Chapter Text
Just as Matthew was about to leave and turn off the lights, he noticed something on the ground. A small piece of paper was peeking out from the shadowy depths of the couch. He was going to just leave it, since it wasn’t his mess to get rid of. But then he saw some pen ink on it, perhaps it wasn’t trash. Intrigued, he reached down and clutched his fingers around the rough paper.
Dear M,
Your smile is the key to life itself. How the crescents in your cheeks make my heart do flips and the sparkles in your eyes light up something inside. I do not know, but whenever you are around something takes over me. Something fierce and demanding and gasping for air. It’s come to the point where I can’t keep it hidden anymore. So, I don’t know if you’ll ever see this but,
I’m in love with you.
And I think I will be… until the end of time.
Matthew almost fell right there and then.
He clasped the letter tightly, eyes increasingly widening as he went over the lines again and again.
‘Dear M’. Could that be him? There was no other ‘M’ in the apartment and Matthew was sure that smiling was his speciality.
He screamed internally some more and mindlessly started pacing around the couch, a deep red blush creeping up onto his cheeks. Someone wanted him.. And not only that, someone in this apartment- as in the other members of Zerobaseone. That is insanity. Matthew knew the company banned dating. Fan service sure, they loved that, but dating was so out of the question.
(Though that never did stop Hao and Hanbin… but to be fair nothing could stop that married couple.)
Perhaps it was fanmail. Someone slipped it in their apartment somehow or maybe the other members did a live reading them. It was perfectly plausible. Yet, Matthew couldn’t fool himself. He recognised this writing. It was not messy, but not overly neat either. The strokes were curved and looked somehow youthful. It was definitely someone close.
But.. who? It’s not like the members share handwritten letters to each other, they have phones. The only time he even sees their writing is when they do use whiteboards for the challenges in their show, ZBTV.
Suddenly a creak echoed in the living room. It’s Taerae and he was rubbing his eyes.
Matthew froze, heart on the line. The letter almost slipped through his fingers, but he swung his hand just in time to stuff in his pants before Taerae could come any closer.
“Matthew are you coming in?” He fretted, yawning. Matthew stood rigid. “It’s getting late.”
For a second it seemed as if Matthew forgot how vocal cords work, but at last was able to gasp out a little, “Coming!”
Play it cool, Matthew. Act normal. With the paws of a fox, Matthew bounced towards Taerae. Crashing into him with his arms wide. His heart was still going crazy, but hugging Taerae gave him some peace of mind. Affection was always his holy grail, and it may just be his ticket out of this situation.
—
Gunwook’s perspective
As the sound of SHINee’s ring ding dong floated through the air, Gunwook woke up with a smile on his face. He recognised that alarm, the silly tones belonging to an equally silly guy, Matthew.
Jumping onto his feet like a man on a mission, he stretched his long muscular arms into the air. Thinking of Matthew first thing in the morning always gets his spirit up.
He was like his personal energizer. Except, it wasn’t personal, Matthew wasn’t his and maybe never will be… and on that note Gunwook remembered what his diary was for.
Okey dokey so he just has to open the cabinet and it should be under some books and yep. Gunwook grabbed the nearest pen and began his emotional embark on paper. Except, something is missing. A certain page. A certain very important page that is and oh my god Gunwook threw his book onto the floor.
The previous night, in a drunk haze, he brought the note with him. He had written it during a breakdown over Matthew’s adorable smile and accidentally stuffed it in his pants instead of leaving it in the diary.
Gunwook rushed to his laundry basket, internally chanting ‘pants, pants, pants’. It reeked of sweat and deodorant but he endured. He finally found the checkered pants and shoved his hands into both pockets simultaneously. A glimmer of hope rose in his chest as his fingers brushed against a piece of paper. Then, just as he is about to shout out hallelujah, Gunwook flipped it over.
A receipt.
It wasn’t there.
—
It should’ve been in the living room. The note should’ve been right where Gunwook sat last night–centre left of the couch, next to Matthew’s soft but very toned body. God, he smelled so good then. Gunwook slapped himself to focus. The paper couldn’t have vanished so it must be still there. But it wasn’t.
Instead, standing right over that exact spot, was a duck shaped person .
Taerae.
Now Gunwook remembers–Taerae was with them last night too. He was on the other side of Matthew. They had shared a blanket together and Matthew even rested his head on Taerae’s shoulder. He swore Taerae even started playing with Matthews hands under the cover, though that could’ve been his spite manifesting images. Or at least, he hoped so.
Gunwook twiddled his thumbs, trying to keep his composure. “Say, Taerae, you didn’t happen to see a certain piece of paper roaming around here, did you?”
Taerae paused mid sip of his banana milk and raised his eyebrows. “Paper? What kind of paper?”
“You know, a paper note. You were there last night too. It must’ve fallen somewhere. You had to see it”
“Nah, I was too focused on the.. movie to notice anything.” Taerae mused, a little too blankly. Gunwook rolled his eyes. Really? He knew Matthew was a sight to look at, but that didn’t mean he was a movie.
Taerae blinked, “What’s so important about a sheet of paper anyways?”
“Argh, it’s not just any paper. It had something important on it. Really important.” Gunwook groaned and dipped down onto his knees, investigating the nether region of the couch, with his dignity draining by the second.
“Since it’s not with me, and clearly not under there,” He signalled to Gunwook spiraled on the floor, a smirk began to plaster on his face. “Maybe someone else found it. Someone like… Matthew?”
As if on cue, Matthew’s whines echoed in the room. “Come on, guys~ An anonymous love letter challenge. The fans will eat it up. You know how much they like seeing us get all romantic.”
“Hyung, it's literally too early for this.” Gyuvin groans, “I haven’t even finished my latte and you’re already plotting a kdrama in your head?”
Unfazed, Matthew bounced and dug his fingers into Gyuvin’s shoulders in a pseudo massage.“The ratings would be great though,” he singsonged.
Ricky entered, leaning against the doorframe. “You're not wrong Matthew. Though I am afraid Gyuvin will end up hitting up ramen rather than an actual person.”
“That’s fine!” Matthew pondered for a second, "Actually, a comedic relief would be perfect! Woah Ricky-ya when did you get so smart.” Ricky grinned, and Matthew slapped Ricky’s raised hand.
“Ooo, you can count us in on that,” a voice came from the hall. It was Taerae and shortly trailing behind was Gunwook.
—----