please, don't hang up | nyukyu

004

stunned.

it was the best word changmin could think of to describe how he felt.

chanhee called him?

it wasn't from the same number as the first time. he would've known. was that chanhee's personal number? why did he call him?

changmin had so many questions.

he couldn't lie, he had heard the talking between the two. nothing specific, he tuned it out when he realized he probably wasn't meant to get the call.

still, changmin couldn't bring himself to hang up.

and that brings him to where he is now. stuck in dead silence after his small 'hello'.

"fine younghoon! i'll go to the party. please let me answer this," he hears from the other side of the line. there's a few shuffling noises and the closing of a door before he's brought back into silence.

a few minutes pass like this. somehow, the silence is comfortable. like it had been waiting for them.

"h-hello..?" chanhee says, clearing his throat mid-word.

"hey," changmin replies a little too fast. it comes out relieved, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. and, he had been holding his breath the entire time.

"i didn't think you were going to pick up..." chanhees voice trails off, getting smaller, weaker.

"i always answer."

"that's good to know," chanhee replies too quickly and cringes, "sorry..."

changmin can't help but giggle at that. it's light and airy, calming any nerves chanhee was still feeling. "you don't need to apologize, chanhee," he reassures.

that was a lie. somewhat. but changmin didn't want to talk about the past. all he wanted was a way to talk to chanhee. like they did that night.

"so, what's this party about?" changmin asks.

chanhee groans at the mention of it. "my roommate has been dying to get me out of the apartment. his great idea was to drag me to some party i have no interest in. i already got comfortable, i even lit a candle! i'm too far in," he jokes, "all i want to do is stay warm in bed," and talk to you.

changmin chuckles softly at the boy's words, sending more 'happy-waves' to chanhee through the phone.

"well do you have any other reason not to go? it seems like your roommate might have a point. you're a candle boy? you definitely haven't gone outside in awhile," changmin teases. the conversation comes so easily.

"hey! says the guy that found my full name and address the first time we spoke. are we sure you don't need to go outside?" chanhee pauses, letting changmin give his protests just the same, "anyway, that's not the real reason why.." chanhee doesn't elaborate, so changmin doesn't push.

"alright, if that's the case then i think we need to get you ready for a party, right?"

chanhee rolls his eyes, "why do you want me to go so bad? living vicariously through me?"

"sure, something like that."

chanhee considers asking him what that meant, but he knows this isn't the time.

"if i go to this party, can you promise me something?" chanhee asks, his tone becoming more serious.

"sure, what's up?"

"please answer if i call."

"of course, chanhee. anything."

and he means it.