CHILD PLAY

The two walked to the park past the entrance, greeting the people smiling towards them.

"H-hi Mrs. J-Jeon!!"

"Oh hello Minghao! How is my favorite neighbor doing?" Mrs. Jeon replied.

"M-Minghao is doing g-good!" The boy answered. The younger kept jumping around and that made Mingyu smile.

"Minghao let's go, have a nice day Mrs. Jeon." Mingyu said nicely as he grabbed Minghao's waist and walked past the middle-aged woman.

Minghao's cheeks reddened as he felt the hand snake around his waist.

Somehow he wasn't nervous anymore, almost to the point where he wouldn't stutter.

The two sat down on the bench and faced eachother. "Minghao, tell me about yourself.."

"M-Mingyu.. wants t-to know about M-Minghao?" The younger asked.

"Mhmm."

| An hour later |

"Wanna go eat? Are you hungry?" Mingyu asked as he grabbed the younger's hand once again and interlocked their fingers.

"Minghao's hungry.." the latter mumbled looking down at their hands, smiling.

The sun was going down and they decided to go to a nice restaurant.

As Mingyu walked with Minghao down the street, he spotted his friends, but they didn't see him yet.

Mingyu quickly let go of Minghao's hands, Minghao looked up.

"Yo Mingyu!!.. what are you doing?" Jun asked cautiously trying to act content.

Then all the sudden, it was like some trigger.

"I have to take this retard to go out and eat." Mingyu responded coldly.

Minghao's ears turned red, but not in a good way. Mingyu was embarrassing him.

"Dude really? That's so funny!! Wanna take a picture? It'll last longer" One of the boys joked.

Minghao felt tears reach his eyes once again and slowly breathed in and out.

He started shaking again, badly.

"Well we'll see you later Mingyu!!"

His friends disappeared into the park laughing and joking around.

The two stood in front of the restaurant, waiting for the waiter to come and bring them to their table.

Mingyu then turned to look at the younger.

"Minghao.."

"Mingyu a-and Minghao s-should j-just eat and g-go home.."

"Minghao I'm–"

"Excuse me, let me bring you to our private table reserved for two." The waiter said.

| sitting at the table |

It was awkward.

Minghao was wondering why Mingyu even wanted to bring him to eat out, or go out at all.

Mingyu stared at his "date" and noticed how uncomfortable he was.

He messed up.

The older quickly excused himself and went to the bathroom to calm down a bit.

Wait, why would he care? This is just a joke right?

No, it's not just a joke Mingyu.. is it?

He walked back out and saw Minghao at someone else's table, using their phone?

The older walked closer and tried to listen to what Minghao was saying in the call.

"S-Seungcheollie h-hyung, please c-come and g-get Minghao.. I'm sad.."

"Awe baby what happened? Are you with Mingyu right now?"

Minghao sniffled up his tears, "Y-Yes.. b-but Minghao k-keeps crying and...and.. Seungcheollie Hyung, c-come quick.."

"Okay, I'm coming, don't worry Ming-ah."

Minghao ended the call and gave the phone back to the respectful owner. The boy turned around and jumped as he saw Mingyu right behind him.

"You wanna leave?" The older asked.

Minghao looked down, but slowly nodded.

"I'll walk you home then.."

"N-No, it's okay, Cheollie-Hyung is driving M-Minghao home.. Mingyu can g-go home."

Mingyu couldn't comprehend what just happened. Everything came flashing in his mind.

He remembered the conversation he had with Jeonghan last night,

"He doesn't stutter unless he really means it."

"S-Seungcheollie h-hyung, please c-come and g-get Minghao.. I'm sad.."

Great going Mingyu, you fucked up once again.

| in the car, Seungcheol and Minghao |

"Minghao, honey I keep telling you to stay away from him, but you just never listen do you.."

Minghao looked down in shame, he was still crying, just a little more silent this time.

"You have to tell me what happened at home okay?"

"O-Ok"

- are you guys enjoying this book so far?