please, don't hang up | nyukyu

006

changmin woke up in a panic, chanhee had never texted him back.

during their call last night, changmin had managed to calm chanhee down, but he still wasn't sure what happened. just that he needed someone.

after a certain point, he figured out chanhee had lost his friend and had no way home. changmin got him an uber and told him to let him know when he got home.

he hadn't heard from him since. changmin remembers staying up waiting, but he must've fallen asleep at some point.

"fuck.." he shispers to himself. he rubs the sleep out of his eyes, just to murder them with the bright light of his phone screen.

still nothing. that wakes changmin up more.

he stands up out of his bed and calls chanhee again.

"pick up, pick up..." he says while pacing back and forth in front of his bed.

the ringing stops, "hello...?" it wasn't chanhee.

"who is this?" changmin asks, panicked.

"i could ask you the same thing," the other voice says, accusatory, "you were blowing up chanhee's phone all night."

"i was worried."

"well, he's fine. sleeping. he's tired, a lot happened last night– wait. you never answered my question, who is this? how do you know chanhee?"

"my name is changmin and i don't know.. we're friends i guess?" changmin answers.

"i've never heard of you and i'm his best friend," the other replies, getting more annoyed.

"okay well-" the line goes dead.

"what the fuck?!" changmin yells, looking down at his phone screen.

he opens his phone, going into his messages with chanhee.

changmin [09:13]

hey, your friend let me know you're alright. call me when you wake up.

he immediately regrets hitting send. he felt too demanding.

changmin [09:14]

or just text, thats fine too. sorry

changmin groans, falling back onto his bed. what was he going to do?

two hours passed before he got a response. but, the moment his phone chimed, changmin was diving to get it.

chanhee [11:32]

changmin i'm so sorry for not responding please don't hate me

i passed out as soon as i got into my apartment, i promise i was going to text you

also sorry about younghoon earlier, he told me you called

he's a little freaked out rn

changmin [11:35]

it's alright, i'm glad you're okay.

i dont think younghoon likes me lol

did you want to talk about anything?

it's fine if not

chanhee [11:36]

i do, actually.

can i call you?

changmin [11:36]

of course

changmin's phone rang almost immediately after he hit send. it made him jump in surprise and almost drop his phone, but he hit accept before he could.

hesitantly, he brought the phone up to his ear.

"hello?" chanhee says, voice thin and almost far away.

"hey," changmin replied, relieved, "are you alright?"

"for the most part. can i tell you why younghoon hung up?" chanhee asks. his voice was shaking and changmin felt guilty for giving him a quick 'yes'.

"s-so.. i called you last night because.." chanhee pauses for a moment, and changmin hears shuffling on the line, "well, because i was scared. b-but you definitely know that already," chanhee laughs nervously.

"chanhee, you don't need to tell me if you're uncomfortable–"

"no! i want to!" he says suddenly. "sorry, i didn't mean to yell," chanhee gulps. "last night i got drunk. really drunk. with this guy i had met. younghoon left me for a bit and i was an anxious mess but this guy helped me calm down. anyway, one thing led to another and-" chanhee pauses.

"chanhee are you okay? seriously? you don't need to go on if you don't want to," changmin was worried. his entire body was starting to heat up in anger.

"i-i'm fine, changmin. let me finish. he didn't do anything bad, i just didn't communicate well. in fact he actually did make sure i was okay at one point..." chanhee trails off, "anyway, he touches me somewhere... sensitive? i'm sorry i'm talking like a child."

he laughs dryly, but continues, "so yeah. i was just being uncomfortable and i walked away without telling him what's wrong and.." chanhee takes a deep breath, "god! i'm so stupid."

changmin gives him a moment to breathe before he responds, he knows he'd need it.

"chanhee..." it was changmin's turn to pause, thinking of what to say, "you know that's not your fault at all, right? you're allowed to be uncomfortable. he should've asked you again if you were okay, one yes doesn't mean everything is allowed.."

changmin winces, he didn't express that right, but he couldn't think of anything better

"does that make sense? i'm sorry i didn't word that well-"

"yes, changmin. thank you, seriously. and about younghoon earlier, he thought you were that guy. that's why he hung up. he's a little overprotective," chanhee laughs, trying to make the atmosphere less serious.

changmin stays quiet, "younghoon is pissed right now. a little at me for not telling him and leaving, but mostly at woojae.."

"woojae? was that his name?" changmin asks, quietly. chanhee hums in response. "i'm sorry, chanhee."

"for what?" he asks.

"i'm sorry i didn't know. i could've done more to help you," changmin says, guilty.

chanhee sighs and chuckles lightly, "you helped me enough, seriously changmin."

"are you sure?"

"promise."