Theme: getting lost somewhere
Pair: Kim Taedong x Choi Minki

 

Story starts

 

Minki takes his bag from the conveyor belt and put it on his trolley. He wear his sunglasses and take a look at his cellphone again.

 

Someone should be outside now, picking him up and then taking him to his apartment. His manager already walks in front of him and leaving him, saying that he needs to do something in the office.

 

Minki pulls the trolley, passing through the arrival gate. Not much fans are here and he's really grateful with that.

 

His eyes searching for someone who supposed to pick him up right now, but he couldn't find that person.

 

He walks slowly, still scanning through the bunch of people who standing in front of the arrival gate, waiting for someone.

 

Minki sigh. Probably he should take a taxi to get back home.

 

The voices of some girls screaming his name could be heard when he walks. Although he used to be so grateful towards his fans, but right now, he only wants to go back home and have a nice rest.

 

He just arrived from another fashion show in Paris and he also take that chance to have a short vacation, so he could forget about the bad things that suddenly raised up in his mind again.

 

He shouldn't think about it again, because it's already two years since he broke up with someone that he thought will be his soulmate forever. But forever doesn't have a meaning again when he heard the 'break up' words from Kim Jonghyun.

 

Even now, he still can't forget what Jonghyun said that time. That they're not meant to be together.

 

Minki doesn't know what goes wrong with their relationship so Jonghyun would say something like that. He loved him so much and he thought Jonghyun had the same feeling for him. But when they have to choose their own way, that's also the end for their relationship.

 

It always hurt when he remembered their times together and after that breakup, he never contacted Jonghyun anymore.

 

Sometimes Minhyun will ask them for a meet-up but Jonghyun turns to be a stranger towards him. He keeps making a distance and Minki couldn't help but doing the same thing. He must realized that they're not a couple anymore, they're just friends.
Then, after taking a vacation to refresh his mind, Minki decided that it's time to move on and start a new beginning, including his relationship life.

 

The touch from someone on his shoulder snaps him back to reality.

 

He really surprised, he shoves that person's hand away but the person grips his wrist.

 

"Minki-hyung?"

 

Minki stares at the tall person who is now standing in front of him. He needs a few second to realize that it's someone that he knew.

 

"Taedong?"

 

"I'm here to pick you up," Taedong smiles at him, "come with me."

 

Minki stares at a bunch of girls that still screaming and wants to chase him, he quickly nods and follows Taedong.

 

***

 

Taedong unlock his car and open the passenger door for Minki, then he put Minki's suitcase to his car's trunks. After that he sits on the driver's seat.

 

"Sorry, I just got back from dance practice, it's still a little bit messy."

 

"It's alright." Minki smiles.

 

Taedong's car is a Hyundai i20, quite small, but it's actually not as messy as he said.

 

"There are some mineral waters in the back seat and bread too," Taedong grabs a bottle of mineral water and gives it to Minki.

 

"Thank you," Minki open up the bottle and drinks it.

 

"So, you want to go somewhere else or just straight back to your apartment?" Taedong asks after he turn on the engine.

 

"Let's just go back," Minki said.

 

"Alright," Taedong drives his car away from the parking lot. "Lead the way, I don't know where your apartment is."

 

"Don't worry, I got gps here," Minki smiles and showing his phone.

 

***

 

Taedong drives the car to the highway after they leave the airport area.

 

The music from the audio player flowing softly in the car.

 

"So, how are you now? It's been a long time since the last time we met," Minki trying to make a conversation between them.

 

"Well, I left my agency and still looking for a job. My friend offers me a job in your agency, but I'm still thinking about it."

 

"Why don't you take it? It might be a good opportunity for you."

 

Taedong chuckles, "honestly I still got traumatized by what my previous agency did, I need time to get rid of that feeling."

 

"Turn right on that road," Minki points to the right branch of the road and Taedong follows him.

 

"I never take this road actually," Taedong said.

 

"Well, the gps said it's the fastest way. It's almost holiday season, people are coming out for year end sale and buying Christmas stuff, it will be too crowded in the usual road," Minki replies while staring outside.

 

It's gonna be the second year he'll gonna celebrate Christmas without someone by his side. He should already getting used with this, but deep inside he really wish he can celebrate this year's Christmas with someone that he can loved.

 

"Anyway, my friend is supposed to be the one that pick you up, but he can't do that right now, so I'm the one who did his job."

 

"It's alright, at least you're not an annoying stranger to me," Minki laugh. But that smile fades when he see congestion up ahead of them.

 

"Oh no," he sigh then checking up his phone again, "damn it, it says congestion ahead."

 

"It can't be helped," Taedong also let out a sigh, then he stares at Minki, "you haven't changed that much."

 

"Really?"

 

Taedong nods, "but you look healthier, I still remember the first time we met, you look so skinny, hyung."

 

Minki smiles, "don't remind me of that again. I hate it actually."

 

"But if you don't join it, we'll never met each other. I will never knew you," Taedong replies.

 

"You're right," Minki gulps down his drink again, remembering the moments when they're still awkward to each other.

 

He knows that Taedong is watching him, but Taedong is in a higher rank and he's still with Jonghyun that time, so he think Taedong is only interested with him as his sunbaenim.

 

The car moves slowly because they're still stuck on the congestion.

 

Taedong raised up the volume of audio in his car because Minki doesn't say anything again. He keep staring repeatedly at Minki when the car stops.

 

"Why? Is there something wrong on my face?" Minki asks when he caught Taedong staring at him again.

 

"No... There's nothing wrong," Taedong awkwardly laugh. "I just realized that you look better like this. You're prettier now."

 

Minki stares back at Taedong, then laughing, "I eat a lot right now, I don't think I look prettier..."

 

"You're always beautiful, hyung." Taedong gives him a sweet smile that suddenly making Minki blushed a little bit, so he stares outside.

 

Why he feels like this?

 

Taedong's words is making his heart beat faster.

 

Is it because he's already tired being lonely?

 

Minki stares at the neon lights in front of a famous shopping mall. The LED lights now showing a Christmas theme.

 

"Do you have any plans for Christmas, hyung?"

 

"I don't know. I don't have any plan, probably I'll just doing my job like usual," Minki answers but Taedong could feel a glimpse of sadness on his tone.

 

"You don't want to spend it with someone?"

 

Minki shakes his head. "I don't have someone special right now. If I have a free time, I'll probably spend it with my hyung. How about you?"

 

"Me? Oh, I don't have any plans too, maybe I'll just hang around with my friends." Taedong gives another stares at Minki before driving the car again, "are you not gonna visit your friends on Christmas?"

 

Minki shakes his head, "Dongho and Minhyun will spend their day together, Aron-hyung will be in LA with his sisters."

 

"Jonghyun-hyung?"

 

There's a slight differences on Minki's expression when Taedong said that name. "I don't know," Minki replies and that is enough hint for Taedong to not asking about Jonghyun anymore.

 

There's another awkward silence again between them, until suddenly another song played in the car, After School's 'Because of you'.

 

Minki just stares down and bite his lower lips. Taedong takes a bottle of mineral water and gulped down the water.

 

This is the song that makes him met Minki for the first time, but that time, Minki's group was in a difficult situation and he didn't knew about that if he didn't listened to what his friends had said about them.

 

This song will always bring both good and bad memories for him and Minki.

 

"Do you want to skip the song?" Taedong asks.

 

"No, it's alright." Minki tries to smile but his heart beat faster when he can feel Taedong's hand holding his hand.

 

The warmth from Taedong's hand feels soothing for his feeling right now. He just stares at Taedong's hand before Taedong let go of his hold because he have to drive the car again.

 

It's been a long time since Minki feels something like this again. He realized that he really wants someone else to hold his hand and told him that everything will gonna be okay, that it's alright for him to let go all of his feeling.

 

After he separated his way with Jonghyun, he always tries to hide his feeling, he tries to smile and laughed, no matter what he really felt inside.

 

He have to smile and pretend that it's okay, he have to ignore the loneliness that he felt because it will only made him keep remembering about his failed relationship with Jonghyun.

 

"I'm sorry for making you sad," Taedong press the next button on his audio player, trying to find a good song that can lift up the gloomy atmosphere between them.

 

"I really need to forget about it." Minki gives him a smile, but when he stares outside again, he noticed a familiar car stucked in this congestion too.

 

The usual mini-van that he really know so well and the car hasn't changed at all.

 

Minki tries to ignore it and think that it's probably someone else. He just stay calm and finally open up the window because they're really got stuck and haven't moved for more than 8 minutes.

 

Taedong turn off the air conditioner and turns down the window too.

 

The cool air blows in after he does that.

 

"I heard it's gonna be snowing soon," Taedong said. "Hyung, you want to use my jacket? I think I put it somewhere on the backseat." Taedong turns around and searching for his jacket that he put on the backseat.

 

When he finally find it, he gives the jacket to Minki.

 

"Thanks," Minki wears it but then he notice there's something on its pocket.

 

He takes it out and find out that it's a photocards. More exactly, it's Minki's photocards.

 

"Ah!" Taedong just realized that Minki has found his photocards. "Sorry... I actually collected it..."

 

Minki checks the photocard. It's from his group last album, there's also photocard from his latest photobook.

 

"You really collected all of this?"

 

"Yeah...." Taedong rubs his head awkwardly. "I... I bought your photobooks and magazines too..."

 

"If you asked for it, I can give it to you," Minki commented and turns around to the backseat area where he can see a bag, Taedong's shirts, a plastic bag contains the mineral waters and a bread, also a magazine that has him on his cover.

 

"You really bought it."

 

"Of course." Taedong laugh. "I miss you, hyung, and I don't know how to meet you, you're always busy and I also afraid that you won't remember anything about me. That's why I can only buy those stuff..."

 

"I won't forget you, you're the dongsaeng that choose me for the visual pick, you keep on coming to me, no matter how much Jonghyun glared at you," Minki laugh, remembering those times when Taedong trying to be close to him, he's intentionally following his friend so he could come to Minki's practice room just to say hi and cheered on him.

 

Taedong also laugh hearing those words from Minki. "I thought he was going to killed me that time."

 

"He was really jealous with you," Minki smiles.

 

They're still talking about their moments, then when Minki realized that Taedong playing his favorite song, 'I'm the best' from 2ne1, he started to sing and dance along, Taedong also follows him.

 

Sometimes he will just laugh seeing his favorite hyung back to his usual self, like the way he knew him three years ago.

 

Yeah, Taedong has been waiting for this moment to be together with Minki for more than two years.

 

He try to find someone else during those times, but he just can't forget about Minki. He used to dream about being together with Minki and tonight finally he can make that dream comes true.

 

But that happy moments suddenly stops when Minki notice the same car that he saw before and see the person on the car.

 

It's Jonghyun.

 

"Turn left, Taedongie!" Minki said.

 

"Eh? In here?"

 

"Yeah, let's get out from this highway!"

 

Taedong follows what Minki said although it needs more than fifteen minutes to get out from the highway, but when he finally see the reason why Minki wants him to do that, he accidentally meet Jonghyun in the eye.

 

Jonghyun seems surprised seeing Taedong and getting more surprised when he see Minki sits beside Taedong, although Minki won't even look at him.

 

"Minki?" He can hear Jonghyun's voice calling his name.

 

Then a girl asking Jonghyun, "who is it, Jonghyunie?"

 

"Let's just leave as fast as we can!" Minki said, raised up the window on his side.

 

"Rightaway, hyung." Taedong also close the window. 

 

When they succesfully get out from the highway and moving farther from Jonghyun's car, Taedong repeatedly checking on Minki who just stay quiet.

 

The street is still crowded like the highway, but at least they can moved and not stuck.

 

"Hyung?"

 

Minki stares down and his hand squeezing Taedong's jacket.

 

"It's really easy for him to forget about me. I should have let him go before he's breaking my heart. I should trust Minhyun when he said he already changed when he got the popularity that he's always dreamed of. I feel stupid. Now he got someone new and I'm here still feeling like this..." A drop of tears falls from Minki's eyes.

 

"Don't be sad," Taedong holds Minki's hand again. "Hyung, even though he already left you, doesn't mean that you have to keep crying over him. You should just move on, open your heart once again. There's still someone who wants to be by yourside."

 

Minki still crying, but he doesn't say anything.

 

"Minki-hyung, stop crying," Taedong release his grip on Minki's hand. He slowly moves his hand and cupped Minki's face. "Please, don't cry anymore." His fingers wipes the tears on Minki's face.

 

When Minki stares at Taedong, Taedong finally stop his action and back at driving his car again. "Ah, I'm sorry...." He said with an awkward smile.

 

"It's okay, you're right," Minki said. "I shouldn't be like this anymore."

 

Taedong nods, "I don't want to see you cry anymore, hyung."

 

"Thanks," Minki finally smiles again.

 

***

 

"So, do you really not knowing where we are right now?" Taedong asks after checking his phone.

 

It's no use because his phone is in low battery.

 

Minki shakes his head, "my phone just died."

 

Taedong sigh.

 

Now they are on a road where everything around them are just trees. Minki did used the gps on his phone but then his phone suddenly died after he received a call from Minhyun.

 

"Can't you use your phone?" Minki asks to Taedong.

 

"My phone just died too." Taedong stops the car for a while. "I'll turn around and go back, maybe we take the wrong turn."

 

Taedong rides back to the road that they previously take. 

 

There's another branch in the road and Taedong takes the left turn until they reach another intersection.

 

"I think we should take the right turn." Minki suggested.

 

Taedong follows him but it only lead them to another unknown road that goes to the hill area.

 

Taedong stops at the side of the road.

 

"I can't believe we're lost." He leans his head on the steering wheel. "And I'm really hungry now."

 

Minki takes the bread and shares it with Taedong.

 

He feels guilty that he makes Taedong got lost because he really doesn't know which way is the fastest route to his apartment. He used to go back home with his manager or with Jonghyun.

 

He wouldn't remember which road to take because all he gotta do is sit back and relax until he arrived to his apartment.

 

Taedong finished eating the bread.
"I'll bought you a pizza once we got back," Minki said.

 

"That's a great offer, I accept that." Taedong stretched out his hand, "hyung, can I be the one to replace Jonghyun-hyung?"

 

"What? What are you talking about?"

 

"I really like you." He said that while staring deeply to Minki and that making Minki suddenly feels the heat on his face.

 

He turns his head and just stares outside, watching the night sky.

 

Should he accept Taedong?

 

After all, Taedong is really nice to him and he needs someone that he can lean on.

 

Then he notice something outside the window. The snow is falling.

 

"The first snow," he mutters those words and that makes Taedong stares outside too.

 

"They said you should make a wish when the first snow is falling," Taedong commented.

 

Minki smiles, "I know that." He close his eyes for a while, making a wish deep inside his heart, that he can make a good decision about his relationship right now, but then he feels something on his lips.

 

Minki open his eyes quickly and the first thing that he see is Taedong's face right in front of him.

 

Minki widen his eyes, not knowing that Taedong really brave enough to do it.

 

Yeah, Taedong just kissed Minki, although it's just a brief kiss. But Minki's clueless face making Taedong quickly apologized.

 

"I'm sorry, let's just continue our ride before the snow is getting thicker," Taedong drives his car again.

 

Minki slowly nods. He still needs a moment to think about what happened between him and Taedong earlier.

 

Is this the answer for his hope, to have someone in Christmas day this year?

 

Taedong isn't bad at all, he's handsome, tall and he's actually a caring person.

 

"Are you sure about liking me? I mean... Maybe someone will be mad if you're getting closer to me?"

 

"You mean Donghan? He's just a friend. And I'm really sure about my feelings to you, hyung." Then Taedong notice that there's a small store at the left side of the road. "There's a small store, we should ask them about the road to the city."

 

Minki nods.

 

Taedong stops his car in front of the small store that almost close. He goes out from the car and Minki follows him.

 

Taedong enter the store and goes to the cashier area while Minki scanned around the store to find something to eat and taking out some bread and potato chips, also two bottles of mineral water.

 

The one behind the cashier desk is an old woman, but she seems very friendly.

 

"So, does it still far from here?" Minki asks.

 

The woman stares at him and smile, "ah, so you're with your girlfriend?"

 

"No, actually we're lost right now," Taedong answers with an awkward smile.

 

"You have a pretty girlfriend," the woman said again while counting the things that Minki bought.

 

Taedong awkwardly laugh, "well... Actually..."

 

Minki quickly paid for his things and saying his thank you to the woman.

 

Taedong give his respective nods to the woman after asking her the right way to come back to the city and then following Minki to his car.

 

"So, do you already got the right direction to go back home?" Minki asks after he open up a bread.

 

"Yes, I think so," Taedong back to his driver's seat.

 

"Good," Minki smiles.

 

***

 

After getting the right direction and facing another congestion, finally they reach Minki's apartment.

 

Minki yawns as he unlock the door to his apartment.

 

"Come in," Minki said when he open the door.

 

"Are you sure?"

 

"Of course," Minki laugh, "I told you I'm gonna bought you a pizza. And you need to rest too."

 

Minki goes into his bedroom to charge his phone, while Taedong taking off his shoes and take a look of Minki's apartment.

 

There's a kitchen on the left side of the entrance door and bathroom on the right side.

 

The dining room located in front of the kitchen and the living room in front of the dining room.

 

Across the living room there's another room, looks like it's his work area, because there's a keyboard instruments along with a pc inside the room.

 

Taedong sits on the sofa in the living room and stares at the door with a bunny sign in front of him. It's Minki's bedroom.

 

This apartment is bigger than Taedong's apartment and it's minimalist design makes this room looks cozy.

 

Minki gets out from his bedroom and taking two bottle of mineral water then put it on the table. He sits beside Taedong, "I already order the pizza."

 

"Thank you."

 

"No, I'm the one who should say thank you because you already take me home and I'm sorry because it's my fault that we got lost."

 

"But it's fun," Taedong laugh and that makes Minki laugh too.

 

"You still not answering my question. Can I be the one to replace Jonghyun-hyung?"

 

"Well........ It's not that easy," Minki replies, he's about to get up but Taedong hold his wrist.

 

"I know, but at least let me try. I have fall for you since three years ago, hyung."

 

Minki stares back at Taedong.

 

Maybe it's time to really forget about his past and start a new life. After all, Jonghyun already broke his heart so bad.

 

Although he still needs time to recover from that broken heart, it's not wrong to try to open his heart for someone else.

 

He stares at Taedong's eyes, looking for any sign of lies, but his intense stares at Minki makes Minki believe that he's saying the truth.

 

Taedong stands up, "I'll try my best to not make you sad again."

 

Minki couldn't say anything, he just stares at the floor and the next thing that he knows is his body being wrapped in a warm hug.

 

He feels safe and comfortable being in this arms, he really needs someone to hug him like this, to give him the strength that he needs to face his upcoming days.

 

"Don't cry anymore, hyung." Taedong hands move to caressed Minki's hair.

 

"I'm not crying," Minki replies, his hand already hugs Taedong.

 

After a few seconds, Taedong release his hug, "so, do you accept me, hyung?"

 

"I....."

 

The sound of the door bell disturb their moment.

 

"Oh, it must be the pizza," Minki also release his hug and goes to the door.

 

He's right, the pizza delivery already arrived.

 

After paying the pizza, he put the pizza on the table, "here's your pizza."

 

"Thanks," Taedong chuckles and enjoying the pizza with Minki.

 

***

 

Taedong talks about the show that being aired in the tv right now, but he got no response from Minki until he realized Minki's head is touching his shoulder. He turns to Minki's side and notice that Minki already sleeping beside him.

 

He just smiles at that sight, "you should sleep in the bedroom, hyung."

 

But Minki won't open his eyes.

 

Taedong finally decided to lift up Minki and takes him into his bedroom.

 

The bedroom has a blue-sky colored wall that matches the color of the king-size bed sheets.

 

There are some photos of Minki with his friends and a poster of Lady Gaga in the bedroom.

 

Taedong carefully put Minki on the bed, he's about to go out when Minki suddenly grip his wrist, "don't go, don't leave me."

 

"But I need to go home, hyung."

 

"Stay with me..."

 

Even though Minki is still closing his eyes but his grip on Taedong's wrist is getting tighter so Taedong got no choice than to sit next to Minki.

 

Minki wraps his arm around Taedong's waist and forcing him to lay down in the bed.

 

"I guess I have no choice then."

 

Taedong stares at Minki's sleeping face for a while. His beautiful eyelashes, his heart-shaped lips, his flawless skin, he really can't believe that he finally got a chance to be this close with Minki. Maybe wishing on the first snow really have a good impact on his life.

 

Soon after that, Taedong also close his eyes, still with laying down beside Minki and Minki's arm around his waist.

 

***

 

"Good morning," Minki's voice is the first thing that Taedong hear after he open up his eyes. He thought that he would see Minki's face but all he could see is Minki's back.

 

"Minki-hyung?" Taedong rubs his eyes and yawn.

 

"Who is that, Minki-ya? You're with someone else?" That's Minhyun's voice.

 

"Yeah," Minki replies. He moves the phone to the side and Taedong now realize that Minki is doing a video call with Minhyun.

 

"Let me introduce you to my new boyfriend," Minki smiles and taking a glance at Taedong, "oh, you're awake."

 

"Kim Taedong???" Minhyun shows his shocked face. "Baekho-ya, look, Minki is dating Taedong now!"

 

"Ya! Minhyunie, your voice is too loud!" Minki protest.

 

"Good morning, hyung," Taedong waves his hand to Minhyun.

 

Minki just laughed seeing Minhyun and Baekho who keep asking him questions about his new relationship.

 

Minki ended the call after that and stand up, wanting to go to the bathroom, but Taedong hug him from behind.

 

"Thanks for accepting me," he said those words near Minki's ear.

 

"I just think that you're right, I should try to start a new relationship rather than thinking about my past love all the time." Minki turns around and facing Taedong, "besides, you're not bad at all," he tilted his head forward and kiss Taedong lips.

 

Taedong deepened their kiss until Minki slowly ended it, "I think we should take a bath now."

 

"Wanna take a bath together?" Taedong smirks.

 

"Not that fast," Minki slaps his shoulder and that makes Taedong chuckles.

 

He should call his friend after this and say his thank you for the opportunity that was given to him yesterday and probably, he should accept the offer to join the same agency as Minki.

 

END OF STORY ONE