𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 | Seongjoong/Ateez ff

Chapter Nineteen

Hongjoong's red hair were slightly dishelved, as if he had run his fingers through them multiple times. Yunho could see the confusion and tiredness behind his eyes just before their eyes met and the older's expression drastically changed, a smile replacing the previous scoul.

He waved at the older, that after going to the counter and ordering, brought back his gaze on Yunho and walked over to him.

"Hey Yunho."

"Hey Joong." Yunho smiled.

Hongjoong reminded him of Mingi, and he really didn't want to think about him now, but he couldn't deny that the older was always good company, and he probably wouldn't mention Mingi. Not to mention that Yunho coud really use some company right now.

Hongjoong sat down in front of him, a few minutes later the worker behind the counter came to deliver their drinks.

At first neither of the two spoke up. The silence was comfortable, but the more it lasted, the more Yunho felt the need to say something. He also had some questions swirling in his mind. For example, why Hongjoong was out at this time of the day, or way when he entered the cafe he looked so confused. 

So he decided to voice out his thoughts.

"Hey Joong, what were you doing out at this hour? You don't live nearby if I remember correctly."

Yunho expected a simple answer, like "I needed some fresh air" or "I just wanted a coffee and every cafe around my apartment was closed" and the reply he got could be considered simple in a way, but the slight pink dusting the other's cheeks spoke for itself, and Yunho knew that there was definitely something more to it.

"...I was at a friend's house."

Amischievous grin made its way onto Yunho's gentle features.

"A friend's? What were you doing at this 'friend's' house?"

The blush on Hongjoong's cheeks deepened as he looked away from Yunho, who was enjoying this just a little too much for someone who didn't even know how to place his feelings.

"...Nothing! We were just watching Star Wars!!"

And there it was again. Yunho, at Hongjoong's words, immediately remembered Seonghwa's a little too insane obsession for the said movie, and his humor dropped drastically once again.

"...What about you?"

"Huh?"

"What are you doing here at this hour?"

And Yunho found himself back in his hopeless state. What should he say? "Yo I'm just having trouble existing 'cause I thought I liked Seonghwa but then Mingi confessed and now I can't stop thinking about him"? He couldn't say that. Hongjoong knew both Seonghwa and Mingi, and plus, he was Mingi's boyfrind until not even that long ago. Yeah there was no way in hell Yunho was going to say that.

But maybe he could say it anyway, maybe if he just...

"I thought I liked a friend of mine." Yeah, that was it. Yunho could just avoid saying their names. He could get an opinion from someone else like this.

Hongjoong nodded his head as Yunho let out a tired sigh.

"...But recently someone confessed to me. And now I can't stop thinking about them. I really wish I could place my feelings somewhere but I really don't know what those are in the first place."

A small sympathetic smile adorned Hongjoong's face. Yunho furrowed his eyebrows.

"He did it, right?"

Yunho was confused. Who did what exactly? Because he for sure didn't do anything. A thought crossed his mind but he immediately shrugged it off with a shake of his head. No, there was just no way Hongjoong was referring to him, it would just be strange. Okay, maybe not strange, but odd for sure. Because Hongjoong couldn't possibly be referring to-

"Mingi, I mean."

Ah.

So, Hongjoong knew. He was in fact referring to Mingi.

And it downed on Yunho. He was the reason for their breakup. He was the reason two of his best of bestfriends were hurting. He had been the one hurting Mingi, and he had been the one to indirectly hurt Hongjoong.

"Yunho, It's alright, really. And I know what you're thinking. No, you are not at fault. No one is."

Hongjoong always managed to be the one to understand him without him even needing to speak. Right after Yeosang of course.

"And for your feelings... I would say, take your time, don't rush into things. Try and spend time with both your friend and Mingi and your heart will tell you, but not if you keep thinking about it. That will just drive you mad."

Yunho nodded his head, his eyes fixed down at his hands. Hongjoong was right. He would become crazy before he even figured out his feelings if he kept thinking about them. And maybe he really should just try and enjoy his time with the both of them.

Maybe he would figure it out then.

And so that he decided to do, just live to the max until it would become obvious where his heart stood. He looked up at Hongjoong, smiling softly.

"Thanks, Joong."