yeoboseyo》jren

37》hyperventilate

"Hi, I'm Minki. Your phonecall crush. Gosh, that sounded so corny." Minki scratched his head as he gulped from the now lukewarm coffee in front of him as he gazes longingly at the pastry crumbs on the plate in front of him.

He began to chew on his nails, a habit of his when he feels nervous, then immediately cease the action because he didn't want Jonghyun's first impression of him to be some weirdo who chews away nervously on his own nails.

He had been sitting on the Konkuk University Hospital Cafè for the last fourty-seven minutes (yes, he did count the minutes), and as the clock grows nearer to four o'clock, Minki grew more and more nervous. He practically shot up on his seat when his phone buzzed on his hands.

"Hello?"

"Don't look so nervous, it's almost adorable."

Minki whips his head around at the sound of this. It's Jonghyun's voice, sweet and raspy, with a hint of tease. He pouted. "Hey, that's not fair. You can see me, but I can't see you."

"Mm-hm. I'm beginning to enjoy this advantage. Maybe we shouldn't meet up and I should just watch you like this."

"Creep!"

Jonghyun's deep, baritone laugh warms Minki and he looks around, trying to find a person that looks like the Jonghyun he remembered from the picture. Finding none, he sighed.

"Okay. Come out, come out, wherever you are."

"Ah, but I was only beginning to have fun."

"I don't like fun when it's on my expense."

"Well, that's rather bleak, but rational." Minki heard the sound of a chair being pulled back. "Count to ten."

Minki rolls his eyes. "What are you, Santa?"

"Just count!"

"1... 2... 3..."

Minki was just nearing six when the cafè door slides open, and from there came a lean man. He's skinnyㅡand pale, but beautiful nonetheless. He scanned the room before his gaze fell on Minki, and he crossed the room in two long, determined strikes.

And all the greetings went through Minki's head.

But that's okay, because this is Jonghyun. Jonghyun makes everything feels right.

He stood up as Jonghyun approaches, and with a somewhat awkward manner, clears his throat. "I'm Minki."

"I know." The other man replied, looking amused. "And I'm Jonghyun."

"Jonghyun. Right." Minki stammers, and Jonghyun laughs as he seated himself on the seat in front of Minki. Minki joined in a second later, still at loss for words.

"Apologies. I'm usually much more eloquent."

"Yes, I can see that from our calls."

Minki scratches his head. "It's just that... I'm absolutely smitten, that's all."

Jonghyun looked at him before bursting out a loud laugh. "Well, look who's forward!"

Minki joined in on his laugh before he turned serious. "Okay, that was such a bad introduction. Let's do that again."

"Okay." Jonghyun replied, eyes glimmering with amusement.

"We'll say our name and then say something we haven't told each other on the phone, how about that?"

"Still okay." Jonghyun replied, watching curiously at the other man as Minki leaned in closer.

"My name is Choi Minki, and I would really like to be your boyfriend."

Jonghyun was quiet for what feels like eternity for Minki before the other man suddenly leans in closer. Their nose would touch if only Jonghyun moved even an inch closer.

"Hi, my name is Kim Jonghyun." He began in a quiet voice and a small smile. "And I'll die next week."