Chapter Text
"the hottest time of the year,
but I knew there'll be nothing warmer
than your tight embrace
as I succumb in my deep slumber"
SUMMER
Summer is the best time to hang out with friends and enjoy the beach while tanning under the blazing sun. It's the most beautiful time of the year, at least for Jihoon. He may love the season of summer but it is the time when he would feel being so suffocated in his own home. He'll be locked up here for the whole two months, being forced to learn all the business terms that had been tattooed in his blood since the day he was created. His free time would be playing the piano that he had lost interest to. His only escape is locking up himself in his own room, pretending to read a whole book of purely business logic. In fact, he's drawing everything he had seen while passing the streets going to his father's office. He feels tight and that is because of the fact that he's literally held captive all this time.
Jihoon's mother will soon knock on his door, smiling widely at the brunette. She'll be asking me to dress up properly for a party, Jihoon predicted.
"Sweetie, we'll be attending a party in a while, dress nicely." After delivering her message, the older Park just closed the door. It's not like Jihoon expected his mother to ask how he did for the whole day.
Jihoon decided to wear a normal black suit, matching it with a plain maroon tie. He's not allowed to dress like how he wants to, there's no point in trying.
Their butler then knocks on his door, informing him that his parents are already downstairs waiting for their precious son. Jihoon timidly answers with a simple yes and fixed his hair immediately. He can't take too much time or else his parents will be mad.
"You look stunning, son!" Jihoon's mother complimented him in which his father copied with a simple nod. The young Park just smiled shyly because his mother always does this all the time. Whether Jihoon is just wearing a plain school uniform or casual clothes. They say it's the perks people who grew up with no siblings get, where in fact it's totally a disadvantage. Because their attention will all be focused on you, and a single mistake can mess everything up.
Jihoon tries not comb his hair as he is feeling anxious with all the stares they are giving to him. The party actually has a red carpet and people are clearly astonished at the heir of Park's Oil Exchange company. He can hear inaudible murmurs about him, and he doesn't even know how he figured that those were supposed to be about him.
They sat on a round table which was reserved for two families. The table's too big for the three of them and the tag says "Park". He only knows one Park, other than their family, in this industry. That is the family of their rival, who works in the same business line with them. They're not completely rivals but his father had warned him to avoid anyone related to the said family.
The brunette is already studying their stock market so he knows that the other company had been stealing their supposed to be investors. Even though his father doesn't say it, he knows that they are a big threat to them.
As if on cue, like when you speak of the devil, the other Park Family came. Jihoon felt a slight goosebump as the tension rises. His gaze looks at the members of the family one by one and it stops on a raven-haired boy who stares at him with his piercing gaze. He knew the guy too well.
"Park Woojin," Jihoon mutter under his breath.
Out of courtesy and being professionals, their families exchange bows, and handshakes. It was civil, Jihoon guessed. He wanders his eyes avoiding to meet that one pair of dark orbs that had been staring at him for quite some time now. He is feeling uncomfortable and he wishes that he can vanish now.
The hall started playing slow music and it seems like everyone forced their children to dance in the middle. With that, Jihoon's mother taps his shoulder and points at the youngest daughter of the other Park family. Jihoon knows she doesn't want any of relation with them but she's being professional and he is the only way to show that. Jihoon just nods, ears reddening. He can feel how the guy, he doesn't want to have an eye contact with, follows every move he makes. It's annoying and distracting, and Jihoon hates it so much.
"May I have this dance?" Jihoon offered his hand to the young little girl whom he knew from all the stories he had heard. Park Yerim, the most precious daughter of the Park Family.
"Come on, sweetheart." the girl's mother encourages her and she finally gave in.
Yerim is 5 years younger than him which made Jihoon much taller than the girl. The situation is so awkward that Jihoon doesn't dare to look at the young lady in front of her. Instead, his eyes met with his again, he's dancing with a girl this time around. Jihoon knew who the girl is, it's Joo Rayeon, the infamous daughter of a telecommunication company owner. And Woojin's fling for this month.
Jihoon smirks and looked away at the sight of a laughing Rayeon, clinging her arms on Woojin's broad shoulders.
"Why did you ask me to dance with you?" Yerim suddenly asks him. Jihoon was flustered that the girl would actually talk. He was taken off guard.
"We're both obliged too," Jihoon laughs, uncertain with his response.
Jihoon looks at Yerim and the little girl is staring at him. It made him uncomfortable because they have the same stare, and he doesn't like it.
"Were you the guy on my brother's bed last time?" Yerim asked. It shocked Jihoon and he choked on his own spit. He didn't expect to actually hear it from his sister. So they were actually caught by someone during that time.
"I don't know your brother." Jihoon avoided the question, one wrong answer or he'll be caught. His secret that he remained hidden for years will be found out, and it's the last thing he wants to happen.
"Hmm, maybe you just look like him." Yerim just shrugged. Jihoon wants some fresh air, the hall is getting hot for him.
"Are you tired?" He asked the young girl, to make her as an excuse.
"Oh gosh, thankfully, you finally asked that question. I'm dying to sit down." Yerim mutters, a dialect from a familiar place showing through. The dialect he once loved to hear from the older Park.
Jihoon leads Yerim to their table. There's no sign of his parents and also Yerim's so he excused himself. He needs to breathe in fresh air before he completely collapses of the heavy atmosphere inside. Out of all events, why does he need to meet him at a wrong place and at a really wrong time?
"Taking a break?" Jihoon slightly jumps, the moment he heard that familiar husky voice and thick Busan dialect. That voice, he particularly hates but gives chills to his spine whenever he hears it. The voice of the devil, named Park Woojin.
Jihoon didn't speak. He doesn't want to open his mouth and be completely vulnerable in front of him — again. The taller guy might know him too well and didn't speak after that. He just took a cigarette and lit it with his lighter, who knows how did he enter when the security is really tight. Woojin inhales the smoke deeply and it annoys Jihoon. So being the usual perfect Jihoon, he grabs Woojin's cigarette and threw it on the ground. Stepping on it while muttering incoherent curses.
Jihoon glared at Woojin, he was about to say something but quickly retreated back. It's not as if he cares anymore, and it's not like Woojin cares for him at all. They both agreed on being strangers after what happened, but why is he the only one getting affected by the other's presence? Oh, because in the first place, he was just the only one showing his real feelings.
"You didn't change at all, Jihoonie." Once those words escaped Woojin's mouth, the older's facade shattered into pieces. All this time, he still has an effect on him.
It was the same season, summer when Jihoon is still allowed to take football practices since his parents agreed to give his three whole years of high school without restrictions. It was indeed the best time of the year. Jihoon had created many friends whom he valued the most. He is the type who gets too attached and it made him prone to betrayals. If the future Jihoon can just turn back time, he wishes to erase this painful memory. The image of him being weak and in the end getting stabbed at the back.
Jihoon has a reputation. Probably the image of the good guy, girls love how skilled he is and any guys would want to be in his pants. He is face, talents, and wits, he is everything you want a guy to be. And what takes an almost perfect man to be completely perfect? Of course, it's one complete partner. It's Park Woojin, the captain of their basketball team. Also, the President of their dance club and the person ranked next to Jihoon.
"Jihoon-ah, Woojin's been waiting for you. It's too hot and he won't leave the field unless you come out and see him." A member of their soccer team explained the situation to Jihoon.
He slams his locker and shook his head. He doesn't want to talk to the boy but the latter is reaching his limit. He just can't be in a relationship right now.
As soon as he steps out on the field, loud screams welcomed him. And there, he saw Park Woojin, laying in the middle of the hot field, under the blazing sun. He runs quickly to the boy and urges him to stand up.
"What in the actual hell are you doing, Park Woojin?!" Jihoon screamed that shocked Woojin for a second. No one had seen a mad Jihoon ever before.
"I won't stand up unless you talk to me!" Being the stubborn Park Woojin, he steadily lay down on the hot ground, ignoring the heat from the summer season.
"I am talking to you!" Jihoon is frustrated and he can't get any more foiled of a stubborn Woojin in front of him. He finally gave up and pulled Woojin on the ground.
"Fine, we're talking!" Jihoon drags Woojin in the locker area. His teammates are mostly gone and few people are just staring at the both of them. It's not like, it's a rare sight to see these two together since Woojin follows Jihoon everywhere. But it's unusual for them to see Park Jihoon dragging Woojin.
"I'm giving you 10 minutes, now---" and before Jihoon can finish his statement. The taller guy's lips crashed onto his. Both of their lips are chapped but Jihoon's felt so soft for Woojin.
Jihoon can't move, he is shocked and caught off guard. He closed his eyes tightly, Jihoon doesn't know how to react in all honesty. Woojin brings his lips on Jihoon's ear and because Jihoon's frame is too small for Woojin, he can feel his body being squished by the younger's embrace.
"Kiss back, please," Woojin begs, his voice is husky and tempting.
Woojin went back to kissing Jihoon's lips, this time, much gentle. Jihoon finally caught up with the pace and started to respond. He doesn't know if it's sloppy, all he's aware of is that Woojin is stealing his first kiss. And he hates himself for letting the taller guy in doing it.
After who knows how long, the two finally pulled apart. Jihoon's lips are swollen and his eyes are wet because of mixed emotions. He bit his lips, embarrassed at what they did in this locker room that stinks of men's sweat.
"So I guess, I'll be seeing you tomorrow?" Woojin asked, scratching his nape and can't hide the smirk on his face.
Jihoon doesn't know what got in his mind that time. He can't remember anything except the fact that their kiss was a trap. He just heard himself saying the words that led him intro pure misery and sorrow.
"Sure, see you tomorrow Woojinie."