(no subject)
The phone vibrates on the table, the screen lighting up and flashing. It’s 1am in the morning and you know he’s usually asleep at this hour. Worried, you reach over, pick up the phone and flip it open to read the message. It’s short and direct, telling you to meet at the park just down the road and your concern sends you shooting up from the couch. You only just remember to bring a jacket with you and fumble with your shoes at the doorway before you dash out the door as fast as you can.
It’s cold out and you wish you had brought a scarf with you as the wind chills your neck. You zip up your jacket to cover your throat and bury your face inside to keep it from the cold, but you keep running.
He’s crouching by the jungle gym in the park, one hand grasping the metal bars as he stares up at the rest of the structure. He turns at the sound of your footsteps and you pause when you see his eyes are damp and slightly red.
“Minho…?”
“He’s gone,” he says, before you can even finish your sentence.
You’re momentarily confused, but then you realize that today was the last episode of the reality show he’d been shooting for the past few months. You can’t help but sigh with relief at this, because thoughts of some disaster or tragic accident had been racing through your mind as you were running to him. Going to his side, you crouch down and draw him into your arms.
“I miss him already.” His voice breaks slightly at the last syllable and you hold him closer. “I really miss him, so much.”
“Of course you do,” you reassure him.
“Even though it was only for a few months, he was my son, he called me appa and…”
“It’s okay, Minho,” you murmur into his hair. Your heart aches to see him so upset, because Choi Minho is the most sensitive, caring person in the world who feels too deeply and gets hurt just as much and you just want to shield him from all his worries forever.
---
“I’m sorry for calling you out like this, hyung,” he apologises once he’s calmer. His eyes are still red, but he’s more composed now and he smiles sheepishly at you. “You’re not even dressed properly.”
“It’s fine, really. I like jogging in the cold winter night, keeps me on my toes.”
He laughs for real now and it’s richness warms you to your heart. You gently nudge him with your fist.
“Hey Minho.”
“Hm?” He cocks his head to one side in question. You smile softly.
“You’ll make a wonderful father to some lucky kid one day.”
He smiles and grabs you in a tight hug.
“Thank you, hyung.”