Work Text:
"It's currently 10:59. Time to get your cup of coffee or maybe a snack and buckle up for another late-night talk with me! Hello, this is DJ Nyang and this is Midnight FM."
With quick and nimble fingers, Jungwon adjusts the volume, the equalizers, and the amplifiers for a smooth session. It's an odd job, honestly. Only those traveling on the road and those spending sleepless nights will only ever get to hear his voice on the radio, but he loves it nonetheless. At this ungodly hour, there weren't a lot of listeners. And that just made it seem more intimate.
Jungwon liked people, but he finds it more difficult to open up than most. So he settles on being a listener—a person who will lend his ears to random callers, trying to give advice to settle their worries.
Most were about love. How do I tell her how I feel? How do I talk to him about us? People, just as they are inclined to breathe–are inclined to love. It's an instinct. To find another person to share their life with, to find someone who understands the workings of their minds and souls.
Majority of his callers are teens, surprisingly. Asking him how to handle the ever so complicated schemes of having a first love. This one he can answer quite well, having had his own a few years ago when he was in high school. He'd tell them to seize the day—carpe Diem. Just confess. Follow your heart. It seems scripted and utterly cliché, but this is actually what he lived by. He thinks the regrets of having done something are completely lighter than the regrets of having not done something.
The other half of his callers are adults, dampened down by life. He pities them, really. How they had to call a number in the middle of the night just to have someone to talk to. At times like these, he whips out a bottle of soju–and made sure never to get tipsy (he handled his liquor well anyway). Somehow the alcohol made him relate more to the problems of the callers. The warmth in his system adds to the empathy and sympathy he had for them.
Although sometimes, Jungwon finds their questions stupid. If only they talked it out themselves, their issues would be resolved immediately. But oh well, listening to strangers' qualms and occasionally, their outlandish inquiries, had made his life a tad bit more interesting.
More often than not, he silently laughs at his callers. He couldn't help it. Some just had weird and funny stories to tell. Well, for him it was funny. Thank god he had the option to mute his mic.
But there was this one caller who had made an imprint on Jungwon, outdoing all the embarrassing stories and bizarre callers. It has been a month and a half since that person started calling. And almost scarily consistent, he calls as soon as the clock strikes 11:11 every Friday night. And every single time–he offers a song to Jungwon.
He found it odd and surprising at first. But as this caller serenaded him more frequently, he found the voice to be relaxing. He'd lean back on his chair, close his eyes and just listen to the man's slightly raspy voice.
Just on time, the line rings and he puts the call on air. "Hey Nyang." The voice says.
Jungwon couldn't help but feel his stomach flutter just from the greeting. "Hello, Good eve! What can I do for you tonight?" He asks, just as he always does.
"Just listen."
From the other line, Jungwon hears the familiar sound of an amplifier turning on and the screech of the strings of an electric guitar. A slow and steady strumming fills his headphones before the caller's voice floated in.
"It took, one look
Then forever laid out in front of me
One smile then I died
Only to be revived by you"
Jungwon allows himself to breathe, lay back and just take everything in.
"There I was
Thought I had everything figured out
Goes to show just how much I know
'Bout the way life plays out"
Even through the fuzzy sound, he could hear the heart in the song, and warmth spreads from his chest to the tips of his fingers, moving along to the rhythm of the guitar.
"I take one step away
Then I find myself coming back to you"
The person takes a breath before strumming his guitar slowly.
"My one and only, one and only you"
The guitar fades along with the man's voice and a comfortable silence envelopes the studio. And for a second, Jungwon forgets he was at work. The click of the amplifier on the other line suddenly snaps him back to his senses.
"Thank you for that song..." Jungwon checks the pen name registered. "Caller JS. It was a beautiful way to start the night."
"T'was my honor, sweetheart." He answers, an audible smile to his voice. And just like that, he ends the call, leaving Jungwon butterflies as a grin spreads to his lips, putting him in a good mood to handle all the callers for the rest of the night.
Jungwon goes off-air at exactly 2 am. He fixes all the equipment before finally locking the doors. Slipping on his favorite black furry jacket, he hails a cab and rides home.
He looks out the window, eyeing Seoul's night lights, his mind drifting off to the mystery caller. Jungwon wasn't really one for surprises, but he finds this one quite sweet.
At around 2:35, he exits the taxi and makes his way to his small apartment, heaving a long and tired sigh. He inserts the keys but finds the knob turning on its own. The door swings open and there, waiting for him, with a sleepy smile and a sloppy grin, was his boyfriend Jongseong.
"Welcome home." He says, peeking through his barely open eyes.
Jungwon giggles at the sight before dropping his backpack and diving into the older boy's arms. "You don't have to stay up late for me, you know. I know you like sleeping early."
"Yes, but I like you more." He answers, a raspy laugh rolling off his mouth as he hugs Jungwon and steps side to side.
Jungwon chuckles, resting his cheek on his shoulder, inhaling Jongseong's all too familiar scent–aftershave, clean soap, and a not-so-strong cologne. He knows Jungwon had a sensitive nose, so he deliberately bought a perfume that smelled of nothing but baby powder.
"You're a cheeky one, aren't you?" Jungwon says, making no effort to pull away. A day spent without his boyfriend was a day long enough. He revels in the warmth and comfort of Jongseong's arms—always making him feel safe and protected.
"I've always been cheeky."
That was true. Even way back their high school years, Jongseong was quite the boy. He played in a school band as a lead guitarist, and completely by accident, Jungwon stepped on a chord during one of their performances and unplugged Jongseong's guitar.
He got annoyed at first, but later found Jungwon's personality to be more interesting than all the riffs he memorized and realized his presence was more important than any other performance. He worked his way, all cheeky and buttery, to win Jungwon's heart. Nearly a year later, the younger boy finally relented. They've been going strong ever since.
"Did you like the song?"
Jungwon finally pulls back, and not being able to hold himself back, Jongseong pinches his boyfriend's cheeks, making his lips puff out. "Of course I did." He answers, his words barely coherent as the other continued to knead his cheeks like dough. No matter how often Jongseong sang for him, it will always make his heart race as if he were a lovesick high school kid. And he doesn't exactly know why, but the thought of the older boy calling, serenading him anonymously (even though they both knew his identity wasn't exactly a secret), just made him fall in love with Jongseong all over again. And just as he was consistent in calling, he was impeccable with his nightly routine—opening the door for Jungwon and welcoming him with a warm embrace despite his eyes fluttering shut from sleepiness.
Jongseong smiles before placing a quick peck on Jungwon's puckered lips. "Glad to know."
"Now take a shower and go change. I'm sleepy." He turns away and heads to bed, only for Jungwon to chase after him and hug him from behind.
"5 more minutes. I wanna cuddle."
A hearty chuckle bubbles up from his chest as he turns around and plants a kiss on Jungwon's forehead.
"Go shower first. We can cuddle all night.”