ALBUMS
Kiss Me
WRITTEN BY: YUKOAMISUMMARY: Even amidst a celebration and crowd, Mingyu and Wonwoo find a quiet moment for themselves.
The lakeside venue that was lit with the glow of soft, strung lights was filled with guests, quiet music and chatter echoing in the night of the beautiful landscaped area.Mingyu smiled and conversed with another member of his family who came up to chat with him, engaging in small talk for several minutes before his eyes began to habitually wander through the crowd of finely dressed guests, trying to find a particular someone who should be by his side, but had seemed to slip away, unnoticed, like the stealthy feline he was so often compared to.Well, not completely unnoticed. Mingyu of course noticed.Ending the conversation politely with some half-assed excuse of needing another drink, Mingyu surveyed the mingling crowd before luckily getting a glimpse of a lean figure with auburn dyed hair escaping through the opened glass doors and out into the quiet of the oncoming night.Weaving his way through the guests, Mingyu let out a breath once he reached the exit as well, his eyes searching for that particular person who seemed to vanish into the darkening world outside… until he saw him.Following the stoned pathway that led away from the main venue and out to a warmly lit gazebo that overlooked the lake, Mingyu fixed the jacket of the black tuxedo he wore, a warm breeze combing through his gelled locks that coaxed a sigh of reprieve he felt from finally having a moment with himself and the person he wanted.His Wonwoo.“Hey, you,” he softly said, stepping up into the gazebo where the other man stood, a chaste kiss placed on the other man’s temple while his arm slipped down to settle around a slim waist that felt like it was made for only his hand to rest there.The ivory, silk cravat against Wonwoo’s neck that matched the cream top and vest he wore contrasted elegantly with ebony eyes that looked over and up at Mingyu, a small surprise written across beautiful, porcelain features.“Hi. What are you doing out here?” Wonwoo asked, leaning comfortingly into Mingyu’s light hold.“Following you. What are you doing out here?” Mingyu grinned, though he could guess why.Wonwoo gave a sheepish smile, turning his gaze back out towards the quiet, darkened lake, the reflection of the moon shimmering celestially across the plains of the still water.“I… it was a lot in there. I felt like I was suffocating. I needed a second to breathe.”While being surrounded by hundreds of friendly faces, a constant buzz of chatter and noise in an enclosed space, and entertaining people for hours on end didn’t bother Mingyu, the man epitomizing a natural extrovert, it was quite the opposite for his quiet lover, who enjoyed the moments of hushed silence and blending into the background as an observer rather than the center of attention. But it was what he loved about Wonwoo – their seemingly polorizing opposites that somehow matched and balanced each other perfectly.Placing another kiss on Wonwoo's forehead, Mingyu nodded in understanding. “It’s a lot in there. I feel like I’ve barely seen you all night.”Wonwoo gave an appreciative hum, a smile on his lips. “There’s a lot of people that want your attention. And you know how I feel about sharing.”The comment had Mingyu snickering, turning the other man by his shoulders to face him. “What do you mean? I thought everyone was after your attention. It was me who was jealous.”Laughing, nose pulling up in a perfect scrunch, Wonwoo tossed his arms around Mingyu shoulders, wrists loosely crossed at the taller man’s nape. “Well, I’m glad you’re here and it can be just us for a moment.”Mingyu’s arms were wrapped around Wonwoo’s waist, exactly where it belonged. “We don’t have to go back. I’ll steal you away for the rest of the night and it can be just us for longer than a moment.”Wonwoo let out a small, playful scoff. “And where should we go on this twilight escapade of yours?”Mingyu began to sway in a subtle, gentle dance, the distant instrumental music wafting from the main venue guiding his movements as he led Wonwoo, who stared up at him with shining obsidian orbs.“The 24-hour self-serve ramyeon shop.”“Oh, how romantic. Tell me more,” Wonwoo said cheekily while the grin on his face widened, his hands still thrown over the taller man’s shoulders as the pair continued to slow dance beneath the twinkling lights strung throughout the gazebo.“After we have our fill, I’ll take you down to the night market for a wild adventure.”“Wild?”Mingyu smirked and winked. “We’ll get matching tattoos.”Wonwoo fake gasped, eyes widening. “That’s quite reckless, Kim Mingyu.”“But, because it’s us and because I am deathly afraid of unnecessary needles poking into my skin five million times, it will be applied with the magic of a wet paper napkin.”Wonwoo laughed out loud, head thrown back as he clung to Mingyu’s shoulders. “We’re going to get temporary tattoos? Like children?”“They can be for adults too,” Mingyu argued, enjoying the view of his happy lover in his arms.Wonwoo nodded, face schooled seriously again, but his eyes sheening with delight betrayed the facade. “You’re very right. Temporary tattoos are perfectly acceptable for adults to wear as well.”“So where would you want your tattoo?”Wonwoo pursed his lips, tilting his head up in thought. “Mmm, I dunno. Where should I get it?” he asked, meeting Mingyu’s chocolate colored orbs.“How about here–” Mingyu pressed a short kiss to Wonwoo’s forehead, making the other man giggle, “–or here, or here.” Another kiss to the tip of his lover’s nose and upon the apple of his cheek was placed while Wonwoo continued to laugh.Mingyu moved his lips down to press a more languid kiss to the other man’s neck that was only slightly exposed, trailing his lips upward against his lover’s jaw. “Or here,” he whispered against Wonwoo’s ear.Fluttering his eyes closed, a pleasing shiver ran its course through Wonwoo’s frame, settling in the pit of his stomach and waking a simmer of heat below his waistline.“Or maybe somewhere lower, just for my eyes only.” Mingyu’s hands slid down Wonwoo’s back, palms moving lower… but was halted immediately when Wonwoo pinched his cheek. “Ouch. What was that for?!”Wonwoo gave a scolding look to the taller man. “We have two more hours of entertaining to do. Keep it in your pants, Kim Mingyu.” A grin bloomed on those plush lips.Mingyu haughtily matched his lover’s smile. “Not if I steal you away for ramyeon and tattoos.”Wonwoo laughed lightly at the other man’s wayward scenario that had eased his heart and mind. “Which, as romantically adventurous as ramyeon and tattoos sound, we should probably get back. Come on.”Just as Wonwoo turned towards the main venue to return to the noise and chatter, Mingyu reached out, fingers encircling a thin wrist. “Just one more minute,” he said softly.Wonwoo met his gaze before smiling warmly, Mingyu pulling Wonwoo close again. The latter’s back was pulled against Mingyu’s chest, the taller man’s arms around Wonwoo’s waist. Mingyu’s chin was hooked over the other’s shoulder as they both stared out at the surface of the dark lake littered with the dim glow of dancing fireflies.“I’m happy, Wonwoo-yah,” Mingyu murmured, his hold tightening slightly.Wonwoo’s fingers absentmindedly played with Mingyu’s own as he smiled at those spoken words. “Me too. I’m happy.”Mingyu took Wonwoo’s right hand and brought it up, parallel to the flooring. Wonwoo’s palm rested against the back of Mingyu’s hand, their fingers slightly overlapping but not covering the gleam of silver they each had decorating a particular finger that Mingyu wanted to inspect.“You know, you’re stuck with me forever now,” Wonwoo whispered, eyes gazing at the matching rings they both wore.“And that makes me the luckiest man alive,” Mingyu answered, entwining their fingers together.The warmth upon Wonwoo’s cheeks left a pretty pink blush there as he turned around to face his lover.“I love you, Mingyu,” he whispered, eyes resolute as they peered up at the taller man. “You’re my happily ever after.”Butterflies escaped their cage and fluttered around Mingyu’s stomach while his thumb gently caressed Wonwoo’s cheek. “And you’re mine too.”A smile sprouted upon those pretty lips and Mingyu’s heart swelled. “Kiss me,” Wonwoo said softly.Mingyu grinned. “I can do that.”Standing in the illuminated gazebo against the backdrop of night, Mingyu leaned down ever so slightly, cupping Wonwoo’s cheek and capturing his petal soft lips, almost melting at how warm they felt against his own. If he counted, it would probably be the thousandth kiss they had shared since being together, yet it still set off fireworks in his stomach and made him feel like it was their first time.Lips slid against another pair, tasting the sweet remnants of champagne and vanilla cake. It was a leisurely, unhurried kiss that didn’t leave them breathless, but somehow still made Mingyu feel like his breath was swept away once he pulled back, resting his forehead against the other man’s own.“I love you too, Wonwoo.” The words were simple, transparent, yet held so much meaning in them.“Me too.” Placing one more peck to the taller man’s lips, Wonwoo fluttered his eyes open, a smile blooming on his lips. “But we really should get back,” he murmured. “All those people are probably looking for us.”Mingyu grinned and nodded. “Probably. It is our wedding reception after all.”“It is,” Wonwoo said, a brilliant shine reflecting in his dark orbs that rivaled the silver moon.Mingyu held out an open hand to his husband. “Shall we?”Lacing their fingers together, Wonwoo let out another laugh as the two stepped out from under the lighted gazebo, following the moonlit stoned pathway back to the bustling venue that was filled with noise and loved ones who were there to celebrate the marriage of the couple.And if midnight found Mingyu gently applying a small moon shaped tattoo on the back of Wonwoo’s shoulder, two empty bowls of ramen forgotten on the side, it was their own, quiet moment shared.
Pillow Talk
WRITTEN BY: MINKYUWOOSUMMARY:
Wonwoo’s never been nervous about having sex before.But things are different this time around. Is it because it’s been a while?Or is it because it’s his first Valentine’s Day as a newlywed with Kim Mingyu?
The curtain filters out the sun's harsh rays and sends only the softest warmth to tickle Wonwoo’s eyes open. When the morning warmth seeps into his bones, he stirs awake. He blinks his eyes open, his pupils taking a minute to adjust to the brightness.He sits up, arm falling onto the pillows on his left, partitioning the king-sized bed into two. The other side is empty, with the quilt neatly folded and set aside.The aroma of kimchi-jiggae reaches his nose, tickling it and luring him off the bed. He slips into his slippers and walks out of his room, but not before quickly fixing his bedhead. He traverses down the long hallway and arrives at the kitchen-cum-dining room in a few seconds, passing by numerous photos on the wall. He makes his presence known to the man shuffling around the kitchen with a soft cough. The man, Kim Mingyu, turns around. When he spots Wonwoo, he smiles, “G-Good morning,”Wonwoo keeps to himself, only replying with a polite nod, “Morning,” he says, taking his seat at the dining table as Mingyu hands him a cup of morning coffee.He turns back around and turns the stove off, lifting the pan off of it and setting it on a coaster on the dining table. He hands Wonwoo his cutlery and covers the pan, taking a minute to sip his hot coffee.Today is just like every day.Every day of the 5 months they’ve been married.“Wonwoo?” Mingyu calls, making the man raise his gaze, “yeah?”A soft blush emerges on Mingyu’s face, “Happy Valentine’s Day,”Wonwoo’s pulse quickens, and he lowers his gaze yet again, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mingyu-ssi,” ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“I’ve had it with you. I’m sick of you delaying this! I’ve given you multiple chances of finding a suitable life partner for yourself. I’ve had enough. Here! These are the candidates I shortlisted for you. Choose one to get married to!” Eomma bellows, slapping a bunch of photos onto the table.Wonwoo sighs, crossing his arms, “Eomma! I’m barely even 30! Just leave me alone, will you? How many times have I told you that I–”His monologue is interrupted by a photograph of a gorgeous face peeking through. Wonwoo is instantly drawn to it and gently reaches for it. He brings the photograph closer to his face, examining the beauty he’s been presented with on a mundane Monday morning.“So you like him, huh?” Eomma’s voice loses the seriousness, now taking on a more teasing tone. Wonwoo licks his lips, flipping the photo around to look at the details.Kim Mingyu, 27, SNU, up and coming model, outdoorsy, likes to gym, loves maths trivia…Wonwoo chortles. How did we go from gymming to maths trivia? And SNU? Did they attend the same University? The world is small indeed…“So this one, eh?” Eomma wriggles her brows, and Wonwoo clears his throat, setting the photo down, “I don't think someone like him would….want to be with me,” he says, disappointment evident in his face and voice.Editors aren't really in demand these days, and they never have been outside the Journalistic world. To top it off, Wonwoo has no hobbies, apart from occasionally gaming.Eomma giggles, clearing her throat, “Wonwoo-yah, can I tell you something?”Wonwoo raises his brows, “yes?”She smiles, “These candidates are the ones who’ve chosen you,”A gasp leaves his lips, and he stares down at Kim Mingyu’s gorgeous photograph. His pulse quickens as he gets drawn further into those mesmerizing eyes.Maybe this arranged marriage thing isn't so bad after all. ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“Good luck on your shoot today, Mingyu-ssi. I know you’ll rock it!” Wonwoo says, slipping into his shoes as Mingyu sees him off by the door.Mingyu chuckles, “Is that what all the cool kids are saying these days? Rock it?”Wonwoo purses his lips, embarrassed, “Hey, I’m just naturally very…hip, y’know?”Mingyu grins, impressed, “Alright, alright. I agree. You are very hip, Wonwoo-ssi,”Wonwoo chortles, “I’ll see you later tonight, then,” he says and turns around to leave. But before he can walk away, Mingyu grabs his arm, holding him back. Wonwoo turns around with a quizzical expression, facing Mingyu who looks like he wants to say something.Aren't you forgetting something?Wonwoo gasps inwardly, embarrassed that he’d almost forgotten. He steps closer to Mingyu and places a chaste kiss on his lips, pulling away with a flushed face.Jeonghan, a common friend, advised Mingyu and Wonwoo to take it slow with intimacy. He suggested kissing each other when they break for work is a good way to go. So, for the past month, they’ve begun kissing each other goodbye every morning. Wonwoo hates to admit it but it’s made things less awkward than before between them.Mingyu, seemingly taken aback, blinks dumbly at Wonwoo before breaking into a shy smile, “I…that’s not…”Wonwoo gasps, “I-I’m sorry, I misread that situation–”Mingyu shakes his head, chuckling, “No I, uh…I just wanted to ask when you’ll be coming back tonight,”Wonwoo’s thankful that Mingyu’s choosing not to tease him about it.“The usual time?” Wonwoo asks. Mingyu’s face falls, prompting Wonwoo to speak up, “Why do you ask?”Mingyu smiles nervously, “I…we should've talked about it earlier but…since today is Valentine's Day I…I thought we could have dinner together…”Just like that, Wonwoo’d completely forgotten to make plans for the day. It's only 9 am and he’s already a mess.“I…I’m sorry I…”“It’s okay. Reservations might be hard to get but I’m sure we can have a quiet… candlelight dinner right here, hm?” Mingyu asks, bashful.Given Wonwoo’s work hours, they only ever get to have breakfast together. It’s only on the weekends when they get time to share the other two meals, but that too is rare given how much Mingyu works on the weekends. Thus, this dinner is special.Wonwoo stares at him dumbly and lowers his gaze, pursing his lips, “I…I’ll see you for dinner at 7, then,”Excitement replaces the nervousness on Mingyu’s face, “deal,” he says. Wonwoo chuckles, “See you then, Mingyu-ssi,”“And…” Mingyu pipes up, raising his hand to Wonwoo’s cheek. His fingers tangle in his hair as he gently pulls Wonwoo in for a kiss. Though taken aback, Wonwoo presses into Mingyu’s lips, his hand resting on Mingyu’s. However, this kiss lasts a lot longer than the usual 5 seconds, making Wonwoo’s fingers twitch. He feels the gaps between his digits be filled with Mingyu’s fingers as the latter’s lips begin to move against Wonwoo’s. As nervous as it makes him, Wonwoo welcomes it warmly, mimicking Mingyu’s moves and tightening his hold on his hand.This is different, this is new…this is exciting…Mingyu breaks the kiss, pulling away ever so slightly to analyze the expression on Wonwoo’s face as if awaiting approval. Wonwoo lowers his gaze, bringing his fingers to his lips, “D-Dinner at 8, right?”Mingyu chuckles, pulling away, “7, silly,” he says, wearing a proud smile. Wonwoo swallows, his heart thumping loudly in his chest, “Right. Um…I’ll see you tonight!” he says and hurries out the door, not giving Mingyu another opportunity to stop him.Wonwoo’s heart can't take this anymore. ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“Did you hear from them yet?” Mingyu intercepts his Mom on her way to the garden. She rolls her eyes, “This is the third time you’ve asked me in two days,”Mingyu shrugs, “I’m just excited is all,”She hums, “Would it kill you to be a little patient, my little flower?”Mingyu groans, “Eomma, you tend to ignore your messages! I’m worried they replied but you forgot to check it,”Eomma sighs, “I checked it this morning. They haven't replied yet, Mingyu-yah. Why are you so excited? Do you like him that much? All you’ve seen is his photograph. You shouldn't choose your life partner based on looks, y’know?”Mingyu averts his gaze, “....it’s not entirely about his looks,” he says, hiding the fact that it did play a major role in influencing his decision.“Plus, we’re not exactly strangers, y’know. I…know him from College,” he admits shyly. Eomma narrows her eyes, trying to study her son’s face. And then, she gasps.“Omo! Is this Wonwoo that Sunbae you had a crush on? Glasses? Laptop with stickers from video games?” she claps her hands excitedly. Mingyu purses his lips, “Why do you remember it all so vividly?!”Eomma laughs, delighted, “You were so obvious about it, Mingyu-yah! You joined English Literature even though it had nothing to do with your major!”It is terrifying how perceptive his Mom is about these things. Well, love makes people do stupid things! For Mingyu, it was love at first sight. He didn't realize it was until several months later. Wonwoo wasn't popular, but he hung out with all the cool kids, like Yoon Jeonghan. He always had his face buried in his laptop, or a book. His large, thick-rimmed glasses made him hard to miss. He always had a bedhead sticking out in the same place, and he would yawn often.Jeon Wonwoo was….adorable…After Wonwoo graduated however, Mingyu lost track of him. To think that he’d see him again this way….feels like destiny…He hides his face in his hands, “Right, now do you understand the urgency?”Eomma giggles, unlocking her phone. And then, she gasps loudly, “They said yes!” she announces, and Mingyu’s legs give out. His heart nearly stops as he drops to the floor.“Yah! Kim Mingyu!” Eomma rushes to him, shaking him, “Hey!”Mingyu’s thoughts drown out his mom’s concerns.If everything goes well…he’s going to marry Jeon Wonwoo…. ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“Sex is the only answer,” Jeonghan says callously, prompting Wonwoo to shush him, “Hyung! Lower your voice!” he hisses, face flushed.Jeonghan rolls his eyes, “Look, you asked me why you’re so jittery on Valentine’s Day. And I’m telling you the answer is sex,”Wonwoo should never have come to Jeonghan for advice! He has to go through a shit tonne of humiliation to actually get the advice!Jeonghan continues, “You guys haven’t been intimate yet. Valentine's Day usually means sex. There’s an expectation of sex, which seems to be burdening you. Do you not want to have sex with him?”Wonwoo hides his face behind his hands, eyes screwed shut. He’s embarrassed to the core but he has to answer Jeonghan.“I do want to,” he replies with a low voice, “I just…I don’t know..I’ve never had an issue initiating with people before but with him…I just…I don’t know…”Jeonghan hums, “Have you guys been kissing like I asked you to?”Wonwoo blushes even more, “Every day without fail,”Jeonghan smirks, “oh? Well, I say you stop worrying then. Let the day pass uneventfully. Things will fall into place sooner or later,”While that is sound advice….Wonwoo swallows, “actually I…today’s kiss was…”Jeonghan leans closer to Wonwoo, interested, “Was..?”Wonwoo licks his lips, lowering his gaze out of embarrassment, “it was…different. It was longer, deeper and….nice…”“Who initiated it?” Jeonghan asks without missing a beat.“He did,” Wonwoo says, and Jeonghan’s eyes widen. They begin to sparkle as a grin plasters his face.“Change of plans. You’re going to have sex tonight,”“What?!”Jeonghan laughs, amused, “he initiated a steamy kiss on Valentine’s Day! Don’t you think he wants to take things forward??”Wonwoo’s brain begins to melt, “y-you think so?”Jeonghan’s words do make sense. The kiss was…steamy, indeed. And Mingyu proposed the dinner too…“I know so! That kid has wanted you forever! Hahah,” Jeonghan says, and Wonwoo tilts his head, “what do you mean forever?”Jeonghan’s face morphs, like he’d been caught. He clears his throat, standing up, “Uh, I have to go! The lunch break is over! Anyway! Go have some sex! You’ll both feel better after it! Bye now!”Wonwoo lets Jeonghan escape for the day. His advice holds merit after all.Wonwoo purses his lips, his heart racing —So Mingyu…wants it too, huh?Wonwoo slams his head on the desk, groaning.Damn it…Wonwoo kinda can’t wait for tonight. ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“This…is a bit much, don’t you think?” Wonwoo asks, standing next to Mingyu as they stare at their bed, decorated with rose petals in the shape of a heart.As cringe as the setup is, Wonwoo feels overly conscious of himself. This is his honeymoon after all.He..cannot believe he’s married to Mingyu already…They met up almost every day in the months before the wedding to get to know each other, and while their meetings were pleasant, Wonwoo had almost forgotten about the sexual aspect of their relationship.“It is,” Mingyu sighs, a shy smile on his face. He sets their luggage down and crawls over the bed, “but I’m too tired from the journey,” he says, patting the space next to him.Wonwoo swallows nervously…If he crawls into that bed then……are they getting to it already?They’ve only just arrived…But the bed seems soft and inviting, especially after their harrowing flight. Wonwoo gives in and climbs onto the bed. It is what it is.He lies down next to Mingyu, keeping his arms to himself as he fixes his gaze on the ceiling above. But he gasps when he realizes it’s a mirror he’s staring into.Mingyu bursts out laughing at Wonwoo’s reaction, making the older man turn on his side and close his eyes, “why is there a mirror?! Is this a hotel or a sex dungeon?!”Mingyu's laugh intensifies, “well, it is the honeymoon suite. Mom did say it has some added features, but a ceiling mirror is not what I expected,” he says, turning on his side to face Wonwoo.Wonwoo opens his eyes hesitantly, his breath hitching when he comes face to face with Mingyu…He’s not just Mingyu anymore though. He’s his husband..officially, legally…eternally…Wonwoo’s not inexperienced. He’s had a fair share of relationships but he’s never…felt like this before…With Mingyu, he experiences both excitement and nervousness. He doesn’t understand why. Perhaps it’s because this isn’t like any other relationship. This is marriage…Their eyes lock, and the nervousness from earlier just dissipates. Another kind of energy replaces it though, now bubbling in his gut.“Wonwoo-ssi…” Mingyu whispers, suddenly reaching out. Wonwoo tenses and closes his eyes in anticipation. But nothing ever happens.(When he opens his eyes, he sees Mingyu place a pillow between them, “We don’t have to do anything just yet. Let’s take it slow, hm?”Wonwoo swallows and lowers his gaze, his cheeks fuming, “yes,” he whispers softly, relief washing over his figure.“Goodnight, then, Wonwoo-ssi,” Mingyu says and Wonwoo smiles. He turns to lie on his back and closes his eyes.He gasps when he feels something warm touch his hand. He cranes his neck to watch as Mingyu’s hand laces into his gently. He takes a glance at Mingyu, who has his eyes closed, and smiles.With their hands locked, the two fall asleep.
∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘Wonwoo takes a minute to check his breath before stepping into their apartment. He’d taken early leave from work to go…prepare, if you will.If they’re going to be having sex tonight, he better be presentable at the very least.He takes a look at his outfit and instantly regrets wearing it. He should’ve dressed up regardless of whether they were having dinner or not! It’s Valentine’s Day!There is not a hint of red or pink or any of those hues on his outfit. It’s green and brown all the way. What is he, an old man?At least Jeonghan let him crash at his place for a quick shower. And of course, he snuck some condoms into his coat pocket, which Wonwoo only found out once he’d reached the lobby.Wonwoo takes a few minutes outside the door, waiting for the clock to hit 7 pm. He doesn’t wanna be early. What if he interrupts whatever Mingyu is preparing? And he doesn’t want to be late either. That’s just rude. But being on the dot is sort of creepy. Mingyu will know he’s been waiting outside the whole time.Wonwoo taps his foot nervously.How do you have sex again?Damn it.When the clock strikes 7:02, Wonwoo clears his throat and opens his door. He kicks off his shoes as he announces his arrival, “I’m home,” he says, a pleasant scent invading his senses.The lights have been dimmed, the house illuminated only by the warm light of candles.“Come on in,” Mingyu calls from within, and Wonwoo feels his heart beat loudly in anticipation. Wonwoo can smell the aroma of the food Mingyu’s prepared, and the lighting is just so warm and inviting.Jeonghan’s words ring in his mind.Don’t you think he wants to take things forward?Wonwoo purses his lips, setting his suitcase down and walking in.Yeah. Mingyu sure does want to take things forward.When he emerges in the dining room, Mingyu turns to him, wearing a sophisticated suit, his hair slicked back and a bright smile on his face, “Hey, you,”Wonwoo experiences a bunch of emotions in a fraction of a second. Jealous because he could never look as good as Mingyu does at this very moment. Excited because that’s his husband. And nervous because oh my god we’re going to have sex!“Wow,” Wonwoo can’t help but exclaim as he takes in the view of the setup. It is indeed a candlelight dinner, with two wine glasses and two sets of cutlery laid out on the table.Mingyu came home from the photoshoot and prepared all of this.And Wonwoo? Well, Wonwoo did nothing.Mingyu should divorce him right this very instant but Wonwoo knows he’s too noble to do that. Wonwoo gives it a couple of years before the man has enough.“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to come in at all,” Mingyu says, taking Wonwoo’s hand to kiss it. Wonwoo fumes, embarrassed. Mingyu knew he was waiting outside??“Sorry, I—“Mingyu chuckles, placing a kiss on his cheek, “You’re here now. Let’s eat?”And just like that, Wonwoo's got rid of all his worries.He smiles.“Let’s,” ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“I could eat your cooking for the rest of my life!” Wonwoo exclaims halfway through the meal, still as enthusiastic as he was at the beginning.Mingyu chuckles, wiping the sauce off Wonwoo’s cheek with his thumb.“You sort of have to, my dear,” Mingyu says, and Wonwoo smiles, “well, didn’t I get lucky?”“Hey,” Mingyu pouts, “you make it sound like you married me for the cooking,”Wonwoo snorts, “well—““Ey…” Mingyu clicks his tongue and Wonwoo giggles.Their first Valentine’s Day as a couple isn’t all too bad. Wonwoo’s not as nervous as before, thanks to Mingyu’s food and company. That’s what Wonwoo likes about their relationship. Mingyu calms him down.Wonwoo’s basically inhaling the dishes one by one, when something touches his foot. He freezes for a moment — realizing it’s Mingyu’s foot nudging his. Wonwoo sneaks a glance at Mingyu, who’s enjoying his meal.Just a mistake, huh?Wonwoo moves his foot, but it’s not very soon before Mingyu’s leg brushes against his yet again, this time sliding in between both his feet.Wonwoo panics, overly conscious of Mingyu’s foot. Is that how close they are? Wonwoo can feel Mingyu’s calf touching his…Is it weird that he can tell how taut his calf muscles are?But right now is not the time to panic, or zone out! Mingyu’s arranged this nice dinner and Wonwoo intends to keep it nice.Think of something else, think of something else…And then, he remembers.“Mingyu-ssi, did we know each other before we got married?”Mingyu freezes and looks up, “pardon?”Wonwoo shrugs, “Oh uh, Jeonghan Hyung said something about you…uh, having known me ‘forever’,” he paraphrases, “perhaps in college?”Mingyu holds his gaze, “I…knew you…” he says shyly. Wonwoo’s eyes widen in surprise, “W-What? Whoa…wait, did we ever..meet? Oh, god I…I don’t even remember…” he says, laughing dryly.“No! Don’t feel bad! We only ever met once or twice!” Mingyu quickly adds. Wonwoo purses his lips, “Then…is that why you…picked me?” He asks shyly.Mingyu swallows the knot in his throat as a beautiful blush occupies his face, “I…had a massive crush on you back then and so I…”Wonwoo gasps, “W-What?!”“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before! And it sounds so creepy! But I— I didn’t mean to deceive you—““No, Mingyu-ssi— er — Mingyu-yah, I…” wonwoo averts his gaze, heart hammering in his chest, “I…I’m..it makes me happy….”Mingyu licks his lips, “Really?”Wonwoo smiles at him sheepishly, “Yes. I’m…I can’t believe we’re married,”Mingyu chuckles, no longer nervous.“May I ask…why…you started liking me?” Wonwoo adds.Mingyu stares at him and then smiles, “You were kind to me. It was my first day of college and I was super nervous but you helped me out…”Wonwoo smiles, “it could’ve been anyone, Mingyu-ssi,”“But it wasn’t. It was you. I say it was destiny. The fact that your matrimonial profile came to me should attest to that too,”Wonwoo chuckles, “I didn’t know you believed in destiny,”Mingyu grins, “when your destiny is so beautiful, you find it hard to deny,”Wonwoo blushes, laughing nervously, “Oh, god. I wish I remembered you. I wish we’d kept in touch. I’m sure we…could’ve been something back then too,” he admits softly.Mingyu stares at him blankly, and then lowers his gaze. Wonwoo can hear his heartbeat all the way from here.“That..would’ve been nice,” Mingyu smiles, “but better late than never, eh?” He takes Wonwoo’s hand over the table, lacing their fingers.Wonwoo grins, “Yup,”Mingyu mimics his smile.“Oh!” He suddenly exclaims, “I uh, I got you something for Valentine's,” he says. He fishes out a pen from his pocket.Once Wonwoo takes a good look at it, he gasps, grabbing it, “I thought they discontinued this model!” he says, examining the build.Wonwoo’s grandfather gave him a fountain pen like this back in the day. He told Wonwoo that the pen is mightier than the sword and that he should use his abilities to further social cause. It’s part of the reason he became a Journalist. After University , however, he lost track of the pen.Mingyu grins, “They did. But a lot of small shops still have it. I tracked one down and—“ Mingyu spins the pen in Wonwoo’s hand, revealing an engraving on the butt neck of the pen.J.W“— It’s gold,” Mingyu says as Wonwoo runs his fingers over it, “this…this is so…thank you so much, Mingyu-yah!” He exclaims. Mingyu smiles at the childlike wonder on Wonwoo’s face.“How did you know?” Wonwoo asks, still in awe of the pen.Mingyu shrugs, “I asked Eomonim. She was more than happy to help me out,”Wonwoo chuckles, “speaking of mothers-in-law, your mom helped me out too,” he says, fetching a large envelope from his suitcase.Mingyu frowns as Wonwoo pulls out a photo frame from within and hands it to Mingyu. When his eyes land on it, his breath is knocked out of his lungs.He gasps as Wonwoo awaits his response.“Wonwoo, this…”Mingyu stares at a collage of his photos — photos from his first modeling gig ever, of his first magazine cover, of some photos from modeling classes….“You’ve decorated our house with so many photographs, so I wanted to contribute too. I want your achievements and growth to go on the wall, so they can be a constant reminder of how wonderful you are, Mingyu-yah,” Wonwoo says, leaving Mingyu in awe.“I…this…” he’s lost for words. Wonwoo purses his lips, “did you not like—“ but he’s interrupted by Mingyu reaching over the table and pulling Wonwoo into a hug, “Thank you,” he says, “this…means so much to me,”If Wonwoo notices vulnerability in his voice, he embraces it warmly. He hugs Mingyu back.He’s glad they were able to make their first Valentine’s Day a memorable one. ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“Please! Let me do this at least,” Wonwoo protests, hogging the dishes all to himself.Mingyu clicks his tongue, “Won—““You cooked and you prepared everything. Please, this is the least I can do. Plus, they don’t call me the dishwasher fairy for a reason!” Wonwoo says, making Mingyu laugh, “I agree on the fairy part,” he says, winking at Wonwoo.Fazed momentarily, Wonwoo soon gets back to his groove of scrubbing the dishes, “flirt…” he whispers.Mingyu chuckles.“You’re forbidden from the kitchen! Shoo now!” Wonwoo scolds and Mingyu laughs, “As you say, your highness. But can I put these ingredients back in their places at least?”Wonwoo huffs, “you may,” he says.Mingyu giggles.Perhaps it is the glasses of wine that they downed over several hours that’s finally beginning to take effect. Maybe that’s why Wonwoo feels so relaxed and comfortable…He’s glad he didn’t spend the night worrying…But he has to admit that he is a bit disappointed. He sneaks a glance at Mingyu — the way the t-shirt tightens around his flexing arms as he restocks the shelves, the way he rolls up his sleeves for more flexibility, exposing the veins on his forearm…Wonwoo gulps, feeling dizzy all of a sudden.He wonders what…sex with Mingyu would feel like..Mingyu’s…probably skilled…right?Wonwoo shakes his head.What is he thinking? Is it the alcohol that’s making his thoughts go wild?Wonwoo’s drowning so much in his thoughts that he doesn’t notice Mingyu walk over to him. He stands behind Wonwoo and leans forth to place the black bean paste on the top shelf. Mingyu’s chest presses into Wonwoo’s back, his breath hovering near Wonwoo’s sensitive nape, and his entire figure caging Wonwoo. Wonwoo smells so good, and it’s making Wonwoo absolutely dizzy.He’s lost control of his senses, which is why he finds himself leaning to place a kiss on Mingyu’s lips. In a daze, Wonwoo mimics Mingyu’s kiss from this morning, letting a little bit of his tongue slip out to taste Mingyu’s wine-stained lips.And it’s only because his neck begins to hurt from this odd angle that Wonwoo breaks the kiss and pulls away. He opens his eyes to see Mingyu’s face up close, shock written all over. And in that moment, Wonwoo realizes he’s fucked up.He steps away from Mingyu, “I-I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable! I don’t know what got over me, I—“But he’s interrupted by Mingyu’s lips that swoop in to steal a kiss from Wonwoo. This time, Mingyu’s arms wrap around Wonwoo to pull him close, as his lips move gently against Wonwoo’s.Wonwoo reciprocates with equal vigor, fingers tangling in Mingyu’s hair. With their chests pressed together, Wonwoo can feel Mingyu’s heart thumping.It’s when Mingyu bites down on Wonwoo’s lips that they break the kiss. Wonwoo catches his breath, hooded eyes staring at the lust in Mingyu’s gaze.Wonwoo’s eyes flicker down to Mingyu’s lips, and he leans in ever so slightly. But Mingyu pulls away, “I…I think we should stop here…”Wonwoo’s heart falls to the floor with a loud flap. He steps away from Mingyu, embarrassed, “I…I’m sorry I..I shouldn’t have tried to take things forward. I..I’m sorry—“ Wonwoo tries to escape to the guest bedroom when Mingyu grabs his arm and stops him, “No, listen, please,”And Wonwoo halts. He doesn’t turn around though, too embarrassed to face the man. Mingyu closes the distance between them once again, hugging Wonwoo from behind, “Don’t misunderstand, please. I do want to take things forward but…”Wonwoo swallows and rests his hands on Mingyu’s, “but?” He whispers.Mingyu rests his head on Wonwoo’s shoulders and tightens his grasp, “I just…I like you so much that I’m nervous…about doing it…with you…”Wonwoo pauses.Mingyu? Mingyu’s nervous?“…what’s there to be nervous about?” Wonwoo whispers, turning in Mingyu’s arms to face him. He cups Mingyu’s cheeks and raises his face to take a proper look at his pout. Wonwoo bites back a smile.“I don’t know I just…what if I don’t perform well?”Wonwoo blinks at him and then smiles. He pulls Mingyu in for a kiss. It’s rather reassuring to think that Mingyu and he were worried about the same thing.Wonwoo pulls away from Mingyu’s lips, “We won’t know until we try it out, hm?” He whispers, making Mingyu gasp. He smiles, tugging at Mingyu’s shirt, “I’m sure we’ll be just fine. There’s nothing to worry about, hm?”Mingyu sighs, smiling, “you’re right,”Wonwoo smirks, tugging Mingyu close, “In that case then, Honey, will you take me to bed, hm?”Mingyu’s orbs darken.Wonwoo smiles smugly as Mingyu snaps and crashes their lips together.
∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“You…are such a good kisser,” Wonwoo moans as Mingyu’s tongue invades his mouth, licking aggressively at everything and anything.Mingyu grunts, pleased as he pulls Wonwoo flush against his body, “speak for yourself,” he says, sucking on Wonwoo’s tongue when it slides into his mouth.Wonwoo’s fingers curl into the fabric of Mingyu’s T-shirt, eyes screwed shut as they waddle into their room. He lets his palms explore Mingyu’s body, sliding up and down his muscly chest, slyly unbuttoning his shirt to feel the burning skin underneath.Wonwoo shamelessly gropes Mingyu’s muscles — his chest, his biceps and triceps — all his, all just for him. Mingyu chuckles, breaking the sloppy kiss, “I guess hours at the gym have paid off, hm?” he kisses Wonwoo’s eyes, large hands untucking Wonwoo’s shirt and sliding underneath, copping a feel of his lean and taut muscle.“Mh, yes,” Wonwoo confesses, squirming as Mingyu touches him all over — from his waist to lower back, on a mission to locate every erogenous spot on his body.Wonwoo’s breathless and leaning onto Mingy7, tilting his neck to let Mingyu kiss it, bite it, and mark it up. It’s amazing how the awkwardness and hesitation has vanished. Wonwoo wastes no time in undressing Mingy7, tossing away his t-shirt and feeling up everything he can get his hands on. Mingyu’s body is sturdy yet soft, making Wonwoo come back for more and more. He good Mingyu’s ass, making the man groan delightedly, smirking against his lips, “Who knew you were so bold,”Wonwoo swallows, his mind on a downward slope of pleasure, “do you hate it?”“No, it’s so fucking hot,” He says, mimicking Wonwoo’s actions by grabbing a fistful of his ass, kneading it eagerly. He pushes and pulls whilst his teeth latch onto Wonwoo’s collarbones, making the older man mewl.With the foreplay so good, Wonwoo can’t wait for the main thing. He wants to jump to it as soon as possible, too eager to taste Mingyu.For Wonwoo, it’s months of desire finally bursting out. But for Mingyu, it’s years. It’s evident in his eager squeezes and needy grunts as they tumble onto the bed, Mingyu on top of Wonwoo, looking down at him with dark eyes.Their chests heave, and their glossy eyes lock into each other.“Fuck, are we really having sex?” Mingyu asks. Wonwoo licks his lips, “Uh huh. If you don’t want this, then say so. Because I won’t let you go once we get to it,” he says, locking his legs around Mingyu’s hips. The younger man laughs, sitting back in his heels, and grabbing hold of Wonwoo’s legs. He massages them, slowly advancing towards his crotch, making Wonwoo hitch a breath, “I want it. I’ve wanted it for years,”Wonwoo swallows, embarrassed. He brings his arms over his face, “Just..get to it already, Mingyu-yah,”Mingyu smiles, “as you wish,” ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘Mingyu throws his head back, fingers tangling in Wonwoo’s hair, “fuck, how are you so good at this?” He asks, hips bucking into Wonwoo’s mouth.Wonwoo moans around his cock, and all Mingyu needs to do is lean over to take a look at the view over Wonwoo’s shoulders — his fingers fucking into his ass. Mingyu gulps, “fuck, I wish you’d let me prepare you. I wanna feel you inside,”Wonwoo looks up at Mingyu, cheeks stuffed with his cock. He pulls away with a pop, licking a long stripe from the base to the tip. He nuzzles his cheek against the thick cock before standing up and climbing onto Mingyu’s lap. He grinds down onto his erection, making the younger man hiss. Wonwoo smiles,
“You can find out another way,” he says, rolling his hips against Mingyu’s cock.Mingyu groans, turning and pinning Wonwoo to the bed. He stares at Wonwoo’s chest, mouth watering at the sight of pale skin now flushed and glistening.“Fuck, fuck, how are you so sexy?” Mingyu asks, stroking his cock. Just the sight of Wonwoo’s body could make him cum. He slides his palms up Wonwoo’s naval to his middle, and all the way to his chest, groping his pecs.Wonwoo throws his head back, mouthing open as Mingyu’s fingers tease his nipples. Thick fingers press onto his buds before pleasuring him with a rolling motion.“Min-gnh—“ Wonwoo chokes up when Mingyu’s tongue meets his nipple, followed by his teeth and lips. Mingyu’s body presses onto his, trapping him under his weight as his lips assault his nipples.“Please, please, just..go inside already,” Wonwoo says, overwhelmed by the sensation. Mingyu pulls away, a string of saliva bridging his lips and Wonwoo’s nipple. He wipes his mouth and smirks, “You don’t like being stimulated too much, right?”Wonwoo bites his lips and shakes his head, making Mingyu chuckle, “I’ll keep that in mind for next time,” he says. Wonwoo squirms.This is only the beginning. They have a long way to go…Together.Wonwoo’s startled out of his thoughts by Mingyu’s cold hand caressing his hand. He feels Mingyu slide into his hole with ease, making him tense up from the feeling.“You’re prepared I think,” he says. When Wonwoo realises Mingyu is checking, his heart swells.Mingyu positions himself between Wonwoo’s legs, throwing his feet over his shoulder.Wonwoo licks his lips when their gazes meet, and he prepares himself. He’s nervous all of a sudden, even though everything is going so well.Mingyu gulps audibly, taking deep breaths.“Nervous?” Wonwoo asks, reaching to hold Mingyu’s hand. The younger man nods, breaking into a smile, “I’ve never been this nervous,”Wonwoo swallows the knot in his throat.“Me too,” he says, placing Mingyu’s hand on his chest, “only you make me feel this way,”Mingyu breathes out as his eyes dilate. He aligns himself with Wonwoo’s entrance and slowly pushes in. Wonwoo tenses, breathing hard to accommodate Mingyu’s size. His toes curl as Mingyu’s cock embeds itself into Wonwoo’s hole at an unbearably delicious pace.“Fuck, you’re so warm,” Mingyu moans as he bottoms out, catching his breath. Wonwoo takes long, hard breaths, “Move, please, move…” he pulls Mingyu in for an embrace, unable to hold himself back. He wants it right now. He wants Mingyu to ruin him.“Won-ah,” he breathes in his ear, kissing it, “take a minute to adjust,”Wonwoo shakes his head, “No just…please…Mingyu…Mingyu-yah…Min-ah…”Mingyu huffs, “How can I resist when you call me so sweetly?” He says, rolling his hips.Wonwoo’s about to whine because Mingyu’s still playing it safe, but he decides to let the man do as he pleases.Mingyu laces his hands with Wonwoo, moving his hips as if exploring Wonwoo. The sensation makes Wonwoo tingle, and heat begins to pool up in his gut. He knows it will be embarrassing if he cums too soon but Mingyu’s barely moving and it’s already too hot. Wonwoo feels too good, being stretched open like this, with Mingyu’s member moving in and out of him.“Here?” Mingyu rolls his hips. Wonwoo just hums, trying to focus on Mingyu’s face.“Or here?” Mingyu angles his cock to the other side, pressing in. Wonwoo swallows. He’s about to question what Mingyu’s doing but he squeaks instead when Mingyu’s cock brushes against that spot inside of him.Mingyu smirks, “there?” He asks, angling his thrusts into that spot. Wonwoo’s back almost arches off the bed when Mingyu begins his assault on the bundle of nerves nestled inside, sending jolts of electricity down his spine.Wonwoo’s lost for words, replying only with gasps, moans and grunts, completely losing himself in pleasure.When was the last time sex made him so pliant?“Fuck, I can’t believe I’m fucking Wonwoo Sunbae,” Mingyu grunts. Wonwoo tightens around his cock, pulling the man into an embrace as he hastens his pace — harder and faster.“Did you think about me back then?” Wonwoo gasps between moans, “Did you ever think of me when you touched yourself?”Mingyu groans, bending Wonwoo in half to fuck into his hole. Wonwoo’s marvelous at riling him up.“Tell me, Min-ah,” Wonwoo bites Mingyu’s ear, his nails dragging down the expanse of Mingyu’s back. Mingyu can’t hold back any longer. He doesn’t care if Wonwoo laughs at him or teases him. He needs to cum inside Wonwoo as soon as possible, fill him with his seed, and watch it trickle out of his hole.“Fuck, yes, okay?” Mingyu confesses, “I thought about you a lot and this…” he huffs, “is like a dream come true..” he says.Wonwoo moans, holding him close…“I’m gonna cum,” he says weakly, “I’m gonna cum, Min-ah,”Mingyu hastens his pace, acknowledging his words.“Me too,” he says and grits his teeth. Wonwoo loses sensation in his fingers, and all he can do is lewdly moan and sob as Mingyu’s cock drives in and out of his hole.Wonwoo cums without a warning, his orgasm ripping out of him suddenly. He arches off the bed as Mingyu tenses, his thrusts becoming erratic. Wonwoo revels in the overstimulation, losing his mind as Mingyu finishes inside him, his warmth spreading everywhere.The man collapses atop him, catching his breath as Wonwoo sees the stars. Wonwoo swallows thickly, taking deep breaths as a memory flashes in his mind…“Won..Won-ah, you okay?” Mingyu asks, kissing Wonwoo’s cheek to soothe him. When he pulls away, he sees a blissed-out smile on Wonwoo’s face. The older man cups his cheeks and weakly says, “Hey, ripped jeans..”Mingyu gasps as Wonwoo’s smile widens.“You…remember?”Wonwoo chuckles, fatigue taking over his features, “Just needed to jog my memory a little…you were so cute, Mingyu-yah,”Mingyu blushes and embraces Wonwoo, hiding his face in his shoulders, “Ah…don’t tease…”Wonwoo giggles, holding him back.“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” Wonwoo says.“Happy Valentine's Day, Wonwoo-yah,” Mingyu says, arms wrapping around Wonwoo’s waist.Wonwoo smiles, happier than he’d ever expected to be.Because in his arms he holds his past, present, and future…Kim Mingyu.“Let’s continue in the shower,” Wonwoo says. Mingyu chuckles, “okay,”Wonwoo laughs as Mingyu hoists him up in his arms and carries him to the bathroom.“We’re not going to have a pillow separating us tonight, right?” Wonwoo asks.Mingyu laughs, kissing his temple.“Not anymore,” ∘₊✧─────────✧₊∘“Hey, you’re blocking the way,” a voice says — deep and soothing. Mingyu, who’d tripped over his own feet and plummeted to the ground, turns around to look at the man behind him.He has headphones around his neck, a pen in his shirt’s collar, and a backpack on his shoulders. His eyes look down at Mingyu with a bored expression.This guy can easily walk around Mingyu and all his stuff, like everyone else did. So why is he asking Mingyu to move?! What an entitled prick!“Sorry,” Mingyu says, looking down at his jeans. Eomma bought them for him, specifically for his first day of college. It was her gift to him, and he’s already ruined them…As he’s lamenting over the state of his jeans, now bruised and torn at his knees, the man behind him kneels to his side and starts helping Mingyu with his books.Mingyu silently accepts his help, embarrassed by his harsh judgment of him earlier.“Thank you…” Mingyu says and the man hums, staring at Mingyu’s jeans, “Those are nice jeans,”Mingyu sighs, “Yeah. And I ruined them…” he mumbles.The man hums, pushing his glasses up his nose, “You can always distress them, yknow?”Mingyu frowns, “what?”The man reaches out to the tear in the jeans, “Can I tear it a little more?”“Sure,” Mingyu says. Enough damage has been done already.The man widens the tear with his hand and begins plucking the strands. At first, Mingyu doesn’t understand. But slowly, the tear transforms into something amazing.“There,” the man says, “your jeans are now fashionable, ripped jeans,”Mingyu stares at his denim in awe. He looks up at the man, who’s already on his way to the college building.“Wait!” Mingyu calls, and the man halts, turning around, “what?”“Are…are you a fashion student?” Mingyu asks.The man smiles something that makes Mingyu’s heart skip a beat.“No. I’m a Lit major, 2nd year,” he says.Mingyu stares at him with wide, sparkly eyes — his chest tightening.“Thank you..for helping me...Sunbae…” Mingyu says. The man grins as he waves at him, “See you around, Ripped jeans!”And just like that, he walks away while Mingyu stands there like a fool with a flushed face and racing heart.….ah…I want to marry him…Mingyu shakes his head, ridding them of his delusions.Like someone as cool as Sunbae would marry someone as clumsy as Mingyu…Mingyu stands up and dusts himself off. He grabs his books and stares at Sunbae’s figure disappearing in the distance.Mingyu smiles.For now, he’s happy with this one-sided crush.
Stand By Me
WRITTEN BY: 17DOHAESUMMARY: Even when days are going extremely hard, standing next to the person you love makes it easier and worth it.
Wonwoo sighed as he stepped inside his shared apartment. Today had become the hardest day for him at work, especially since his boss decided to make him do more than usual.The slender man signed as he kicked off his shoes and walked over to the couch to flop down on it. All he needed was a break from everything but he also needed a nap since he slept late the night before.“You good?”Wonwoo looked up to see his boyfriend, Mingyu, standing right in front of him. The slender man nodded as he then sat up and let his boyfriend sit beside him.Mingyu chuckled as he pulled the shorter male closer and gently patted his hair, “Was work harsh?” Wonwoo nodded as he leaned against him.“My boss made me do extra work.” Wonwoo pouted as he then closed his eyes when Mingyu massaged his head.The taller male sighed as he then suddenly stood up and pulled his boyfriend along with him, “Go change into something comfortable.”Wonwoo groaned as he walked over to their shared room to find something comfortable to wear. Once he changed into a shirt (that definitely belonged to Mingyu) and a pair of sweatpants, he stepped out of the room and went back to the taller male who was in the kitchen.The taller male turned around and chuckled as he watched his boyfriend drag his feet and stood in front of him. “Is that my shirt?” He asked, checking out his boyfriend.“Mine now.”Mingyu snorted as he then turned to hand his boyfriend a bowl of ramen he had made earlier, “Eat.” Wonwoo smiled happily as he then sat down at the island table and immediately started eating his food.As the two ate in silence, Wonwoo looked at his boyfriend who was taking large bites of his food, “You’re going to choke.” Mingyu turned to look at him and shook his head before continuing to eat his noodles.When the two finished, Wonwoo got up to wash their plates. As he was finishing up, he felt a pair of arms around his waist and a head on his shoulder, “Hey cutie.” Mingyu said, laughing when the shorter male flicked water at his face.“Can we go take pictures outside?” Wonwoo suddenly asked, turning off the faucet and grabbing a towel to dry his hands.“Sure.” Mingyu softly said, letting go of his boyfriend to go find their cameras and get a jacket for the both of them.Once the taller male got the camera and jackets, he went back to his boyfriend who was typing furiously on his phone, “Everything alright?” He asked, going up to the older male.“My boss wants me to work overtime again.”“Why?” Mingyu asked, taking his lover’s phone to set down while helping his boyfriend get into his jacket and handing his camera to him.Wonwoo sighed as he shrugged, “One of our employees is on maternity leave and so all the work got pushed onto me.”The taller male sighed as he put his own jacket on and shook his head gently. “Well, let’s just ignore him and go outside to take pictures.” Wonwoo nodded as he followed his boyfriend out the apartment.—Once the couple had made it to the park, Wonwoo immediately started looking around to see what type of pictures he wanted to take.Mingyu on the other hand immediately took a picture of his boyfriend who was looking around while holding his camera in his hands. “Cute,” He mumbled, looking at the photo.“Y’know,” Wonwoo spoke up, “Standing with you just makes my day feel easier and calming.”The taller male smiled softly as he then walked up to his boyfriend who was taking pictures of flowers, “How so?” He asked, watching as Wonwoo looked up a little.“Well, standing by you makes me like I don’t have to worry nor cry about any hardships.”Wonwoo then blushed softly as he watched his boyfriend smile at him before pulling him into a hug, “I’m glad you’re that comfortable with me.” Mingyu softly said, pressing a kiss onto the shifter’s temple.“Of course, that’s why I love you for it,” Wonwoo told him, looking at his boyfriend, “Plus you never made me feel lonely.” Mingyu smiled again as he then pecked his lover’s lips.“Love you.” Mingyu said, watching the soft blush on Wonwoo’s cheeks again.“Love you too,” Wonwoo said, smiling as his boyfriend pressed his forehead against his, “Dingus.”“Hey!”The couple laughed as they then began to walk home after taking a few pictures and deciding to watch movies for the rest of time.
Strangers In The Night
WRITTEN BY: BOW_LUNITASUMMARY: All it takes is one chance encounter to change Mingyu's life forever.
As Mingyu walks home from the gym, he basks in the peace of empty streets and silent corners. The cold always helps to ease his mind after long days at work.And it doesn’t matter if the moment is short… While it lasts, Mingyu feels like it could be just him in the world: no clients to please, no meetings he’s forced to attend, and no last-minute deadlines he has to meet, because otherwise he’d be fired.It’s the only routine he can afford to follow and it makes him feel sane. Safe, even.Except for this one night that was about to change his life forever.Months of peace come crashing down with a loud voice that echoes through the silence.“I told you to stop, bitch!” It roars. “Where do you think you’re going?”It’s not directed at him, but Mingyu, anyway, stops walking. Even if there’s no reason for him to get involved, he just…“Go away,” a second voice pleads, softer, “please.”Such demand is met with mocking laughter.“Don’t act cute, boy.” Concerned, Mingyu marches forward until he’s close enough to see them: a man keeps cornering another, his bulky frame blocking every possible escape without much effort. “Just give me your fucking wallet!”“I don’t want to.”Although shaky, the boy’s voice sounds defiant and it rails up the thief until he yanks him by the front of his clothes and drags him forward:Now, Mingyu can see him well: tall, broad and scared. He wears an oversized black hoodie and wired glasses that have gone askew during the struggle.One sleeve has ridden up his arm, right where the thug is viciously grabbing him. The big watch on his wrist looks very expensive, tempting.“You don’t want to?”Mingyu is so close now; he can see the boy’s eyes go wide when his back hits the wall behind him, the other man’s fist threatens a punch, his knuckles have turned white with the force of his anger.“No… Please, just go. I don’t have any money, I swear.” He is shaking. “ You don’t need to hurt me. You shouldn’t.”Mingyu is stunned by that answer and, judging by the silence that follows, so is the robber.“What about that camera you carry, eh? Your pretty watch? They look expensive.”“No!” The boy screams and recoils so fast, the other man gets spooked and hits him.That's it!Mingyu runs before he can think better of it. The noise of his footsteps is enough to finally catch the man’s attention.He yells as loud as he can, “Leave him alone!” He raises the gym bag as if it were a weapon, muscles taut from exercise and nerves, posture ready.“Who the fuck are you? This is none of your business”“You’re harassing my friend! It’s totally my fucking business.”“Shut up!”“Please, help me”“SHUT UP!”The man is no longer amused, His chest heaves even before he lunches forward to attack Mingyu.And it happens too fast. One moment he’s running and, by the next, he’s curling up on the floor, protecting his groin and whining. Mingyu looms over him, but his attention is on the person he’s just saved on pure instinct.“Are you okay?” He asks, “Did he hurt you? Did he take something from you?”Mingyu assesses him. His eyes travel up and down his body, looking for injuries, but the only visible damage is a bruise on his wrist.“It's okay. I’m okay.” Now that he is not struggling, his voice sounds deeper and Mingyu realizes he is not as young as he had assumed from a distance.He approaches him and doesn’t try to stop the mugger as he runs away from them.He was looking for something easy and they’re no longer a risk worth taking.“Are you sure you’re not—”“I am… Yes, I’m really fine.” The man is clearly startled. He clutches a green bag to his chest and protects the camera around his neck. That thing has made him an obvious target. “Thank you.”Trying to keep calm, Mingyu shakes his head very slowly. “It’s okay. I know anyone would have intervened, but you were lucky… These streets are always empty.”The man lowers his head. “I know and that’s why I was here… God, I’m so stupid!” He sighs. “Thank you, really, uh…”“Mingyu.”He smiles a bit. “Yes, thank you, Mingyu. I’m- My name is Wonwoo.”“I would say it’s nice to meet you, but it might sound insensitive at the moment.”They both laugh and all the tension gives way to the realization of what just happened. “That wasn’t very safe, you know?”Wonwoo has the audacity to blush as he bends down to pick up the cap he probably had been wearing before the thief approached him.He must be hurt, because he stumbles a little and Mingyu has to catch his elbow to keep him steady.“Well, he did go, didn’t he?” He tips his chin upwards to meet his eyes and Mingyu realizes he’s just the perfect bit shorter.… and cute. Very.He clears his throat. “That’s because I kicked his ass, not because you asked him nicely.” His tone is soft, rather forgiving.Wonwoo is acting strong, and reassured, but he’s also shaken and everything about him makes it obvious. He keeps shifting his weight, looking around as if expecting someone else to jump them. He stands close to Mingyu still, more than it should be comfortable for two complete strangers.Except that Mingyu does not mind it at all.“We should leave.” He offers. “I’m sure he’s given up, but I don’t want to be here if he decides to come back with a couple of friends to get us.”Wonwoo looks around, weary, and he starts to walk down the street Mingyu had just come from.His home was in the opposite direction and there was no reason for him to follow Wonwoo.Goodnight, he should say, please be careful…Instead, he walks beside him. The silence is neither tense: nor is it comfortable.“Were you taking pictures?”A bigger street greets them with light and safety and, finally, Mingyu’s pounding heart settles.Oh, but he likes how Wonwoo’s calm face lights up with his question. Now, his pulse quickens for a completely different reason.“I’ve always wanted to practice night photography, but-” He shifts the weight of his bag as it hangs from his shoulder. He's looking for the right words to say. “I never have time and, when I do, Dad won’t allow it.”Mingyu tries to decide if he should push it, but curiosity gets the better of him.“Why does your father have a say in it?”Wonwoo chuckles. “Well, I’m here, so maybe he doesn’t.” He seems proud, but it lasts just for a second, because his eyes fall to the floor and he shudders. “If he finds out about tonight, tho, he’s going to kill me.”“So, did you really sneak out from somewhere?”Wonwoo grins, his gaze back up and glued to Mingyu’s. “Well, obviously.”He finds Wonwoo weird and painfully endearing. A mix that shouldn’t work, but made Mingyu somehow weaker. “I was, like, fifteen the last time I snuck out. I went to some stupid party.”“Are you saying I’m too old?” He knows Wonwoo is teasing, but Mingyu cannot help it. He goes along with it.“You don’t look like a rebel teen,” His gaze rakes over him. “That’s what I’m saying.”He doesn’t.Wonwoo has a pretty smile and scrunches up his nose every time Mingyu says something funny.He is attractive in every way Mingyu likes: fair skin, plump lips and dark eyes that look intense behind his glasses.And he’s witty; he’s brave, Mingyu finds that the most enticing.“Of course,” Wonwoo quips, “as a former rebel teen, you would recognize another.”Mingyu shakes his head, amazed at how easily their banter is flowing. They behave like two friends on a stroll (or a date, if he dares to go there), but not like strangers who just walked away from danger.“I wasn’t one either,” Mingyu raises his hands, faking some indignation, “but my mother might disagree with me about this. I remember how mad she got whenever I crossed her.” The memories come filled with fondness. “She really could be scary.”He had been a foolish kid and the poor woman had been close to giving up on him altogether.“My dad is scary too,” Wonwoo admits, vague in a way that felt honest. “He would get mad if he ever knew I left home without… protection.”There are too many questions Mingyu wants to ask him. “I’ll walk you home,” he offers instead.Wonwoo seems taken aback, but the hesitation on his face disappears before he can think to voice it. “Okay.”This time, the silence is comfortable as they walk together. Yet, Mingyu’s body is buzzing with the need to do something… anything…Every step they take brings them closer to a goodbye and it’s irrational how much Mingyu hates it.“Let’s go take some pictures, Wonwoo.”The other man stops walking and looks at him with shock filled with hope and horror. “Right now?”Mingyu nods, eager… way too eager.“Why?”“Why not?” He answers, responding to his question with another. “You’ve already sneaked out and I won’t let it be for nothing.” Mingyu offers out his hand, daring Wonwoo to take it. “You don’t know when the next chance will come, right? Let’s not waste this one.”“Well…” Wonwoo bites his lip and, for a while, does not answer. “You’re right, I guess.” He can’t hide the blush that colors his face when he takes Mingyu’s hand in a clasp that’s both firm and gentle. “Let’s go!” ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Mingyu has something important to do first thing in the morning, but he can’t remember what it is or why he should care about it.Wonwoo is, by far, more fascinating.He enjoys the night watching him take pictures. Wonwoo has a keen eye for things no one else would find beautiful or interesting: neon signs with missing letters, the lonely flower that grows from a crack in the pavement, or that one bench perfectly aligned with the wall behind it.He takes candid shots of Mingyu and somehow always manages to catch him off guard.There’s a cat… They run after the small thing until Wonwoo can take its picture. They’re both out of breath, but he keeps steady until the shooter goes off and the noise spooks the animal into another frenzy.The picture, however, is perfect.They share food from the nearest kombini, they walk with no aim, and they dance to the music that comes out of every dodgy bar they happen to pass by.They laugh and Mingyu wishes he could make Wonwoo laugh forever.He doesn’t care if it’s just his sleep-deprived brain doing all his thinking, because, right now, he simply, really, wants it.It’s just a dream, right? They’re only strangers… Except, no, they aren’t. They speak through the night, confessing everything there is to know about themselves.Perhaps, when the sun comes up, they will completely know each other. ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Dumbfounded, Mingyu stands in front of a side gate on the perimeter of the Blue House. It’s discrete, he thinks, perfect for someone to sneak out in the middle of the night or something insane like that.“We’re here.” Wonwoo’s voice sounds sheepish as he knocks on the frame very softly.“Yeah.” Lost for words, finally, Mingyu settles: “I see that.”They wait and he can only look around, disbelief evident in his wid-open stare.“Thank you for tonight, Mingyu… I-” Wonwoo approaches him. “This means the world to me.”Everything makes perfect sense and, at the same time, it really doesn’t.“I’ve loved every second of tonight, Wonwoo.” He wants to reach for him, maybe for the last time.Wonwoo must understand him, though, because he pokes his cheek until his eyes forget about the door and focus entirely on him. “Go home, okay? And get some sleep before work, please. I’d feel guilty if you get sick because of me.”He seems so honest, that Mingyu gets pulled back into the dream. He still wants to stay in it forever.“I’ll be okay, you don’t have to worry, Jeon Wonwoo, eldest son of President Jeon from the Republic of South Korea.”He really must be tired, instead of bowing out of respect, Mingyu pokes his cheek to get even.Anything to hear Wonwoo’s cute laughter.“It’s just Wonwoo when I sneak out,” he corrects him, amused.Someone opens the door from the inside, but Wonwoo focuses only on him. “Maybe it’s bold… and crazy… but… would you be here tomorrow?”Mingyu smiles, maybe Wonwoo also wants to share a dream with the stranger who knows him.“It’s both bold and crazy, but… I will be here tomorrow. Same time we met tonight.”Wonwoo nods, he makes to leave and immediately stops himself from running.For someone who claims not to be a rebel teenager, he surely sounds like one when he giggles after dropping a kiss on his cheek and bolts inside like a mirage after disappearing.And it’s not hard for Mingyu to adjust to a new routine where the streets are still calm and peaceful, yet he never walks alone through them.
Memoir
WRITTEN BY: ANONSUMMARY: Wonwoo is a writer who writes the story of his own life through the letters he receives from the person he longs for, far awayNote: Italic for novel, brown for letters, normal for real time events
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“You are the harbour where I dock, you are the oasis that quenches my thirst when I’m thirsty, you are the sunlight in the North Pole, you are the first three seconds of takeoff, you are the most important thing, while I’am, an empty cup that you keep filling with your love. I accept and cherish your love and now I return this book to you, filled with my love, though you’ll only receive it when I’m no longer here, Wonwoo”
___________________________________________“Actually, this book isn’t a novel. Some of you who have read it might understand when I call it as a memoir”The host and moderator looked slightly surprised at the statement from the author who had published 10 books, novels, and memoir, and was now holding a book discussion for his 10th book, which turned out to be a memoir.“I have a box full of letters from someone I adored, someone to whom I gave my love”“So, this book is an expansion of your lover’s love letters? How romantic”“Not a lover, just someone I loved. Before any of you experienced a relationship without status, I’d already been there”The audience, mostly composed of media and young people, laughed at the author’s joke abaout the person they cherished.
“If I may ask, where is that person now? Did you two ever get together or-”“We parted ways. The events of ’98 separated us. They left and couldn’t return. I can’t elaborate that here, but that’s what happened”Silence now filled the room. The laughter from moments ago evaporated quickly, blending into the air. Everyone fell quiet. Some pursued their lips, understand what the author of A Pen meant, while others quickly search on their smartphones for information about the events of ’98 and why that one person couldn’t return to this country.The moderator broke the chill that threatened to freeze the room. She chuckled softly and steered the conversation forward, prompting the author to share more about what inspired him to write his final book.“Can anyone explain to me what love is?”“Wonwoo, what is love?”No response from the man called Wonwoo. The man he called was still focused on his typewriter, it’s clacking filling the room as he finished each sentence. The one who asked just huffed and decided to approach Wonwoo, leaning his thigh against Wonwoo’s desk while gazing at his face from the side.“To me, love is life”Now Wonwoo was intrigued. He turned his attention to the man who had been distracting him from writing his article, his main job as a writer for a big Press and Media in the country. His focus was on socio-political issues, and he was currently writing about how a President and government had banned a major publication, media and press, highlighting how amazing the media had criticized the President’s actions, leading to the ban of the media.“Why love is life?”The man he secretly longed for moved around his chair, and Wonwoo’s gaze followed the movement of the man with the cropped hair. He picked up sheet after sheet of paper filled with black ink and words typed out on the typewriter, Wonwoo’s name written below as the primary author. Then he also grabbed a book.“You live surrounded by love without realizing it. You don’t need a lover to feel love. The plants you water every day, that’s proof of your love for them. The food you eat, that’s also a proof of love for yourself. Life is love, and love is for life”“Then is there any love between us?”“There is. We love each other, proven by the fact that we’re friends, right?”They fell silent, staring at each other. Wonwoo was the first to break eye contact, back to his work. The sound of the typewriter filled the room, but that man’s words lingered in Wonwoo mind.“Love is life. Love is the simplest thing”“Falling in love is simple, Wonwoo. What’s hard is keeping that love. You fell in love with books, with Pram, with Pram’s writing after just one read. But keeping that love alive is difficult because someday you might fall for NH Dini, whose writing is equally stunning, but she’s not Pram, she’s Dini”“Then have you ever been in love, Mingyu?”Mingyu sat on the rattan chair behind Wonwoo’s desk, leaving Wonwoo to stare at his back and his movements. The man with broader shoulders moved slowly, following the rhythm of his fingers pressing the keyboard of his favourited typewriter. Mingyu and Wonwoo had met at a presidential event, where Wonwoo was covering the story as press and Mingyu was an invited guest. That night, they accidentally collided, causing Wonwoo’s belongings to scatter.“I’m sorry, I was in a hurry”“Jeon Wonwoo?”“Yes? Do you know me?”“Oh, no. I read it from a piece of your poetry”“Oh”Mingyu didn’t immediately hand the yellowish-white paper back to Wonwoo. For 15 seconds, he quickly read word after word, line after line, of the poem that had hypnotized him. Only after finish reading it, he returned it to Wonwoo.“Sorry for rudely reading your poem. Please carry on, Mr. Wonwoo”Wonwoo and Mingyu crossed paths again, still at the same event, now during the entertainment segment. Mingyu stood away from the crowd, holding a glass of red wine, and approached Wonwoo, who was leaning in a corner, focused on the notebook in his hands.“Hi”“Oh, hey. It’s you again”“Mingyu. My name’s Mingyu”“Hi, Mingyu. I’m Wonwoo”“Yeah, I know. From your poem. Again, sorry for reading it without asking”“It’s fine”Mingyu leaned against the wall beside Wonwoo, his gaze switching between Wonwoo, who was still busy organizing his notes, and the traditional dance performance by five women in Javanese attire.“So, you’re a journalist? A writer?”“Yeah. Tonight, I’m covering for a friend who’s assigned elsewhere. And yes, I’m a writer”“That poem earlier, it’s inspired by Pram, isn’t it?”“Hush”“Sorry.”“You’re not wrong. The name you mentioned isn’t technically wrong either, but I have to stop you from saying it”Wonwoo scanned the room, his gaze landing on a tall, broad-shouldered figures dressed in impeccably formal attire men he was certain were government personnel. The name Mingyu had mentioned was forbidden. It wasn’t the name of a criminal, but of someone who had criticized the government, someone labelled as a communist. That’s why the name was never to be spoken aloud.“I guess you started writing because of him?”Wonwoo chuckled, nodding as he closed his notebook and recited a poem he hadd written himselfAs they said: When humanity is insulted, everyone with a sane mind and heart is insulted too, except for the insane and the criminally minded, even if they’re scholars.So, who are you? The sane, the insane, the criminally minded, or the scholar without heart or mind?From that moment on, Mingyu and Wonwoo met every Friday night to watch, to make an article, or simply to talk about life and their anxieties about the future of their country.
Wonwoo’s career soared rapidly as he critiqued the government with his sharp writings. Several times, he had to stay at Mingyu’s place because shadowy figures in black had tailed his motorcycle after his articles were published in the latest newspaper or magazine edition.
Mingyu was his safe haven, a student who has senses of humanity, justice, and is an activist. Coming from a powerful background, Mingyu could protect him from his stalkers. Mingyu never pressured Wonwoo to stop criticizing the government because Mingyu himself was the frontline of student resistance. He led protests and was prepared to sacrifice himself if the military and police moved to suppress the demonstrations.“Through this book, I want to convey struggle, love, and sacrifice. Some of it is fiction, some based on real events, but I won’t tell you which is which”“Where are you, Mingyu?”“At the front gate. It’s intense here. Some groups are trying to force their way in, and the personnel are ready to push them back”“Can you and your group pull back, Mingyu? I’ve heard rumours they’re planning to trap from all sides. You’re trapped. If you want to pull back, you have 30 minutes. Today’s is enough, Mingyu.”“Stay where you are. You know the address of the safe house I prepared, right? I’ll come home. Wait for me”That night, Mingyu didn’t return. The sound of ambulances echoed endlessly, dozens passing by Wonwoo’s office. Wonwoo couldn’t leave until the personnel arrived to raid the place. Mingyu had forbidden it, protecting him. This wasn’t Wonwoo’s battlefield, it was Mingyu’s. They were in this together.The next day, Wonwoo tried calling Mingyu from every number he could think of, office lines, payphones, everything. But none connected. There was no news about Kim Mingyu, the leader of the student movement. It was as if he had been forced to disappear. Some of Mingyu’s friends reached out to Wonwoo, asking about their leader, but Wonwoo had no answers.A month later, Wonwoo began to believe Mingyu was dead. But his job, which gave him access to government circles, turned him into a detective searching for any trace of Mingyu, any shred of information, even if it was news of his death.“Wonwoo, you’ve got a letter”“Wonwoo, I’m okay. I had to leave the capital because I couldn’t risk making you a target too. I hope you’re doing well. For now, I can only communicate through letters. Here’s my mailing address.
—MG”That day marked 45 days since they’d last spoken. Another letter arrived, this time Mingyu is talking about his activities on another island. The second letter explained how he’d escaped, he’d nearly been kidnapped, but his group had whisked him away to safety. Seven days later, they reached a safe house on another island. Only after things had calmed, Mingyu finally reach out to Wonwoo again, exactly one month later.“Today is scorching hot. I hope you’re doing well, Wonwoo. I’m doing fine too. I hope I can return home soon, and please live with me when I came back.
—MG”One night, a letter arrived, not delivered by a postal courier, but by someone sent by Mingyu.“Jeon Wonwoo, you can hate me as much as you want because I couldn’t keep my promise. I’ve always tried to find my way back home, but the situation has grown increasingly hard for me and my friends. I’ve changed my address several times, but they always find me. Some of my friends have been captured, others have leave to different countries. I’m forced to leave too.
Wonwoo, is this the end of my fight? I hope not. I hope I can still fight, even from far away. Tonight, as I write this letter, I must go. I’ll take a large ship that will take me to a foreign land I’ve only ever known through the books at home. If this letter is in your hands, it means I’m already in the middle of the ocean, thinking of you, who grows farther from my sight. Wonwoo, wait for me. I’ll reach out to you again and do everything so I can to return and back to you. Forgive me, and hate me as you should.
—MG”“Falling in love is the simplest thing. But to keep loving the person who made you fall, that’s the hard part”“Gute Nacht, Wonwoo. Can you guess where I am now? I arrived a week ago, but I’m still adaptating to my new place and helping my friend who followed me to go here. I live in an apartment with him and his small family. His wife is eight months pregnant, soon I’ll be an uncle. But we still don’t know what to name the baby. Can you help me think of a name? And how are you, Wonwoo? Is our home safe?
—MG”Though separated by continents, Mingyu and Wonwoo stayed connected through phone calls and letters, mostly letters, as phone connections were still unreliable. Even if it took weeks or months, waiting for each other’s letters was never a burden. Sometimes, Mingyu’s letters spoke of snow falling heavier than usual, and by the time Wonwoo replied, the snow had melted, and flowers were blooming. Wonwoo suggested two names for Mingyu’s friend’s child: Esok and Larasati.“Mingyu, if it’s a boy, I suggest ‘Esok’ because I hope he’ll be someone who can protect you in the future. And ‘Larasati’ because I hope she’ll grow up with a pure heart and bring harmony”“I’m not married, let alone a father. But being given the honour to name a creation of God is a big deal”“His name is Esok. He’s handsome and strong, with round, shining eyes. I’m sure he’ll be a leader in the future”Mingyu and Wonwoo’s connection remained steady. The country’s situation was improving, and Mingyu continued sending messages, sharing stories about Esok, his friend’s child. One year, two years, then three—every year on Esok’s birthday, Mingyu would send a photo of the adorable boy along with a letter that always warmed Wonwoo’s heart.“Wonwoo, I want to come home. I miss you.
—MG”This was the last letter before Mingyu disappeared for a year.“When that person left my life, I realized how precious their presence was. And as a human, all I could do was regret never acknowledging my feelings.”“Dew keeps dripping from the teak leaves, carving holes into the hard stone below.
Last night’s rain bore witness to the silence, the absence of laughter and the clinking of your favourite spoon in a glass.
The book we hid together is now dusty. I can’t bring myself to open it, because I’ve hidden you in every page.
The record player’s melody fades, has it reached the end? Oh, what a pity. I’m here regretting why I never confessed my love to you.But if I had, would you have accepted me, my dear?”“Three hundred and sixty-five days you’ve been gone. Where are you? If you’re on your way home, why is it taking so long? I’m tired of keeping our home, alone”“I don’t hate the ship that took you away. I hate the time that passed without me admitting I fell in love with you”“Falling in love was indeed easy, it was your gaze that made me fall. You told me holding onto love is hard. You were wrong. I held on for five years”“Excuse me, post for you”“Hello, Wonwoo. You must hate me for disappearing for a year. There were things that made it hard for me to focus on everything at once, because now I have a big responsibility. A decision I made and never regretted. I know you’ll hate me for the reason I explain in this letter. Wonwoo, I now have kids, and I love them dearly. Here’s my new address. Feel free to send me a letter anytime, Wonwoo. I hope you’re not lonely at home. I miss you.
—MG”“I never imagined I’d feel such profound pain. I wrote this book in five years, because every time I opened his letters, all I felt was heartache, even though it’s been over a decade. That letter was the last. I sent him one more, but I never got a reply. He found his happiness there, and so did I. But if you look me up on Wikipedia, you won’t see that I’m married, because I’m not. My happiness isn’t in falling in love with another person, but in books and writing. Because it seems my love was only ever meant for him”The book discussion ended well. Everyone took photos before moving on to the book signing. Wonwoo, now 57, carefully signed each book brought by the attendees—some brought his older works, others his latest. There were 50 participants, and Wonwoo’s focus on signing his books paused at the 45th person.“For Esok”Wonwoo looked up and met the gaze of a young man in his twenties standing in front of him. The young man smiled softly, not because he had mentioned the name “Esok” which Wonwoo had written about in his book, but because of the book he was holding.Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu.
The same book that had gone missing from Wonwoo’s book shelf. And when the young man said the name “Esok” Wonwoo’s heart raced.“Hello, Wonwoo”
With a stiff tone and western inflection, the young man called his name. He flipped to the next page, revealing Wonwoo and Mingyu’s names written on the third page of the worn, first-edition book. Before Wonwoo could fully grasp what was happening, the young man handed him a yellowed envelope.Wonwoo’s name was written on it, the same handwriting that had sent him letters from a far land 20 years ago. There weren’t just one letter, but dozens.“From my father, Mingyu. Letters he couldn’t send, letters he was keeping until his last breath”____________________________________________“Wonwoo, how do I tell you that I never married? How do I tell you that you’re the only one who ever filled my heart? Tell me, how? Esok and Laras just lost their parents. Esok is 3, and Laras is only 5 months old. I’m the only one who can take care of them in this foreign land. Reading your letter made me stop thinking about how to explain to you what’s happening here. I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you. I’m sorry I couldn’t explain everything. I’m sorry for letting you drown in your own thoughts. In your letter, you said you hated me for disappearing for a year and then coming back with news that I had a family. But truly, you have every right to hate me, and I deserve your anger. But Wonwoo, I’m not happy without you. I just have to stay strong because Esok and Laras need me.
—MG”“Wonwoo, how are you? Today, Esok laughed again. Since losing his parents in front of his eyes, he forgot how to smile and be happy. It took me over a year to make him smile again, and the day he smiled was the day I wrote you a letter, explaining that I have children. Today, I’m writing another letter I might never send. Esok seems to have found his joy again when he saw a large teddy bear accidentally fall in a toy store. The Esok I once knew has returned. Please pray for me that I can be a good father to Esok and Laras, won’t you, Wonwoo?
—MG”“Today, Laras is 3, and Esok is 6. I, who never married or had a partner, have to think about them alone. Esok has started asking about school because there’s a kindergarten near our house, and he’s curious about the games they play. Laras, on the other hand, cries whenever she’s not with Esok. What will happen when Esok starts school, Wonwoo?
—MG”“I’m so tired, Wonwoo. Today, I sent my portfolio to several companies. I can’t keep living by selling my writings because Esok and Laras need to continue their education. Esok is a teenager now, and his social needs are growing. If I get a job, I’ll have to find someone to look after Laras when she comes home from school. Pray for the best for me, Wonwoo. I’ll always pray for you too
—MG”“Wonwoo, I miss you. Do you miss me? How is your life? How does your face look now? Has gray hair started to appear between your dark hair? It’s been 12 years since we last met. 12 years since I’ve known anything about you. Have you started a family? Is your wife beautiful? How many children do you have? Do you still love Pram? Speaking of Pram, I brought the first edition of Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu. Do you still have the second edition? Last night, I read it again, and without realizing it, I did what Pram did when he was a political prisoner, writing letters to a loved one without ever sending them. I’m too much of a coward for you because I’m afraid you don’t feel the same. But if I could turn back time, that night in ’98, I would have come home and taken you with me.
—MG”“Frankfurt, 2022. Hospital. 08:54
24 years have passed, Wonwoo. Time has begun to eat my body, weakening my spirit and flesh. The heart that raced whenever I was near you now beats faintly, but I still love you. If I’m not mistaken, you’re 55 now, and I’m 54. Is it ridiculous that I’m still writing love letters at this age? You’ve probably forgotten me and are living happily with your little family. Esok is 27, and Laras is 24. They’ve found good jobs and are slowly achieving the 100 dreams they wrote down when they were kids. If God calls me and asks me to face Him, I’m ready. My kids have become amazing people, and I no longer need to worry about them. But Wonwoo, I still worry about you. Are you happy, Wonwoo? Do you ever love me? Were you waiting for me? Are you still writing? How is the city now? I’ll never get answers to these questions. In the final days of my life, as cancer eats my body, I reminisce about you through the things you loved. Pram. White roses. Chess. Poetry. Cats. Everything about you. Because when the angels take my soul, I want my last memory to be of you and everything about you.
—MG”____________________________________________“Two days later, my father passed away. He kept this letter in his pocket, as if to keep you close, Wonwoo”____________________________________________My white rose has fallen. He closed the book of his life beautifully, etching my name into every paragraph. He fell in love with me, and throughout his life, he keeped that love, never knowing that I, far away, was keeping my love for him too. I read every letter slowly, trying to imagine what he was doing, how his face looked, whether he was still as handsome as the last time I saw him.
His body is buried, his soul is gone, but his love didn’t fade, it simply reached its time.