The Manual 「mingyu」

e p i l o g u e

너 사용법

9;
When you’re walking her home, slow footsteps
With a low voice, confess to her

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"Black pen, black pen.." Mingyu murmured to himself as his eyes scanned the rows of pens to find the one he intended to buy.

"There-"

"Here-"

"Eh?" two voices blended together as another hand reached out to pick the same pen he eyed.

"Jooyeon?" he scanned the girl tiptoeing for the pen they both wanted.

"I didn't expect to bump into you here, Gyu. Did you run out of pens too?" Jooyeon grinned, still reaching for the pen when he took it first, before taking another three.

Mingyu immediately pulled her away from the shelves and walked to the cashier with her before answering, "Yeah, my exams just finished and all the pens are empty."

She giggled, "Same. Imagine if we ran out of pens during a test."

He groaned, "That would be the end of me."

Laughing at his comment, she stopped him from paying when on the cashier before pulling out her own wallet.

"You took me to Jeju last time. I'm paying for this." she quickly took out the exact amount of money and shoved it to the worker before he could.

"Hey! That's not what we agreed on." he groaned and was about to shove his money into her wallet to pay her, Jooyeon skillfully dodged and put her wallet back in her bag.

"I don't remember agreeing to anything." she smiled cheekily before taking the bag of pens from the worker and exited the store, tugging at Mingyu who was still bitter.

"Oh come on, you can treat me food or something else next time." she reasoned with him until he finally accepted.

"Fine. Let me pay next time." he glared at her as she giggled triumphantly.

Jooyeon swiftly wrapped her arm around his and snuggled close for warmth in the rather chilly day. They both staggered for a second and had nearly lost balance before collecting themselves and laugh at the situation.

"Jooyeon-ah, let's just snuggle at home or else we might end up breaking a bone."

Mingyu joked but Jooyeon shook her head, "We'll be fine."

As the both of them chuckle again, they happen to pass by a familiar looking bulletin board and odd enough, their attention was shifted to it.

"Did you just think about-" the both of them said in unison before cracking into laughter.

"Our chemistry is no joke." Jooyeon commented after they had their fill laughing.

"Maybe it's fate." he winked jokingly as she hit him playfully.

After the fun died down, the both of them turned rather sentimental, in a good way.

"We're definitely reminiscing about that day we met, aren't we?" she interfered his thoughts.

With a sincere smile, he let out a chuckle, "Yeah."

"And then, after months and months living together, you finally confessed." Jooyeon continued, a smile spread on her face.

Mingyu grinned, "We were walking down the same road too."

Upon to realising the point he just said, she let out a small shriek as she was startled, "You're right!"

As the both of them walked further down the steeper hill, they both come to a halt in sync. Staring at one particular spot in the street, Jooyeon then pointed out.

"There right? Where you confessed." she beamed at him.

Mingyu gave a proud expression, "Ohh.. You still remember."

She snorted, "The question is, do you remember? Because I remember every single word you said to me when you confessed. Heck, I could even do a remake of the scene as you that day."

Shocked at her statement, his mouth formed a big oval, "Heol. You actually do?"

Jooyeon nodded furiously, "Yeah, which is why I'm making you do it now to test you. Do it, Gyu!"

She stared at him, eyes glimmering with hope as she pleaded him to repeat the exact same words that sent butterflies to her stomach and brought her to tears.

"I love you~" Mingyu sing-songed jokingly which made her expectant expression drop into a frown.

Stomping ahead of him, she pouted and walked down the hill first, leaving him behind as she spoke in an annoyed manner.

"Ah. As expected, Kim Mingyu had forgotten our most important memory shared as of today. Can you believe it?" she hollered out loud, kicking small pebbles while she stomped down the road.

"Aigoo, are you mad? I was just joking, babe." Mingyu jogged up to her who was still upset that she expected so much.

Jooyeon stopped on her tracks and turned to him.

"If you're really joking then you don't mind showing me the real thing now then?"

As Mingyu pursed his lips and kept quiet, she snorted.

"I knew it. Let's just-" but before she finished her sentence, Mingyu had successfully pulled her into an embrace and she was forced to meet him in the eye, face inches away from each other.

"Jooyeon-ah, everytime I think about loving again, all I can think about is to run away and hide myself away. But then there were times where my true self was brought out even if I tried to seal it away, and that was when you were supporting me during the hurtful times. You never failed to make me laugh after the times where only sadness clouded upon me, you brightened my day so effortlessly every single day. That's when I realise that I'm in love with you once again. But this time, I won't hide my feelings from you."

Mingyu then tightened the hug before whispering softly, "I love you."

A sudden rush of relief surged through her whole body as she then leaned to kiss him. After pulling away from the kiss, Jooyeon quickly hugged him back.

"It's amazing how you actually still remember every single word you said. You're very unexpected, Gyu."

Smiling proudly, he chuckled, "I'm amazing, I know."

Giggling at his comment, she pulled away and said, "Although you missed a few words."

Mingyu groaned before leaning in to place a soft peck on her forehead.

"Don't be so strict with me, Jooyeon. I did my best."

He spun her around before wrapping his arm around her waist, backhugging her.

"Good job. Now come, let's head home. I'll cook you something good."

Jooyeon grinned and pulled the giant baby behind her back home to have dinner together and continue cuddling while watching a movie as promised a few days back.