Walking in the Wind | 2Min

Chapter 31

A/N: Please read the note at the end. Would mean a lot!

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Everything went back to usual after that. Minho pretty much went back to being that easygoing person with everyone, including Seungmin.

It was Christmas eve.
Minho finds himself awkwardly sitting at the dinner table. Seungmin beside him.

The others went home for the holidays, and when Mr Kim heard about Minho being alone at their apartment, he was invited for a dinner that he couldn't deny. Blame it on Hyunjin for blabbering in front of Mr Kim.

The atmosphere wasn't that pleasant, a tense air around. Seungmin's mom and dad on either side of the table. Very few words were exchanged, mostly about academics. Only soft clinks and clanks of spoons hitting the plate could be heard.

Minho ate silently, his curious eyes glancing at the younger's mom.

"We'll be leaving for a walk." Seungmin excused himself as soon as he finished eating, signalling Minho to follow him. Minho did so, politely thanking them for the dinner.

"Take the scarf with you."

"Yes mom." Seungmin called out, closing the door aware of not making loud noise.

"Sorry for what happened and also for spoiling your Christmas." Seungmin apologized as soon as they stepped out.

"No it's okay, don't apologize. There's nothing much to do on a Christmas eve either. It was good to have company." Minho adjusted his coat as they started walking.

Seungmin groaned, "I just want to leave this place as soon as possible."

Minho stayed quiet. He once felt homely at the same table that brought out the imperfections of yet another family.

"You know," the younger started, "I took up english as my minor since I want to go away after I graduate, anywhere but here."

Minho hummed.

"I joined the course late since I was away. Tried 'healing' as they called it. Just got more detached even though I love them."

They walked in silence.

"What about you? Why did you study literature?"

"Umm... I've always been attracted to literature. The little things that some people would so beautifully put into words, vague, yet drawing the whole scene in front of you. It's like, I can pause and appreciate life a bit better, with every word I read and with every word I write."
He smiled. "It was actually something I wanted to pursue as a career."

"What changed?"

"Nothing. Just got a degree that could feed me better than literature? Computer Science was the only thing I was good at, so stuck with it." He chuckled.

"Did you just underestimate-"

"Life's uncertain when you write for a living."

"Have to agree to that but-"

"Don't worry, I'm happy with what has happened and what's in store for me. It makes me who I am right now."

He slowed down, looked up and took in a deep breath. Letting it out as a fog.

A glint in his eyes as he tried to hold on to each second turning into a memory.
At that moment he realized whatever happened somehow came together to be just fine. He was happy. There was nothing he could complain about. The people he met, the things he faced, he wouldn't change any of it.
An unaccepting family, a bunch of total idiots as friends, some lovely professors and lots of random people that came into his life with their short chapters. People he liked. People he tried to forget. People he regretted meeting.
He accepted everything.
The fog soon dissipated.

"Let's go watch the stars?" Minho pulled Seungmin towards their very known way to 'their place'. There was something about him that glowed and Seungmin did certainly notice it.

.
.
.

"It'll snow." Seungmin looked at the star that fell softly towards him melting as it landed on his cheek.

"I know."
Minho drew himself a bit closer to fit into the scarf that they were using as a pillow.

"You chose the worst time to stargaze." Seungmin giggled.

"What if I'm not around during the best time?" Minho took a quick look at him. "I'm not here to stay."

"Now that sounds like some shitty quote."

"Write it down in the collection of the 'Lee Minho quotes'."

"Yeah, might as well. Good side hustle for me. People like me would surely buy it."

"You just said it was shitty." Minho argued.

"Yeah, but I like shitty things, for example, you."

The elder gave him a cheeky smile and went back to the barely visible stars.

Tiny white flakes fell upon them.

"This feels like that day when it rained, just a lot colder." Minho laughed, remembering that day as he rubbed his palms for warmth.

"But without the wellington." Seungmin pointed it out.

Minho looked at the younger, a snowflake caught up in his hair.
He brought his hand up and gently brushed it off. Still resting his palm on his head, he said with a small smile, "I'll make it for you another time."

Seungmin gulped and looked away.
"Hyung-" He sighed. "You know what, each and every time you do these little things, it frustrates me. It gives me a flicker of hope and expectation but in the next moment, it's gone. Just like that...all gone. As if it never meant anything. As if the spark never happened"

"Did you feel it now?" Minho asked cautiously, knowing the answer very well.

"What?"

"That spark- that flicker of hope that you mentioned."

"Yes," Seungmin mumbled.

'I want to keep it alive.'
Minho thought.
He knew what he wanted, he could have said it aloud, said everything out loud.
But he awkwardly retracted his hand.

"I'll try not to do these then."

"Yes, you're not helping me get over you." Seungmin pouted, trying not to let his emotions spoil the day anymore.

"What if I don't want you to get over me."
'What did you just say!' Minho scolded himself.

'I don't want to either.' Seungmin thought.
"Then you're just being selfish."

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A/N: I'm so sorry!!!
ಥ_ಥ

Can you guys please tell me if there are some loose ends?
Some questions about anyone or any incident?
I haven't read what I've written for long so I don't have a clue what points I left out by mistake.

I don't want a rushed ending but it's going that way!!
I'm not liking it anymore hence was not posting it for a long time.

I'll try wrapping up soon with few more chapters.