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Jeongguk can’t remember a time when he didn’t know Taehyung.
On hot summer days, one could always find them together, laughing together or crying together or posted outside a public bathroom while the other one took a shit inside. They were Jeongguk and Taehyung, Taehyung and Jeongguk and the entirety of their tiny town knew not to mess with the pair.
Jeongguk guesstimates about 85% of their childhood was made in the summertime. They had the typical summer cookouts, the bike rides all across town, the splash fights at the neighborhood pool. The rest of the 15% comes from the tests he passed and failed and his friends’ drama that took place at school every year.
Jeongguk sometimes wonders if Taehyung remembers the 85% like he does.
Meeting at the ice cream shop between their houses and ordering the same thing every time (pistachio for Jeongguk, strawberry for Taehyung). Sneaking past the gates of the pool at night and trying to find constellations in the sky. Fighting over marshmallows and chocolate and graham crackers when they camped out in his backyard.
And he also remembers the bigger things, the milestone moments if you will. He hopes Taehyung will never forget them, because he knows he won’t.
Graduating middle school together. Graduating high school together. Getting accepted into college together, and finally escaping their tiny town together. The first time they kissed. The first time Taehyung said “I love you.” The first time he said it back.
And it’s easy to get lost in the rush of the big city, the towering skyscrapers and the multitudes of people and the endless opportunities. But Jeongguk sees his family’s music box and he hears Taehyung speaking to Yeontan in their dialect, and he’s all the more grateful for the home that they’ve made for themselves in their cramped Seoul apartment with the loud neighbors and the drafty windows and the creaky ceiling.
And he’s the most grateful that he’s had Taehyung all his life and that he still has Taehyung, somehow, someway.
“Boys, come get your hot dog,” Taehyung’s mother called.
Jeongguk, ever the polite little boy in front of Taehyung’s parents, went over to where she was standing by the picnic table in Taehyung’s backyard, leaving Taehyung to trail after him, still clutching the Iron Man figurine they had been playing with a few minutes ago.
Taehyung thanked his mother for his dinner in a squeaky high voice, before she turned away and he wiped some of his ketchup smothered fingers across Jeongguk’s cheek. In retaliation, he smashed a spare hot dog bun into Taehyung’s chest.
“Boys,” came Taehyung’s mother’s voice. Jeongguk looked over to see that she was, in fact, watching them with a smile on her face that she was doing her best to hide.
She gave Jeongguk a napkin and helped Taehyung wipe the crumbs off his shirt, and they all settled down with their paper dinner plates in hand. Taehyung’s father gave them both a healthy helping of vegetables.
Taehyung’s parents murmured softly to each other while Jeongguk threw carrots at Taehyung. Taehyung began threatening Jeonguk with a glob of ranch and Jeongguk jerked back, giggling at the scowl on Taehyung’s face.
Taehyung’s mother let out a sudden loud laugh before hitting Taehyung’s father’s arm. Jeongguk looked between them, lost, before Taehyung clocked Jeongguk’s neck with his ranch. Taehyung’s father gave a short laugh as he watched them fight, and Taehyung’s mother wouldn’t stop rolling her eyes until they had finished dinner and cleaned up.
“Boys,” Taehyung’s father said. He was sitting in one of the chairs by the firepit where they had roasted their hot dogs earlier. He shook a bag of marshmallows at them, and they both rushed over to him, causing Taehyung’s mother to laugh as they begged with identical puppy eyes. Taehyung’s father gave each of them a marshmallow and a skewer, showing them how to turn it so it would properly roast.
They sat next to each other on small rocks, boasting about how quickly their marshmallow was roasting. Taehyung’s marshmallow caught on fire, and he turned with a proud smile to his father, who leaned back a bit to avoid the fire. He sandwiched Taehyung’s marshmallow with chocolate and crackers and smiled as Taehyung took his first bite. Jeongguk, who was still making sure his marshmallow roasted perfectly, whined as he watched Taehyung smile over his s’more. Taehyung rolled his eyes and gave him the last bite of it.
“Jeongguk, are you excited for second grade?” Taehyung’s father asked as he watched Taehyung lick the marshmallow goop from his fingers. “That’s starting in a few weeks, right?”
Jeongguk nodded excitedly. “Yeah, wanna go see Reggie again!”
Taehyung’s father chuckled. “The school turtle?” At Jeongguk’s nod, he continued, “Well, Taehyungie here is also excited to see the rest of his friends.”
They each had two s’mores before Taehyung’s mother whisked the chocolate and marshmallows away, telling them they had had enough sugar for the night. When they whined, Taehyung’s father managed to sneak out one more marshmallow for the both of them. Taehyung tried to steal his. Jeongguk slapped his hand away.
It was starting to get chilly, so Jeongguk gestured for Taehyung to sit in his chair with him. They curled into each other to keep warm. Taehyung’s mother cooed at them.
“It’s getting kind of late, boys,” she said. “When do you guys want to go to sleep?”
Taehyung kicked his leg out petulantly. “Don’t wanna go to sleep.”
She glared at her husband. “You gave them too much sugar,” she whispered to him. He gave her a cheeky smile in response. “Ten more minutes, then everyone into the tent,” she called.
She settled with a sigh into the chair next to her husband’s, leaning her head on his shoulder contentedly. Her eyes glowed with the firelight as she watched Jeongguk and Taehyung bicker between themselves quietly.
“Mrs. Kim, how are you?”
The wind picks up and Jeongguk’s ears feel frosted over. Taehyung’s mother beams and wraps Taehyung in a hug, then Jeongguk. She ushers both of them into the house, and Jeongguk nearly sighs out loud in relief at the sudden warmth. “I’m doing just fine, Jeongguk. And how are you boys? How’s college treating you?”
Taehyung’s childhood home is the same as always, complete with the peeling blue wallpaper and the old ceramic figurines lining the windowsill. It’s decorated with festive lights in the windows and along the edges of the ceiling, just like always.
“You ask us this question every time we come back,” Taehyung smiles. “We’re doing good, Mom. Being in the city feels so great.” He smiles at Jeongguk and links their arms.
Taehyung’s mother, though, looks a bit more worn every time he sees her. Frailer. Her smile crinkles more at the corner of her eyes. She still looks so much like Taehyung.
“Here, let me take your things.” She bustles around, taking their scarves and hats and coats. She brushes off some of the snow that managed to catch onto their coats and hangs them up in the entryway. “Would you guys like anything to eat?”
“It’s alright, mom, we’re just stopping by,” Taehyung says. “We’re gonna spend the weekend over at Guk’s house this time.”
At this moment, Jeongguk deeply regrets coming here during winter break and dreads the walk they will have to make his house, even though it’s only three houses away. It’s bitterly cold and all he wants to do is laze around the house and enjoy the holidays.
“At least indulge me for some drinks,” Taehyung’s mother says.
So they sit down in the living room where Jeongguk remembers playing superheroes with Taehyung. Taehyung's mother bustles around in the kitchen where Jeongguk remembers cooking dinner as a present for the Kims.
When Taehyung's mother comes in with a tray of tea and hot chocolate, Taehyung is leaning his head quietly on Jeongguk’s shoulder. “You boys have grown up so much,” she smiles.
Jeongguk leans forward for some hot chocolate and tea, handing the chocolate to Taehyung. He blows on the tea and takes a sip. It’s scalding, but it warms him from the inside out.
“Soon enough you two will be married and getting your own jobs,” Taehyung’s mother comments, and Jeongguk nearly chokes on his tea as Taehyung laughs.
“Mom, please.”
Jeongguk climbed over the fence of the neighborhood pool with practiced ease, landing with a soft thump on the ground. He had brought the usual bags of chips and popcorn, and his new constellation book. He squinted into the darkness, trying to tell if Taehyung was already here.
“Guk! Here!”
Jeongguk trotted over to where Taehyung was lying on his blanket next to the pool and set his supplies down on the blanket. It was late, almost midnight, and the darkness was inky. The moon cast a faint layer of light over everything. Taehyung picked up his flashlight and shined it into Jeongguk’s eyes as he was sitting down.
“Taehyung!” he hissed. He tackled Taehyung for the flashlight as Taehyung gave a loud laugh, giggling as Jeongguk tickled him to get him to loosen his grip. His right arm flailed around and hit Jeongguk’s side. Jeongguk managed to pry the flashlight from his hand and shined it into Taehyung’s eyes.
Taehyung gave a muffled shriek and shoved Jeongguk off him. Jeongguk laughed as he watched Taehyung sit up, a murderous glare on his face.
“You’re such a jerk,” Taehyung whined.
“You started it!” Jeongguk replied. Jeongguk sat back on his heels and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “It’s your fault.”
Taehyung rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He grabbed a bag of chips and ripped it open, taking one and holding the bag out to Jeongguk.
“Did you bring any candy?” Jeongguk asked, taking one.
Taehyung paused mid-chew. “Ah, I...forgot it?”
“Don’t lie, Tae, you have a tell. You ate it all, didn’t you?”
Taehyung snapped his eyes to Jeongguk. “I do not have a tell.”
Jeongguk snorted. “Yeah, you do. Your nostrils flare.”
Taehyung rolled his eyes. “They do not.”
“They totally do. And stop changing the subject.”
Taehyung huffed. He met Jeongguk’s gaze again and tugged at his arm, lying back down on his back. “Fine, yes, I ate it,” he grumbled. “I promise I’ll bring some next time.
Jeongguk reluctantly laid down with Taehyung, pillowing his arm under his head and laying on his side so he could face Taehyung. He was looking up at the sky, not meeting Jeongguk’s gaze. “You’re bringing the chips and the candy next time,” he said. When Taehyung just pouted, he laughed. “Anyway, I brought that book I was talking to you about, remember?” He grabbed the book. “The constellation one?”
“Yeah,” Taehyung said, rolling over so he was face to face with Jeongguk. “Hey, do you have any other plans this summer?”
Jeongguk shrugged as well as he could with one shoulder still under his head. “Same thing as always.”
Taehyung gave a small grin, and Jeongguk studied the way his smile curved his eyes into crescents.
“Do you?” Jeongguk asked.
“No,” Taehyung admitted. “I was gonna relax and think about the fact that we’re almost in middle school.” He poked Jeongguk’s belly. “We’re about to be one of the big kids,” he whispered, as if it was a secret only for the two of them.
Jeongguk laughed a little, rolling back onto his back and opening the constellation book. He could already begin to see the shapes of constellations forming in the stars. “Hey,” he nudged Taehyung. “I already found this one.” He pointed at a page in the book.
Taehyung snuggled closer to Jeongguk’s shoulder so he could see. Jeongguk turned his head in his direction. He could see the starlight sparkling in Taehyung’s eyes.
“It’s so pretty,” Taehyung beamed.
“Yeah,” Jeongguk breathed. “Really pretty.”
They pointed out constellations to each other until Taehyung fell asleep against his shoulder. Jeongguk shook him awake and took him home and they fell asleep tucked under the sheets in Jeongguk’s bed.
They stay holed up in Taehyung’s house until the snow stops, and Taehyung manages to drag Jeongguk on a walk in the neighborhood. Jeongguk mentally curses himself for agreeing as they crunch through the snow.
They retrace familiar steps until Jeongguk spots the fence of the pool. It’s been covered to keep the snow out of the pool, but Taehyung still runs up to the gates and looks in between the bars.
“Taehyung,” Jeongguk laughs as he reaches Taehyung. “What are you even looking at?”
Taehyung turns back to him with a smile, and his hat slides a little lopsidedly on his head. Jeongguk fixes it for him.
“I always loved looking at the stars,” Taehyung sighed.
“You always fell asleep looking at the stars."
Taehyung hits Jeongguk’s shoulder. It’s padded by the layers of clothing Jeongguk has on and he barely feels a thing. “That’s a lie,” Taehyung whines. “Also. You never get to see the stars in Seoul. I’ve missed them.”
Jeongguk sighs. “I have too. It’ll be cloudy tonight, I think.” He looks up at the sky, but even though there’s no damn sun it’s still bright enough to make him blink sour feeling eyes.
“Jeongguk,” Taehyung says suddenly. “When’s the last time we made snow angels?”
Jeongguk snorts. “What are you, five?”
“No, come on!” Taehyung plops down in the snow, waving his limbs haphazardly. Jeongguk smiles at the shape, because it looks nothing like what a snow angel is supposed to look like. “Jeongguk,” Taehyung says. “Get down here right now and make a snow angel with me.”
Jeongguk lies down with a drawn out sigh. “I never ask to suffer but I always do.”
Taehyung hits his shoulder again and this time Jeongguk wonders if his body is just going numb. He lets out another sigh and begrudgingly begins to form his angel. He’s determined to make it a better angel than Taehyung’s because this is a competition now, damn it.
When they deem their snow angels complete, they both stand up and brush off their clothing. Taehyung takes one look at his own snow angel and laughs. “Gukkie, look,” he says, pointing at the deformed angel. “It’s you.”
With a growl, Jeongguk tackles him onto the ground and throws a handful of snow onto his face. Taehyung gasps, sputtering, and shoves snow down Jeongguk’s shirt. Jeongguk springs away with a screech and tries to shake it out.
By the time they’re finished dusting themselves off, they’ve come to a silent mutual agreement that it’s way too cold to be acting like they’re five again.
As they’re walking away, Taehyung speaks up. “By the way,” he starts. “I meant that you were an angel. It was a compliment.”
Jeongguk can hear the shit-eating grin in his voice without even having to look at him. “Yeah right.”
“Come on, Guk, race you!” Taehyung barreled past Jeongguk and barely had a foot on his bike before he began speed pedaling down the street.
“Hey, you got a head start, cheater!” Jeongguk yelled, and swung a leg over his bike to chase after Taehyung.
He could hear Taehyung’s laughter from up ahead. His voice had begun to drop, something that he lorded constantly over Jeongguk, whose voice had stayed squeaky high. Jeongguk got to tease him about his voice cracks, though, so it was okay.
He pumped his legs harder, determined to beat Taehyung in this stupid race. He knew where they were going; a spot by the creek hidden by brambles and boulders. It was their secret place.
Jeongguk reveled in the adrenaline of the race, the beat of his heart and the wind whipping his hair around. He realized that neither of them remembered to put a helmet on, which Jeongguk’s mother will definitely scold them for, but it’ll be worth it.
At some point, he overtook Taehyung, who shouted at him incoherently. Jeongguk chanced a glance back to stick his tongue out and smirk at Taehyung.
He spotted the familiar willow that marked their secret spot and pushed himself even harder. When he passed it, he braked and waited for Taehyung to catch up, smiling cheekily when Taehyung pulled up next to him, breathing heavily.
“You’re so… damn… fast,” Taehyung managed to say between breaths. When Jeongguk laughed, he shoved at his shoulder. “Shut up, Jeon Jeongguk.”
“Come on.” Jeongguk grabbed Taehyung’s hand and lead him to the crack between the boulders where they could slip into their spot. He glanced at his watch. “It’s 6:30. Mom’ll probably have dinner ready soon.” When he saw Taehyung’s mouth opening to protest, he said, “And yes, you are eating with us until your parents get their shit sorted out, capische?” He plopped down into the soft dirt, listening to the creek gurgle a few feet away.
Taehyung sighed and sat down next to Jeongguk. “I don’t wanna be a burden,” he said. “It’s just another one of their petty fights, it’s not that bad, I swear.”
“Bullshit, Taehyung, I heard them shouting and I’m three houses away,” Jeongguk snapped.
When Taehyung looked down, tugging at his sleeve, Jeongguk realized how harsh his tone had been. “Wait, Tae, I didn’t mean-”
“People kept coming up to me asking if I was okay,” Taehyung mumbled. “They all pity me.”
“That’s not true,” Jeongguk said immediately. When Taehyung gave him a look, Jeongguk sighed. “Look, please? Just come eat with us. You’re not a burden, I swear.”
Taehyung gave a slight nod. Jeongguk clapped his hands. “Great, that’s settled.” He scooted closer, laying down so his head rested on Taehyung’s thigh. Taehyung’s fingers automatically went to his hair, combing through the strands. “I’m gonna be bringing my boyfriend home for dinner, isn’t that romantic?”
Taehyung rolled his eyes. “You just like saying that word.”
Jeongguk laughed. “Of course I like saying it, you’re my new boyfriend-”
“Stop being like this,” Taehyung whined. Then, quieter, he said, “Mrs. Lee told me I’m too young to date.”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes this time. “We’re almost in eighth grade. We’re basically in high school. Scratch that, we’re basically grown up.”
Taehyung laughed. Jeongguk liked the way his laugh sounded with his new voice. “You’re so dumb sometimes.”
Jeongguk sat up and leaned towards Taehyung. “They say your friends influence you.”
Taehyung laughed breathlessly, but he made no move to shove Jeongguk away like he normally would. His eyes were trained somewhere a little lower than Jeongguk's eyes. Jeongguk smiled confusedly, tilting his head a little.
Taehyung leaned forward and pressed his lips against Jeongguk’s. It was barely even a brush of contact, but Taehyung leaned back immediately as if he had been burned.
“Oh my god,” he said, a hand coming up to cover his mouth. Jeongguk was frozen. “Oh god, I’m so sorry, I should have asked you first-”
“Uh-” Jeongguk sat back on his heels, fingers brushing over his lips.
“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have-”
Jeongguk’s mind finally registered that he’d been kissed. He laughed a little. “Taehyung, it’s okay, it’s- it’s fine.” His hand tugged at the wrist over Taehyung’s mouth. Taehyung lowered it, but Jeongguk kept their hands clasped together between their laps.
“I just- I swear, I didn’t-”
“Tae, it’s fine, I promise.” Jeongguk’s smile was beginning to stretch his cheeks. He hesitated. “Hey.” He chewed on his lip, grasped Taehyung’s hand tighter. “Wanna try again?”
Taehyung mirrored Jeongguk’s smile. “Uh, yeah, sure, yeah, let’s try again.”
Jeongguk laughed again, leaning in. Taehyung copied him. “Okay, just. Yeah.”
They kissed.
It was a little awkward, a little weird. Jeongguk was tense and he could tell Taehyung was too.
It wasn’t exactly life changing. It felt nice, definitely. It was warm and soft and it was nice. Jeongguk leaned back a little when they were done, searching Taehyung’s face.
Taehyung smiled, one of his box shaped ones, and Jeongguk did too. “How was it?” Jeongguk asked.
Taehyung played with their fingers, still entangled together. “It was our first kiss.” Jeongguk’s smile grew. It was beginning to hurt.
They sat together a little longer, just listening to the sound of the creek laughing and watching the sun set. Eventually, Jeongguk stood up and brushed off his pants. He tugged at Taehyung's hand. “Come on,” he said. “It’s about to get dark.”
It was a bit of a challenge squeezing between the two boulders as grown men with heavy winter coats. It’s worth it, though, because Jeongguk’s pretty sure that even in the years they’ve been gone, no one else has found it. This place is still only theirs and no one else’s.
The creek is completely frozen over with a thin layer of snow on the ice. Jeongguk can’t hear any of its usual bubbling.
“It’s so pretty,” Taehyung says, leaning against one of the boulders and taking out his camera from one of his pockets. “I feel like it’s been a while since we’ve been here in the winter.”
Jeongguk’s hands, shoved deep into his pockets, are about to freeze off. “Yeah, it’s gorgeous.”
Taehyung kneels down to capture a photo. Jeongguk can’t see his screen, so he chooses to watch Taehyung’s face instead. He gets this intense look on his face whenever he’s concentrating on something, his bottom lip caught between his teeth, his right brow furrowed just a little bit.
Jeongguk looks away when Taehyung stands up to avoid being caught staring, but he always does this and Taehyung has long caught on by now. Taehyung smiles, and Jeongguk’s heart catches, because Taehyung is standing there with his camera clutched between his fingers and his lopsided hat and that damn boxy smile of his, and sometimes Jeongguk is just filled with so much love.
“Let’s go home, Gukkie,” Taehyung says softly. He tucks his camera away. “I’m sure you’re excited to see your parents?”
“Yeah, let’s go,” Jeongguk says, eager to see the Christmas tree and stockings his parents have probably set up in the corner of the living room, despite the fact they’re not Christian and he’s told them a million times they’re just buying into commercialism. Perhaps he appreciates the decor.
When they’ve finished squeezing back through the boulders, Taehyung threads his ice cold fingers with Jeongguk’s ice cold fingers and tucks them into his pocket together.
“Taehyung. You’re seriously gonna ruin Mom’s cake. Don’t-”
Jeongguk grabbed Taehyung’s waist from behind, dragging him away from the fridge. Taehyung laughed loudly, trying to wiggle away. “I swear, Guk, it’ll be the best thing you ever tasted.” He smacked at Jeongguk’s hands. “You and your stupid muscles.” When Jeongguk tightened his grip, he whined. “Just trust me!”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes. “Remember last time you told me to trust you? When that rock fucking exploded?”
“Okay, that might have been… a lapse in judgement on my part, but Jeongguk, I promise you, this idea is one of my top 10.”
“Do you know how much I had to beg Dad to let me bake Mom’s birthday cake?”
“Let me just have a little bit of the batter so I can just add this one ingredient, and we can make a muffin! And you can try it and admit how good it is and how right I am. Capische?”
“That’s gonna be a hard no.”
“Come on, Jeongguk, please? Just one muffin,” Taehyung wheedled.
Jeongguk sighed and let go of Taehyung. “Fine. Add your roots or whatever, so I can try it and reject it .”
Taehyung laughed. “You won’t reject it, I promise.”
Jeongguk watched as he scooped out some of their finished cake batter and added in some mashed beets. Jeongguk shuddered inside. While they waited for it to bake, Taehyung lifted himself onto the counter to sit, legs swinging and hitting the cabinets underneath.
Jeongguk held his legs still. “You better get down from there before my mom walks in and sees you,” he said, wiping a bit of flour off of Taehyung’s nose.
“I’ll be down if she ever comes around,” Taehyung promised.
Jeongguk moved away to clean up. The oven beeped. Taehyung jumped down from the counter to get the muffin.
“It’s gonna be here to cool,” Taehyung said, setting it down on the counter. “And you can have it whenever you think it looks too good to resist.”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes, even though it did kind of smell good. “Come help me clean up.”
Taehyung joined him in putting away the rest of the ingredients and wiping down the counter. When they were done, Taehyung unwrapped the muffin and took a small bite.
Jeongguk eyed the muffin suspiciously as Taehyung chewed. It looked slightly redder than a normal chocolate muffin, but other than that it seemed normal.
“Mm,” Taehyung hummed. “Try it, Gukkie, it’s real good."
Jeongguk reluctantly took a bite when Taehyung held it out to him. Even more reluctantly, he admitted, “It is good.”
Taehyung’s eyes lit up. “Hah! See? I told you! You should listen to me more often, Gukkie!"
Jeongguk snorted. “Definitely not.” He took another bite of the muffin, saving the last bit for Taehyung. It was good, he had to say. The beet added an extra layer of flavor he was sure his mother would appreciate.
Taehyung rolled his eyes as he added the beet into the rest of the batter and began layering it into the cake pans. Jeongguk put them into the oven when he was done and set a timer.
Taehyung sighed, stretching his arms above his head. “We should probably make the frosting soon.”
“Probably,” Jeongguk admitted. He leaned in to peck Taehyung.
“Jeongguk, please, not in my kitchen.”
Jeongguk blushed. “Mom!” he said, turning to see her standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
She laughed and walked in, pinching his cheek. “I’m just kidding, darling. Just don’t wanna see my baby all grown up.”
“Mom, please,” Jeongguk muttered. “I’m in high school already.”
Jeongguk’s mother chuckled, leaning over to check the cake in the glass door of the oven. “The cake looks good, guys.” She looked around the kitchen. “And thank you for cleaning up after yourselves.”
“It’s your birthday, Mrs. Jeon, we’re not gonna make you clean up our mess,” Taehyung said. “Did I tell you happy birthday?”
“You just did,” Jeongguk’s mother said. Jeongguk rolled his eyes as she laughed. “Thank you, Taehyung, you’re too sweet. Anyway.” She looked at Jeongguk. “I trust you know what you’re doing?” Jeongguk nodded. “I’ll leave you to it then.”
When she left, Taehyung said, “We should really start on the frosting now.”
Jeongguk nodded. “Here, finish the muffin before it gets cold.” He fed Taehyung the muffin piece. As he chewed, Jeongguk leaned in and stole the kiss he had been meaning to get before his mother walked in.
Taehyung smiled and wrapped his arms around Jeongguk’s neck, resting their foreheads together. “I love you,” he murmured.
When Taehyung had first said it a few months ago, he’d told Jeongguk he didn’t have to say it back until he was ready.
Jeongguk was pretty sure he was ready.
“I love you too.”
Jeongguk flicks on the lamp on his bedside table.
The sun hasn’t set, but the cloud cover has made everything dark and gray. Jeongguk crosses the room and flops down on his old bed, sighing as Taehyung follows him. It still has the quilt he got from his grandma more than 10 years ago. He can smell his old deodorant, and the faintest hint of Taehyung’s strawberry shampoo.
“I hope it doesn’t snow again tonight,” Jeongguk says, turning over and pressing his face into Taehyung’s neck. He feels more than hears when Taehyung makes a hum of agreement.
Jeongguk’s eyes roam his old bedroom. The furnishing is sparse now that he’s moved away, but it’s still the same room he grew up in. The same walls, the same desk, the same closet he was always terrified to go near at night. He smiles at some of the artwork still hanging on the walls that he had made in art class all the way back in elementary school.
“I can’t believe you still have that,” Taehyung says suddenly, nudging Jeongguk and pointing at an oil pastel drawing that Taehyung had given to Jeongguk as a gift when they first started dating.
Jeongguk laughs. “Of course I still have it, Tae, did you think I threw it away?”
Taehyung shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe. When I didn’t see it in Seoul I guess I just assumed you did.”
Jeongguk props his head up on his elbow, considering. It had been the first gift they had exchanged as a couple, and thus Jeongguk considers it to be an object of great importance. “I should take it to Seoul, that’s a good idea.”
“Yeah,” Taehyung hums. Jeongguk closes his eyes as Taehyung traces idle patterns on his stomach through his shirt.
They press lazy kisses to each other’s lips as the smell of cooking food wafts in through the open door.
The bell above the shop tinkled as Taehyung pushed open the door and a familiar waft of vanilla and waffle cone hit Jeongguk’s nose.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Choi,” Taehyung exclaimed.
A grizzled lady looked up from behind the counter. “What are you children doing here? You should be off studying, not filling yourselves up with more sugar.”
“School just ended,” Jeongguk said. He smiled as Mrs. Choi wrinkled her nose in confusion.
“Ah, must have gotten my dates mixed up,” she muttered. “What would you rascals like today? The usual?”
Taehyung gave an affirming nod and a smile. He slid a few bills over the counter, but Mrs. Choi slid them back to Taehyung. “Take your money, kid, it’s on the house today.”
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Choi,” Jeongguk said.
“Yeah, yeah, stop hanging around here and go have a seat.” She waved them off.
They chose the same booth by the window as they always do, where they could watch small children shrieking with laughter and their frazzled parents running after them. They slid into the same side of the booth and Taehyung pressed himself into Jeongguk’s side.
Taehyung laced their hands together on the table. “Can you believe we only have one year left before we graduate and finally leave this place?”
Jeongguk gave a relieved laugh. “I know. I wanna apply to a few colleges in Seoul. I’d love to see the city.”
“Meet new people.”
“Ride the subway.”
Taehyung’s eyes shined as they continued talking about college, in a way they rarely did about anything else. Jeongguk thought he looked so pretty with the excitement glowing in his eyes.
Mrs. Choi called them over to get their ice cream and Jeongguk stood up. He slipped a few thousand won into the tip jar, and somehow even with her failing eyesight Mrs. Choi caught him and pursed her lips. “Boy-”
“Please, Mrs. Choi, let me thank you for the ice cream,” Jeongguk said.
He could visibly see her soften. “Shoo,” she sighed, and Jeongguk picked up their waffle cones and went away before she could change her mind.
Taehyung smiled at him as he set down his strawberry cone in front of him. “Thanks, Gukkie,” he said, waiting for Jeongguk to sit down so they could eat together. “I swear, sometimes Mrs. Choi is as stubborn as you.”
“I won, she’s not as stubborn as me.” Jeongguk took his seat.
Taehyung rolled his eyes, beginning to eat his ice cream. Jeongguk copied him, relieved for the cold treat on such a hot day.
“How often are you gonna come back to visit?” he asked.
Taehyung stopped eating and shrugged. “I don’t know. It’ll be a hassle to come back often. Maybe just over the holidays.”
“My mom is already bugging me to come visit often,” Jeongguk said, licking at his cone.
Taehyung smiled as he looked out the window, eyes following a small toddler who ran past the window, screaming in delight.
“Little monster,” Jeongguk muttered, although he smiled when he heard the girl shriek in laughter.
“But a cute monster,” Taehyung interjected.
“An adorable monster,” Jeongguk admitted.
They stayed pressed together in their booth long after they had finished their cones. Technically only customers who were eating were allowed to sit in the ice cream parlor, but Mrs. Choi allowed them to stay until they left at dinnertime.
The day they leave, they make a stop at the ice cream parlor.
The bell tinkles and Jeongguk smiles at the sound. A girl their age looks up from behind the counter. “Hey, Taehyung, Jeongguk. It’s been a while, huh?”
“Jennie, it’s nice to see you again,” Taehyung says as he shrugs out of his coat. “Not much has changed around here, huh?”
“Same old,” Jennie says, waving her hand. “You know, I should have known you were the only two crazy enough to come in this weather. How are you doing?”
“College is a bitch, but it’s totally worth it,” Taehyung laughs.
Jeongguk smiles as she giggles along. “How are you, Jennie?”
Her smile grows as she wiggles her hand. A small ring glitters at them. “Guess who got engaged?”
“About time,” Jeongguk mutters. Taehyung elbows him.
“Congratulations, Jennie! Kai proposed?”
“Yeah,” Jennie grins. “And it’s fine, Jeongguk’s right. I was about to do it myself if I had to wait much longer.” She hums as she studies the ring, smiling.
“Who else has gotten hitched since we left?” Taehyung asks.
“Well, let’s see. Momo and Heechul got married,” Jennie said, pondering. “I know,” she smiles, seeing the look on Taehyung’s face. “Finally. And Jihyo and Danny did as well. Was really sweet.”
“Tell them we said congratulations,” Jeongguk says.
“I will. And what about you two?” She looks between them.
Jeongguk’s hand twitches in his pocket. “Not yet,” he says, giving her a nervous smile. Immediately, he wants to slap himself in the face, because both Taehyung and Jennie raise an eyebrow at him.
Luckily, Taehyung moves past it with a small grin on his face. Jennie does not follow his lead though, because her gaze remains on Jeongguk with a smirk until Jeongguk rolls his eyes at her, places their order, and drags Taehyung away.
They pick the same table by the window and slide into the same side.
“Did you feed Yeontan before we dropped him off?” Taehyung asks.
“Yeah, and I gave him some water.”
“I’m gonna take Jiminie out for brunch to thank him for watching Tannie.”
“You do that,” Jeongguk hums, playing with Taehyung’s fingers.
Jennie calls for one of them to get their order and Jeongguk gets up to get their ice cream.
“Free of charge,” Jennie tells him, and Jeongguk rolls his eyes and slides a few thousand won into the jar again. Her eyes follow it, but she seems to find her next question more important. “So. Are you planning on popping the question soon?” she asks, at least having the sense to lower her voice.
Jeongguk thinks of Taehyung’s mother’s comment and the small velvet box tucked into the bathroom cabinet of their Seoul apartment and all of a sudden his face feels just a bit too hot.
All in all, it was very anticlimactic when Jeongguk finally walked across the stage.
He grinned widely when he heard his parents yelling his name and laughed out loud when his friends started a chant that he just knew was lead by Taehyung. The principal gave him a toothy smile as he shook hands with Jeongguk and handed him a thin slip of paper. Jeongguk made sure to bow before he rushed off the stage to make room for the next graduate.
He made sure to return the favor when he saw Taehyung on stage, hooting and hollering and clapping as obnoxiously as he could. Taehyung caught his eye and winked before he left the stage, and Hoseok wolf whistled and nudged Jeongguk’s shoulder meaningfully.
When all the students had been called up, the principal made a final closing speech. Jeongguk didn’t bother listening to what he was saying, too busy looking over his shoulder to try to catch Taehyung’s eye behind him. The graduating class was tiny enough that Jeongguk was sure the principal caught him blatantly not paying attention, but thankfully he didn’t mention it. When Taehyung met his gaze, they shared small secretive smiles.
All Jeongguk could feel was relief as they turned the tassel to the other side and then threw their caps up into the air, because they were getting out of here. Everyone broke into cheers and he turned to his left as he heard Taehyung hollering, and watched him bounce up to Jeongguk, smiling his boxy smile and laughing loudly. “We’ve graduated, Gukkie! We’re out of here!”
They grabbed hands and started spinning each other around in a circle, screaming and tooting. Jeongguk threw his head back and laughed, not caring how stupid they must have looked.
They eventually stopped spinning, still holding hands and laughing. Taehyung’s chest was heaving from jumping so much and his cheeks were flushed. Jeongguk grasped his waist and pulled him in and kissed him.
The kiss was much more chaste that it usually was in private. It was common knowledge around town when Jeongguk and Taehyung began dating, much to the surprise of absolutely no one, but that didn’t mean Jeongguk and Taehyung kissed much in public. When they did, though, they made sure everybody in an immediate vicinity saw them.
Their classmate’s catcalls and cheering broke them out of the kiss eventually. Taehyung’s ears were bright red, but he smiled at Jeongguk. He was positively glowing.
“Jeon Jeongguk!”
His mother was marching up to him, a smile on her face that she was trying to keep stern. Jeongguk had been through enough growth spurts now that his mother only came up to his chin, but she stopped in front of him and put her hands on her hips and somehow managed to make him feel seven again.
Jeongguk pulled her into a hug before she could say anything, and she patted his back. “Aish,” she said quietly. “Look at you in your graduation gown. My baby is all grown up.”
Jeongguk muttered, “Not a baby.”
“Jeonggukkie, listen to me. When you go to Seoul, you have to call every day, okay?” She pulled back and met his gaze sternly. “Call every day, and visit every week.”
Jeongguk rolled his eyes. “Mom, I’m not gonna drive all the way up here every single week to come visit you.”
“Yes you will, Jeongguk, at least every two weeks.”
“I’m not gonna have time even over the weekends to come visit you, Mom.”
“You will, because Taehyung’s mother agrees with me on this and you’ll both have to come visit us every week and tell us how you like college.” She pinched Jeongguk’s cheek. “You’ll have to tell us all about Seoul, and how different it is from here.” Her eyes glazed over and she squeezed Jeongguk’s shoulder. “Go on.” She motioned to the doors, where everyone was headed to go to the celebration outside. “Go have fun with your friends. But-” she wiggled a finger at Jeongguk. “No drunk driving.”
Jeongguk took that as an invitation to get wasted and spend the night with his friends. “Yes mother.” He was about to run off, hooking an arm with Taehyung, before he stopped short and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Bye mom.”
“Bye mom,” Jeongguk murmurs.
Taehyung is already waiting in the car, their luggage loaded into the truck. Jeongguk wraps his parents in one more hug before he’s hurrying down the porch steps to their car. He gets into the car and waves out the window at his parents, who are still standing on the porch, as Taehyung backs out of the driveway. His dad is still wearing his fluffy bathrobe and his mom is clutching her morning cup of coffee and Jeongguk yawns along with her. It feels too early to be awake, but he and Taehyung agreed to leave early to try to beat the weather.
It takes five minutes to get out of town and twenty minutes to get onto the highway. Jeongguk doesn’t really want to go back to school, but he’s excited to get home and see Yeontan and Jimin and the rest of his friends he’s made.
“I wish we got to visit more often,” he comments.
“Me too,” Taehyung says. “Maybe we can stay a bit longer over the summer."
Jeongguk gives a lazy smile. “I’d like that.”
They pass the drive by playing stupid driving games until Jeongguk is nodding off.
When he wakes up, Taehyung is singing softly to the radio and the smell of food sets Jeongguk’s stomach rumbling.
Taehyung looks over at Jeongguk with a smile in his eyes. “I got us some lunch,” he says, gesturing with his head to the backseat. Jeongguk looks back to see a bag of take out.
He groans and grabs the bag, thanking Taehyung as he rips it open. “Looks good,” he says. “God, I’m starving.”
“I got your favorite,” Taehyung says as Jeongguk takes out a box of japchae.
“Thanks Tae.” Jeongguk leans over the console and presses a kiss to Taehyung’s cheek. “What would I do without you?”
Taehyung smiles. “Lucky you have me.”