" Was It Casual? "

Chapter Two: The Chase.

Chapter Two: The Chase

Mingyu watched Wonwoo disappear into the bustling crowd, the weight of his inaction pressing down on him like a physical burden. He knew he had to chase after him, to try and mend the shattered pieces of their relationship. He had to make things right.

He rushed out of the cafe, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He scanned the faces around him, desperate to find Wonwoo amidst the sea of people. But the park was empty, save for a few stragglers enjoying the afternoon sun.

Panic surged through him. Where had Wonwoo gone? Was he angry? Was he hurt? Mingyu's mind raced with a thousand questions, each one a sharp pang of guilt. He had to find him, had to explain himself, had to show Wonwoo that his feelings were anything but casual.

He started running, his eyes darting from one person to the next, searching for any sign of Wonwoo. He didn't know where he was going, but he wouldn't stop until he found him.

He ran past the fountain, its gentle murmur a stark contrast to the storm raging inside him. He ran past the children playing, their laughter a painful reminder of the joy he had just lost. He ran past the couples strolling hand-in-hand, their love a bittersweet ache in his chest.

He didn't know how long he had been running, but his lungs burned and his legs screamed for a rest. Yet, he pushed on, fueled by a desperate need to find Wonwoo.

Finally, he spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench near the edge of the park. Wonwoo. He was slumped over, his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Mingyu's heart ached. He had never seen Wonwoo this vulnerable, this broken. He had never realized the depth of his own impact, the way his words had pierced through Wonwoo's defenses, leaving him raw and exposed.

He approached cautiously, his steps hesitant as he drew closer to Wonwoo. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to mend the damage he had caused. But he knew he had to try.

"Wonwoo," he whispered, his voice trembling. Wonwoo looked up, his eyes red and swollen, his face etched with pain. He didn't speak, just stared at Mingyu with a mixture of hurt and anger.

"I'm so sorry," Mingyu said, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just... I was scared."

He reached out, his hand hovering over Wonwoo's shoulder. Wonwoo didn't flinch away, but he didn't move closer either. He just stared at Mingyu, his eyes filled with a pain that mirrored the ache in Mingyu's own heart.

"Scared?" Wonwoo finally spoke, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Scared of what? Scared of admitting your feelings? Scared of what might happen if you actually let yourself love me?"

Mingyu's heart sank. He knew Wonwoo was right. He was scared. Scared of the unknown, scared of the potential consequences, scared of losing Wonwoo completely.

But he also knew that he couldn't keep running from his feelings anymore. He had to face them, had to own them, had to let Wonwoo know the truth.

He took a deep breath, his chest tightening with a mixture of fear and determination. He had to be brave. He had to fight for Wonwoo.

"I'm not scared of you," he said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his chest. "I'm scared of losing you."

He met Wonwoo's gaze, his eyes searching for a flicker of understanding, a spark of hope. And he saw it. A flicker of something in Wonwoo's eyes, a glimmer of the love that he had been so afraid to admit.

"Then don't," Wonwoo whispered, his voice barely audible.

He reached out, his hand meeting Mingyu's. Their fingers intertwined, a silent promise of something new, something real, something that had the potential to blossom into something beautiful.

And as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park, Mingyu knew that he had finally found the courage to face his fears. He had finally found the courage to love Wonwoo, truly and unconditionally.

The chase was over. Now, it was time to build something new, something stronger, something that would withstand the test of time. Now, it was time to love.