Oh yes, I'm falling
Title: Oh yes, I'm falling
Pairing: chanyeol/kai
Rating: PG
Length: 2,518 words
Warnings: Parachuting and the horrors of the sky
Summary: In which Chanyeol wants to try skydiving and Jongin is an angel.
A/N: Written for stillnessismove
“Dude, you’re going to die.” Sehun announces, eyes nearly jumping out of its sockets.
Chanyeol whimpers, trying to keep his hands folded on his lap instead of flailing around in horror at the prospect of throwing himself off a plane midair. As if his own anxiety isn’t enough, he’d decided to bring the least optimistic person along.
“Shut up, Sehun.” he tries, breathing in and out as advised by one of the instructors. There’s no turning back now, he’s already in his jumpsuit and his head gear is handed over. “If only you’d dive with me…”
Hysterical mock-laughter fills the small plane. “Ha! Yeah, right. Have fun dying by yourself.”
He’s getting a retort ready when someone stops in front of him. Chanyeol looks up and thinks he’s just been thrown out in the air.
“Park Chanyeol? I’m Kim Jongin, your instructor. You’ll be diving with me today.” says an angel.
An angel with a silver and blue jumpsuit, goggles hanging from his neck. Kim Jongin is 5’11” of tanned skin and a God-like vibe coming from his general direction. Suddenly parachuting doesn’t seem so scary. Chanyeol opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. Dear god he’s gone mute.
“Um,” Sehun approaches, elbowing his ribs. Chanyeol squirms, but utters no sound. “Has your last screw loosened up?”
Kim Jongin chuckles, eyes reduced to pathetically cute half-moons, and the sound reverberates into Chanyeol’s mind. It’s the sound of angelic harps. “It’s fine. All first-timers are nervous.”
Chanyeol’s engrossed in the curves and circles Jongin’s mouth makes when he speaks, but he still manages to catch Sehun obliquely. His friend laughs awkwardly and says, “Not about the diving thing, believe me.”
The instructor frowns looking genuinely worried. He shoots a glance over his shoulder and turns back to Chanyeol. “Hey man, we’re arriving at our destination. Are you sure, you’re ok?”
Chanyeol panics, and nods. “Yeah!” he screams. “Copacetic!”
Jongin frowns deeper for a moment, then chuckles once more. Angelic harps. “Great. I’ll let you know when we’re ready.” he walks off to somewhere nice and comfortable.
“Sehun-ah,” Chanyeol says once he’s sure it cannot be overheard. “Is that person going to get wrapped around me?”
“While you fall off the plane, yeah.” Sehun shrugs and yawns.
A grin spreads on Chanyeol’s face. Dying doesn’t seem so bad when Jongin is involved. In fact, if that’s how he’s going to die, at least there’s an angel right next to him. He feels the tips of his ears get warm in excitation and exclaims: “I’m ready!”
“I’m not ready.” Chanyeol’s whole body trembles as he stands by the door, strong wind blowing on his face and (which he can barely feel giving all the head gear covering him up) Kim Jongin adjusting himself behind him.
“Just keep breathing.” Jongin instructs as he attaches his package to Chanyeol, double checking the straps and all the equipment. “Are you ready?”
“NO!” Chanyeol’s high-pitched yelp startles his instructor. “I’m sorry, I’m not ready yet, I’m just…”
“Just jump man, he’ll never be ready.” Sehun’s voice reaches them and Chanyeol makes a mental note to hide Pinku Pinku later.
“Was this your idea?” the instructor asks. “Is this some kind of bet?”
“No, I’m sorry…” what is he doing? Embarrassing himself in front of a man he’d rather be impressing. Chanyeol should be bold and just jump. Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes and nods. “I’m ready now.”
“Are you sure?” Jongin’s breath touches his nape and he shivers.
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
With eyes glued shut, Chanyeol tries to think of heaven; of all Jongin’s brothers, the other angels, welcoming them at huge gates with baby blue clouds and little stars dancing around. He tries to think of his personal paradise, with candy houses and coke rivers. He forces himself not to think too hard when Jongin screams ’here we go’ and pushes them both out the door. Only it’s impossible not to. All of a sudden Chanyeol is flying, floating on thin air with Jongin’s light weight pressing on his back. He means to cry a loud ’oh my god’, but no sound comes out when he opens his mouth. He’s gone mute again.
Chanyeol figures he should open his eyes, so he does. Slowly, as if a fork was on-site to pierce his eyeballs. When he can fully see what’s beneath, Chanyeol gets a scare.
There are clouds around them, baby blue clouds, just like it should be in heaven. ’Am I really dead?’ he thinks. The city can be seen on the surface and it’s so beautiful Chanyeol considers never landing.
“We’re ready to launch the parachute!” Jongin says. “Your body will yank upwards when it’s open, so brace yourself.”
“Jongin, don’t let me fall, please!” Chanyeol yells. He closes his eyes just in time for his body to be pulled up, and then they’re not floating anymore. Chanyeol sees the other divers opening their parachutes as well; he wonders if there’s any way one of them would divert and land somewhere else. He wonders if they could be diverted to China.
Jongin maneuvers the parachute skillfully, letting them fly through soft sky as the canopy guides them to safety.
“We’re preparing to land now!” Jongin says and Chanyeol’s stomach clenches. “Be still!”
Except Chanyeol can’t be still. He flails his arms around, wiggling his legs frantically as he tries to put them in an upright position, which he probably shouldn’t do. Jongin’s hands come to try and still his legs (Chanyeol’s stomach clenches at this too), but his arms can’t be controlled.
“Chanyeol-ssi, please don’t move too much!” Jongin kindly requests, but Chanyeol can see the earth approaching and the thought of crashing down sends him into a complete state of panic, so he starts screaming. “Chanyeol-ssi, everything is fine, just stop moving!”
“OH MY GOD!” he cries once they’re a few meters from landing. Jongin’s saying something, but Chanyeol can’t hear above from his desperate screams.
And then they fall.
It’s painful and twisted and definitely not upright. He questions if they’re supposed to land like that, sprawled on the floor with one of Chanyeol’s legs violently aching. He yelps in pain as Jongin disentangles from his body.
“Are you ok?” his instructor asks, touching the same leg Chanyeol’s hands cradle carefully. “You were doing so good, what happened? Why did you panic?”
“I’m not sure,” he winces, biting on his lower lip to refrain a groan. “I think something is broken.”
“Chanyeol!” Sehun runs towards them along with a few other instructors. “What the fuck happened?”
“He started jerking and twitching. He’s heavier than me, so it was hard to control the gear. I guess he panicked once he saw the earth.” Jongin explains to the newcomers, crouching next to Chanyeol. “I’m sorry, Chanyeol-ssi.”
“It happens more than you think,” one of the instructors tell Sehun. “We have to carry him to the medical post.”
“I’m really sorry.” Jongin says and he looks honestly sorry, one of his hands touching Chanyeol’s injured leg.
Chanyeol faces him and if he wasn’t suffering painfully, he would definitely reach to soothe the wrinkles on Jongin’s forehead or perhaps to kiss the frown in his mouth. He’s so fucking beautiful and instead of being carried to the medical post, Chanyeol could be charming the hell out of him and scoring a phone number.
“Everything hurts, Sehun-ah.”
“Quit being a baby.”
“Ahh-”
A muffled 'thud' is heard and Chanyeol peeks at Sehun with an eye open.
"You just have a broken leg." Sehun announces as he pats Chanyeol's mattress angrily.
"They're keeping me hospitalized--"
"Under observation," the younger corrects. "Because they think you might suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Otherwise you are totally fine."
Chanyeol pouts and thinks of the horror he went through on the sky. "What a day," he huffs. "Do you know what's stranger, Sehun-ah?"
Sehun rolls his eyes, but hums nonetheless.
"I got hurt with an angel next to me."
"Huh?"
"The instructor," Chanyeol's casted leg itches, so he tries to stick a finger in it, but it's too short to reach the itching spot. "Kim Jongin? Damn, what a babe."
Sehun snorts, the sound mildly upsetting. Chanyeol glares. "Oh, I'm sorry. You're just ridiculous and I can't contain myself."
The beginnings of an argument are showing when a soft knock on the door startles both of them. What's standing by the door is even more startling. Kim Jongin, the heavenly instructor, gazes at them, lips parted as if he's thinking too much about what to say. Sehun clears his throat.
"Hi," he says, a dumb smile on. Chanyeol wants to kill him. "The instructor, right?"
"Yeah," Jongin eagerly says, stepping closer. "Jongin. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude..."
"Dude, please!" Sehun waves both hands in the air obnoxiously. "You are not intruding. This one is fine." he points at Chanyeol, who just shrugs and tries to offer the sweetest smile he can muster.
Jongin might think his smile is OK, because he smiles back. "I was worried about you. I hope it's fine that I stopped by. How are you?"
"I..." Chanyeol starts too early, then chokes, coughing all over himself. Jongin frowns worriedly.
"Do you need some water?" he asks.
Sehun moves, motioning toward the exit. "I'll get him water. You should just... Talk. But just talk because anything else might give him a heart attack."
"What?"
And with that he's gone. Chanyeol blinks, adjusting his focus, and takes a good look at Jongin. His memory didn't make Jongin any justice. Chanyeol can't remember him being this gorgeous.
"So, how are you?" Jongin asks, cheeks a bit pink.
Chanyeol sighs, "I'm in pain..." he whines.
"He's fine!" Sehun's voice erupts from nowhere, startling both of them. "Sorry!"
Jongin is frowning when he speaks again, "Listen, I came because I feel terrible. It's my fault you're in pain."
Well, Chanyeol thinks. You did make my life harder in the sky.
"It wasn't your fault. I panicked. You told me not to move and I just kept moving." Chanyeol says, petting his injured leg. Jongin's eyes follow his hands.
"I'm sorry, you must be tired." he runs both hands through his hair, his beautiful floppy hair, and shifts on his spot. "I should head out."
No! It's too soon to head out. They've just started talking! "You don't have to!" Chanyeol rushes, stretching his arm too far. "Stay?"
A glimpse of surprise passes by Jongin's eyes and he chuckles. "When are you being discharged?"
"I don't know," he whines. "There’s been a talk about quarantine."
Jongin's laugh is a gorgeous sound. Quite like angelic harps, he recalls, therapeutical for an infirm. Chanyeol smiles, and he's pretty sure he looks dumber than usual. It doesn't seem to bother Jongin, he's still laughing. "Then I'll come everyday."
-
His cellphone buzzes one more time and he muffles a laugh as he reads. He knows Sehun's inquisitive eyes are on him. There's no quarantine, but Jongin does come back the next day. He gives Chanyeol his number, and texts him cute emojis when he's discharged from the hospital.
"Is this Kim Jongin again?" his friend asks, slurping the last of his bubble tea. Sehun demanded that he was treated bubble tea. He never signed up to be Chanyeol's driver, yet, that's what he's been doing since a casted leg stopped Chanyeol from driving his own car.
"Yeah. He's so funny," Chanyeol says as he types a reply. "He sends me this selcas, he's so hot Sehun-ah."
It's been a week since Jongin and Chanyeol started texting, and the pace is so natural it feels like they've been talking for months. Chanyeol learns that Jongin is not a full-time skydiving instructor. He's also an intern at some hot shot company (which he hates) and lives with three dogs.
"Are you meeting anytime soon?" Sehun asks.
"Maybe. He says he'll stop by the store when he leaves work at the company tomorrow evening, but I'm not sure if he means it."
Sehun rolls his eyes, "Why wouldn't he?"
"Because I pestered him until he agreed to do so."
"I pity him already."
When Jongin stops by the next day he's still in his work clothes, white button-down and grey slacks. Styled hair and some rings. Chanyeol thinks he looks hot. Jongin spots him behind the counter and smiles, pointing to the shelves on the walls. "That's a lot of snapbacks." he says.
"Which is expected from a snapback store." Chanyeol answers.
"I guess you're right." Jongin nods and sniffs, linking his hands on his back as he swivels his body. Chanyeol can't help but smile at the scene. "So... I was thinking... Maybe I could get us some coffee?"
"Isn't it better if we actually go get the coffee together?" Chanyeol chuckles.
"Well, I didn't want you to make any effort. Since your leg is injured." Jongin says.
Chanyeol shrugs, "I'll be fine. I'll be with you, right?"
Amazing how the slow process of a smile taking over Jongin's face does not seem foreign to Chanyeol, even tho he hasn't seen it that much. Even more amazing it's the way Jongin seems resolute in making things easier for Chanyeol by opening doors for him, holding him whenever he's off balance and asking if he's OK. Chanyeol's not sure if he's feeling guilty for the accident or if the whole caring thing is because he really cares.
"Are you feeling guilty?" Chanyeol asks over his second caramel macchiato. Jongin's eyes widen, and if he had cat ears, they would surely be perked up.
"About what?"
"The accident. My leg." Chanyeol slurps. "Don't feel burdened by it, I mean, you don't have to do all this stuff for me--"
"No!" Jongin exclaims. "That's not it, I-" he sighs. "At first I felt guilty, but then the texts- not after the texts. I just want to help you."
Chanyeol smirks, satisfaction flooding his chest. "So you care? About me?"
Jongin snorts a laugh. Something is probably funny. "Were you thinking about it?"
"Of course I was!" Chanyeol pushes his empty cup aside.
"Which means you've been thinking about me?"
"Well, yeah, like that's news."
Jongin puffs his cheeks and it almost seems like he's containing himself from bursting. Chanyeol just thinks he looks adorable.
He checks his watch. "They're showing a movie with Lindsay Lohan down the street," Chanyeol says. "Wanna catch it?"
"Oh. The one where she goes skydiving?" Jongin's eyes sparkle with mischief. "You think you can handle it?"
"I think I'll be good. I have an angel with me." he says, attempting to get up from his chair. "Perhaps now would be a good time for my angel to act up, my leg is stuck under the table."
Jongin bites back a smile and helps him out, holding tightly into Chanyeol's waist as he escorts him out of the café. And with Jongin's hands on him, and his laugh filling Chanyeol's air, he thinks that maybe he'd overreacted. Skydiving rules.
Pairing: chanyeol/kai
Rating: PG
Length: 2,518 words
Warnings: Parachuting and the horrors of the sky
Summary: In which Chanyeol wants to try skydiving and Jongin is an angel.
A/N: Written for stillnessismove
“Dude, you’re going to die.” Sehun announces, eyes nearly jumping out of its sockets.
Chanyeol whimpers, trying to keep his hands folded on his lap instead of flailing around in horror at the prospect of throwing himself off a plane midair. As if his own anxiety isn’t enough, he’d decided to bring the least optimistic person along.
“Shut up, Sehun.” he tries, breathing in and out as advised by one of the instructors. There’s no turning back now, he’s already in his jumpsuit and his head gear is handed over. “If only you’d dive with me…”
Hysterical mock-laughter fills the small plane. “Ha! Yeah, right. Have fun dying by yourself.”
He’s getting a retort ready when someone stops in front of him. Chanyeol looks up and thinks he’s just been thrown out in the air.
“Park Chanyeol? I’m Kim Jongin, your instructor. You’ll be diving with me today.” says an angel.
An angel with a silver and blue jumpsuit, goggles hanging from his neck. Kim Jongin is 5’11” of tanned skin and a God-like vibe coming from his general direction. Suddenly parachuting doesn’t seem so scary. Chanyeol opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. Dear god he’s gone mute.
“Um,” Sehun approaches, elbowing his ribs. Chanyeol squirms, but utters no sound. “Has your last screw loosened up?”
Kim Jongin chuckles, eyes reduced to pathetically cute half-moons, and the sound reverberates into Chanyeol’s mind. It’s the sound of angelic harps. “It’s fine. All first-timers are nervous.”
Chanyeol’s engrossed in the curves and circles Jongin’s mouth makes when he speaks, but he still manages to catch Sehun obliquely. His friend laughs awkwardly and says, “Not about the diving thing, believe me.”
The instructor frowns looking genuinely worried. He shoots a glance over his shoulder and turns back to Chanyeol. “Hey man, we’re arriving at our destination. Are you sure, you’re ok?”
Chanyeol panics, and nods. “Yeah!” he screams. “Copacetic!”
Jongin frowns deeper for a moment, then chuckles once more. Angelic harps. “Great. I’ll let you know when we’re ready.” he walks off to somewhere nice and comfortable.
“Sehun-ah,” Chanyeol says once he’s sure it cannot be overheard. “Is that person going to get wrapped around me?”
“While you fall off the plane, yeah.” Sehun shrugs and yawns.
A grin spreads on Chanyeol’s face. Dying doesn’t seem so bad when Jongin is involved. In fact, if that’s how he’s going to die, at least there’s an angel right next to him. He feels the tips of his ears get warm in excitation and exclaims: “I’m ready!”
“I’m not ready.” Chanyeol’s whole body trembles as he stands by the door, strong wind blowing on his face and (which he can barely feel giving all the head gear covering him up) Kim Jongin adjusting himself behind him.
“Just keep breathing.” Jongin instructs as he attaches his package to Chanyeol, double checking the straps and all the equipment. “Are you ready?”
“NO!” Chanyeol’s high-pitched yelp startles his instructor. “I’m sorry, I’m not ready yet, I’m just…”
“Just jump man, he’ll never be ready.” Sehun’s voice reaches them and Chanyeol makes a mental note to hide Pinku Pinku later.
“Was this your idea?” the instructor asks. “Is this some kind of bet?”
“No, I’m sorry…” what is he doing? Embarrassing himself in front of a man he’d rather be impressing. Chanyeol should be bold and just jump. Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes and nods. “I’m ready now.”
“Are you sure?” Jongin’s breath touches his nape and he shivers.
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
With eyes glued shut, Chanyeol tries to think of heaven; of all Jongin’s brothers, the other angels, welcoming them at huge gates with baby blue clouds and little stars dancing around. He tries to think of his personal paradise, with candy houses and coke rivers. He forces himself not to think too hard when Jongin screams ’here we go’ and pushes them both out the door. Only it’s impossible not to. All of a sudden Chanyeol is flying, floating on thin air with Jongin’s light weight pressing on his back. He means to cry a loud ’oh my god’, but no sound comes out when he opens his mouth. He’s gone mute again.
Chanyeol figures he should open his eyes, so he does. Slowly, as if a fork was on-site to pierce his eyeballs. When he can fully see what’s beneath, Chanyeol gets a scare.
There are clouds around them, baby blue clouds, just like it should be in heaven. ’Am I really dead?’ he thinks. The city can be seen on the surface and it’s so beautiful Chanyeol considers never landing.
“We’re ready to launch the parachute!” Jongin says. “Your body will yank upwards when it’s open, so brace yourself.”
“Jongin, don’t let me fall, please!” Chanyeol yells. He closes his eyes just in time for his body to be pulled up, and then they’re not floating anymore. Chanyeol sees the other divers opening their parachutes as well; he wonders if there’s any way one of them would divert and land somewhere else. He wonders if they could be diverted to China.
Jongin maneuvers the parachute skillfully, letting them fly through soft sky as the canopy guides them to safety.
“We’re preparing to land now!” Jongin says and Chanyeol’s stomach clenches. “Be still!”
Except Chanyeol can’t be still. He flails his arms around, wiggling his legs frantically as he tries to put them in an upright position, which he probably shouldn’t do. Jongin’s hands come to try and still his legs (Chanyeol’s stomach clenches at this too), but his arms can’t be controlled.
“Chanyeol-ssi, please don’t move too much!” Jongin kindly requests, but Chanyeol can see the earth approaching and the thought of crashing down sends him into a complete state of panic, so he starts screaming. “Chanyeol-ssi, everything is fine, just stop moving!”
“OH MY GOD!” he cries once they’re a few meters from landing. Jongin’s saying something, but Chanyeol can’t hear above from his desperate screams.
And then they fall.
It’s painful and twisted and definitely not upright. He questions if they’re supposed to land like that, sprawled on the floor with one of Chanyeol’s legs violently aching. He yelps in pain as Jongin disentangles from his body.
“Are you ok?” his instructor asks, touching the same leg Chanyeol’s hands cradle carefully. “You were doing so good, what happened? Why did you panic?”
“I’m not sure,” he winces, biting on his lower lip to refrain a groan. “I think something is broken.”
“Chanyeol!” Sehun runs towards them along with a few other instructors. “What the fuck happened?”
“He started jerking and twitching. He’s heavier than me, so it was hard to control the gear. I guess he panicked once he saw the earth.” Jongin explains to the newcomers, crouching next to Chanyeol. “I’m sorry, Chanyeol-ssi.”
“It happens more than you think,” one of the instructors tell Sehun. “We have to carry him to the medical post.”
“I’m really sorry.” Jongin says and he looks honestly sorry, one of his hands touching Chanyeol’s injured leg.
Chanyeol faces him and if he wasn’t suffering painfully, he would definitely reach to soothe the wrinkles on Jongin’s forehead or perhaps to kiss the frown in his mouth. He’s so fucking beautiful and instead of being carried to the medical post, Chanyeol could be charming the hell out of him and scoring a phone number.
“Everything hurts, Sehun-ah.”
“Quit being a baby.”
“Ahh-”
A muffled 'thud' is heard and Chanyeol peeks at Sehun with an eye open.
"You just have a broken leg." Sehun announces as he pats Chanyeol's mattress angrily.
"They're keeping me hospitalized--"
"Under observation," the younger corrects. "Because they think you might suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Otherwise you are totally fine."
Chanyeol pouts and thinks of the horror he went through on the sky. "What a day," he huffs. "Do you know what's stranger, Sehun-ah?"
Sehun rolls his eyes, but hums nonetheless.
"I got hurt with an angel next to me."
"Huh?"
"The instructor," Chanyeol's casted leg itches, so he tries to stick a finger in it, but it's too short to reach the itching spot. "Kim Jongin? Damn, what a babe."
Sehun snorts, the sound mildly upsetting. Chanyeol glares. "Oh, I'm sorry. You're just ridiculous and I can't contain myself."
The beginnings of an argument are showing when a soft knock on the door startles both of them. What's standing by the door is even more startling. Kim Jongin, the heavenly instructor, gazes at them, lips parted as if he's thinking too much about what to say. Sehun clears his throat.
"Hi," he says, a dumb smile on. Chanyeol wants to kill him. "The instructor, right?"
"Yeah," Jongin eagerly says, stepping closer. "Jongin. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude..."
"Dude, please!" Sehun waves both hands in the air obnoxiously. "You are not intruding. This one is fine." he points at Chanyeol, who just shrugs and tries to offer the sweetest smile he can muster.
Jongin might think his smile is OK, because he smiles back. "I was worried about you. I hope it's fine that I stopped by. How are you?"
"I..." Chanyeol starts too early, then chokes, coughing all over himself. Jongin frowns worriedly.
"Do you need some water?" he asks.
Sehun moves, motioning toward the exit. "I'll get him water. You should just... Talk. But just talk because anything else might give him a heart attack."
"What?"
And with that he's gone. Chanyeol blinks, adjusting his focus, and takes a good look at Jongin. His memory didn't make Jongin any justice. Chanyeol can't remember him being this gorgeous.
"So, how are you?" Jongin asks, cheeks a bit pink.
Chanyeol sighs, "I'm in pain..." he whines.
"He's fine!" Sehun's voice erupts from nowhere, startling both of them. "Sorry!"
Jongin is frowning when he speaks again, "Listen, I came because I feel terrible. It's my fault you're in pain."
Well, Chanyeol thinks. You did make my life harder in the sky.
"It wasn't your fault. I panicked. You told me not to move and I just kept moving." Chanyeol says, petting his injured leg. Jongin's eyes follow his hands.
"I'm sorry, you must be tired." he runs both hands through his hair, his beautiful floppy hair, and shifts on his spot. "I should head out."
No! It's too soon to head out. They've just started talking! "You don't have to!" Chanyeol rushes, stretching his arm too far. "Stay?"
A glimpse of surprise passes by Jongin's eyes and he chuckles. "When are you being discharged?"
"I don't know," he whines. "There’s been a talk about quarantine."
Jongin's laugh is a gorgeous sound. Quite like angelic harps, he recalls, therapeutical for an infirm. Chanyeol smiles, and he's pretty sure he looks dumber than usual. It doesn't seem to bother Jongin, he's still laughing. "Then I'll come everyday."
-
His cellphone buzzes one more time and he muffles a laugh as he reads. He knows Sehun's inquisitive eyes are on him. There's no quarantine, but Jongin does come back the next day. He gives Chanyeol his number, and texts him cute emojis when he's discharged from the hospital.
"Is this Kim Jongin again?" his friend asks, slurping the last of his bubble tea. Sehun demanded that he was treated bubble tea. He never signed up to be Chanyeol's driver, yet, that's what he's been doing since a casted leg stopped Chanyeol from driving his own car.
"Yeah. He's so funny," Chanyeol says as he types a reply. "He sends me this selcas, he's so hot Sehun-ah."
It's been a week since Jongin and Chanyeol started texting, and the pace is so natural it feels like they've been talking for months. Chanyeol learns that Jongin is not a full-time skydiving instructor. He's also an intern at some hot shot company (which he hates) and lives with three dogs.
"Are you meeting anytime soon?" Sehun asks.
"Maybe. He says he'll stop by the store when he leaves work at the company tomorrow evening, but I'm not sure if he means it."
Sehun rolls his eyes, "Why wouldn't he?"
"Because I pestered him until he agreed to do so."
"I pity him already."
When Jongin stops by the next day he's still in his work clothes, white button-down and grey slacks. Styled hair and some rings. Chanyeol thinks he looks hot. Jongin spots him behind the counter and smiles, pointing to the shelves on the walls. "That's a lot of snapbacks." he says.
"Which is expected from a snapback store." Chanyeol answers.
"I guess you're right." Jongin nods and sniffs, linking his hands on his back as he swivels his body. Chanyeol can't help but smile at the scene. "So... I was thinking... Maybe I could get us some coffee?"
"Isn't it better if we actually go get the coffee together?" Chanyeol chuckles.
"Well, I didn't want you to make any effort. Since your leg is injured." Jongin says.
Chanyeol shrugs, "I'll be fine. I'll be with you, right?"
Amazing how the slow process of a smile taking over Jongin's face does not seem foreign to Chanyeol, even tho he hasn't seen it that much. Even more amazing it's the way Jongin seems resolute in making things easier for Chanyeol by opening doors for him, holding him whenever he's off balance and asking if he's OK. Chanyeol's not sure if he's feeling guilty for the accident or if the whole caring thing is because he really cares.
"Are you feeling guilty?" Chanyeol asks over his second caramel macchiato. Jongin's eyes widen, and if he had cat ears, they would surely be perked up.
"About what?"
"The accident. My leg." Chanyeol slurps. "Don't feel burdened by it, I mean, you don't have to do all this stuff for me--"
"No!" Jongin exclaims. "That's not it, I-" he sighs. "At first I felt guilty, but then the texts- not after the texts. I just want to help you."
Chanyeol smirks, satisfaction flooding his chest. "So you care? About me?"
Jongin snorts a laugh. Something is probably funny. "Were you thinking about it?"
"Of course I was!" Chanyeol pushes his empty cup aside.
"Which means you've been thinking about me?"
"Well, yeah, like that's news."
Jongin puffs his cheeks and it almost seems like he's containing himself from bursting. Chanyeol just thinks he looks adorable.
He checks his watch. "They're showing a movie with Lindsay Lohan down the street," Chanyeol says. "Wanna catch it?"
"Oh. The one where she goes skydiving?" Jongin's eyes sparkle with mischief. "You think you can handle it?"
"I think I'll be good. I have an angel with me." he says, attempting to get up from his chair. "Perhaps now would be a good time for my angel to act up, my leg is stuck under the table."
Jongin bites back a smile and helps him out, holding tightly into Chanyeol's waist as he escorts him out of the café. And with Jongin's hands on him, and his laugh filling Chanyeol's air, he thinks that maybe he'd overreacted. Skydiving rules.