PLAYGROUND ━━ 2MIN

ONE

Happy Anniversary

FEBRUARY 14, 2009

looking around the playground, ten-year-old lee minho found a smaller boy sitting alone by a tree. "hey, you!" the little boy, alarmed, looked up. minho jogged up to him with the biggest smile plastered on his face.
"i'm lee minho!"

"i'm kim seungmin," he murmured, minho leaning down to hear him better. "kim seungmin?" he repeated, the little boy, seungmin, nodding. "nice to meet you, seungmin! why are you alone? why aren't you playing with the rest?"

minho could see seungmin fidget with his fingers. "i don't like going outside a lot." minho's jaw dropped, eyes widening. "you don't?" he exclaimed loudly, falling to his knees. "that's so weird! you're weird, i like that!"

seungmin stared, minho's lips curled into a lopsided grin. "let's be friends, seungmin!" outstretching his arms, seungmin cautiously took his hand in his. minho's lopsided grin widened. "we'll be best friends forever!"

best friends forever.

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

minho and seungmin had been friends for four years now, attached to the hip. "dad! i'm going to the playground!" no description was needed, his father understood what he indicated by the playground. "stay safe, minho!" no response was given, he had ran out.

while minho ran, he couldn't help but clutch the small cellular device in his hand. "seungmin!" he called out once the playground was in view. seungmin had also been there, waiting. he was, after all, the one who suggested they'd meet out here for something important.

"minho!" seungmin waved, minho grinning happily as he ran into the arms of the younger. "i have to tell you something," he began, minho's heart racing with anticipation. "it's really important too." is he going to ask me out? minho thought excitedly. "i have something to tell you too!" seungmin's eyes widened in surprise.

minho took a deep inhale, "okay, let's say it together at the same time!" seungmin nodded slowly. "one, two, three!"

"i like hyunjin!"

"i like you!"

oh. minho's heart beat slowed down, slightly frowning. he didn't look into seungmin's eyes, he knew the other was staring at him with wide eyes. "i'm sorry, minho. i don't like you. i never will." ouch. minho pursed his lips into a thin line, exhaling slowly. slowly, he lifted his head up and smiled brightly. "that's okay! hey, happy four year anniversary of our friendship!" he laughed.

seungmin's eyes widened for the nth time, "four year anniversary..?" he gasped, distraught. "i forgot, minho!" double ouch. minho didn't know how much more heartbreak he could endure, "you're so weird, seungmin."

FEBRUARY 14, 2015

"i'm moving, minho." where's the happy anniversary? minho's smile faltered. "seungmin, april fools isn't until two months." yet, seungmin didn't laugh and say those words. "minho, i'm serious." seungmin monotonously said. "oh. well,"

minho gulped down his tears, the lump in his throat never leaving. "i was—" his voice cracked. "i was hoping we'd have a lot to do on our seventh anniversary," minho sniffled, poorly hiding the tears that threatened to spill. "i guess our plans are canceled." he laughed, sniffling.

"yeah." is that what he only has to say? minho blankly stared at seungmin with tears rolling down his cheeks, bottom lip quivering as he tried wiping the tears away with his long sleeves. "minho, don't cry,"

seungmin tried reaching out to the older, to hold him in his arms and shush him until he's calmed down. yet, minho moved away from him; not allowing seungmin to touch him as his shoulders shook from the continuous tears.

"goodbye, seungmin." minho spoke in between hiccups, vigorously wiping his tears away. "minho, i'm not leaving yet. we still have time." seungmin tried to reason, the brunette shaking his head. "no point, you're leaving."

seungmin tried walking closer to minho, who backed away in response. "i'm going home. bye, seungmin." "minho, wait!" seungmin shouted as minho ran the opposite direction, tears falling from his eyes like a waterfall.

while minho ran, he rushed by his dad, who was busy cooking in the kitchen. "minho?" he called out, putting down the kitchen equipment and wiping his hands down on his apron. walking toward his slammed door, he peaked through it to find minho curled up on the bed.

"minho, sweetheart," he began, opening his door and walking into his bedroom. the weight of him pushed down the mattress, signaling that he had sat down beside minho. finally realizing his dad was there, minho launched himself on his dad; snot and tears landing on his shirt.

minho's dad sighed softly, engulfing his distraught son in his arms. "hey, hey. it's okay, minho. what's wrong?" minho sniffled, hiccuping and trembling in his arms. "seungmin," he began, shedding more tears, "is moving!" he exclaimed and buried his face in his dad's chest.

"at least it isn't about his rejection." minho's dad muttered. unfortunately, minho had heard and he burst into more tears. "oh dear." he rubbed soothing circles around minho's back, slowly rocking him side to side to calm him down. "it's alright, minho. everyone moves away."

"it's not only that," minho hiccuped, fists clenched on his dad's shirt. "he forgot our seventh anniversary!" he wailed, burying his face in his dad's chest once again. the chest area of his shirt was soaked in salty tears.

minho cried until he couldn't produce any more tears, crying himself to sleep in his dad's arms. his eyes shut themselves closed as he hiccuped softly, mind drifting into a deep sleep that'd have his eyes burning from the number of tears he shed. minho's dad pitifully looked at his sleeping son. "oh, minho. that seungmin boy is such trouble for you and you're only just so fragile."