Chapter Text
“Call me if something happened. No- no, just call me even if nothing happened!” Yeonjun told them from the passenger seat for the 5th time after Taehyun and Hueningkai got out of the car. Yeonjun had the car’s window down.
Soobin and Yeonjun had driven them to the train station. Taehyun felt like a child who was out to do their first errand. Sometimes Yeonjun was a worrywart.
“I’m not a five years old! We’ll be fine Hyung.” Hueningkai said to his brother.
“Who said you’re five? The last time I checked you were just turned two!” The brothers started bickering as always.
“Hyung let them go, they will miss the train.” Soobin tapped his boyfriend’s thigh from the driver seat.
Yeonjun seemed contemplating. Taehyun who just shut his mouth the whole time decided to step forward. “Hyuka may be two years old, but I am 19. I can take care of him.” Hueningkai turned his head toward Taehyun at a speed of light, he was about to say something when Taehyun just covered his mouth with his hand and dragged him away. “Good bye Hyung!”
Taehyun could hear Yeonjun shouted from the car. “I trust you Taehyunie!”
After Taehyun and Hueningkai bought their ticket, they headed toward their train. They had a little difficulty finding their seat for a minute, they didn’t expect the train would be this packed on Sunday.
“I mean, it’s Sunday, people spending their free time on Sunday weren’t strange at all.” Taehyun told Hueningkai after they sat on their seat.
“Yeah, do you know that there will be a Lantern festival tonight?” Hueningkai asked him.
“Lantern festival?”
“Huum, near the river. Let’s go there when we’re back!” Taehyun could hear excitement in Hueningkai’s voice.
“Do you think we can make it?”
“We can! Just trust me, I already have everything planned out!” Taehyun smiled at that. He reached out to stroke Hueningkai’s hair playfully.
“Well, let’s go then.” Taehyun spoke in a low voice.
“Don’t you think it’s kinda like a date?”
That had Taehyun startled. Well, it sounded like a date.
Taehyun felt he didn’t need anything anymore, just him and Hueningkai like this was more than enough.
Well hours later, Taehyun felt the need to strangle his best friend.
“You said you have everything planned.” Hueningkai only looked at him sheepishly.
They got the strings, but the problem was it was 5 PM, and the lantern festival started at 8. They would likely miss it.
Everything was fine at first. They got off the train, waiting for a bus, and that’s it, they should be able to buy the strings right away. But the chaos happened right after that, the store moved away.
They had to find the address, and since they weren’t familiar with this area yet, it took hours and Taehyun actually almost couldn’t feel his legs anymore, they walked for a long time.
“It sucks.” Hueningkai sounded sad. He was sad. His best friend was busy all week and today was the only chance they got to see the festival together, and somehow it was ruined.
Taehyun didn’t miss the change of expression on his best friend's face. He stood up right. “Let’s go, we still can make it.”
“Huh?” Hueningkai only looked at him with a confused gaze. It would take more than three hours to reach the festival, and the time wouldn’t just stop for two boys who wanted to see some lights.
“Come on!” Taehyun reached out to hold Hueningkai’s hand, and pulled him into a run.
They got into the main road after a while, Hueningkai was breathless, so did Taehyun. But Taehyun didn’t stop, he stood by the road and waved his hands when he saw a taxi drove to them, luckily it was empty. Taehyun told the driver to take them to the train station, he said they were in a hurry.
Taehyun opened his phone to check the train schedule. The next train will board in 15 minutes, and if they missed it, they would need to wait for another 30 minutes.. That was their last chance.
The driver sensed the tense atmosphere and decided to accelerate the car. Taehyun was grateful at that, but Hueningkai seemed to be on edge, he grabbed Taehyun’s arm and held it tightly. He was praying.
They reached the train station in ten minutes. Taehyun thanked the driver and paid him extra.
Taehyun held Hueningkai’s hand once again and began to run. They bought the ticket at a speed of light and the moment they stepped into the train, the door closed entirely.
Hueningkai jumped around and hugged his best friend, some passengers saw them with a funny look on their face. But they just didn’t care.
What a day.
After they reached their seats, Hueningkai called Yeonjun to tell him that they would be home late.
“You know, it was fun.” Hueningkai said after the phone call ended.
Taehyun wanted to argue, today was stressful for him, they were just lucky. But looking at Hueningkai’s face, maybe he was right.
“Yeah it was fun.”
“Let’s do this again.” Hueningkai smiled at him.
Hell no.
The lantern festival was bright. They managed to arrive on time without losing too much breath. It was beautiful.
Hueningkai bought them a lantern, they walked to the riverside. People already gathered to release the lantern together.
It was beautiful, they set off fireworks as well.
Taehyun was happy, Hueningkai stood by his side looking at the night sky that was filled with a burst of color. The sky rained with lights.
In Taehyun’s eyes there was something that was more beautiful than the dancing light above them. It was the smile of the boy that stood by his side with a stunned gaze toward the sky.
Hueningkai looked happy, and he looked the most beautiful when he was like this.
Taehyun glanced down at their hands, their separated hands. Taehyun held Hueningkai’s hand all day, but why did he miss it already?
Their hands brussed each other.
Taehyun was in doubt, he was about to reach out, but the mark on his right wrist glared at him, as if it was burning. Maybe it was just Taehyun with his useless imagination and overthinking.
He pulled back his hand. He didn’t know that it would hurt this much. He just pulled his hand, why did he feel like he gave up on his life?
He looked up at the sky, the fireworks ended already, Taehyun didn’t notice.
Suddenly he felt warmths all over his palm. Hueningkai’s hand was on his. Their hands latched together.
Taehyun turned his gaze toward him.
Hueningkai looked happy, and he looked the most beautiful when he was like this. Hueningkai smiled and said, “Thank you for coming with me today Taehyun-ah.”
Taehyun wished a simple life. The life that he could manage without too much thought, without too much doubt, and without being anxious.
He wanted to hold Hueningkai without thinking about the flying seagulls, and uncertain future.
to be continued