Chapter Text
It all started when Jihoon’s pet fish Nemo died in third grade.
Most people had dogs and cats, but Jihoon was perfectly satisfied with his goldfish. He came home every day to tell it stories, feed it, clean its bowl, and he thought that they’d always be best friends.
But like they say, not all good things last forever.
Jihoon came home from school to see his mom flushing Nemo down the drain, where she guiltily turned around to comfort him.
“Jihoon,” she sighed, ruffling his head, “Nemo’s in a better place now. He’s swimming in the ocean in the sky!”
They still held a fake funeral for his beloved pet. That was the first time Jihoon had to encounter the concept of death.
He never got over it.
Jihoon was too scared to even pluck flowers at the playground, and stared in horror at all of the other kids when they made flower crowns. He cried when his friend Ong used a magnifying glass to kill ants, and he could never leave the daycare without giving the caretaker a long hug, promising him that they’d be there tomorrow.
It was as if life was too delicate for Jihoon.
Thanatophobia was the fear of death, or rather, the fear of existing at all. Jihoon’s psychologists would explain this to his mom as they informed her that her son had a bad case of it. Death was a part of the cycle of life, and they all stated that Jihoon was too stubborn to accept that.
His mom insisted that her son was perfectly normal.
“He’s just like any other kid,” she urged, pulling her little son by her side, “he’s just traumatized.”
She kept him under control with the medications his doctors had prescribed to help ease his fear, and Jihoon slowly blended in with the other kids. He grew into an attractive boy, fawning admirers from left and right. But, Jihoon refused to date anyone still.
“What’s the point if we’re going to die anyways?”
He slowly closed himself off, afraid of the unknown, and dragged this persona all the way until he was a college student.
“You haven’t ever tried alcohol, gone to a party, and never even hooked up with someone,” Baejin sighed, shaking his head.
“What do you expect me to do?” Jihoon huffed, “It’s not like I have a high school sweetheart like both of you!”
Jihoon was sitting with his childhood friends Baejin and Daehwi. The two of them had finally gotten together, and Jihoon gagged every time either of them showed signs of PDA in front of him. Like usual, Baejin was lecturing the younger about how boring Jihoon’s life was.
“You’re a senior, Jihoon! We’re going to be adults soon. You’ve got to live a little!”
“I do have a life!”
“Jihoon, continuing to stream Kim Taehyung’s new drama is not considered having a life,” Daehwi retorted, now leaning his head on Baejin’s shoulder.
Jihoon rolled his eyes, opening his strawberry milk.
“Fine. What’s the first thing I should do?”
Daehwi’s eyes lit up. “I dare you to get a tattoo.”
“A t-tattoo?” Jihoon spluttered, almost choking.
“Those things are permanent! What if I don’t like it?”
“See, this is exactly what we mean, Jihoon. You’re not willing to take a risk,” Daehwi sighed, “You’re always going to live life in that hermit shell of yours.”
“I’m perfectly fine in my hermit shell, thanks.”
“You’re never going to get a boyfriend,” Baejin sighed, “who would want to date someone like you?”
“Yeah, don’t forget, hasn’t your mom been bugging you about bringing someone home to introduce to her? That probably won’t be for a while,” Daehwi added.
“You know what? Fine, I’ll get one!”
Jihoon knew he shouldn’t have listened to his friends. As he pulled up to the address Daehwi gave him, he got out of his car to get a good look at the place.
“The Luna, huh?”
It looked like any other tattoo place that Jihoon had seen in countless movies. With black walls and graffiti sprayed all over it, a bright silver spray-painted moon stood out on the side wall. It definitely wasn’t a place where Jihoon would fit in. As he walked closer towards the parlor, people on the street cast him side glances, silently wondering why a boy like Jihoon was in that part of town.
Daehwi told him that his friend works part-time at this place, and was known to be really good. He had a tattoo himself, and Daehwi insisted that his friend was the best in town.
“He’s really nice, too!” Daehwi insisted, “Trust me, it’ll be fine.”
Jihoon shakily opened the door.
“Hey,” Jihoon gulped, “is there a Woojin here?”
The boy turned around behind the front desk. “That’s me.”
Okay, this boy was definitely good looking. Jihoon expected to see a washed out, middle aged man with tattoos all over his face, but was greeted by a boy his age. Woojin had ripped black jeans on, and a plain white shirt that hung to his body perfectly. With a little black arrow on his left wrist, Jihoon eyed the boy up and down. He hadn’t considered a boy cute for the longest time, yet Woojin somehow changed that.
But, his personality wasn’t so attractive.
“Hi,” Jihoon started nervously, “I’m Jihoon. I’m friends with your friend Daehwi.”
The boy blankly looked at Jihoon, who gulped and continued on.
“And..I was wondering if I could get a tattoo..I hear you’re really good.”
Woojin stared at him.
“It’s your first time here, right?”
“Is it that obvious?”
Woojin jabbed his thumb at the door.
“What’re you in here for? An infinity sign? A wave? A little flower? You’re like all those hipster teenagers, aren’t you?”
Jihoon was offended. He was actually going to ask for a flower on his wrist and thought it would’ve been cute.
“What makes you say that I would’ve asked for one?”
“Are you kidding? You literally walked in here with a pastel blue sweater.”
Jihoon’s face flushed in embarrassment, hiding his hands into the long sleeves. It was actually his lucky sweater, and he didn’t see anything wrong with it.
“I don’t do those tattoos. You’ve came to the wrong place, sweetheart,” Woojin snorted.
“What’s your problem with flowers and waves?”
“What’s your problem with trying to get a tattoo to follow a stupid trend?”
“You’re incredible!” Jihoon exclaimed, “Is this how you treat your customers?”
“I don’t owe you anything,” Woojin shot back, “You’re a shallow teenager who wants me to draw some stupid tumblr shit on your arm. I don’t draw tattoos for just anyone.”
“Fine!” Jihoon huffed, yanking the tattoo book from the boy’s hands. Angrily flipping through the different designs, he finally pointed at a eerie large skull. Its design took up the whole page, with its forehead bearing the words “GET OUT OF HERE.”
“You don’t want to give me a wave? Then draw me this one.”
Woojin eyed him carefully.
“Are you sure you want this? For a daisy bitch like you, I would’ve expected some cheesy ass quote.”
‘I don’t fucking care anymore!” Jihoon exclaimed, “Give me the damn skull already.”
He stalked over to the seat, and rolled up his bright blue sweater. Woojin followed right behind him and started getting down to work.
“This is going to hurt.”
Jihoon should’ve known that getting a tattoo would sting like a bitch. Every time Woojin dotted his arm with more ink, it felt like a mini needle stabbing him multiple times. He shut his eyes all the way closed, gritting his teeth while wincing. After what seemed like forever, he finally heard Woojin’s voice.
“I’m done. Hurry up and open your eyes.”
To his surprise, he didn’t give Jihoon the skull that was from the tattoo page. It was small and intricate, with little swirls and dots lining the outside and a small daisy.
“I’m not going to give you a tattoo you want based off some rash decision. These things are a pain to remove.”
Still speechless, Jihoon pulled out his wallet to pay, but Woojin shook his head.
“It’s on the house.”
He stretched and then stood up, leaving Jihoon alone in the parlor.
“You don’t think I’m going to steal any of your stuff?”
“Are you kidding?” Woojin snorted, “you’re the one who walked in here in a bright blue sweater asking for a flower on their wrist. You wouldn’t take anything.”
That was the first time he encountered Park Woojin, the boy at the tattoo parlor.
It wouldn’t be the last.