@kim chanmi. minhyun’s feet felt heavy as he alighted the elevator, his own hands straining from the effort of carrying a bag of food that he had promised to bring her. perhaps, the emotions he had felt ever since receiving that little text was enough to recall all the ones he had had for her from years past, ones that had been long since forgotten since having lost touch with her had messed up his coordination, even deeming himself lacking in the strength department.
kim chanmi, once a friend but always that “almost”—she had left but his thoughts somehow would find their way back to memories of her. there was a time when he had longed to watch her draw again with the sunrise just peeking through the blackout curtains of his own flat. she looked so vulnerable when she was deep in ponder and despite the heat of the nights they shared, the warmth of the aftermath had always been his favorite.
he’d never admit that to her though. to her, hwang minhyun was never gentle—he was ambitious and untouchable, fleeting and nonchalant. she shall never know that he was willing to drop everything just to do her bidding.
in fact, he had to lie through his teeth about being free when he had just cancelled his initial plans to attend a wine-tasting event in her behest. his manager had been quite frustrated with him but ah, at least it earned him a free admission to bring in a plus one. “bring that tinder date of yours from last time,” minhyun had told him. the other male had only feigned reluctance to the idea.
the man had found himself in front of her door a few moments later and he heard himself sigh, loosening the tightness of his chest at the idea of seeing her again. was he really this nervous? it was just chanmi, was it not? this was not some kind of date just. . .well, it was definitely all-business for her. shaking off the nerves, minhyun finally decided to tap the door with the back of his hand. the sound of rushed pitter pattering of feet from the other side of the door made him smile just a tad bit.
“long day?” he asked when she finally opened the door for him. his gaze raked over her in amusement, noting how her hair was sticking out just a bit despite being in a neat bun. there were splotches of paint all over her apron, her silken button down having been an unwilling victim to the ravages of her art. she looked. . .just as how she had been years ago, only more mature over the years, maybe. minhyun’s simper widened as he stepped into the threshold. for a moment, he wanted to feel her close to him. thankfully, he had his hands full. otherwise, he would have looked like a fool for being too excited for this reconnection.
he took a quick look around as she led him into the kitchen to set the food down. “still quite the same,” he commented quietly. “you still paint over there? by the window?”