𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 • 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

24; red is not for bloodshed, rather for love

(a/n: i do not go back on my word [even if i did delay it TT] let's gooooo AUTUMN FINALE THIS WEEK!)

they were close to the company building, exhausted, worn. seokmin's energy bar was filled halfway up, wonwoo was the embodiment of weariness, and minghao was stoic—as usual.

then, someone comes running to their direction—no, no, to minghao! who was it? is it an attacker? why would he be running out in the open?!

"MINGHAO!"

just as minghao recognized the voice, he was pulled into an embrace, the both of them hitting the pavement before rolling around in the dirty sidewalk because of the impact.

mingyu's half paint half perfume scent was not endearing, but it was charming right in this moment. the blue dawn suddenly turned into a pink sunrise, and minghao swore that he could see flowers behind mingyu—who was on top of him, pinning minghao down on the dirty ground as a result of mingyu's hug 'attack'.

"you are okay! you're alive! i missed you!" mingyu gushed, voice loud. the people residing in the street are probably awake by now. either of his hands were beside minghao's ears, and his blushing, puppy face was painted with happiness.

ooooohhh. oh my. minghao's face feels hot. what the heck. the butterflies in his stomach were flying around like they were drunk, and minghao has no escape. so, he accepts his fate of feeling flustered. and troubled.

"mingyu... we are lying on the dirt. i have also missed you, but perhaps we can say our—"

"oh!! i'm sorry, i'm sorry!"

as they both rose up, minghao's two companions caught up with them. wonwoo obviously looked like he didn't want to participate in listening to mingyu's sappy welcome remarks, and seokmin was smiling—in a totally weird way. it was menacing, in a way, and minghao thought that either seokmin has something evil planned or he is teasing.

teasing who? is he teasing minghao? is minghao very red right this moment?!

"we were all worried. we thought that you were never going to come back, hao," mingyu makes this ugly about-to-cry face, and it was not pleasant to look at, but minghao remains flustered. "welcome back!! do not ever go to any other country again! stay here with us!"

"mingyu. get out of our way. this is not good at all, and if you refuse to shut your trap, i will break your bones."

oops. if wonwoo can hear mingyu clearly, then that means mingyu is being loud. in fear that wonwoo would actually break his bones and turn him into a boneless human, mingyu stops talking and clings to minghao as they walked back to the company.

as minghao felt the need to do it, he tells mingyu something. now that he was back in the enemy's land which welcomed him so warmly, the wind on his hair lets him feel freedom once again. and with freedom, comes the people he treasure the most.

"i have referred to you as the 'colorful' artist whenever my thoughts involve you," minghao confessed, his unimpressed face drowning to a soft expression as he looked down on mingyu, who was clinging on his arm.

the two behind had not heard this. they are too far away.

minghao did not know if he was doing this because he realized how good his life is here, and is being grateful—or if minghao wanted to return mingyu's warm expression of his feelings upon arrival.

mingyu's speed decelerates, and his tight lock on minghao's arms loosened—letting his arms fall back to his sides. he looks at minghao with hopeful eyes; the corner of his lips turning upward. minghao returned the smile, and then—

"oh, minghao!" mingyu cried out loud, and minghao's eyes widen a little in surprise. suddenly, tears formed in mingyu's eyes, and a waterfall appears. "nobody's compliments have never made me so emotional like this! i really value what you think of me, and i am very glad that whenever i cross your mind, you associate me with colors!"

minghao did not realize that mingyu will cry. was his statement that... powerful?

minghao's words moved mingyu to tears. minghao's words... so they do hold meaning. so, minghao had a voice. so, whatever he did, thought, made—they mattered. minghao does not know if it mattered to a lot of people—but it mattered to mingyu.

and it made him more happy. mingyu mattered to him as well.

now, minghao was not only the observer of love from afar. minghao was now the one, who others will observe and think, he is in love.

he smiled at that. because it was true. because, he's in love, in more ways than one.

"to be fair, i met you when you were drenched in countless colors," minghao reasoned, making mingyu laugh as he sniffled. "but i did associate you with colors, that i almost replaced your name with 'colorful artist'. you are so full of colors, your personality. i think you even have a color that the human eyes cannot see."

"minghaaaaaaaaaaoooo!!!!" mingyu cried, hugging minghao in the middle of the sidewalk.  minghao was startled at the sudden skinship—but his tensed shoulders droop down, knowing that he was safe; and he hugs mingyu back.

minghao's closed eyes open to look at the unimpressed faces of their other two companions—which minghao only laughed at.

he loves them. he loves this place. he loves art. he loves his life.

soon, minghao will be able to love himself.

"OH MY GOD! MINGHAO JUST LAUGHED SO LOUD! DID YOU HEAR THAT, WONWOO HYUNG?!"

"no, seokmin. it's not loud enough for me to hear."

"what?! how can you hear me then?!"

"you're yelling!"

minghao and mingyu pulled away, and now the pair both laughed at their companions' interactions. after a second of confusion, they all shared a hearty laugh, which felt good.

"this time i heard him," wonwoo said. "it's the first time i heard minghao laugh so loud."

"well, you better get used to it," seokmin says with a bright beam.