Chapter Text
Wooyoung had been told many times that too much sunlight would be dangerous. Ever since he had been a child, he remembered the warnings from his mother, from almost every other person in his life. But as he laid there peacefully, listening to the birds chirp and the water flow in the river, as the warm afternoon sun caressed his skin, he couldn’t bring himself to care. He’d take the potential danger it posed if it meant he could stay at this spot.
He kept his eyes closed even when he heard someone approach. Soon enough, he felt that someone throwing themselves right next to him on the grass, a frustrated huff accompanying his landing.
”What a lovely way to say hello you have”, Wooyoung said, chuckling.
”I’m amazed by your manners.”
”You of all people have no right to talk to me about manners.”
Wooyoung cracked one eye open, and immediately felt like he needed to shield his eyes from the sight he was blessed by. Despite having known him for years, looking at Yeosang still did that to him sometimes. He got over his awe quickly, trying to pick where to direct his gaze. To the strong arms revealed by rolled up sleeves, or to the gorgeous doe eyes that could tell him so many things with a single look. To the soft, dark brown hair he loved to bury his face in every now and then until his face started itching. Most of all Wooyoung preferred Yeosang’s smile, as its brightness could at times rival the sun, but from the tone of his voice he already knew that would not be granted to him, for now.
”Are you upset?” he asked, despite the fact that he could already tell. Yeosang huffed again, looking somewhere past him for a moment before scooting closer.
”More annoyed, I guess”, he admitted.
”He came to pester me again.”
Wooyoung frowned. He knew exactly what the other was talking about.
Even before they had realized the nature of the feelings they held for each other, Wooyoung had always thought Yeosang was absolutely breathtaking. There was something captivating about that angelic face of his, and it wasn’t left unnoticed by anyone. Yeosang was without question the most beautiful of their village, had been most beautiful in their old village before they left to live here instead, and Wooyoung was sure they couldn’t find a match for him in any of the neighboring ones either. However, one of the consequences of such beauty was attention. Most of it was harmless, people admiring the young man from afar or complimenting him in passing. But many times that attention manifested in the form of suitors knocking at their door, or ambushing Yeosang as he was simply minding his business and making their attempts to court him.
Now, even that they could usually deal with gracefully. Yeosang had mastered the skill of politely turning someone down, and he didn’t even need to make excuses for it. Wooyoung’s existence was enough. Anyone in their own village would only need to be told that they were not only just living together, but that their bond went much deeper than simply being friends since young age and having arrived to the village together. With some of the candidates that had come from neighbor villages - didn’t they have enough cute young people on their own? - Yeosang’s word sometimes wasn’t enough, but usually Wooyoung making his presence known, often wrapping a possessive arm around the other’s shoulders or waist in the process, made the message clear. They had to go and find their own sweetheart from somewhere else, as it was Wooyoung whom Yeosang had promised the most beautiful wedding they could arrange. When that would take place, neither of them knew yet, but it’s not like there was any hurry. They already had lived together for years, and for Wooyoung it would mostly just be the ultimate sign of their love for each other, and something that they could celebrate with their friends.
However, sometimes - rarely, but not rarely enough - there would be those people, who didn’t seem to get the message or straight up ignored Yeosang’s very clear rejection, and it made Wooyoung wish they were actually married already. Then again, with this type of people, he didn’t believe even that would have helped much. They would keep coming back again and again, with the exact same promises and empty flattery falling from their mouths and their ears rusted shut, deaf to the words spoken that made very clear that their target wasn’t interested and their heart already belonged to someone. Wooyoung didn’t feel jealous, not even that possessive, most of the time. He had no reason to doubt Yeosang’s love for him, and he didn’t. But witnessing someone trying to worm their way to his darling and trying to shove him aside or pretend he didn’t exist... that raised some ugly feelings in him.
And the person Yeosang likely was talking about was a particularly annoying case.
”Sungwoo again?” Wooyoung asked, getting an affirming nod in return. He huffed in sympathy. Not a surprise. The man had appeared first around a month ago, apparently coming to work for one of the larger houses as a farmhand. It hadn’t been a surprise that he would soon learn of Yeosang’s existence and think he was pretty. To both of Yeosang’s and Wooyoung’s great annoyance, Sungwoo had proven himself to be one of those men who didn’t seem to understand the words ”not interested” or ”already promised to another”. Which meant that he was bothering them almost on a daily basis, despite Yeosang’s best attempts to avoid him.
Wooyoung had never liked it when people were trying to push themselves on his lover, especially when they seemed to try to ignore his existence. That had been Sungwoo’s tactic as well, until Wooyoung had very firmly, very vocally, told him to leave them alone, making it impossible to ignore him anymore.
Not that what had followed had been any better, as Sungwoo had not stopped bothering Yeosang. Only his approach had changed: instead of simply trying to sweet talk his way into the beautiful man’s good graces, he instead tried to persuade him to ditch Wooyoung and trash talk him any chance he could. What does he have to offer that I don’t and so on. Sometimes when Wooyoung himself was there, right next to him.
It was a miracle that he hadn’t punched the asshole yet. Wooyoung attributed that to the tiny shred of the sense of self preservation that he had, as Sungwoo unfortunately was very strong. And offensively tall. Wooyoung had made a mental note to aim for the kneecaps, should he ever decide to get physical with the bastard.
”Same old song as always?” he asked, wrapping an arm around Yeosang as the other pressed closer.
”Mm. Does he look like a guy who gets new ideas?” he muttered, laying his head against Wooyoung’s neck.
”Maybe he could surprise us. By getting into a hunting accident.”
”Wooyoung, do you realize how difficult it is to cover up a murder?” Yeosang chuckled as Wooyoung gasped dramatically.
”Now where’s your mind going? I’m simply suggesting that he might get torn apart by wolves.”
”Yunho told me that there are no packs living anywhere close, so that will not be happening. Which leaves murder as the only plausible hunting accident.”
”Bears?” Wooyoung suggested. Yeosang laughed, shaking his head.
”You remember that bears couldn’t care less about humans, right? Don’t worry, he’ll get bored soon”, he said, shifting to get more comfortable.
”They all do, eventually.”
”He better start getting bored already”, Wooyoung muttered.
”Or I’ll have Jongho forge me an axe...”
”Can you even hold one?” Yeosang quirked a brow.
”No, but do you think that will stop me?”
”I can teach you? No offense, Wooyoung, but I don’t trust you with an axe.”
”Why?” Wooyoung frowned.
”I’ve never hurt myself? Are you saying you’d do it better?”
”Of course I do. I’m the one who chops pretty much all of our firewood, remember?”
Wooyoung huffed quietly. Of course he knew that, but forgive him if such a detail slipped his mind, especially since it was the warmest season and they were currently laying in the lovely sunshine. Firewood was the last thing he would have thought of at a moment like this.
”In that case you should threaten him yourself”, he suggested.
”I think I’d love to see that.”
He couldn’t see it but he could easily imagine Yeosang rolling his eyes.
”You’re into the weirdest things, Wooyoung”, he stated. Wooyoung giggled back.
”I’m just into you”, he claimed.
”And I appreciate your strength, so excuse me if I find the thought of you grabbing an axe and telling that asshole where to shove it very appealing.”
Yeosang laughed quietly against his neck.
”Fair enough”, he mumbled and pressed his nose into Wooyoung’s skin.
”You always smell so nice... you still haven’t told me what’s your secret.”
Wooyoung grinned.
”I promise that’s the only secret I will keep from you”, he replied. The secret actually was fairly simple: a very fine rose water that he had learned to mix himself, and applied on his skin. Yeosang always said that it was impossible for Wooyoung to hide or sneak up on him since he always smelled like roses. And his sweetheart had a sharp nose. How he hadn’t managed to find his vials and ingredients that Wooyoung hadn’t exactly bothered to hide anywhere and just kept them in their smaller storehouse was a miracle. Not that it would have bothered Wooyoung if the other had found out. They didn’t really have anything to hide from each other. Even his rose scent was more like a fun little mystery than an actual secret.
After getting enough of said scent, Yeosang pushed himself to sit up, pressing a soft kiss on his temple in the process.
”Anyway, I should get back to work”, he said, to which Wooyoung let out a protesting whine.
”You only just got here”, he tried.
”Yeah, but the chickens won’t feed themselves. Also, our bed sheets are torn since someone got a little overexcited and I have to fix them”, Yeosang grinned back, his hand reaching out to pet Wooyoung’s dark hair. Wooyoung made a face while willing himself into not blushing. He was pretty sure the fault lied in both of them.
”And Mingi was asking after you. He could appreciate your help with taking inventory at the granaries.”
Wooyoung rubbed his face. The warmth made him a little sleepy.
”Fine, I’ll be there...” he nodded.
As sad as it was to leave a great spot in the sun, he wouldn’t leave a friend in need when they asked for his help. While Yeosang and Wooyoung usually spent a good portion of their days working at their house, caring for the few animals they had, they weren’t self-sufficient like many other families in the area with land to farm. So to support themselves they usually helped their fellow villagers where they could. They were doing okay, and in case they suddenly wouldn’t be, Wooyoung knew he could trust his friends to help. And if even that failed, he would bottle some of the rose water and travel to the nearest town to sell it. It would work for sure, as Yeosang sure wasn’t the only one who had ever told him he smelled good. Perhaps he could become a perfumer someday, if he could come up with other mixes. Then again, that might require them to move elsewhere, and they were quite happy to stay here too...
It turned out Mingi was more after someone to keep him company while he worked, but Wooyoung made a point to try to at least marginally help as they looked through how much grain and flour there was left. Mingi’s family lived pretty close to the mill, and Wooyoung found himself helping out there the most, which he definitely wasn’t going to complain about. The family liked him, Mingi was fun to be around, great at baking, and many times had whipped out small treats for them to enjoy after work or as they would have a break.
”Has your tall and handsome hunter come to see you today?” Wooyoung asked as they stepped out of the granary, crouching down to pet a dog that came his way, one of the many, many ones that people kept and ran around freely at the village. He grinned as he saw blush creeping on Mingi’s face.
”He stopped by in the morning as he returned from the hunt”, he said, avoiding the knowing gaze sent his way as he bent down to give the dog a couple pets too. Were it not for how it seemed to be especially delighted to see the taller man, it would have been difficult to determine whose dog it was exactly, at least to Wooyoung. Many of them looked almost identical: a knee-high Spitz with a light brown fur, with some reddish shades in the mix. But this was obviously one that lived close by, which explained why it was so familiar with Mingi. Wooyoung had never caught its name.
”He’s probably going again in the evening”, Mingi continued as he cooed over the dog.
Like Yunho often did, Wooyoung thought. Yunho had said that both dawn and dusk were great times for a hunt. And while Mingi wasn’t very enthusiastic to go with him, he was usually working by that time as well. Sometimes Wooyoung was helping too, and he had the front row seat to witnessing the handsome hunter return from the woods to see Mingi. It hadn’t been difficult to figure out what was going on as soon as he had arrived to the village, and very soon after the first time he had seen the two meet, Wooyoung had asked whether the two were already a serious couple or if they were only circling each other for now. The truth had lied somewhere between the two options, and by now everyone was aware of how there was no coming in between them. And no one would even dare to try, given how adorable they were together, Wooyoung smiled to himself. Both Yunho and Mingi were very sweet-natured, and thus perfectly complimenting each other.
”Um, Wooyoung?” Mingi had stood up straight and poked his cheek, snapping him out of his thoughts.
”I don’t want to ruin your day, but doesn’t it look like an earthworm is about to crawl to your house?”
Wooyoung grimaced in advance as he turned to look. Not far away from them he saw the unnecessarily familiar figure of Sungwoo walking away, heading in the direction that Wooyoung and Yeosang lived.
”You have to be kidding me”, Wooyoung sighed, annoyed.
”He was already turned away once today and he’s still trying?”
”Technically he wasn’t”, Mingi pointed out.
”Yeosang just ran away when I hollered at him, until that point it had probably been nothing but slimy monologue.”
Wooyoung swore he could usually control his temper better, but something about this matter was seriously getting under his skin and driving him towards some rather nasty thoughts.
”I swear if this doesn’t stop I will arrange that hunting accident”, he hissed. Mingi huffed next to him.
”Be my guest, as long as you don’t get Yunho in trouble. No one will miss Sungwoo, I can tell you that.”
Wooyoung could have told himself that as well. While apparently not many people outright detested Sungwoo, who could in many situations at least pretend he had a shred of manners in him, his behavior around Yeosang and Wooyoung didn’t win him any friends. Both of them, on the other hand, had many friends in the village. And if they didn’t like him... well, it wasn’t hard to guess whom their friends would side with.
”I have to go.”
He bid Mingi (and the dog) a quick farewell and strode after Sungwoo. He would not tolerate the slimy worm on his doorstep, or anywhere near his home.
They lived fairly close to the heart of the village, not too far from Yunho’s family whose homestead was probably the closest of all the larger ones. That meant there wasn’t exactly much space, but then again, they weren’t farmers themselves. Wooyoung was very content with their house that had more than enough space for the two of them, and all of their animals.
He had no trouble catching up to Sungwoo, just as the bastard had reached their gate.
”Hey!” Wooyoung yelled out as the other was about to make a move to open it, and his hand actually flinched away from the wooden surface.
”What makes you think you’d be welcome here?”
Sungwoo turned to look at him, his strong features twisted by the look of contempt he held as he saw Wooyoung. A look that Wooyoung was used to from him, and one he could easily respond to with one of his own.
”Don’t you have someone else to pester, runt?” he had the audacity to ask. Wooyoung huffed.
”I could ask you the same, shovel-face”, he spat.
”Especially since this is
my
home, and you’re here to bother
my
Yeosang.”
Sungwoo tilted his head, leaning heavily on the side in an exaggerated manner.
”I’ve seen no ring in either of your hands”, he stated dismissively.
”If he wanted to be yours, don’t you think he would have married you already? You’ve had all the time in the world to court him, don’t you?”
”I don’t need a ring to show I love him, or that he loves me”, Wooyoung retorted.
”He could have told you that as well. In fact, I think he has. Many times. Which you would know, if you didn’t like the sound of your own voice so much. A very ugly sound, by the way.”
He was sure he saw Sungwoo’s eye twitch in anger. He glanced around to the ground, trying to locate a rock to throw, anything he could use to defend himself in case he finally managed to piss off the other enough for him to get violent. He was pretty sure Sungwoo had a knife somewhere on him.
”Now, get out of here”, he continued.
”I have better things to do than look at your disgusting face, and so does Yeosang.”
”Have you asked him, perhaps?” Sungwoo hummed, his face turning smug. Wooyoung clenched his fist.
”You sound awfully possessive. Scared that if I get to talk to him he’ll realize he likes me better?”
As. If. The whole thought coaxed out a somewhat deranged laugh out of Wooyoung.
”In your dreams”, he stated.
”Yeosang hates your guts just as much as I do, I can tell you that. And you’re lucky he’s too nice about it, otherwise he would have already fed you his fist and your own teeth on the side.”
It honestly bewildered him how delusional a man could be. Yeosang had never been the one to sugarcoat his words: when he told people he wasn’t interested, he said it clearly. How nicely he put it depended on the other person’s behavior, but he had never shied away from being blunt. And Wooyoung knew the message had been laid out loud and clear to Sungwoo as well, many times. And yet, each time it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Even now, as he laughed disbelievingly.
”Forgive me if I don’t believe that”, he said.
”He couldn’t do such a thing..”
Wooyoung felt the words adding more dried wood to a pyre of fury that had been slowly growing in him during the entire conversation.
”He could. And he absolutely should”, he insisted, stepping forward and shoving the other’s chest with his hand.
”Now
fuck off
. He’s not interested, and he’s taken! And if I don’t see you walk away in ten seconds, I’ll punch you myself!”
He hadn’t pushed hard at all. Sungwoo hadn’t even budged. But the hostile gesture had been enough provocation, Wooyoung realized as he was suddenly grabbed by the collar and pulled close to a threatening distance.
”Now you better watch it, runt”, Sungwoo hissed, low and angry, glaring at him.
”You try picking a fight with me and even your mother wouldn’t recognize you after I’m done ruining your pretty little face.”
Wooyoung had no doubt he wouldn’t go through with the threat. But while a beating wasn’t on the list of experiences he wished to have, he refused to cower and instead stared back defiantly.
A bark from very close distracted them both. And it was followed by a more human voice.
”Knock it off, you two!”
Wooyoung looked aside to see another dog. One he recognized and knew the name of, for once. Pest had, along with a very amusing name, a darker fur than most of the other dogs in the village, one that tinted much more to red. As it kept barking, Wooyoung saw its owner stride closer.
”Get out of here, Sungwoo, you obviously have no business here.”
Yunho was almost the same height as Sungwoo, around what Wooyoung would describe as ”annoyingly tall”. That combined with broad shoulders and at least one hunting rifle he would often have with him he could make a very intimidating presence. It was a rare sight, however, Wooyoung thought, as Yunho had a very soft face and gentle demeanor, and from the first meeting it had become clear that he was the biggest sweetheart. But when he pulled up his serious, stern face, even Wooyoung felt a little intimidated, even when it wasn’t directed at him.
It seemed enough to make Sungwoo withdraw as well. Wooyoung felt him let go of his shirt, and when he turned his head back, he saw the farmhand turn away to leave, without saying a word. He huffed to himself. Cowardly piece of shit .
Yunho approached him, his face now more relaxed, if a little concerned.
”Are you okay?” he asked. Wooyoung nodded, trying to control his still flaming anger as he took several deep breaths. Pest ran to him, pushing against his leg.
”He really pisses me off...” he squatted down to give the dog some pets. Of the two dogs Yunho had, Pest was more trusting and often ran to greet him, while Scoundrel was more wary and kept its distance, not really leaving the yard except for when Yunho took it with him for hunts. The latter was nowhere to be seen, unsurprisingly.
”Maybe you could bite him a little, for me?” Wooyoung hummed at the dog. He heard Yunho scoff.
”Sorry, but not going to happen. I’m not going to let Pest get any of that filth in his mouth”, he said.
”Was he bothering Yeosang again?”
”Was going to”, Wooyoung grunted as he stood back up.
”I swear I’m going to trip him over to the river one day... or borrow one of your rifles.”
Yunho simply hummed in response, in a way that told Wooyoung that kind of favor would not happen either. While none of them liked Sungwoo, the others weren’t as down with the idea of getting rid of him in any violent manner. And if he was completely honest, neither was Wooyoung, really. It was mostly his angry side speaking. The one he needed to soothe right now.
”I have to take a walk.”
”You want company?” Yunho offered, but he shook his head.
”No, I need to cool off right now before I go back home or run after the asshole and throw a rock at him”, he said.
”See you around.”
His first instinct was to run back to the river, but he quickly scrapped the idea as it was the direction Sungwoo had left to. So he chose the exact opposite.
The forest was never far. No matter which direction Wooyoung headed, he would eventually come across it. While he wasn’t an enthusiastic hunter like Yunho or just someone who spent all their free time outdoors, the forests surrounding their village had become at least somewhat familiar to him. The smell of moss and the trees, and the very, very annoying call of the cuckoo. The number one in the list of birds Wooyoung definitely hated the most. And of course one had to be casting its call right now, filling his ears with the rage-inducing noise. Wooyoung suppressed the urge to punch a tree.
He had to do something about this. His already scarce patience was wearing thin, and he knew Yeosang got upset every time Sungwoo decided to appear and harass him, even when he tried not to let it show. But it felt like there wasn’t much he could do for now, as his love didn’t seem to want to make a fuss. Otherwise Wooyoung would have already marched to the house Sungwoo worked for and told his master to fire him, or made enough noise among the other people so they could side with him and help him drive the scum out.
Maybe he should actually do it, despite Yeosang claiming it wasn’t necessary. Especially now it felt like the right thing to do. After all, in addition to continuously bugging Yeosang who wasn’t interested and had already told him many times to leave him alone, Sungwoo had very much threatened Wooyoung, and Yunho would back up his claim. More than enough reasons to fire a farmhand whom no one really liked that much, no matter how good a worker he was.
The cuckoo finally shut up at least, and for a little while Wooyoung was blessed with comfortable silence only filled by the faint rustling of trees thanks to the quiet wind, and his own footsteps as some small twigs snapped beneath his shoes. There wasn’t really a path in the forest, or not one he would follow, at least. It didn’t matter, he wouldn’t go too far, and despite its all-surrounding quality, the forest probably wasn’t actually that large and if he went far enough, he would eventually come across a road or a field. All the different scents of the forest seemed stronger, it had rained in the morning. Only briefly, but he could see the ground was still moist, as the forest was quite thick.
As he finally felt himself calm down enough, Wooyoung allowed himself to think of some more pleasant things. Above all else, the wedding Yeosang had promised him. While what he had said to Sungwoo was true - rings were a nice touch that he would love to have but ultimately they were just a gesture, not a required proof of one’s love and loyalty - he was looking forward to it.
” Midsummer sounds good, doesn’t it? ” Yeosang had said once, with Wooyoung instantly agreeing and being blessed with the radiant smile he loved so much to see, as it made his lover’s entire face light up.
” By the lake? It always looks so beautiful in the evening sun. ”
Wooyoung had every intention to hold onto that idea. While they kept telling themselves they had no hurry, he was sure now of when he wanted it to happen. Next year, after hopefully Sungwoo would be gone from casting an unpleasant shadow over his wedding and making it feel like he was marrying Yeosang because he was afraid someone would take him away from him and not because he loved him.
Wooyoung grimaced. How in the hell did that asshole manage to invade even his nicest thoughts? He huffed in annoyance.
And yelped as suddenly his ankle got caught in something, sending him falling over after a dramatic waving of hands in a desperate attempt of keeping his balance.
"Ow, fuck…"
He raised his head and brushed his nose, grateful for the moss that had softened his landing at least somewhat. And also betrayed him by masking the tree root he had probably tripped over. Not that he had looked where he was going... He pulled himself up to a sitting position.
While his ankle stung, it didn't feel like he had twisted it badly as he gently tried moving his foot. And to his relief Wooyoung found that he could still place weight on that leg as he pushed himself up from the ground. He grimaced as he rubbed his nose, wiping away any excess dirt that tripping over and face planting to the tussock of moss may have left on him. He knew without looking that his clothes would be covered in everything that would agree to leave the ground and stick on him - and since the soil and the plants were moist because of the recent rainfall, there would be a lot. Wooyoung hated doing laundry.
He tried to brush off the worst of it as he continued on walking, this time paying close attention to where he was stepping, in case another root was planning to make an attempt on his life. While at the same time trying to come up with a good way to bribe Yeosang into washing his clothes for him. They both absolutely loathed doing it and Wooyoung knew better than anyone that as sweet as the other was, he could also be stubborn as a mule. He couldn’t score a favor just by pleading and fluttering his lashes.
Maybe he could charm Mingi into baking him something he could then give to Yeosang… he had a weakness for all kinds of sweet treats. But that would probably require him to do something in return and by then he would have washed his clothes himself three times already. But that wasn’t the only option. Wooyoung squinted as he eyed the moss and patches of other plants. It was the right season for wild strawberries… he could gather a handful, maybe two. Yeosang loved the sweet berries and if he was careful, he could bring some back in his pockets without turning them into mush.
He only had to find some. And at that moment Wooyoung remembered someone - probably Yunho, Yunho knew everything - telling him that he definitely wouldn’t find them in the thickest areas of the forest. But there would be a clearing somewhere, he was sure. Maybe he would get lucky. Wooyoung continued on, trying to sharpen his wild strawberry tracking senses to their very best.
This was a mistake.
If there was a clearing in the forest, it didn’t seem to be anywhere near him. He was sure he had walked forward for what felt like half an hour and his wild strawberry senses weren’t tingling at all. Wooyoung finally halted, leaning against a tree and sighing.
As he did so, he suddenly was struck with an odd feeling. Something felt different than it had a while ago. He raised his head, brushing his hair back.
What was it that was out of place? Everything looked the same as it had a moment ago. There had been no path and the woods hadn’t gotten any thicker or sparser. He turned to look back the way he came.
Wait, had he come from there? Wooyoung frowned. He usually had a good sense of direction, but the way didn’t look that familiar… he couldn’t even see his own trail on the ground. His steps should have been visible in the moist dirt and moss.
Had he actually hit his head as he had tripped? And had the forest always been this silent? He could have sworn he’d just heard birds chirping somewhere close, but now it was nowhere to be heard. Like the woods around him had absorbed all the sound around him. Even the wind had stilled.
Wooyoung definitely didn’t feel like continuing forward anymore. He could do his laundry himself like a big boy. Maybe Yeosang would even take pity on him. He should turn around now.
He must have been overthinking things, he reasoned as he turned to walk to the direction he had come from, or at least thought he had. Admittedly, he hadn’t paid that much attention to his surroundings as he had been focusing on trying to locate the berries, but for some reason the forest suddenly struck him as oddly unfamiliar.
Had he made a turn at some point? Many turns? He wasn’t quite sure. But maybe if he kept going straight, he would come back to the village eventually, as he was pretty sure he knew the general direction. He pushed on, trying to shake off more of the moist plants that had stuck to his clothes.
Perhaps it was the silence that got to him, now that the sound of the wind rustling the trees had died down and even the damn cuckoo was quiet for once. Everyone kept talking about the silence one would meet when they got into the woods, but Wooyoung knew that even what they usually called silence was in fact still full of different ambient noises. Now that they weren't there and the only sound left was the one made by his footsteps, the forest felt uncomfortably eerie.
A feeling that only got stronger the further he walked, yet not at any point did anything start to look familiar. It was seriously starting to unsettle him.
He must have hit his head as he fell, even if he didn’t feel any pain and the ground had been soft...
Frustration and unease stopped his legs and he stood there, glancing around for anything that he would even vaguely have remembered passing as he had walked the other way. But there was nothing. All there was were unfamiliar trees, some bushes and other plants as far as he could see. It all looked way too identical and he had a hard time spotting anything distinct he could have used as a sign of where he was.
It was then that something finally caught his eye. Something moving in the distance. Somewhere in the back of his mind a small voice told Wooyoung that he probably should have been more alarmed by the unusual stillness that seemingly had taken over the entire forest, but he was more focused on finally noticing something .
Something that, at least from this distance, seemed to be shaped like a person. Wooyoung moved closer, squinting. Yes, it was definitely a human-shaped form. Someone else was here with him, and they had somehow managed to stay incredibly quiet as well. Whoever it was, they so far didn’t apparently hear him yet. Well, he intended to change that.
”Hey!”
He almost cringed at how loud it sounded, when there was no other noise around. Wooyoung had always been told he could be incredibly loud, and his voice could carry even long distances, but this was something else. He hopped over some tree roots and rocks as the figure turned around. For a moment, as Wooyoung got closer, he thought they might run away, but no, they stayed in place. From this distance he could finally make out some features.
He was approaching a man with dark hair, maybe a little older than himself. He stood there shirtless, which Wooyoung thought was a little weird for one to do in a forest, even if it was quite warm, but his sun-kissed skin looked flawless and healthy. And when he got close enough, he faced dark eyes that had a curious look in them, and a very beautiful face that had actually Wooyoung’s mouth dropping open for about a second. Of course, he would always see Yeosang as the most beautiful man he had ever met, but... this man gave him a pretty good competition.
Wooyoung stopped at a polite distance. Now what?
”Um, I...” he still hated how loud his words sounded, even when he was speaking normally. The man tilted his head.
”What’s wrong, little one?” he asked, Wooyoung instantly forgiving the alleged jab at his height at the sound of his voice. It was smooth and low like Yeosang’s, but at the same time very different, having almost a hypnotic effect.
”Are you lost?”
”I think so”, Wooyoung nodded, swallowing his embarrassment. Who got lost in the woods that were so close to home? Then again, a possible head trauma couldn’t still be ruled out. He quickly checked both his forehead and the top of his head for blood. There was none.
”Um... who are you?” he continued, running his gaze up and down the man’s figure once more.
”I don’t think you’re from our village?”
It was obvious, but the words slipped out anyway. He would have remembered someone this handsome.
”I’m not”, the man nodded in affirmation.
”I think you’ve gotten yourself a little too far by accident. I’m Seonghwa, I live close by.”
Wooyoung nodded slowly, looking around. Was there another village somewhere in this direction then? Or was this guy someone who lived in the forest? While not common, he had heard there were that kind of people as well. They mostly kept to themselves, relying almost entirely on hunting.
”I’m Wooyoung”, he introduced himself.
”So... I don’t suppose you could tell me where I should go? I need to get back home.”
Seonghwa nodded again, a very sweet smile settling on his lips.
”Of course I can, Wooyoung”, he replied, saying his name like he was trying to extract its flavor.
”Your village is the one close to the Green Lake, isn’t it?”
It was, Wooyoung confirmed it. Either Seonghwa was good at guessing or there weren’t many other villages close to these parts of the forest.
”In that case, you should go that way.”
Seonghwa pointed to their left, Wooyoung following his finger. He frowned. He didn’t recall coming from that direction. But then again, he was the one here who was lost.
”Are you sure?” he asked anyway.
”Absolutely”, Seonghwa insisted, still smiling.
”The lake is that way, and it’s the easiest way for you to find your way back. Just keep going until you come across it. You’ve been there before, right?”
Wooyoung had. After all, the lakefront was their favorite candidate for the spot to hold their wedding ceremony.
”Thank you so much”, he flashed Seonghwa a bright smile.
”I thought I was about to go crazy in here. Everything looks the same! And it’s so weirdly quiet, don’t you think?”
Seonghwa chuckled.
”I don’t think it’s that quiet at all”, he shrugged.
”But maybe that’s just me. Anyway, you better get going. It’ll be late soon, and while it may not get too dark, the hunters will arrive soon and they have terrible aim and sight. Every time they’re in danger of accidentally shooting each other after mistaking a human for a deer.”
Wooyoung giggled shortly, he remembered Yunho speaking something similar. It was obvious Seonghwa had come across many hunters as well, probably was one himself.
”I should go, indeed. Yeosang will get worried”, he agreed and watched the other’s dark brows rise at the mention of another name.
”Oh? Is he someone special?” the smile tilted slightly, into something more teasing, even if it mainly stayed sweet. Wooyoung nodded.
”My fiancé”, he explained. It was probably the best word to use, even if it sounded a little strange when it came out of his mouth. To him Yeosang usually was just... Yeosang. Eventually his husband, but they were getting there.
”I see”, Seonghwa hummed, interest flashing in his eyes briefly.
”He must be lovely.”
”He is the most beautiful person I’ve met”, Wooyoung declared, a smile on his face as the mere thought had happiness bubbling in his chest.
”Though you’re really pretty as well. Do you have anyone special?”
Seonghwa laughed, low and melodic.
”No, I don’t”, he shook his head.
”I have some company I keep, but it’s different from what you have. But you get back home now, alright? You wouldn’t want to make Yeosang worried, would you?”
No, he most certainly didn’t. If he stayed away too long, Yeosang might actually get worried and think something might have happened to him, and the last thing Wooyoung wanted was to give him a reason to worry over nothing.
”Yeah, I’ll be going then. Thank you, I hope we’ll meet again”, he said, offering a smile and wave as he started to walk to where Seonghwa had pointed. His gesture was returned.
”Me too.”