Chapter Text
It had been a long time.
Long enough that Mingyu had stopped thinking of reunions like this as even remotely possible. Life had moved forward in the way it always does—messy, relentless, and hard. He had made peace with the idea that some people simply don’t come back and instead were meant to be filed away in memory, gently but permanently.
But that evening, against the soft hum of a garden reception and the fading light of day, the impossible walked back into view.
“Kailan ka pa nakabalik?” Mingyu had asked, finding Wonwoo by the corner of the garden where the reception was being held. The sun was starting to dip, casting golden light over everything. The crowd was thinning as the buffet opened, and Wonwoo finally had a few minutes to himself.
Mingyu’s eyes frantically roamed all over his high school best friend’s figure, still trying to decipher if he was real or not. He looked real, but somehow… unfamiliar in the way time tends to make people seem like echoes of themselves. He stood more confidently now, his shoulders set back with quiet assurance.
Time really has passed for them.
It seemed like Wonwoo was no longer stubborn about using his glasses. He was sporting a pair of black horn rimmed glasses made him look reserved and elegant.
(Nung high school kasi sila ay nababaduyan si Wonwoo sa pagsuot ng salamin niya kahit na malabo na ang mata niya noon ay bihira niya lang gamitin.)
Wonwoo was of course taller now, still a few centimeters shy of Mingyu’s own height like before. It seemed like that was the only thing that hasn’t changed that’s observable to Mingyu.
Instead of the small digicam Wonwoo stole from his sister precariously dangling around his wrist, he had a high end camera slung around his neck like a medal. Mingyu was glad to see that Wonwoo ended up pursuing a field that the younger version of him found enjoyment for.
Mingyu wondered what else has changed.
“This month lang rin. I’m still testing the waters, trying to see if I still have a place here.” Wonwoo answered pensively, his own gaze at Mingyu was steady and pleased.
Wonwoo’s voice was fuller now, it was soothing to listen to, no longer in danger of cracking every few sentences or so like it did before.
“That’s … nice.” Mingyu blurted out feeling stupid right after.
Seriously Mingyu? That’s nice? Ilang taon mo na hindi nakita yung tao oh!
Wonwoo—not detecting Mingyu’s internal turmoil— was simply amused, “It’s a bit awkward right?” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “Didn’t think I’d run into someone familiar so soon.”
Wonwoo has spent his first weeks in transient hotels while looking for a more permanent place to reside in and also looking for gigs to get a foot into the industry here. He’s still adjusting. He hasn’t even fully unpacked his suitcases first … just in case he failed you know?
“No, sorry. I’m just shocked to meet you here of all places after years, it’s really … something.” Mingyu denied, no longer hiding the awe in his voice.
What are the chances of it happening right? Yung mga kaibigan niya nga ngayon, kung hindi sila magseset ng oras at lugar para magkita-kita ay hindi talaga sila magtatagpo pero si Wonwoo? He just showed up. Right there. Like a door Mingyu thought was long closed had cracked open without warning.
“I’ve always planned on coming back, kaso ang mahal kasi ng ticket pauwi kaya natagalan.” Wonwoo shared easily. Matagal niya ring plinano at pinagipunan ang pag-uwi niya. Canada had never felt like home to him and Wonwoo had tried very hard to see himself growing old there but he just couldn’t.
“I’m happy you’re back.” Mingyu had said, heart full. Then, more hesitantly, “We should get coffee sometime… if gusto mo lang naman-”
“I’d love to.” Wonwoo answered quickly. “Wala pa akong na-message na iba, so meeting you first feels like a good omen.”
Mingyu’s smile had been too big to hide. “Then I’m honored.”
He paused, then he laughed, surprised at himself.
Wonwoo tilted his head, brow arched.
“Sorry,” Mingyu said sheepishly. “Natawa lang ako… bakit ba tayo nag-e-English?”
Wonwoo snorted, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “Sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin alam kung paano kita kakausapin. Ang alam ko lang… gusto kitang kausapin.”
He couldn’t have said it any better.
“Same, same.” Mingyu breathed out. “Like, pardon my French pero tangina ang tanda na natin.”
Wonwoo chuckled again, this time fuller, his shoulders shaking. “Word.”
They exchanged numbers—finally—and agreed to set a date for their coffee soon. But all night, even after the short conversation ended, Mingyu couldn’t stop watching Wonwoo. His eyes followed him like a magnet, catching him between table centerpieces and fairy lights.
That silhouette and that smile. A little softer now, a little older. But still undeniably Wonwoo.
| Hi, ito naman siguro number ni Wonwoo noh? |
| Ang tagal na nung huling may tumawag sakin niyan |
| Good to know walang pumalit sa trono ko |
| May isa pa kasi akong raket bukas, debut naman |
| Parang dati kailangan ka pa pingutin para magpasa ng assignment hahaha |
| Wala naman bayad yun, ito meron hahaha |
| Ikaw ba? Ano pinagkakaabalahan mo? |
| Naks pang bigatin ata yan ah |
| I guess the cafe slash bistro is still a work in progress then? |
| Naalala mo pa yun? Hahaha |
| Oo naman, ako nga gumawa ng floorplan eh |
| Na pinunit ni Sir Makmak hahaha |
| Init ng dugo nun satin dati eh hahaha |
| Tayo nagpadami ng puting buhok nun eh |
| On hold muna ang cafe slash bistro ko |
| Dapat ba sa meetup ko na natin sabihin? |
| Baka nabugahan pa kita ng kape hahaha |
| Maybe I can meet your wife one of these days and your kid too |
| Nakakatampo lang hindi mo ako kinuhang ninong |
| Gusto ko ninong ako sa kasunod ah |
| Hiwalay na kami ng nanay ni Sunoo |
| Kanina ka pa typing hahaha |
| Kahit matagal na kitang di nakita ang alam ko lang hindi ka naman yung tipo na mabilis sumuko |
| Kaya kung ano man yung sitwasyon mo ngayon, alam kong yan na ang best case scenario |
| Seryoso ako tas tatarantaduhin mo ako |
| Dami nang nangyari pero laban lang |
| Akala natin dati sa gantong edad natin saka pa lang tayo ikakasal |
| Pero sinipagan mo ata masyado hahaha |
| Tarantado ka pa rin pala talaga |
| Baka di mo na ako makilala eh |
| Imposible yang sinasabi mo |
| Kahit anino mo makikilala ko |
| May event kami sa company |
| Need raw team for documentation whatever you call it |
| Pwede mo ibigay number ko para makasend ako rates |
| Oo, wala naman ako work phone |
| Weekends lang pala ako libre Wons |
| Saturday morning free ka ba? |
| Sa may SM North Edsa lang ako |
| Sige dun na lang tayo maghanap ng pagkakapehan |
| Balikan kita pre ah paalis na kasi ako ng bahay ngayon |
| Sorry can we do a raincheck on Saturday morning? |
| Naglilipat na kasi ako ng apartment saka may hinahabol lang na deliverables baka di ako magising |
| Libre pa rin naman ako buong araw |
| Saka pwede naman kitang tulungan mag-ayos |
| Nice, madali naman ako kausap basta may suhol hahaha |
| Mga 11 andun na ako, I’ll drive |
| Hahaha three years to pay pa toh |
| Lunch muna tayo bago kita pahirapan |
| Baka ipadeport mo pa ako pag ginutom kita |
| Kamusta na pala sila tita? |
| Ayun malalakas pa rin sa awa ng Diyos |
| Nag pay-off ata yung pag-was ng buong pamilya niyo sa soft drinks |
| Hanggang ngayon nga bawal hahaha |
| Yung anak ko hindi pa nakakatikim ng coke yun buong buhay niya |
| Ilang taon na ba si Sunoo? |
| Mas kamukha mo pa nga yun kung tutuusin |
| Papakita ko sayo picture niya sa Sabado |
| Di ko alam bat kinakabahan ako |
| Pero syempre mas cute anak ko keysa sayo |
| Edi cute pala ako sa paningin mo |
| Ikaw tong nagsabing kamukha ko anak mo sabay nandidire ka sakin |
| Ako ang huhusga sa Sabado |
Mingyu was absolutely terrified. He doesn’t know why. He wasn’t about to walk into a high-stakes meeting or present to a room full of investors. No. He was just going to see his best friend from high school.
That was it.
Just lunch. Just a catch-up. Just… Wonwoo.
He wished there was a way to directly notify his nervous system that they weren’t dealing with a completely new entity. His palms were sweating. His heart was thudding erratically. He felt like he was sixteen again, stuck outside the guidance office after pulling a stupid prank, trying not to show that he was nervous.
They’ve already made some small talk during the wedding they met at but of course they couldn’t get much conversation in since Wonwoo was working as one of the photographers in the event, Mingyu couldn’t exactly chat him up.
Mingyu had been pleasantly surprised then but ultimately calm.
But he’d be lying if he doesn’t admit that he felt an uncontrollable and unexplainable pang inside of his chest after seeing Wonwoo after thinking for years that they’d never get to cross paths again and that he’d simply remain as a fond memory he’ll bring up every now and then when he gets too tipsy.
He was glad to be proven wrong.
Somewhere between that wedding and today, the excitement of reunion morphed into a slow-burning anxiety that curled into his stomach like smoke.
Which was stupid, really.
They’d been texting back and forth to catch up, and yet, Mingyu found himself rehearsing conversations in his head like he was a fresh graduate about to apply for his first job.
This was just Wonwoo.
He had already encountered much heavier problems in his life: like getting his girlfriend pregnant right after college when he hasn’t achieved anything for himself just yet, or when that marriage ended in a bitter annulment leaving him officially single and practically alone in raising their child.
This should be a piece of cake.
Kumatok na si Mingyu sa pintuan ng apartment na nilipatan ni Wonwoo bago pa magbago ang isip niya.
(He wondered why his entire body felt like he was about to do something that was going to change his life.)
