it's happening - ch8
f.t island: "it's happening" --jaejin/minhwan (currently), Jonghun/hongki (in this chapter), and seunghyun/nicole(kara); PG-13
A comfort out of nowhere
It seemed that the day could pass on smoothly after that kiss in the corridor. Minhwan was a bit irritated at Jaejin’s senseless act, but his contentment overflowed him which made it possible to pay attention to that small part. As usual, he would sneak in notes to Seunghyun between classes, blabbering about nothing. Most of Seunghyun’s responses were emoticons, expressing his 3rd-ness and sheer joy.
‘What is he so happy about?’ Minhwan thought over but he didn’t need to be that curious to know, Seunghyun’s mind exploded with thoughts of that girl. Minhwan shuddered in fear as third period ended with a single ding-dong of the bell. They walked over the cafeteria like they always did; and Minhwan couldn’t help but feel the strange sensation of déjà vu as he passed on the corner of this morning.
His thoughts subsided quickly, stopping him from blushing. After all, he definitely did not want to perk Seunghyun’s interest... oh so quickly did Seunghyun’s attention was driven to the two people sitting together.
“Oh, Jaejin is with Nicole!” Seunghyun spoke quickly, his heart picking up. “Do you think he talked to her yet?” his head snapped to Minhwan, his eyes inquiring any single bit of advice from Minhwan. Minhwan shrugged, not even ten-percent interested.
Ugh, what a cold guy! Minhwan’s eyes narrowed as Seunghyun shot at him inwardly. “I’m not cold, I’m just… do you want me to find out?” he defended himself, but Seunghyun didn’t seem interested so he offered him a generous deal.
“How will you know that? It’s not like you can read mind.” Seunghyun brushed Minhwan’s remark off his shoulders carelessly. They got their lunch quickly and Minhwan resumed his previous question.
“Are you sure? Because if I do find out, I won’t tell you.” Seunghyun gave him a second incredulous look before they sat three tables away from Jaejin and Nicole.
“You’re bluffing. How can you know?” he shoved some rice into his mouth, absolutely preoccupied with Nicole and Jaejin’s conversation and Minhwan acting like a know-it-all is not helping him.
“Because I can, let me try.” He gave a smile before turning his head to the said table. It took him by shock to see Jaejin’s eyes piercing through his, his heart stopped for a mere half of a second before he averted his brown orbs away.
“So, did you know?” after a minute or so, Seunghyun asked between bites. It fed his ego have Minhwan slump his shoulder in disappointment.
“No, I got distracted. Guess we have to wait for Jaejin-“
“For what?” the young man slipped into the empty chair next to Minhwan. He gave Seunghyun a quick nod before looking over Minhwan’s tray for something he might like.
“For what is going on! Did you talk to her about me?” Seunghyun was eager to know directly from Jaejin, but the boy seemed quite interested in Minhwan’s food. The youngest snapped his chopsticks and shooed Jaejin’s prying hand off his tray.
“Leave my food alone,” Minhwan nagged.
“Give me some, I didn’t eat all day.” Jaejin prodded Minhwan’s arm with a frown slightly appearing on his eyebrows.
“I don’t want to; you know I don’t like sharing my food.” He bit on his tongue for even assuming Jaejin knew of his habits.
“I know, but I still want this drumstick.” Finally with his bare hand, he stole the piece of chicken and nibbled on it. Minhwan flared his nostrils angrily, that was his favorite part of the chicken, stupid Jaejin stealing his happiness one drumstick at a time.
“Will you stop with this lovers’ quarrel?” Seunghyun grumbled, obviously neither amused nor content by having his business halted because of these two. It made him even more frustrated, when neither of them denied the “lovers” part.
“Well, she said she liked you.” Jaejin swallowed and regarded Seunghyun, his eyes tired of the boy’s constant need for his answers.
“She did?! She actually said she liked me?” taken back by the response, Seunghyun shouted.
“No, I was kidding.” Jaejin broke into laughter and the sweet sound of his giggles curved Minhwan’s mouth into a smile too. Seunghyun on the other side of the table fumed slowly, his mood turning into a worse level thanks to Jaejin’s prank
“Yeah we talked about you. But she didn’t reveal anything.” After calming down his laughter, Jaejin answered more seriously. It was hard to focus on Seunghyun with Minhwan being a nice guy and offering some of his egg rolls to Jaejin. Jaejin munched happily.
“Did you say anything about me wanting to go out again?” he desperately inquired. It seems like there would be no chance to discuss anything with Minhwan there stealing Jaejin’s attention.
“Well, she didn’t say anything about being interested in other people, and I found out she came out of a slightly long relationship two months ago, so you might want to go slow.”
“But not too slow, show her you’re there but not in a stalker-like way, please.” Minhwan added an advice, being experienced on one-sided love; he should probably give Seunghyun warnings.
“How do you do that?” a tad too desperate, Seunghyun wailed.
“How am I supposed to know, I don’t have a crush on someone who doesn’t like me back.” Minhwan drenched Seunghyun with pity and lies. He spoke through his teeth because everything he spoke of was the opposite. He knew exactly, but thankful that his one-sided love ended well, with another party. Jaejin let his gaze fall over Minhwan casually and shrugged when the younger man noticed him.
“Fine, I will do it alone! You useless two.” He cussed at them before getting up and leaving. Ungrateful coward, Jaejin thoughts yelled behind him, and Minhwan agreed.
“So, want to go out today? Spring break is close by and you probably don’t have any important classes.” It takes a real man to ask his crush out, and that man happens to be Jaejin. He smirked as Minhwan’s cheeks turned into a rosy color upon hearing his question.
“Yeah, let’s go out. You have to repay me that piece of chicken you ate.” He added casually, as if the thought of going out on a semi-official date didn’t excite him. Jaejin grinned at him and sipped his water.
“I better go check that dork from spoiling everything by turning into an inhabitant of Nicole’s locker.” Minhwan stood up and realized Jaejin’s glance was casted down, at his hand resting on the table,
“What’s wrong?” he added and inspected his hand; he didn’t see anything wrong with it.
“Should I stop you? I don’t want you going after Seunghyun, not again.” He spoke slowly, as if fearing it so badly; the words wouldn’t come out smoothly. His eyes rose to meet Minhwan’s orbs and he found them smiling.
“You’re such a big black goat.” He murmured as his hand trailed Jaejin’s arm and pushed into Jaejin’s shoulder before flicking his neck. Minhwan disappeared into the crowd, his blush burning his ears and cheeks. Dammit, I shouldn’t have acted so slyly… he regretted but it didn’t matter, his intent was proven to Jaejin.
Seunghyun was laid back in class when Minhwan finally found him. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be creeping on her by her locker.” He sat on his seat and bore with Seunghyun’s fail glare.
“I did see her on my way to here, she wanted to talk.” He closed his mouth, obviously unsure if he should enclose the information upon Minhwan’s ears.
“And…? What did you talk about?” Minhwan inspected Seunghyun’s face.
“Well…” Seunghyun trailed and kept his eyes downcast and it all made clear in Minhwan’s head.
“You got rejected?” Minhwan wanted to play along, so he offered worriedly. He was inwardly shocked when Seunghyun nodded slowly, sniffling a tear. Liar, Minhwan hissed under his breath.
“I think it was smart of her, you are useless and undeserving of such a girl” Minhwan chirpy voice broke the gloomy mood and Seunghyun shot his head glaring at the boy.
“I am not useless, and I totally deserve her! And that’s why she said yes about going out!” unable to stop himself from blabbering, Seunghyun ended up with a hand on his mouth regarding the slipup.
“I know! I just wanted to know how long would you go before confessing, you liar.” Minhwan sat back in his seat, and waited patiently for the upcoming apology.
“Well you don’t have to know everything, jeez; you’re acting like my boyfriend.”
“I’m too good to be a liar, lousy actor’s boyfriend.” I’m going to be a bassist’s boyfriend, Minhwan added in the privacy of his thoughts, a proud smirk forming on his lips. Seunghyun scoffed and their quarrel ended as break ended and the students waltzed into the class.
They sat in the music room as usual but instead of playing the piano, they just sat there. Hongki guiltily looked over Jonghun’s face. The boy obviously missing the piano but can’t play because of his hand.
“Let’s play together.” He offered, but the blank face Jonghun gave him killed his hope. No! You’re a confidant man! Don’t let this look on his face stop you. Hongki encouraged himself in his mind, and he was good.
“No, really, let’s play together. I watch you play all the time so I know a bit.”
“Do you want to make love?” Jonghun said as Hongki leant over to open the cover of the keys. He froze and turned with shocked eyes.
“Are you in the mood?” he glanced downward but Jonghun wasn’t stiff or anything. He eyed his boyfriend’s face again and recognized the helplessness.
“Make me in the mood.” He brought his good hand and trailed Hongki’s arm with soft fingertips. Hongki sat back and agreed. He brought his mouth to Jonghun’s and they kissed. It was a matter of bites and licks before Hongki’s hands were all over the brunette. He gasped against lips as Jonghun’s tongue brought goose bumps to his skin. He tucked on Jonghun’s hair, and it offered him a slick neck. He slapped his lips upon the ivory skin but a sudden punch in his stomach thrusting him back inches away. He winced as he brought a hand to his stomach.
“Hongki-ah I’m sorry! I was just trying to bring my hand to your chest but I jerked it too quickly.” To this, Hongki’s mouth turned into a small O of understanding but the pain knotted his eyebrows painfully. He groaned as he rubbed his hand to his stomach, easing the pain somehow.
Jonghun worried over it, he brought his good hand and draped leans fingers over Hongki’s stomach, his eyes tearful about hurting his precious Hongki. “Are you okay?” he murmured before leaning into Hongki’s body and hugged his middle.
“Yeah… I am-I’m fine, don’t worry.” He breathed, his voice hitched and hurt.
“I’m so sorry...” Jonghun breathed into Hongki’s neck, remorse in his voice. But Hongki shrugged it off, with a simple, “It will go away in a moment.”
They sat there till Hongki’s stomach pain dulled and he grabbed Jonghun’s attention with his mouth kissing Jonghun’s temple. “Don’t worry, in three weeks, and your hand will be released of the cast.”
“Thank you.” Jonghun responded with gentleness as he nuzzled his nose against Hongki’s cheek.
“Oh Minhwan-ah, want to eat some snacks with mom?” Minhwan’s mother’s face shone with gladness as Minhwan hopped down the stairs at four thirty.
“I can’t. I’m going out with Jaejin from next door.” He adjusted the hem of his plain white t-shirt.
“Like that? Why don’t you dress up a little?” Hongki shot from the living room, he and Jonghun were sitting cuddling on the couch.
“I don’t have to dress up; we’re just going out for a bit.” Minhwan bit his lower lip as wary seeped into his mind. Did he dress so down that it worried them? Instead of answering him, Hongki gave him a knowing glance.
“Stop it; it’s just a small date.” He hissed at the two, not wanting his mom to know. Strangely, she was quite enthusiastic about his relationships and it usually ended quite embarrassing with her knowing about her little boy liking guys.
“I’m off, bye!” he shouted at his mom in the kitchen. Before stepping out of the living room, she stopped him with a quick tug to his t-shirt.
“Here, take this with you.” She handed him a small box, it smelled of sweetness.
“Is this pie?”
“Yeah, I was making it for you but you’re going out. I hope Jaejin likes apple pies.” She smiled sweetly and he breathed in her pie’s intoxicating scent before hugging her with an arm slightly.
“Thank you mom, I love you.” He murmured into her hair before landing a soft kiss on her cheek. She smiled widely at him and shooed him outside. Once he was outside, she turned around to go back into the kitchen, if it wasn’t for Hongki calling her, whining.
“I want a pie too, Mrs. Choi!” Hongki whined from the couch. She turned around, her smile widening into a grin.
“Then get off my son and help me make another one.” She teased, turning Hongki’s pale face into a ripe tomato color.
It felt awkward, to be around Jaejin in a meaning deeper than friends going out. It felt like a scene from a drama or a movie. He looked luminous and bright with his bright smile on his face through the whole date; Minhwan couldn’t help but be lost staring at Jaejin. They walked side by side out of the cinema, they agreed to watch a movie two hours ago but Minhwan only watched one thing; Jaejin.
Other than feeling insignificant and unworthy, he felt under-dressed. Even only in a pair of jeans, a three-quarter sleeved buttoned up checkered blue shirt, with a pair of white converse, Jaejin looked worship-worthy.
The latter boy noticed Minhwan’s eyes but held against pointing it out, and tried to not think of it much. Something about Minhwan knowing of what he thought of just seemed risky so he tried to be thoughtless all through the movie. They walked side by side and when the back of his hand brushed against Minhwan’s hand, he felt like holding the calloused hand into him, if only he was not bound by society.
They agreed on a late snack at the food court, leaving Minhwan behind, Minhwan headed to grab them something sweet and some coffee. He came back to an empty table but he saw a note written on one of the napkins on the round wooden surface, “I’ll be back in seconds, using the toilets.” He smiled softly as he sat down. He grinned as he noticed the little sketch Jaejin drew; it was a small bass with an unreadable expression on its comical face.
He sat waiting for Jaejin to come back from the restroom.
Time seemed to drag on, and to make sure Jaejin didn’t get caught up in something; he wandered around the toilets, looking for the older man. He gave up after a minute or so, deciding to give Jaejin all the time he wanted. He came back to his table to sip on his coffee. He was halfway with the medium sized cup when his phone vibrated.
From: Black Goat
Subject: Sorry
Time: 19:25
Something came up, sorry I had to leave.
He stared at his screen for three minutes, reading the message over and over in his head and trying to find leads or reasons. Finally at seven thirty, he got up, threw his uneaten muffin and the coffee he got Jaejin and left all together.
to be continued
A comfort out of nowhere
It seemed that the day could pass on smoothly after that kiss in the corridor. Minhwan was a bit irritated at Jaejin’s senseless act, but his contentment overflowed him which made it possible to pay attention to that small part. As usual, he would sneak in notes to Seunghyun between classes, blabbering about nothing. Most of Seunghyun’s responses were emoticons, expressing his 3rd-ness and sheer joy.
‘What is he so happy about?’ Minhwan thought over but he didn’t need to be that curious to know, Seunghyun’s mind exploded with thoughts of that girl. Minhwan shuddered in fear as third period ended with a single ding-dong of the bell. They walked over the cafeteria like they always did; and Minhwan couldn’t help but feel the strange sensation of déjà vu as he passed on the corner of this morning.
His thoughts subsided quickly, stopping him from blushing. After all, he definitely did not want to perk Seunghyun’s interest... oh so quickly did Seunghyun’s attention was driven to the two people sitting together.
“Oh, Jaejin is with Nicole!” Seunghyun spoke quickly, his heart picking up. “Do you think he talked to her yet?” his head snapped to Minhwan, his eyes inquiring any single bit of advice from Minhwan. Minhwan shrugged, not even ten-percent interested.
Ugh, what a cold guy! Minhwan’s eyes narrowed as Seunghyun shot at him inwardly. “I’m not cold, I’m just… do you want me to find out?” he defended himself, but Seunghyun didn’t seem interested so he offered him a generous deal.
“How will you know that? It’s not like you can read mind.” Seunghyun brushed Minhwan’s remark off his shoulders carelessly. They got their lunch quickly and Minhwan resumed his previous question.
“Are you sure? Because if I do find out, I won’t tell you.” Seunghyun gave him a second incredulous look before they sat three tables away from Jaejin and Nicole.
“You’re bluffing. How can you know?” he shoved some rice into his mouth, absolutely preoccupied with Nicole and Jaejin’s conversation and Minhwan acting like a know-it-all is not helping him.
“Because I can, let me try.” He gave a smile before turning his head to the said table. It took him by shock to see Jaejin’s eyes piercing through his, his heart stopped for a mere half of a second before he averted his brown orbs away.
“So, did you know?” after a minute or so, Seunghyun asked between bites. It fed his ego have Minhwan slump his shoulder in disappointment.
“No, I got distracted. Guess we have to wait for Jaejin-“
“For what?” the young man slipped into the empty chair next to Minhwan. He gave Seunghyun a quick nod before looking over Minhwan’s tray for something he might like.
“For what is going on! Did you talk to her about me?” Seunghyun was eager to know directly from Jaejin, but the boy seemed quite interested in Minhwan’s food. The youngest snapped his chopsticks and shooed Jaejin’s prying hand off his tray.
“Leave my food alone,” Minhwan nagged.
“Give me some, I didn’t eat all day.” Jaejin prodded Minhwan’s arm with a frown slightly appearing on his eyebrows.
“I don’t want to; you know I don’t like sharing my food.” He bit on his tongue for even assuming Jaejin knew of his habits.
“I know, but I still want this drumstick.” Finally with his bare hand, he stole the piece of chicken and nibbled on it. Minhwan flared his nostrils angrily, that was his favorite part of the chicken, stupid Jaejin stealing his happiness one drumstick at a time.
“Will you stop with this lovers’ quarrel?” Seunghyun grumbled, obviously neither amused nor content by having his business halted because of these two. It made him even more frustrated, when neither of them denied the “lovers” part.
“Well, she said she liked you.” Jaejin swallowed and regarded Seunghyun, his eyes tired of the boy’s constant need for his answers.
“She did?! She actually said she liked me?” taken back by the response, Seunghyun shouted.
“No, I was kidding.” Jaejin broke into laughter and the sweet sound of his giggles curved Minhwan’s mouth into a smile too. Seunghyun on the other side of the table fumed slowly, his mood turning into a worse level thanks to Jaejin’s prank
“Yeah we talked about you. But she didn’t reveal anything.” After calming down his laughter, Jaejin answered more seriously. It was hard to focus on Seunghyun with Minhwan being a nice guy and offering some of his egg rolls to Jaejin. Jaejin munched happily.
“Did you say anything about me wanting to go out again?” he desperately inquired. It seems like there would be no chance to discuss anything with Minhwan there stealing Jaejin’s attention.
“Well, she didn’t say anything about being interested in other people, and I found out she came out of a slightly long relationship two months ago, so you might want to go slow.”
“But not too slow, show her you’re there but not in a stalker-like way, please.” Minhwan added an advice, being experienced on one-sided love; he should probably give Seunghyun warnings.
“How do you do that?” a tad too desperate, Seunghyun wailed.
“How am I supposed to know, I don’t have a crush on someone who doesn’t like me back.” Minhwan drenched Seunghyun with pity and lies. He spoke through his teeth because everything he spoke of was the opposite. He knew exactly, but thankful that his one-sided love ended well, with another party. Jaejin let his gaze fall over Minhwan casually and shrugged when the younger man noticed him.
“Fine, I will do it alone! You useless two.” He cussed at them before getting up and leaving. Ungrateful coward, Jaejin thoughts yelled behind him, and Minhwan agreed.
“So, want to go out today? Spring break is close by and you probably don’t have any important classes.” It takes a real man to ask his crush out, and that man happens to be Jaejin. He smirked as Minhwan’s cheeks turned into a rosy color upon hearing his question.
“Yeah, let’s go out. You have to repay me that piece of chicken you ate.” He added casually, as if the thought of going out on a semi-official date didn’t excite him. Jaejin grinned at him and sipped his water.
“I better go check that dork from spoiling everything by turning into an inhabitant of Nicole’s locker.” Minhwan stood up and realized Jaejin’s glance was casted down, at his hand resting on the table,
“What’s wrong?” he added and inspected his hand; he didn’t see anything wrong with it.
“Should I stop you? I don’t want you going after Seunghyun, not again.” He spoke slowly, as if fearing it so badly; the words wouldn’t come out smoothly. His eyes rose to meet Minhwan’s orbs and he found them smiling.
“You’re such a big black goat.” He murmured as his hand trailed Jaejin’s arm and pushed into Jaejin’s shoulder before flicking his neck. Minhwan disappeared into the crowd, his blush burning his ears and cheeks. Dammit, I shouldn’t have acted so slyly… he regretted but it didn’t matter, his intent was proven to Jaejin.
Seunghyun was laid back in class when Minhwan finally found him. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be creeping on her by her locker.” He sat on his seat and bore with Seunghyun’s fail glare.
“I did see her on my way to here, she wanted to talk.” He closed his mouth, obviously unsure if he should enclose the information upon Minhwan’s ears.
“And…? What did you talk about?” Minhwan inspected Seunghyun’s face.
“Well…” Seunghyun trailed and kept his eyes downcast and it all made clear in Minhwan’s head.
“You got rejected?” Minhwan wanted to play along, so he offered worriedly. He was inwardly shocked when Seunghyun nodded slowly, sniffling a tear. Liar, Minhwan hissed under his breath.
“I think it was smart of her, you are useless and undeserving of such a girl” Minhwan chirpy voice broke the gloomy mood and Seunghyun shot his head glaring at the boy.
“I am not useless, and I totally deserve her! And that’s why she said yes about going out!” unable to stop himself from blabbering, Seunghyun ended up with a hand on his mouth regarding the slipup.
“I know! I just wanted to know how long would you go before confessing, you liar.” Minhwan sat back in his seat, and waited patiently for the upcoming apology.
“Well you don’t have to know everything, jeez; you’re acting like my boyfriend.”
“I’m too good to be a liar, lousy actor’s boyfriend.” I’m going to be a bassist’s boyfriend, Minhwan added in the privacy of his thoughts, a proud smirk forming on his lips. Seunghyun scoffed and their quarrel ended as break ended and the students waltzed into the class.
They sat in the music room as usual but instead of playing the piano, they just sat there. Hongki guiltily looked over Jonghun’s face. The boy obviously missing the piano but can’t play because of his hand.
“Let’s play together.” He offered, but the blank face Jonghun gave him killed his hope. No! You’re a confidant man! Don’t let this look on his face stop you. Hongki encouraged himself in his mind, and he was good.
“No, really, let’s play together. I watch you play all the time so I know a bit.”
“Do you want to make love?” Jonghun said as Hongki leant over to open the cover of the keys. He froze and turned with shocked eyes.
“Are you in the mood?” he glanced downward but Jonghun wasn’t stiff or anything. He eyed his boyfriend’s face again and recognized the helplessness.
“Make me in the mood.” He brought his good hand and trailed Hongki’s arm with soft fingertips. Hongki sat back and agreed. He brought his mouth to Jonghun’s and they kissed. It was a matter of bites and licks before Hongki’s hands were all over the brunette. He gasped against lips as Jonghun’s tongue brought goose bumps to his skin. He tucked on Jonghun’s hair, and it offered him a slick neck. He slapped his lips upon the ivory skin but a sudden punch in his stomach thrusting him back inches away. He winced as he brought a hand to his stomach.
“Hongki-ah I’m sorry! I was just trying to bring my hand to your chest but I jerked it too quickly.” To this, Hongki’s mouth turned into a small O of understanding but the pain knotted his eyebrows painfully. He groaned as he rubbed his hand to his stomach, easing the pain somehow.
Jonghun worried over it, he brought his good hand and draped leans fingers over Hongki’s stomach, his eyes tearful about hurting his precious Hongki. “Are you okay?” he murmured before leaning into Hongki’s body and hugged his middle.
“Yeah… I am-I’m fine, don’t worry.” He breathed, his voice hitched and hurt.
“I’m so sorry...” Jonghun breathed into Hongki’s neck, remorse in his voice. But Hongki shrugged it off, with a simple, “It will go away in a moment.”
They sat there till Hongki’s stomach pain dulled and he grabbed Jonghun’s attention with his mouth kissing Jonghun’s temple. “Don’t worry, in three weeks, and your hand will be released of the cast.”
“Thank you.” Jonghun responded with gentleness as he nuzzled his nose against Hongki’s cheek.
“Oh Minhwan-ah, want to eat some snacks with mom?” Minhwan’s mother’s face shone with gladness as Minhwan hopped down the stairs at four thirty.
“I can’t. I’m going out with Jaejin from next door.” He adjusted the hem of his plain white t-shirt.
“Like that? Why don’t you dress up a little?” Hongki shot from the living room, he and Jonghun were sitting cuddling on the couch.
“I don’t have to dress up; we’re just going out for a bit.” Minhwan bit his lower lip as wary seeped into his mind. Did he dress so down that it worried them? Instead of answering him, Hongki gave him a knowing glance.
“Stop it; it’s just a small date.” He hissed at the two, not wanting his mom to know. Strangely, she was quite enthusiastic about his relationships and it usually ended quite embarrassing with her knowing about her little boy liking guys.
“I’m off, bye!” he shouted at his mom in the kitchen. Before stepping out of the living room, she stopped him with a quick tug to his t-shirt.
“Here, take this with you.” She handed him a small box, it smelled of sweetness.
“Is this pie?”
“Yeah, I was making it for you but you’re going out. I hope Jaejin likes apple pies.” She smiled sweetly and he breathed in her pie’s intoxicating scent before hugging her with an arm slightly.
“Thank you mom, I love you.” He murmured into her hair before landing a soft kiss on her cheek. She smiled widely at him and shooed him outside. Once he was outside, she turned around to go back into the kitchen, if it wasn’t for Hongki calling her, whining.
“I want a pie too, Mrs. Choi!” Hongki whined from the couch. She turned around, her smile widening into a grin.
“Then get off my son and help me make another one.” She teased, turning Hongki’s pale face into a ripe tomato color.
It felt awkward, to be around Jaejin in a meaning deeper than friends going out. It felt like a scene from a drama or a movie. He looked luminous and bright with his bright smile on his face through the whole date; Minhwan couldn’t help but be lost staring at Jaejin. They walked side by side out of the cinema, they agreed to watch a movie two hours ago but Minhwan only watched one thing; Jaejin.
Other than feeling insignificant and unworthy, he felt under-dressed. Even only in a pair of jeans, a three-quarter sleeved buttoned up checkered blue shirt, with a pair of white converse, Jaejin looked worship-worthy.
The latter boy noticed Minhwan’s eyes but held against pointing it out, and tried to not think of it much. Something about Minhwan knowing of what he thought of just seemed risky so he tried to be thoughtless all through the movie. They walked side by side and when the back of his hand brushed against Minhwan’s hand, he felt like holding the calloused hand into him, if only he was not bound by society.
They agreed on a late snack at the food court, leaving Minhwan behind, Minhwan headed to grab them something sweet and some coffee. He came back to an empty table but he saw a note written on one of the napkins on the round wooden surface, “I’ll be back in seconds, using the toilets.” He smiled softly as he sat down. He grinned as he noticed the little sketch Jaejin drew; it was a small bass with an unreadable expression on its comical face.
He sat waiting for Jaejin to come back from the restroom.
Time seemed to drag on, and to make sure Jaejin didn’t get caught up in something; he wandered around the toilets, looking for the older man. He gave up after a minute or so, deciding to give Jaejin all the time he wanted. He came back to his table to sip on his coffee. He was halfway with the medium sized cup when his phone vibrated.
From: Black Goat
Subject: Sorry
Time: 19:25
Something came up, sorry I had to leave.
He stared at his screen for three minutes, reading the message over and over in his head and trying to find leads or reasons. Finally at seven thirty, he got up, threw his uneaten muffin and the coffee he got Jaejin and left all together.
to be continued