Mendacity ☠️ yungi [⏹]

4

"Finally, you reached out."

Yunho on the other side looked so relieved. As if he had been holding back an overwhelming desire for over twenty-four hours without talking to Mingi, and now that he could see that beauty, it felt like he just had an orgasm.

Can you imagine how relieving that is?

"Sorry for keeping you waiting. There were some matters I couldn't leave."

Yunho could notice a significant difference in the setting from Mingi's usual background. Mingi, who usually appeared against the headboard of his bedroom, was now against a wall with wallpaper arranged to resemble a wide mahogany wood panel, polished so well and neatly. He was also wearing a thick coat and a scarf—though he still seemed a bit cold.

He had been at a cafe for twenty-four hours. This was the place he needed to carry out his sacred activity—meeting Yunho—in the evening.

Yes, it was still the same night as the one where he had a frictional encounter with his husband earlier. He had promised Yunho to meet again today. So, cleverly, he rose from bed without disturbing Leedo, dressed up, stealthily carried his laptop like a thief slipping away with his car, taking him to a cafe about eight miles from his home with great caution.

All just to meet a stranger who had somehow become so dear to him.

And if Leedo interrogated him upon his return, he had prepared an alibi.

"No problem. I understand."

The man across opened his favorite beer can, taking a moment to toast with Mingi, who had a glass of milk before both of them drank it simultaneously.

"Tomorrow, you don't have morning classes, right?"

"No. You have to wake up early to prepare everything for everyone and take your kids to school. Is that okay?"

"No problem. My husband and I are used to staying up past midnight." Mingi displayed a meaningful and teasing grin. Yunho wished he could grab him if he could.

"Hey, you married people." Yunho threw back a similar teasing response. "What's wrong? Do you want to tell me something?" he asked, noticing Mingi's sudden change in expression.

"It's a really annoying day."

"Why?" Yunho asked, curious.

"I found myself expecting."

Upon hearing that, the man across could still contain any excessive reactions well. He tried not to react too much, whether surprised, happy, sad, or hurt. He wouldn't show it to keep Mingi's feelings, who might worry—while Mingi himself bluntly informed Yunho without thinking about how the man would feel.

"Really? That's big news! Congratulations dear. You'll be a mother soon."

Mingi rolled his eyes lazily. "I already am."

Yunho chuckled slightly at his own lame joke as a substitute for Mingi's lost laughter. It seemed like Mingi's laugh box was broken? If not, Mingi was genuinely annoyed with the news he brought himself.

"There will be one more person calling you 'mom.' But why did you say it's annoying? Isn't that good news?"

Mingi sighed heavily. No matter if the resonance became the loudest and most striking echo in the relatively quiet cafe in the middle of the night.

"I always become a pile of disgusting useless jelly every time I'm pregnant. So fat. Ugly. Full of acne. And believe me, you'll stop liking me when that happens."

Yunho shook his head as if he had just heard a girl complaining that she had just fought with another girl.

"Hey, don't say that. I always like you no matter what. Especially when you're pregnant, you'll look fuller and sexier."

"You can say that now because you haven't seen my horrible appearance yet."

Yunho straightened his posture, putting on a mode where he would say something with a deepened voice to make it look charismatic and heroic.

"I can assure you that I will be the number one human who admires your glowing body one day," he said with confidence overflowing in him.

"Promise? Do you promise not to leave me? Do you promise to always be here with me?" Mingi asked, full of hope.

"Yes. I promise," Yunho answered firmly. "I hope your husband can take care of you well while I'm 'unable to do it.'" His tone was undetected, completely. He was starting to get used to it, not caring, even though it hurt. For weeks getting to know Mingi, there were too many stories about Mingi's closest and dearest ones that made Yunho feel immune. So now, there was no more rueful smile. No more sliced hearts. What remained now was just a sweet smile, looking ironic.

But precisely that sentence made Mingi's feelings mixed up. He wished he could reach the city man. Or at least meet face to face. He really wanted to stand face to face with him. To look closely at his face. To stare closely, at his eyes. To be frozen, when feeling his breath. He wanted to feel the adrenaline and be in full bloom at the same time.

And because he couldn't pull the man out of the screen enough to touch his fingers on it, touching his fingers on the screen was all he could do.

Yunho did the same, as if that behavior could make them link their fingers when exchanging smiles.

When would they be able to meet and feel each other?

The two love-stricken beings stopped this dramatic scene after realizing that the coldness of the screen coursing through their fingers was all they could feel.

At least, that interaction in their hearts had created warmth.

After that, they whispered topics that seemed endless to talk about.

Until they had no time to even look at the time. Until hours passed, and it was time for Yunho not to force his ego to continue with unnecessary communication with Mingi.

"You're cold. Go home. You need to rest to recharge your energy for various activities you'll face tomorrow."

Mingi nodded slowly.

Although he felt really unwilling to part with the handsome man across.

"Okay. Good night, Jung Yunho."

"Good night. Sweet dreams of me in the coming days."