Benchmates (Hyunho ff)

train ride to your street

People were having conversations, after a tiresome day; everybody longing to go home, to meet their loved ones. I was doing so too-, shit no! I don't love Hyunjin? Minho what has gotten into you? Now, that would be weird. How can you like your bench mate? plus, he is younger than you.

Anyway, I could hear their conversations faintly through my headphones, whose volume I had lowered on purpose so that I could be more aware of my surrounding in this public area. My headphones played drafts of songs that Bangchan and I wrote three years ago, This title that played currently was my favourite it was called 'youth'. I remember, three years ago we laid down on his bedroom floor as it was too hot, he sat up played chords occasionally stroked my hair and I was bingeing that was popular back in the day finding the central concept for our song and gathering lyrics. At the end I had fun making it, and it actually turned out good. Chan doesn't like it that much but when I listen to it on a tiring day it eases my mind. 

I take my headphones out as I step out of the train, I really need to thank Hyunjin for being my partner on prom night, I was genuinely surprised when we won the best dancing duo. I type in his name on my phone to search up his address. 

His house was a walkable distance from the train station. I had been in this part of Seoul wit my cousin last month. No, no it might sound like Hyunjin lives very far from me but it's really not that far. 

I ring his doorbell, him in his cinnamon roll pajamas answered the door.

"You're that big fan of Sanrio?" I ask him, pointing at his apparel. He squints his eyes slightly and judgingly looks at me from top to bottom. Is disappointed by me..? maybe my tone was wrong, I tried explaining myself "I- I dint mean it like that like it looks cute on you-" I was interrupted, he had already left after saying "come inside". 

I felt like I had already done enough damage, I obviously didn't want to hurt him but maybe...oh! did I sound sexist??! Like no way if my tone sounded like that then kill me already, shit.

A sort of uneasiness took over Lee Minho, unable to say anything the elder quietly followed the raven to his room. 

They both entered his room, "see I didn't mean it like-" Minho was interrupted once again, but was unable to speak as Hyunjin had slid a lollipop into his mouth in order to make him shut up.

"Apology accepted" Hyunjin said to end the matter there.

That was weird. Am I unable to think straight when he is around me? (pun intended). Anyways, we were now sitting on his bed and I was helping him build his Lego Flower bouquet set, which was harder than it seemed, occasionally we both were seen banging our heads over it and we mostly remained cool not discussing anything except lego. Then he asked me, "do you have a girlfriend?" that question took me by surprise. "oh um, well no, we broke up like..last term."

"oh why?" he asked without even looking up at me, "our feelings for each other disappeared" I answered.

"Are you sad about it?"

"well, no why would I be? it was mutual and we are on good terms now."

"oh." he said quietly then I looked up at him, and like always for some reason I couldn't tell what went through that little mind of his, I read others really well but it was different when it came to him.

"Do you like someone?" I asked, my question not holding much meaning this was like default for me.

"I-I'm not sure" he said looking away. I didn't know what to say so I decided to read  the manual to figure out if we were doing something wrong while building the set. 

Then his loud voice caught me off guard. He threw the pillow he held close to his abdomen till now on the ground "STUPID FLOWERS! WHY ARE THEY SO DELICATE?!"

I'm fully aware of how this was the wrong time but time slowed down when I looked at him again this time, but when he was losing his mind over legos. At this point I don't even know if it's me who is in love with him or I actually have a disease. He was upset of course, but he looked so beautiful while at it. shit- shit, shit Lee Minho why are you saying cringey things???

"Lego bouquet can symbolise your undying love for your partner and how your love can last for a very long time." An unknown voice spoke is my head.

"...does that mean?"

The night ended up with me having dinner at his house and once we completed the lego set after much struggle, he got down on and proposed the flower to me. It was more funny than romantic honestly. 

that's one of my most cherished memories I had with you, Hyunjin.

Looking back on it now it feels like a dream.

TO MY HYUNJIN IF HE'S READING THIS  (he's probably not)

Even now, time slows down when I look at you.

your lover

Lee Minho