Maybe This Time // Minsung

85. Is This Over The Maths Exam? 🍃

I was studying for my final exam when I got a phone call from Hyunjin.

I stared at my phone ringing loudly as I held my head with one hand. My maths book long forgotten once I picked up the phone.

I never realised how tired I was until I answered the phone. "Hello?" I said with a small sigh.

"Jisung..." It was Hyunjin... Crying?

"Hyun? You okay?" I asked. "You sound like you're cry-" He cut in with a sob as to prove my thought. I furrowed my brows and leaned back in my chair.

"Hey hey, what's wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay? You safe?" Questions flooded out of me instantly. What happened? Hyunjin.. Never cried.

The last time I saw Hyunjin cry was when I was 12, and that was when he fell out of a tree and broke his leg.

But this time his crying sounded different. It didn't sound like he was physically in pain but it almost sounded like a panic attack. It was emotional pain.

This was all emotional crying.

"Hyunjin?" I called again. "Answer me please" I asked. "Are you okay-"

"No... No... Ji... No I'm... Not" He cried. I didn't know what to do. "Is this over the maths exam?" I asked as I knew he wasn't attempting to study.

"No" He sobbed. Now I worried. "Hyun, what's wrong... Why did you call me-"

"I... Kissed... Someone" He started to say through unbearable sobs. My heart was breaking for him. But I couldn't understand why he'd be so upset about it unless he was rejected afterwards.

Even at that I don't see what he was hysterically crying for. So something awful had to have happened.

"Congrats?" I said unsure. "Do I know her?" I asked. Another long cry followed that question.

"... Ji.." He sounded so broken.

".. It was Felix"

For a moment everything stopped. "What?" I asked. "You... You what?"

I never, ever though that Hyunjin would kiss a boy. Let alone Felix but a boy!? Now I understood what was happening.

"I'm coming over" I stated. I heard a faint hum at the end of the line "I'll be over in ten minutes okay?" I then hung up the phone.

I rushed downstairs "I'm heading to Hyunjin's!!! He wants some help with maths!!" I made up an excuse.

Jihwan appeared and smirked "Don't be telling lies"

Then he saw the worried look I probably had and then he too looked concerned. "Oh.. I though you were-"

"Going to Minho's? No, Hyunjin needs me" I stated before finishing my shoelace. With that I rushed out the door.

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I rang the doorbell to Hyunjin's House feeling that if I just went in at this hour of the night I'd scare the life out of his parents.

His mom answered the door. "Oh hey sweetie" She smiled. I tried to act calm. "Um, is Hyunjin here? He asked me for help on some maths questions" I lied.

"Oh yes, he's in his room" She then let me in. "How are you honey?" She asked as I took off my shoes. "I'm good!"

She smiled. "You're looking great" She patted my cheek before leaving me be. I then made my way upstairs.

I saw Jeongin standing outside of Hyunjin's room with a worried look. "Hyung, he won't open the door" He said as I came up the stairs.

I sighed "I'll talk to him, don't worry" Jeongin nodded and went to his room again. "Hyunjin?" I knocked.

He opened the door and pulled me inside. I was met with a hug. A tight hug by a crying Hyunjin.

I wrapped my arms around him. "Hey hey" I tried to pry him off me. He wouldn't budge. "Look at me Hyun" I said softly.

He moved back at looked at me. His eyes were red and puffy, his cheeks were too. He looked tired, confused, worried, scared. It reminded me of when I first kissed Minho. Only that times ten.

I managed to sit him down. He eventually stopped crying as we both laid down on his bed staring at the ceiling.

That's when I decided to ask him.

"How did you end up kissing Felix?" I asked so softly so I didn't end up sending him on another mental breakdown.

He sniffed "Well... We kinda got closer since you and Minho started hanging out more often" He shrugged. "Plus we were partners for the building bridges committee so we had always talked..."

I stayed quiet as he spoke.

"But...today... We went to a cafe to study together since you know finales and stuff and then... I was helping him with some math question... And.. He kissed me randomly... But I didn't mind it... And then I did it again... And then I panicked and he panicked and we decided to leave... "

Jesus christ.

I looked over at him. He was reliving those moments in his head.

"Maybe he likes you" Was what I wanted to tell him but "Maybe he didn't mean to" Was what came out instead.

"I don't know... I thought about that but it just made me feel... Sad"

"I never thought I'd see the day you would kiss a boy" I chuckled. He scoffed "Well ever since you and Minho became a couple, I kept seeing you two acting all lovey dovey together and I dunno... I guess I just wanted what you guys have..."

"But I didn't think with a boy"

"Wait.. Hyun are you saying what I think you are?"

"I don't know!" He cried. "This is more confusing that physics!" he sighed. He turned onto his side so I did too. He looked at me.

"How did you come to terms with this?" He asked.

And suddenly I felt like I was transported back to the first time I kissed Minho. When I asked him how he came to terms with it.

Now I was the one to give that advice. It felt weird yet... Reassuring. "I just... Followed my heart I guess"

"That's cringy"

"Yeah but it works" I shrug. "So be cringy or have a mental breakdown over your life" I poked his chest. He groaned and turned away.

"But it's so.. Wrong" He mumbled. I felt a little hurt when he said that but I knew he still was trying to find it in him to support me. "There's nothing wrong with love"

"Love is meant to be a man and woman though"

"Said who?" I asked. He didn't say anything in return. "Exactly" I said. "Hyun, I think you need to realise that love is just simply an emotion" He turned back to me.

"Every human feels emotions and acts in different ways. One person is going to experience love differently to the other... We don't all feel love the same way" I explained. For once he actually looked vunrable.

"Like anger, one might shout at someone yet another might turn to violence" I continued. "So it's like with love, one person might like a girl, the next might like a boy"

He gave me a small smile. "There's nothing you can do to change that" I took his hand. "And that's okay" I reassured. "I'm still the same person as I was before"

"You will be too" I smiled. He then chuckled "You should write that down in your journal" He said quietly. I shrugged "Maybe I will one day"

"Thank You Ji" He gave me a hug. "Seriously"

I hugged him back "I'm here for you always" I reassured. "Plus you got me out of studying maths so thank you too"

I got a punch to my shoulder.

+. - +. - +. - +. -

Hehehehhehe