Chapter Text
Weddings had always been a big thing for the Kim family.
It was an opportunity to show off the family's wealth and power; from the venues to the guests, every aspect of the event had to be extraordinary.
Mingyu loved those rare occasions where he could meet most members of their extensive family tree, talk to them, and gather interesting intel worth keeping, but to think a day where he had to take part in arranging a meeting between the fiancés, for his beloved cousin, no less, would come — left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Believing himself open-minded, arranged marriages had always ticked Mingyu off for many reasons — not that he would admit it out loud in the presence of his family.
But Yeri, his cousin, was still a young lady in his eyes, just starting her second semester at University, and had yet to fully enjoy the perks of her youth and explore the world. And his parents had to go and decide for her to marry some 'dude' she didn't even know.
Yeri, being the sweet kid she was, didn't protest one bit when the news reached her ears, but Mingyu wanted her to be at least a little defensive, raise her voice, and speak her mind because that's what Mingyu would've done in that situation.
But the thing was, Yeri wasn't him. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that Mingyu's parents had taken her under their wing after her parents died in a tragic accident when she was little, and she felt a sense of duty to fulfill.
It was upsetting, but he understood. Yeri would accept her fate, and Mingyu was determined to make the meeting a big success.
Strengthening the family's power through 'diplomatic' measures was a common thing for the elites; Mingyu was well aware. He just wished his parents would at least let Yeri choose her betrothed instead of deciding for her.
Hell, Mingyu would gladly take her place if he could.
"What's done is done." A sigh escaped his lips. "No turning back now." Defeated, he ran a hand through his messy hair as he texted back his mother to confirm his attendance.
As if he had a choice to begin with.
The Jeons were a very influential family in Korea with their advanced technologies and programming systems, so merging the companies would highly benefit both families to keep their position at the top. Mingyu wished it could've been done without Yeri marrying the Jeons' son, though.
An arm slung around his middle, pulling Mingyu out of his thoughts. The person clearly didn't want him to leave the warm bedsheets.
"Are you leaving already?" A sleepy, soft voice muttered into his chest.
"I have to. Mother wants me to accompany her to that stupid meeting." Mingyu caressed his girlfriend's dark, long hair with the back of his hand and then leaned down to kiss the crown of her head. She was warm, and he wanted to cuddle her some more, but duty called.
Mingyu was honestly so spent from their last night activities that he almost fell asleep in the shower. The pressure of Dahyun's soft breasts pressed against his back slapped him out of his dreamland, and they showered together, messing around once again.
By the time they had finished, Dahyun was limping a little because there was no time to take it slow.
After she dressed herself, Mingyu accompanied her to the door, not forgetting the carefully packaged cookies he made for her mother. Then he kissed Dahyun goodbye, long and passionate until his teeth bruised her red lips a bit before he let her go, the apartment door clicking shut behind her.
"Okay. Time to get to work," he reminded himself, and went to get ready for what looked like an awful afternoon.
Anything, whether good or bad, could happen at the Jeon's house when his mother was involved.
She had decided to personally visit Mrs. Jeon to discuss the wedding preparations as well as the meeting for the fiancés, despite the date not being set yet.
Mingyu wasn't honestly sure why he was needed, but like the good son he was, he complied with his mother's request without much protest.
When the annoying clock he got from his friend Jaehyun announced it was twenty minutes until 12 pm, Mingyu was already dressed like the CEO of a company, keys from his apartment in one hand and two bouquets in the other.
Mingyu wasn't sure which flowers Mrs. Jeon liked, so he bought lilies because they looked really nice. He didn't know what kind of person she was, but he hoped her impression of him would be nothing but good.
He didn't want to disappoint his mother.
"Alright. Here we go," Mingyu let out a sigh before closing the door behind him.
~*****~
If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?
Nothing, Mingyu would've answered any other time.
But now he wasn't sure anymore.
There was an alarming number displayed on his rather expensive watch he didn't really ask for, but his relatives liked to spoil him, and he kind of couldn't say no to people.
It was approximately thirty minutes after 12 pm, and when Mingyu noticed, it was too late.
He was late.
As a small figure quickly walked in firm steps over to the car he parked in front of the main gate, the only fear implanted in Mingyu's whole being slowly awakened.
His mother was coming for his ass.
Because he should've arrived exactly at 12 pm.
And look at the time now! 12:30 pm.
Great.
"Rest in peace, Kim Mingyu," he whispered, gulping before reaching for the bouquet of hibiscus with sweaty hands.
His mother had an unreadable expression on her face, but even a fool would notice the silent fury in her eyes. She looked composed by the time she reached her son's rigid figure.
"Honey, do you know what time it is."
It wasn't even a question, but the tone of her voice sent a shiver of unease down Mingyu's body.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I was preoccupied with cleaning and buying gifts for you and Mrs. Jeon; I lost track of time. It won't happen anymore, I promise." He bowed deeply, apologizing as if he had just stolen the neighbor's dog.
The woman gave him a suspicious look, but her gaze softened upon seeing the flowers her son was so awkwardly hiding behind his back.
"Son, we both know that it's God's wish for you to show up on time." She shook her head but smiled.
Mingyu sighed in relief and handed her the bouquet she accepted with a fond smile.
Him being late to family meetings wasn't rare — punctuality was always a bit of an enemy Mingyu had yet to beat.
Thankfully, his mother had gotten used to it over time, and Mingyu was glad she brushed it off without further scolding.
"Anyway, we still have matters to discuss, so come on in; we have time until five."
~*****~
The clock didn't even reach five, and Mingyu was already on the verge of putting his head on the table and just sleeping.
His parents had a lot to talk about, obviously, but Mingyu's answers to their questions were pretty much the same as they'd been exactly a month ago.
Grades? Top of his class.
Social life? Pretty good, too. Made quite a lot of friends recently. One of them was the son of an important politician, which earned him a nod of approval from his father.
Love life? He'd had girlfriends before, but none of those relationships were serious and lasted very long.
Right now he was dating Lee Dahyun, a girl from a wealthy family he'd met at his friend's twentieth birthday.
They'd been together for a good while now, and in the beginning, things had been peachy.
Mingyu's mother liked Dahyun because she was pretty and had the manners of a 'proper' lady — whatever that meant. She didn't know that Mingyu was slowly getting tired of being committed to the girl, but he tried hard and masked his worries well.
He thought it was just a phase he'd get over soon; an obstacle he had to overcome to be a better boyfriend; he didn't want to become like his friend Jaehyun — a sweet-looking guy who changed partners like underwear.
The loud sound of the grandfather clock woke Mingyu up from his temporary daydreaming.
By the looks of it, his parents were done with their interrogation, his dad slowly getting up and excusing himself after patting Mingyu on the shoulder and placing a sweet kiss on his wife's cheek.
That only left Mingyu and his mother in the living room.
"Well then, I think we should get going." Mrs. Kim adjusted her skirt. "The meeting is set at six, and I don't want to be late; that would be rude to the Jeons," she continued while sending her son a knowing glance.
Mingyu's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment as he quietly followed his mother out of the house.
Things were about to get interesting from now on.
~*****~
On the way to the Jeons, warm air surrounded the inside of his car.
They didn't talk during the ride. The silence was pleasant to Mingyu's ears, but it was a bit unsettling because his mother hadn't said a word ever since she buckled up.
That was until Mingyu decided to finally speak up.
"Wouldn't it be better if Yeri had come instead of me? It's her wedding after all."
His mother looked at him.
"We decided with Mrs. Jeon that a meeting for the fiancés would be best if planned accordingly. That's why she invited me to her house to discuss the matter. Normally, I wouldn't ask for your company, but I thought you'd want to meet the Jeons' sons and possibly Yeri's future husband. I want you to make a picture for yourself," she explained. "Try not to scare the child when you talk to him." It was an order.
Mingyu nodded, concentrating on driving. They'd passed the center of Seoul already, but the GPS told him they were almost there.
The elite neighborhood looked unfamiliar but posh and reeking of money all the same.
His mother navigated him until a mansion with a really pretty garden came into view.
The house was fairly big, not as big as his parents' though, and Mrs. Kim noticed that, commenting casually, " I thought the place would be bigger."
Mingyu bit his lip, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.
"The garden is beautiful though, well maintained — look at those flowers," she continued, looking out the window.
"Isn't it because their gardener is good at their job?" Mingyu asked, parking carefully behind the black SUV probably belonging to a guest.
His mother shook her head, her gaze never leaving the beautiful sight outside.
"No, not necessarily. I've heard their eldest takes care of their plants sometimes," she said, smiling. "He's busy with University and a part-time job but still makes time to help his mother with housing. He seems like such a great son, don't you think?'
A frown crept onto Mingyu's face as he held the door open for his mother.
He should've seen it coming. It was a silent plea for him to spend more time with her and dad. A sneaky but futile attempt, as Mingyu had no plans on spending time with his parents more than necessary.
There was so little they had in common; it just didn't look productive to him.
"You sure the Jeons' eldest is a guy and not a girl?" Mingyu joked while pressing the button on the intercom. He was smacked lightly on his arm.
"Don't be rude, Mingyu! At least he's keen on helping his mother, unlike someone," she retorted, upset.
It was kind of funny seeing her like this. Mingyu couldn't help but laugh softly just as a voice from the intercom interrupted him.
"Yes?" It was definitely a woman. Her voice sounded chirpy, clearly amused by the laugh Mingyu had let out before even speaking.
"Um, we're here to see Mrs. Jeon," Mingyu cleared his throat, red from embarrassment.
His mother completely disregarded the humiliation on Mingyu's face, her face lighting up after recognizing the voice from the other side.
She was beside Mingyu in a flash, lips curved in a smile as she beamed into the white box.
"Sooyun, since when are you answering calls? I thought you had a housekeeper for this."
"Minah, is that you? It's still early; I wasn't expecting you to be here so soon! Come on in!" The person on the other side laughed.
After a buzz, the gate started to creak open.
Mingyu looked at his mother, a brow raised in confusion.
"I assume that was Mrs. Jeon?" He clutched the bouquet in his hand, careful not to crush the precious flowers in his tight hold.
His mother nodded, leading the way to the main door.
The house looked really pretty in the sunset, nothing too pompous like the one his parents owned, but nothing too simple either.
As they walked, Mingyu noticed a very old model of a car parked neatly near the fountain. Mr. Jeon must've been a passionate collector; the car cost a fortune.
Mingyu knew that for a fact because he saw the exact vehicle in a motorsports magazine.
"Ah, your father is still upset he couldn't get his hands on the car," Mrs. Kim casually remarked, but there was relief plastered on her face.
"I know how he feels. You might not understand, but this," he gestured to the vehicle, "is a masterpiece. Owning such a beauty is a dream of everyone who loves cars." He was definitely beaming now. "I'm jealous Mr. Jeon got to ride it..." He trailed off, dreaming of how nice it would be to take that beautiful girl on a ride through the outskirts of Seoul.
Mrs. Kim rolled her eyes with a sigh.
Like father, like son.
Mingyu would've ogled at the car a bit longer if not for Mrs. Jeon's chirpy voice calling for them.
The first thing he noticed was a pair of beautiful and sharp eyes dominating her small face. She might've looked scary, but the little crescents her eyes turned into the instant she smiled washed off every ounce of the intimidating aura. There was warmth radiating from her, and Mingyu found himself being soothed just by her presence.
"You've brought a friend with you? He's so handsome!" She gave him a big smile.
Mingyu nodded shyly, now remembering the bouquet in his hand.
He held the door for Mrs. Jeon and his mother before he stepped inside.
"This is my son," his mother exclaimed proudly after pecking Sooyun lightly on each cheek.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jeon. I'm Kim Mingyu." He bowed deeply like he was taught, receiving a nod in return. "Ah, I've brought a gift. I hope it's not inappropriate." He scratched the back of his neck, handing the bouquet to the surprised woman before him.
"Lilies? Oh my gosh, if I didn't know better, I would've thought you've come to woo my little Wonu; these are his favorite!" She giggled, making Mingyu confused.
Wonu? Who the heck was that?
"I'm sorry?" He looked lost, but Mrs. Jeon shook her head, still smiling.
"Ah, it's nothing! They're very beautiful, thank you."
She led them further inside until they settled in a spacious living room.
Mingyu's eyes roamed around, quietly admiring the modern yet cozy interior of the room. He could imagine himself relaxing on the sofa and eating sweets all day.
God, he was so hungry.
His stomach seemed to agree because it suddenly growled loudly, taking both women in the room by surprise.
Mrs. Jeon laughed softly behind her hand; his mother, though, tried her hardest to hide her grimace.
"Minah, you're not starving your son, are you?" Mrs. Jeon suddenly blurted out, turning toward Mingyu's mother with a raised brow. Her tone didn't imply any serious intent behind those words; rather, it was meant in a joking manner, but Mingyu could feel the hackles rising within his mother anyway.
"No, no, it's not like that!" Mingyu quickly interfered, waving his hand dismissively as he smiled at Mrs. Jeon sheepishly, "I just didn't have anything for lunch because I was so busy I genuinely forgot."
To tell the truth, he'd already eaten back at home, but it wasn't his fault his stomach was an endless pit, okay? He always had a big appetite.
His mother shot him a look, one that made Mingyu, an over six-foot-tall giant, feel small.
"Oh, no need to explain yourself; you're just like my Wonu," Mrs. Jeon smiled, a little embarrassed herself. "He often forgets to eat, too. That's why he looks so skinny," she frowned but quickly masked it behind a giggle. "That reminds me — I should've prepared snacks beforehand; what a host I am, really." She turned to Mrs. Kim, guilt plastered all over her face. "Forgive my rudeness."
His mother shook her head, words of reassurance already on the tip of her tongue, when Mrs. Jeon abruptly stood up, the heels of her expensive shoes clicking against the marble floor as she walked over to the open door in steady steps and then shouted into the hall,
"Yeon-ah? Could you come here quickly? I need — ah, Wonu-ya, you're here?" Mingyu's ears twitched at the name. "Mrs. Kim is here with her son. I need you to bring some snacks and tea for them, please." Her voice was loud enough to cover the reply she was given, but it was a positive one because in seconds she was back, sitting down on the plush sofa with the elegance of a royal.
"Again, I'm really sorry. The food will be here soon; please don't die." Her tone was a bit panicky, even though it was obvious Mingyu was in good health, but the genuine concern in her eyes still touched Mingyu's heart nonetheless.
After he reassured Mrs. Jeon that he was fine and not going to die anytime soon, the older woman visibly relaxed and turned her attention back to Mingyu's mother. Mingyu let the two women talk in peace while he kept playing with his fingers on his lap and occasionally looking around to find interesting things in the room.
Gods, he hoped the food would arrive soon—
"I brought the snacks and tea, Mom."
Mingyu almost snapped his neck at the speed he turned to the source of that low, sultry voice. It was a new face, a young man he'd never seen before, holding a silver tray with freshly baked muffins and sweet-scented tea. Mingyu's mouth watered just at the smell, and his stomach acted up again, demanding food.
Just then, a pair of dark, feline eyes settled on his face, judging in silence, and Mingyu was sure the newcomer had to be one of Mrs. Jeon's sons; those captivating eyes looked the same as hers. And Mingyu knew he was staring, knew it was rude, but he couldn't help himself.
Aside from the resting bitch face the other man was sporting, Mingyu's eyes wandered to the oversized grey sweater, long enough to cover his pale thighs. If not for the black shorts peeking from under the sweater's hem, Mingyu would've thought the man was wearing just the sweater. His obvious stare was ignored as the man quietly lowered the tray and started to carefully place the cups and plates with muffins on the expensive coffee table.
"Mingyu-ssi, don't hesitate and eat! Wonu baked them himself," Mrs. Jeon's chirpy voice slapped Mingyu right out of his trance. "Ever since he got a boyfriend, he's been learning to cook various foods; Hyunnie is such a big eater, isn't he, honey?" She was giggling while the 'Wonu' guy groaned, hiding his face behind the sweater paws in embarrassment.
Cute.
"Mom, please," the Wonu guy whispered, hands clasped together in a plea.
Okay, he was mad cute for such a stoic-looking guy, Mingyu had to admit. The baritone of his voice caught him off guard, though. In a good way. Mingyu himself had quite a deep voice, but certainly not that deep. It was that kind of voice you'd want to read bedtime stories to you.
"Once again, I apologize for the interruption, Minah." Mrs. Jeon turned her attention back to Mingyu's mother, who only shook her head, sipping on the lemon tea in silence. "We'll get to the matter in a minute. Wonu," Mrs. Jeon lifted her gaze to her son and beckoned her hand toward Mingyu and his mom, "please introduce yourself to Mrs. Kim and her son."
"Ah, yes, of course." With an elegant turn of his body, the guy faced Mrs. Kim, his expression unchanging as he bowed in a polite greeting. "Jeon Wonwoo. Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Likewise." Mrs. Kim gave Wonwoo a warm smile, but Mingyu could see the silent judgment in her eyes as she scanned him from head to toe. Probably disapproving of his choice of attire.
"And I'm Mingyu. Kim Mingyu." He stood up abruptly, extending his hand for Wonwoo to shake.
The sudden action surprised Wonwoo, his placid expression changing ever so slightly, but he kindly took the hand, and Mingyu swore it was the softest feel he'd ever gotten from a handshake.
Wonwoo's hand was a bit smaller, his fingers thinner and longer than Mingyu's, but that soft, pale hand fit perfectly in his own, like a puzzle piece. It was quite unbelievable.
Enjoying the soft skin a bit too much, Mingyu failed to realize that he was holding the other man's hand for longer than it was polite until a slight hiss left Wonwoo's lips. Mingyu blinked — his eyes slowly drifting from Wonwoo's face to their joined hands — and quickly let go as if the touch had burned him. He mouthed a quiet "sorry" to Wonwoo and lowered his head in shame. That was enough embarrassment for one day.
Wonwoo's blank stare was back, but it didn't help at all; rather, it made Mingyu feel more nervous. Not to mention his stomach was being a greedy bitch again. Unconsciously, he swallowed a heavy lump in his throat, trying not to suffocate from those dark, feline eyes pinned on him.
He needed a break. Like, right now.
"Here, take this."
A puffy sweet landed gently in Mingyu's hands. He dared to look up, quite surprised by the action, but brought the fluffy muffin to his lips, biting into it carefully.
Instantly, Mingyu moaned at the taste of the filling. He'd never tasted a muffin like this one. White chocolate did things to him. He was ecstatic. So much so that he might actually tear up because it was so good. Honestly, with just one bite into the thing, he was already in love.
Is this what Heaven tastes like?
"Fuck." The curse word was fortunately muffled by the delicacy in his mouth, but he could see a slight grin on Wonwoo's lips. Mingyu wasn't complaining. It was that good.
"Mingyu-ya, don't speak with your mouth full," his mother reprimanded gently, but the stern look on her face held a hidden warning.
Hurriedly, Mingyu ate the rest of the sweet, fluffy thing before drinking the tea from the fancy cup. It was sad he couldn't savor the white chocolate filling more. He had an annoying itch to take another one, but he was afraid he'd embarrass his mother again. He tried hard not to show sadness on his face, but given his natural habit of wearing his emotions on his sleeve, he failed miserably.
"Sorry." The apology came out of habit.
"Let the boy live a little, Minah," Mrs. Jeon laughed heartily, making Mingyu blush.
Wonwoo was wearing that blank expression again, but there was still a hint of a grin on his lips. Crouching next to the sofa his mother was sitting on, he leaned in, whispering.
"Should I call Kookie down here or—"
Mingyu couldn't make of anything else, but Mrs. Jeon shook her head in disapproval, then proceeded to glance back at Mingyu, smiling sheepishly.
"Wonu-ya, could you please take care of Mingyu-ssi for a while? Introduce him to Kookie, yes? It's high time he made at least an attempt at making new friends. I need to discuss the wedding plans with Mrs. Kim alone." She patted her son's jet-black hair, which looked so damn fluffy and cute if you asked him. "I take it Mingyu-ssi is here to meet the groom-to-be, rather than to actually partake in the conversation we girls are going to have."
Mrs. Kim giggled at the word 'girls'.
"Kook is busy, Mom. He still has homework to do, and since I know him too well, he's probably playing video games again rather than studying like he should've been." Wonwoo sounded annoyed, but Mrs. Jeon rolled her eyes, clearly well used to her youngest son being a lazy bum. Mingyu could relate. He'd be doing anything but studying and doing homework.
"Now tell me, who's the mom here?" Mrs. Jeon joked, letting out an airy laugh.
Mingyu had to bite his lip to not burst out laughing.
"Someone has to keep an eye on him. You know he listens to me—" Wonwoo paused. "Well, most of the time." He rolled his eyes; a blush spread across the apples of his cheeks.
"Hush, now. Just make sure Mingyu-ssi doesn't feel like the enemy here, and don't try to sulk, young man; it doesn't work on me," she whispered close to Wonwoo's ear so Mrs. Kim couldn't hear.
A sigh loud enough for Mingyu to hear escaped Wonwoo's lips. It was a sign of defeat.
"Okay. I got it. I still have to take Tristan for a walk, though."
"Splendid! Take Mingyu-ssi with you, get to know each other a little," Mrs. Jeon smiled warmly. "We'll be family soon anyway."
Wonwoo groaned out loud at that but nodded, albeit reluctantly, and got up, his knees cracking. Then he turned his attention to Mingyu and raised a brow, waiting for him to get the silent cue and get his ass off the sofa.
"Well, gotta go make new friends," Mingyu exclaimed in forced cheerfulness, brushing the invisible dust off his pants before standing up. "If you'll excuse me, ladies," he bowed to Mrs. Jeon, who giggled cutely and then bent down enough to place a quick peck on his mother's cheek. Mrs. Kim patted his arm lightly, smiling softly.
"Please take care of my son," Mrs. Kim said to Wonwoo, and got a silent nod in return.
As Mingyu stood close enough, he could actually take in the visual of the Jeons' eldest son.
It didn't seem like it at first glance, but Wonwoo was quite tall; not taller than Mingyu, of course, but the crown of his head easily reached the bridge of Mingyu's nose. Still, Wonwoo would probably have to tiptoe to even reach his height, and the mental image his brain conjured gave Mingyu massive cuteness aggression.
The difference in their heights clearly surprised Wonwoo, but he quickly schooled his expression back into a neutral one.
Mingyu, on the other hand, busied himself checking Wonwoo out in the meantime; not so subtly because he was just that type of guy. If Wonwoo noticed him staring, he pointedly ignored it and concentrated on walking into the hall with a breathing, giant tree following him.
A melodic whistle broke the silence between the two, forcing Mingyu to lock his eyes on the ball of fluff suddenly running towards Wonwoo, who was already crouching down with open arms.
"Tristan, baby, you ready for a walkie?" Wonwoo's voice softened when talking to the pup of a husky who howled in excitement.
The high-pitched sound brought Mingyu out of his trance and shifted his focus away from Wonwoo's pale legs he'd been ogling for longer than appropriate. They looked a bit girly in those questionable shorts.
Are those shorts really shorts, though?
"You seriously have no filter, do you?"
Mingyu choked on his spit, biting his tongue in the process. Did he just say that out loud?
Wonwoo wore his blank face when he looked over his shoulder, but the heat rising to the tips of his ears was proof of his embarrassment.
Welp. The good impression Mingyu had so desperately wanted to leave just flung out the window.
"Uh," was Mingyu's intelligent answer.
The judging stare he received from Wonwoo was bad enough that Mingyu had to avert his eyes and not curl in on himself. But then the puppy made its way to him, wagging its tail, carefully sniffing around Mingyu's legs, and God, what an adorable baby.
After the quick inspection, Mingyu was approved by the puppy as it started to jump excitedly on its tiny legs. It might've been just a few months old and clearly wanted to be held.
Mingyu didn't know what to do; part of him wanted to squish the dog to death, but then there was Wonwoo, face unreadable and plain intimidating in his fuzzy oversized sweater and shorts. What a dilemma.
"I know you want to hold him," Wonwoo then said, looking up to meet Mingyu's eyes. "Well, suit yourself. Just don't drop him, please."
"Thanks. And I won't." Mingyu tried to sound nonchalant but failed miserably as the puppy tilted its tiny head at him, expectant.
If you could sneak a peek into Mingyu's head, you'd see fireworks. He loved dogs and puppies the most, if that wasn't evident enough. Hell, he looked like one himself. Acted like one, too, he admitted.
"I'd appreciate that. I need to grab keys first — they're in my brother's room, unfortunately, so if you'd come with me, please," Wonwoo motioned to the stairs. Mingyu followed after him, cuddling the puppy to his chest.
"What's this cutie's name?" Mingyu asked, pinching the husky's furry cheek.
"Tristan," Wonwoo answered simply.
"Does he have Iseult to keep him company, too?" Mingyu couldn't help but ask.
"No." Again, with a simple answer.
"Hm. He's very cute. I mean, every puppy is cute by default, but this one is the cutest; I'm hundred percent convinced." Mingyu was openly cooing now, relishing in the way Tristan's fluffy body felt in his hold.
"Well, that's reassuring. My cat would disagree, though," Wonwoo chuckled softly behind a sweater paw, voice changing in pitch ever so slightly, but Mingyu took notice of it immediately and almost let out an embarrassing sound because that cute aggression was back.
"You have a cat?"
Wonwoo nodded. "Mhm. Sleeping soundly and not messing shit up in my apartment, I hope, but yes."
They reached the first floor with many doors ahead of them. Wonwoo walked up to the one at the near end of the hall, not bothering to knock and quietly opened the door.
"You better be studying, Kook, or I'll burn every lyric sheet you've ever written," Wonwoo nagged as soon as he stepped inside the room with Mingyu close behind.
And while Mingyu tried hard to keep quiet, it was impossible once Tristan decided to play with his ear, biting at his earlobe, and drawing unmanly squeals out of him. His face burned hot at the look Wonwoo gave him, and he almost wished the earth opened up and swallowed him whole.
"Ack! You wouldn't!" A loud gasp was heard somewhere in the room.
A familiar voice.
"Don't forget I know your secret place you're hiding all of your things in," Wonwoo retorted calmly before giving Mingyu space to waltz into the room, the puppy still nibbling at his earlobe.
Despite having an ear covered in a dog's saliva, Mingyu looked over Wonwoo's shoulder to finally take a look at what he assumed was Yeri's fiancé.
Sitting cross-legged on a king-sized bed was Jeon Jungkook, a fellow teammate on Mingyu's basketball Uni team and occasional classmate in the lessons they shared.
It took a few seconds for Mingyu to compose himself, the shock from the realization too overwhelming.
"Bitch," Jungkook stuck his tongue out at his brother, who was ready to fight him, with a face that showed an emotion, finally.
"Not much as you, and watch your language; we have a guest if you haven't noticed," Wonwoo hissed, motioning behind him at Mingyu.
Jungkook shifted his focus from Wonwoo to Mingyu, his eyes slowly widening upon realization. He stopped whatever he was doing (lazing around and playing video games, probably) and hopped off his bed, gasping dramatically.
"Wonu, didn't Mom say that Yeri's auntie would come to talk about the wedding today?" he asked.
"Yes, she did."
"Then what is he doing here?' Jungkook said with a frown, then gasped. "Don't tell me you're cheating on Hyun with him? I mean, I get it — he's good-looking enough to match you aesthetically, but he's clearly after your body like that prick of a boyfriend—"
"Gods, Kook, no. What the hell? He's here with Mrs. Kim," Wonwoo sighed. "He's her son."
There was a long, awkward pause, interrupted only by Tristan's baby fangs gnawing on Mingyu's earlobe. Then a sound of choking on air.
"Well fuck me sideways! I didn't know you were Yeri's brother! She's so quiet all the time; it didn't actually click with me that you two are related!" Jungkook gaped.
"Not a brother, cousin," Mingyu corrected him, eyeing Jungkook in disbelief.
It was certainly a surprise that the future groom was actually someone he'd known from University since first year. And while they played for the same basketball team, Mingyu wouldn't really consider himself Jungkook's friend because they ran in different circles, and the guy was always in his own world, usually avoiding others. Seeing him now in his natural habitat, loosened up and quirky, Mingyu prayed to God the guy was kind to his cousin.
"I expect you to behave around Yeri and not cause any trouble for her, or I'll make sure you never pick up a ball ever again," Mingyu warned in a low voice.
But the threat barely fazed Jungkook. Crossing his arms, the slightly younger man was about to sass back a reply, but Wonwoo beat him to it.
"Don't worry, he's not the type to mess around with women," he assured. "He'll behave, right?" A threatening smile aimed directly at Jungkook, whose laid-back attitude faltered significantly.
"I will, but only if he behaves, too," Jungkook retorted in a sulky tone, pointing a finger at Mingyu.
Wonwoo raised an eyebrow. "He seems well-mannered enough, though."
"Uh-huh. Well, you probably haven't seen him style some guy's hair with a fucking snot—"
A look of horror flashed across Mingyu's face, and he physically winced at the memory Jungkook so unceremoniously pulled out of the depths of his mind.
"Dude, that was like once, and it wasn't even my snot—" Mingyu tried to protect his image, and how the fuck did Jungkook even know that? He wasn't even there. Or maybe he was, going undetected in the background, like a ninja.
Wonwoo let out a long sigh, probably trying to calm himself. Then he stepped forward, eyes fixated on Jungkook, expressionless.
"Stop being a menace, Kook. I have no idea what got you so worked up about Mingyu, but get your shit together and act your age — you're going to marry a woman for God's sake; you'll have to get along with him eventually if you don't want to end up a family disappointment." The last statement was so harsh that it made even Mingyu wince, and he wasn't on the receiving end of it.
Uncomfortable silence filled the room. Mingyu averted his eyes, shifting his focus back to the puppy in his arms while the Jeon brothers stood opposite each other, a staring contest between them.
There was a pause and then a quiet, "I know, hyung," from Jungkook. He looked calm now, but tension still filled his body, his fists curled at his sides.
Wonwoo massaged his temples, sighing. "Okay, well, now that's cleared, go and hug Mingyu so I know you guys are chill with each other."
"What?" Both men yelled in unison, two pairs of eyes blown wide.
Jungkook visibly grimaced at the mere thought of having to touch Mingyu in such a harmless, innocent way, but Mingyu couldn't even blame the guy; that was definitely not what he would've expected from someone like Wonwoo.
So that guy can be a menace if he wants to, huh? Mingyu thought to himself, still in disbelief.
Arms crossed, Wonwoo raised a brow, waiting for Jungkook to make a move. The younger man did just that, albeit hesitantly and with gritted teeth walked over to Mingyu with open arms, wrapping them lightly around his shoulders. Although awkwardly, Mingyu patted Jungkook's back, forcing a smile. Tristan's happy howl was the only thing that wasn't fake.
"Good boy." Wonwoo nodded, satisfied. He ruffled Jungkook's hair as he passed by him, reaching to the side to grab the keys from the nightstand. "I'm taking Tristan on a walk. Do your homework — I'll be checking it later. You better not be slacking off when I get back," he warned, getting a nod in return.
Once he gathered his stuff, Wonwoo tapped Mingyu on the shoulder, signaling to get going. A tug on his sleeve, however, held Mingyu tightly in place — Jungkook.
"I'll just have a quick word with Mr. Kim Mingyu here," Jungkook called out to his brother. "You take Tantan and go ahead; I won't take long, promise."
Mingyu raised a brow at the weird nickname for the puppy because he was soon left with empty arms as Wonwoo carefully took the pet into his own, holding him close to his chest, pursing his lips cutely at the husky, getting a happy lick as a reward.
Fuck, that was cute.
Unconsciously, Mingyu bit his bottom lip, unaware of Jungkook's prying eyes.
"Okay, but no fighting." A finger pointed at both of them in warning.
"Yes, mom," Jungkook saluted with his free hand but was quick to go into a staring-to-death mode once Wonwoo left the room with a roll of his pretty eyes.
Mingyu shot Jungkook a confused look. The other man had a vice-like grip on his forearm, holding him in place. As if he feared Mingyu would bolt out of the room or something.
"I know you're straight and all that jazz, but don't even think of doing weird things to my brother, or I'll break your spine, you hear?" Jungkook whispered lowly, eyes piercing holes into Mingyu's. His grip grew stronger to the point that it made Mingyu wince in shock.
Weird things? What was that about?
"Uh. Doesn't he have a boyfriend, though?"
"That piece of shit? God, I wish he didn't have the guts to ask him out," he scoffed. "Wonu is too busy being lovey-dovey and acting like a wife to notice that prick's true nature."
Jungkook clearly despised the guy. Mingyu wondered why but decided not to pry into it.
"Okay. This might come off really rude, but," Mingyu gulped before continuing, "aren't you a little too protective of him? He's a grown-ass man; he can make decisions for himself."
Jungkook sighed, shaking his head. "You don't understand. Even though he's the oldest, Wonu always had that pure mindset that got him into a shitton of problems before; he probably doesn't realize but he attracts all kinds of people who are just using him either for his body or connections. I noticed you looking at him the same way perverts do," he held up his hand before Mingyu could say anything. "Straight or not, it's always been like this. It irks me, so I want to warn you — I'm not opposed to the idea of you befriending Wonu, but that's about it. Don't even try to make a move on him. I know you're touchy with your guy friends, but in my brother's case, for the love of God, try to keep your touches to a minimum. It's bad enough I have to keep an eye on his handsy boyfriend—" Jungkook stopped his rambling there, seemingly out of breath. He loosened his grip on Mingyu completely and pulled away. "You get what I mean, right?"
Mingyu nodded, rubbing his aching wrist. "You know I'm not interested in guys that way. Even if I were, I'm not so morally black that I'd hit on a taken guy. Also, I literally have a girlfriend if you haven't noticed?"
There was no way Jungkook didn't know; everyone on the basketball team was aware he and Dahyun were an item.
"I just wanted to make sure you won't cause problems, that's all," Jungkook said, waving his hand in a dismissive manner. "You can go now, keep Wonu company. I gotta study, or I'm dead meat."
Mingyu was literally thrown out of the room, a soft click behind him telling him Jungkook had locked himself in.
Shaking his head, Mingyu went down the stairs, his heart rate picking up as a now familiar silhouette came into view.
Wonwoo was already waiting for him at the front door, puppy settled comfortably against his chest, almost doozing off.
"I hope Kook didn't scare you off." There was a hint of worry in Wonwoo's voice. It was kind of cute.
"Don't stress about it. I'm not that weak," Mingyu flexed his arms, showing off his muscles.
"Sorry, he's a bit protective." Wonwoo looked genuinely apologetic.
A bit. Mingyu scoffed but held his tongue. That guy was lowkey possessive. Brother complex at its finest.
"Well, I understand where he's coming from — you do look kinda frail to me, no offense." The remark earned him a poisonous glare from Wonwoo. Mingyu held his hands up in defeat, smiling sheepishly. "I said no offense!"
"Not my fault I have a fast metabolism." Wonwoo rolled his eyes, and Mingyu let out a genuine laugh.
"Right."
Tristan chose the moment to wiggle himself free from Wonwoo's arms, jumping on his tiny legs and whining. He was eager to get out of the house, but the leash in Wonwoo's hand prevented him from doing so.
"Let's go, then, shall we?"
Like the gentleman that he was, Mingyu held the front door open for Wonwoo, flashing him a smile only to be ignored. By the time, Mingyu kind of got accustomed to Wonwoo's antics. He'd noticed that the older man was pretty shy around strangers, not so social — the exact opposite of him.
Well, Mingyu was determined to crack that tough shell sooner or later.
~*****~
It was dark outside, leaving only garden lamps lighting the path for them. It was kind of romantic and honestly, Mingyu was a sucker for that, sue him. Shame that Dahyun couldn't appreciate romantic things more. Maybe that was one of the reasons why he'd started feeling unhappy in their relationship.
Mingyu watched Tristan hop on his tiny legs, sniffing around, making Wonwoo pull at the leash a bit tighter because the pup got excited over little things. It was really cute.
They walked around the mansion for a while, comfortable silence hanging in the air; Mingyu had questions on his tongue but held back, waiting for Wonwoo to make the first step.
Another ten minutes or so flew by, Tristan leading happily in the front, occasionally marking his territory. By their second trip around the neighborhood, Mingyu had to roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt — the evening had gotten especially warm, and he was sweating like a pig. The intense glare he got from Wonwoo went unnoticed as Mingyu was busy making faces at the puppy, getting the attention in return.
"It's getting late," Wonwoo's voice then broke the silence. "Our baby is always taking his sweet time, eum?" He smiled at the dog who was busy sniffing something in the grass.
"Let's head back, then," Mingyu suggested, glad that the walk was almost over. As much as he liked to coo at the dog and enjoy his little antics, he felt a bit uneasy in Wonwoo's presence; albeit sad not being able to spark an interest from the other man. Was he too boring to start a conversation with? Maybe he should've said something sooner instead of walking with his mouth shut. Mingyu was a talkative person normally, constantly in need of attention, but somehow this felt different; after what Jungkook had said about his brother... Mingyu thought that giving Wonwoo time to adjust to him and open up on his own was the right decision. Unfortunately for Mingyu, patience was never his strong point.
He really tried to be considerate, though; despite the silent treatment he received, Wonwoo seemed to warm up a bit to him, even with both of them saying literally nothing. Mingyu thought it was a good start, all things considered.
They reached the front of the main gate when Wonwoo suddenly stopped in his tracks, searching for his keys in the pocket of those questionable shorts. Giving the leash to the ever-so-confused Mingyu, a sound of an alarm going off echoed close to his ears, and wow, who would have thought that the black SUV he'd parked behind was Wonwoo's?
"Hold onto him for a sec, please. I have some dog treats I forgot to give him," Wonwoo gestured wildly behind his back while opening the back door.
From what Mingyu could see, the back seat was a mess; tons of books he'd never be able to read in his lifetime scattered over the seats, and papers of unknown content. Clearly, Wonwoo had too much on his plate. Mingyu made a mental note to ask about Wonwoo's major later.
Tristan was wagging his tail excitedly, sniffing around Wonwoo's legs to catch a glimpse of the treats his owner was searching for in the back of his SUV.
Belatedly, Mingyu realized he should've stood beside rather than behind Wonwoo as he found himself staring at the hem of that soft, oversized sweater riding up as Wonwoo bent down, revealing a pair of milky buns his shorts couldn't cover. Suddenly, the air had become heavy, and it was hard to breathe. Wonwoo wasn't aware of anything, much to Mingyu's relief, but it would be nice if he didn't wiggle his ass so cutely in front of his eyes.
Okay, that was partly Mingyu's fault since he chose a bad spot to stand on, but still.
Wonwoo was struggling through a pile of books with foreign titles to get the treat, groaning as he had to literally lie across the backseat, ass in the air. Tristan's moist nose tickling his bare skin didn't help in the slightest. The dog was too excited.
"Ah! Found them!" Wonwoo shouted in relief as the small pack of dog treats found its way into his hands.
Retreating back, he held the pack with a victorious smile and closed the doors. Mingyu didn't move an inch from where he stood, frozen like a statue, to notice anything. It was Tristan's happy howl that brought him back to life.
Wonwoo was now crouching before the fluffy ball of fur, feeding him cute-shaped sweets, making equally cute faces at him, completely unaware of the existential crisis Mingyu was going through.
Repeating Jungkook's words in his head didn't help at all, much to Mingyu's horror. The image of Wonwoo bent over with his mile-long legs so close to touch was permanently engraved in the back of Mingyu's mind.
"So cute." The words left Mingyu's mouth before he could even stop himself, but thankfully, Wonwoo flashed Mingyu a smile, oblivious enough to realize who the term of endearment was actually meant for.
Little did he know.
Tristan ate a good portion of the snacks, howling in satisfaction. His sloppy walking indicated he was full and happy. There was one person whose stomach wasn't quite yet sated, though. A loud growl startled both Mingyu and Wonwoo, who had to bite his lip in order to maintain a straight face.
"Still hungry, aren't we?" There was a hint of amusement in Wonwoo's voice.
A little embarrassed, Mingyu nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "What can I say? My stomach is quite big," he shrugged, following Wonwoo back to the house.
They stayed outside for over an hour, Mingyu realized as he checked the time on his phone. His mother should be done any minute; she didn't always take long in conversations, only focusing on discussing important things. Mingyu, on the other hand, could talk with practically anyone about anything. It was just that today his partner wasn't much of a talker, and Mingyu was also kind of busy observing Wonwoo's body language rather than trying to start a conversation.
Once inside, after Tristan was finally freed from the suffocating leash, Wonwoo turned to Mingyu, eyes nervously darting from one side to another, mumbling,
"Thanks for the company. Tantan obviously likes you." Wonwoo then looked up, locking eyes with Mingyu, who flashed him a big grin.
"Same here. Shame we didn't get to talk more, though," he pouted.
"Yeah, sorry for that." Wonwoo was fidgeting, fingers playing with the hem of his sweater. "It takes a while for me to get used to strangers, so holding a conversation gets a bit difficult," he admitted. "I'll try to get better at that since we're probably going to see each other a lot more, knowing my mother and her habit of oversocializing." A sigh escaped his lips, and Mingyu had to mentally slap himself to stop staring.
"Nah, you're fine the way you are; there's no need to force yourself. I'll do the talking for both of us in the meantime, don't worry," Mingyu smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
A ghost of a smile appeared on Wonwoo's lips, but it vanished the instant Mingyu's stomach made a loud noise, filling the silent air in the hall.
Really, Mingyu's own flesh just had to betray him in the most embarrassing way possible, huh?
Mingyu went beet red in the face, but he tried to cover his embarrassment behind a cough, which shifted Wonwoo's attention back to him.
"I gotta admit though, that muffin was the best thing I've eaten this week. I'm sad because there's probably not any left, though. I think I'm gonna cry," Mingyu sniffed into his sleeve dramatically, which was a very rude thing to do if you ask his mother. Apparently, it seemed rude to Wonwoo as well, but the guy was really good at masking his feelings under that resting bitch face he walked around with.
"Please stop with the dramatics. I'll wrap some up for you if you like them so much," Wonwoo offered with a thin smile.
The way Wonwoo's brows were furrowed in pure annoyance told Mingyu that the smile was most likely forced, but he didn't mind in the slightest because holy shit, Wonwoo looked so pretty when smiling. No homo, of course. Mingyu just liked to appreciate pretty things about people regardless of their gender.
"Why are you so fucking nice?" Mingyu continued to fake-sob, knowing that he was getting on the older man's nerves.
Wonwoo rolled his eyes. "I got the sleep I needed, I guess. I'm not usually like this, so don't take it for granted," he said with a shrug, but was too slow to avoid the bear hug he was suddenly pulled into.
The hard muscles of Mingyu's arms were crushing Wonwoo in a tight squeeze, his lungs screaming in protest. Mingyu was clinging to him like a koala, whispering in his ear something about how kind he was and that his baking skills were on a whole new level, and it reminded Wonwoo a bit of his boyfriend when he got all clingy and stuff.
By the time Mingyu pulled away, Wonwoo was a blushing mess; cheeks painted cherry red by the genuine praise and heart beating wildly against his ribcage. He wasn't used to such close proximity with another man; it had taken him a great deal of time to even let his boyfriend hug him this close, for God's sake. But Mingyu here never heard of personal space, apparently.
"Fuck, sorry. Are you okay? I got too excited about the muffins," Mingyu nearly hurled the apology at him, his words a jumbled mess.
Slowly, Wonwoo breathed in and out, trying to calm the erratic beating of his heart. The panicked look on Mingyu's face was quite hilarious, and for the first time that evening, he let out a full-on laugh until his ribs hurt.
"You didn't even taste the muffin properly — you just swallowed it down, and you're telling me that was the best thing you've eaten this week? Are you for real?" He was giggling now, which was so unlike him. If Soonyoung was there, he would've set himself on fire because Jeon Wonwoo, the forever quiet and uninterested in everything that's not a book guy, was laughing at some stranger's words. He wasn't even high, and look at him now. Soonyoung would be proud.
Meanwhile, Mingyu just stood there like a statue, too overwhelmed by the sight of Wonwoo laughing, and fuck, if him smiling was pretty, then his laugh was beautiful. The way his nose scrunched was the cutest thing he'd ever seen. If he kept looking at him any longer, Mingyu feared he would die of a stroke.
"Oh my God, I'm sorry," Wonwoo wheezed, wiping tears from his eyes. "That was inappropriate."
But Mingyu was still starstruck, the sound of Wonwoo's laugh ringing in his ears.
"It's fine since I made you laugh." Even though I have no idea how. "It was kinda adorable."
Mingyu tried to look smug and succeeded, as Wonwoo stilled, calm all of a sudden. The blank face made its comeback, but Mingyu didn't mind at all. It was just a facade, and he managed to break it if only for a moment.
Wonwoo mumbled something under his breath while looking away, cupping his cheeks with the sweater paws. They were burning hot, all because Mingyu was being bold and throwing compliments at him all of a sudden. How was he supposed to deal with it? He couldn't control his face when receiving this kind of affection. Praise from anyone but his brother made his body flush; it was so embarrassing. It didn't help that Mingyu was objectively a handsome guy with a nice smile, and hearing compliments directed at him wasn't something Wonwoo was used to. Rather, it created a huge mess in his brain.
"Shouldn't you only talk like that to your girlfriend?" Wonwoo didn't mean to blurt it out, but oh, well.
"She's not here, so no problems here," Mingyu shrugged, not bothered at all. "Besides, I'm just being honest," he grinned, showing off his canines.
"That's a nice trait, really, but please, don't go around complimenting people, least of all strangers," Wonwoo warned in a soft, composed voice. "They might mistake it for flirting." He received a nod from Mingyu, but his smile remained on his face, wide and radiant.
Flustered, Wonwoo turned away, feeling light-headed all of a sudden.
Was his mom done yet? She should be done talking any moment. Please. He needed to collect his mind, but not when Kim Mingyu was still in the house.
God was on Wonwoo's side that evening because the door to the living room opened, revealing two petite figures of Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Jeon. Still immersed in a debate, they noticed their sons' presence when one of them, Mingyu, sighed out loud and asked,
"Everything's good?" Without sparing Wonwoo a glance. Thank God.
"Absolutely," Mrs. Kim smiled, patting her son on the shoulder.
"We've decided on Jungkook's and Yerim's meeting," Mrs. Jeon then announced. "It's scheduled for this Wednesday, and we'd like you two to observe and make sure everything goes smoothly."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Wonwoo's face paled. She was joking, right?
"It's an opportunity to know each other better, so Wonu, don't plan anything on that day — I know you're not working on Wednesdays." She held up her hand when Wonwoo was about to protest.
On the other hand, Mingyu wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry. The announcement was sudden, and Wonwoo aside, he was worried for Yeri. Will she be okay with Jungkook around? He was assured he would behave, but what if he turns out to be a jerk? What if—
"Mingyu." Mrs. Kim's voice pulled Mingyu out of his stupor, and blinking, he turned to her. "We're leaving. It's late, and I have to make sure your dad takes his medicine. You know how forgetful he is."
Now fully awake, Mingyu answered with a nod but then turned abruptly to Wonwoo, who looked relieved the guests were finally going away. Mingyu wasn't quite done yet, though. Some things were left forgotten.
He locked eyes with Wonwoo, hands reaching out to him, fingers wiggling. Wonwoo only looked at him with a confused face.
"The muffins, please. You promised me," he grinned, unaware of Mrs. Kim's horrified face because where were his manners?
The giggle Mrs. Jeon let out eased the embarrassing situation, but in Wonwoo's case, it was the opposite. Three pairs of eyes studied him like he was some artifact in a museum, and he wasn't fond of unwanted attention.
Without a word, Wonwoo sprinted to the kitchen, only to return a couple of minutes later, holding a small basket in his hand. He momentarily froze because now it was only him and Mingyu in the hall, both their moms already waiting outside.
Wonwoo handed the sweets to Mingyu without as much as looking up. Their fingers brushed in the process; if by accident, Wonwoo wasn't sure and didn't plan on prying into it.
Mingyu hummed approvingly after checking the contents of the basket. He was going to savor every muffin later. Now, one last thing was left.
"You shouldn't make your mom wait."
The nagging tone of Wonwoo's voice almost made Mingyu laugh.
"I won't. But there's one thing you forgot."
"And what would it be?" Wonwoo asked with a frown.
"Your number." Mingyu was smiling sweetly when he pulled his phone from the back pocket of his slacks, handing the device to Wonwoo.
Wonwoo maintained his resting bitch face, but his inner self was screaming and running in circles. It's to keep in touch because of the fiancés' meeting, nothing more, he reminded himself.
As Wonwoo busied himself typing the digits on his phone, Mingyu eyed those thin, long fingers tapping the phone screen, resisting the urge to take hold of those pretty hands and just kiss them.
A rosy blush spilled all over Mingyu's face.
All those thoughts weirded him out. It was frustrating; Mingyu was only supposed to be thinking about Dahyun — his actual girlfriend — like that; not some pretty guy he'd just met. It must be the lack of sleep or something because holy hell, the more Mingyu focused on watching Wonwoo just move around, the butterflies in his belly fluttered even more, creating havoc inside his body.
When he was handed his phone back, Mingyu peeked at the contact name Wonwoo saved himself as and almost melted like an ice cream on a hot day.
A soft smile played on Mingyu's lips as he re-read the name over again.
"You're so cute, you know?"
Wonwoo's face turned bright red. The sight was endearing to the point that it made Mingyu reach out and pinch Wonwoo's cheeks before he could stop himself. The cuteness aggression was just too strong to resist, he admitted.
Wonwoo only swatted Mingyu's hand with a scowl and a few scathing words before he asked for Mingyu's number in turn. The rosy color never faded from his face.
Once he finished typing in his number on Wonwoo's phone (because fair trade was fair trade) and handed the device back to him, Mingyu sighed and properly thanked Wonwoo for the muffins, flashing his best smile. Then he headed out, knowing that Wonwoo wasn't going to follow suit.
He bid his goodbye to Mrs. Jeon, who kissed his cheek lightly like he was her own son and then held the door of his BMW open for his mother, waiting for her to get in.
"Did you enjoy the visit?" She asked once they'd passed through the center of Seoul, the sweet scent of the muffins invading Mingyu's senses, filling the warm air in the car.
Mingyu didn't hesitate one bit when he answered, eyes on the road,
"Yes."
~*****~
When Mingyu got home, it was already past eight, which didn't leave much room to study, and honestly, Mingyu was too tired to do anything besides sleep like a log.
Skipping his meal, he headed directly to the bathroom, got rid of his clothes, and took a cold shower. His pajamas were left untouched, neatly folded in the drawer in the bedroom. Warm air peeked through the open window, and Mingyu fell half-dead on his bed, wearing nothing but his boxers.
A sudden buzz of his phone vibrating on the nightstand made him grunt into his pillow. Absentmindedly, he brought the device to his already heavy-lidded eyes to read the message.
[08:30 pm] From: Wonwoo hyung
I hope you arrived home safely~
Mingyu fell asleep with a smile on his face.