Work Text:
Today was a good day. Minho felt free.
This morning had begun well. The alarm clock, like every morning, had rung at half past six. With his messy hair, his eyes barely open, he stood up, barely looking at his empty bed. A hot shower had relaxed his still sore muscles after last night sport. He had stayed a little longer than usual under the warm jet of water, his facial features relaxed and happy. Once he was covered with a freshly washed towel, he went to his closet. He never really bothered to choose his clothes carefully.
But today, Minho felt good enough to do so.
His way to work was a little longer than usual. He decided for once to not take the bus, preferring to enjoy the city air. His breath formed a small cloud as he came out of his mouth. The noise of the cars, the constant buzzing of passers-by echoed to his ears like a sweet melody. The sun began to rise on the horizon, barely lighting the streets. The cold warmed his cheeks, but he let out a happy sigh. With his hands frozen, hidden in a cloak too large, he walked slowly, savoring life.
Because today, Minho had every reason to like it.
He arrived in advance in front of the large building, in which he was working. Once the swinging door passed, the heat of the place almost suffocated him. He greeted the young woman in charge of the reception, with a smile on his lips, looking relaxed. The latter blushed slightly at the attention of the man before answering him. Turning around, he did not see her being accosted by her colleagues, curious about this exchange. He joined the queue in front of the elevators. It was still early yet the enterprise was already quite active. Once squeezed into one of these moving boxes, he let his mind wander, listening to the others' gossip. The trip was short, and he went out with some people a few floors up.The open-space was still almost deserted at this hour, some were talking with their friends, their colleagues, a coffee in hand or settling quietly in their place. Some ended their night after working until the early hours of the morning. And nothing was out of the ordinary.
And Minho had smiled, perhaps a little sad. Today seemed like any other day.
The morning passed quickly. At five minutes to twelve, Jisung, one of his colleagues came to see him. His round cheeks, tinged with a slight redness, his eyes shining, he found him cute in his clothes a little too large. Jisung asked him to come and eat with him and Felix in the cafeteria. He used to eat alone in his office, but for the first time of all his colleagues' attemps, he accepted, with a happy face.The meal was simple, but still very good for the price, better than usual, if he dared to say it. Or perhaps it was the company of these two rays of sunshine that made him enjoy this meal more than usual. Although he did not participate much, the conversation was lively, and the two friends tried to include him as much as possible. Jisung gave him many looks, and every time their eyes met, the latter immediately turned, embarrassed. And meanwhile, Felix looked at his friend with a happy smile on his lips, whispering a few times in his ear, making Jisung blush even more.
And today, Minho thought there were people who were too good for this world.
Although he did not particularly like his work, the afternoon passed quickly. If he had been able to choose, he would surely not be here today. But for someone “under-qualified” like him, it paid the bills. And especially, he did not want to be a burden, more than he already was for his companion. He packed up his things as soon as he could. Jisung and Felix greeted him with big smiles before telling him "see you tomorrow". He smiled back at them without answering.
The streets of the city were much more crowded than this morning, yet he seemed to breathe again while reaching the crowd. He now had an appointment with a friend, and his sports' buddy, Changbin. He really liked Changin. Despite his sometimes childish behaviour, he seemed to know much more than he let it appear. He joined the latter in a cafe some kilometers away. Changbin was already waiting for him, sipping his drink, and looking out the window from the seat where he sat. The cafe was surprisingly empty. The chic decor and the catchy music in the background welcomed him when he crossed the doorstep. Changbin smiled at him when he saw him coming.
«I thought you would not come» said the latter as a greeting.
Their meeting passed quietly. You could hear their laughter through coffee, and the conversation seemed to revolve around simple but nostalgic subjects. From time to time Changbin gave him strange looks, before starting a new anecdote. These two had known each other since high school, and even if they didn’t know everything about each other, it didn’t stop them from understanding the other better than anyone else. So even though Changbin didn’t say anything, he knew he was doing his best to be there for him.
And Minho has never felt as understood as today.
They parted two hours later, Changbin had to go to the gym, while he had to join Hyunjin at the dance studio rented by the latter. Changbin smiled at him before wishing him good luck. He scoffed, telling him that he was the one who was going to need luck. He paid for their drinks and when he turned around Changbin had disappeared. A small smile appeared on his lips, and for the first time in a long time, he found his friend predictable. Hyunjin scolded him when he arrived. It made him laugh, before he replied him that it was the first time he had arrived before him. Hyunjin grumbled at this comment, not being able to contradict it. Their meetings were quite rare. Both of them didn’t really have time to see each other anymore. They knew each other since they were kids, since they were from the same dance club. But where he had abandoned his dream, Hyunjin had made it his job. So, maybe deep down he was full of regrets, and maybe he envied Hyunjin a little more every day. But it was all his fault. As always. He did not think about it any longer. He went to change himself with the clothes he had taken with him this morning. Looking at his shoes, Hyunjin told him he should change them quickly if he didn’t want to hurt himself. He simply shrugged in response. And for three hours they danced, exchanging few words.
And today, Minho revived.
While they were on the ground, full of sweat, Hyunjin told him that he had a performance the next day, and that he had to leave soon. That surprised him, and he reproached Hyunjin for coming to train with him before an event like that, but he ended up asking him for information, really happy for his friend. They congratulated each other for this evening, and he turned to go change, while Hyunjin was going to turn off the studio. The two dancers separated in front of the studio, Hyunjin was waiting for a taxi, while he had to join one of his brothers at a restaurant. He wished him goodbye, and after a few meters turned around and as Hyunjin was about to get into a taxi, he shouted at him that he had to do his best tomorrow. Hyunjin had a tense smile, but did not answer.
“It should have been you”, finally whispered Hyunjin.
But he didn't see or hear anything, having already disappeared in another street.
On the way he received a message. As he opened, his heart clenched, his lips pressed to form a thin line. His companion just told him he wouldn’t come home tonight. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, silent. He finally didn't answer and turned off his phone completely, continuing his way.
This time he arrived first at the meeting place. He made a reservation for two at a small restaurant where he used to hang out with his brothers. He sat down at the table the waiter presented him and ordered a bottle of wine. Seugmin arrived about ten minutes later. He slighlty made fun of the man who was wearing a suit and tie. He didn't see often his brother, and having seen him go through all the phases of childhood and teenagehood, a wave of nostalgia struck him, seeing him dressed like this.
And today Minho felt his heart filled with regret.
They talked over a bottle of wine of their new life, far from each other. When they finally ordered their meal, it was Seugmin’s turn to laugh:
"You don’t change, do you? Always ordering the same thing."
Seugmin’s life was the perfect opposite of his. And he felt so proud to have a little brother like that. But even though Seugmin had climbed the ranks of society, when he was with him he remained a young man a little lost, with a shy smile and a misunderstood humour. Seugmin had always tried to act like a responsible and wise child, but he still knew that his older brother was always there for him, no matter what happened, and it had greatly helped his childhood. The meal was relatively quiet, until they fought over who would pay. He finally took out the big brother’s card and paid in front of Seugmin’s defeated gaze. They said goodbye with a hug, Seugmin making him promise to redo a meal, but this time with the youngest, Jeongin. He ends up telling him that if they found a time when all three were free, he would come without any problem. Seugmin’s roommate picked him up by car a few minutes later in front of the restaurant. Seugmin complained one last time that he couldn't go drinking with his brother all evening because of his work the next day.
And Minho realized that today the world was going very well without him.
At the other end of the city, Jeongin received a message from Minho that answered his many complaints with a simple meme, followed by a "Fighting! Too strong to give up, right? Eheh"
But sometimes being strong is not enough, and today Minho knew it.