please, don't hang up | nyukyu

you didn't call

changmin didn't sleep well.

he kept his phone on the pillow beside him, screen dimmed but not locked. every few minutes, he tapped it. checked the time. checked the messages. checked the call history. nothing changed.

he didn't know why it bothered him so much. it wasn't like chanhee owed him anything. but still. he said he'd call. he always called.

at some point past 3 a.m., changmin gave up and got out of bed.

he made tea. stared out the kitchen window. paced a little. paced more. tried not to imagine the worst.

maybe chanhee fell asleep. maybe his phone died. maybe he just forgot. none of those thoughts made him feel any better.

by the time the sun rose, changmin was still awake. his phone still hadn't buzzed.

he gave himself until 9.

at 9:04, he sent a message.

changmin [09:04]
you good?

no response.

he hated how quickly his mind spiraled. hated how attached he'd gotten to a voice and a handful of late-night conversations. hated how quiet everything felt now.

—

chanhee woke up to sunlight on his face and his phone buzzing against his chest.

he blinked. sat up slowly. everything felt off-kilter—like he'd been yanked out of a dream. his head throbbed faintly. his mouth was dry.

the vague weight of the night before settled back over him. the pool. woojae. the rush of panic still echoing faintly in his ribs.

one unread message.

changmin [09:04]
you good?

shit.

he scrambled for his charger and plugged in the phone, watching the battery icon blink to life. only 3%.

he typed quickly.

chanhee [09:22]
i'm so sorry. i fell asleep the second i got in.
i didn't mean to worry you.

changmin [09:23]
it's okay.

chanhee [09:23]
really. i should've texted. i wasn't thinking.

changmin [09:23]
i figured. just glad you're alright.

there was a pause.

chanhee [09:24]
...you stayed up, didn't you.

changmin [09:25]
maybe.

chanhee smiled faintly at his screen.

—

their conversation stretched over the next few hours—off and on, like usual. nothing deep. just enough.

at some point, chanhee mentioned craving something sweet.

"you know what i haven't had in forever?" he said. "those mini strawberry tarts. the ones with the custard in the middle. god."

"you sound like you just saw god," changmin replied.

"i might've."

"i know a place that sells those," changmin said.

"no way."

"they're good too. like—actually good."

"you better not be lying to me."

"when have i ever lied."

"the other night you said i snore."

"you do snore."

"i'm ignoring you."

changmin laughed.

"anyway," chanhee said, "i might go for a walk later. i need air. i'll keep an eye out for something sweet."

"good plan."

"what about you?"

"probably just work. maybe i'll grab something after."

"you should," chanhee said. "you sound like you deserve a tart."

"i do," changmin said. "but not the same kind."

"weirdo."

"takes one to know one."

then, later:

chanhee [12:32]
thanks again. for last night.

changmin [12:33]
anytime.

and he meant it.