Chapter Text
Jinwoo found his way to the beach, away from everything. He turned his phone off, just trying to be away from everything. Within two hours of the bus ride, he found himself crying until there is no more tears. By the time he reached the beach, he felt sober. Maybe he’ll need a day or two to stay away from the city and everything that would’ve reminded him of his miserable love life. He walked around aimlessly, just entertaining his train of thoughts.
Dongmin was franctic, and Myungjun had no clue what happened aside from Dongmin who is seething with anger, wouldn’t talk and only clenching his phone, every time his call goes into voicemail, he’ll curse endlessly.
Earlier that day, Jinwoo had woken up early, energetic and fresh and Dongmin was pleased to see such change with him. While they were having breakfast together, Jinwoo told Dongmin that he would go to his old apartment to pick up few of his stuff, Dongmin wanted to accompany him but he had meeting with his mentor that morning so Jinwoo insisted that he’ll go alone and will be waiting for him at home for lunch.
Dongmin had came home earlier and found no Jinwoo, with calls going down his voicemails, Dongmin became restless and decided to go to Jinwoo’s old apartment. Arrived, he rang the bell and was greeted by Minhyuk who was lowkey looked like he had expected Dongmin to come, Dongmin had a hunch things were not good but he saw no Jinwoo and Minhyuk explained that Jinwoo came in the morning but he left after a few minutes, which has been hours since then.
Dongmin needed no explanation judging from hickeys he saw on Bin and Minhyuk, he is an adult and he is fully aware of what Jinwoo might have walked on in and maybe that’s the reason why he is unreachable right now. Dongmin felt a little hurt knowing Bin is still affecting Jinwoo that bad but his focus for now is reaching out to Jinwoo.
Dongmin’s patience ran low and he grabbed Bin by his collar, “I have tried to contact him since hours ago and it all went to voicemails, if anything happen to him, I swear to God, I’m going to hunt you and kill you, you fucking dickhead!” Dongmin’s grip tighten.
Bin’s eyes went wide, and frantically trying to let himself off Dongmin but Dongmin’s grip was so tight so Bin is basically helpless, Minhyuk had to step in between the two to separate them. Bin reached out to his phone and tried calling Jinwoo’s number, which also goes into the voicemail. Bin’s head hung low.
“This will be the last time you see him. I will do everything in my power to have him stay away from you.” Dongmin said, that has caused Bin to look up in anger.
“What right do you have to do that?” Bin said, “your one sided feeling?” that was the last straw and a punch landed on Bin’s cheek. Bin smirked, “truth hurts, doesn’t it?”
Dongmin gritted his teeth and his jaws tightened, “my one sided feeling did better than your reciprocated feeling, I never hurted Jinwoo, and I swear never will.” Bin stood up, facing Dongmin, “why don’t you and your side fling get the fuck off Jinwoo’s life? I will do the rest for him, since you are proven incapable of making him happy,” that had angered Bin and he tried to punch Dongmin but failed, Dongmin had counterattacked by throwing punch right to Bin’s jaw, making him fall back on the couch. “One more time seeing you around Jinwoo, I will make sure you’ll find no way home.” Dongmin spit and left them both, storming out of the apartment.
Dongmin felt helpless, Jinwoo’s phone is still unreachable, Myungjun tried his best to track Jinwoo but with his phone turned off, there is nothing they could’ve done other than sit and wait.
After what seems like an eternity to Dongmin, Jinwoo finally contacted him after sun’s down.
“I’m sorry, for making you worried,” Jinwoo said over the phone. Relieve washes over Dongmin’s body after hearing Jinwoo’s voice. Myungjun snatched the phone away from Dongmin’s hand,
“YOU IDIOT! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!” Jinwoo know more than to ignore Myungjun’s questions, he finally told them where his location was.
Dongmin and Myungjun did not wait for too long, it was sudden but they packed their stuff along with Jinwoo’s too and decided to go on short vacation. They figured they’ll need to calm themselves after the panic from earlier event. And Dongmin consider this as his life’s mission.
End of semester is coming really fast, and for Jinwoo, Dongmin and Myungjun that will be their last semester. There were a lot that has been happening both in their studies and personal lives. All of them has excelled in their final project despite all of the personal things that has been going on especially to Jinwoo. After the healing weekend he had with Dongmin and Myungjun, he had centred his focus to his remaining studies.
“Im so nervous for our next phase of life,” Myungjun grunted on his seat, Dongmin had his palm resting on his chin while reading, “you’ll be the best architect in our country, im sure.” Dongmin reassured him. Myungjun sighed and turns his head to Jinwoo, “are you not nervous? I mean out of us all, yours seem to be more challenging.” Jinwoo lift up his head, “Huh?” He suddenly smiled, “Oh, I will enlist, and the other things will follow suits,” Dongmin was shocked, Myungjun shrugged. “Why am I not surprised?” Myungjun whispered. Dongmin was speechless but he realised then that Jinwoo has already made up his mind. He has his whole future painted in front of him, he for sure knows what he wants and where he will be headed. Dongmin is sure that he will managed to squeeze himself in that picture later, he will make sure of it.
Final exams has taken tolls on every students just as it should, so did it to Jinwoo. He had been lying on his bed for 3 hours doing nothing after he came home from his last paper, Dongmin has yet to come home. Jinwoo had been contemplating about his life after this. He has decided to work before his graduation and sort out things in his head, not even once has he thought of his ex, or about Dongmin.
Jinwoo has been acting nonchalant about Dongmin’s feeling, with finals as his excuses but now finals ended, he will have to somehow sort things out with Dongmin. He cant and will not go around for too long leaving Dongmin with no answer, or at least acknowledging the things between them. He is sure he care for Dongmin but in love? It is still a question that Jinwoo cant answer himself. Its undeniable that Dongmin made him feel safe and happy, Dongmin understand him more than anyone else but it will be unfair for Dongmin if Jinwoo couldn’t do the same.
Dongmin went home later that evening and saw Jinwoo in the kitchen. He seems contented seeing Jinwoo in his kitchen and so he stood there for awhile smiling, he cant contain his happiness, its been awhile since they last spent their time together in his apartment, Jinwoo had been busy with his finals and so is he.
“Are you that tired until you cant take anymore step from there?” Jinwoo questioned him while standing behind the kitchen counter after he finished preparing dinner, Dongmin grinned and drop his bag on the couch before walking to the kitchen,
“hm what did our chef Jinwoo prepared for dinner?”
Jinwoo giggled, “oh nothing fancy, just the usual kimchi fried rice, im no good cook unlike you sir,” Dongmin scrunched his nose and did not wait long enough before he took a spoonful of hot fried rice into his mouth,
“careful-“ before Jinwoo could finished his sentence, Dongmin engulfed the whole spoon, “fsfsfsfsfsfs hot, hot!!”
Jinwoo quickly prepare a glass of water for him, whilst Dongmin struggled to cool down the food In his mouth, after awhile, they both laughed at how silly he must have looked.
“But this is at the same par as the kimchi fried rice my mom made.”
After dinner, they both settled down at cosily at the living room, Jinwoo has liked the living room with little light when its full moon, he love staying there with only the moonlight accompanying him, and Dongmin knows this too well.
“I feel like drinking tonight, so soju?” Dongmin inquired. Jinwoo’s eyes lit and nodded happily. Dongmin came settled again beside Jinwoo, they are both sitting on the bed-couch Dongmin prepared especially for such mood, he knows Jinwoo love the night breeze and he had made sure the couch is placed ideally near the balcony door, where they can enjoy the night. Jinwoo has his mind wandering, while Dongmin is simply enjoying Jinwoo’s present beside him.
“Min-ah,” Jinwoo suddenly spoke, Dongmin was sipping his soju and he looked at Jinwoo with his brows rise, curious. Jinwoo wasn’t looking at him at all, he had his eyes closed.
“Us, we need to talk about us.” Jinwoo said, Dongmin has forgotten that they had unspoken issues to be resolved, but Dongmin was ready, for the better or worst, he had himself prepared. Dongmin hummed, hinting he is ready to listen to Jinwoo.
“I.. care for you, Dongmin-ah. But I learnt the hard way about love. Im not asking you to wait, but if you are still pursuing me the way you wanted before, im afraid it might take awhile.” Jinwoo said, Dongmin was hopeful, and still is. He will give whatever it takes for Jinwoo to give him chance but those words still somehow hurts, he knew Jinwoo wasn’t ready. But he remembered Jinwoo’s words before, ,“give me some more time, I want to make sure I am ready and you are not a rebound, you deserve more than just that,” and Dongmin know he deserved more than just being a rebound.
Dongmin nodded, “someday we will find our way together if its meant to be, I will find my way to you and so do you, right?” Dongmin needed that reassurance and he hope Jinwoo will at least give him that. Jinwoo did not answered but instead he looked up, kissed Dongmin’s cheek and snuggled his way to Dongmin’s lap. Dongmin took a little time to process what just happened and he finally realized that Jinwoo reassured him in his way.
After a moment of silence, Dongmin hesitated and asked, “but you are not drunk, aren’t you?” Jinwoo smiled, and after a few seconds let out the cutest giggle Dongmin has ever heard,
“how can I be drunk when I only took a sip on my soju?” Dongmin breathed a sigh of relief.
Jinwoo turn his body to look at Dongmin, “but I think you have been drunk for awhile now, judging by how you choose to like me,” which made Dongmin gasped,
“excuse me, you should have seen how you looked like the first time I saw you,” and they spend the night talking about their past, and their future.
Walking down the memory lane and I stumbled upon ours. I smiled as if it never hurt. I realized I moved on. And I hope so did you.