Chapter Text
Never in his wildest dreams did Junkyu fall hard for a guy he barely knew. Never did he expect that his fate would be entangled with a cute and soft guy he met in a bus when he was on a mission to complete his assignment. Never did he think that his heart would be shattered into pieces when he chose to go back home to pursue his dreams and leave the guy without proper farewell. And never did he know that the cutesy is hurt as much as he does.
He thought it was just a typical day to be spent with Mashiho. He woke up early and excitedly planned the places that they should visit together. Preparing the things he has to bring for the day’s tour, he remembered his sketchpad and flipped the pages one after another. Just one last page and he’s done.
"Last one and let's be official," Junkyu whispers while looking intently at the solitaire diamond ring in a cerulean vintage-inspired heirloom box.
After all the days he spent with Mashiho; after all the places they visited and marked as theirs; and after all the moments they created together like precious polaroids from a cherished camera, he cannot think of any other guy he would fall in love with. Is he in love? Is this really love that he was feeling? Yes, he is. Just by those shy smiles, the stares, the gestures, the clinginess, all of them define how whipped Junkyu is over the cute Japanese guy.
But wait, what about that subject of him, that guy he promised to find in the cities of Japan? Is he forgotten? For Junkyu, he actually does not know anymore. For some time, his mind wipes the memories of him, replacing them with the sweet ones he had with Mashiho. He might look so selfish on that part, but that is the only way to escape the mystery of his painting subject. And he gladly accepts it that way.
“I think I don’t have any reason to look for you,” he uttered while looking at the page of sketches of his faceless subject. He felt a slight pinch of pain upon uttering those words, but he ignored it. “I find you fascinating, yet mysterious. But I find him amazing and adorable. He’s worth the time and appreciation,” Junkyu had decided, he chose Mashiho.
But then, all of his plans crumbled down when he received a message from his Dad, “Kyu, you have to go home now. We already found a sponsor for your studies in France.”
Now it was his dreams versus Mashiho.
Unfortunately, he chose his dreams over him. Love may not be enough reason to stay nor to chase. And that day, Junkyu, in his favorite white Supreme hoodie and faded jeans, boarded the plane back to Seoul, leaving his heart in Mie, with a promise of coming back for Shiho.
****
When Junkyu left without proper goodbye, Mashiho severed his heart into pieces, as well. He wanted to shout and vent his frustrations out. He wants to scream out loud and let Junkyu, who was on the plane at that moment, know how painful the elder leaving him is. He wants to just board another plane and fly to Seoul himself but he can’t. He had no strength to get his seat up and pack his things. He felt so exhausted from crying hours after he left the elder’s vacation house as he tightened his grip on the only reason for him to hold the letter and a small box Junkyu left.
As the day passes, his heart constricts just by looking at these things, making his heart bleed as he remembers how much he yearns for the Korean guy. But he cannot do anything but to pray and hope that their worlds would collide once again.
Mashiho chose to stay inside his room and spent the remaining days of his vacation alone, rereading the elder’s letter and/or staring at the cerulean box that he never dared to open until his eyes shed tears and kept them gushing continuously until he got tired and fell asleep. For the rest of his vacation days, the same thing happened over and over again.
Just exactly a month, his vacation ended, he had no choice but to get off his bed and prepare for his internship tomorrow when he received a DM, “こんにちは (Hi.)” from the person he was waiting and wanting to be with, from the person he yearns to meet again, and from the person he missed a lot, Junkyu.
Shaking from mixed emotions, teary-eyed and speechless, Mashiho silently let his tears come running like a river to drown his miseries and lift him up from sadness. Just that one direct message from his favorite person made his heart beat again. He, then, dried his tears of joy、 held his phone and typed “あなたが恋しい. (I miss you)”, pouring all his emotions out with that simple reply.
(DM conversation)
Junkyu: こんにちは (Hi.)
Mashiho: あなたが恋しい. (I miss you)
Junkyu: 1ヶ月経ちましたが、もっと会いたいです (It's been a month、 but I want to see you more.) させてくれませんか？(Can I call you?)
Mashiho, excited yet nervous, answered Junkyu’s call and once again, he heard the elder’s heavenly voice, a faint whimper was heard, making the guy on the other line worried.
“Hush, my dear. Don’t cry,” Junkyu said, trying his best to calm Mashiho down. “Your sobs are even more heartbreaking than the month that passed,” he tried to pull a joke but Mashiho’s cry got louder instead. “Her, stop it, please.”
“I–--just can’t stop m-my tears *sniff* I can’t calm myself down,”Mashiho answered between sniffs and sobs. “I H-HATE YOU,” he bursted out, still bawling.
“I know, Mashi, I know and I am very sorry,” Junkyu said in a low tone, apologetically. “You must have hated me that much, I know. I am so sorry for leaving you without proper farewell. I am sorry for not letting you know what had happened, nor sending you a dm or chat. I am sorry that I have to leave my letter to Jek instead of handing it to you personally. I am sorry that we lost communication when I came back home. I am sorry that you have to go through dreary days without any news from me. I am sorry that I have to put you in this mess when you deserve to be cherished and loved. I am sorry,” Junkyu started to feel disheartened when he heard nothing from the other line, but slight sniffs. “He must have hated me that much,” he thought.
“I understand if you cannot say anything to me now. I am at fault. I should have not called you now. I am sorry that I bothered you this late,” the elder was about to put the call down when Mashiho spoke.
“YAH! KIM JUNKYU!” Mashiho shouted and heard a loud thud from the other line. “Oh, sorry, are you okay?” he worriedly asked the elder.
“Yeah, I’m good, just a little scratch but it does not hurt.”
“BE CAREFUL.”
“Stop shouting, okay. I can hear you. Just - just don’t raise your voice like that, you might strain your vocal chords.”
Mashiho chuckled faintly upon hearing such words from Junkyu until he remembered what he was about to say.
“Listen to me, Kim. I hate you, yes. But I miss you so much.”
“Oh.” That was kind of unexpected but Junkyu couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as he felt warm tingles crept his cheeks to his ears, making him as red as a ripe tomato.
“M-my heart just skipped a beat,” Junkyu said, almost stuttering by the younger’s sudden statement.
“Haha, I miss you, Kim Junkyu. I had sleepless nights and restless days because of you, so–--”
“So?”
“So be responsible for my heart for you have all the rights to it.”
“Say what?!” Junkyu did not know if he was hearing things or did Mashi really tell him something about his heart?
“I don’t feel like repeating myself, so you do your thing,” Mashiho said in a shy tone.
“Are you like telling me that I can have your heart, like you are giving me the title?”
“Ahm, yes?”
“I would really like to ask you to be with me and make up for all the days we failed to spend together and fill them all with new memories but how can I do that? I am bound to be away with you again. I have to go to France to study, can you handle that?
“Ahm, sure?”
“Can you, really?”
“I can as long as it’s you.”
“Then, today’s our first day, my cutie.”
With the promise that each of them holds, they would conquer the distance between them as they grow the love and care for each other. And they believe that when the right time comes, just the right moment with the right person, and when everything falls into place, they will see each other and continue the story that the Lord has written for them.