[02]
| march 4, 2018 | 10:15 am kst | 9:15 pm est |
T a e h y u n g
to: Minjae 🤘🏻
iMessages (translated)
10:15 am
Minjae 🤘🏻:
Hyung!!
(형)
The show airs in 8 days!
sent 10:15 am
Me:
Minjae that's great! Congrats! I'll be sure to watch it !
sent 10:16 am
Minjae 🤘🏻:
what are you up to?
sent 10:16 am
Me:
Nothing really, just enjoying break.
sent 10:16 am
Minjae 🤘🏻:
Ah well, I was thinking of playing sw. You should join! Leah might get on too, and you could meet :)
sent 10:17 am
Me :
Alright, I'll come on later. Can you give me perms into the channel?
sent 10:17 am
Minjae 🤘🏻:
I got you!!
sent 10:17 am
<.>
Minjae has been a close friend of mine for some years now. We met at an award show but began playing online when our schedules were too busy for us to meet.
I let the game load as I make my way to the kitchen in our dorm.
"Hey hyung, what's up?" I hear Jungkook say, who is sitting on a stool by the island.
"Just getting a snack before I play SW with Minjae. Do you want to join?" I asked without taking my eyes off the fridge.
"Jin-hyung made pancakes earlier. There should be some in a container on the second shelf."
"Thanks, so do you?" I grab the container and make myself a plate.
"Mm maybe, I was thinking of going to that climbing place with Minwoo-hyung again." He shrugged his shoulders and continued eating his pancakes.
"Ok, have fun!" I said as I walk back to my room with a big plate of pancakes. Before I get there, I stop in front of Jin's room. "Thanks for the pancakes hyung!"
"Of course, Tae!" He shouts back, and I enter my room.
Both the game and discord had loaded within the ten minutes it took me to get the food. I grab my headset and join the voice call. I was met with Daniel Caesar lightly playing in my ears. Along with a girl, singing with the lyrics.
But I could not enjoy the sound for long. She abruptly stopped and muttered an, "H-Hello?"
I can barely speak English... How am I going to speak to her?
"Um... Hello. I-Is um Minjae?" I tried to make a sentence that could be understood.
"Oh uh, he went to get some food. He'll be right back." Her voice was light and feathery, almost exactly like her singing.
"Um, I- Okay." I barely understood what she had said but I didn't want to be rude and ask her again.
<.>
L e a h.
When someone had joined the call, I was confused. The only ones who were able to join the channel were Minjae and I. Was this what Minjae was mumbling about earlier?
"Well... I don't want this to be awkward so... Hey, I'm Leah. You are?" I tried to stay casual and seem confident.
"Oh," I hear on the other line. "My name is V. Mmm—I don't speak um English well." He had a cute accent, paired with a deep and attractive voice. It was a very pleasant contrast.
"Oh? Where are you from?"
"I'm from Korea." I immediately switched languages after he said this.
"Ah! Would it be easier if we just spoke in Korean then?" I asked.
"Oh! I—Thank you..." He stuttered, then cleared his throat, continuing, "And, where did you say Minjae was? I couldn't hear earlier." His voice was even deeper when he spoke Korean. I felt chills crawl up my spine and a fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach.
It should be illegal to make me feel so bothered just by speaking a few words. I shift in my seat. "He went to get something to eat."
"Mmm. I didn't know you speak Korean. Minjae has spoken about you a few times, but has never mentioned it before."
"I didn't know Minjae talked about me." I let out a soft chuckle. "But yeah, I'm Korean and African American. I grew up speaking Korean with my mom."
"Wow really? That's cool!"
The song comes to an end, so I ask, "Do you have any music preferences?"
"Oh no, you can play whatever you want."
"Okay." I smile as I look at the queue full of Billie Eilish and Daniel Caesar songs. I hum along with the lyrics of 'idontwannabeyouanymore.'
"You should sing." His deep voice resonates in my ears.
My eyes widened, practically popping out of my head. "Y-You heard me? Earlier?" Oh god, this is so embarrassing.
"I did. It was beautiful." He compliments. "You should sing this song too." He sounded so assertive.
"I- Thank you but I don't really sing... I-I mean I like to sing, but not for others." I finish with a shy, awkward laugh, sounding nothing like the confident tone I had wanted previously.
"Oh? Why not?" V asked.
I paused. "I... I don't really know. I've just never wanted to sing for anyone." I answer him honestly. I was never the type who wanted attention. Whether it be a few people or a full crowd. The attention of others was never on my priority list or even considered important.
"Ahh, well you're very good." He compliments.
"Thank you," I smile. "You're so sweet."
A deep chuckle comes through my headset. "So how old are you?"
"I'm nineteen," I say, stating my Korean age. "You?"
"Aw, you're a baby." He coos in a teasing tone, one you would use when awing at children. "I'm twenty-four."
"You're not much older than I am," I say playfully.
A loud crash came through the call, followed by a string of curses. "Hello?! Leah, are you still there?!" Minjae yells into his mic.
"Ah," I groan. "Of course I'm still here. Why are you yelling?" I say in a fit of a laughter.
"Are you okay, Minjae?" V says chuckling as well.
"V-Hyung!" Minjae gasped excitedly. "Yeah I'm alright, definitely sobered up a bit from that. Did you guys get acquainted?"
"We did. Briefly, but yes," I replied.
"I'm glad!"
<.>
| march 3, 2018 | 11 pm est | 12 am kst |
We had just gotten off the call, and I was laying on my bed, trying to get comfy when my phone buzzed.
Discord Notification:
Mmtae has requested be your friend. Would you like to add him back?