(11:23 pm) it all started with a simple text from a mutual.
“hey! you seem pretty cool, do you want to be friends?”
fast forward to a couple months later, the talking stage was still intact. simple good mornings and good nights progressed to learning about each others ambitions. he loved eating home cooked meals from his grandma and wanted to become a vet. you didn't exactly know what you wanted to do besides box. yet whenever you voiced your doubts about your future, he always assured you that it was okay to not know.
yang jungwon was his name. same age but attended a different school near the city.
“I'm going to get bubble tea with a couple of my friends, do you want anything from there? I'll drop it off for you,” he texted. you instantly stood up and started pacing while holding the phone. he wanted to see you?
oh gosh, it felt like you were going to throw up. sure it’s been 3 months and 12 days since you’ve started talking, but to meet up now? to see him face to face in front of your house and just talk to him without any screens between you two? you bit your nails out of nervousness. sure, you wanted to meet him, but you weren’t ready for what would happen. was it the fear of disappointment? what if he didn’t like how you looked or acted in person? with shaking hands, you responded a few minutes later.
“nah it’s okay, i have to sleep soon. good night :)”
you hit your pillow out of anger and embarrassment. go to sleep? at 7:30 pm? oh gosh, what if he thought you didn’t want to see him?
after that night, it seemed like it affected nothing. however you still thought about it from time to time. what if you met him then and you could’ve been holding hands already? does he smell like earl grey? before you knew it, you were entering a tea store and purchasing a pack of earl grey tea leaves.
“hey kid, shouldn’t you be in school?” the owner asked. you kept quiet and gave them the money before leaving. you opened your phone to navigate to jungwon’s school and made your way there. by the estimated time you’d arrive, there would be a few minutes before school ended. his classroom was 2-A.
after sneaking onto the premises, you walked around the hallways until you found it. taking a deep breathe, you stood by the lockers next to the door and held the box tightly. was this too sudden? what if he didn’t want to see yo- your thoughts were interrupted as the bell rang and doors slammed open.
you peered through the students leaving before spotting the feline-like male walking with his earbuds in, not noticing his surroundings.
you waited until he walked past you, and then followed behind before tapping his shoulder. startled, he took off his earbuds and turned around. to say he was surprised would be an understatement. he looked absolutely ecstatic to see you with his hand clasped over his opened mouth.
you held back a growing smile. “hi. I hope you’re not too disappointed,” before holding out the box of tea. taking his silence as a moment to continue, “I saw this and thought that you might like it.. I-it’s from the store you said your grandma li-”
you couldn’t finish the sentence because he tackled you into a huge and laughed joyously. “you’re here!”
you immediately wrapped your arms around him as his grip tightened. I could get used to this. “yeah, sorry it took so long to meet.”
“don’t be sorry,” he looked at you with such adoration, “I would’ve waited a lifetime to met you, (y/n).”
