Chapter Text
Sweat drips from the ends of his hair as he slumps to the cold, wooden floor, breathless and worn-out.
Heeseung watches every drop fall to the ground with keen eyes, counting them, getting lost when it hits twenty-seven. He wonders how long he has been here, sitting in front of these massive mirrors, reflecting only hollowness and tiredness.
He sees nothing but a faceless figure staring back at him. Heeseung feels like he should be afraid- he no longer sees himself in the mirror- but there is this unnamed solace sprouting in his heart upon witnessing the blurred persona. It pulls him out from reality, something that he truly needs at the moment.
Heeseung no longer knows where he stands, his feelings, his future, and what is he doing in this practice room at 2 am.
It is so quiet that Heeseung can hear the AC blowing, his soundless breathing, and the almost-elusive crickets clicking away in this early autumn. In this deafening silence, Heeseung hears anything but his own thoughts. It is alarming at first, but soon, Heeseung thinks it is a great change. His mind has always been so loud with dark, shapeless notions. He needs a break.
It is cold, but Heeseung enjoys the chills rippling on his skin. It makes him feel alive. The cold revives him from a sleepless dream, a wakeless reality. He feels like he had died a long time ago. And now, he lives.
When another figure approaches him, kneeling behind him, and engulfs Heeseung in a warm, homey hug, he finds himself starting to breathe again.
"Hyung, what are you doing here?"
Heeseung glances at the mirror, and he sees himself. He sees his face, ragged and tired from all the practice. He sees the blue strands of his hair shining under the warm fluorescent lights. He sees Jongseong. The most beautiful, talented, selfless, kind, Park Jongseong.
And he falls.
Losing his bearings, Heeseung can only muster a sheepish smile. Indeed, Jongseong will always render him breathless.
"Let's go home. Or do you want me to drag you again?" Jongseong asks jokingly. The same dashing smile decorates his face, and the twinkle in those eyes amazes Heeseung.
In between silent thoughts and quiet nights, Heeseung realizes- he loves Jongseong so much.
Exhaling a chuckle, he replies, "Anything is fine."
Jongseong laughs as he stands up, reaching out his hands, waiting for Heeseung to take.
Heeseung laces their fingers together, and he never felt so alive.
Jongseong gazes at their entwined hands, smiling that million won smile as he exclaims, "Alright. Let's go! You have had enough for today!"
And Heeseung follows. And he has never felt so alive, so free, and so loved before.
Heeseung follows Park Jongseong- someone that makes him see himself in all of his glory, blue hair, tired eyes, broken, shattered, real.
Heeseung follows Jay- someone that he loves more than anything and everything.
And Heeseung follows Jongseong- someone that is always there. Always.