no regrets 。taekai 。

xxviii

*just reminding to point out any mistakes or things that don't make sense, i always appreciate some feedback <3*

"taemin! what's wrong?" minho called back while taemin was having a crying fit on the floor in front of the female restroom on the first floor of the sm building, and taemin really didn't want to tell the older that.

but he had to, and minho wasted no time getting his manager to drive to sm after shooting a perfume commercial. the older practically yanked taemin off the floor as the younger couldn't stop crying.

"i told you to take this throat thing seriously, you never listen to me." minho complained, making taemin cry even louder than he was already.

some staff looked back at taemin, just to see if he was alright, some staff didn't even look back, already used to seeing idols and trainees crying their eyes out around the building.

"i'll call the doctor, tae. calm down, we'll drive there now." minho led taemin to his black van where his manager was already ready to drive them wherever.

。。。

"it did get worse, then." the doctor examined taemin's throat as minho sat back with a worried look on his face.

"is there any chance it is just a flu or something?"

"not likely... i will ask for taemin to do a few exams right now, we might have to schedule surgery as soon as possible."

taemin had stopped crying but his face was completely bleak. minho patted the younger's back, trying to comfort him a little.

"follow me mr. lee." the doctor got up with a few papers in hand and led taemin out the door.

taemin's phone started ringing as soon as he left the room, minho feeling some obligation to answer in case it was important.

"hey, tae! sorry, i didn't see your call earlier." jongin's voice dripped with fondness and in any other circumstance, he would have absolutely roasted jongin's ass.

"hey, it's minho. taemin is doing some exams right now..." the older explained everything to jongin, leaving out the embarrassing details of today's happenings.

"oh no... i didn't know." minho could practically hear jongin frown through the call.

"i'll tell you when he gets home,he woulf love to have someone to cheer him up today."

jongin agreed.

。。。

minho had texted jongin about half an hour prior to the man standing in front of taemin's apartment. he had gotten the cake and a few balloons he had planned on surprising taemin but now he thought it would go to better use in making the older feel better.

taemin took his time answering the door, eyes wide when he saw jongin with bright red heart-shapped balloons and a big matching box.

"hello." jongin smiled sheepishly, letting himself in.

"hi." taemin said, clearing his throat right after.

"how are you?" jongin asked as he set the box down and let the balloons fly to the kitchen's ceiling.

before taemin could answer jongin looked back and smiled, interrupting him, "save your words, that was a stupid question."

taemin smiled a little before going over to open the box to find a little red velvet cake inside.

"i thought it would be bigger." taemin laughed silently at the size of the box compared to the cake inside.

"you don't like it?" jongin pouted.

tamein shook his head, "i love it."

he sat down on the kicthen island, grabbing a fork to get one piece of the cake.

"so, about the-"

"can we," taemin raised his voice a little but immediately lowered it, "can we not talk about that, jongin."

"but-"

"please." taemin gripped his fork, "not now."

jongin silently nodded and took a bit of the frosting with his finger.

surprisingly they finished the cake in less than twenty minutes, leaving jongin to stare a taemin's face with no distrctions.

"what."

"i like you." jongin blurted out.

taemin became the color of the cake instantly, jongin wished he could take a photo of taemin's face at that moment.

"i... i know." taemin gulped, as jongin stood up and went towards him.

"that's it?" jongin came up close to taemin, standing next to him, next to the kitchen island.

"i like you too." taemin said looking straight into jongin's eyes.

jongin let out a giggle accidently, smiling at taemin.

"glad to know," he started, "but i think we've known each other for a bit more than a year now, we've been close friends for more than a year and i expect you to talk to me when something is worrying you. especially when it was to do with your health, taem."

taemin looked down.

"you don't have to if you don't want to, but i would like to pay you back for helping me through my own ugly crying."

taemin smiled at that, only noticing he was crying when jongin brought up a thumb to wipe a rogue tear.

"it's just... " now he had started to full on cry.

"i know." jongin brought taemin in for a hug.

"you don't know." taemin mumbled against jongin's shirt.

"you're right. it must be terrifying. but i'm here for you, taemin. if you don't want to talk about it's fine, but at least don't pretend to be okay in front of me, okay?" jongin smiled at him as he looked down a the older.

taemin nodded and jongin kissed both of his cheeks before taking them to the couch.

"do you wanna watch a movie or sleep?"

"movie." taemin smiled through tears and felt especially grateful to have someone like jongin in his life, whether it was as a friend or a lover.