The smell of flowers and coffee (Completed)

Chapter 7

"If you're a bit scared, you're living on edge
It's hard to escape your worries
If you wanna hide, you're losing your mind
You gotta lean on somebody

[...] 'Til we're free to meet up for a coffee and a smile. 

See you on the other side"❤

Ateez - One day at a time

Hongjoong threw his paint brush across the room.

"Goddamnit YOU GODDAMN IDIOT! WHY CANT YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT AHRHRHRGG!" Hongjoong yelled at his reflection in the mirror on the wall.

He had been in his atallier for days only going out for his usual coffee at Aurora so he didn't become totally of his rockers.
But even Mingi could sense that something was going on, even though Hongjoong wouldn't answer when he asked if anything was wrong.
Mingi tried his best to cheer up the silver haired boy. He even made small notes to the shorter lad with his best coffee puns like "Thanks a latte for me being my friend", "Italians are so good at making coffee because they naturally like to espresso themselves." And "I made a pot of coffee, espresso-ly for you".
And even though it made Hongjoong smile for a time, the smile was replaced by a thinking frown on his face.

Hongjoong had been working hard on commissions from customers as well as the painting for the café.
But it hadn't been a piece of (carrot)cake if he should be fair.
The ideas for other commissioners had come quickly but the ideas for Mingi's just wouldn't work.
He really tried to do his best and felt like nothing worked at all.
He just wanted it to be special.

In the span of the last couple of days, he had realized that he indeed had begun to fall more and more for the dorky redhead.
Mingi had gone out his way to cheer him up, even though he didn't have to. He even send flowers sometimes with small notes on them like "You can do it", "I believe in you" and "The next coffee is on the house, COME BY!".

Hongjoong had been so caught up with painting that he didn't even had gotten his coffee...it was that bad.
And the lack of caffeine didn't help one bit.

Hongjoong massaged his temples because of the headache that came whenever he didn't get his coffee fix. He looked at the canvas.
The picture not fully done and now with splatters of deep violet paint over the picture.
It was ruined.
Hongjoong had been sure that this time he would get it right, he really believed it. The flowers had looked almost alive and the coffee cup were the best he ever made.
Even the coffee that had steam that looked like Aurora lights. It had been amazing.
But the more Hongjoong looked at it, the more dead looked the flowers and the more dull the Aurora became.

He just wanted it to be pretty for Mingi. The more Hongjoong came to the café the closer the two young men got.
He began to admire Mingi even more than before when the lad told him about his past.

His parents were no longer in the living world and he had no siblings. It was just him now.
Mingi had begun to study engineering when his parents still was alive and when they died he held the funeral and got back to the studies almost immediately.
He didn't want to stop to grieve because he wanted to finish strong, because that would have made his parents proud.
But it was bittersweet when he finished his study, got the degree and made it out being the top of his class. But then it all went downhill.
He had used all his time on studies and only took breaks when it was out most critical. Like food, water and such.
And suddenly the reality of his parents hit him. They were gone. He was alone.

Mingi went into a deep depression. He wouldn't leave his house other that for work.
He didn't sleep, he didn't eat and that could easily be seen on the already skinny boy.
His height made it look even worse. One day he was going home from work and wanted to go to the minimart to get some instant noodles, which had become his diet.
A pack of instant noodles a day.
That was it.

After he got his humble meal, he walked past a small flowershop. When the smell of lilies hit his nose, he began to get teary eyed.
His mother had smelled like lilies the last time he saw her alive.
The memory of his late mother would make any man cry.
And that was what Mingi did.
His legs could suddenly not hold him and he went into the side beside the flower pots, crouched and began to weep.
Everything suddenly hit him all at once. It hurt.
It hurt so damn much.

After a while, Mingi suddenly heard steps coming closer.
Looking like a mess, he tilted his head up in surprise of the sound.
A concerned face looked at him.
The man was wearing a black apron on top of some kind of uniform, silver hair with blue ends and eyes full of concern, confusion and empathy.

"Are you okay sir?" The large looking man asked.
Mingi just looked at the man with tears down his cheeks.
He tried to speak but the words was caught in his throat.
He choked on a cry.

"Come inside sir. I'm closed anyway so no one is going to see. You can be safe. My name is Wonho by the way." Mingi just nodded and let the strong man follow him inside the small flowershop.

Wonho brought him water and let Mingi take his time, asking if he needed anything.
At the time Mingi's tears stopped, the daylight was gone and the only light outside were from the moon and the streetlights.

The Mingi told Wonho, a stranger, his whole story. About his parents, his studies and the depression.
And Wonho was more than happy to listen.

That was the night; he gained a new friend, and a new dream.
He wanted to do something else with his life.
He had the money from his job to start it all.
He just had to take some courses and some new studies.
He wanted to have his own café.
An old childhood dream of his, he had given up on because he wanted to earn money for his parent's retirement.

When Mingi had told him the whole story, Hongjoong himself sat slightly teary-eyed, in awe and with even more admiration that he first had. Hongjoong hadn't been able to contain his feelings and hugged Mingi with all his might.
This had taked Mingi by utter surprise and made him stumble a few steps back.
Just before he hugged back it had been a short sweet moment between them.
One of the first of many to come.

And that was why he really wanted the painting to be perfect.
It was for Mingi who had gone through so so much.

At the moment Hongjoong had gone to collect his brush, which had landed on the floor beside the door, a knock was heard on the door.

Confused, he opened the door, where a well-known smiling but concerned face met him.

"You didn't come for your usual today. So I wanted to come by with it. Can I come in?"

- Chapter 7 done!

A bit sad chapter today hehe sorry😅

I thought we needed to have some background story for our sweet Mingi pinky and how the heck Wonho and him became friends😄

One day at a time really hithard when it came out😢

I adore those beautiful human beings aksjajs❤

Take care of yourself peops 🌟

-Krystalpigen