Chapter Text
"I will name him Jaehyun. For he looks like mum and his cute smile will always remind me of how he always looks when dad teases him."
"I hope you will find your Jibeom in the future who will love you more than he loves his life and would be anywhere where his heart is. Grow up Jaehyun, and find your Jibeom because it will always be him, only him no matter what…"
"Jaehyun, over here!"
Seungmin, a short innocent-looking 19 years old with a pair of bushy eyebrows, waves at Jaehyun from the farthest seat of the back of the auditorium. It's the first day of class today and Jaehyun made it on time which is a miracle because he always sleeps his butt in even for the most important time of his life. English Academy awarding ceremony, highschool graduation, college entrance exam day, his uncle's wedding day, his adoptive grandparents' burial, no exceptions, he was always late on all occasions. But there's just one date Jaehyun never brings himself to be late which is the reason why he almost- just in time made it for the orientation.
He grasps his brown hoodie on his chest area as he breathes all air in after running across the dried field of the university. Frost melted down to welcome spring and the growing buds arose all over the area. Still, the weather is quite cold for Jaehyun. With big strides of his long legs, he arrives beside Seungmin's seat in no time. "Ugh!" he huffs.
"Thought you'd be late again"
Jaehyun shakes his head, "Not today."
Seungmin seems to get what Jaehyun meant. There's always this day of the year when he wakes up the earliest. "Happy Death Anniversary."
"I don't think you can even call it happy." Jaehyun blindly fishes out his phone as he drops his chin on one of his elbows on the table. Sprawls out in comfort like that as if he's at home.
"Jibeom is late today" he murmurs.
"He sure is." Seungmin hums as he seconded.
<where are you? orientation is starting soon.
>save me a seat. will be there in 5 mins.
In time for Jaehyun to turn off his phone, the program commenced welcoming the freshmen with so much vigor earning yeets from the students. A little less interested, Jaehyun busies his eyes looking at the faces before him as if memorizing them. A familiar red hair that stands out from the crowd and a pretty-looking face catch his attention so he elbows his friend.
"Isn't that Youngtaek?" he points to where the guy's seated, side-eyeing Seungmin when he receives no response from him.
"Not worth my attention," Seungmin mumbles, not even sparing a glance to where Jaehyun is pointing at which earns him a snort from Jaehyun.
"Makes me wonder how you two broke up that you don't even wanna look at your ex's face."
"Ex, Jaehyun. As in the letter X. I'm simply crossing him out of my life. Makes me wonder too, how are you still hanging out with Jibeom all this time."
The question drops the snarky expression from Jaehyun's face as if Seungmin hits the bull's eye. It's Seungmin's turn to smirk. "We should grab a drink tonight" and returns the elbow he received a while ago, "I'm all ears for your long story of-"
"What story?" A voice interrupts Seungmin. Someone grabs a chair beside Jaehyun and his familiar perfume invades their nostrils. Not too strong but doesn't go off right away.
"5 minutes sharp." There goes again his goofy grin. So much for being handsome, you would never notice he's making faces.
"That's very punctual of you, Sir." Jaehyun sarcastically comments.
Jibeom ignores Jaehyun and looks over his brown hair, Seungmin greets him with a smile. "What story is Jaehyun gonna talk about?" he asks curiously.
"None of your business," Jaehyun answers him.
"I'm not talking to you," Jibeom simply brushes him off.
For the second time Jibeom dismisses him, he locks Jaehyun's face using both of his hands on each of the man's cheeks to steady him in place, not blocking him from Seungmin. The action successfully silences the sunflower seed hair as his face is straight facing Jibeom only that the latter isn't looking at him. Jaehyun literally stops breathing. When was the last time I got to stare at this face? Jaehyun then feels Jibeom's fingers inching towards his ears and covers them, an action that makes Jaehyun's body hair stand. He is thankful for his hoodies and long pants but his face shows how flustered he already is.
"So Seungmin, what is it?" Jibeom whispers. Jaehyun can only read his lips.
Seungmin shakes his head as he faces towards the podium where the welcome address is still ongoing. He harbors bitter feelings on how Jaehyun and Jibeom are still close after breaking up in high school. It's as if Jaehyun had completely forgotten what Jibeom did to him. He had no grudge for Jibeom. It is just that he is jealous of what they have become.
"Nah,"
Jibeom pouts when he thinks Seungmin is about to ignore him.
"It's just I wonder why you are still friends with Jaehyun after breaking up with him so I have to ask his side of the story." Seungmin doesn't look at Jibeom but his peripheral catches the brunette retreats his hands from caging Jaehyun and mirrors his action. Jaehyun follows suit and they end up facing forward. The only card to silence Jibeom… Seungmin thinks. They could be listening to the director's message or mind wanders from afar. One will never know.
*
The orientation successfully ends with nothing registered in Jaehyun's mind. Seungmin's question still lingers in his ears.
"Jaehyun!"
There is a hard pull of his arm then his back bounces to Jibeom. "Watch out. You almost got hit by the door."
"O-oh…"
An old man, probably in his 70's, which Jaehyun is sure to be one of the directors who stood at the stage in earlier orientation stares at him like he has seen Jaehyun before.
Jibeom shakes Jaehyun's arm which he is still holding onto and spares him quick knowing glances. Jaehyun brings himself 180 degrees and bows in front of the man. Jibeom does too.
"H-Hello, Sir."
"You…" the man points at Jaehyun then to Jibeom. "You two... look so much alike."
Seungmin almost bursts into fits of laughter in front of the director. Jaehyun's big round eyes grow wider while Jibeom doesn't even conceal his amusement by laughing out loud.
"Please Director, don't mix me up with him." He even dares to wipe his invisible tears at the corner of his eyes.
This time, Jaehyun hits Jibeom's side for real. In the meantime forgetting the existence of the man in the position. Jibeom's eyebrows furrow in slight pain. Seungmin also calls them out. To their surprise, the director only chuckles at them.
"I'm sorry, I must have missed them so much so I see them in you," the man says. “It’s because both of you looked very much alike to my friends back then.” His smile turns glum in a split second.
“Are you okay, Sir?” Seungmin asks with a worry in his tone but it dissipates once the director turns cheerful once again. He nods his head, “Go on. The orientation ends pretty late for your lunch.”
The three of them bow quickly then flee away half running. Jaehyun and Jibeom continue to push their way and bicker on what to eat for lunch. Seungmin looks back to the director who still stands at the same position, sending them a warm smile like grandfathers does.
“Jaehyun, I’m hitting the library after this,” Jibeom speaks as he stuffs his mouth with his burgers. “Can’t let the opportunity slide this time.”
Jaehyun raises an eyebrow. He doesn’t remember Jibeom telling him anything about opportunities, not that it’s necessary for him to know all his plans and whereabouts. Albeit curious, he casually shrugs Jibeom. He doesn’t want Seungmin asking him things again.
“Jaehyun,” Jibeom calls his attention after barely swallowing his food by downing in cola. “I said I’m going to the library.”
The sunflower head blinks at his chair, not knowing what to respond. “I… heard you.”
“So?”
“I think Jibeom’s asking if you wanna go with him or not,” Seungmin explains and looks at Jibeom for confirmation. The brunette is quick to nod his head, wiping the corner of his mouth at the same time.
“I… uhmm…”
Should I go? I think I... “I have to-”
“Wait what?! God, it’s almost time!” the chair creates a scratching sound upon the sudden friction when Jibeom bounces up from it. “Jeez, I’m sorry but I really have to go now. See you, tonight!”
And right there and then, Jibeom dashes out of the café leaving Jaehyun with a jaw hanging open, wondering why he even took time questioning himself whether he should go or not.
What could Jibeom be probably up to? He tilts his head thinking about all possibilities.
*
It is half-past 11 when Jaehyun arrives home. Not the university dorms but he rents his own studio and calls it his home. Jibeom lives next to him while Seungmin is on the floor above him. He knows when Jibeom’s home because the terrace area will light up a bit from the other room's illumination. It’s still dark, Jibeom’s still out. Jaehyun’s phone rings. The name on the screen that pops out makes him more exhausted than he already was. He lets it ring a few times before he picks it up.
“Mom.”
“Don’t mom me, Song Jaehyun!” a woman in her late 40’s yells at him through the phone. Jaehyun has his ears ready still the voice reaches his eardrum. He winces. “How many times do I have to tell you that you need to go with us to the crematorium?! It’s your grandparent’s death anniversary for god’s sake, Jaehyun-ah.”
Jaehyun shuts his eyes and sighs.
“...want them to visit you in your dream? How long has it been? 4, no, 5 years? You just stopped going Jaehyun and I am not letting you off the hook this time!”
His mother continues to rant and reprimands him about respect for the dead and stuff but Jaehyun is too old to believe such superstitions. His butt drops to the mattress of his couch and places the phone at his side as he hears his mom’s never-ending nags.
Earlier at the crematorium today,
" Who are they?”
Jaehyun turned to his side and saw an old lady looking at the picture inside the compartment of his grandparents. She was staring at their wedding photo who had turned a bit brownish in the span of time.
“They are my grandparents.”
She turned to look at Jaehyun and something in her eyes that speaks words he couldn’t comprehend. “How can you look so much like him? It’s like he is just standing right in front of me.”
There was a heavy pull from his heart at the thought of not meeting them in person, yet as he grows older, people who have seen his mother’s mom have never failed to remind him of their resemblance. What was he like? Do we have the same taste for foods? Do we both hate the smell of disinfectants at the hospital? Does he love writing his heart out in a diary? Questions had flooded his mind every single time yet he couldn't bring to ask his own mother for answers. Somehow, Jaehyun is afraid that maybe, just maybe, they might be two different people and that they only look the same.
“I went to see them, mom…” Jaehyun cuts his mom off from her ramblings.
“Come again?!"
“I went to see them in the morning." Jaehyun repeats. "I was in a hurry though because of the orientation today.”
There is a silence between them and to be honest, Jaehyun isn’t upset with his mother. She’s always like that when it comes to her parents. However, it saddens him that today, no one remembers how special this day is for him.
“I’m sorry, Jaehyun-ah…”
“It’s okay mom. I should’ve told you beforehand to save myself some earful,” he jokes, to which his mother responds positively by chuckling at the other side. “I have to go wash up. Goodnight. Love you.”
“I love you more, Jaehyun. Mom is sorry.”
He smiles at his phone then hangs up. Before the screen turns its light off, it beeps again for a message.
11:59 pm
Jibeom: Happy Birthday, Jaehyun. Better late than never. ^^
to be continued...