{Newt is 19, recently graduated from school; Minho is 18, soon to graduate}
"Is your child in danger of online predators?" droned the news reporter on the television, "Stay tuned for ten signs that they are."
Miss Isaacs scoffed, turning to her son.
"Your generation is doomed. Thank God that you never use that phone of yours."
Newt chuckled uncomfortably.
"Yeah," he lied, "I don't understand the appeal."
"Good. You're a smart boy. A lot of these kids are out there thinking that they have met the love of their life on their phones. Then they go to really meet their Romeo, and they get kidnapped by a fifty year old creep who was posing to be their age."
Newt nodded, pretending that he agreed with the 'nonsense' of online friendships.
"Goodness, Newt, you look exhausted," Miss Isaacs commented as Newt stifled a yawn, "You should go to bed."
"Do I? Alright, then, I will," He said, casually, "Goodnight."
But when he got upstairs, he couldn't hide his excited smile. He was always very tired, and while his mother fussed that he must have a terribly weak immune system, the truth was that he stayed awake almost all night, every night, on his phone.
No, he didn't squander his time playing Candy Crush or watching YouTube, but rather talking with his boyfriend. Regardless of what his mother said about internet relationships being scams, Newt would never doubt the connection that he had with Minho.
Newt sat down in his bed, powered up his phone, which he had turned off, as usual, in case Minho texted while he was with his mother. As it turned, it began to ding with previous notifications.
Minho: hi
Minho: hello
Minho: newt
Minho: ??
Minho: answer
Newt couldn't help but to smile as he kept reading.
Minho: are u eating dinner?
Minho: wait no. what time is it there? 10pm?
Minho: it's 6:03am here
Minho: and guess what? ive been awake for two shucking hours bc my mom wanted me to come with her to my grandmas
Minho: but now theyre cooking breakfast and wont even let me in the kitchen
Minho: im bored
Minho:
Minho: look its barely even light outside
Minho: pls answer
Minho: I miss u
Minho: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Minho: newtttt
Newt looked at the time on the messages and saw that the most recent one was sent just a few minutes ago. He quickly typed up a response.
Newt: Hi! Sorry, my mum wanted to spend time with me, this evening. Are you still bored?
Minho: ur alive!
Minho: and yea still bored. Want to video call ?
Newt: I look like rubbish right now
Minho: thats what u always say. and we established that u never look bad ever so im calling now
A moment later, Newt's phone was buzzing and displaying that Minho was video calling. Newt ran his fingers through his hair to refluff it, then accepted the call.
Minho greeted him with a bright smile, which Newt returned instantly. Then Minho's smile faded into a pout.
"I've missed you," he complained.
"I've missed you, too," Newt agreed, keeping his voice low enough that his mother wouldn't hear him.
"Even though we video called for six hours yesterday, it doesn't feel like it, does it?Speaking of which, you look tired. Didn't you get some sleep, after that?"
Newt shrugged. "I had to work morning shift and day shift."
"Babe," Minho started, in a fake scolding voice, "You have to sleep."
"But I'm talking to you."
"I'll hang up right now, then."
"No, you won't."
Minho sighed. "You're right, I won't. I'm too selfish, I guess."
Newt laughed at him.
"But really," Minho insisted, "When we're done talking, go right to sleep. Good that?"
"Good that."
Minho leaned his phone against something, then rested his elbows on the table, his head in his hands, causing his cheeks to squish up in a way that Newt found unbearably adorable.
"I love you," he said, absentmindedly.
Minho beamed, making it obvious that those three words hadn't lost any of their meaning, even after being exchanged between the two boys for over a year.
"I love you, too."
The pair went on just staring at each other for a bit, lovesick and comfortable in the silence that they created.
Eventually, Minho spoke as he adjusted to a more comfortable position.
"So, when are you coming to South Korea."
Newt jokingly rolled his eyes. Minho asked him that question every time that they spoke; it had become a tradition.
"Soon," came Newt's usual answer, "I hope."
"You should come now. I can't stand how much I want to meet you."
"I know. I feel it too." He really did. All too much, to the point in which it sometimes physically hurt to remember that he couldn't touch Minho, couldn't go on dates with him. Well, not real dates, anyway (it didn't stop them from occasionally going to their respective local coffee shoppes and video calling each other from there, pretending—albeit pathetically—to be together on a date).
"Since you're taking a gap year, you really should come here. Isn't that what gap years are for—traveling?"
"Usually," Newt said, "For most people. If you're broke like me, gap years are for making money to go to college."
"That sucks."
"You're telling me." He left the video call app (though the camera would stay on so that they could keep talking) and opened up his browser, googling yet again the prices of flights to SK. And, yet again, he found them to be about £1200, round trip. He sighed and closed the browser window, focusing back on the video call. He would need every last bit of money that he had just to pay for college, next year. He knew that it would be a stupid idea to impulsively buy a plane ticket.
"This is depressing," Newt said, longing for some positivity, "Let's talk about something else. What did you do after we stopped talking, yesterday?"
"Hmm. Oh, I went to the park for some fresh air, then I met this guy who lost his dog, so I helped him look for it and—"
"Minho," Newt interrupted, concerned, "That's on of the most common tricks that used to kidnap people."
"So is being their internet boyfriend," The younger teased, "But you're not going to kidnap me, are you? Not that I would mind much."
"I'm serious, Minho, be careful. I mean, if you got taken, how would I even know that you were gone? What could I do to help you from half way across the world?
"Right, sorry. I'll be careful. But this guy for real lost his dog. And we found it, and oh my God, it was so cute and friendly! You would have loved it. So, what about you, have you pet any dogs, lately?"
Newt smiled to himself. That's what was so lovely about their relationship: they could talk about things as simply as strangers' dogs and it was still perfect.
~~~
Newt plopped down on the couch, exhausted from working another double shift. At least he would have the house to himself for a few hours; that seemed to him like a reward for his hard work, and made everything better.
He unlocked his phone to text Minho.
Newt: Hi. Do you want to video call?
He left the messaging app and scrolled through his social media for a moment while waiting for Minho to respond.
Minho: cant rn. being watched to make sure im studying
Minho: dad thinks im using the calculator on my phone lol
Newt: Oh boy lol.
Newt: Study hard. Text me when your done <3
Minho: ok <3
What to do now, Newt wondered, locking his phone and sliding it into his pocket. He stayed on the couch, staring up at the ceiling, until his stomach growled. He sighed and got up, went to the kitchen to make himself something.
As he was eating, he decided to look through the pile of mail that his mother had apparently collected earlier in the day.
Bill, bill, advert, bill, credit card notice, bill, until, finally: to Newt Isaacs—open immediately.
He casually opened the envelope, not expecting much, as he received an 'urgent, open immediately' scam letter nearly every month. When he started reading the letter, though, he nearly choked on his mouthful of soup.
Mister Isaacs,
We have re-evaluated your information and have determined that, given your circumstances, you qualify for our financial aid program. If you choose to accept our offer, you will receive a full four-year tuition to our university in your desired major of journalism.
We truly hope that you considered us.
"No way," Newt said aloud, nearly shaking with excitement. He read over the letter again, again, and once more. It was real. He was going to be able to go to his top pick of universities for free. No more over working himself, no more falling behind. He felt like crying, but he also felt like cheering. And as it really sunk in, things got even better.
He realised that he had almost £5000 saved up for college, that no longer needed to be saved up for college. While others may image buying a car or even investing the money for later, the only thought on Newt's mind was a plane ticket.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, just then, and he fished it out to see a notification from Minho.
Minho: hey im done studying
Newt immediately requested a video call, smiling brightly as it connected.
"Whoa, you're in a good mood for someone who just work twelve hours," Minho teased.
"I'm excited to tell you something," Newt said, growing giddy.
"Really? I'm excited to tell you something, too."
"You first."
"No, you first."
"No, you," Newt insisted.
"Fine," Minho said in fake annoyance, "You know how I'm graduating in two weeks? Well, my school just announced that they are going to live stream the ceremony on the school website so parents who work can see it, but that means you can watch it live, too!"
While not nearly as exciting as his own announcement, Newt couldn't help but be thrilled over that. To watch Minho graduate in real time would be almost like being there, himself.
Wait, Newt thought, developing an idea. He decided then not to tell Minho about their opportunity to meet. He resolved that he would really watch Minho graduate live, in person.
"That's awesome, Minho! I promise I will watch. It'll be great."
Minho smiled brightly. "Okay, now what's your news?"
"Oh, uh, well, I have a gift for you."
"Really? What is it?"
"I can't tell you. I need your address so that I can send it."
"Ooh," Minho said, playfully, "An actual, physical gift? I thought that maybe you were going to finally send me a selfie."
"Pfft, you know I don't take selfies."
"That's why it would be a gift."
Newt rolled his eyes, jokingly, as the text came through with Minho's address.
"I'm going to get the express shipping," Newt lied, "So you should expect your gift to be there in two weeks."
~
I don't believe that I have ever made a multiple-part one-shot... I guess that contradicts the name one-shot, doesn't it?
Anyways, have you looked at the cover of this book, recently? It was made and gifted to me by the lovely fanfictrash250 💜
Have a lovely morning/afternoon/night~