Chapter Text
San was humming with the wind, as if he was trying to reach for what was above the clouds and beyond the stars. The wind picked up and he felt a slight shiver but made no effort to move. Usually, the nymph would be unbothered by the sound of nature around him, but the sudden snap of a branch caused him to turn.
A boy looked back at him, wide-eyed as if he was caught doing something unwarranted and San returned the same expression. The sun was bright enough to illuminate the stranger’s face; his skin seeming to glow against his dark hair and eyes. San tried his best to contain his internal panicking by glaring at the trespasser—not that the forest was his to claim.
"I-I'm sorry,” the boy began loudly to accommodate for the distance between them. "I didn't mean to scare you… I was just walking and then I heard someone singing.” A slight accent was traced in his voice.
San just stared at him like he was a wild creature. Noticing his lack of response, the boy continued, "It's been awhile since I've been here. Are you from this area?” His voice was soft, yet piercing. Despite being at least 30 feet in the air, he heard his voice clearly—or maybe it was because San's attention was solely on him. Instead of focusing on the sunset, he watched how the changing colors of the sky reflected onto the boy's figure.
San wasn't sure on what to do. It was rare for people to pass through this area and even so, no one has never noticed him. He assumed no one would dare enter the woods as the sun was setting, but he mistakingly let his guard down. He would've never thought of the day where he would be discovered and it came in the form of a boy with glasses and a beanie too large for his head. He didn't seem like a threat and to be honest with himself, San was intrigued.
"Sorry to bother you,” he let out a chuckle as he was kicking the ground—face hidden—but once he looked up, there was a slight smirk. "I didn't expect to meet someone out here.”
"Neither did I…” San finally managed to voice out, and the boy took a step closer, craning his head to the side.
"What was that?” He raised his voice and it echoed in San's ear. Maybe he was going to regret this, but San decided to retreat from his spot from the tree, and in an instant, was standing right in front of the other.
The boy blinked in surprise. "H-How—”
“I… climb often?” San said sheepishly, feeling small under the other's gaze, but that disappeared immediately once the boy grinned.
"That was impressive!” San quirked his lips at the other's eagerness. “I assume you live around here?”
“For as long as I could remember.” That wasn't a lie. “I just like visiting the forest.” But that was.
The boy’s smile grew brighter and San was enamored. "I'm Wooyoung.”
"Wooyoung,” he muttered, the words sounding foreign yet familiar on his tongue. It’s been so long since he’s said a new name. “I’m San.”
The boy never stopped smiling. “How funny! Did you know that your name means ‘mountain’ in Korean?”
It was a vague memory, but maybe—at some point in his life—he did know, but at this moment, he had forgotten. “No, I didn’t know that. I'm Korean, but I've lost my mother tongue.” This was the first time he voiced this out to anyone and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
His eyes widened and San was worried that he might have said the wrong thing. “What?!” San would've flinched at how loud and high-pitched his tone was, but he was already used to the frequent changes in his voice. "I would've never guessed, especially because of your hair.”
San suddenly felt self-conscious under his innocent gaze. He knew that he looked strange—the reflections in the river provided enough proof of that—but for a second, he thought that he was normal. He let himself believe that he looked normal enough for the boy to treat him like a ordinary person, but he was wrong and he should just leave—
"I think it's really pretty.” San looked at him with an expression akin to aghast as his eyes were blown wide.
"W-What?” He sputtered, unsure if he heard correctly.
"The color of your hair and eyes." He tilted his head closer and San felt comfortable enough to not cower from the proximity. He noticed the mole on the other's lip and he was about to voice out his discovery until Wooyoung spoke up again.
"Do you not like it?" His voice almost sounded concerned and San wasn't sure why.
"N-No, it's just…” His face reddened and he was sure Wooyoung noticed. “I’ve never thought of it as... pretty?" His words trailed off when he noticed the other frowning.
"How is that possible? You look like someone straight out of a book; like how one would describe those ethereal beings in fantasy stories.” The seriousness in Wooyoung’s tone made the other giggle, surprising the both of them.
“I—“ He didn't know how to respond and it seemed like it'll always be this way with how unpredictable Wooyoung was. "T-Thank you?” Being complimented offered a strange feeling, but San didn’t mind if it was from the other.
The boy offered a grin in return and it was only then did San realize that the sun has finally set because even though everything was dully lit under the moonlight, Wooyoung was still shining.
The boy glanced at the moon. "Sorry for holding you up; we should probably head back.”
San tensed up, his fingers tightening into fist out of nervous habit as he hid them behind his back. “I live in the town on the other side,” he gestured his head to the side, “so we'll be parting ways from here.”
"Oh…” Wooyoung said, disappointment leaking from his voice. "I can walk with you—“
He instantly shut him down, and he could see the frown forming on the other. “It's a far walk and you've probably never been there; I don't want you to get lost.”
"I can find my way—“
"It's okay, Wooyoung.” San offered a smile. He realized that Wooyoung was very open, already seeming to trust the other.
"I'll see you again then?” He was hesitant with his following words: "Do you have a number?”
The question was at the tip of San’s tongue, but he believed it would be best if the other left before night fully fell. He shook his head and hoped that he wouldn't question why.
Wooyoung’s frown deepened, but he continued to ask, "Will you... be here again?” He was chewing the corner of his lip nervously as he was still looking at San, hope sparking in his eyes.
The nymph softly smiled. "I can't promise you that, but just so you know…”
Regret was crossing San's mind.
"This is my favorite place to watch the sunset.”
But his smile made him forget the consequences.
Again, Wooyoung's grin reached his eyes, forming crescents that belonged to the sky. "Got it," he waved as he began trailing backwards, "See you, San.”
They both retreated, not taking their eyes off one another until Wooyoung's path became too unfamiliar for him.
The boy hoped that they'll meet again, so he wouldn't have to say goodbye to those gentle green eyes so soon.