So Close Yet So Far - Mingyu x Reader

Chapter 1 - As The Rumors Spread

----------One term prior, Spring- April ----------

"Hey." A voice said, standing in front of you. You blinked, looking up at the person before you. A handsome, statuesque man stood before you. His hair was relaxed in a messy, yet effectively simple look. He wore a white tee shirt under a black leather jacket and a pair of jeans, a backpack slung over his shoulder. He smiled down at you. "Zoning out again?"

You looked down at your desk, littered with scattered papers and a half-closed computer. You chuckled a bit, closing your computer fully and preparing to gather your papers. Mingyu knelt a bit, grabbing a pencil before it rolled off the edge of the table. He spun it around, quickly handing it to you eraser first. You smiled, taking it from his grasp. "Thanks, Mingyu."

"Sure." He said. "I need to run to the library to get a book for my Literature class. Want to come?" A glance at your flashing phone assured you that you had about an hour before your next class began, so you nodded, standing up and slinging your bag over your shoulder.

"I guess I can." You said. Mingyu seemed to beam as the both of you departed out of the emptying classroom and into the hallways.

The walls of all campus buildings roped together to create Seoul National University were bustling as usual. Students hurrying from class to class, in and out of doors of buildings. The calmer ones found spots in the various outdoor spots, under trees, at picnic tables, or simply against the walls of buildings that housed their classes. It was a lively college with a lot always happening. As you fixed your bag, you began to speak. "What book do you need?"

"Ah, just something for my law class." He said. He let out a deep sigh. "We have to argue this fake case, and need as much evidence as we can to support our side."

"What's the case?" you asked, curiosity peaked. Mingyu chuckled a bit.

"This 70-year-old woman is suing her husband's senior care facility for embezzlement. Says the owner of the place has been taking thousands of won from them extra and spending it on themselves rather than her husband's needs."

"Oh wow. Sounds intense."

"Yeah, and my job is that I have to prove the care facility owner is innocent." Your eyes widened as Mingyu nodded. "Yeah. Tell me about it. I already feel at a loss. This one is hard. I'm hoping this book will help me with some defenses."

You saw the door of the library closing just as a few people passed through it, books in hand. They caught your attention and waved hello as they called your name. Both you and Mingyu waved back before you grabbed the door just before it closed, flinging it open. "You probably got the harder side because they know you could do it."

"Thanks for feeding my ego." He chuckled in amusement, catching the door with his hand. You watched him immediately stroll past you, reaching out and grabbing the second door to the inside, and pulling it open. You glanced up at him, and he smiled down at you, his lips curling at a slight tilt. Like they always did. "Ladies first, you know."

You wasted no time listening to him, hurrying into the library and covering your cheeks, which were most likely burning red at this point. Your heart was pounding as you made sure to burn that image into your mind forever. Mingyu holding open the door with his very broad and beautiful frame, smiling down at you with his gentle ways. When you heard him approach you from behind, you shoved him playfully. "Geez, you really are just one big flirt." You whispered.

Mingyu seemed put off by the statement, which put you off as well. He tried to keep his laugh low to not get scolded by the school librarian. "Nah, you just get flustered easily." He quickly deflected.

It worked. "Wh- no I do not."

"Oh, you do." He smirked playfully. He led you down one of the book aisles before you could argue any further, but the quick feeling of discomfort lingered around for a while.