ONESHOTS || MEANIE ● WONMIN

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"Wonwoo?" A voice calls out from behind him. He turns around, only to freeze in place when he sees the person standing there.

"Do I know you?" Wonwoo decides to feign ignorance. His stomach twists with anxiety. He's terrified of what kind of misunderstanding could arise if he admits who he really is—what kind of unwanted attention would he attract if this person knew the truth?

The man simply smiles, a knowing look in his eyes as he steps closer. "It's me, Kim Mingyu. We have Social Studies together, remember?"

Wonwoo clenches his jaw, trying to mask the surge of discomfort that rises in his chest. Mingyu's brightness, his energy, feels so out of place in this setting—a dimly lit hallway where the air feels thick with tension.

"Oh... yeah... Kim Mingyu..." Wonwoo trails off, his words coming out slower than he intended, unsure of how to respond, unsure of how to make the awkwardness go away.

Mingyu's smile falters just slightly, as if he's not sure whether to laugh or press further. "Damn, do you really not remember me? We were classmates last semester too. And the one before that." he says, voice teasing but with a hint of genuine confusion. He's looking right at Wonwoo, but Wonwoo's eyes refuse to meet his, darting everywhere else as if searching for a way out.

"Ha, ha, ha... Of course, I remember you. Everyone knows you. You're... quite the memorable person to begin with." Wonwoo forces a laugh, but it's weak, unconvincing. The air between them feels heavy, and it's starting to make him sweat. The layered uniform he was wearing feels stifling now. His tie tightens around his neck with every passing second he stood there.

"So, you work here?" Mingyu asks, his voice light and amused, but with that subtle teasing edge that Wonwoo can't ignore.

"Uhhh, just for tonight. I'm filling in for a friend." Wonwoo says quickly, hoping to end the conversation.

Mingyu hums thoughtfully at the response. "How nice of you. Must be a very special friend if you're willing to work his shift at a place like this."

Wonwoo was seriously deliberating running off; he wanted nothing more than to meet someone who knew him there, especially someone as popular as Kim Mingyu. But here they were, chatting up a storm in the hallway.

"Yeah, I guess I do consider him a close friend." Wonwoo says, forcing out the words while taking a sharp breath, hoping that Mingyu will finally take the hint and leave him to his work.

But Mingyu doesn't back off. Instead, he looks at Wonwoo with an almost curious intensity, eyes narrowing just a fraction. "Aren't you going to ask why I'm here though?"

Wonwoo swallows hard, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising anxiety. "I guess... to have fun?" he replies, his voice tentative, unsure of what else to say.

Mingyu laughs, that deep, rich sound that only seems to make Wonwoo feel smaller. Then, without hesitation, he takes another step closer, his tall frame looming over Wonwoo. The difference in their heights becomes even more apparent as Mingyu stands a full head taller than him.

"Have fun..." Mingyu repeats with a grin. "I guess you're right. But does it have to be this place? Really?"

Wonwoo can feel his chest tightening. The narrow hallway, the dimming lights, the feeling of being closed in—all of it seems to amplify the tension between them. Mingyu's presence is too much, too close. He's suddenly aware of how small he feels next to this towering figure.

"I'm just here to work. I don't judge the customers that come here. You don't have to worry," Wonwoo says, his voice quieter now, his patience wearing thin. He takes a step back, trying to create some distance between them.