Jinki almost got a shock when he walked in through the hallway from where he’d taken off his shoe. It was late at night and he was pretty sure Taemin was already in bed. He tried not to make noise as he stalked in, but instead was startled by the younger’s voice.

 

Or rather, his question.

 

“Hyung, where did you go?” Taemin sounded curt.

 

Jinki knew Taemin had been irritated these days because nothing has been going his way as he says; his students were not making progress at dance classes, he’d lost his training shoes twice this month, and the finality was when the convenience store ran out of banana milk.

 

“I-I, um, went to dinner.” Jinki looked to the left, “I went to dinner, with a friend.”

 

Well, he isn’t lying. He did went to dinner.

 

“With who?” Comes the next blunt question.

 

“Taemin, that’s not important.” He tried to hold Taemin in his arms, “Let’s go to bed. I want to cuddle.”

 

The younger pushed him away roughly, “You went to meet her, didn’t you?”

 

“Why won’t you tell me?” Taemin raised his voice.

 

“Jinki, if today, she wanted you back, would you leave me for her?”

 

His voice trembled with each word spoken, a sudden rush of nerve, he wants to know and he needs to know now.

 

Jinki hesitated.

 

“You hesitated. You freaking hesitated! You’re considering that, aren’t you?” Taemin screamed.

 

That was the last straw. He thought he was okay with his students, he thought he’ll just get new sneakers, and he thought he could try for strawberry milk. But he will not settle for anyone else, and apparently it wasn’t mutual.  

 

All the combined pressure and anxiety opened the tap for his tears to fall noiselessly as he ran back to their shared room, slamming it and then locking it.

 

“The couch it is.” Jinki thought.

 

The next morning when Taemin woke, the space beside him was cold and empty. The apartment was quiet and lonely. The birds weren’t chirping, and the sunlight wasn’t shining in because Jinki wasn’t there to draw the curtains. He’s always the one doing it, since he always got up earlier.

 

With a clearer head, Taemin felt apologetic for his attitude towards Jinki yesterday. He knew he was impatient, spoilt, and most of the times selfish. He was grateful that Jinki always gave in to him, but often excused himself because he thought that was how Jinki knew how much he loves him. He was selfish because he loves him.

 

Anyone in love would be selfish.

 

Though he was still upset at how Jinki hesitated.

 

Taemin unlocked the door and peeped his head out. It was the same serenity inside and outside their room. So Jinki was already out. To meet her, maybe? His heart ached.

 

As every morning, Taemin washed up and went to the kitchen for a drink. He opened the fridge and there on the first shelf was a sticky note. He picked out the cool note and read:

 

Meet me at the bridge where we first met. If you’re not here by 10am, I’ll jump.

 

He looked over at the clock over the counter – 9.30am.

 

“.” He cursed.

 

Taemin slipped on a large jacket and with a pair of worn-out slippers he rushed out towards that one bridge. He was lucky it was near, or not if Jinki had really intended to die there.

 

“Jinki! Don’t you dare!” He ran over, hugging around his waist tightly from behind.

 

Once again, Jinki was surprised at the sudden embrace.

 

“I’m sorry I said something like that, hyung, I’m sorry.” Taemin sobbed into his back, “I wasn’t thinking right, I was scared, I said something stupid.”

 

“It-it’s just…I’m so easily irritated these days. I know, hyung. When you didn’t answer me last night, I-I was so scared. I can’t lose you, hyung. D-don’t leave me.”

 

Jinki chuckled, “I said something like that? I forgot.”

 

He grinned childishly as he turned around to face Taemin, and he almost threw in the towel to a puffy-eyed cute boyfriend, whose hair was all over the place from running and still in pyjamas.

 

“Hyung!” Taemin pulled away instantly, “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!”

 

He continued chanting as he punched his chest repeatedly, with force.

 

“Really? You hate me?” Jinki questioned in a teasing manner, “Then I guess I have no use for this ring now.” 

 

The older of the two made a pose, ready to throw the metal band in his hand into the gushing water below them. In pretence, of course.

 

“R-ring? Wait, wait!” Taemin grabbed hold of Jinki’s arms and peeled his fingers open intensely.

 

Jinki opened up, and there sat a pretty shiny golden ring with a silver infinite symbol, embellished generously with small graceful crystals. He held up Taemin’s hand now, quietly slipping the ring on.

 

“Taemin, we’ve been dating for two years.” He was confident as he said, “It wasn’t that I needed two years to try and figure out how much I love you.”

 

“Too bad for me, two years wasn’t enough for me to tell you how much I love you.”

 

“I didn’t hesitate because I was unsure, I hesitated because I didn’t know I caused you insecurities. I met her, only for the fact that she’s a ring designer.”

 

“Well, I can assure you I didn’t hesitate to demand that she design a one-of-a-kind ring for the man I left her for.” Jinki laughed.

 

He laughed remembering how big her eyes were when he asked for it outright, and also at the priceless face Taemin was making. He could only describe it as a mixture of embarrassment, happiness and love.

 

Overflowing love.

 

“I-I guess I c-can forgive you.” Taemin looked away, his face blushing a glow of pink, “I’ll not hesitate to accept this, it-it’s kind of beautiful.”

 

“Just like you, baby.” Jinki kissed his forehead as assurance, “And more importantly, it’s for you.” 

 

---

Urgh, I swear this played out better in my head.