Mute | meanie

The Effects Of A Latter

Wonwoo was ecstatic that morning as he began getting ready to go to work. He didn't know why, as he normally dreaded doing so, but he didn't mind the feeling, as it was much better than his usual emotion of despair. He prepared himself rather quickly and headed out the door.

Wonwoo didn't have a driver's license (you can guess why), so he had no choice but to walk everywhere he needed to go, including work. Poor Wonwoo shuddered in the cold, just a hoodie and slim jacket protecting him from it. Nonetheless, he trudged on with his tattered sneakers, the bad weather unable to kill his upbeat mood.

Why am I so excited?, he asked himself. It's just plain old work. What's different?

Wonwoo soon approached his place of work. Immediately after he opened the café door, a blast of heat hit him and he sucked it all in. Sure, going to work was a pain, but it sure did beat being alone in the bitter cold.

As he performed his duties, Wonwoo glanced around absentmindedly, as if looking for someone. He was never usually this distracted during work because there had never been anything to distract him. What or who was he searching for?

As if on cue, the door of the café opened with the little bell continuing to chime and in walked who Wonwoo seemed to be looking for, whether he admitted it or not.

The tall man from the day before. Mingyu, his name was. Wonwoo could hardly forget it.

Mingyu walked in with a grin as he ran his fingers through his thick, black hair. He put on his apron (quite ethereally in Wonwoo's opinion) and headed over to his work station.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. Mingyu smiled shyly at Wonwoo, but Wonwoo was too embarrassed to return it. He merely turned around to hide his blushing face and pretended he didn't notice. Mingyu frowned at that.

"Good morning, Wonwoo," Mingyu said as he shuffled over to the older.

Wonwoo did not anticipate this and dropped the bag of flour he was holding in surprise. His face flushed as he rapidly looked for a rag to clean it up with.

"I'm so sorry," Mingyu said, assisting Wonwoo in the cleanup. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Wonwoo shook his head, wanting to say, "It's okay, it wasn't your fault," but of course, all he could really do was shake his head.

After the boys got cleaned up, they continued working and this time in silence. Seokmin eyed the two boys carefully, as if out of suspicion.

"Good morning, Wonwoo, Mingyu," he said to them, eyeing the two men in turn. Wonwoo internally rolled his eyes and Mingyu replied confusedly.

"Good morning to you, too, umm...Mr...?" He trailed off, not knowing what the name was of the man speaking to him.

"Oh, please, call me Seokmin," Seokmin said, almost breaking off Mingyu's hand as he shook it. "No formalities necessary."

"Alright then...Seokmin," Mingyu said, averting said man as he continued working. Seokmin left unsatisfied and went back to his responsibilities.

"He's kind of weird," Mingyu whispered to Wonwoo. Wonwoo giggled silently in response.

Mingyu thought Wonwoo looked very cute when he smiled. He wished he would smile more often. For an unknown reason, Mingyu liked being close to the older, seeing him smile and acting all flustered.

Wonwoo noticed the latter's staring. He blushed and looked away, internally screeching. Mingyu looked away, too, when he realized he had been looking at the older too long.

"You look cute when you blush," Mingyu blurted out. He didn't know where this sudden boldness came from for he meant to say it in his head.

Wonwoo's face turned crimson. He fought a smile and lost. He mouthed a, "thank you," to Mingyu and turned away in an attempt to hide the effect the younger had on him.

Thank God I didn't blurt out "I love you" instead, Mingyu thought to himself, repeating his words in his mind.

Meanwhile, a collected Wonwoo on the outside was going haywire on the inside. Why was he so anxious when Mingyu said he looked cute? I've only known him for a day and a bit. Why does he have such an effect on me?

Soon, the shift ended and Wonwoo began cleaning up. Mingyu went over to him, attempting to initiate conversation.

"Hey, Wonwoo," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "S-sorry about the flour, I didn't mean to scare you. And w-what I said before, I didn't mean to make you feel embarrassed."

Wonwoo blushed for the nth time that day. He smiled and shook his head.

"You don't really talk, do you?" Mingyu asked him, a question Wonwoo received almost endlessly. "I wish I could hear your voice."

Wonwoo shrugged. He mouthed, "Not really."

Mingyu smiled warmly, sending chills through Wonwoo's body. "That's okay. You're still super cute with or without a voice."

Wonwoo turned away to hide his red face. Mingyu clasped a hand over his mouth. There you go again, stop saying it out loud!

"I-I meant to s-say that in my head," Mingyu said. Wonwoo's face didn't get any less red. "Shit, I'm making it worse."

Wonwoo couldn't help but smile at the younger's awkwardness, which he found very cute. He suddenly realized why he was so eager to return to work.

"It's you," Wonwoo said.

Out loud.

Despite the fact that he was mute.

Wonwoo froze, his eyes as large as saucers. Did I just imagine that? Did I actually speak? What the fuck?!

Mingyu smiled, slight confusion in his face. "Wow, you talk! But, what do you mean, 'It's you?' What's me?"

Wonwoo said nothing out of shock, as well as the fact that he shouldn't have been able to actually speak in the first place. He heard me. It was real.

Mingyu waved a hand in front of the former's face. "You alright?"

Wonwoo quickly tossed his apron on the hook and dashed out of the café, leaving a perplexed Mingyu back inside.

"Wait!" Mingyu called out, even though Wonwoo was long gone. Where did he go? Why did he run out like that? Did I scare him off? Why did he seem so scared when he spoke? Whatever, at least we actually talked this time. I think he's pretty cute...

Despite the heavy snow falling and cold air, Wonwoo felt like he was burning up inside.

How am I talking? How could he have heard me?

This can't be real.

It can't.

Wonwoo practically ran inside his apartment and flopped onto his bed, replaying the events of the day in his head. He breathed heavily.

I can't talk. I can't.

Wonwoo tried to choke out a, "Hello," just to be sure, but no sound came out. His vocal cords just wouldn't stretch.

Wonwoo wiped his brow. Of course I can't talk. I'm fucking mute.

But...

Mingyu heard me.

How can that be?

What is he doing to me?