kaichocosoo (ao3)
Jongin misses. Can he still win in this game called love?
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Exhausted. If Jongin were to describe how he has been feeling for weeks, said word is very much apt. Being in his last year in college, juggling preparation for his final exam for Dance Composition and taking part in his group's project in Dance Production and Planning is bound to take most of his time outside of his classes. It has been going on for more than a month and has already taken its toll on Jongin's mental and physical health.
And then there is the matter of his emotional health.
Jongin trudged aimlessly and helplessly in the mall. His back pocket felt like burning from the latest message that he has just received a few minutes prior. A message that has become a quite familiar sight inside his inbox already. For the nth time, the Dance major sighed as the words "sorry" and "I'm busy" rang in his consciousness.
He thought he finally understood how his girlfriend felt when he used the same excuses. But Jongin couldn't help it. His future will be on the line if he ends up fucking his chance for stellar grades. If his focus gets derailed from his studies, he could give a goodbye kiss to his dream of becoming one of Korea's best performers.
Minhee was understanding about it. She didn't throw a hissy fit that Jongin was preparing himself for. All those times that he has bailed on her, she always told him that there is always a next time and he needs to make it up to her.
So there Jongin was, given a week-long break and taking the opportunity to do his boyfriend duties. Yet he still failed after the fourth attempt of spending time with his girlfriend.
It is a Thursday afternoon, yet, there are not much people roaming about. It made Jongin feel a bit more lonely, incidentally signing himself up to solitude amongst the sparse souls around him. He should've checked with Minhee first before heading there. Maybe it was still too early for surprises. It would be their first meeting in weeks. Jongin pouted to himself, feeling guilty of not knowing the recent changes in his own girlfriend's schedule.
There was not much to do alone, Jongin thought. He could just go home and ask what time Minhee will finish and pick her up for dinner. But then, it was still pretty early and he wouldn't want his effort to go to waste.
Groceries. He remembered that he and his roommate Chanyeol were supposed to replenish their food stock the following day. Since he is already in the mall, maybe he could be the better roommate and get the task out of the way. It could be his payback for the times that Chanyeol has cooked for extra portions when he knew Jongin will be exhausted from practice.
Content, Jongin took out his phone to ask Chanyeol for the grocery list. He was too focused on composing his message (he forgot to wear his contacts or glasses) that he accidentally bumped into someone.
Were you paying attention to where you were going?
They were the words that popped into Jongin's head but shrugged them off. He wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings too. He just opted to apologize and get a move on when he noticed something.
He smelled something familiar upon contact. It is the same perfume that Minhee uses.
Was that encounter a wake up call for Kim Jongin? Probably.
Jongin spun on his heels to utter his apology for being ungentlemanly but the words got stuck in his throat halfway.
"I'm so--"
It turned out that the person he collided with wasn't just using the same fragrance brand as his girlfriend but it is her. It's just that her arm is hooked around a guy's arm.
