Chapter Text
May 4th, 2025
Memories.
When you are young, you remember a lot of things. This memory box of yours keeps on fading with the age. You build a wall, you filter out emotions, you block unpleasant stuff, you let in things that won't hurt you on an emotional level.
Minho can't remember much of his childhood days. Just faint memories.
Beaches. Parks.
Happy things.
He does not want to remember the pain. It's not on him. Defense mechanism.
Identity.
Who are we? Why do we exist? Why are things the way they are?
Who made the rules?
Who decides if you are sane or not?
Why is something correct, while others are not?
Why do we have to live the way society has set us to?
Brainwashing is real. He had experienced it during his military days. Tough training, hostile environment, edgy peers. Single thinking.
They used to live their days thinking about the family they loved. Their significant others. Girlfriends. Wives.
Minho had none.
It was the only reason why he was in the military. Marine corps. The strictest of them all. The boot camp hours away from his home.
Not even a graduate.
Barely 18.
No degree. No faith.
Deception.
And even during those tough nights, he thought of only one person.
The one in front of him right now.
Yongbok.
They look completely different now. At 25, they are more mature and with life experience. Yongbok looks different physically as well.
But it's the same person who gave him shelter when he had no one with him.
Minho can't remember a lot of things from his childhood. But he remembers Yongbok. And he remembers those shared songs, bike rides, strawberry kisses and the taste of first love.
The peonies are nothing in front of his first love's dazzling smile.
"Minho."
"Yongbok."
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It's still Summer when they meet again.
Not as guests to the same wedding.
But as individuals.
As Minho and Yongbok. Or Felix, he had changed his name when living overseas.
This time, it's in broad daylight. Not under some pretence. Not as strangers or undercover lovers.
Minho had years to overcome his fear. To leave his family. To take blame and stay afloat by being who he actually is.
It's not a crime.
He is doing nothing wrong here.
If fending for himself is what will let him be, he is going to do that. And he did.
Assisting the florist shop in the mornings, grilling meat in the evening. Keeps him occupied, keeps the gossip away from his ears.
He is branded as the rogue one. It will never be erased, no matter what he does. There will be pity parties, blame games, fear of attraction, anything and everything in the world. But he is not speaking to anyone unneeded. He is keeping the space. Like a repellent.
Bad influence.
"You look good."
Yongbok is bright. A star ready to take over his world. And he will willingly give him that. And much more.
There are several years between them. A gap. But affection doesn't care about those walls, it melts through it.
Minho is melting in Yongbok's loving gaze.
Nothing changed. But everything did.
"You look good too. So handsome. The stubble actually suits you."
Ah, the stubble. He had no idea he would be meeting someone he once deeply cared for, or he would have shaved. But superficial things don't matter between the both of them. They are okay. They don't need such assurance.
"You think so?"
"Mhhmmm. Keep it."
Minho laughs. His own laughter is unfamiliar to him. How long has it been?
"Why did you not leave, Min?"
This question.
Minho had been dreading this particular question.
Multiple reasons.
First, this brings back a lot of pain.
Second, what is he even going to say? Because you left the town and I kept on living here in case you would come back one day.
Both are correct.
And both need not be conveyed.
Yongbok doesn't deserve this. Minho has already inflicted a lot of his own pain on him.
"It got better after a while haha. I got a job and look how I am doing today."
"That I can see. Where do you live?"
A place they used to frequent.
"Daichi."
"Wait. So you really commute from that far? Every day?"
"It's not that far. I have a motorcycle."
"That is still 40 minutes from here, Minho."
"I like it. Wanna come with me? It looks better now. Our hill has a lot of houses now."
It is their hill. A place they spent most of their happiest moments on. Yongbok's graduation, impromptu rides, first kisses, running away from the world.
Their safe haven.
I do love you, you know. I am bad with words. And I'm scared of saying things aloud. It's so idiotic that I'm finally letting it out here two years after you have moved away, and not even in front of you. But I do regret it. I let my demons control me. No excuses, I am at fault here. I let you get away from me. I gave us up. And here I am, begging from this hill to give me another chance to show you how much you mean to me. I don't know if I'll ever meet you again, Yongbok. It's absurd that I'm still hoping for it. A miracle. And I am shouting from this place which used to be ours once. It is still ours. I have made sure this will be hours. The rent is high but I'll pay with my heart. I miss you, I miss you so much.
"Yes, I would love it! When do you suggest."
"Today. If you are free."
"Of course. Let's go!"
It's a bright day. The wind warmer than earlier. But Minho cares for nothing else now. He has the one he always loved sitting pillion on his old and jerky bike as they proceed towards their hill. He is unstoppable. He is finally free.
The sun is setting when they reach the cliff. Same stones. Same people.
"I can't believe it's still the same."
"Mhmm. Looks like it had been waiting for you."
"And you?"
"You know it."
"I want to hear it."
Yongbok is smiling, teasing Minho into admission. He need not try. Minho will give him the world, if he asks for it.
"Maybe."
"Just maybe?"
"Mhmm."
"This is cheating."
He gets a slap on his chest and the sweetest kiss on his lips. Yongbok tastes different. Of course he does. So much has changed.
They have changed.
For better.
For everything.
I am here for only one week. Come with me? I want to stay. But I don't want to stay with our ghosts. I hope we can start new. This time, no society. Think about it. I will wait. You can take whatever time you want to. I'll arrange for everything. We can apply for a work visa first. Literally anything. I don't want to lose you now.
Okay.
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March 17th, 2032
"Put your iPad down."
"Nooo. But I was watching cartoons. Just five minutes?"
"Watch it on the T.V.? Your plate is still full."
"Papa, please. I'll eat in a bit."
"Let her be. It's not even 8 PM. You will only take five minutes, right Yulhee?"
"Yes!!"
"It's settled."
"You spoil her too much. Okay then, it's your responsibility that she eats and goes to bed before 9 PM."
"Don't worry, Papa. Dad is going to help me with it."
"You have to learn how to eat yourself."
"It's noodles."
"So?"
"It gets messy."
"Haha, you go rest, Lix. I'll take care of this little devil here. She is going to learn how to use chopsticks properly today. Come on, champ, say good night to your father?"
"Bye Papa! Good night. Come here, wanna kiss."
"Good night, love."
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A lot has changed over the past seven years.
Their home has changed.
Their relationship has changed.
Their love has changed.
Yongbok was correct. There's no society to pressure you in Sydney. Nothing that would matter anyway. They are their own people in their own little bubble.
Away from judgemental eyes.
From the ghosts of their past.
A little home of their own. A pocket.
Minho, Yongbok, and little Yulhee.
He is still a guest in this country. But home is where your heart is. And Minho's heart is here. In their little two bedroom apartment in the outskirts of the city. Big balconies overlooking the sky. Comfortable beds. People he loves unconditionally.
Maybe he had to leave his neighborhood. But Minho found another place to call his own.
A place warmer than his blue town.