Like a warm fire on timber wood Mingyu's voice was dark and soothing. He spoke in a hushed tone only due to the fact it was nearing 3 am but Wonwoo loved it. He loved the way it crumbled and cracked like a chocolate chip cookie. The pitch, the volume, the tone; it blessed his ears and for some strange reason lifted his low mood swing a little higher up off the ground.

"Hi, Mingyu." He said. His name rolled from his tongue so prettily that he almost forgot about his damp cheeks and blocked nose.

"You've been crying?" It was more of a question than a statement but the worry in his voice threw Wonwoo completely off track.

Nobody had been there for him on a low. Soonyoung was never good at handling emotional situations so Wonwoo always left him out of it. But now Mingyu was there for him he felt more at peace.

"It doesn't matter." Mingyu's voice is what matters. Wonwoo didn't care what he was saying but he sure as hell craved the sound.

"It does. You should talk about it. You know, get it off your chest."

But Wonwoo didn't want to. All he needed was a distraction, something to push his sad feelings down deep into the abyss of his stomach rather than him bury them in false whispers of "I'm ok" and "Don't worry about me."

"I don't want to talk about it. I just want to hear your voice."

Mingyu hummed into the phone through a smile. "I know and I'm here."

Wonwoo didn't speak much after that. He stayed deadly silent whenever Mingyu spoke so he couldn't miss even a single whisper.

"You said you like reading. If it will cheer you up I can tell you my favourite story?"

"Please." Wonwoo wiped his eyes and nose on his shirt sleeve and snuggled into his bedcovers.

Mingyu told a story Wonwoo had read many times before but this didn't bother him. The phone call gave him a reason not to cry and hate how he felt in addition to that (although Wonwoo couldn't admit it to himself) he was starting to quite like Mingyu. Mingyu cared.

The sun had already started weaving golden rays onto Wonwoo's floor through the cracks in his curtain before a gentle snore replaced the two boy's chatting. He giggled at the sound of it. Wonwoo had only ever heard his father snore once before he lost his hearing and even though it was something insignificant to most people he couldn't help but to smile from the inside out when he heard the faint rumble.

It's amazing how much you can learn about someone from just spending a night on the phone with them. Wonwoo discovered that Mingyu started working at SVTea with his friend, Minghao, who moved back home to China in his second month of working there. Mingyu missed him and Wonwoo's heart broke just a little when he heard his voice shake solemnly through the speaker.

"But you can text him, right?" Wonwoo had said but Mingyu explained that it still wasn't the same.

He also learned that the barista enjoyed drawing in his free time. He liked filling white canvases with vibrant colours and deep meanings. Wonwoo giggled when Mingyu told him about the time he spent days painting something for his college's birthday only to find him using it as a coaster a few weeks afterwards.

"Wonwoo, I like you. You're sweet and I want to get to know you more. Let's do this again." Was what Mingyu had said before he finally drifted off at 7am.

And before Wonwoo had chance to answer back a cage of butterflies burst open in his stomach and swarmed up to his heart where they danced happily in time with Mingyu's snoring.

After their call Wonwoo now knew he was wrong to originally assume Mingyu was shallow and as soon as he ended the call and closed his own eyes to sleep he instantly took his assumption back and regretted ever thinking it.

Before being fully engulfed by dreams Wonwoo thought of Mingyu's last words on the call.

"You're sweet and I want to get to know you more."

Wonwoo could do with someone like Mingyu in his life. Even if it was just for late night calls and comforting mumbles.

-

Soonyoung reached inside a half empty crisp bag on the bed between them. Wonwoo watched the packet crease and writhe at his touch and wondered what sound it would be making.

Sunday was video game day and Wonwoo's new Outlast game had arrived that morning, Soonyoung was far from reluctant to come barging into Wonwoo's apartment upon hearing the news.

In truth Soonyoung was a massive wuss. Every time an ugly, wart-ridden creature popped up on the screen he would hide behind the controller and scream until the thing would go away. Wonwoo made sure to start a new game before he arrived in order to protect his original progress from his friends tendency to fail.

After loosing count at 14 on the amount of times the GAME OVER screen had flashed on the TV Wonwoo switched off the Xbox and adopted a serious persona.

"Soonyoung. Let's talk." He started signing.

Wonwoo had had Mingyu on his mind ever since there first phone call several days ago.

His friend nodded and watched his hands in concentration.

"Me and MG have been talking a lot recently."

He made sure not to mention the more specific fact that they had been calling because Wonwoo could hear Mingyu's voice.

"And I want to see him again, in person."

Soonyoung oo'ed but Wonwoo only saw his mouth turn the shape of a cheerio and missed out on the sound which was lucky for Soonyoung because Wonwoo would have probably punched him in the gut if he knew he was teasing him.

"But he doesn't know I'm deaf and I don't know how I would tell him..." Wonwoo didn't feel the need to fully explain. Soonyoung already understood his worries.

"The best thing you can do is be confident in yourself, I guess. Don't worry about what might go wrong because you always do that and that's why you're so awkward." Soonyoung eventually signed back.

Wonwoo didn't know whether to be grateful or offended so he replied "Gee thanks." with a deadpan face.

"But either way. I was snooping through your messages when you were in the bathroom and you both seem really into eachother."

How did Wonwoo not predict Soonyoung would stick his nose into his business? He made a mental note to never leave his phone unacompanied again.

"First of all, if you look through our messages again I will knee you in the balls. Second of all, we're just friends and we're not 'into eachother'. Third of all, you at Outlast give me the controller."

The seriousness in the room depleted as Wonwoo made Soonyoung look like an idiot by breezing through the game. Even when deformed monsters sprung onto the screen Wonwoo remained calm and didn't even flinch whilst Soonyoung hid his face (and his pride) behind a pillow.

Wonwoo was on a roll but then a familiar flash of his phonescreen threw him off guard.

Mingyu☕:
it's cheesy but i've
been thinking about
youuu :)))

After throwing the controller at his friend Wonwoo thumbed a reply.

Me:
ew ew ew

Mingyu☕:
shush you know you
can't live without me

A tingle in his stomach tried to tell him Mingyu was right. He had only known the cat-eyed barista for a short amount of time but he had already changed his life completely. The man was as close to a miracle as Wonwoo was ever going to get. Mingyu's voice was the only thing Wonwoo can hear; he was a once in a life time opportunity, a magical coincidence or a beautiful mistake in logic and a strange as this occurance was Wonwoo could never let it go.

Me:
Mingyu

Mingyu☕:
i love it when you
scream my name

Me:
...wtf mingyu.
and i didn't scream
it, i text it u
beanpole

Mingyu☕:
i love it when you
text my name**

Me:
i'm facepalming rn

That was a lie. Wonwoo couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. A light sensation overwhelmed his heart as if it had grown wings and was fluttering in his ribcage.

Mingyu☕:
are you busy? do
you wanna call??

Wonwoo glanced at Soonyoung on the sofa beside him. He still couldn't find the courage (or a good reason) to tell him about his 'selective' hearing

Me:
i shouldn't. i'm
with Soonyoung.

Mingyu☕:
ok :( i've missed
your company

Me:
shame. i haven't missed
ur constant flirting

Mingyu☕:
pssh yes you have ;)
when are you coming
back to SVTea?

Me:
dunno

Mingyu☕:
i'll give you a
cookie

Me:
this is bribery

Mingyu☕:
i'll pay for your
order

Me:
i'm busy

Mingyu☕:
and i'll make you
my special hot
chocolate

Me:
OK IM ON MY WAY

Wonwoo stood up from the sofa and switched off the Xbox again in the middle of Soonyoung's game.

"I hate you and your mushroom hair!" Was what Wonwoo would've heard his friend yell if he wasn't deaf (but he would've ignored it anyway.)

"We're going to SVTea."

Wonwoo had already decided to go when Mingyu first asked but it didn't hurt to coax a few free things out of him.

Soonyoung wore a knowing smile on his face as they strolled down the pathway with sealed lips. It was obvious Mingyu was shamelessly flirting with Wonwoo and it was apparent Wonwoo liked it. He found it cute.

Despite this Soonyoung still worried for his friend who had a weak heart; he was delicate and it didn't take much to shatter his emotions completely. He made a mental note to ask Jeonghan about his colleague and make sure he wouldn't hurt Wonwoo if their relationship escalated.

The walk was long and their feet hurt by the time they finally arrived but not once did Wonwoo drop his smile. This was the first time Soonyoung had seen him so happy to be outside and although he felt just a little bit jealous of how bright Mingyu made him it was only ephemeral.

Back through the beige door of SVTea with the handmade open sign they went. Soonyoung naturally approached the cashier first to order for Wonwoo and himself. He asked for the usual:

"One coffee and a donut, and one hot chocolate."

Jeonghan smiled sweetly as he added up the price of the order in the cash register. Jeonghan told him how much it cost and Soonyoung gave him a confused look.

"Are you sure you did that right, Jeonghan? Last time it cost more than that."

"Mingyu told me he would pay for your friends food." He nodded towards Wonwoo who looked away not wanting to engage in conversation with someone who couldn't hear.

"Mingyu? Oh is that MG."

Jeonghan shrugged. "Probably is, knowing him. He's a weird kid sometimes."

The two best friends sat in the same place they had sat before; by the large glass window watching the world go by. Wonwoo liked it there. The view of the busy street and twisting crowd, the bright flowers on the window sill that somehow made it through winter and the oriental shops opposite made up for all the things he couldn't hear.

As he smiled to the silence he was more than happy to let a deep voice interrupt it.

"Hello Wonwoo." Mingyu placed a hot chocolate on the table next to the cookie he had promised.

"Hi." He looked up at Mingyu's sparkling eyes and smiled.

Soonyoung watched as their gazes met. There distant smiles made him cringe.

"I'm going to talk to Jeonghan." He said disregarding the fact that Wonwoo had no idea he had just spoke.

"Can I sit here?" Mingyu asked pointing at Soonyoung's now empty seat.

"Please."

Wonwoo looked down at his hot chocolate. It was overflowing with artistically placed whip cream and decorated with chocolate sprinkles; a materpiece in his eyes.

Soonyoung stood behind the counter beside Jeonghan whilst he eyed Mingyu from across the café.

"Tell me about him."

"Who?" Jeonghan gave him a confused side glance whilst taking a customer's order.

"The tall kid."

"Oh, Mingyu?"

"Yeah, him."

Jeonghan chuckled to himself once the customer had gone to sit down before turning to face Soonyoung.

"He has not shutup about your friend all week."

"Really?"

"Yeah. At first he told me about 'Some cute guy who dropped his wallet',"Jeonghan made finger speech marks. "Then he started coming up with a plan to give him his number, after that he was non-stop gushing over Wonwoo. He's got himself a massive crush and it's a bit too obvious."

"You don't say. Wonwoo's been blushing at his phone for the last week. But he's been happier, so I guess it's ok."

"Mingyu's been happier too. He didn't talk much after his friend moved to China but he's opened up a lot more now." Jeonghan smiled over at the two boys sitting opposite one another by the window.

Mingyu was reaching over the table and occasionally stealing some of Wonwoo's cookie but Wonwoo didn't seem to mind.

"Is he nice though? He won't... hurt Wonwoo, will he?"

"Mingyu's a great guy. He acts all confident and flirtatious and sometimes egotistical but he's got a soft heart. He hides the fact he's really quite shy and self concious- don't tell him I said that."

"I won't." Soonyoung felt comfortable again.

"What about Wonwoo?"

"Wonwoo's different and he gets quite down and depressed because of that so it's good to see him smiling with someone."

"Different?"

Soonyoung didn't want Jeonghan to push any further so he quickly changed the subject to the first thing that came to his mind.

"No, Soonyoung. I do not still bathe with rubber ducks. What kind of a question was that?" Jeonghan answered his rushed question with a smile and a shake of his head.

The cashier and the purple haired boy continued their strange conversation whilst Mingyu and Wonwoo chatted happily by the window.

Things were awkward at first. Frequent, shy glances and flushed faces soon lead to sincere laughs and accidental touching of feet under the table.

Wonwoo was introduced to a fantastic feeling; it warmed his stomach like a match had been struck within him whilst fire burnt under his skin leaving trails of delightful tingling.

Mingyu laughed at a story he told and the hearty chuckle made his heartbeat leap and spin like a dancer on ice.

He hoped he wasn't the only one contently spiraling out of control. This feeling was meant to be shared.

"Sorry. I ate all your cookie." Mingyu pursed his lips apologetically and Wonwoo couldn't help but grin.

It's easy to tell when Wonwoo is genuinely happy because he often wears a wonderful smile; he scrunches his nose and his eyes smile with him. It sends tingles down Mingyu's spine and catches him off guard.

"Shouldn't you be working?" Wonwoo asked.

"Yeah but I'd rather be sitting here with you."

"Won't you get in trouble?"

"It's worth it."

Flowers sprung to life in Wonwoo's beating heart spreading colour and warmth as they grew. Mingyu thinks that Wonwoo is worth something and that's all he's ever wanted.

"You're an idiot." Wonwoo's special way of showing affection.

"But you love me."

"I just met you."

"That's what they all say." Mingyu leans back in his chair and puts his hands behind his head with a fake smug smile.

Wonwoo kicks him from under the table and laughs.

"Ow! That hurt." The boy with golden skin pouted and he rubbed his knee.

"Aw, do you want me to kiss it better?" Wonwoo teased.

"Yeah."

"Where does it hurt?"

"Right here." Mingyu pointed at his own cheek and Wonwoo kicked him again.

"I'm not going to kiss your cheek!" Wonwoo laughed (whilst blushing violently).

A tap on his shoulder made him blush even more when he realised Soonyoung had been waiting behind him, ready to leave.

"Sorry, I should go now." Wonwoo clumisly stood up and tucked his chair in.

"It's ok. Let's do this again sometime soon though." Mingyu stood up too.

Now they were opposite again. Mingyu was several inches taller than Wonwoo when he was standing.

"Um... bye." Wonwoo said.

"Bye."

Neither of them moved. They stood staring at one another with awkward smiles for seconds too long. Eventually Soonyoung grabbed his deaf friend's arm and practically dragged him from the café.

They walked back to Wonwoo's and played for a few more hours on his Xbox. After trying to cook themselves dinner but failing and ending up eating pot noodle from the corner shop Soonyoung left at 10.

Wonwoo spent the night smiling- something he hadn't done for a while. He felt so high up in the clouds it seemed as if he could never feel low again. And it was all because of the boy with the deep voice.