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“Hey hyung,” the older turned his head to Yoshi while softly combing his hair in middle part way. He's greeted with raised brows.
“Are you really sure that you're going? I mean, I can excuse you—”
“Nah. I'm coming, Yoshi. And stop worrying about me, it's just a half day reunion with the former members. I don't want to sit around here knowing that you're enjoying somewhere out there.” Hyunsuk gave him an assuring smile before tapping his shoulder as he about to go pass him.
“But... will you be okay?” The older's tracks stopped.
“Why wouldn't I?” He frowned his forehead, turning his head once again. Yoshi scratched the back of his head, heaving a sigh that didn't go unnoticed by Hyunsuk's eyes.
“Jihoon's coming too.”
The smile on Hyunsuk's lips grew wider, and Yoshi didn't expect to see how soft the guy's features when he mentioned the name.
“That's good. That means he never cut us completely from his life, y'know. Let's go, we don't want them to wait, especially Junkyu being the impatient bastard.” And with that, they're on their way to the bar near the 1st street of Seoul. Anticipating the laughing states of their friends, and Hyunsuk's excitement to finally see Jihoon after all these years.
“Hyunsuk hyung! Woah, I thought you're not going!” The first thing Hyunsuk heard were Jaehyuk's voice, and he's now being pulled by a hug with the other boys. It's been quite a while now, he kept in touch with everyone after graduating from college. Hyunsuk's glad that they be able to plan out a whole reunion party just for the former dance troupe members.
“It's Haruto's fault anyway! He dodged the ball fastly and it hit the dean's face! Never saw a perfect head shot since then.” Jeongwoo is wheezing while slapping his thighs, looking at Haruto's disgusted face.
“We were playing dodgeball, who in their right mind would not dodge a ball while playing dodgeball, stupid?” Haruto snapped back and earned laughs from their friends, especially Hyunsuk. He's laughing like there's no tomorrow, leaning against the couch of the big guest room of the restobar offered to them. It's enough for 12 people, and it is sound proof incase they decided to laugh loudly like back in college.
“Where's Junkyu, anyway? He was the one who planned this, right?” Hyunsuk asked, sipping on Junghwan's orange juice.
Mashiho took his phone out of his pocket, as he answers. “He fetched Jihoon, they're on their way, hyung.”
Hyunsuk's smile brightens once again, and Mashiho just let it slide before smiling at Hyunsuk. “Looks like someone has some hidden agenda, I see.”
Jaehyuk and Jeongwoo butted in, while frowning at Mashiho's statement. Jaehyuk took his cap off, before turning to Mashiho whose lips formed into a grin. “Who? Wait, what did I missed?”
The oldest in the room rolled his eyes at Mashiho which earned a laugh from the other. Hyunsuk just sat there, silently listening to their different remarks, reminiscing memories from their competitons and events they attended. He bit his lower-lip and felt anxious knowing that Jihoon's on his way, and he doesn't know why but wants to see Jihoon smiling again.
Because ever since their break up, he never saw Jihoon smiling like he used to. A smile where his eyes forms half of the moon, cheeks looking so soft, and lips closed to splitting into two. A smile that doesn't have to be fake and all. They sometimes see each other passes by, but no one initiated a conversation because of their works overlaps. Hyunsuk being a full-time choreographer in an entertainment, and Jihoon as an owner of the nearest flower shop on Hyunsuk's work.
They're 4 blocks away from each other, but never spoken nor a single word came out from their mouths everytime their eyes meets, Hyunsuk inside his car and Jihoon cleaning the glass door of his shop.
No words, just passing gazes to one another as an assurance that they're still friends.
“Mashi! I missed you!”
Hyunsuk heard his familiar voice, and it made him smile. As it always should.
“Really, hyung? I'm right in front of you and you called out Mashi-hyung first? The betrayal!” Jeongwoo sulks, jokingly turning his head away from the newcomers, and it earned a laugh from the said name.
“Jeongwoo, we literally saw each other yesterday in the shop, calm your clingy ass.” Jihoon snorted, making his friends laugh.
“Mashi's working with you, Jihoon.” Junkyu pointed out, reaching out for his boyfriend's embrace that earned a disgusted look from his bestfriend.
“Yeah, and what about it?”
Junkyu rolled his eyes on Jihoon. He looked around and saw Hyunsuk smiling at the scene and still sipping Junghwan's orange juice, never knew orange juices can ease his anxiety a little. “Hyunsuk hyung! I thought you're not coming!”
The older guy gave him a smile, nodding his head before tilting to his side, a smirk lurking on his face. “Why are you late though? You even threatened Yoshi yesterday that no one's gonna run late or he'll be dead, is that it?”
Junkyu widened his eyes, scratching his head and thinking of a good excuse. Then grinning at the older guy.
“It's Jihoon's fault.”
“Yah! Why me?”
“You literally held a raid in my closet just to imp—” Before even finishing his sentence, Junkyu felt ball-sized crumpled tissue on his face, making him crease his forehead at his bestfriend. Jihoon's giving him a look, more like telling him shut his mouth up.
Hyunsuk laughed on the scene, echoing inside the room. He's holding his stomach out of laughter, earning a pair of eyes looks on his way.
“Hyunsuk hyung might die out of laughter, Kyu. What about considering my offer to do a plastic surgery? Stop frowning, mole rat.” And then a set of laughter once again enveloped the room, but Hyunsuk's eyes were fixated on one person.
Hyunsuk hyung. Hyunsuk thought, suppressing his smiles.
Jihoon is now smiling, like he always deserve. That's mainly the reason why Hyunsuk came today, he wants to see Jihoon smiling beautifully, without looking at him with hurting eyes. Because the last time he passed by the shop, Jihoon eyes won't even bore into his', and it continued for 2 years.
Finally, Jihoon's happy. He no longer looks at Hyunsuk as a mistake in the past.
A friend, maybe.
“Jihoon hyung, you're performing?!” Junghwan asked, holding a viking-sized milk Hyunsuk ordered earlier. The older guys prohibited the youngsters to drink anything but juice or milkshakes.
The 2nd to the youngest raised his head towards Jihoon, “that's suspicious, hyung. Why did they let you be a part-time performer? I don't even know why did the guards let you in—Hey, I'm joking, hyung!”
Jeongwoo was shut off by Jihoon's death glares. They're now outside the room they were in earlier, and now they can see the amount of people inside the restobar. Someone's performing on the mini-stage, and people sitting on the tables are clapping wildly as they whispers compliments to the cozy and chill place like this. It's not a place where mostly people roars and rock their heads up and down, but this place conveys coziness. It's good for mild people, though.
“Hey, Park Jeongwoo. Watch your mouth, you might even be thankful to be friends with me when you hear them cheering my name. Watch and see, brat.” Jihoon gestures Jeongwoo to shut his mouth, which he did. Earning a loud laugh from Junkyu, and Jeongwoo getting teased by Yedam.
Hyunsuk once again, smiled. He was about to join the teasing, but he felt his phone vibrated on his side pocket. He fishes his phone out, only to see someone calling. His lips pursued, looking at the caller id as he furrow his brows. He turned his head up, tapping Yoshi's shoulder.
“I'll just answer this, I'll be back, okay?” Yoshi looked at him, dumbfounded. The younger guy was about to ask Hyunsuk, but the said man rushed out the restobar, holding his phone on his right ear causing his friends look at him in concern.
“Where is he going?” Junkyu asked, brows are now raised confusedly.
“He got a call from his Dad. He'll be right back, let's go to the table next to the stage.”
They nodded, and straight walks their pace to the nearest table, but one remained on the spot. Eyes still on the doorway of the restobar, as if his orbs are fixated to the non-existing body on the doorway.
His dad? The guy asked, only for his ears to hear.
“Jihoon! Here! Sit here already!” He heard his name being mentioned by Junkyu, but his eyes looks down the spot where Hyunsuk was, travelling to the doorway.
He made a bee line towards his friends before sitting comfortably. They're talking seriously, and it made Jihoon's brow perk up. His friends are now talking about their worst moments in college, and Junghwan as a 3rd year college student, he nervously laughs along the wrath of Jaehyuk throwing to the same professor Junghwan's dealing with right now.
Jihoon's beside Yoshi, he licked his lower-lip before tapping Yoshi's side. The latter immediately turned his head from laughing at Jaehyuk's blabbering, to Jihoon's quiet sighs.
“Why, Jihoon?” Smile still visible on his face, Yoshi asked.
Jihoon bit his lip before tilting his head to the side. “Hyunsuk hyung and his dad are still not in good terms, right?”
The latter's smile turned to a sad one, lips in thin line while nodding sadly. “Yeah, he's still trying to convince Hyunsuk hyung to take over their business. His dad even call one of his appointments out just to let Hyunsuk hyung struggle to find job as a choreographer. Good thing he got a job at the entertainment. I thought his dad will stop eventually, but yeah, he's still struggling to adjust from his dad's wrong doings. Kinda sad for him though.”
“He just want to pursue dancing, but his dad won't even let him live his life without getting on his way.”
Jihoon nodded slowly, eyes trailing the door Hyunsuk used to get out of the place. He felt Yoshi's eyes on him but he just sighed before patting his friend's back as he stood up.
“I'll look after him, just call me if the manager's looking for me, okay? Thank you, Yosh.” Without even a second look, Jihoon rush his way out of the scene with his friends' eyes are trailing him from behind, smiles crept on their faces.
“Glad those two aren't with us, I'm so done with their glances and eyeing session to each other. Stupid people.” Asahi broke the silence, making the other guys plaster a smile on their faces.
“So...” They raised their brows on Jaehyuk's way.
“Wanna bet if they'll get back together?”
Asahi frowned at Jaehyuk before sneaking a slap on his back.
“Asahi! I was just jok—
“100,000 won. They'll get back together.”
Jaehyuk smirked at him, while the others just getting thrilled and entertained by the scene. “Bet.”
“I wonder what Jihoon would do to the both of you if they find out about this,” Junkyu then sliding his card on the table. “By the way, call a 120,000 won.”
Mashiho watched them in disgusted face, before sliding his card too. “You guys are awful friends.”
•••
Jihoon successfully got out of the bar, panting as he let his eyes wander around the parking lot. Trying to spot a man wearing his favorite coal-colored denim jacket, clinging necklaces, and blinding white shoes. “Where is he?”
“Jihoonie? Why are you here? Don't you have a performance later?”
The younger guy turned his head to his right, and there he saw Hyunsuk, looking at him with confused expression and lips parted a bit. Jihoon straightened up before shrugging his shoulders.
“I just thought I should check you out, you might get lost on your way here, so I... Yeah. Are you going inside?” Jihoon smiled, subtlely while thumb-pointing the entrance. Hyunsuk responded with a smile before shaking his head, making Jihoon's smile fell.
“I need to go, Ji. Something came up, but I'll say goodbye to them before driving off. Let's go inside—”
“Is it your dad?”
Hyunsuk halted his steps, turning his head to the younger guy. Finally, meeting Jihoon's once sad eyes that turned into vibrant looking ones. The older guy licked his lips, before nodding his head apprehensively.
“Yeah.”
“Your dad is still an asshole, I see.” Jihoon immediately covered his mouth as Hyunsuk laughed at him. “I mean, no offense but your dad loves sticking his nose to your shits. That's absurd if I were you.”
“None taken,” the eldest stared at Jihoon for seconds, making Jihoon stand stern.
“I'm glad you already decided to talk to me.”
Jihoon raised his both brows, laughing lightly when Hyunsuk mentioned it. He waved his hand left and right while shaking his head. “Nah, we're still friends.”
A set of silence wind engulfed the scene, and Jihoon took steps towards the sidewalk, sitting comfortably as his eyes landed on the ground.
“I just thought that it would be unfair if I don't talk to you the whole night, you know? I mean, I have already forgiven you, like a long long time ago,” he fiddled his fingers while giving the latter a reassuring smile. “And you were good to me. That's mainly the reason why I wanted to be friends with you again, hyung.”
The older slowly took his steps beside Jihoon, sitting down with a contented smile playing on his lips. “Then that's good enough for me.”
“What is?”
“You, wanting to be friends with me.”
Hyunsuk darted his gaze at the younger guy, flashing a blinding smile to the other as he whispers. “That means you don't see me as some kind of person who caused you pain.”
The latter returned the smile. “You know, as the time passes by, I don't really see you as one. I mean, you were so good to me. It's just that, things happened and a mess that we didn't able to sort out. We took things for granted, and we fell apart. Nothing is one another's fault. It's okay, hyung.”
Hyunsuk can't help but to laugh on Jihoon's remarks, heaving a sigh with the same smile on his face. Jihoon noticed that but he stayed silent, looking at the different people passing by in front of them. Smiles on their faces. Drowsy expressions. Playful screams out of alcohol. Goofy atmosphere of some squad near the side walk where they are.
They don't feel awkard, but it felt ease and warm. They're enjoying one another's company on the side walk near the resto bar where Jihoon's about to perform.
“But hyung....”
Hyunsuk hummed in response, eyes still on the empty lot.
“The thought of you don't ruin my days anymore.”
Hyunsuk, once again hummed, smiling.
“But it makes me happy.”
The older guy shot a widened eyes on the lot he was staring at earlier when he heard Jihoon, but he bit his lip to shut himself up and let Jihoon finish his sentence.
“I mean, does it mean that we can start all over again?” Jihoon simply continued his sentence, still smiling.
“What do you mean, Jihoonie?”
“We can never go back from our college events, falling in love in music room or whatsoever. I mean, we can start all over again. Like how we started before, but now, without any hindrance and we can solely sort things out, we can take things slower, taking our past as a lesson.”
“Let's... start again. Because I already had enough of me denying myself all these years. We can have the rest of our lives for each other, unlike before. You know... wait do you get me? Hyung?” Jihoon apprehensively laughed, before turning his head to Hyunsuk. Only to be greeted with a smile, that he didn't expect.
“I've free myself from the pain, Suk. But that doesn't mean I don't love you anymore.”
Hyunsuk stood up, making Jihoon shock and tilt his head up. The older ruffles Jihoon's hair with a smile, a smile once again.
“Deal. Let's start again, let's be friends.”
Jihoon shot his widest smile.
“Friends.”
•••
The crowded place filled with roaring cheers and claps whilst the laughs of somebody sitting on the stool at the middle of the mini stage. He strums his guitar once before saying,
“Let's enjoy the night and free ourselves from the things that we allowed to consume us through the years,” his eyes roam around the place, and a pair of familiar beaming eyes meets his doe-keen eyes.
“And free ourselves from somebody until it doesn't hurt to meet their eyes again.”
That moment, Hyunsuk knew.
He was the love that Jihoon's so good without.
And he's glad.
They decided to forgive each other, forgive themselves. For taking happiness for granted back in the days. And start again like how they began years ago: Midnight walks, dates, avenue strolls, jumping up and down, holding each other's hand as they tread on the side walks. Their considered side of paradise.
So they wanted to start again.
From being friends.
Hyunsuk stood up near the side walk when the performance ended. Everyone drove off already, while Yoshi took a bus to go straight to his sister's house.
He just stood there, straightly looking down the stripped lines to the lot and the side walk.
“Going home?”
He tilted his head up, and there he saw Jihoon smiling at him widely.
“Yeah.”
Hyunsuk already knew.
He will always be the love that Jihoon's so good without.
“Midnight walks?” Jihoon asked, offering his palm to the latter with a blinding smile.
Hyunsuk hummed as a response, slowly intertwining his fingers to the man's.
He, maybe, the love Jihoon's so good without,
But Jihoon chose to stay with that relinquishable love.
Who is he to say no?
They trailed the lines of the side walk, it's midnight already, smiles plastered on their faces, and taking the time of their lives beside one another for their hearts content is somehow feels like—
The side of paradise.