Decaf Coffee

2 - Ruffled hair

They walked together, their feet making soft pats against the concrete. The night air was cold and their noses were chilled by the time they reached their car. They drove in comfortable silence. The rain picking up beat down on the windows, Hyunjin turned on the windshield wipers. Seungmin insisted on driving, but Hyunjin gave him a convincing argument. The argument being Hyunjin pouting and Seungmin melting too quickly to say no again. Seungmin took this time to admire Hyunjin. The white shirt he was wearing fit well, showing his broad shoulders true size, but loose enough around his arms to be comfortable. His eyelashes were long, the mole under his eye showing through the makeup that had worn off from a long day at work, his hair slightly messy from him shaking it out periodically. Seungmin noticed his hair was a bit wavier because of the humidity. He smiles.

Seungmin loves the drives home from work, especially when a hyunjin would drive. He always noticed something new about him when he was stationed in the passenger seat. It had been like this for a long time, but every drive Seungmin's chest warms up a little more. Sipping his coffee, he feels it warm his stomach. It also warms his whole body, he looks at the dove adorning the top of the drink and he feels even warmer. He knows the feeling wasn't from the heat of the coffee, it was from sentiment.

Seungmin was so in love with Hyunjin and he always had been. He fell for him first year of college. He watched him practice dance until he almost passed out at 2 a.m. Seungmin told him he should take a break, but he insisted that until he could hit the choreography sharper, he wouldn't. Around 2 a.m. he couldn't take it anymore and he stopped and swayed a little.

"Hyunjin, are you okay? Please take a break." He stood up and held Hyunjin's waist, trying to steady him. That's when he saw his eyes starting to close and felt his body get heavier. Quickly, Seungmin dropped Hyunjin down in a chair, a little harshly from his panic, and grabbed one of the water bottles they kept in the corner of the room.

"Drink it slowly and you don't have a choice." Hyunjin drank, but still swayed in the chair. Seungmin guided him to the floor and laid him on his back, lifting his legs straight up. "Trust me on this one, Jinnie." Hyunjin finally started breathing easier, even though he gained a headache. When 20 minutes had passed and Seungmin was less nervous, he laid down next to him, "You can't get up or sleep for another hour just in case, okay? I'll just lay here with you." Hyunjin didn't speak, he just stayed.

After a long time, Hyunjin speaks, "I'll listen to you next time when you tell me to take a break, I'm sorry I burdened you."

"It's not a burden, Hyunjin. It's not a big deal, anyone would do that. When someone almost passes out, you just have to lay them down and lift their legs, I learned that in high school. I thought it didn't matter then, like it was stupid. Come on? When would I ever need to keep someone from passing out? I'm glad 15 year old Seungmin paid attention. Honestly, anyone would do that, Hyunjin it's no big-" Hyunjin grabbed Seungmin's hand that was on the floor between them, interrupting his ranting out of nervousness, and they turned to face each other. It hit Seungmin, He's absolutely perfect.

"No, not anyone would do that. But you did, and for that, I am grateful. You're selfless, thank you." Seungmin had to look at the ceiling, because he felt his cheeks warm. Seungmin had a girlfriend, he couldn't think about Hyunjin like this. He convinced himself that his feelings for Hyunjin and the attraction he felt would go away in a week, it would be fine. But they never stopped, they only got stronger and more distracting. Seungmin broke up with his girlfriend, crying. He felt guilty. But even then, Hyunjin reassured him "You can't help if you lose feelings for someone, don't feel bad Seungminnie." He always knew how to calm him down.

Seungmin blushes thinking about that time, the first time he really fell for Hyunjin. Of course, it had to be when Hyunjin almost passed out on their dorm floor by being a dumbass. He sips his coffee, hearing a soft voice, "What are you thinking about?" Hyunjin turns into the parking garage for their building, finds a spot, parks, and turns to face Seungmin before he manages to answer.

"Uh, just memories."

"Really? Like what?" Hyunjin opened the door, grabbing both boys' backpacks and holding them in one hand. They walk, Hyunjin holds out his free hand and Seungmin takes it. Routine. Hyunjin convinces himself it's platonic, unknowing that Seungmin convinces himself the same. Also, Routine.

"When your dumbass almost passed out freshman year," Seungmin smirks hearing Hyunjin groan in embarrassment.

"I forgot about that," Hyunjin stopped walking to stare at the ceiling dramatically. Leaving Seungmin to drag him to the elevator, nodding a greeting to the concierge. Both of them rolled their eyes at the dramatic angel that is Hyunjin. They didn't stop holding hands until they were inside of their apartment and had to make food.

Seungmin looked through the fridge, focusing hard on the ingredients in front of him, "We have about everything, love. What do you want me to make?" He turned to see Hyunjin with his mouth dropped, his ears bright red.

"Huh...What?" Hyunjin barely choked out. Seungmin looked back at Hyunjin with no change in expression. He didn't seem to realize what he said out loud, he didn't realize the affectionate name he just called Hyunjin. It wasn't like he hadn't called him affectionate names before, but it was nothing so sweet in such a domestic situation. It threw Hyunjin off. He started thinking of whether or not he would hear that everyday if they were together. Do you think he uses affectionate names more when he's with someone? I wonder if he likes being called sweet names too? Do you think he would use them all the time, for everything? . . ."Love, can you hand me the remote?" or even "How was work, Love?" . God, what if he used "my love?", that would be even cuter.

"I asked what you wanted me to make for us to eat," The light in the kitchen made little stars in the boys' eyes as he repeated himself. "I can make ramen or cold noodles, if you want. It's good to have at night sometimes, I think it's a delicious relaxing night food, you know?"

Hyunjin got even more lost in his thoughts, If I got up and kissed him right now, would he freak out? His lips probably are so soft, his voice is soft so his lips must be soft to match. . . Right? I'm pretty sure they would be. I could run my fingers through his hair too, and kiss him even more. Oh, cold noodles sound good right now with some hot green tea.

Seungmin waited for an answer, smiling a bit at how dazed Hyunjin looked. Leaning on his hand sitting at their table, he looked sleepy and almost serene. What is he thinking about? This dork. Seungmin walked over to Hyunjin, affectionately ruffling his hair. Expecting Hyunjin to ask him not to touch his hair and pout, Seungmin giggles. But Hyunjin never asks and he just stares at him softly.

"Cold noodles with green tea sounds good, right?" Hyunjin says to Seungmin a big, round smile on his face. He pulls him into a hug, his hands around his waist. Seungmin standing and Hyunjin still sitting down, he could feel the boy standing start laughing.

"Yeah, Hyunjin. That sounds perfect, I'll make some. Thank you for driving us home, tonight."

"You know you don't have to thank me for that." The boys settled down for the night, Hyunjin unaware of how pulling Seungmin close made his heart race. Both boys settled into their rooms until about 3 A.M. where only one of the boys was woken from a seeming strange noise in their apartment.