TPA | MW [✔]

06. Wonwoo

"Wonwoo and Mingyu sitting in a tree. K I S S I N G."

I swear, everyone chants the silly little song, but it's not to be mean, even if my face feels like it'll burn off from embarrassment. It's the first time since I came back that Eric isn't in the room. Everyone knows how he is with me. Well, with all of us. If he feels like anyone is making fun of someone else, he'll reprimand them. Sometimes he can't tell when someone is joking, so of course we wait until he's out of the room to play around.

Yuri grins as she saunters over to me. "So Heat Helpers brought you to your Fated. How curious."

"Brought him back to my life, anyway." I shrug and practice the last bit of choreography Eric had given me before Jimin showed up.

"What?" Jimin says. Their brown hair dusts their shoulders. "Spill the tea!"

And before our break ends, I give them the short version, not wanting to give away my entire love life, or lack of it.

"How cute and tragic at the same time." Jimin wipes their face. "I wish I could meet my Fated. I'm tired of using randos for my heats."

"I'm grateful I didn't have a rando." I've thanked Fate every day since for sending Mingyu back to me.

"I'm happy for you," Yuri says.

"I don't want to get my hopes up. We're going to see how this pans out."

Her smile wavers. "I get it. Don't want to just assume Fate is right. Sometimes she's drunk when she pairs people. Like when it came to my parents. They're Fated, but they are so not good for each other." She pats my shoulder. "Seriously, I'm happy for you and I'm glad you're taking things slower. It's smart."

"Thanks." Before I can say anything else, the class starts up again, and I get lost in the teacher's directions.

*****

Warm water rushes over my body. Mingyu is still with Eric, and I have to wonder how long they'll be together. Eric can talk the ear off a parrot shifter. I groan because he can also spill everyone's secrets. Not that he does it maliciously. No, the wolf just doesn't think sometimes. But it's fine, not like I have a ton of secrets to begin with.

Mingyu will call me when they're done. He hasn't called me in the days since my heat. But I haven't called him either. I don't want to be more of a burden than I already have been over the years, so I keep to myself, sticking to my usual routine. Plus, texting is easy. Trying to form words with my voice is not.

Eric helped build me back up after Mingyu and I stopped being friends, and then again after my parents' death. There's no way I can ever repay him for his kindness. He had no reason to do what he'd done. He could have turned me away and told me to figure shit out on my own, but he didn't.

I shut off the water and pat myself dry. A nap sounds good, but what if I miss the call? I'll be devastated. Before I can think one more thought, my phone rings from my bedroom. I run to catch it before it goes to voicemail.

"Hi!" My breath rushes out when Mingyu's name comes across my screen.

"Hello, little fox. I'm done with Eric for the day. And if you still want to, I'd love to take you out on a date."

"Yes, please!" My tail thumps hard against my bed as I drop to it. "What should I wear?"

"Something comfortable. I have a plan in mind. You'll need to be able to move."

I cock my head. "Interesting. When should I be ready?"

"I'll pick you up in an hour if that works?"

"Perfect!" I wiggle along the bed. "Can't wait to see you again." I'd done this though, our ridiculous separation all these years and then again since my heat.