Chapter Text
It was the start of spring. The snow of winter finally melted, showing the rich earthy soil it had hidden. The white surroundings were now painted with various colours of flowers greeting the new season. The beautiful blooms also filled the air with their different fragrances. Everyone seemed to love the warmth that spring brought except for one blonde-haired man with his mouth covered in a black mask, wearing a beanie and carrying a heavy guitar on his back.
"Ha...ha...ACHOO!" Kang Seungyoon sneeezed and rubbed his already red nose as he walked on a path of cherry blossoms "Ugh! I really hate spring."
Seungyoon, 24 years old, a street performer, always had hay fever during this season. His colds in winter were just as bad as his hay fever but he hated spring a lot more.
Seungyoon stopped beneath the biggest cherry blossom tree at the center of the park. He drunk his medicine and tuned his guitar to save some time while waiting for his medicine to take effect. He then opened his guitar case and placed it in front of him. Beside the opened guitar case, he carefully placed a cardboard that reads, "Pay what you think it's worth. Thank you. Follow me on insta or on twitter: @realkangseungyoon "
Voice was ready. Guitar was tuned. His hands were all warmed up. Seungyoon started to sing. His voice echoed around the park. It was powerful and demanding attention yet it was also sweet and romantic. Soon enough, curious on-lookers started to surround him and each one seemed to have their own partner with them. There were people holding hands. Some were linking arms. Some girls were getting hugged at the back by their boyfriends as they enjoy Seungyoon's serenades. The rosy pink atmosphere between the couples was being accentuated by the pink falling cherry blossoms.
Amidst the warm place and the sweet love song that Seungyoon was singing, he was observing the people surrounding him. Some were familiar faces he had seen from his previous performances. He was thinking while performing, Ahhh...That guy has found a new girl. I saw that guy with a different girl yesterday.Those couple looks like they just started dating. Oh! this girl has brought a different man this year.
It had been two years since he started this way of life. He left everything to follow his love for music. In the past two years, he saw how people fall in and out of love. Out of all seasons, it was during spring that he had the most couples in his audience. Seungyoon cringed in all the sweet gestures he saw and the whispers of love he heard. Ugh! I really hate spring. You will all breakup in the end.
Truthfully, Seungyoon didn't mean to curse these couples. He was just concealing his loneliness with irritation. Spring will always be a cruel season for him, a person without anyone. He never felt more alone than being at the center of people displaying their affection for one another. The only thing he ever liked during spring was getting more tips than any of the other three seasons.
Seungyoon finished his song. The people that gathered dispersed and continued on their walk, admiring the scenery and being with the person they love. It was yet another successful performance, his guitar case was full of bills from satisfied listeners. This was all Seungyoon ever needed, he thought.
Seungyoon chose a really good spot and he thought it would be a waste not to appreciate the scenery a little bit more before calling it a day. He decided to take a nap under the cherry blossom tree and laid down on his mat. He thoughtlessly observed the clouds getting pushed by the wind and moving really slowly. The same gentle wind swayed the trees of cherry blossoms making its flowers fall on the ground. One cherry blossom however, made its way to the palm of his hands which he paid no attention to.
He was about to sleep when a face of a man obstructed his view. The bright sky casted a shadow on him so he couldn't see his face clearly. "Oh! You caught a cherry blossom! It was said that if you caught a cherry blossom, you will fall for the person laying on the mat with you!" confidently said the man before tilting his head and adding, "Or was it a different one?"
Seungyoon, startled from the overly familiar stranger, abruptly got up, the other tried his best to avoid bumping on his head. He could not hide his inner drama weeb and countered what the man just said, "That's not a cherry blossom! It's maple leaf! And it's not the person laying on the mat with you, it's the one walking beside you. It's from Goblin! Know your dramas! Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"I'm trying to pick you up not pick a fight. Can I?" the man replied and smiled. Now that Seungyoon can see the man's face clearly, his jaw dropped and was left catching for air. The man was breathtaking. His eyes were glistening and his smile was gentle and kind. He was the very representation of spring, warm and vibrant. He was so close to his face but couldn't see any visible flaws on him except that the man had really red cheeks and seemed to be drunk.
Seungyoon was so awestruck that he couldn't utter a word before the man held out his hand and said, "You are silent. Can I take that as a yes? I'm Kim Jinwoo, 26 years old."
Seungyoon stayed stunned. He is so confused and fascinated by this strange man. Jinwoo's held out hand stayed in the air for a bit before he gave up and held his hand up like taking an oath. "I'm not dangerous. I promise," said Jinwoo.
After a long silence, Jinwoo's smile suddenly faded, he turned the other way, curling his knees to his chest then putting his hands over his knees and rested his head over his hands. Now looking on a distance, he whispered, "I just needed someone."
For an instant, Seungyoon could see Jinwoo's resemblance to his own pet, Thor, that he felt guilty leaving behind every time he went outside to perform. He didn't know this man beside him now but he was somehow tugging strings inside Seungyoon's heart. He unconsciously held out his hand and patted Jinwoo's head. The other didn't even flinched. It's as if it's what he really needed right now. Comfort.
A tear fell from Jinwoo's eyes. It was a silent sob at first then it turned into wailing. Seungyoon just continued to awkwardly pat Jinwoo's head silently. Jinwoo's cry was muffled by people's chattering and laughter. Only Seungyoon could hear him clearly. Slowly, Jinwoo leaned on Seungyoon's shoulder as his sobs were starting to weaken. It was an unusual distance for two people who just met but it was calming as if he was at home. Seungyoon figured this man was broken and let him lean on his shoulder and comforted him.
Jinwoo felt at peace beside Seungyoon and slowly, he lets his tired body take a rest. As if the strange man's spell had been broken the moment he closed his eyes, Seungyoon came back to his senses. He looked down at the sleeping beauty beside him and thought, "What am I supposed to do with you now?"
It is getting dark and Seungyoon's nose started to tickle again, "Achoo!" Ugh! The medicine is starting to wear off. I better go home."
He slowly laid Jinwoo down on the mat and stood up. Leaving Jinwoo alone crossed his mind. He was just a stranger anyway. He doesn't even know where he came from. But Seungyoon's conscience prevailed. Sleeping in this open space is really dangerous. I wonder why he is so drunk when it wasn't even dark yet.
After making up his mind, Seungyoon arranged all his things. He put his guitar at his front and piggybacked Jinwoo on his back. "So heavy. Why am I putting myself up for this? Such a troublesome guy."
Seungyoon was greeted by Thor the moment he opened the door to his apartment. Thor was happy seeing his dad and was jumping up and down and wagging his tail. "Thor, calm down. I'm carrying a lot right now. I'll lay down this man on the bed and feed you." Seungyoon said with a fatherly smile.
After feeding Thor, Seungyoon went to his bed to look after the man. He carefully removed Jinwoo's coat to not wake him up. He noticed a hair poking his eyes so he gently brushed it away from Jinwoo's face. Even with all the commotion, Jinwoo stayed sleeping so soundly. Seungyoon thought, He looks like a mannequin. How can a man be this beautiful? You are lucky that I'm the one who found you or else you'll be taken advantaged. He noticed himself staring for a while now and smiling like a fool while looking at Jinwoo so he shook his head and said,"Ugh! I must've gone crazy. Keep yourself together Seungyoon."
Seungyoon went back to the living room to sleep at the sofa. Thor saw his dad on the sofa so he climbed up where Seungyoon was sleeping. Seungyoon moved a little to make space for Thor and hugged him. "You're happy you'll get to sleep with daddy tonight, huh," Seungyoon softly uttered while brushing Thor's fur and closing his eyes to sleep.