【low battery】MEANIE

i

『我只想擁抱你。』
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『i just want to hug you.』

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"Okay, Minghao, what happened?" Mingyu asks urgently once they're alone. Minghao sighs and leans back against the wall.

"We had an argument." He admits.

"About something big? Or something small?"

"I don't know whether it's considered big or small. It's complicated."

"Want to talk about it?" Mingyu asks.

"Well... He just complained to me about how he felt that we weren't spending enough time together and stuff, and how it didn't even feel like we were dating anymore, and I told him that I've been busy with my schoolwork and also work outside of school, and it's not like I don't like him anymore, it's not like I don't want to spend time with him." Minghao runs a hand through his hair in frustration. "He just won't...listen."

"I see..." Mingyu hums. "He seemed like he was trying to make up with you though?"

"He does, but I'm just tired." Minghao sighs. "I'm tired of everything. School's stressing me out, my group for the group project doesn't do any work except me, my boss is cranky, I have to learn this super complicated dance in two weeks, it's just - everything is bothering me. And then this thing with Jun. It's just tiring." He exhales and leans against the wall in defeat.

"You're going through a lot," Mingyu says. "You should remember to take breaks. When you take breaks then return to the previous task, you can do even better. And you need to relieve your stress, man - it's scary when everything builds up and you just explode one day." Just like how I did back then. Never again, nope.

Minghao stays quiet for a moment, then nods.

"You know, you're right." He fiddles around with a twig in his fingers. "I don't give myself many breaks..."

"It's not too late to start," Mingyu smiles reassuringly.

"Yeah," Minghao smiles weakly, looking indeed very tired. "Thanks."

"I'm sure you'll do fine in the end on everything, as long as you try your best," Mingyu pats his shoulder. "That's what's most important."

Minghao smiles, looking less stressed this time."Thanks, man. Really. I'm grateful to have you as a roommate and friend."

Mingyu laughs. "Awww. Same to you." He looks at Minghao again.

"Did you tell Jun about all the things you're going through right now?" Mingyu asks, and Minghao's face pales a bit.

Mingyu knows the answer now. "Do it soon, okay?" He nudges Minghao. "No doubt, he'll understand after you explain to him. He probably had no idea how bad it was for you lately when you guys had that argument."

"Yeah, it's true, I didn't tell him everything I just told you," Minghao replies sheepishly, scratching his neck nervously. "I'm bad at expressing my feelings. Can you imagine how big of a mess I was while I was crushing on Junhui?" He laughs a bit. "I'm surprised he actually liked me back."

"Well, don't say that," Mingyu frowns. "You're wonderful, man. Junhui was able to see that."

Minghao breaks into a smile. "Thanks, Mingyu." He lowers his voice. "You know, Wonwoo isn't good at expressing his feelings either. But you make him really happy, I can promise you that. He doesn't really know how to tell people that, but he really likes you."

Mingyu immediately feels his chest swell of happiness, and he smiles, a real, genuine smile forms on his lips.

"I'm happy," He says.