The small boy whimpering at his doorstep was enough for Minho to pull him into a hug.

"What's wrong?" The elder enveloped him into his arms.

Taemin could feel his heart waver, but he had thought long and hard about this. It wasn't a fairytale or movie when first love works out perfectly, even in those stories then the main characters are not the same gender. Taemin was still 16, he convinced himself, this was not true love, this wouldn't last.

"I...I don't think I can do this anymore." He pulled away and pushed the elder's arms off him, "I just came to tell you that." 

 

He turned away from the confused and hurt Minho and just left before anymore words were uttered that would make him change his mind and forget his insecurities. 

 

First love can't be true love.

 

 

 

 

"I can't come." After denying his mother multiple times, he hoped it would eventually be dropped. The reason this time, his parent's 25th wedding anniversary, something a loving son should not miss. It wasn't that he didn't want to. He just couldn't return to that town. Opening his balcony he stepped out into the dreary winter air. The cold made it numb enough for him not to care.

"I'm not taking no for an answer," his mother incessantly whined, "we miss you and this is our day. You must be there."

"But..."

"Seriously, Taemin," he could sense a guilt trip coming, his mother's voice got more serious and sad, "you haven't come home in a long time, do you want the next time you come him to be our deathbed?"

 

He still wanted to say no but he couldn't disappoint her yet again .

"Fine." Taemin sighed giving up on arguing, he had forgotten his point anyway. He played with the snow lining the balcony rail within his bare fingers, as he waited for the call to end.

 

 

The young boy waited on his porch steps for his friends to arrive.

"Hey," a voice called to him, and Taemin was startled, spinning to catch the owner of the voice. It was another guy around his age, handsome, probably really popular at school, "hey," he repeated, "I was just helping my mum with the garden."

"Hmm." Unsure of how to respond, it was neither a question nor prompt for conversation, Taemin just weakily nodded and turned back to staring at the empty road.

 

"Want me to keep you company?"

Before he could answer, the boy bent down hidden by fence. He reappeared and jumped over the fence.

Shocked and wide eyed Taemin fell back. The boy sat down next to the younger and ruffled his black mushroom hair, "heh your cute." 

 

He opened his hand, and lying on his hand was a small strawberry.

Taemin just stared at the fruit, what did this stranger want him to do with it?

"Here, have it. It's from my mum's garden."

"It's not washed."

He chuckled at Taemin's blunt statement, "then wash it."

Taemin smiled back at him as his friends approached, "thanks."

"By the way I'm Minho," Minho called after him as he ran off meet his friends.

Taemin just shyly smiled in response.

 

 

Three medium sized duffel bags lay by the door. Taemin sat on the couch, waiting for a driver. His parents had said they'll send someone to pick him up so that he wouldn't have to take the bus.

 

Nervous about returning home after so long, and a bit angry at the driver's lateness, Taemin got up off the couch, and impatiently paced.

 

A hour from when the driver was supposed to arrive, the building's guard finally buzzed his apartment indicating someone was there for him.

Taemin grabbed his bags and made his way to the front of the building.

 

As he got to the door, his breath hitched, and the clasp on his bags suddenly got tighter. Taemin hoped it was a coincidence, and that faded blue van was not there for him. All hope diminished when Minho opened the door.

 

 

"Get in," Minho called from the driver seat.

"Why should I?" Taemin cheekily replied but made his way to the van anyway.

"I got my license," Minho said reaching over Taemin to close the door.

"Congratulations, hyung." Taemin looked around the van, like a child that received a new toy. "You got a new car."

"It's second hand," Minho answered, "where shall I take the first person I drive?"

 

 

First hour

 

Minho was standing before him, staring intensely at the stunned and unmoving Taemin. What should he do? The one thing that came to his mind was to run away, back to the safety and comfort of his apartment.

 

But before he could do anything, Minho grabbed his bags out of his hands and carelessly threw them into the back of the van.

 

"Hey." He was surprised by the Minho's actions, why didn't he seem to mind that he's came to pick up his ex.

"Get in," Minho had already made his way to the drivers side.

Taemin was hurt by Minho's unaffected tone, but slowly unsure of his own actions, he got in to the passenger seat.

 

Taemin unconsciously ran his fingers softly over the dashboard, it was still the same sky blue. "Why are you here?"

"Your mum asked me to come get you." He didn't even look at Taemin as he started the van, "I'm just helping her out."

 

Taemin didn't know why but he was slightly disappointed, and dropped his head to his knees. Minho couldn't help but glance down at the now grown up boy. No more mushroom haircut, it wasn't even black anymore, instead dark auburn. He had also lost his baby fat and grown a bit. He had changed.

 

Minho looking at the boy couldn't stay mad, he had spent an hour building up his resolve and shell before he came to pick Taemin up. But seeing him now, everything was starting to shatter.

 

 

"Here," Minho handed a lunch box to Taemin.

"What's this?" He slowly opened the box, and wryly smiled at Minho.

"I washed them this time."

"Thanks hyung." He happily ate the strawberries. "Wow, so delicious." Taemin exclaimed and turned around to Minho, to be stunned by a peck on the lips.

"Yup, really tasty."

Taemin turned beet red. But after a moment placed his own lips on Minho's.

 

 

Second hour

 

Taemin stared out the window as a point on the long road got closer, reached and passed them  by. 

 

They sat in silence for almost an hour until Taemin finally broke it, "why are you here?"

"I already said, your mother asked me."

"But why did you accept?"

 

Why did he accept? He was just invited because in their parents' eyes they were the closest friends. But he could have declined, and never have to see the boy who broke his heart.

 

"I don't know."

 

Silence fell again. Taemin just turned his back and looked out the side window as the scenery passed. 

 

Minho felt bad, this road trip was going to be hell for both of them if it was this quiet.

 

"How is life in the city?"

Taemin looked at Minho wide eyed, but then softly smiled. "It's alright, no home cooked meals or anything."

Minho chuckled remembering the boys complete lack of talent in cooking.

 

Taemin heart skipped a beat, it has been a while since he heard that deep laugh.

 

 

"You're naive."

 

 

Third hour

 

Darkness comes early in winter, the sun hung low, and both were momentarily blinded as they stared at the sun. Glancing towards Minho, Taemin finally brought it up. "I'm sorry."

Minho sighed, he was dreading this but knew it would occur, but feigned ignorance none the less. "For what?"

"You know for what." Looking back out the window, unable to look Minho in the eyes.

 

Minho didn't reply, however eventually spoke. "Why?"

Taemin took a sharp intake of breath, angry at himself for his reasoning, "you were my first love."

 

Confused and dissatisfied with Taemin's answer, Minho stopped the car on the side of the road.

"So!" He retorted.

"You were my first love and it was amazing, but first love never lasts."

"Who said that?" He didn't mean to sound so harsh but Taemin still flinched at the raised voice.

"Come on, Minho," Taemin sighed and looked at the driver.

 

Minho calmed down and spoke softly

"I'm sorry Tae, if I was a bad boyfriend, or if I hurt you anyway."

"No." Taemin never meant for him to blame himself. "It's my fault. I was truly happy."

"Then why? I don't get it."

"I was just being realistic."

 

Taemin didn't know how else to explain it, the reasons he had, the insecurities and all the thoughts he had are all so juvenile now.

 

Sighing Minho turned the keys and restarted the engine. And turned the van back onto the road. "You know I loved you."

The statement so sweet enough to deteriorate all of Taemin's prior fears, but the past tense stung.

"Me too."

Like the road what they had, had passed them by.

 

"Truth be told," Minho chuckled nervously, "I was actually scared."

"Of what?"

"That you didn't love me." Minho replied not taking his eyes of the road, "of coming today."

Taemin was taken back by the revelation but softly smiled. A mesmerising beauty in Minho eyes, he himself couldn't help but grin along.

 

 

"That sweet boy next door got a scholarship to a school in Seoul." His mother happily announced.

 

The first thing Minho wanted to do was rush over and congratulate him, but they hadn't seen each other for over a week.

 

 

Final hour

 

"Tae, Tae...." He groaned as he was softly shook awake. The van was stopped on an a very familiar road.

 

"Thanks hyung," after adjusting to being awake, Taemin reached over to  his door handle.

Minho followed suit and then slid the back door open. He clasped Taemin's bags in one hand and walked towards him who was still slowly getting down.

 

"Taemin," he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"You don't mind do you?"

Looking up, Taemin was fairly sure what Minho meant as he ran the thumb of his free hand across his cheek. And his thoughts were confirmed when Minho gently placed his lips on Taemin. And pulled away momentarily.

"One last time," he smiled as Taemin blushed just like the first time. 

"Or..." Taemin bashfully began, "we could try again?"

 

Minho fell silent. Taemin felt disappointed, he was right first love doesn't last. He took the bags out of Minho's hand. 

 

Before he could leave Minho finally spoke, "I thought you said first love never lasts?"

"Well I was wrong." he huffed, "and technically, this is the second time I'm in love."

Minho laughed and couldn't help but pull the handles of the bags pulling Taemin in close and kiss him again.

 

Leaning against the blue van, Taemin and Minho's lips moved against each other and tongues ran feverishly across, and they both unconsciously smiled into the kiss.

 

First love never lasts, or so it's said. But sometimes there's a rare few who make it, whether it be in four hours or after four years, that's the true novelty.

 

 

 

 

AN: So finished and very quickly edited :) i actually was going to edit earlier but i went overseas, my results came out and i had to worry about uni offers and basically life happened. :) anyway hope everyone liked it.