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One would have thought that exhibitions such as this would be considered outdated, but the crowds that begin to gather outside the little curiosity shop in Jeongguk’s neighborhood tell him otherwise.
Along with the old ‘ Freak Show ’ sign displayed on its window, one that the owner had most likely come across digging through antique shops, Jeongguk had seen a few odd things there when passing by on his way to school. The usual shrunken heads and crystal skulls, as well as the rarer ’mermaid’ and ‘fairy’ corpses, of which Jeongguk is sure they’re sculpted. They have to be. There’s no way those things are real. He had seen a vampire killing kit as well, and the shop had once displayed photographs of spirits, fairies, and many other creatures in between.
Anyway, the place isn’t anything special. Besides those few things in its collection and surely some materials on witchcraft, Jeongguk was sure there wasn’t anything else to it, though he had never dared to go inside. He hadn’t even considered doing so until now, seeing the large crowd gathered in front of it, children and grown ups alike with their hands pressed to the glass and some with cameras in hand.
Jeongguk should be on his way to school. He really should. But his curiosity gets the better of him. What are they looking at? It wouldn’t hurt to skip a class, would it? Or maybe he can get away with being late. Just this once. With quick glances from side to side, he makes sure the road is clear before he dashes across to get to the other side of the street.
To see what the commotion is about isn’t easy. There are many men that tower above Jeongguk, and there must be several dozens of people gathered with more joining in. At least it’s warmer here , he thinks, huddled in the crowd. “Is it real?” Someone asks, and Jeongguk strains to hear anything he can from those further up front. “If it moves, take a look under the wings. I came to see the creature when it was first brought in, and it doesn’t have hands.” It... doesn’t have hands? Jeongguk’s brows knit in confusion, his mind trying to put the pieces together. “Isn’t it just a man?”, “But he has real feathers!”, and “Its eyes are not natural!” stand out, but… It doesn’t make sense. So far, it all sounds as if they’re all here to see a person . “It’s a monster. It might be a demon!” is a frequent claim, and “Don’t look into its eyes!” comes up just as often.
Deciding it better to see for himself, Jeongguk crouches and turns sideways to slither his way in between the people in the growing crowd, ignoring the complaints when he pushes past and how they turn and bump their elbows into his head. It’s difficult, but he weaves through them until he’s finally at the very front. His gloved hands move up to brush his hair away from his face, and when he straightens, he searches the window display for the creature. There doesn’t seem to be anything there at first, but Jeongguk follows the eyes of the other people standing beside him to look down at the lower right hand corner.
Finding the shape of it takes him a few minutes to figure out. The creature is huddled, curled up in the corner, and it seems fairly large. In fact, it seems much larger than any eagle Jeongguk has seen at the zoo, with its shiny, black feathers resembling those of a raven. He can’t really see feet, a head or even a tail to it, and it doesn’t move with the exception of the slightest rising and falling from breathing. Its enclosure in the shop window seems extended from what the original display used to be, maybe another section added on, and its walls all completely made of glass. The top of it has been covered in wire to prevent the creature’s escape, and Jeongguk wonders if something of such a size would be able to easily break free.
In the instant he looks back down to it, the creature stirs, its shoulder pushing up, but it does nothing else. A little girl beside Jeongguk presses her hands to the glass, her curiosity making her lean in close to inspect the movement, and the instant she does, the creature lifts its head, more black on black.
It's sudden. The creature makes a sharp turn of his head, peeking over its shoulder to glare at her. Jeongguk takes a step back, startled, but the little girl shrieks, bursting into tears and immediately being pulled away by her ranting mother.
“I told you not to get close!”
“Get her away! That thing is dangerous!” is heard a few times, further back.
How can the things these people said be true?
Jeongguk’s heart almost beats out of his chest, but truly, besides the surprise of its unexpected movement, he feels no fear when he looks at the creature. How could he? Behind the glass sits a boy, and although the mess of black feathers cover him almost entirely, now Jeongguk can see more of him. His hair is just as dark as his plumage, straight and thick, falling lightly over the darkest pair of black-brown eyes. They initially follow the retreating figure of the little girl, and once she is out of sight, her cries then fading away, the boy turns to Jeongguk.
Jeongguk’s mouth falls open when their gazes meet. The boy behind the glass straightens, as if sitting up, but still doesn’t move from his place, his figure hidden beneath his wings which wrap around him protectively. The new position only exposes his neck, which Jeongguk’s eyes follow down to see the tiny raised bumps along the base of it, some the color of skin and some spotted in the color of his feathers. Seeing it confirmed, that the captive boy indeed grows feathers, leaves Jeongguk standing there in shock, staring at him with wide eyes and mouth gaping, no longer registering anything else, not even the people pushing at him to take a better look.
In just a few moments, Jeongguk goes from staring directly into the creature’s— the boy’s— eyes, to standing outside the crowd again. More and more people still gather, pouring in, screaming and shouting at each other while they fight their way to the front for a glimpse. It’s all too much for Jeongguk.
It can’t be real, can it?
Not giving himself the time to think, he runs back to the bus stop across the street, desperate to escape the scene. He has to get to school. He has to get back to reality.
There’s no way such a being exists.
Haunting.
Haunting and unforgettable are the only words Jeongguk can use to describe the boy in the window of the curiosity shop. It’s been three days and already his entire school has seen it, as well as his family. There isn’t anyone in town that hasn’t taken a trip at least once to see the bird-man in the glass cage. All Jeongguk hears about is how strange everyone thinks the boy is or how horrified they are of its existence, and for some reason, it makes Jeongguk angry. Don’t they care how the boy became the prisoner of the shop? Aren’t they concerned for his well-being? Don’t they think, at the very least, that the poor boy is being used for others’ entertainment?
It makes Jeongguk furious, imagining that the boy, whatever he may be, was lured in, manipulated into being shown off as if he were an animal in a zoo exhibit. He vividly remembers when their eyes met, and in that brief moment, Jeongguk was sure that in the boy’s eyes, he saw fear. The more he thinks on it, the more he wants to investigate, to do something , although the idea makes him nervous. After all, he’s not sure if the boy with feathers is even a boy, and once he’s there, what will he do? But his decision is made that morning, and again, Jeongguk doesn’t take the bus to school.
Standing on the other side of the road, he arrives at a sight unlike the other day. The front of the store is no longer crowded by curious people wanting to catch a glimpse of a mysterious creature. There are people that pass by, maybe spare a glance, but they don’t stop.
Jeongguk frowns, crossing the street in a hurry, wondering if the boy is still there. He doesn’t see anything from afar, but once he’s on the other side, he sees the body. The boy in the window lies somewhat sideways on his lower half, on his front on the upper half, wings stretched out on the floor before him. He seems to be asleep, even in such an awkward position, his eyelids shut and breathing even, and his body is no longer covered. With the rest of him revealed, Jeongguk finally takes a good look at his face.
How anyone dared to call him a creature , Jeongguk doesn’t understand. He has a tall, long nose, with strong brows beneath his hair, long eyelashes, and full lips. He’s frighteningly handsome indeed, even as he sleeps, but he still looks completely human. That is, not counting the wings in place of human arms. There’s clothing on him, a worn, loose, tan, button up shirt that’s ripped at the sleeves to accommodate the large, black wings. Jeongguk can see that at the shoulders, the sleeping boy also has human skin there, with a few bumps and spots like those on his neck that lead to the feathers. He wears trousers as well, just as roomy as the shirt and even the same color, but his feet remain bare, the skin around his ankles also dappled. Really, the only strange thing about the boy on display are his wings, and Jeongguk hasn’t seen the underside to check if they’re real. They seem attached onto his arms, at least.
Hesitantly, Jeongguk moves closer and taps on the glass. There’s no reaction from the bird-man. Another couple of taps and still, he does not move. Jeongguk pouts. It’s cold, he can see his breath, and he did show up to investigate. Should he go inside? He’s not fond of it, not one to dwell on the supernatural, but… is there really any harm going in? It’s only a store, right? He’s here for the boy, nothing else.
A hard swallow is all it takes for Jeongguk to turn to walk towards the shop’s door, but he gives the sleeping bird-man one last look, then pushes the door to go in.
The sound of chimes greets Jeongguk when he enters, but the sound of them is tinny, out of tune and not as sweet sounding as they should be. It kind of creeps him out more than the shop itself. Inside, it’s rather dark, mostly lit by the light from outside, where it’s dull and gray from the late autumn, although there are lamps further back in the store. The walls are painted dark inside as well, with black shelves lining the walls and filled with books, jars, candles, and more of the objects that used to fill the window display. It’s not as scary as Jeongguk always thought it would be, but just standing there is unsettling, filling him with a sense of dread.
“Can I help you?” A woman drawls, and Jeongguk turns to see a girl behind a counter, who truly looks as interested in Jeongguk as someone would be watching paint dry. She’s chewing gum, and her long, dark hair and black clothing make her look like she’s just as much a part of the shop as its contents.
“N-No, thank you. I just wanted to have a look.” Can she tell? No. She nods and turns away, her focus on organizing the objects that litter the top of the wooden counter. Clearing his throat, Jeongguk walks further into the shop, his curious, large eyes looking around at everything and desperately trying to ignore the large glass enclosure he has to walk past. He can’t let anyone suspect a thing.
Left unbothered, Jeongguk moves through the aisles quietly, pretending to look at a few things here and there as if considering buying, but leaving them be. In about fifteen minutes, he has walked through every aisle and looked at most of the things in the store, and all that’s left is at the very front. Near the glass where the sleeping boy lies, small altars and display cases line the bottom of it and the wall nearest to it. Jeongguk sees the tiny, fake mermaids that used to occupy the main display, and other things, ranging from figurines of saints to jars of different herbs or flowers. He stares for a moment, getting close, and relieved by not being spoken to in so long, Jeongguk finally looks up to see the sleeping figure of the boy in the window.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?”
A squeak escapes Jeongguk, the scare making him stumble and almost trip over his own feet. He stops with both arms out for balance, and shit . Did he just get caught? Well, it’s not like he was actually doing anything...
“Don’t be scared boy!” A glance up and Jeongguk sees the owner of the store. He’s an older man, whose eye circles are so dark, Jeongguk isn’t sure if he wears makeup or barely sleeps to look that way. He’s seen him before, standing in front of the shop when Jeongguk is passing by on his way to school. He’s a giant, a whole head taller than Jeongguk, with dark, unkempt hair and a long, graying beard, his body large and muscular. If there’s anything to be scared of here, it’s probably him. His face doesn’t look at all friendly either, and the way he looks at and smiles at Jeongguk is frightening. He… sort of reminds Jeongguk of a pirate.
“Have you ever seen such a creature?” The man says, taking a couple of steps towards the large glass enclosure. Jeongguk looks at the boy inside, still fast asleep, then back to the shop owner. The way he stares at the bird-man makes Jeongguk grimace. It’s as if he’s looking at a hunting trophy with a sick, twisted admiration, not a living being.
“How did you find him?” Jeongguk finds himself asking, turning to look at the boy behind the glass again. His body moves slightly, stretching in his sleep and then moving his wings to cover his head from the break of sunlight in the clouds outside.
The man beside him cackles. He turns to Jeongguk, and the amusement suddenly changing his face makes Jeongguk’s stomach drop. “Sometimes… A man needs to travel to obtain quality materials right from the source.” With a wave of his hand, the man gestures to the wall of jars Jeongguk had walked by earlier. “Certain things you can only get in the mountains. They grow nowhere else.” There’s a distant look in the man’s eyes while he looks at his prisoner. Really, it makes Jeongguk want to retch. The old man snaps his fingers, garnering the attention of the girl at the counter, and there are no words between them. She scrambles to find something while he returns to his story. “I had been camping nearby in the woods, went up the mountain to put myself to work, and then took a little break. I sat down, opened up the bag of food I had and…” The sudden, loud clap of the man’s hands startles Jeongguk. “This creature perches itself on a tree. Right in front of me!”
“Really…?” How should Jeongguk even respond?
The girl approaches them, standing awkwardly between them with a small take-out container in her hands. The shop owner takes it. “Normally, one would be… Terrified seeing such a thing. But I have read about these creatures. Half-animal, half-man. Some god-like and some demons. But this one?” He chortles, a sound so irritating that Jeongguk almost covers his ears. The man opens the little box, and at once, the captive boy pushes himself up.
“The thing is like a child. It came to me for food!” With his hand in the container, far too small for his fat fingers to properly dig in, he just barely manages to pull its contents out. Jeongguk’s eyes go wide.
Mochi…?
Once the food is in the man’s hand, the boy in the window scrambles to get up, wings flapping and hitting the glass with hard, dull thuds. His wingspan is far too large for the space he is in, and he struggles to turn, but once he does, Jeongguk sees it. What everyone had been clamoring outside a few days before. The other boy’s arms stretch out and what begins as a human arm stretches into slim tendons, that then become primaries, all of it too thin for it to be an elaborate costume. There’s no way he possibly has arms. Jeongguk’s heart rate suddenly picks up, and he can feel his heart break at the same time, watching the way the boy desperately presses up against the glass. He looks as if he’s starving, the only thing reflected in his large, dark eyes the mochi held in the old man’s hand. He even licks his lips, cheek pressed to the glass while he stares on.
“It seems to like these.” The man goes on, turning the mochi between his fingers. He even goes so far to wave it around, laughing at his own cruelty when his captive desperately follows it with his eyes, only for the food to be put away into the container again. “I gave it a few, and once I gained its trust,” he says gleefully, “I captured it. It was too easy. It’s lucky I found it rather than someone who would have killed it, eh?”
Jeongguk can’t stand this anymore. Why would anyone want to harm the boy? “Isn’t he hungry?” He finally speaks up, hoping that his voice, his face, don’t show the anger building up inside. He sees the boy in the window sag, sinking back down in his enclosure with a blank stare held down to the floor. It’s clear this has happened before, that he knows that he won’t get anything but teased. “Shouldn’t he eat?”
“Nonsense!” The old man laughs, as if Jeongguk’s growing rage is undetectable. He pats his shoulder, but the smile on his face makes Jeongguk retract. He doesn’t seem to care. “This creature… This is a divine being! He has no need for food.” With that, he moves to walk away, heading toward the front counter.
Jeongguk doesn’t follow, instead crouching down to the bird-man’s eye level. There’s no reaction at first, but after a few moments, it’s as if Jeongguk’s presence becomes too difficult to ignore. The boy slowly looks up, eyes wide and curious, and it surprises Jeongguk, how in spite of all this the boy doesn’t look fearful at all, unlike when he had first seen him. Instead, he looks on with interest, and after a few seconds, his eyes examine Jeongguk’s face, leaning closer toward the glass to take a better look. It takes Jeongguk’s breath away, staring back at him, and he offers a small smile in return, watching the boy tilt his head.
“Get away from that thing, boy!” The old man shouts, and Jeongguk almost falls over, hurrying to stand back up. The boy in the window looks on, confused, and Jeongguk looks at him one last time before he obediently walks away. “That thing may be well behaved now,” The man warns, his large hand grabbing Jeongguk’s arm to lead him further from the window display, “But it’s young. Those things are demons, whether they’re good or not.”
Jeongguk frowns, not quite believing that the boy could possibly do anything wrong. He appears to be harmless. Just hungry. “If…” He starts, biting his lip and hoping the question isn’t too much. “If it’s divine… If it’s a demon or whatever it is, can’t it just get out?” He wavers, but he’s determined to figure this out. It just doesn’t make sense to him, how such a being could remain trapped if it holds any power. “Wouldn’t he hurt you or something?” Jeongguk looks at the old man with his brows furrowed, jaw clenched. He really can’t hide his emotions.
“Ah, but here’s the thing, boy!” Maybe the old man just doesn’t care. He says nothing about Jeongguk’s obvious anger. “Creatures like this one,” he says through barely contained laughter, “Are so foolish. All that’s needed to placate it when it wants to break free is fish or rice cakes.” Jeongguk bristles, turning back to look at the boy, who has curled in himself and wrapped his body with his wings, just like how Jeongguk had first seen him. “And look at that,” he says, pointing out the glass charms and stones hanging around the shop, “It has such a love for shining objects that those things are enough to keep it entertained.” He pats Jeongguk’s shoulder again. “Don’t worry about that thing so much, son. It’s not even human.”
No . Jeongguk can’t just stand there and not worry. Seeing how the boy is kept fills him with so much concern, so much anger, no matter how much the boy’s captor insists he’s fine. He… He feels as if he should do something. Just remembering how the poor boy was toyed with earlier renews his rage, and Jeongguk turns to head toward the door without another word, ignoring the looks he gets from the man and girl in the shop. He hurries out, making one last stop at the window display to look at the shrouded figure.
‘ I’ll get you out of there. ’ Jeongguk thinks, biting his lip. ‘ I promise .’
Jeongguk pays the shop a visit almost every day from then on, either just before school or straight afterwards. He never buys a thing, and he avoids talking to the owner if he can. Just the sight of his face makes Jeongguk want to punch the smug look off it. He looks around and reads the books there every so often, hoping to find anything about the bird-man, but the only books that show anything resembling him are in Japanese. He can’t read it, and the old paintings vary in their depictions of the creatures, but they never look close to the boy other than the bird-like features. It makes Jeongguk give up trying to learn anything else about him, since all he wants, his priority, is to set the poor boy free.
Then there’s the girl, who is left in charge of the shop most of the time. Unlike Jeongguk’s first impression of her, her disinterest isn’t real. It’s just the way her face falls, and eventually, with how often Jeongguk visits, she begins to open up. Jeongguk learns her name is Chaeyoung, and she makes it a point to remind him now and then that she only works here. She doesn’t have much to say about the bird-man, but she does let Jeongguk feed him whenever the owner isn’t around.
When he walks into the shop on a Friday afternoon, she waves hello and quickly runs around from behind the counter to offer him a box of mochi. The owner might only offer them to calm his captive, but Jeongguk makes use of them and feeds the boy when he’s here. “I bought them this morning.” She says, smiling at Jeongguk once he takes the food. Chaeyoung then turns to look towards the display window, gesturing to it. “He’s been waiting for you all day. Kept looking out the window to see if you’d pass by.”
Jeongguk smiles at that, a hint of blush staining his cheeks pink. “Thanks…” Over the course of the past few weeks, well… He’s not sure if he could call it a crush. Would it be weird? For him to like someone that isn’t human ? He’s… The bird-man is human-like with the exception of his wings, and Jeongguk can’t exactly help the infatuation he feels. From the very beginning, Jeongguk had thought he was handsome, but with each trip to the shop, he finds something else to like, something else that he’s hopelessly endeared with. The way the boy struggles to hold food with his primaries, how his cheeks puff up when he eats, and even the way he imitates Jeongguk. Each day, Jeongguk discovers something new to love.
“Hello, Taehyungie.” Jeongguk singsongs, approaching the boy in the window carefully. He’s learned not to make sudden movements near him, finding out the hard way that doing so startles the boy into frantically beating his wings, resulting in a mini whirlwind in the store. Of course, he had to clean up the mess by himself. Jeongguk can’t afford getting in trouble again and being kicked out. Not when he has somewhat of a plan in mind.
Then there’s the name. Jeongguk doesn’t remember how he decided on it, other than basing it around the first syllable of what creature the boy in the window is supposed to be. A Tengu . He’d heard it from the shop owner here and there, but Jeongguk wasn’t going to ask him for any other information when he had grown to despise him. So he’s called the boy Taehyung for the past few days, and well… The boy has learned to respond to it almost immediately, knowing that it’s Jeongguk’s way to get his attention.
Once he’s close enough, Taehyung looks up at Jeongguk from where he sits. Seeing the box in Jeongguk’s hands, he pulls himself up to stand, ready to catch the food from the top of the enclosure, where Jeongguk has to throw it in. It’s routine by now. “Are you hungry?” Jeongguk coos, trying not to feel embarrassed knowing that Chaeyoung can hear. He knows she’s watching. His ears burn, but he can’t help how affectionately he speaks to the other boy. He deserves to be shown kindness.
“Look,” Jeongguk says, opening the box to pull a rice cake out, showing it off, “They’re your favorite this time.” He smiles at Taehyung, but unlike the last few days, Taehyung doesn’t smile back, just looks at the wired top of the enclosure eagerly. Strange… Jeongguk figures he’s just hungry, so deciding not to waste any more time, he grabs the nearest stool to be able to reach the top easily. He tosses the mochi up towards the top, and it’s about to fall in, rolling in between the wires, when Taehyung extends his left wing, one of his feathers poking at the rice cake to send it flying back up. Jeongguk barely manages to catch it when it falls, and he looks at Taehyung questioningly.
“Don’t you want it?” Jeongguk asks, trying not to pout when he looks at the rejected rice cake. Taehyung never turns them down. When he looks back up, Taehyung stands pressed up against the glass, nodding towards Jeongguk. In the past few weeks, they’ve learned to communicate through gestures. Taehyung hasn’t made any attempts to speak, but Jeongguk doesn’t know if it’s because he can’t or because he doesn’t know how, but whatever Jeongguk shows him, Taehyung eventually learns.
“Me?” Jeongguk asks, confused. He’s not sure what Taehyung means until the boy nods again, then puffs up his cheeks as if he’s eating. Oh! “You want me to eat it?” Jeongguk asks, and at the question, Taehyung’s eyes turn bright, as if filled with little stars, with wonder, at the idea of Jeongguk eating his food. It occurs then to Jeongguk that Taehyung has never seen him eat, and his nose scrunches up when he smiles. “Wait.” He says, opening the little box for another mochi, and he steps off the stool and bends over to set the box down. Once he has both in his hands, Jeongguk shows them to Taehyung before he climbs up again, then tosses one to the top of the enclosure. “I’ll eat one but you have to eat, too.” The mochi meant for Taehyung falls into the window display, and oh so carefully, Taehyung picks up the ball with his feathers, but makes no move to eat it. Instead he sits, facing Jeongguk to watch him expectantly.
The other boy giggles. “I’m going to eat it, don’t worry!” Once he’s sat down also, he brings the rice cake to his mouth. Jeongguk takes a bite, and Taehyung’s stare doesn’t leave his face, watching him chew and only satisfied when he makes sure he’s swallowed. “Now you eat, too.” Jeongguk coaxes him, and again, as carefully as he can, Taehyung takes a bite, trying his best to eat in the same way Jeongguk just did. He used to swallow them whole at first, but after finding out that taking his time made Jeongguk stay longer, he’s slowed down considerably. “They’re good right?” Jeongguk asks, unable to keep from smiling, and Taehyung returns it. It’s reluctant, but the expression surprises Jeongguk, because for the first time, it isn’t just a tiny smile, but a full on grin. It excites Jeongguk, but he isn’t sure of what to say, just breaking into a grin of his own while his heart beats hard in his chest.
The ringing of the store’s phone interrupts their moment, and both Jeongguk and Taehyung turn their heads at the sound. “Hello?” Chaeyoung answers, mouthing ‘It’s him!’ when her eyes meet Jeongguk’s. The owner. “Yes... Yes, sir. Of course. That’s fine… Yes. Goodbye.” Well, the conversation is uninteresting from Chaeyoung’s end, and Jeongguk turns his attention back to Taehyung until Chaeyoung runs over as soon as she hangs up. “This is your chance!” She whispers, as if someone might hear, but it’s only them. No one really comes to the shop anymore.
“What do you mean?” Jeongguk asks, tilting his head, and immediately, Taehyung does the same. Chaeyoung almost laughs. “The old bag is leaving for a trip tomorrow morning! He’s leaving Taehyung behind.” She tells Jeongguk, grabbing his hands. He’s never seen her so excited before. Jeongguk just stares at her blankly, making her sigh. “You can get him out!” She says, looking at Taehyung and letting Jeongguk’s hands go.
“But…” This is it. The moment Jeongguk has been waiting for has finally arrived, and he feels his fingers twitch anxiously. Can he really do this? “Won’t you get in trouble?”
Chaeyoung shakes her head and scoffs. “Don’t worry about me. Look,” she says softly, “I know you like him.” At that, Jeongguk blushes, but he doesn’t have anything to say in response. It’s… not a lie. “There’s no cameras here, but I won’t be able to leave the place unlocked and I don’t have anything to get this thing open.” She taps on the glass. “But if the boss is gone, he won’t find out until he gets back. And you’ll have time to find somewhere to take Taehyung away.”
Already, Jeongguk feels nervous. The opportunity is there and so close, and if there’s something he wants most in the world, it’s to set Taehyung free. Even if it means he might not ever see him again. Jeongguk turns to look at Taehyung, who still watches him with a sense of awe, as if there’s nothing more fascinating than Jeongguk. It makes Jeongguk’s heart squeeze painfully, to think that soon, once he frees this boy, he won’t be able to make him smile anymore. But Taehyung doesn’t belong here in a cage, and he doesn’t belong to Jeongguk either. It might break Jeongguk’s heart, but Taehyung deserves to be let go.
It takes Jeongguk a few moments and a hard bite to his lip to calm down and ignore his thoughts, and he’s silent for a while, trying to keep his focus off Taehyung. “Okay.” He finally says, nodding to himself because he has to convince himself that he’s not really losing anything when he knew what he had gotten himself into. He looks up at Chaeyoung, determination in his eyes. “I think I know what to do.”
Night arrives much too slowly and flashes by at the same time. As soon as the clock strikes two o’clock in the morning, Jeongguk sneaks out of the house. His light colored clothing may not be the most helpful in keeping him hidden, but he has other things in mind. Chaeyoung had told him the old man would close the store that night and that it would remain closed while he was gone, meaning he wouldn’t be able to see Taehyung other than from the window. Jeongguk wouldn’t really get to have a proper goodbye. With Chaeyoung there, Jeongguk just couldn’t muster up the courage to tell Taehyung how he felt, to tell him goodbye the way he would have liked to. There’s… just a few things he’d rather tell the other boy alone, even if he might not understand him.
When he arrives at the shop, there’s a sense of discomfort and dread. The former stems from the spotlight that has been set over the display window where Taehyung lies, and Jeongguk hopes he’s not fast asleep. He doubts he would be with the light above him, even if it is dimmed. Taehyung is nocturnal. At least, Jeongguk thinks he is. He tends to sleep most during the mornings. The latter feeling of dread comes from Jeongguk’s own fears. He doesn’t want to say goodbye to Taehyung. Over the past few weeks, he’s become so fond of the other boy, and letting go of him, now matter how much he tries to convince himself it’s for the better, already feels so excruciatingly painful. But this might be his only chance. He’s not sure if he would get to say a thing when he sets the bird-man free at last.
Hand reaching out, Jeongguk almost touches the glass, then hesitates, fingers curling up again. Would saying goodbye now make it harder? He sniffles, the chill of the autumn night already making his nose cold. Well, he’s already here. There’s no reason for Jeongguk to leave without seeing Taehyung one more time now that he’s made the trip. He sighs, hand reaching to the glass once more, knocking twice.
At the sound, Taehyung rolls over and looks up, his gaze distant until he discerns Jeongguk’s face in the darkness. “Taehyungie?” Jeongguk calls out, stepping closer and into the dim light coming from the window display. Both hands press against the glass, and Jeongguk stands close, hoping Taehyung can hear him. The boy slowly sits, pushing himself up with his wings, and Jeongguk crouches down for them to be at eye level. “Hey.” Jeongguk greets, his voice a croak from how he’s already struggling not to burst into tears. He’s not sure if Taehyung can hear him or if he can just tell from the look on his face, but his eyes look at him with concern. The boy scoots closer then, his wings rising for his primaries to also press against the glass to match Jeongguk’s fingers. At that, Jeongguk lets out a shaky laugh, but already, he’s choking up with tears.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see me cry…” Jeongguk whimpers, blinking to try and will the tears away, only for more to fill his eyes and attach to his lashes. He wipes them away with his cold hand then, and speaks again, trying not to let Taehyung’s concerned stare affect him. “Can you hear me?” He asks, and Taehyung just watches him for a moment, leading Jeongguk to think he can’t until he nods. It makes Jeongguk shake, his nerves overpowering him. He’d wanted to tell Taehyung how he felt, but knowing that he’ll actually hear it won’t make this goodbye easier. Jeongguk’s not even sure he’ll understand.
“I… I know you’re not like me…” God , that sounds kind of stupid. This is so much harder to say than Jeongguk thought it would be. “I mean…” He groans, wiping at his face before he presses his hands to the glass again. “All this time… I’ve just been thinking you deserve better. That you should go home.” There’s a lump in his throat, making it harder to speak, but Jeongguk keeps going, watching Taehyung’s dark but bright eyes searching his own. “And I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna get you out of here. I promised I would.” Jeongguk hiccups, trying not to let what’s sure to be sobs escape his throat because, damn it, he’s not finished yet. “B-But all this time… I liked taking care of you. I liked teaching you things. I liked making you smile. I liked talking to you. You’re the only one that’s ever listened to me.” Without realizing, his face is already soaked with tears, and seeing Taehyung so confused, and then alarmed when Jeongguk finally breaks down in sobs, is too much for him. “I think I love you,” he squeaks, shivering when a woosh of air hits him from a passing car. “I love you so much, Taehyungie…” With his entire body shaking, Jeongguk lets a sob wrack through him, leaving him a mess of tears and sniffles. There’s a thud against the glass, and through bleary vision, he sees Taehyung with his forehead pressed against it, head tilted, and Jeongguk can’t expect him to say or do anything in response. He just hopes that somehow, he understands what he’s told him. “ I love you. ” Jeongguk whispers again, and leaning in with his eyes closed, he presses his lips to the cold glass, right where Taehyung’s would be through the window.
In that same moment, Jeongguk can see movement from inside, the dim lighting becoming brighter, and he opens his eyes to see that Taehyung has leaned in to do the same. His lips press gently to the glass in an imitation of Jeongguk’s own actions, with his eyes also closed and brows knit together. It makes Jeongguk break into both a giggle and another sob before he presses his lips there again. His cheeks sting and his ears burn from how embarrassing a kiss through a window must be, but he doesn’t care. Taehyung, somehow, is kissing him back. He’s kissing him back!
So how will he be able to let go of him now?
The following night, Jeongguk carefully prepares everything he needs for Taehyung’s escape. He avoided visiting him during the day, since he had seen him in the very early hours of the morning, and Jeongguk wasn’t about to risk getting caught by the owner if he decided to stop by again or just hadn’t left. On his bed, he lays out his materials, looking them over to make sure he hasn’t forgotten anything. There’s his black jacket and a hat to cover him under darkness, a box of mochi for Taehyung, and a blanket for him, too. It is getting colder out. They’re just things Jeongguk felt he might want to bring along if Taehyung needs to be coaxed out of the shop. Most importantly, he’s also brought along a glass breaker he had snuck out of the garage. It’s smaller than a hammer, and Jeongguk worries that it might not be enough to break through the shop window, especially since he has never used it before. So he packs an actual hammer as well, just in case.
Having emptied his backpack of his school books, he begins to throw in his materials, then zips the bag up. His hands may be shaking, but Jeongguk isn’t one to go back on his word. As conflicted as he is, he made a promise to Taehyung. He slips the black jacket on, then the hat over his head, and once he has his backpack on his shoulders, he peeks his head out of his room. It’s dark, the house absolutely silent now that everyone is asleep. Jeongguk flicks the light switch off in his room, pulling his bedroom door shut behind him, then begins to creep his way down the hall and to the stairs. The floorboards creak and the sound of his clothes shuffling seems too loud. ‘ It’s just the nerves,’ Jeongguk reassures himself, not allowing himself any more time to think, and in a rush, he runs out his front door.
By the time Jeongguk arrives near the shop, he’s almost completely out of breath. He stops just across the street, hands on his knees for a few gulps of air before he crosses the road. There’s the slightest drizzle, and although it makes Jeongguk feel even colder than usual, it’s not enough for him to worry about getting sick. He almost trips on the curb, stumbles onto the sidewalk, but he makes it to the window safely. Jeongguk’s hands hit the glass with a thud, and instantly, Taehyung turns from where he sits, facing the inside of the shop, to look at the other boy instead. “Taehyungie!” Jeongguk shouts, only to be greeted with a suspicious look from Taehyung. The bird-man looks at him strangely, his lips curling into a snarl until Jeongguk tilts his head back, raising a hand to pull the floppy brim of his hat back a bit to reveal his face. “It’s me!” He smiles at Taehyung, his nose scrunching up, and he sees the other boy sag in relief, although he looks confused as to why Jeongguk is not only here so late again, but also in such a hurry. He’s never seen him that way.
“I promised I'd get you out of here.” Jeongguk starts, hating how the very little excitement he had been feeling upon his arrival is fading away into anxiety, into that same, sad feeling from the night before. He’d put off thinking about losing Taehyung as soon as he had left the window yesterday, but the idea of not getting to see him again still hurts. He slips the backpack off his shoulders, drops it onto the wet concrete, and looks cautiously around him before he opens it. “I don’t know if you get me, but,” he sighs, digging into the bag for the glass breaker. Taehyung stares at him with wide eyes, and Jeongguk can’t discern if he’s just confused or if there’s something else in them as he watches, but continues, “You have to go as far as you can, okay? Don’t wait for me. Just go home.” He looks up from where he crouches, his hand gripping the tool so tightly his knuckles turn white. Jeongguk just doesn’t want Taehyung to suffer there anymore. His eyes already sting with tears. “Wherever you came from, just go back. Please! ”
With that, Jeongguk slowly pushes himself to a stand while Taehyung’s wide eyes watch him attentively. All the strength Jeongguk can muster, he puts into the first strike. There’s a cold, quick crack of the glass, but it doesn’t break. Taehyung backs away. Luckily, the alarm doesn’t go off, and Jeongguk moves to make a second strike. This time he breaks through, but it’s only an opening large enough for his fist. “Fuck!” He cries, and in his desperation he tries not once or twice more, but again and again, ignoring his blurry vision while he works to get through and free Taehyung from his enclosure. The glass begins to shatter and fall around him, and the bell of the alarm begins to ring frantically. Taehyung looks back and forth, absolutely horrified, but Jeongguk can’t give up. He can’t.
The rhythm of his heart makes him feel as if it’s about to leap out of his ribcage, then finally . Finally , Taehyung stands, stretching out his wings and sending them flapping forward to beat against the glass also. They hit with hard thuds, but with his and Jeongguk’s combined efforts, he breaks free, falling out of the window display with a tumble.
“Get up!” Jeongguk screams, falling to his knees beside Taehyung to help him. He feels the glass cut at his knees, but he’s more concerned at the possibility of Taehyung having been hurt from his fall than for himself. “Are you okay? Please, get up!” Jeongguk sobs, tired out from breaking the window that he struggles to help Taehyung to his feet. He winces in sympathy when Taehyung rises, seeing him step on the pieces of shattered glass, but they’re out of time. In the distance, Jeongguk can hear the faint wailing of a siren. The police are on their way. “Shit!” Jeongguk hisses, and in a scramble he grabs the glass breaker, tosses it into his backpack, then returns to Taehyung’s side. There’s a bit of blood here and there, but Jeongguk’s not sure whose it is. It might be from them both.
“Go!” He shouts at him, pushing at his side, but Taehyung refuses to move. He stares at Jeongguk, his head tilted, looking at him as if he’s still trying to decipher what’s wrong, what’s making him act this way. “We can’t stay here!” Jeongguk screams, his eyes pleading with him, and, exasperated when Taehyung doesn’t understand what he wants, he grabs at his wing, fingers awkwardly arranging themselves between his primaries. In the corners of his eyes, he can see the approaching colored lights of the police car, casting their glow against nearby buildings.
Deciding that he has to take Taehyung away himself after all, Jeongguk sniffles and with a squeeze of his hand, begins to drag Taehyung down the street. “Let’s go!” He says through a sob, hoping that Taehyung will stop trying to figure this out and just move . He pulls and pulls, then the next moment, there’s not much weight that Jeongguk lugs around anymore. He can still feel Taehyung’s feathers in his hand, his movement behind him. He turns to look back, stumbling as he runs, and somewhat clumsily, Taehyung beats his free wing in an attempt to fly. Jeongguk gapes, almost tripping over his own feet until he feels the pull in the other direction. Taehyung’s dragging him away now, and Jeongguk squeaks, being lifted off the ground little by little. “Taehyung!” He breathes out, startled, and the other boy only offers him a smile, refusing to let him go. “Taehyungie! I- We can’t! I can’t fly! ”
It all happens too quickly. Jeongguk goes from being dragged down the street, half in the air, half on the ground, to being swept up and tugged towards Taehyung’s chest. The siren gets closer and closer. His eyes squeeze shut, expecting the worst. They’re going to get caught. He feels Taehyung’s wings envelop him in a woosh of air, turning the world pitch black in an instant, and all Jeongguk can do is hold on.
Suddenly, it’s cold and quiet, the silence eerie. What’s going on? He doesn’t dare open his eyes. Jeongguk clings onto what he can— Taehyung’s broad yet slim body. He hugs him tightly, his face buried in his chest, and the color rises to his cheeks when he hears the other boy’s heartbeat. It’s slow, calm, completely unlike Jeongguk’s, which races in a mixture of excitement and fear.
It eventually calms him down, and he catches his breath, his cries soothed. It’s then he feels the ground beneath his feet again, and he can see light from behind his eyelids. The warmth of Taehyung’s wings is gone, and Jeongguk’s eyelids flutter open. The world slowly returns to view, and he looks around, finding that, incredibly, they’re at the playground of the park near Jeongguk’s house.
“Huh?”
Jeongguk pouts. How the hell did they get here? With that thought, he looks up to meet Taehyung’s fond gaze, and it’s then he realizes he’s still hugging him tightly. “Oh! I-I’m—” He doesn’t get to let go of him or even finish his sentence. His heart rate picking up for the millionth time, Jeongguk is enveloped protectively under Taehyung’s wings again, pulled close to his chest once more. It feels as if his face is burning, but in a good way, his chest filling with a gentle warmth and a flutter in his stomach at their proximity.
He can’t let Taehyung go.
“Taehyungie?” Jeongguk finally speaks up, his hands smoothing over and down Taehyung’s sides, hoping it’ll let him know he can let go now. But he doesn’t. He only pulls away enough to look down at Jeongguk, his head tilting in the same way he always does when he questions something.
What Jeongguk has in mind is probably wrong. It’s not part of his plan, but things have changed. He doesn’t want to say goodbye to Taehyung and, hopefully, with the way Taehyung clings onto him, too… Well, Jeongguk just hopes the other boy feels the same way. Shyly, he looks up to meet Taehyung’s loving gaze, but he can’t hold it, and timidly turns away. He settles for embracing his waist tightly again, tucking his face away in Taehyung’s neck.
“Let’s go home.”