Work Text:
It was a Saturday night, another day of summer break had gone by and another one was approaching. Summer was quickly coming to an end with school just around the corner. Hoseok and Namjoon didn't want to think about that though. They were starting high school soon, and they were a bit terrified about it. Especially since they were both going to two very different schools on opposite sides of town. They'd rather focus on the moments they spend together now rather than think about the ones in which they'll be without each other in the future.
The two boys were currently lying on the floor in Hoseok's room. Comic books Namjoon had brought with him and snacks Hoseok had managed to sneak from the kitchen were spread out around them. Namjoon's sister was on Hoseok's bed reading one of Namjoon's manga books completely ignoring the two boys.
This was something they did every night since summer break began. Namjoon and Hoseok would spend the entire day outside doing whatever it was that they felt like doing and then would head over to Hoseok's house once the sun began to set. On some days, like this one, for example, Namjoon's little sister would join them. Namjoon's parents were too busy with getting everything ready for the move at the end of the summer to give their children all the attention and care they needed.
Namjoon and his sister didn't really mind this though. They had Hoseok and his family who were extremely kind to them. It almost felt like they weren't missing out on anything.
Hoseok sighed and turned over on his side. He looked up at his bed and saw Namjoon's little sister falling asleep.
"Namjoon, Geongmin is falling asleep." Hoseok said turning back to look at his friend who was too busy reading one of the mangas he had brought with him to actually respond to his friend.
"Namjoon." Hoseok said again, this time more sternly.
Hearing his friend's tone of voice, Namjoon quickly looked up to see what was wrong only to see his sister fast asleep on Hoseok's bed.
"Oh, I think Geongmin fell asleep." He said making Hoseok roll his eyes as he laid back down on the floor. Namjoon slowly got up from the floor and walked over to Hoseok's bed to get his sister. He carefully picked Geongmin up and walked over to the door.
Namjoon turned around and looked at his friend who was lying on the floor eating a bag of chips he had snuck from his kitchen. "Hoseok could you open the door please?" He whispered so that he wouldn't wake Geongmin.
Hoseok put the bag down and got up from his spot on the floor to open the door for Namjoon. Namjoon walked out and Hoseok stayed at his door watching Namjoon walk down the hallway to Jiwoo's room. This happened every time Geongmin would stay with them the whole day.
Geongmin would stay in Hoseok's room with the boys until she fell asleep. Whenever they noticed that she fell asleep, Namjoon would take her to Jiwoo's room so that she could continue sleeping in peace without having to be woken up by Hoseok and Namjoon's shenanigans.
Hoseok watched as Namjoon softly knocked on Jiwoo's door and waited patiently for her to open the door. Jiwoo opened the door a few seconds later and took Geongmin from Namjoon's arms and took her inside her room. Namjoon and Jiwoo said goodnight to each other before the older girl quietly shut the door.
Namjoon made his way back to Hoseok's room and smiled at him. Hoseok returned the smile and walked back inside his room to get back to his spot on the floor. Namjoon closed the door behind him and rejoined his friend on the floor.
"I wonder how long she's been asleep for," Namjoon said grabbing the bag of chips Hoseok had been eating earlier. "She was moving around some when I picked her up."
"She hasn't been asleep for long," Hoseok said reaching his hand out to grab some chips from the bag. "I saw when she was just starting to fall asleep. She kept nodding her head and trying to keep her eyes open."
"Oh," Namjoon said getting another chip. "I didn't notice."
Hoseok laughed and ruffled Namjoon's hair. "Of course you didn't, you were too busy reading that book. You didn't even hear me when I was trying to tell you she was falling asleep."
"Well you can't blame me, it's a pretty intresting book."
"What's so interesting about a book filled with pictures? Only little kids find those kinds of books interesting." Hoseok teased as he grabbed the manga Namjoon had been reading and started flipping through the pages. "How do you even read this?"
Now it was Namjoon's turn to laugh. He leaned over and took the book from Hoseok's hand. "It still amazes me that you don't know how to properly read a manga."
"It still amazes me that you read manga." Hoseok said as he opened a new bag of chips. "Plus, it's not my fault I don't know how to read manga. Dad never lets me read those types of books."
"You don't have to do everything your dad tells you Hoseok. It's ok to rebel sometimes." Namjoon said.
Hoseok smiled. "Let my dad hear that and he won't let me hang out with you anymore."
"Impossible, your dad thinks I'm the best friend you've ever had." Namjoon said.
"You are the best friend I've ever had." Hoseok said softly. Namjoon looked at Hoseok and noticed that the expression on the brunet's face was a bit sad. Almost like he wanted to cry.
Namjoon scooted closer to his friend. "Hoseok?"
"Namjoon," Hoseok said quietly. "Do you think we'll still be friends when we're older?"
The taller boy was a bit taken aback by his friend's question. Up until that moment, neither of them had talked about that. Maybe it was because they always assumed they'd be together for the rest of their lives. And they were going to be together until Namjoon's father got a promotion at work that required him to move to the other side of town.
After that piece of news reached Hoseok and Namjoon, both boys became extremely upset. They cried together in Hoseok's room. They let it all out in the few hours Namjoon's parents had allowed their son to stay before they drove over to see the house they would be moving into towards the end of the summer.
Before Namjoon left Hoseok's house that day, both boys made a promise that they wouldn't speak of the move at all during the summer. They were going to enjoy their summer together as if it were any summer and not the one before some of the biggest changes in their lives.
Of course, they did some things that they wouldn't usually do on a regular summer break. Like spending every single day together. And dig a big hole in Hoseok's backyard just so they can bury a little box in it. They got this idea from a book Hoseok's father had made them read.
Which was something he made them do every summer but this summer he didn't bother them about it as much. Namjoon guessed it had to do with the fact that it was Hoseok and his 'last' summer together. He didn't know when he started referring to this summer as their last but he just did, which made him sad.
Just like he was right now that Hoseok had asked that question. Were they still going to be friends when they're older?
There was only one answer that entered Namjoon's mind that wouldn't make his friend sadder than he already was.
"Of course we will," Namjoon said avoiding his friend's stare since he felt as if he might break down if he made eye contact with him. "We've been friends since we were babies, I think we'll still be friends when we're as old as Mr. Lee."
"I hope we are." Hoseok said softly.
Namjoon grabbed Hoseok's hand and squeezed it in a reassuring way. "I know we are."
━༻❁༺━
Namjoon let out a sigh of frustration as he ran towards the elevator, the folder that he was carrying threatening to bust open and spill all of its contents. Today was not Namjoon's day.
He woke up twenty minutes late, spilled coffee on himself which cost him an extra ten minutes, left his house, and was almost at the office before he realized he left the folder with all the important documents he needed for the meeting that day in his room. He got off the bus and run all the way back to his apartment, spent about five minutes looking for the folder before he ran back outside and called for a taxi to take him to work.
Normally, his boss wouldn't get mad if someone arrived late for a meeting. But today's meeting was 'important ' as Namjoon's boss had said. Some interns would be there and he wanted Namjoon and some other of his best workers to be there to show them around.
So much for being one of the best, Namjoon thought as the elevator's bell dinged, letting him know he had arrived at his floor. I'm twenty minutes late.
The tall male quickly checked in and ran to the meeting room. Which probably wasn't a good idea. Probably.
Namjoon didn't know how, but he tripped over his own feet, and, in an attempt to prevent himself from hitting the floor, he let go of the folder. Namjoon watched with sadness as he saw the folder open up and let all the papers fall out and scatter across the floor. He let out what felt like the millionth sigh of frustration that day and got down to start picking up the papers.
"Do you need help?"
Namjoon looked up at the person who had asked him that question and felt a sudden wave of emotions run over him upon make eye contact with the person.
"H-hoseok?" Namjoon said softly. The male standing in front of him looked at him with a confused expression before it changed to one of realization and happiness.
"Namjoon?" Hoseok said smiling. "Kim Namjoon?"
Namjoon smiled and nodded. "Yeah, the very same."
"Wow, it's been so long," Hoseok said looking at Namjoon with an expression that looked exactly like the one he had when he asked Namjoon if they would stay friends forever during the summer between eighth and ninth grade. Namjoon felt a pang in his chest remembering how he had promised Hoseok they would remain friends forever, and that nothing would weaken their bond.
Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to keep that promise. At first, he and Hoseok tried their hardest to meet up every other weekend, but practices soon started to fill up their time as well as club meetings and other school events they were involved in. Keeping contact also became difficult no matter how hard they tried.
They ended up losing contact after a while.
But here they were, meeting once again after years of not seeing each other.
"Yeah," Namjoon said as he stood up. "It has."
9 years.
That's how long it has been since either male had seen or talked to each other.
And Namjoon didn't really think much about it until Hoseok was sitting in front of him in the little restaurant they had agreed on meeting at after work.
Hoseok looked the same, but different. It felt different being with him. It felt weird.
It's been 9 years Nam, he told himself as he looked down at the menu in his hands when the waiter asked them what they would like to order. Of course, it'll feel weird being around him. It's not like you know him anymore.
That thought hurt Namjoon a little bit. He didn't know Hoseok anymore.
Because the Hoseok sitting in front of him, the one playing around with the salt shaker, wasn't the same Hoseok as the one who had almost cried at the thought of them not being friends anymore.
He couldn't reach out and hold Hoseok's hand as he used to when they were younger. He couldn't hug Hoseok as he cried because his father had yelled at him again. He couldn't tell Hoseok all the things he was too afraid to tell his own parents.
They didn't have that strong of a bond anymore.
And they hadn't fought to keep it.
"The sun looks so pretty." Hoseok suddenly said. He was looking outside at the sunset through the window not too far from their table. "The sun's always pretty when it sets. And when it rises."
"Yeah," Namjoon said looking at the sunset as well. "It's beautiful."
"Do you remember that time when we went to the river behind Mr. Lee's house with your sister? We stayed there all afternoon and we watched the sunset from there." Hoseok mused, his heart-shaped smile on his face as he remembered that day.
"I do. If I recall correctly, I found a snake that day and you and my sister jumped into the water to try and get away from it." Namjoon said, chuckling.
Hoseok blushed and smiled. "You remember that? I was hoping you didn't, I screamed louder than Geongmin."
Geongmin. Hoseok remembered his sister's name. And he remembered that he had screamed extremely loud that day.
Did he often think back to those days? The days they would spend together? Did he think of that summer a lot?
Namjoon had for a while, but then he stopped. It made him feel weird that he remembered things the other probably had forgotten.
But now, he saw, Hoseok had not forgotten them.
"I was actually quite surprised when you screamed. That was the first time I heard you actually scream. As in, use all the oxygen in your lungs." Namjoon said.
"I've been told I'm very loud when I get scared." Hoseok laughed, his glass of wine in his hands.
Namjoon watched as Hoseok put the glass to his lips and took a sip, quickly making a face afterward.
"Oh, it didn't taste as I expected it to." He giggled, covering his mouth with the hand that wasn't holding the glass.
"What did you think it would taste like?" Namjoon asked.
"Less sweet than it did." Hoseok said.
Namjoon grabbed his own glass and took a sip. He was taken aback when the drink hit his tongue and tasted sweet. Not extremely sweet but sweeter than what he would expect this type of wine to taste like.
"Your right," Namjoon said laughing. "It does not taste like what you would expect it to."
They both laughed at this and took another sip from their wine. This time, they were both prepared for the taste.
"How was Japan?" Namjoon asked. "You said you studied there for a bit, right?"
Hoseok nodded, not answering right away as he had food in his mouth.
"It was great. I had fun there and met some really nice people." Hoseok smiled. "I even had a boyfriend."
Namjoon raised his eyebrow at this as it was news. Hoseok had a boyfriend? Hadn't Hoseok's father been extremely against Hoseok dating anyone? Namjoon clearly remembered Hoseok always obeying his father's and mother's every word.
But, Namjoon guessed, all the good boys (and girls) rebel at some point. (Hadn't he been the one to encourage Hoseok at one point?)
"How long did you date?"
"Two years," Hoseok said. Then he frowned. "He was too good to be true though. It turned out he had been cheating on me for most of the time we were together."
"What an ass," Namjoon said. "I'm sorry he did that to you."
Hoseok shrugged and smiled. "It's fine. It was a while ago and I'm over it now."
Namjoon looked at Hoseok, wishing he could comfort him but the other had said he was over it.
There was no need in comforting him if that was the case, right?
"So you've been working at that company since you graduated uni? Has it been fun being a businessman?" Hoseok asked chuckling.
Namjoon laughed. "I wouldn't say fun but not unpleasant either."
"That's nice. I don't think I'll be doing the internship there though." Hoseok said.
"Why?"
"I had another job offered at this school where I can be a dance teacher! I'll just be teaching children but hopefully, it'll lead to something bigger afterward." Hoseok said excitedly.
"That's great Hoseok. I hope it goes well there." Namjoon said.
Hoseok nodded and went back to eating his food.
"Have you been with anyone, Namjoon?" Hoseok asked.
Namjoon nodded. "I had a girlfriend around the second year I was working at the company. But we broke up after a few months of dating."
"Oh," Hoseok said looking at his food. "Is it ok if I ask why?"
Namjoon smiled. "It's fine. We just decided that we weren't really meant to be together like we thought we would."
"It's nice both of you saw that and came to an agreement on ending the relationship. It's better than trying to keep it going and then having both of you ending up hurt when it's over." Hoseok said. "Of course I'm not saying breaking up is ever fun. It's just better when everyone understands and feels the same about it."
"Yeah," Namjoon said, nodding. "I agree."
Hoseok laughed. "Let's change the topic. Talking about breakups isn't that much of a nice conversation topic."
"You're right," Namjoon chuckled. "So what do we talk about now?"
"Did you know my dad still sends me a list of books to read every summer?"
Namjoon looked at Hoseok with a surprised experience, because well, he would've experienced for his dad to stop doing that once he left for university.
"Does he really?"
Hoseok nodded. "I don't read all of them but some of them have been pretty good."
"Send me a list with some of the ones you've liked," Namjoon said. "I'd like to get some reading done this summer."
"Ok," Hoseok smiled. "I'll send it to you when I get home."
━༻❁༺━
"Thank you for the meal, Namjoon," Hoseok said as they walked out of the restaurant. "I enjoyed it. And catching up with you."
Namjoon smiled. "I enjoyed it too."
"I can't wait for next week." Hoseok beamed.
Namjoon smile grew wider. "Me too."
They walked together to the bus stop where they waited a few minutes until the bus came.
They stood close to each other on the bus, laughing awkwardly every time the bus would jerk suddenly and one of them would bump into the other.
Namjoon looked at Hoseok as he pressed the stop button. Hoseok turned around and smiled at him.
"I'm gonna get off soon." He said quietly.
"Be careful when you get off." Namjoon said.
Hoseok smiled and nodded.
The bus had begun to approach Hoseok's stop when Namjoon felt the other's hand grab his.
He looked at Hoseok while the other simply smiled.
The bus came to a stop, making Namjoon move forward, bumping into Hoseok.
"Next time it's a date Namjoonie," Hoseok whispered to him.
Namjoon watched as Hoseok let go of his hand and walked off the bus. He was a little surprised at what his friend had said. Don't get him wrong though, he wasn't against the idea of taking Hoseok out on a date.
He looked out the window and watched Hoseok walk. The brunet turned around as if he knew Namjoon was watching him, and smiled.
Namjoon smiled back.
Kim Hoseok, Namjoon thought as the bus drove away. I like how that sounds.