Since the '60s
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Pairing: Lee Minho x Han Jisung
Previous chapter: Chapter 25.
Chapter 26.
It was time.
Minho was standing in front of Jisung's apartment door, ready to take his leave. Forever this time.
Jisung was standing in front of him, staring into the older's eyes. Neither of them wanted this. It was never their own decision. "This is horrible." Jisung sniffled quietly, words catching in his throat.
Jisung had made it through the morning without crying. They had woken up next to each other, showered each other with affection all morning, and now they're supposed to part ways.
Minho chewed on his bottom lip anxiously. He didn't want this. He wanted anything, but this. Leaving his Jisung.
He knew that once he left this apartment, he would most likely never talk to Jisung again. Never see his flashy but shy smile. Never hear his laugh ring in his ears like a melody he longed to hear his whole life.
He would live the rest of his life contemplating if he made the right decision. It certainly never felt right, but it's what he had to do.
Minho felt a tear drip down his cheek as he took a step closer to Jisung, taking his hand in his own. The younger's eyes were also watering as he looked at their intertwined hands.
"I'm going to miss you," Minho whispered. "I'll spend my life thinking about our time together."
Jisung bit his lip as the tears finally fell and he choked out a sob. Minho captured the younger in his arms, burying his face into the soft blonde hair as Jisung's arms grasped him like he could disappear any second.
Minho's hand soothed the other's back as he listened to his sobs, his own heart aching too. His eyes watered as he reminisced the past months he had spent with Jisung.
He remembered the birthday party where they first met. He remembered the stupid song that was playing, and the way it had haunted him the next few weeks. He remembered their first kiss and the note he found under the bench: ”I am large, I contain multitudes.”
He remembered everything.
As Minho let the memories flood his mind, he also finally felt hot streaks of tears fall down his cheeks. He chocked out a sob and tightened his hold on the smaller frame still crying in his arms.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Min", Jisung mumbled against his chest and Minho choked on a sob.
After a few minutes of breathing in each other's scent and trying to calm down, the tears finally halted. Jisung sniffled as he freed himself from Minho's hold. They locked eyes, both pairs glossy and red.
"Jisungie," Minho started, rising a hand to caress his cheek. "Remember what I promised last night, okay?"
Jisung's lower lip quivered as he nodded. Minho attempted to smile but it ended up looking pained.
"I'll love you forever, okay? You made me wake up. You made me love my life for a sweet while. I'll be eternally grateful for you." Jisung started to cry again as he spoke, softly shaking his head.
"I love you. Forever. And if we're destined to meet again one day, I'll remind you."
Minho ended his speech with a kiss. He sealed their lips together softly, cupping Jisung's tear stained cheek with his hand, other one holding his waist gently. Jisung tilted his head slightly while opening his mouth, hands sneaking to Minho's neck, the kiss deepening.
Minho softly pushed his tongue in Jisung's mouth, deciding to enjoy this kiss as much as possible as it could be their very last one.
Jisung pulled the older closer, mouths still moving against each other gently, like it was something fragile and delicate that could break any moment.
Jisung was the one to finally pull away, hands sliding down to Minho's chest.
"I love you too", Jisung started. "So, so much. And I always will. I'm sorry for everything. I-"
Minho shushed him by placing a finger on Jisung's lips. "Do not apologize. As you said, we haven't done anything to be sorry for. Okay?"
Jisung smiled slightly and nodded. "We'll meet again one day. I know it," He whispered before leaning in once more, pulling Minho to their last kiss.
It was painful. Minho felt like someone had cut open his chest and was now squeezing his heart aggressively.
Minho softly turned them around while still not breaking the kiss, him now closer to the door. He felt Jisung grip his shirt tighter, knowing he was about to leave, not wanting him to.
But Minho knew that if he didn't leave now he wouldn't be able to ever. And they both knew him staying would be impossible.
He broke the kiss. Jisung coulnd't look him in the eyes.
"Jisungie..." Minho said quietly, voice breaking. The younger met his gaze, but suddenly he didn't know what to say anymore. He gave a weak smile and gave Jisung's lips a final peck.
"I'm sorry."
Minho grabbed Jisung's hands and lowered the from his chest. Tears came back on Jisung's cheeks as he shook his head. "No, no... no don't-"
Minho stepped towards the door, smiling. A single tear rolling on his damp cheek.
Jisung sobbed, but didn't make any efforts to stop the other. Minho's hand was already on the doorhandle when he stopped to look at Jisung once more.
"I'll look for you. Don't change your phonenumber."
And he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
And Jisung cried.
He cried like never before. He collapsed on the floor in front of his door, resisting the urge to run after Minho.
He cried until he burst a vessel in his eye, until he finally crawled to the couch and passed out.
. . .
Minho never called.
A few months passed on and Jisung had met up with his parents. He got a job with their help and he started to make friends. None of it was normal, though. He never let the real him through.
He spent his nights crying. He wrote letters, songs, even poems to get his feelings out. Minho would never get them.
Minho had gone back home. He had cried the whole way and as soon as he got there, Yichu was waiting for him.
It had felt weird seeing her, but it was nice to have someone who knew about it all. She had comforted him.
. . .
A year passed on.
Jisung had made a friend. A true friend who he could talk to. Her name was Haeun. They met through work and spent hours talking. Haeun could reate to the stuff Jisung talked about and vice versa.
It was nice. Jisung was doing bettter. He still missed Minho.
Minho was engaged. His mother was trying to hide her happiness, because she knew this wasn't what Minho had wanted.
Minho's father was joyous. He had patted him on the back and said something about how he's glad the medicine had worked after all and he was back to normal.
Normal. Minho not once felt normal after leaving Jisung. He had some kind of panick attacks frequently and had to get sleeping pills to not have nightmares.
Minho was miserable and far from normal.
. . .
10 years, Jisung had married Haeun.
Only to get his parents off his back. They both knew their marriage was platonic and mostly all for show. Haeun had met a woman that she loved, but couldn't be with her. Jisung comforted her and helped her through it, and thought about Minho. His heart felt hollow.
Minho was married and had two children. A son and a daughter. He had taken over his father's company and took care of the store as his father had fallen sick. He was overworking himself to the point that he would wake up at 5am, go to work and come home at midnight. Him and Yichu would fight and he would always say something wrong because of how tired he was.
And every night he would think about Jisung.
Minho and Yichu would divorce in a year.
. . .
20th of september, somewhere in the ’90s.
Minho never called.
He was sitting in his livingroom. Alone. The kids were supposed to come see him today, but something "came up". Or that's what Yichu had said.
Minho let out a sigh and sipped his whiskey. It was his 40th birthday and he was so, utterly alone.
His father had passed away. The sickness had taken his life, as well as his mother's happiness. She was in a nursing home now, and Minho paid her regular visits. She seemed to be better.
Minho was so alone.
He was just about to go pour some more liquor for himself when the song on the radio switched. Minho froze.
Familiar, hauntingly beautiful notes started playing.
Wise men say... only fools rush in...
Minho sighed and collapsed back on the chair. Why were they playing such old songs on the radio still?
Closing his eyes, he remembered.
Han Jisung.
He remembered everything about him. His soft laugh, his touch, his smile, his eyes, his voice calling his name, his-
Minho's eyes shot open.
His number. He remembered it.
"Don't change your phone number." That's what he had told Jisung. But it would be irrational to call him. What if he wouldn't even remember Minho?
Minho's heart ached. He has to.
What if the number had changed when he got a cellphone? Would the number even exist anymore? Probably not. So it wouldn't hurt calling, right?
Right. Minho shook his thought clear, stood up and walked to the old phone he never got rid of. He reached for it, but halted.
This is just stupid.
He almost backed out, but groaned in defeat as he grabbed the phone, dialing the number slowly.
Minho took a deep breath. It wouldn't even work.
The line rang. And rang. And rang again.
Minho chuckled. "What on earth am I even doing..." He muttered to himself, about to put the phone down. Until-
A crackle could be heard from the other line. "H- hello?"
Minho's mouth went dry.
"Is someone- someone there?"
A voice spoke out. Jisung's voice.
Minho raised the phone back to his ear and gulped.
"Jisungie." Minho croaked. His tongue felt like sandpaper.
Jisung sighed softly on the other line. "Minho."
Silence settled for a few moments as neither of the men knew what to say.
"You didn't change your number", Minho mumbled in disbelief.
"I kept the old phone. Just in case, I guess."
Minho breathed out a small laugh.
"How-" Minho halted. The question felt idiotic.
"How am I?" Jisung let out a sarcastic laugh. "I'm good. Married, six kids, a stable job and loads of money."
Minho's throat tightened. "Oh! That's..."
Jisung snorted. "I'm kidding. Well, I am married. But only legally. No heart involved for either of us."
"Right", Minho felt a wheight drop from his heart. "Of course."
A beat of silence.
"And you? With... Yichu?"
Minho pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Well, divorced. She deserves better. I put work above her and... Well, you know. Uh, two kids, son and daughter. They're... I don't see them much. Yichu thinks I'm a bad influence." Minho scoffed.
"Sounds... great. You still work at your dad's?"
Minho swallowed. "Dad's... dead. Fell sick. I got the company."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, he kept praising me for becoming 'normal' again."
Jisung scoffed. "Typical."
Minho hummed.
"You never called", Jisung whispered.
"I know. I'm sorry, I-" Minho tried to organize his thoughts. "My dad kept checking the phone history. I don't even know how that's possible, but it kept me too scared to call. Then when he was gone I was just scared that you wouldn't even want to talk to me."
"What made you call?" Jisung's voice was calm and steady.
"I don't know. I... I still love you."
What!? Minho thought. What am I saying?
"I know. I do too."
Minho breathed a relieved laugh. "Would- Would you like to meet somewhere? Where do you live nowdays?"
He heard Jisung laugh softly on the other line, the sound making his heart feel warm. "I would like that. I don't live too far from my old apartment, we could meet somewhere near there?"
Minho smiled. "Yeah, I still live here. meet me at the park in an hour?"
"It's a date," Minho could hear the smile in Jisung's voice.
MInho put the phone down, heart pounding in his chest. He'd meet Jisung. They could be together again. Nothing was stopping them now.
And with lightened steps and a warm heart he began to get ready.
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Alexa play You're Still The One by Shania Twain <3
Hello my lovely readers. I MISSED YOU!!!
I deeply apologize for taking so long with this chapter.... I wrote it on paper a long time ago but I haven't had time to copy it here </3 I thought my summer would be free but I've been working a LOT.
I'm gonna miss this fic. This is the last chapter guys, only the epilogue left SOB
I love u all sm. Thanks for waiting and supporting <3
If ur interested, I might be posting this fic on wattpad with improved chapters, song recs for each chapter and more! @/thatfiniiui on Wattpad <3 I also have more fics there, very different from this one though :)
Taglist: @lovelycherry17 @what-in-tha-earth @goquokkaaa <3
