Madness for Two 🎬 yungi [▶]

21

"Mr. Jung! You’re here!"

Mingi was a bit startled to see Yunho being hugged tightly by the tomboyish girl in front of him. Not his type, not at all.

Mingi scanned the room, taking in every corner. A cozy little cafe. The decor was wood painted white with turquoise accents and some other soft colors. Nestled at the end of a busy street. He had to admit, it was quite a promising business spot.

"I told you, just call me Hunter." Yunho turned toward Mingi, who stood behind him, as he received a warm hug from the same interviewer he’d met yesterday and the owner of the cafe he was visiting today. It suddenly occurred to him he hadn’t caught her name when he opened Twitter last night to promote the tweet she’d sent him.

At least her Twitter handle wasn’t something strange; she used her real name. Saved Yunho from the embarrassment of asking. "So, Scarlett, this is Magnus Song." Yunho played with his tone.

"Oh, you don’t need to introduce someone whose face is splashed all over our restaurant front." Scarlett pointed to the perfume ad from Mingi’s company that he starred in and supervised. Mingi glanced at his sepia-tinted, edited face. He looked too thin, he thought. Ah, and that reminded him he hadn’t received this month’s sales report.

Mingi really needed a vacation from his work.

"And this is Summer, my fiancée." The girl named Scarlett, in ripped jeans and a plain white tank top under a denim jacket, introduced the other girl, who looked much more feminine in a long red skirt and a deep red sweatshirt. Her hair was shiny brown, like caramel. She also had a sweet smile. The kind Mingi would go for if she wasn’t a lesbian.

Or if he didn’t have a partner.

Or if Yunho’s smile, sweeter than the caramel coffee he ordered this morning, didn’t distract him.

Scarlett stayed with them, chatting casually. Honestly, Mingi was a bit lost in the conversation. Yunho and Scarlett were discussing plans for the Pride parade in Manchester this July and even made a pact to go together.

Scarlett was an activist, passionately discussing anti-discrimination campaigns for her community. Yunho also mostly listened in the end, while Mingi stayed busy staring at Yunho, so absorbed in listening.

"So? Any progress?" Scarlett suddenly paused mid-conversation and pointed to Mingi’s hand resting casually on top of Yunho’s. It was as if it was the most familiar gesture. Casual, even.

Realizing it, Yunho pulled his hand away. Mingi tried to ignore the pang of disappointment in his chest.

"If by progress, you mean setting new records in dodging paparazzi? Then yes, we’ve made plenty." Mingi didn’t intend for his words to come out that bitter.

Scarlett sighed and looked uncomfortable. Then Summer called her over about something regarding a broken coffee machine, so she excused herself, leaving Yunho and Mingi in a rather intense awkwardness.

"There aren’t any paparazzi here. You don’t need to put on a show." Yunho’s voice still held a tinge of weariness.

"But there are still plenty of people here. That girl at the next table is secretly filming us with her phone; did you notice?"

Yunho shook his head, and his heart sank. Mingi only acted like this when there was a camera around.

Mingi was just being professional, Yunho tried to ignore the voices in his head saying that maybe Mingi had feelings for him.

Don’t set yourself up for more heartbreak.

"So, San called me this morning and mentioned something about your record label agreement."

Mingi tensed for a moment. First, since when was Yunho close enough to call him San? Second, Mingi made a mental note to give San his deadliest glare later. Third, Mingi just realized there was something he hated more about Yunho than his fake-strong sad smile: that flat tone he used.

"I thought he was just checking the address of the cafe you gave."

"That too. So..."

Mingi had been wondering why Yunho was carrying a small crossbody bag. Although, it did make him look like a Korean tourist in the middle of London.

Yunho pulled out a small, worn notebook. "I’ve got some old poems. 'Take Me to Church' also came from here." He handed it over to Mingi just like that. To Mingi, it felt like holding a masterpiece, while Yunho seemed indifferent about the battered notebook.

Mingi accepted it, looking confused. "So, you don’t mind?"

"I write just to shift my focus temporarily from the stress I’m feeling. Most of it is just random, meaningless words. I haven’t even read half of what’s in there."

Mingi opened the first page and was instantly captivated. No title, no introduction. Just lines of poetic phrases.

Mingi never had words this good for his lyrics.

And Yunho thought he was too bad to start a writing career? Are you kidding me?

'It's not a cage

It's home, the rabbit said

There's a rabbit trapped but the tiger never knows

You never move on, he said

You're just finding another places to hide

The tiger never eats it, the tiger never wanna know

There's a rabbit trapped in its cage

At least it is not alone any more'

"I’ll gag you if you ever say your poetry is bad again."

Yunho paused mid-sip of his frappuccino, his round eyes widening. "That’s crazy talk. I write whenever I feel insane."

Mingi stopped reading, meeting Yunho’s gaze. "What would you do if you didn’t write?"

"I don’t know," Yunho’s eyes drifted from Mingi to the far corner of the cafe, where there was a piano, "maybe slit my wrists," he gave a poor laugh, entirely lacking humor.

"Did you start writing after Hongjoong?" Mingi saw the tension in Yunho’s shoulders when he mentioned that name. Also, the look that froze on his face.

"I’ve always needed to write." Yunho found his voice again after a few seconds. He took a deep breath, slowly meeting Mingi’s gaze. "Every time I feel sad and feel like no one will listen."

Mingi wanted to kiss Yunho at that moment. Yunho’s furrowed brows marked the lines of his worries. A testament to his every anxiety. That sad smile of his, a smile hiding so much pain. Mingi wanted to kiss him.

So he did. Touching Yunho’s chin and bringing their lips closer.

Yunho didn’t resist.

Mingi wanted to ask why he didn’t resist. But the feel of Yunho’s lips made him unwilling to pull away.