late nights || minjoong

- twelve -

hongjoong hadn't seen mingi since he ran out at 12:30, that technically morning. he was in a way worried but something told him the other was fine. whatever he was doing. he still tried to process what the other was talking about. answer, blind. he was confused no doubt but he decided that whatever mingi's was doing all day he stopped himself from driving over there. which was surprisingly harder than he thought.

at closing time the cafe was empty as hongjoong did his usual cleaning and such. making sure to leave the front door unlocked for mingi out of habit. 

another five minutes or so pass when a familiar sound of heavy running footsteps approaches. hongjoong didn't have to look up from the sink to know mingi had just run in. "you had me worried! are you crazy!" "yes...but...not...the...point-" the other being out of breath told hongjoong he had run again. he filled a glass with water and slid it over the counter. hongjoong finally looked away from the sink to mingi who slammed a thin packet on the counter. the older jumped and looked to mingi for permission to read it. "what is this?" "my report" hongjoong's eyes grew bigger with curiosity and he brushed some fading red, now pink looking, hair away from his eyes. "you finished it? you spent all day-" "yes, and i didn't realize how much i had to say until i wrote way over eight thousand words." "how many did you write?" "about ten thousand i think" hongjoong let a proud smile grace his lips as the younger looked proud of himself. an expression the older had never seen him wear. it was an attractive one. 

"go ahead, read it" hongjoong smiled as he pulled his hair back into a ponytail to keep it from getting in his eyes anymore and he wandered over to the couch and took a seat, mingi following soon after laying his head on the smaller's lap. hongjoong scanned over the first page briefly before reading the first paragraph. only a few sentences in hongjoong felt a bit emotional, and when he finally got to the last paragraph that tear escaped and slipped down his cheek. mingi had written about love, what it meant to him, how important it was, what it did for him, why people crave it. that's what he meant by answer. the love him and hongjoong shared, was something he understand and held dear to him. 

"mingi..." the older was truly at a loss for words as he set the paper to the side pulling the younger up so he could hug the life out of him. "i'm proud of you mingi, gosh you worked so hard, it tore me apart seeing you like that i-" he took a breath releasing his hold as to not strangle the other, settling for holding his face in his hands instead looking him in the eyes. "mingi you are some treasure, you know that? everything you did to light up a room is effortless, your existence just shined this light. mingi you waltzed into my life at two am on a wednesday" he took a brief moment to giggle before continuing. "and now i can help you through everything else that comes your way. but i won't wipe your tears away, i'll kiss them away and tell you it's alright. i can love you until it hurts for all i care. you better not let anyone tell you that you are anything short of precious mingi, you got that? i just happen to be lucky enough to get to spoil you, and cherish you." mingi didn't even stop the few tears that slid down those cheeks hongjoong had spoke of and just like he said, he didn't use his thumbs to rid of them. he leaned forward pressing chaste kisses to each tear until they went away. 

the younger had so much to say. however to hongjoong, the older was aware of what every single word in that paper meant. he read between every line and understood. in that moment mingi realized he had never actually said 'i love you' hongjoong read him like an open book, like he usually does and caught his words slip. "i love you so much, i can't even begin to express how thankful i am for you joong" mingi's head had found the other's shoulder and he placed a gentle kiss to the older's neck and snuggled closer. "i love you too cutie"

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