"so, you're coming to see me today, right?"
mingyu's enthusiasm was even present over the phone, making wonwoo smile throughout their entire conversation as he sat on the footboard of the bed. his clothes were neatly folded, still waiting for him on the upper shelf of the closet.
"but i only get home late in the afternoon though." wonwoo could imagine the small pout that appeared on mingyu's lips right after he said those words. "that doesn't mean i can't see you, right?" mingyu whined, just so he was able to see wonwoo later that day.
"i don't see why not." wonwoo gave in, trying his hardest to not let his excitement shine through too much, not wanting to sound obvious in love. he felt like a maniac with all those still new yet confusing feelings that were screaming inside him, running faster through his veins than his own blood.
"i heard seungcheol's cafe is opening up earlier than planned! apparently the big opening is in a few hours instead of next week, since the rumors about the place opening up got pretty popular around town!" mingyu spoke in all enthusiasm, while wonwoo was still oblivious about what mingyu was trying to point out.
"that sounds great! maybe i should pay him a visit tonight." wonwoo got up from the bed and walked over to the closet as he reached for his clothes to lay them down on the bed, ready to be taken out.
"and.." it was obvious mingyu had left the sentence unfinished, waiting for wonwoo to say the things he wanted to hear.
"and..?" wonwoo asked in return, still having absolutely no clue what mingyu was trying to get at.
a sigh on the other side of the line was heard, soon being followed by a genuine chuckle. "i'm just saying, maybe we should get a cup of coffee. as in, maybe i want to take you out for a coffee?" wonwoo's cheeks flushed a bright shade of red and he thanked the gods mingyu didn't facetime him earlier.
"sure." he shortly replied, restraining himself from giggling like a little schoolgirl.
just when mingyu was about to say something, a knock was heard on the door, interrupting their conversation. as if on cue, the door swung open and a happy seokmin entered the room. "oh, i'm sorry!" when he saw wonwoo on the phone he instantly stopped in his tracks, wanting to turn around as fast as he barged in. "i really don't want to interrupt you, but your parents are here."
wonwoo's mood instantly dropped on hearing the bad news seokmin had brought him. "i have to go mingyu." wonwoo sighed to mingyu on the other end of the phone, whose excitement hadn't died down throughout their whole conversation the slightest bit.
"let's plan our little date through text, okay?" mingyu proposed, making wonwoo hum in agreement. "then that's set. bye wonwon!"
right after wonwoo said his goodbye as well, he quickly took the phone away from his ear and hung up, focussing on seokmin in front of him, whose smile partly died down as well. "i don't want to go." wonwoo admitted, not having the energy to get up from his bed to leave the home-like place.
he wasn't ready to face the realization that he wouldn't be able to see this room, nor this house, in such a long time. and he hated it. now he finally experienced what it felt like coming home, he had to leave everything behind again. the scent, the feelings, everything would fade away eventually. he would slowly start forgetting the texture of the wood, carved in the dining table downstairs. he would forget the words mister lee had told him. he would even forget the chilly evening air when he sat outside on the balcony.
"i'm sorry wonwoo, but your parents really seemed in a hurry." wonwoo had given them his address and requested for them to bring his bag, which had been unpacked for the entire stay. "honestly, i don't even want you to go as well. we've had such a good time together!"
but both wonwoo and seokmin knew, that everything must come to an end. they had to do it with the memories they kept there, that would be carved in their hearts for ever.
"come, let's go." seokmin made the final decision, making wonwoo nod and get up from the bed, carrying his small pile of clothes together with him. he threw one last glance through the wooden room, trying to capture everything, from the crumpled bedsheets to the lacework fabric of the curtains which made thin light shine onto the floor, making the wood look orange. and with a satisfied nod, he closed the door, leaving the room full of memories behind in the past.
it was time for him to move forward now.
and so he followed seokmin down the stairs, where mister lee already awaited them, holding onto a small box with a ribbon tied around it. "ah.. too bad you already have to go wonwoo. it was a pleasure having you stay here." the middle aged man spoke as he pushed his oval glasses a bit higher up his nose. "i bought this in town yesterday and i want you to have it. don't open it until you're in the car, okay?"
wonwoo nodded, politely receiving the gift from the fatherly figure he wished to have. even mister lee would be missed when he was gone. "thank you, mister lee. that means a lot to me." wonwoo spoke, being tackled in a hug by seokmin before he could continue speaking out how grateful he was.
"i'm gonna miss you buddy." seokmin chuckled before he let go again. "oh and if i find out mingyu isn't treating you right, i'm catching a train to your place, understood?" a playful wink was quickly followed, making wonwoo giggle as well.
"you surely will. and i'll miss you too." for the last time he turned to mister lee. "thank you for your warm welcome. this place really felt like coming home and i wish to return soon."
"such a well mannered young man." seokmin's father spoke proudly, patting the boys shoulder. "it was really great to have you here and i hope you'll consider stopping by again! i think seokmin would love that too. and i also hope our conversations have been helpful."
a small smile curled wonwoo's lips up. "oh they certainly have been. thank you for that too." he let out a content sigh, glancing at seokmin beside him, giving in to the fact that his time had come. "i should go now. my parents will be grumpy if i don't get out soon enough."
"yeah lets go.. the least we can do is wave you goodbye!" seokmin kept an optimistic view on things as he led wonwoo to the front door, opening the wooden construction with a loud creak. the black shiny vehicle stood in front of the porch, engine running as it waited for wonwoo to get in.
"i guess this is it, then." wonwoo had to hide his sense of disappointment and sudden wave of sadness when he said those words. however, seokmin glanced up at him with a reassuring smile, as if he was trying to say that this wouldn't be their final goodbye.
"oh wonwoo, we'll see each other soon again." seokmin exclaimed, making it hard for wonwoo to resist a smile. "i hope to see you soon, seokmin." and with that being his final words, wonwoo walked down the tiny stairs, waving at the boy who stayed behind.
it was unfortunate that wonwoo had to leave this soon again, just when their friendship was about to begin.
