Chapter Text
They finally decided to go to sleep, Hyunwook taking the top bunk, Jihoon laying down in the bottom one. They both stared at the ceiling in awkward silence before Jihoon decided to speak.
“So uhm… do you know me from like a drama or song or something…?”
He wasn’t sure about asking, but curiosity got the best of him. Hyunwook stayed silent for a few seconds then:
“Way before any of that.”
Jihoon wanted to ask what he meant, but he didn’t have to.
“I’m not sure you even remember…”
Hyunwook said, then took a big breath like he was preparing to talk about something painful in the past.
“Nine years ago before you debuted, I was at my lowest. I felt like the world was taking me apart every second. My mom got sick, I worked 3 part-time jobs just to pay for her treatment, I was failing every subject in school, and I barely ate or slept. I genuinely couldn’t do it anymore…”
He let out a shaky breath, then continued. Jihoon listened silently.
“I stood on a bridge over the Han River. I took my shoes off, but before I could even step over the railing, a young boy took my hand.”
“He looked at me with those big dark sad eyes and hugged me. I’ve never seen him before”
Hyunwook’s voice cracked slightly.
“That was the only thing that kept me from giving up. He’s the reason I went home that night. Few months later, I saw that same boy debuting in a k-pop group.”
“It was you Jihoon-ah.”
Jihoon’s chest tightened at the mention of his name- too familiar. He couldn’t say anything. He remembered the broken boy from the bridge nine years ago, but he never imagined that it could be him…Hyunwook. He spoke again, more quietly this time.
“I promised that I would do anything to support you. I hope I can finally thank you properly for everything.”
Jihoon just stared ahead of him. So Hyunwook did know how he feels. He blinked, trying to process all the emotions that suddenly came rushing in then he slowly sat up on the bed.
“You…remembered that after all this time?”
“It meant everything to me.”
Hyunwook replied, then sat up as well. He slowly climbed down from the bed and turned towards Jihoon. A slight smile appeared on his face, the other boy just stared at him with a slightly shocked expression.
“I’m not tired anymore”
Hyunwook said, then walked over to the kitchen. Jihoon stared at his back for a few more seconds before standing up and following him. The dim light from the lamp on the dining table barely touched their faces. Hyunwook took a small pot from the cupboard and put it on the stove before filling it with water. He gestured for Jihoon to sit down to the dining table and smiled. Jihoon sat down hesitantly watching as Hyunwook cooked.
“You must be hungry”
The younger boy said, then glanced back at Jihoon with a smile. He nodded quietly, not taking his eyes off Hyunwook. A few minutes later Hyunwook placed a bowl of instant ramen in front of Jihoon, and Jihoon thanked him quietly. When he picked his chopsticks up and took the first bite, familiarity washed over him. It was his favorite. He looked up at Hyunwook, who still had the same sincere smile on his face and almost didn’t believe that someone remembered something so small…that he himself couldn’t. He stopped thinking about his favorite food or what he liked after realizing that there was no point in wanting or asking for anything anymore. But Hyunwook remembered and a small light of hope reappeared in Jihoon’s heart.
“This is what you like…right?”
Hyunwook asked before sitting down in the chair opposite to Jihoon.
“Yeah…”
Jihoon said then looked away as a small smile appeared on his face. “It is.”
After the meal, they went back to sleep. But they didn’t stare at the ceiling in awkward silence anymore. Jihoon felt a sense of comfort. Like a huge weight was lifted off his chest and he could finally rest for a little while. The next day he wasn’t woken up by loud bangs or screams, he didn’t feel exhausted like he usually did. Hyunwook was already up, doing something in the kitchen. Jihoon slowly sat up on the bed, then walked over to him.
“You’re cooking again? We’re in an apocalypse, in case you forgot”
Hyunwook turned to him with a slightly shocked expression and stared at his face for a few seconds before a genuine, happy laugh escaped him. Maybe he got startled suddenly and only registered the words later or maybe he was surprised Jihoon joked about something for the first time.
“I’m going out later. I need the energy”
Jihoon nodded then picked his bag up from the corner. He took a worn, white t-shirt out. It had small blood spots on the sleeve and it was slightly torn at the bottom. Hyunwook lifted the pot off from the stove and put it on the counter next to him then glanced at Jihoon.
“You’re going to wear that?”
“Yeah…I don’t really have anything else”
Hyunwook took the shirt from his hands and gestured towards the closet.
“Take one from there.”
No it’s fine. Jihoon wanted to say, but he was leaving today anyway so he decided to just accept it.
he took a clean, simple black t-shirt and turned around to change. As he slipped his old shirt over his head, Hyunwook caught a glimpse of his back where a huge scar stretched across it. It was almost healed, but stitched up by someone who clearly had no idea what they were doing.
“Where did you get that? If it’s okay that I’m asking…”
Jihoon completely forgot about his scar so he got startled by the question. He turned around debating whether to tell Hyunwook or not. He didn’t trust him that much after all.
“Uh...”
Jihoon looked down, staring at the floor for a few seconds.
“There’s a gang… maybe you heard of them. They call themselves ‘hounds’ or something like that. They attacked me a few months ago and took everything. I admit it was hard to get back from that.”
When Jihoon finally looked up, he found Hyunwook completely frozen. He looked like he just saw a ghost. Jihoon tilted his head slightly in confusion.
“Oh… I see”
Hyunwook managed to say.
“And they did that?”
He asked hesitantly. Jihoon nodded.
“Yeah. I tried to stop one of them from taking my gun, then I felt something slice across my back. I passed out right there then I woke up in front of my burned down house the next day.”
Jihoon shrugged as if this was the easiest thing to talk about. But the truth is that he still suffers from nightmares reminding him of that one night. He didn’t get it why Hyunwook was acting like this though. Things like this happen in the apocalypse after all.
“Aren’t we going then?”
Jihoon asked. Hyunwook glanced at the pot on the counter then looked back at the other boy.
“Yeah…I’m not hungry anymore. We can eat this later.”
‘We.’ Jihoon thought. I have to tell him that I’m not coming back. I can’t rely on a guy that I just met. He nodded again, then put his backpack over one shoulder.
Hyunwook opened the door then locked it once Jihoon walked out. As they left the office building, a loud bang echoed across the area. Hyunwook immediately stepped in front of Jihoon and shielded him with one arm, reaching for his gun with the other. Then another loud shot. The shorter boy grabbed the other’s hand and they ran into the nearest building across the street. It was abandoned grocery shop. Jihoon ducked behind the checkout counter and dragged Hyunwook with him.
“Didn’t think you were this protective Jihoon-ah.”
Hyunwook whispered with a wide grin on his face. Jihoon frowned then put his hand on Hyunwook’s mouth.
“Be quiet.”