. Two black coffee and two sandwiches rest on top. Jongdae watches him carefully as he puts down the plate with his bacon and egg sandwich in front of him as if he is pondering on something. Minseok settles back in his chair, appetite gone.
“Why didn’t you call all these months?” Minseok freezes. That's not what he expected- being put on the spot like that- but it is what he should have expected when it comes to Kim Jongdae.
“I was busy,” he defends, smoothing down the wrinkles in his sweater.
“Bullshit Minseok! We’ve been friends for what- eight years? Eight years and just because things didn’t work out with Jongin, you decided to circle me down the drain with him?! Are you kidding me?” Jongdae’s voice is ice cold, and it causes goose bumps to rise all over Minseok’s skin and guilt to gnaw on his conscious.
“I’m sorry.” It’s sincere, and that seems to catch Jongdae off his guard. He grabs his sandwich and shoves it inside his mouth.
“You should be,” Jongdae mumbles around a mouthful of bacon. It’s the first time in a long while that Minseok notices how much he has actually missed Jongdae. He hears the pain that lies in the other’s voice, and he regrets how he neglected him. Minseok grabs a napkin and hands it to Jongdae, gesturing for his friend to wipe a bit of the food off of his cheek.
“I know," he says simply.
Jongdae just scoffs at him but continues to eat his sandwich while occasionally sipping on his cup of coffee. A silence falls between them, but it isn’t an uncomfortable one. They're just two people lost in their own thoughts until Minseok finally feels like he might burst out of his skin.
“I need to know where he is Jongdae.” Minseok has never been a particularly patient person, and his time as a lawyer has made him someone who does not beat around the bush. Jongdae simply raises an eyebrow at him.
“I’m no fairy godmother, Cinderella," he says. "Nor am I Tinkerbell. You need to solve this puzzle yourself.”
“But- “ Minseok tries to complain. Jongdae stops him with a raised hand,
“The connecting dots are already inside your head, but, well, I'll give you a hint because I'm feeling particularly generous today." Jongdae slides a brochure across the table, and Minseok catches it under his palm. It’s from the National Theater of Korea, and Minseok furrows his brows in confusion.
“It’s a start dumbass. Go look there.” Jongdae sighs in defeat before kicking Minseok’s shin which earns him a pained groan in return.
Minseok doesn’t want to waste time, especially not since talking to Jongdae has provided him with some kind of courage that there is still hope. And Minseok should definitely make use of that courage while he has it. He snatches up his coat and wallet and is about to race out the coffee shop when he remembers something,
“Does he still...?" He starts, and it's just like in the bar. His throat closes, and he isn't sure what he wants to ask, but he knows the answer he wants. Does he still love me? Think of me? Want me back? Jongdae has his back turned to him, his red snapback and the back of his white sweater all Minseok sees when his friend clears his throat.
“Would I waste my time here if that weren't the case?” It's all Minseok needs to hear, and he's gone from the coffee shop, a small smile curling up the corners of his mouth as he rushes to find the quickest route to Jangchung-dong.
~*~
Jongdae stretches his sore limbs, loosening some kinks in his neck. He downs the last sip of his coffee, and he is about to head back home when he catches sight of a certain blonde haired man stumbling inside the Starbucks. Jongdae smirks. Today is definitely a good one.
“Hey gorgeous, over here,” he calls out. Luhan freezes in place mid-step, and his gaze locks on Jongdae's. He's got this conflicted look on his face, but Jongdae is willing to make the decision for him.
"Come on," he calls out again. Slowly, Luhan ambles over, plopping down in Minseok's abandoned seat.
"Whose is-?" He questions, vaguely gesturing at the sandwich and coffee in front of him. Minseok hadn't touched them, so Jongdae grins.
"A gift," he says sweetly, and Luhan looks way too impressed. "Actually, Minseok didn't eat or drink any of that. So go ahead." Luhan takes a bite of the sandwich, and his pleased face has Jongdae desperate to know what his pleasured face looks like. He's so pretty.
“Where is Minseok?” Luhan asks, and the spell is broken. "He said you were meeting here, right? I wanted to come, but. Stuff came up." He shrugs. "Work sucks."
“You missed him by like three minutes,” Jongdae answers. "He's racing off to who knows where now." Jongdae grins at Luhan over the table, poking his tongue out before leaning forward to take a closer look at the other.
“Do you always look at people like you are about to savour them alive?" Luhan asks dryly, and it's unexpected. Jongdae laughs.
“Only the one’s with cute accents," he returns. "I’d love to hear you use it somewhere else.” He drums his fingers on the table top. "Maybe saying my name?" It’s way too early on a Saturday for such a conversation, but Jongdae is willing to do anything for someone who looks like Luhan.
“Listen, Jongdae- that's your name, right?" Luhan starts, and Jongdae knows this tone of voice. "I'm awfully hung over and not in the mood for your annoying presence." He nods as if reassuring himself he's said the right thing, and Jongdae knows he's still very much interested. Jongdae watches him brush his bangs back with his fingers.
“You remember my name," Jongdae half cheers. "Such an honor.” Jongdae gives Luhan a challenging wink, and Luhan's cheeks color.
"I didn't think you would still be here," Luhan confesses. "The meeting time was awhile ago, and I was in the area after a work thing. Though if I was one of you, it'd be Minseok. Not you."
"I sent Minseok somewhere," Jongdae shrugs. "A little hint on Jongin's whereabouts." Luhan glares at him, and he's starting to make some excuse about leaving, making to get up, a young guy with dark brown hair and hazel eyes stop at their table.
“Jongdae? You didn’t tell me that you’d stop by today,” he says.
Luhan looks confused as he looks back and forth between Jongdae and the new arrival. The guy is pretty damn attractive, long legs and full lips, and Jongdae hopes beyond reason that he himself is more of Luhan's type.
“Ah, Jongin just who I was waiting for,” Jongdae greets casually, and Luhan stumbles, nearly falling off of his chair as Jongdae addresses the young man who points an accusing finger at him which is just met with a piercing stare from Jongdae.
“Be a darling and bring me another cup of coffee and" -he glances at the half-empty and no doubt cold mug of coffee Minseok left behind. A devilish grin spreads over his lips- "A fresh mug for my newest conquest here.”
Luhan looks murderous, and Jongdae is ready to wink at him again when he's suddenly hit over the head.
"Jongin, you-!"
"I apologize for him," Jongin says to Luhan, pointedly ignoring Jongdae's whining about hurting an innocent customer. "He's a born ass, but I promise he's got a soft, sensible side somewhere." Jongin offers his hand to Luhan, and Jongdae feels pleased that his latest soon to be partner is clearly okay in Jongin's book. "I'm Jongin."
“I’m Luhan, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Jongin.” Luhan's voice is steady and calm, but he looks on the edge of bursting. Jongdae doesn't have to wait long, just until Jongin has wandered off to place an order for a new coffee for Luhan, for Luhan to launch himself forward and hit Jongdae's shoulder.
“Who are you? Satan?" Luhan shouts, his hand twisted in the collar of Jongdae's shirt. "Jongin is right here, and you sent Minseok off on a scavenger hunt?" He looks livid, and honestly, Jongdae thinks it's really a good look for him- matures his baby face. Jongdae winks again.
“Where’d be the fun in that?”
Luhan slowly loosens his grip and sits back, running a hand through his hair and sighing. Jongdae glances out the window before he's caught staring for too long. Outside the sky is suddenly dark, thick clouds chasing away the last rays of sunlight. The first roar of thunder echoes in the distance. A new couple rushes into the coffee shop to find shelter from the oncoming rain.
Jongin returns with two big steaming mugs, both topped by a mountain of whip cream, caramel syrup, and cocoa sprinkles.
Jongdae is horrified at the sight of the rather sweet treat in front of him. He screeches at Jongin, "Will I even be able to taste the coffee under all that sugar? I asked for coffee! Not a diabetic coma!” Jongin simply shrugs it off.
“A certain amount of sugar is good for you," He says, giving Jongdae a pointed look. "And besides. It's the best way to chase away a hangover." He gestures to Luhan's disheveled form. Luhan finches and tries to hide himself behind the whipped cream, lapping up the top with his tongue. His ears are red with embarrassment, and Jongdae can't stop from thinking about how cute he is.
"Jongin!"
The boy straightens up. "That's my boss. Gotta go."
Jongdae counts to three before slipping his foot out of his shoe and sneaking it up the curve of Luhan's calf, over his knees, and to the inside of his thigh- Luhan jumps and snaps his legs shut. Jongdae breaks into a laugh, the one Jongin affectionately calls "the obnoxious witch cackle."
“Ok, gorgeous, let's pay a little more attention to me here," Jongdae sing-songs. "Especially since I asked for your assistance.”
“Assistance? Why would anyone help an asshole like you?” That stings a bit, but Luhan grabbing his napkin to clean his cheek which suffered under Jongdae’s sudden attack and has whipped cream smeared all over it makes up for it.
“Well," Jongdae starts, dipping a finger into his whipped cream and licking it off. He watches Luhan's eyes widen and focus on his mouth. "Would you rather sit back and watch me handle this game of cat and mouse all by myself?” Jongdae’s tone is daring, like he's provoking Luhan, which he is. Luhan gives him a helpless look before he turns, no doubt looking for Jongin up at the counter. Jongdae thinks about Minseok, about the stilted way he and Luhan had talked at the club. Minseok is damaged; Jongdae has no doubt Luhan would do anything to help him.
Luhan turns back to face Jongdae. Hook, line, and sinker.
“Fine," he says. "I’m in." Jongdae grins, reaching out towards the man across from him. Luhan recoils.
"B-but if you touch me- then I’ll castrate you and feed your balls to some street rat!” Jongdae's hand drops instantly, but he keeps up his cool demeanor.
“We’ll see about that.”
~*~
It takes over an hour for Minseok to finally arrive at the National Theater of Korea. He gives partial blame to rush hour, but really it's his own fault since he went home to get his car to drive himself there. During the drive, the beautiful autumn day turned into a living nightmare, and Minseok flinches at the first clap of thunder.
The wind is strong, hurling the colorful leaves in different directions, bending the trees under its force. Minseok quickly jogs up the stairs, his palms sweaty and his heart almost jumping out of his rib cage from beating too fast.
After all this time, what is he even supposed to say? Should he talk about the weather? Ask how Jongin has been? He thinks it might be better not ask that if Jongin has been feeling even half as shitty as Minseok. The question would only add fuel to the fire.
He takes another deep breath before he pushes inside only to find the entrance hall empty. Minseok awkwardly shifts his weight from one leg to the other. He glances to the side and, bless his luck, he spots a guy with platinum blond hair and a lean build walking up to him with a timid smile.
“Are you looking for something or someone?” the stranger asks politely, and Minseok clears his voice while nodding his head.
“I was wondering if Kim Jongin is here?" He asks. "I heard we a part of this...production?"
“Jongin?” the guy says with surprise and amusement. He rests one arm on his hip. “Yeah, he's the lead role this time around." He gestures to a promotional poster on the wall, and sure enough, Jongin's face is in the forefront, his arms spread like wings over the title Swan Lake.
Minseok swallows, feeling the knot in his stomach twist and turn with guilt. He's aware that Jongin is indeed a talented dancer, but he would have never guessed that Jongin’s talent could land him the lead role in a world famous ballet. With a jolt he realizes it's because he never asked.
“You just missed him though," the guy continues. "Jongin was here in the morning to rehearse with the rest of us, but he's working right now. Part-time job and all that. Oh, yeah. I’m Taemin, by the way.” Taemin offers him his hand, and Minseok takes it.
"Minseok," he returns. He pushes his hair back, feeling frustration and disappointment rise like a winter gale, so he hurriedly thanks Taemin and he leaves the theater. Inside his car, he sends Jongdae an annoyed text message, threatening to burn down his friend’s yaoi manga collection if he doesn’t give him the address of Jongin’s part time job.
As he waits for Jongdae to reply, he drums his fingers against the steering wheel and his mind wanders off. He remembers being in his old home with Jongin. He's just arrived home from work with his tie hanging loose around his neck and the top button of his white dress shirt undone. Dinner is in the oven and ready to be served in a few more minutes, and Jongin twirls through the room, practicing his pirouette while he giggles and calls out for Minseok to pay attention.
Minseok tiredly flops down on their brown couch, and Jongin lands in his lap, sprawling out all over him with a cheeky grin. His lips form an adorable pout, and even though Minseok wants to lecture him on being so hyped up, he finds himself leaning in for a chaste kiss instead. Jongin sighs contently against his lips before flinging his arms around Minseok’s neck to keep him close.
“Dinners is almost ready,” Minseok remembers himself saying as Jongin’s pink tongue licks over his bottom lip in open invitation, one that Minseok was never good at rejecting. He sucks on it hungrily before pushing it back inside Jongin’s mouth, his own tongue following to flick it against Jongin’s needy one.
They almost burned down the kitchen that night, and they definitely ruined the carpet. But Minseok recalls that Jongin had wanted to tell him something about a production he would dance in. Minseok remember he had brushed him of that night because he was tired from cleaning the kitchen.
What if he had listened that night? Would it have made Jongin stay?
His phone vibrates inside his pocket, and Minseok jolts back out of his vivid memory. If he had thought that his mood couldn’t drop any lower, than the text was obviously proving him wrong.
“I’m going to kill you, Jongdae,“ he curses under his breath while starting the engine.
I already gave it to you, Minseok.
~*~
It's not raining anymore when Jongin locks up the store, exhaustion written all over his face. Minseok would never have allowed him to work a part time job in the past, always insisting that he could take care of the rent by himself with his steady income and that Jongin should concentrate on his studies only. After the break up though, when Jongin had still half a year of university to face and nowhere else to go except for Jongdae’s place, he had no other choice but to look for a job.
Even now with him dancing the lead role in his company's rendition of Swan Lake, he still continues to work since his monthly paycheck only covers his part of the rent and not all other living expenses such as food or clothing. The chilly autumn wind has him wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck, chin and nose hidden by white wool.
At least he has the day off tomorrow. A bitter smile forms on his lips because Sundays used to be their day. Minseok would wake him by peppering his neck with soft kisses before ordering take out so that they could stay in bed all day, maybe watch a sappy movie or play some video games (Jongin always lost). He didn’t mind losing though, not when the penalty for losing and the prize for winning involved Minseok claiming his body or Jongin giving his boyfriend a lap dance.
Jongin looks up at the sky disappointed by the thick layers of clouds that are keeping the stars out of sight. Feeling his heart grow even heavier inside his chest, he tears his gaze away from the sky and pads down the road to Jongdae’s apartment.
~*~
Minseok hits the steering wheel in frustration, honking for what feels like the millionth time just to have the driver in front of his him flip him off with an equally annoyed frown on his face.
Of course the one time Minseok really needs to hurry and fly to the other side of the city, there is a traffic jam that has had him trapped between roaring engines and fumes for at least two hours at this point.
Lowering his head onto his forearms, he listens to the announcement by the police through the speakers. It looks like he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. If Jongin were here with him now, he’d have started poking Minseok's cheek in boredom, then his thighs before boldly flopping his head into Minseok’s lap to smile up at him with sparkling eyes. Minseok would run his finger over Jongin’s pink bottom lip before pulling him in for a kiss. They’d spend the time making out until a police man knocks against the driver’s window to politely point out to them that the traffic jam has been long been resolved and that they are the ones blocking the highway. But it is only him and his radio inside the car, no warm body pressed against his or cheerful chatter filling the silence.
This is all Jongdae’s fault.
It’s pitch black outside when Minseok finally pulls up to the Starbucks where he met Jongdae this morning. He stops the loud engine of his car and peers at the Starbucks ahead of him. All of the lights are turned off, and he is greeted with nothing but a devastating emptiness.
The traffic jam had trapped him for at least six hours- a record even for a busy city like Seoul. Since this part of the town tends to be quiet at night, the coffee shops usually close around eight or nine.
His watch tells him that it’s only five minutes after nine which means that Jongin probably just locked up the store for the day.
“It seems like we always miss each other by a heartbeat,” Minseok whispers to himself, eyelids heavy from spending most of his day inside a stuffy car. He waits for another minute or two before he decides that it’s time to go home and send Jongdae a couple of death threats if that’s what it takes to get more information out of him.
Before he drives off though he pulls out a small notebook, where he marks both the Starbucks coffee and the National Theater of Korea down on the small map of Seoul that is attached inside the book to keep record.
Tomorrow is another day to find more dots to connect, more places that would lead him back to Jongin. He feels like he can gather the autumn leaves in his hands again.
~*~
Jongdae is talking to Felix Thunder Paws in a weirdly high pitched voice reminiscent of ones that mother’s use when they coo at their newborns, but Jongin has long stopped analyzing the odd phenomenon that is Kim Jongdae.
“The guy from this morning seems nice," he says conversationally, throwing his bag next to the couch to heat up some cup ramen in the microwave.
"Luhan?" Jongdae replies instantly, snapping around to face Jongin. He narrows his eyes at Jongin's choice of dinner. “You should eat more vegetables, kid.”
“Yes mom," Jongin teases. "So tell me about this Luhan.” The microwave squawks vehemently, and Jongin still has no idea how Jongdae was able to order a squawking microwave online. But just like most things that involve Jongdae, he doesn’t question it and sets his bowl of ramen on the table.
Jongdae sits down across of him, his cubby panther sprawled all over his lap and purring loudly as his owner scratches behind his fluffy, black ears. Jongdae seems to ponder the right way to answer for a moment before the usual malicious glint sparks in his eyes.
“Well, if I were Sherlock, then he’d be my Watson!” Jongdae claps his hands ecstatically. Jongin is one breath away from throwing a chopstick at him, but that would stall his dinner. He snorts instead,
“Sherlock wasn’t eager to get into Watson’s pants though.”
“How do you know? It seems to me that Sherlock and Watson have a lot of alone time together. These poor men have needs, Jongin!” This is why Jongin usually doesn’t start any deep conversations that revolve around relationships with Jongdae: they end up bickering over stupid gifs or memes Jongdae found on the internet to prove his point.
Jongdae’s phone announces its present with a rather catchy pop song and has Jongdae singing along before he chuckles at the text message he has just received. “Speak of the devil," he chimes, waving his phone in Jongin's face. "If he acts just as feisty in bed as the way he talks, then I can’t wait to have him under me.”
Jongin shakes his head in defeat, watching Felix Thunder Paws pad through the living room to curl up in front of the television. They sit in silence for a moment while Jongdae eagerly types an answer to Luhan’s text, and Jongin finds himself nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
“Do you ever regret something to the extent where you wished to be able to go back in time and undo it?"
The typing stops, but Jongin doesn’t dare meet Jongdae’s intense stare right now. Especially since it’s all too obvious to what he is referring. He can hear Jongdae throw his phone onto the couch before he audibly exhales through his nose.
“How can we have regrets if we are still young enough to turn it all around again?”
The soft hand on his shoulder is unexpected but not unwelcomed. Jongdae stands beside Jongin, gently ruffling through his hair before cheekily flicking Jongin’s forehead. Jongin whines like a kicked puppy.
“Just go talk to him," Jongdae insists. "You two have wasted enough of my precious time, and I’m not willing to keep watching you moping around my apartment like a zombie for much longer.”
Facing his fears head on isn’t Jongin's forte, but Jongdae has a point. If it weren’t for dance rehearsal and his part time job, he would have lost track of time and space a while ago. A year is a long time though, and Jongin is scared to have lost Minseok to someone else already. What other reason has Minseok had for not trying to contact him even once?
“He didn’t come looking for me….” He says weakly. He doesn’t care if he sounds like a brat because it hurt him. The more days that passed without a single message, the more his heart clenched inside his chest,
“A-and even if I considered talking to him...I don’t even have an address.”
“Drop the childish act; you aren’t five anymore!" Jongdae snaps. "Minseok has always been too prideful for his own damn good, and you knew that he wouldn't just change overnight. Grow up and take the first step.” Jongdae grumbles in annoyance before throwing himself face first onto his couch, ignoring Jongin’s grumpy comment.
“You're one to talk with your squawking microwave.” Jongdae just flips him off nonchalantly and turns on the television to catch the daily news.
“Put on some adult pants and sleep a night on it," Jongdae says without even looking up from the television screen. "A friend of mine is able to get me the address, so you can’t use that as an excuse anymore.” He says nothing else, and Jongin takes that as his signal to leave the room before they get into a serious argument. He drops the topic, grabs his empty bowl, and puts it into the sink before disappearing into the bathroom to take a warm shower.
The water is soothing running over his cold skin, causing goose bumps to rise all over his body. Jongin leans his head against the white tiles and forces the urge to smash his fist against them in frustration down.
Jongdae doesn't have to tell him that he needs to grow up: he knows that all too well. Had he not always been a dreamer, blindly tripping and dancing through life as if it is nothing but a beautiful fairytale, he thinks he may not be hurt like this now. His jaw clenches, but he does not cry. Not tonight. Minseok might have not listened to him as much as Jongin wanted him to, but Minseok always let him dance freely. Allowed him to fly without wings wherever he wanted as long as returned to his arms at night.
Jongin wants it back, that life where he's greeted with a kiss in the morning, a warm embrace whenever he feels like drowning in too many emotions, and a warm hand lifting him up once he falls down.
He wants Minseok.
This night when Jongin curls up under the blankets on top of the couch with Felix Thunder Paws snuggled up to his side, he makes a silent oath under the faint moonlight that falls into the living room.
He'll forgive. He'll reach out and start again with him by his side.
~*~
Sunday passes by in a flash of pictures and maps in Minseok’s mind. He has spread out a map of Seoul that covers half of his living room with little pins here and there, marking the many places he connects back to Jongin.
There's the Yeouido Park where he had taken Jongin to on their first date, which ended in total disaster with Minseok spilling spicy rice cake sauce all over his white dress shirt and Jongin laughing like a human version of a clapping seal while trying to stop the mess from spreading with a wet tissue. There's Jongin’s college, the vintage coffee shop which they liked to visit over the weekend because Jongin loves the waffles they make, and even Jongin’s old family residence in one of the little suburbs outside of Seoul.
Places, acquaintances, memories all in one map and yet Minseok can’t seem to connect the right dots which will be able to lead him to the place where Jongin is currently hiding. After another few hours of prodding around and procrastinating, Minseok calls it a day, flings himself into bed, and dreams of his favorite dancer.
~*~
Monday is fully packed with whiny clients and filthy rich housewives who want to sue their own husbands for cheating. In the end it’s all about money, and Minseok just can't bring himself to want to wrap his head around these cases right now.
There isn't even a knock anymore when Luhan stumbles into his office, a bright smile plastered all over his face as per usual and carrying two steaming mugs in his hands. Maybe Luhan truly deserves the title of his ‘best friend’ these days, especially since his other so called friend doesn’t even answer a single one of his text messages.
One day he’ll take Jongdae to an all women university and throw him into the crowd. The one thing he remembers clearly is his friend’s phobia of woman. It would be a treat to watch the ladies tear him apart like starving vultures.
He accepts the coffee with a grateful smile, motioning for Luhan to sit down across of him while they discuss the details of their current case. A greedy CEO had embezzled money and thought he could outsmart the prosecutors.
Midway through, Luhan’s phone goes off, and Minseok is surprised that his friend excuses himself to take care of something downstairs. He furrows his brows. Even happy go lucky guys like Luhan have things to worry about, he assumes.
Instead of paying it any mind he reaches for his leather bag, pulling out the wooden ballerina keychain and holding it up to dangle it in front of his face. He resolves to make sure he finds Jongin this week.
~*~
Luhan checks the message again. Jongdae is using way too many emoticons for his liking, but the content is rather serious.
‘My kid might come to your company today. Do me a favor and lend that boy a hand or a kick in the ass. Whatever is needed.’
By kid Jongdae is probably referring to Jongin, and Luhan can't fight the warmth spreading inside his tummy making him feel all mushy inside since the way Jongdae is caring for Jongin is rather unique and endearing.
~*~
Jongin feels like a little boy about to meet Santa Claus in a few minutes as he nervously paces up and down in front of the law firm whose address Jongdae had given to him over dinner on Sunday. He had hardly slept last night and almost crushed Felix Thunder Paws underneath him by rolling around and shifting too many times.
This morning he woke up with eye bags like canyons, a kink in his neck and angry scratch marks on his left hand due to the wrath of the cat. He stopped at the sandwich store to buy the one with eggs and tuna salad- Minseok's favorite at this bistro they frequented a lot back in their dating days.
After riding the subway for about twenty minutes, he arrives in front of a silver gate. With the sandwich bag clutched to his chest, Jongin still doesn't have the courage to take a step inside the impressive, white building. Jongin's legs feel like jelly, and he considers calling Jongdae for mental support but the mere thought of Jongdae calling him a child again has him abandoning the idea.
"Jongin?" The soft voice startles him, and Jongin almost drops the sandwich as Luhan pops up right in front of him.
~*~
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Jongin stumbles over his own words, and his cheeks redden in embarrassment. Luhan laughs before pointing at his nametag and then the building ahead of them.
“I work here, so I’m rather curious as to what brings you here. Do you need a lawyer?” The question is rhetorical since Luhan has already been informed about the reason for Jongin’s visit. He thinks it’s cute how the boy is holding onto the brown sandwich bag as if his life depends on it.
Jongin’s eyes grow wide as he grasps this piece of information that he was just served. He gapes at Luhan like a goldfish struggling for air before he finally gets a grip on himself and asks, “Are you familiar with a certain Kim Minseok? Jongdae told me I could find him here.”
Luhan’s chest fills with warmth as he slowly nods his head and sees Jongin’s face light up immediately.
“Yeah," he answers. "He's my boss and friend. Do you want me to take you to him?” He smiles cheekily, watching Jongin fidgeting, conflicted due to Luhan’s offer.
Then the sandwich is quickly shoved into Luhan’s hands. He tilts his head to the side in confusion when Jongin mumbles something along the lines of ‘can you give this to him? Thanks and bye!' before the boy sprints off and disappears around the next corner.
Luhan blinks at the bag in his hand before brushing his blond hair back. This situation is turning out to be more complicated than he thought it would be.
“That was underwhelming,” he mumbles to himself while pulling out his phone to inform Jongdae about what happened. The only response he gets is Jongdae telling him about how he would be growing more grey hair because of those two.
They set up a place and time to meet over drinks later to discuss where to go from here. Luhan bites his bottom lip as he returns to Minseok’s office, knocking this time before entering to find Minseok reading through their case documents while sipping on his coffee. Luhan doesn’t like mingling in other peoples' business, but he likes Minseok and takes pity on him.
He throws the bag with the sandwich into his friend’s lap who looks up at him quizzically.
“Someone just gave this to me, so eat up.” Luhan tries to sound as neutral as possible even as he sees Minseok’s face falter a little bit at the sight of the sandwich. It must be another thing that he connects with Jongin; otherwise, Luhan would judge him for getting emotional over a piece of bread. Luhan doesn’t think much of it when Minseok suddenly pulls out his planner, brows furrowed in concentration and circles something on a little map of Seoul.
“Who gave you this?” he demands quietly, and Luhan just meets his friend’s gaze without mouthing out the answer. It isn’t needed anyways. Minseok leans back in his chair, a defeated sigh leaving his lips.
“Always by a heartbeat….” he mutters quietly before going back to reading the documents.
Another few minutes pass before something in Minseok's brain visibly clicks, and Minseok smacks Luhan’s arm,
“You went to the Starbucks on Saturday?”
“Um. Yeah. I missed you by like a few minutes and had the pleasure of keeping that asshole you call a friend company. And yes, that’s how I know what Jongin looks like.” Seeing Minseok’s scandalized expression, he quickly raises both hands in the universal gesture of defense before adding. “I forgot my phone and wallet- don’t look at me like I'm public enemy number one.”
“Fair enough.” Luhan gets him coffee every morning, so Minseok decides to let him off the hook. There is something else bothering him, but he pushes the thought away to deal with after he's finished with work. Unfortunately, life doesn’t stop just because he's are in love, and it surely doesn’t pay either.
( part 3 )