Cold Coffee | 𝐉. 𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨 ✓

17

17

[Jeong Yunho]
> 9th Apr 2023

     "A little getaway?" Hongjoong repeats my words, shaking his head in disbelief.

      I pouted a little and whispered my words, "I want to take her by the hand and drag her someplace quiet."

      "You've come to me for advice?" he laughed; it was sarcastic.

      I was at work today. Quite unlike me, I guess. But I had a reason to be here today; I came to turn in my manuscript for the book I had been working on. I stayed back for a bit since I wasn't in a hurry to be at home. Not that I had a choice to go back, cause Hongjoong wanted to "talk" to me. We were discussing a minute detail of my life, purportedly, about you. Lee Saeyan, you were taking up every fraction of my mind.

      I leant back in the chair and skeptically casted my eyes over him for a short second. "I know, you're the least romantically inclined person. But San's not here and I need someone's advice."

      "The fact, being your second choice already makes me feel great." He rolled his eyes, and heaved out a sigh, "quiet you said? I know a place."

      My ears perked at his words, and I lurched forward over the table separating us two. "Nothing too cynical right?"

      "Oh yeah, I was thinking about the woods and how quiet it is at night; maybe take her there and confirm yourself to be a serial killer," he deadpanned. "No idiot! It's the place right across. The city park. You've got your way sneaking inside. Take her to the lake and since it's a cloudless night, you can gaze at the stars."

      "Not bad. Pretty amazing for a suggestion coming from you." I joked and he glared at me. "Alright alright, I'll take her there."

      "And make sure you don't do anything stupid; you've got the reputation of ruining good things." It came out wrong from his mouth, the words—every syllable brought back immensely painful memories from past.

      I held back, and offered him a dainty smile, "I know, but I'm way past that. I won't ruin what I have with her."

      I really hoped I didn't. Hongjoong and mine interaction compelled me to think about you; think about ways wherein I don't come off too strong with my confession or my feelings. When I was walking to your cafe, when I opened the door, I believed I could never ruin my chance with you. So, I took a deep breath, trudged behind the counter and grabbed your hand.

      You were taken off guard but were so willing to follow me. You didn't resist, you didn't pull your hand away from mine; I liked the way it fit so perfectly in mine. Our hands were warm and snug, an embrace lighting up several shivers on my spine. I took you to the park, to the lake, walking on the yellow bricked promenade along the trees of nothing and dark.

       Hongjoong was right, the lake was insanely romantic at night; the shuddering ripples of falling leaves on the surface of water, the stretched-out silhouettes of trees, and the glimmering scatter of stars reflecting inside. A heaven. But you were my paradise, your eyes shining with the stars, holding them in their brown terrain—moonlight kissed your lips first, before I could have my chance. You were breathtakingly gorgeous.

      "The moon's beautiful, isn't it?" I never meant to imply it to be a question.

      You replied nonetheless, "it is."

      Your voice soft and delicate, enrapturing my senses and soul. I didn't want to say wrong things, so I hesitated and my mind glitched. I asked something so stupid, something Hongjoong had already warned me about.

      "Can we be friends?"

      Can't believe these words came out of my mouth. I could hear your heart breaking in your chest, and I could feel myself falling down a void of displeasure. You didn't want to hear it, did you? Because you were already thinking of us to be something more than friends.

      "Sure. Why not. I thought we were friends already."

      We are. We are friends. But I want to be more than friends with you. If you could only listen to my heart, hear its plea and forget what I said.

      I had to play it out, but I kept saying stupefyingly insane words which would only drift us apart. Eventually, I got the courage somehow; I turned to you and cupped your face in my hands. My palms laid soft on your cheeks, fingers caressing the hair framing them. Leaning in closer every second, I felt my breath hitch. I kissed you without hesitation, the rationality out of the window for the time being. I kissed you passionately and it ignited something in me when you kissed me back.

      I wanted this kiss to escalate, but you pulled away to rest your forehead on mine. You stared into my eyes, while I kept caressing your face.

      "Friends never kiss each other like this."

      You were right. Do you understand my yearning now?

      "What do you want Saeyan?"

      "I don't want the coffee to go cold."

      I chuckled softly, feeling my heart palpitate with an eldritch desire, an impulse taking over my conscience. I smiled at you, genuinely. I leaned in again to kiss you and kept it short this time. Because there was something I needed to say, something troubling my mind.

      "What if I say I don't like coffee and only drink it because I get to see you?"

      You laughed, nudging the tip of your nose with mine. "I'd still say I wouldn't want the coffee to go cold."

      "Do you like me, Yunho?" You asked.

      I felt lightheaded. "More than you know. I've fallen in deep; you should know."

      "I think me too." You whispered and kissed me again. We kept kissing, as if our lips weren't sated yet, wanting every minute to taste them. "You're a mystery. I find you so odd, and different. Our relationship would be soul-searching."

      "Then I guess there's no harm in giving us a chance."

      Sadly, that was the beginning of our end.