Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Minhyuk has always questioned the concept of dreams.

You may wonder, why question something with a concept so simple? Sure, dreams are made up of movie-like scenes played in an order , or perhaps disorder, when one is asleep and away from reality. It's all thanks to the subconscious sending weird messages and hinting on hidden desires. Minhyuk is familiar with this kind of dream, of course. He dreams almost every night, only to forget most of it in the morning. He never finds out what his subconscious mind is telling him anyway.

It’s the other kind of dream, the one that drives people to extreme lengths, that leaves Minhyuk confused. Childhood ambitions, emerging aspirations, setting goals and expectations, striving for paradigm shifts. They merge together to form a person’s dream in the waking world, something that serves as the main purpose of living on this Earth and should be fulfilled.

Apparently that's how people find their own paths. But Minhyuk has no sense of direction, or maybe he just hasn't discovered his own purpose yet. Either way, it doesn't really matter because there's really no guarantee in life that everyone can achieve their dreams just because they have one. Or at least that’s what he tells himself since he doesn’t even have one to begin with.

Not having a substantial dream even when you've reached your late 20s is a horror story to everyone. Minhyuk would rather go with the flow but is thrown into a nine-to-five routine like most of the population instead, just because society dictates that as the bare minimum for a normal and sustainable life.

In an ever-changing world, is there anything normal and sustainable?

"--are you even listening?”

The seat belt digs into the side of Minhyuk’s neck as the vehicle turns to enter the highway. He blinks away the train of thought and shifts to a more comfortable position in the passenger seat. “Huh?”

Hyungwon lets out a sigh and cranks up the A/C, his other hand steady on the wheel. “You’re lost in thought again. Is this about work? Your boss bothering you even on your leave?”

Minhyuk pulls the sun visor down and flips it towards the window where the sun is glaring. “He hasn’t called yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he does.” Minhyuk looks down at the laptop bag that he’s brought along just in case. “Also, can’t our trip be any nearer than wherever we’re going?”

“It’s Busan, not just wherever. I promised Changkyun we’ll be at the festival for his show, remember?”

“Right,” Minhyuk says just as his voice breaks into a yawn. “I thought he only asked you to go.” The temperature inside the car is just right for a nap, and Minhyuk is starting to feel a little sleepy. He didn’t get coffee this morning, figuring he could just sleep through the journey since he was busy working all night to make sure there were no loose ends before starting his mini holiday. There will be plenty of time to catch up with his friends once they’re in Busan anyway.

“It’s been ages since we’ve got time to hangout. And the last time you saw Changkyun was, what, six months ago?”

“We’ve all been busy, I kinda got used to it.” Minhyuk shrugs, watching the rows of trees whizz past as Hyungwon gains speed, following the road leading to their destination. Minhyuk wonders if that’s how the roads in his life are, straightforward and bleak despite clear skies. “Busy, especially the two of you. But it’s okay as long as you enjoy your work.”

“There are bad days sometimes, like losing a case despite the all-nighters, but it’s just inevitable,” Hyungwon says, and it’s hard to read his face when he’s got sunglasses on, but the curve of Hyungwon’s lips tells Minhyuk that Hyungwon doesn’t let those bad days bring him down. And that’s pretty admirable.

“Of course. You’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, and Changkyun is famous now. I’m glad everything turned out well for you guys.” Minhyuk smiles, and perhaps it’s okay if he didn’t, and doesn’t have big dreams like Hyungwon or Changkyun, he can just live vicariously through them.

“That’s why the three of us gotta catch up!” Hyungwon exclaims, and maybe Minhyuk is a little relieved that he hasn’t asked about his future plans yet, although Minhyuk is certain it would be brought up once they’re with Changkyun. “I’m sure Kyun has a lot of stories to tell, plus the change in scenery is the perfect chance for you to get your mind off work.”

Minhyuk leans against the headrest, doubting that he could actually get his mind off anything. For someone without dreams, he sure has much to think about. “Yeah, it’s perfect,” he mutters, then closes his eyes.

Summer heat engulfs Minhyuk the moment he steps out of Hyungwon’s car. It comes in a burning sting on his sensitive skin after 4 hours of A/C breeze and Minhyuk winces, quickly hauling their carry-ons out of the trunk. They’re only here for four days because that’s the most Minhyuk can apply for his leave in the summer, so there wasn’t much packing that needed to be done anyway.

Haeundae is a bustling district especially during the summer, when both local and foreign tourists flock for the weather and scenery. It’s no surprise that all the hotels surrounding the urban beach are fully booked at this time when there’s a music festival happening tomorrow and a bunch of cultural events taking place in the next few weeks. Fortunately, hotel reservations aren’t a concern when you’re best friends with a celebrity. Changkyun has booked them a suite at the luxurious Signiel with an ocean view right next to his own. Apparently that was the first thing he did when they agreed to come. Changkyun must be just as excited to finally meet his hometown friends who he hardly sees anymore since his debut as a solo artist.

Something about Changkyun’s gesture tugs at Minhyuk’s chest as they wheel their luggage into their fancy accommodation once they have checked in. Changkyun may be basking in the limelight now, but he’s never forgotten about his mundane friends from middle school. Minhyuk doesn’t text him as frequently as Hyungwon does, and their group chat goes dead whenever Changkyun disappears off the grid to work on his next album, but that doesn’t mean they’re not close anymore. Minhyuk often thinks of his friends even though they don’t contact each other frequently.

Whenever something important happens in their lives, however, the group chat will come alive and the people in the chatroom are the first to know the news. Well, mostly it’s Changkyun and Hyungwon reviving the chat, since Minhyuk has not much to update them on in life, unless he gets fired or something, which should never ever happen again.

“Woah, look at the view here!” Hyungwon places his stuff into a corner and rushes towards the balcony. He takes out his phone and snaps a picture of the scenery then leans against the railing, fingers tapping in a flurry on the screen. Hyungwon, the friend who always stays connected, is probably texting Changkyun about their arrival. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen the sea,” he sighs wistfully as he glances back up at the view before returning to his phone when it buzzes.

Minhyuk pushes his carry-on into the opposite corner and places his laptop bag on one of the plush couches before joining Hyungwon. The air is cooler up here on the 17th floor and Minhyuk removes his sunglasses to get a better view now that the sun isn’t shining onto his face.

The beach is just right across the road where gravel and wooden walkways meet sandy shores. Haeundae beach is packed with people milling about, lounging under the red and white umbrellas along the coastline while preparation for tomorrow’s festival is well under way at the far end, a safe distance away from the beachgoers. From afar, the yellow floats on the water are as tiny as toy ducks bobbing in an overflowing bathtub. The children make up the colourful dots above the yellows as they splash around with their parents. Minhyuk can almost hear the delighted giggles and laughter in the summer breeze.

He suddenly wishes to be young and naive like those children. He can’t remember the last time when he was that carefree. It’s been that long.

“Changkyun says he’s still practicing,” Hyungwon informs, looking up from the Kakao chat on his phone, “He’s gonna be busy tonight too so we will only see him tomorrow during and after the show.”

Minhyuk checks his wristwatch. It’s only 3p.m. and there’s plenty of time before tomorrow’s show. He has thought of going down to the beach, but seeing the crowd has changed his mind. So Minhyuk retreats into the bedroom and takes off his shoes before flopping down on the mattress, sighing as it sinks just right, like he’s on a springy, fluffy cloud. It’s so much better than his bed in Seoul.

The bliss is short-lived when Hyungwon pulls Minhyuk up and starts going on about how they should explore the district because after all, they’re right in the middle of the summer festivities and tourist attractions.

“How are you not tired yet?” Minhyuk groans, but puts his shoes back on and pulls out a red button-up shirt from the luggage to go with the white tank he’s wearing because he can’t be bothered with applying sunscreen and rather not get his shoulders burned. It’s not that he’s tired since he slept through most of the car ride, but Minhyuk would rather stay back and watch TV. “You drove for five hours.”

“You’re just getting old,” Hyungwon shoots back with a grin, putting on a cap and pocketing the suite card in his jeans. “Come on, you need a distraction from work.”

“Do you even know where to go?” Minhyuk asks, ignoring the dig at his age. It’s not like Hyungwon is any younger anyway. He slips his arms into the sleeves of the shirt and leaves the buttons undone. “Isn’t this your first time here too?”

“Google maps and the internet, Min. Keep up with the times,” Hyungwon sighs, grabbing his wallet on the way out the door and holding it open only to suddenly stop Minhyuk with a hand on his shoulder, slightly tilting his head as he looks down at him. “By the way, you seem a bit off. Are you really that tired?”

Minhyuk is tired of how the universe works, tired of asking questions without answers. Although Hyungwon is his best friend, he doesn’t want to worry Hyungwon with things he can’t fully explain, and doesn't expect him to understand them either. So Minhyuk shakes his head and slips on an easy smile. “I’m fine, just tired of work, you know,” he replies and shuts the door behind them, then gives Hyungwon a slap on the back for good measure. “I’ll buy us coffee, then you can bring me on a tour to get it off my mind.”

Hyungwon seems convinced for now, because he smiles back and slings an arm around Minhyuk’s shoulder as they head towards the elevator. “It’s gonna be a trip to remember, I promise.”

When life doesn’t give you a definite answer to any of your questions, you’re bound to wander around like a lost astronaut floating in space, or trip over your own feet while trying to figure out which way to go.

Minhyuk relates to the former more than he likes to admit, but he just doesn’t think it’s fair to experience the latter quite literally at this moment, especially when it means dragging someone else into the mess he created.

Minhyuk stares in shock as coffee drips down the white shirt of the man he just ran into, an ugly brown stain blooming across the front like the result of a car driving through a muddy puddle. The coffee cup containing Minhyuk’s iced Americano mere minutes ago lies tragically empty on the ground, very much a visual representation of Minhyuk’s life. Meanwhile, Hyungwon stands outside with his back facing the cafe, presumably talking to an agitated client on the phone who doesn’t know what vacation means, unaware of what’s going on.

“I’m so sorry,” Minhyuk gasps, rushing back from the counter with a bundle of tissues and starts dabbing on the large stain with shaky fingers. One of the baristas at the counter is speaking to him, or maybe the stranger, but Minhyuk barely registers because the brown stain seems to darken the more he wipes on them. “I’m so sorry,” he repeats without looking up at the guy, voice growing panicky because he already managed to fucked up on the first day of vacation. Maybe he shouldn’t have taken a few days off and succumbed to the disapproving look on his boss’s face instead---

A hand gently catches Minhyuk’s wrist, guiding it away from the shirt. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m still on the clock but I have an extra shirt back where I’m working--”

Minhyuk looks up from the damp tissues, squinting at the afternoon sun shining through the glass doors behind the man, but when he finally gets a better look at him, Minhyuk’s lips part in surprise.

“Yoo Kihyun?”

The man blinks, a clueless expression on his face. The sunlight splashes his hair in a mix of auburn and golden hues, and his skin seems paler than the last time Minhyuk saw him, but even Minhyuk can recognise Kihyun in the backlight. Minhyuk may be bad at remembering directions, but he never forgets a face, especially a face like Kihyun’s.

Kihyun takes a step back and lets go of Minhyuk’s hand. “Uh,” he says, gaze travelling down Minhyuk’s figure before returning to his face, creases forming between his eyebrows, “sorry, do I know you?” There’s no ounce of recognition on his face.

Minhyuk blinks back, confused. “Are you not Yoo Kihyun from Starship Productions? I’m Lee Minhyuk from Naverland Designs. Our companies worked together on a project last year.”

They were briefly acquainted, only exchanging a few words during the meetings since their tasks didn’t quite overlap. Kihyun didn’t speak much back then either, since he’s always busy jotting down notes and pasting memos. Courteous and diligent, but reclusive and aloof. Everyone involved in the project, including Kihyun’s fellow colleagues, thought he was even more arrogant and condescending when he didn’t attend the team dinner to celebrate the success of the collaboration, although Minhyuk felt a little disappointed because he had actually hoped to speak to him. Kihyun’s work ethic had left a great impression on him, and Minhyuk couldn’t forget the burning determination in his eyes when he’s doing each task. It always seemed like Kihyun’s got everything under control in life, everything that Minhyuk is lacking.

Maybe the first impression wasn’t mutual, because Minhyuk can’t tell if Kihyun genuinely doesn’t remember him or is choosing not to.

“Oh, you’re Minhyuk,” Kihyun says, nodding slowly, the blankness on his face replaced with acknowledgement. Minhyuk breathes out in relief. “Yeah I remember the project and--” The phone in his hand lights up with a message notification. “I’m sorry,” he sighs, “but I have to go.”

“But your shirt,” Minhyuk protests, gesturing at the brown splotch. “I’m really sorry about that-”

“Don’t worry about it,” Kihyun waves him off, but his slight frown tells Minhyuk it’s bothering him just as much. And he feels ten times more terrible.

Minhyuk places the soiled tissues on the nearest vacant table just as one of the baristas appears from behind the counter with a mop in hand. Without hesitation, Minhyuk shrugs off his red shirt and hands it to Kihyun, feeling a little lucky that he decided to wear it over his tank before stepping out. A small mercy in the midst of an awkward disaster. “Wear this for now,” he urges upon Kihyun’s hesitation, “you still have my number from last time, right?”

Kihyun stares at the shirt for a few seconds before he finally accepts it. “I…think so--yeah. I will return this as soon as I can.” He still looks a little stiff and wary despite Minhyuk’s re-introduction, his cheeks slightly flushed either by the weather or embarrassment, maybe both.

“I’m really sorry about your shirt,” Minhyuk says as he follows Kihyun to the door, who’s looking down at his phone just as another buzzing message comes in. He didn’t even manage to get his own drink because of Minhyuk’s disruption “I’ll buy you coffee next time.”

Kihyun pockets his phone and looks back at Minhyuk, lips curving slightly as he buttons up the shirt until it covers the stain. It’s the same polite smile from last time, but only stretches more distance between them somehow. “Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.”

Before Minhyuk can find anything else to say, Kihyun gives him a quick nod and pushes the door open, breaking out into a run down the street to wherever he needs to be. Minhyuk watches on as the wind whips against the scarlet fabric wrapped loosely around Kihyun’s smaller figure until he disappears around a corner.

He pictures the threads of the shirt extending into flimsy lines, glowing red and amber under the sun. It would form shimmering trails behind Kihyun and eventually reach Minhyuk so he could follow along, and perhaps unravel the mystery behind Kihyun’s odd demeanor.

It’s been a year since they met. Minhyuk doesn’t know Kihyun any better, it bothers him somehow.

“Aren’t you gonna eat? You keep checking your phone.” Hyungwon points out as he stuffs a slice of seafood pancake into his mouth.

Except for a few messages from his colleague Jooheon telling him to enjoy his leave before going on a short rant about the workload back in the office, Minhyuk’s phone has zero new notifications. He finally puts down the device and picks up his chopsticks. “He hasn’t texted yet.”

“He? You mean the guy you ran into...Yoo Kihyun?”

Minhyuk stirs the soup of his cold wheat noodles, but makes no move to eat. He can’t quite put a finger on why he’s uneasy. Maybe it’s the packed restaurant they’re sitting in amidst the cacophony of chatters and clanging utensils, unlike the usually serendipitous work environment he’s accustomed to. But it’s not as stuffy as in the office. “Yeah, I mean, it’s not like I’m in a rush or anything. It’s just that---”

“You lent him your favourite shirt, Min. I can see why that would be pressing.”

Minhyuk shakes his head and pinches some noodles between his chopsticks. “It’s not that. I just thought he would recognise me since we’ve worked together before.”

Hyungwon stares at his best friend inquisitively, cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk as he chews up the rest of the pancake. The dark circles under his eyes only seem to deepen as the years pass, but the spark in his gaze remains. It reminds Minhyuk of 19-year-old Hyungwon when he announced that he wanted to pursue law, or when he passed the bar exam and showed up at Minhyuk’s family home with celebratory food and drinks. It reminds Minhyuk of all the times when Hyungwon tells him about his day at work, and Minhyuk can’t help but think how nice Hyungwon’s life is. There's routine and certainty, like Kihyun’s drive and determination back then.

It could’ve been the lighting or the circumstance , but the Kihyun he ran into just hours ago, looked a little lackluster.

“You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”

Minhyuk’s chopsticks pause mid-air. “What?”

Hyungwon sets down the utensils and takes his time to sip on his water while Minhyuk waits impatiently, foot tapping against the floor and contributing to more background noise.

“You’ve told me about Kihyun before,” Hyungwon begins, once he’s placed the cup down. “The collaboration took three months, and it was all you could talk about...something about how Kihyun tackled every task like a champ but refused to join the others for lunch breaks. Then you mentioned how he wasn’t too friendly when you approached him at the coffee machine and tried to talk about something non-work related?”

“How do you remember all that?”

“Compared to memorizing acts and sections of the law, this is a piece of cake,” Hyungwon chuckles, but it dies down when he sees Minhyuk’s dazed expression, and clears his throat. “Well, what I meant to say was, you mentioned him a lot since he left quite a lasting impression. You’re interested in him, aren’t you? People at the office didn’t like him, but you did. Or maybe you still do. That’s why you’re disappointed, when he didn’t recognise you.”

Hyungwon sounded like he’s presenting a case in front of the court, all analytical and persuasive with his arguments, and Minhyuk is one of the jury who has to decide if he agrees with the verdict or not.

But Minhyuk has no idea. “I...yeah maybe,” he shrugs, the absence of his red shirt leaving his arms bare to the warmth of the evening. “But I don’t like him like that,” he quickly adds when Hyungwon raises an eyebrow, “I’m just curious, since he always keeps to himself. It must be lonely.”

Thankfully, Hyungwon doesn’t question Minhyuk’s ‘testimony’ and rests his ‘case’. “Okay, so you want to befriend him.” He picks up his chopsticks and starts tearing a pancake slice from the plate. “He’ll text you sooner or later to return the shirt. Then you can get to know him better when you guys meet. Buy him coffee then strike up a conversation, ask him what brings him to Busan. Then the path will work itself.”

But paths don’t just work themselves, it requires a firm ground to pave the way to the other side without landing in puddles and pitfalls. Minhyuk definitely has to start from scratch here given their lack of personal history, but surprisingly he feels okay with it. Perhaps he just wants a break from routine, or perhaps deep down he’s always been curious about Kihyun. Minhyuk is observant, but that man is hard to read.

Hyungwon moves the slice to Minhyuk’s plate; it’s larger than the one Hyungwon ate, with extra green onions and shrimp on top. “Eat up,” he urges, his chopsticks nudging Minhyuk’s which are still held above the bowl. A noodle slips back into the soup. “Then we can go back to the hotel and rest early. It’s been a long day.”

It’s not even a regular day in the office, but it’s been a long day indeed. After buying coffee for the both of them (without running into anyone this time), Hyungwon dragged Minhyuk along to the art museum nearby, as if Minhyuk hadn't seen enough art at work already. But for Hyungwon, the abstractness was a breath of fresh air and a stark contrast to the systematic operations he’s exposed to in the courthouse. So Minhyuk just rolled with it for his friend’s sake, it’s the least he could do when he doesn’t have much to offer.

As for now, Minhyuk offers Hyungwon a grateful smile before slurping up the noodles. It tastes a little different from the ones they sell in Seoul, but still as delicious.

They eat in silence, letting the mundane acoustics settle over them. Minhyuk tries not to think about his red shirt, and how well it looked on Kihyun.

The east end of the beach is fenced off and a joined platform has appeared when Minhyuk looks out of the balcony the next day. The organisers must have built them up at dawn to avoid any hassle. At least the events aren’t held directly in front of the hotel which means minimal noise, although it also means they have to walk for a good 10 minutes to the venue.

Fortunately, the weather is gracious today, scattering ivory clouds along cerulean skies and gathering cooler breeze for Haeundae. Just in time for the music festival.

Minhyuk still hasn’t received a text from Kihyun but maybe it’s a little too soon, Kihyun is probably still busy with work and Minhyuk already has plans with his friends today. Besides, they could meet up in Seoul if that’s more convenient. Unless Kihyun is indefinitely working in Busan.

“Come on, we’re right at the front,” Hyungwon waves their electronic passes in front of Minhyuk’s face, snapping him out of his thoughts. Minhyuk resists the urge to check his phone and follows Hyungwon into the venue. There’s still an hour before the festival starts, but a crowd has already formed, filling up their designated zones. Since Changkyun is only performing on the first day of the festival, it’s no surprise when Minhyuk sees fans huddled together at the main zone, wearing official merch and holding out purple banners. No doubt the crowd would turn into a purple ocean of cheers when Changkyun performs later. He’s one of the most popular solo artists in the country.

The difference is evident when Changkyun finally appears for his set in all his dazzling glory and the crowd goes wild. Changkyun, professionally known as I.M, shines the brightest on stage as he sings and raps with incomparable flair and intensity. Hyungwon sings along with the crowd, and even Minhyuk, who isn’t fond of huddling and swaying with a bunch of strangers, joins in and momentarily loses himself to the music.

The other artists in the festival lineup put on good performances too. Call Minhyuk biased, but he thinks Changkyun is the best of them all, and will always be. And maybe it doesn’t matter if he’s grasping at straws when he has inspiring friends to get him through life.

Forty minutes pass by in a flash and before they know it, Changkyun’s musical spell ends as another artist takes the stage. But the magic stays with the crowd, infused in their bones and imprinted in their hearts. Just like that, the day is better because of music, and in certain circumstances, life-changing.

Minhyuk wonders for a brief moment, as he pushes past the crowd with Hyungwon to look for Changkyun, if he has the ability to change someone’s life too, if he could turn his own life around somehow. No more labyrinths and dead ends, but open fields and yellow-brick roads.

The security has already been informed of their relationship with the artist and they are immediately escorted to the closed-off area behind the makeshift but sturdy platform. They pass through a few guarded marquees before reaching the one where Changkyun is already waiting. Sweat glistens on Changkyun’s forehead as he holds a portable fan to his face, and he looks tired up close, but his eyes light up when he sees them.

The artist sets the fan aside then throws his arms around Hyungwon and Minhyuk in a tight group hug. “You guys are here!” he exclaims giddily, voice an octave higher. “Thank you for coming all this way. I know it’s not a solo concert, but it means a lot.”

Minhyuk smiles into Changkyun’s shoulder and pats his back. He smells strongly of cologne and hairspray despite the exertion onstage. “Good to see you too, Kyun. You rocked it out there.” Minhyuk pulls away to take a good look at his old friend while Hyungwon continues to cling onto him. “Your hair colour changes every time I see you,” Minhyuk says, ruffling Changkyun’s electric purple hair. It was silver the last time they met.

“As always, your stages are awesome.” Hyungwon finally releases Changkyun only to sling an arm around his shoulder. “This is probably the only chance we get to see you this year.” Hyungwon nudges his chin at Minhyuk’s direction. “Lucky that Min was finally able to apply for the leave he missed out on last year.”

“Boss only agreed to give me four days,” Minhyuk grumbles, trying not to think about the laptop back in the hotel, “but it’s better than nothing.”

Changkyun gives him a sympathetic smile and pats his arm comfortingly. If anyone could relate to scarce rest days and sleepless nights, it would be him. “Still, I’m glad you’re here.” Changkyun leads them further into the marquee. “Tell me what you guys have been up to.”

It’s nice catching up with an old friend after so long. Even though Minhyuk doesn’t have interesting stories to tell when he’s been stuck in the same cycle for months, it’s good to hear about Changkyun’s musical journey, how many doors have opened for him, including collaborations and endorsement deals after all that he’s been through.

Changkyun is living the dream he’d pursued all his youth, and Minhyuk admires him for his passion and perseverance. Of course he’s happy for his friend; Changkyun deserves all the recognition for his talent and hardwork. The same goes to Hyungwon, he’s a great attorney who can kick ass in the courtroom and holds the highest ratings in the firm. It’s all possible after the struggles he experienced in law school and chamberings. Most importantly, he never gave up on his ambitions.

Seeing the two professionals chatting and laughing beside him, Minhyuk can’t help but feel a little out of place. He’s just a regular office worker without aspirations, without an anchor in this great big world.

“...remember the other lawyer that worked against my case last year? He’s so annoying, I keep seeing him in court because his clients are always suing mine or vice versa. I had to deal with him again before coming here, and lemme tell you, the case was pretty straightforward but he kept dragging it out and throwing cheeky remarks while I defended my client. Doesn’t matter though, I won the case in the end.”

“You mean that guy...you said and I quote, ‘looked like he lost his way to the gym and ended up in law school, yet graduated with a first class.’ You said he was hot too.”

“That was before I found out he’s the plaintiff and lost the first case to him!” Hyungwon wears a deep frown but his cheeks flare up like cherries. Changkyun raises an eyebrow at his outburst, unconvinced, then snickers when Hyungwon huffs and timidly adds, “I thought he was hotter after that. He’s so annoying.”

“I think Wonho likes you too. Maybe he’s picking up your cases just so he could see you,” Changkyun says, and Minhyuk is amazed that he remembers the details of his friends’ lives despite the million other things he’s got going on.

Hyungwon shakes his head as he rubs the back of his neck. “No, uh, definitely not, I don’t think it works like that but, wow, you remember his name.”

“Of course I do! I care about your love life too, you know.” Changkyun then turns to Minhyuk. “What about you, hyung? Seeing anyone lately?”

The question catches Minhyuk off guard and he almost drops his phone which has somehow appeared in his hand. Turns out he’s done it again, checking for messages that won’t come today. It’s not even 24 hours yet since he ran into Kihyun.

Minhyuk opens his mouth but it’s Hyungwon who answers for him. “Minhyuk is too busy in the office to even hang out with me. But who knows, maybe soon he’ll have a reason to go out and meet someone other than us.” Hyungwon’s eyes flicker towards Minhyuk’s phone.

“I told you I’m not interested like that,” Minhyuk says, shoving the device back into his pocket.

“Yet you keep checking your phone, waiting for someone’s text.”

“Had to make sure the boss wouldn't dump work on me at the last minute.”

Changkyun’s eyes dart between the two before settling on Hyungwon. “Am I missing something?”

Hyungwon smirks, and Minhyuk doesn’t get why his friend finds this relevant. But he doesn’t stop Hyungwon from telling Changkyun all about what happened yesterday without leaving anything out. Again, as if he’s presenting a case. Minhyuk would have found it amusing if he isn’t busy trying to keep his face neutral without looking flustered.

“Yeah, I remember Min-hyung stressing about the project,” Changkyun pitches in after Hyungwon’s animated narration, “but I didn’t know you would be hung up on a guy from another company. What’s his name again?”

Hyungwon is about to answer but Minhyuk beats him to it this time. “I’m not hung up or anything! I just want my shirt back.”

Hyungwon folds his arms across his chest and side-eyes Minhyuk, clearly not buying it. “Anyway,” he drawls, “his name is---”

“Sorry to interrupt but, just letting you know we will interview you in 10 minutes,” a voice calls from outside the tent, cutting the conversation short.

Changkyun, who’s back isn’t facing the entrance, raises his head and nods at the staff. “Noted. Thanks. Kihyun-hyung, right?”

“You can just call me Kihyun.”

Kihyun?

Minhyuk turns around just in time to see the man walking past the tent. A lanyard hangs around his neck, holding onto a card which sways with each step he takes as he fiddles with the camera in his hands.

Of all places, Minhyuk didn’t expect to find him here, in the middle of an ongoing music festival. Before he knows it, Minhyuk is already calling out his name.

Kihyun stops in his tracks and looks up from the camera, meeting Minhyuk’s eyes. It’s the same blank expression he wore back in the cafe, and just as confused. Kihyun is wearing a plain black tee tucked into blue jeans. There’s no red shirt this time, and definitely no shimmering threads but Minhyuk feels something tug him forward, like a hand on his sleeve pulling him to an unknown path.

Minhyuk blinks and he’s already in front of Kihyun, close enough to see the strangely cautious look in his eyes. Maybe Kihyun is just as surprised to see him here too. Minhyuk clears his throat, trying to thin out the awkwardness in the air even though he has no idea what to say, which is strange because there’s so much he wants to ask. Yet here he is, tongue tied.

Thankfully, Changkyun breaks the silence. “You know Minhyuk too? What a small world!”

Kihyun’s eyes widen just a fraction, but the change is significant enough for Minhyuk to notice, as the confusion melts into recognition. “Minhyuk,” he says, sounding genuinely surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Minhyuk briefly glances back to see Hyungwon whispering frantically in Changkyun’s ear. No doubt telling him about how Kihyun happens to be the person they were just talking about. Minhyuk turns back to Kihyun with a smile, although he dreads the moment his friends will bombard questions at him afterwards. “I’m here to see Changkyun perform. We’ve known each other since we were kids,” Minhyuk replies and Kihyun nods attentively. “What are you doing here?”

“Starship is one of the sponsors for this festival. I was asked to represent the Seoul branch to oversee the activities here and get some content for our social media platforms. The company is looking to branch out into entertainment. ” Kihyun’s tone is formal and polite, literally the same pattern as last year.

“I see. It seems like you got a promotion after our project last year.”

Kihyun shakes his head. “Sadly no, but maybe I will get one after this gig.” He’s not really looking at Minhyuk but he’s still engaging in conversation, so Minhyuk takes that as a sign to keep it going. If he wants them to have a chance to be friends, more communication is needed, even if it’s just small talk.

“I had no idea doing field work is part of your job description,” Minhyuk gestures at the camera in Kihyun’s hands. It looks heavy and bulky around small fingers. Minhyuk feels the urge to put their palms together to compare their hand sizes, then mentally slaps the idea away when he senses Changkyun and Hyungwon burning holes into the back of his skull.

“Oh, this.” Kihyun looks down at the device and tightens his grip. “It’s not part of my job. But my colleague must have told my boss that I know how to handle a camera. So I unexpectedly became the videographer for this trip too.” He shrugs again, but with a shyness that could have been missed if Minhyuk doesn’t do the same sometimes. “I’d have to be careful with this one though, the company probably would get me fired if I break one of these. They cost a year’s worth of my salary. But then, the office is currently understaffed so they probably can’t afford to lose me.” Then a dry chuckle. “There will be new interns fresh out of graduation next month, hopefully everyone won’t have to work overtime.”

This is probably the first time Kihyun has spoken to him in more than two sentences and added something personal to the conversation. Minhyuk wonders if it’s because they’re not working on the same thing now, not collaborative colleagues. Either way, it’s progress and Minhyuk likes that.

“Don’t just stand there,” Changkyun calls out to them, finally, after blatantly observing their interaction with Hyungwon who’s just as invested, “come inside. And Kihyun, come meet my other best friend.”

“Hi, I’m Chae Hyungwon. Nice to meet you.” Hyungwon offers his hand when they approach the table.

Kihyun takes his hand with a firm shake. “I’m Kihyun. You’re the lawyer who worked on the Highline lawsuit three months ago, right?”

“Oh, you recognise me,” Hyungwon says but is looking at Minhyuk, a little bewildered.

“I’ve seen your name mentioned a few times in the news. The lawsuit was really interesting.” The enthusiastic nod is genuine, and Minhyuk hasn’t seen Kihyun interact like this with his colleagues on their project.

“Definitely the toughest one I’ve ever encountered in my career,” Hyungwon sighs, shuddering a little as he recalls the memories. “I’m just glad it’s over. But thanks for keeping tabs on the case, good to know that people are aware of how serious it was.”

Question marks hover above Minhyuk’s head. Kihyun recognises Hyungwon who appeared in the headlines for a week, but doesn’t recognise Minhyuk who he’s personally worked with for three months.

“I keep up with the news and yes, good riddance. Glad you could bring justice to the victims. “Anyway,” Kihyun checks his wristwatch, “it’s almost time for Changkyun’s interview. I’ll get the rest of the setup here before we proceed.”

“Can my friends stay?” Changkyun asks.

“Sure,” Kihyun turns back to Hyungwon and Minhyuk, “you can stand behind the camera or wait outside, whichever you prefer.”

As expected, Hyungwon and Changkyun ambush Minhyuk the moment Kihyun is out of earshot. “Dude, if this isn’t fate then I don’t know what is,” Hyungwon gasps dramatically, whacking Minhyuk’s arm in excitement. “It’s definitely a sign.” Beside him, Changkyun nods fervently.

“It’s just coincidence,” Minhyuk says flatly despite the inexplicable stir in his gut. “This isn’t some sort of About Time script you keep projecting on the daily.”

Hyungwon rolls his eyes but doesn’t bother denying it. Past the stern, inquisitive persona required for his profession, only his closest friends know he’s actually a hopeless romantic at heart. “Obviously, you don’t know anything about the movie.”

“He seems like a nice guy although a bit too serious,” Changkyun says. “He gets the work done, and the other artists are comfortable around him and his team. Maybe he has experience in the entertainment industry.”

“Is he gonna return your shirt?” Hyungwon asks, just as they see Kihyun and a woman approaching their tent. The festival is still going, but the tent is situated furthest from the action, and all that’s left is the faint bass beneath their feet and occasional cheers carried by the wind.

“Haven’t asked,” Minhyuk mutters right before Kihyun and the woman, who’s name card reads ‘Eunjung’, enters and begins setting up the tripod for the camera. Eunjung hands Changkyun a wireless USB microphone and kindly asks Minhyuk and Hyungwon to move away from the frame. She wasn’t on their project last year, perhaps she’s from another division. However, there’s no stiffness in Kihyun’s interaction with Eunjung as they discuss which angle is best for the lighting. Maybe Kihyun has finally been able to build rapport with his colleagues for the past year?

A few more staff enter and flock Changkyun to fix his hair and makeup. They smile at Hyungwon and Minhyuk, recognising them as Changkyun’s best friends. Minhyuk has met them before and is glad that Changkyun’s team is full of kind and hardworking people like himself.

“This will take around 10 minutes,” Eunjung informs, “I will be asking the questions, starting with the basics before moving on to a few specific ones...” She continues to brief Changkyun on the style of the interview but Minhyuk doesn’t hear any of it as he turns his attention back to Kihyun.

Kihyun’s eyebrows are knitted together in concentration as he adjusts the focus on the camera screen, lips forming a slight pout. The same features he wore when he worked on the collaboration project. Minhyuk thinks this must be one of Kihyun’s quirks that no one usually notices unless they look closely; and Minhyuk has always been observant when it comes to the finer details. Maybe that’s why he can’t really see the big picture in life, he hasn’t painted one for himself anyway.

Kihyun catches Minhyuk staring, but doesn’t look away like Minhyuk does (although he doesn’t know why he looked away, something about involuntary reflex or whatever, or maybe he’s just flustered but doesn’t want to admit it). Out of the corner of his eye, Minhyuk sees Kihyun’s lips curve upward before returning to his task.

Minhyuk concludes that Kihyun wasn’t the one that looked lacklustre yesterday. It was just Minhyuk projecting his own state onto someone else’s.

Not long after Changkyun’s team leave the tent, Eunjung begins the interview and Kihyun presses the record button. Hyungwon and Minhyuk watch everything unfold from a corner, with Minhyuk having to hold Hyungwon back from making goofy faces at Changkyun.

It’s the first time they’re seeing an interview, as opposed to watching the segments online. But Changkyun is calm and composed when he answers the questions given, questions that even Minhyuk knows how to answer. He knows more than Changkyun’s online wikipedia, that’s for sure.

“Alright, just one last question before we wrap up, no actually, it’s two questions,” Eunjung says after checking the notepad in her hand. “It’s been known that your journey in the music industry hasn’t been an easy one. Earlier you mentioned that you’ve always wanted to be an artist since you were in middle school, that it’s your dream to make music. Could you tell me what it means to have such a big dream, and if you could turn back time, would you change anything, or do anything differently to prevent any of those hardships from occurring?”

Dreams. Those are big questions. Minhyuk finds himself holding his breath as he anticipates Changkyun’s answer.

“Those are interesting questions. It’s strange to talk about dreams when we live in reality, isn’t it?” Changkyun muses, and the twinkle in his eyes tells Minhyuk that he likes what Eunjung has asked. He leans forward in his chair, keeping the wireless microphone at a fair distance. “For me, having a dream means taking a risk. I knew what I was getting myself into when I chose this path. You win some and you lose some, you know? But I held on to my dream because, as cliche as it sounds, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life making music. Of course, no journey is smooth-sailing. But I wouldn’t change anything in my past, because even though those times were gruesome,” Changkyun looks past the camera and smiles at his best friends, “they were also the best times because I had people who cared for me and supported me through it all. Those times led me to where I am right now and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”

Minhyuk is so proud of Changkyun, he would have applauded if it weren’t for the camera still rolling. Hyungwon is proud too, sniffling as quietly as he can. Minhyuk swears he sees Hyungwon wipe away a tear.

Despite his cynical beliefs, Changkyun’s answer makes Minhyuk wonder if he could have a dream too. Maybe then he could finally know how to make this life worth living. Not that he doesn't have anything to live for, he’s got great friends and a job that pays enough to cover his bills. So maybe he shouldn’t complain, and maybe it’s really a blessing to not dream big or dream for anything at all, that way he won’t get hurt for getting his hopes up. That way he won’t have to risk losing anything.

So yeah, maybe it’s best that he lives for people he cares about instead, because they’re worth it. But for himself? He’s not too sure.

Someone taps on his shoulder and Minhyuk blinks back into reality only to realise the interview has ended, probably a few minutes ago. Because Eunjung has disappeared along with the equipment, Hyungwon is smothering Changkyun with hugs and praises, and Minhyuk is still at the same spot but with Kihyun standing right in front of him looking concerned.

“You alright?”

The sounds return, the bass thumps faintly beneath Minhyuk’s feet as the voice in his head dissipates when he meets Kihyun’s eyes.

“Yeah, just thinking about something else,” Minhyuk clears his throat and tries to shake off the almost tangible weight on his shoulders. “Uh, about the shirt…”

Kihyun lowers his gaze. “I didn’t expect to see you today, so I didn’t bring it with me.” A short pause as he chews on his lip before glancing back up at Minhyuk. “I’ll try to return it to you as soon as possible.”

Kihyun actually looks a little nervous, as if he’s the one who spilled coffee all over Minhyuk. “It’s fine, I know you’re busy, just take your time,” Minhyuk assures him.

Kihyun’s shoulders relax at that. “How long will you be here in Busan?”

“Two more days. But it’s fine, you can return it to me in Seoul if that’s more convenient for you.”

Kihyun nods then glances at his wristwatch. “I’ll see what I can do. I have to get back to work now.” Kihyun steps away and gives Minhyuk a little wave. “Then...I’ll see you around.”

Again, before Minhyuk can say anything else, Kihyun quickly says his goodbyes to Hyungwon and Changkyun, then dashes off to his next task. Again, hanging by an invisible thread.

That night, the three friends gather at Changkyun’s suite. His manager is there too after a hectic day of arranging meetings and answering phone calls from the company and the press. Of all the managers they’ve met, Son Hyunwoo is the best at getting the job done. He’s also a big brother to everyone, and Minhyuk cannot be more grateful that Hyunwoo is one to Changkyun, looking out for him when Minhyuk and Hyungwon aren’t around.

Hyunwoo, like the awesome older brother he is, brings takeaway pizza and soju for everyone, even remembering to get a soda for Minhyuk who doesn’t drink. That’s how they ended up sprawled out on the floor surrounded by empty pizza boxes and green glass bottles. Hyungwon is reminded of the meal he had with Minhyuk on the day he passed the bar exam, which leads to a train of conversation about the old days.

“Sometimes I miss being in school.” Hyungwon says, swaying to an old ballad playing from Changkyun’s phone, already tipsy after a bottle of soju. “Just doing homework and studying for tests. Beats adulting.”

“Tell me about it,” Hyunwoo sighs, taking a swig from his bottle. “No need to worry about paying the bills and no pressure from overbearing bosses.”

Changkyun pouts, his cheeks pink from alcohol. “Am I overbearing, hyung?”

“Of course not! You’re not even my boss, I’m just saying in general. And honestly, our CEO isn’t that bad.” Hyunwoo sets the bottle down on the coffee table, then lowers his voice. “I just think he’s not allowed to decide which songs should make the cut.”

“So you agree too, his taste is wack.”

Hyunwoo nods solemnly. “Worse than a grandpa's.”

“I miss my grandpa,” Hyungwon yawns and flops against Minhyuk’s shoulder. “I wanna go back to Gwangju during my next break.”

Minhyuk pats Hyungwon’s hair. It’s grown past his ears and the ends curl at the base of his neck, and despite Minhyuk’s advice on getting a haircut for the summer, Hyungwon has adamantly refused to. “Maybe we can go back for Christmas,” Minhyuk suggests.

Hyungwon huffs, his alcoholic breath causing Minhyuk’s nose to wrinkle. “You can’t be sure that your boss will let you off for Christmas though.”

Hyunwoo was right about adulting, it’s hard when your boss is overbearing. You barely have any free time, but you don’t really know what to do with your free time either when you don’t have anything else to achieve.

Hyungwon suddenly lifts his head off Minhyuk’s shoulder and grabs both sides of Minhyuk’s face, catching him by surprise. Minhyuk almost loses his balance when Hyungwon shakes him a few times. “Minnie, you can’t keep on living like a zombie. You’re not a Day6 song, okay? You're still alive and walking and you have us. We’re worried about you, sweetie.”

Hyungwon may be half-drunk but his eyes are lucid enough for Minhyuk to know he’s being genuine despite the questionable reference. His heart aches.

Changkyun scoots closer to them and places a hand on Minhyuk’s shoulder. “Hyung, if it gets too much you can just quit. I’m sure there are better jobs out there for you.”

Minhyuk knows his friends mean well, he really does. That’s why he can’t blame them for not understanding if he tells them he can’t quit. He simply has no other options.

Minhyuk pats their cheeks and laughs, but it sounds hollow to his ears. “Hey, I know, don’t worry about me. And enough drinking, you have a schedule tomorrow, Kyun. You should get ready for bed.” Minhyuk removes Hyungwon’s hands from his face with great difficulty and luckily Hyunwoo is there to help Hyungwon back into the suite next door.

Changkyun hugs Minhyuk at the doorway before he leaves.“It’s great to see you again after so long. But...you know I’m always here for you, right?”

“I know.” Minhyuk also knows that Changkyun has a lot of burden and responsibility as a famous person, and that’s why he can’t bring his own into the mix. It’s not a big deal though, Minhyuk’s been a zombie for nearly three decades.

“They’re right, Minhyuk,” Hyunwoo finally says as they stand in the empty hallway once Hyungwon is settled down and asleep. “I hope you know what’s best for you.”

“I know.” Minhyuk’s tongue would probably fall off if he repeated those two words again. It’s not a lie, but it’s not the truth either.

It’s the state of being stuck in the middle without a bridge to either end that frustrates him the most. That’s the truth.

It’s been a good day with his friends, but when the night comes to dampen the light, Minhyuk is left to his own devices, suffocated by his own thoughts, even more so when there’s no work to distract him.

But at least the beach is just a road-crossing away. So that’s how he finds himself walking along the shore, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. He didn’t get the chance to come down to the beach during the day with the festival in full swing. It’s different in the night, the surroundings are much calmer and cooler. The waves are loud yet soft as they lap against the sand and Minhyuk wonders what it would feel like to embrace the ocean in all its depth and vastness.

The ocean is like the universe. The things you know are mostly surface level, visible to the light. But there are so many things undiscovered, laying deep down in the trenches where not even a sliver of light can slip into. It’s impossible to unravel all the mysteries of the ocean, even more so the universe. Perhaps it’s a blessing to not know everything because you might lose yourself the deeper you dive.

Minhyuk is just an insignificant dot in the macrocosm, and the stars have never felt so far away. He can’t quite figure out the surface waters in his life, yet the feeling of being lost lingers like a discarded buoy drifting aimlessly.

This is what happens at night when his mind dives a little too deep. But at least the ocean is next to him and the wind feels nice against his skin. He continues walking along the coast until he reaches the site of the festival. It looks a little eerie at night without anyone around, the shadows of the construction like skeletons spilling on the sand. Honestly, the perfect spot to stew in his own thoughts.

Minhyuk climbs over the low barricade and looks to the road just in case anyone notices him. But it’s nearly midnight and there are fewer cars driving past, and it’s not like people would actually stop him. Minhyuk shakes off those insignificant worries and steps forward to the bare stage.

That’s when he hears it. A singing voice and the faint melody of guitar strings.

Minhyuk moves closer but there’s no one on the stage. The sound is coming from the side and somewhere behind. There’s supposed to be no one around at this hour, but perhaps one of the singers is rehearsing for tomorrow’s show. But why do it here?

Out of curiosity, Minhyuk slowly makes his way towards the source and tries to not make a sound, even though the sand already mutes his footsteps. With the help of the moonlight and the lights from the city behind, Minhyuk safely reaches the secluded section of the empty venue and finally sees a figure outside one of the tents.

Minhyuk comes to a stop a few feet away from the singer. The man has his back facing Minhyuk as he sits cross-legged on the sand with an acoustic guitar on his lap. It’s like he’s performing for the ocean as he strums another chord, his voice soothing like the waters, but lonely like the moon.

So I breathe, will it ever end?

You'll be fine, I say it again

I should let someone know

That something doesn't feel right

It's like I'm colorblind

'Cause everybody's world's in color

Except for mine

Minhyuk has never heard such an enchanting voice before, the vocal cords vibrating to create a sound so beautiful that it crashes against Minhyuk’s core, but in the softest way possible. The voice reverberates through the space and if Minhyuk is synesthetic, he’s sure the streaks of colours would light up the night in the most majestic gesture, that everything else would pale in comparison.

There’s so much emotion in the man’s voice that matches the theme of the song, it’s so sad yet comforting somehow. Minhyuk stays unmoving, trying his best not to make a sound as the singer ends the song with a final strum. It rings softly in the wind and gets swallowed by the rustling waves.

The man lets out a long exhale and shifts a little in his position on the sand. The wind from land gently tousles his hair and Minhyuk watches as he brings a hand to tame a few strands. His fingers are delicate and small, Minhyuk notes, and wonders how someone with small hands can stretch around a guitar chord and effortlessly switch to another one.

Then the man turns his head to the side, looking at something distant along the coast, and Minhyuk gets a glimpse of his side profile caught under the faint light. Minhyuk’s breath catches in his throat.

It’s Kihyun.

Minhyuk didn’t think he would see him again, hours later. Then again, Minhyuk didn’t think he would be here moping on the beach, yet here he is.

So here they are in completely different circumstances.

Stoic, aloof workaholic by day, expressive singer by night? Kihyun is the embodiment of life itself: full of surprises. Hyungwon was right, maybe Minhyuk is interested in Kihyun, if not more.

Kihyun hasn’t seen him yet and turns back to the instrument. Minhyuk is deciding if he should approach him when another song starts. His mind quiets down as Kihyun plucks out a wistful intro before entering the first verse.

At some point in my life

I used to wish that I could disappear from this world

The whole world seemed so dark

I cried every night

Will my mind feel at ease if I just disappeared?

I was so afraid of everyone’s eyes on me

Minhyuk knows this song, knows the lyrics all too well. It’s his go-to track whenever he’s too reluctant or ashamed to confide or seek physical comfort from his friends. Maybe Kihyun is the same too. People tend to gravitate towards music when they need a temporary escape from the white noise in life.

It’s a nostalgic song, and Minhyuk can almost feel Kihyun’s emotions as if it’s his own when he reaches the chorus. Kihyun’s voice is beautiful and raw, unlike the coldness which both their colleagues claim he has when he talks to them. It doesn’t have the searing heat of summer, but his voice is like the warmth of a bowl of soup in winter spreading comfort and indulgence throughout the body.

But still maybe I could be a bright light in this world

Maybe after all of that pain

I could shine a light even if it’s short

So I couldn’t give up

I couldn’t fall asleep peacefully for a single night

Because maybe if I keep trying to get up like this

I will be able to find myself

The bridge of the song always gives Minhyuk hope, even if it only lasts for the night. But listening to Kihyun sing it with such conviction, he finds more comfort than he’s ever felt, as if Kihyun’s voice is hugging him, caressing his hair and brushing his cheeks.

Minhyuk understands now why he feels a pull towards Kihyun. Kihyun, who can easily pass as an acquaintance, even a stranger.. But also Kihyun, someone who can understand Minhyuk because he must have been through similar experiences in life. Kihyun, who can be friends with Minhyuk. Maybe he has the answer Minhyuk’s been searching for.

Minhyuk has made up his mind just as the song comes to an end. He steps forward, not bothering to be quiet anymore. Kihyun doesn’t startle even when Minhyuk clears his throat, as if he knew someone was watching and listening the whole time. But he doesn’t turn around to face Minhyuk, and busies himself with tuning the guitar instead. As if Kihyun wants his spectator to leave.

Minhyuk knows he’s not supposed to be here. He’s essentially invaded Kihyun’s alone time, but he doesn’t want to leave. He doesn’t want the night to end just yet. “You said you’re good with cameras, but didn’t mention anything about guitar and singing.”

Kihyun pauses, then slowly turns around, carefully holding the guitar to his chest. His face is unreadable but the shock is evident in his voice. “...Minhyuk?”

Minhyuk stops beside Kihyun. “Mind if I join you?”

Kihyun sighs but without frustration. “You’re already here, so I don’t see why I should.”

Minhyuk carefully lowers himself on the sand next to Kihyun, the side opposite to the head of the guitar, and brings his knees up to his chest. The waves are a safe distance away but seem to draw closer the longer he watches.

Kihyun has long given up on tuning the guitar, it doesn’t even sound out of tune anyway. “What are you doing here, Minhyuk?”

“I couldn’t sleep. But perhaps I can after listening to you sing.” Minhyuk turns to Kihyun. “Your voice is beautiful. You should’ve been on the stage.”

Kihyun runs his fingers along the guitar strings, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Thanks, but I’m better off behind the scenes.”

Minhyuk would have argued with him on that if it wasn't for the burning questions in his mind. “So what brings you here? Where did you get the guitar?”

“It’s my last night and I didn’t wanna leave without properly spending time on the beach. There’s urgent work in Seoul and my boss wants me to go back tomorrow. Eunjung will take care of the things here for me.”

“Oh.” Minhyuk can’t help but feel a little disappointed at that. He didn’t expect Kihyun to leave so soon. But work is work, so he understands.

“I found the guitar in the storage,” Kihyun continues, “someone probably forgot to lock it up, but I’ll do it afterwards so no one gets into trouble. And since I haven’t played guitar in a while, I thought I should give it a try.”

“I’m glad you did. It sounded very nice,” Minhyuk says, resting his head on his knees.

“How long were you listening?”

“Since the last two songs.”

Kihyun makes a soft yet sudden noise, the air rushing out of his nose as his shoulders rise then falls as quickly, like a wave teasing the sand before pulling back into the ocean. He finally turns and looks back at Minhyuk, a little bemused. "But those aren’t the happiest songs, how can you be… glad?"

“Didn’t you sing them to make yourself feel better?” Minhyuk asks in turn, carefully watching Kihyun’s features. It’s hard to figure him out now that they’re treading deeper waters.

Kihyun tilts his head slightly, eyes flitting sideways like he’s considering a trick question, before giving Minhyuk a slow nod. “In a way...yes.”

Minhyuk’s lips twitch, knee digging into his cheek. “It made me feel better too. Sometimes listening to the saddest songs offer the greatest comfort, you know, at least there’s a song that would sound way sadder than what one is feeling?”

Kihyun’s gaze softens as they slide back to Minhyuk, which is something Minhyuk hasn’t seen on him before, but a pleasant sight nevertheless. It contradicts the cold persona that people usually link Kihyun to, fortunately Minhyuk never believes in hearsay until he’s witnessed the real deal.

Perhaps there’s something about the night that draws out another side of people, but Minhyuk is almost certain that this Kihyun in front of his eyes at this moment, is the real deal.

“Music exists for us to express the things we find hard to say in daily conversations,” Kihyun says, his voice calmer than the breeze. “So what is it that you find hard to express, that keeps you up at night?”

Minhyuk hesitates, his gaze slipping down to the sand around him, to the grains dusting the edges of the guitar. Perhaps he’s taking a little too long to answer because Kihyun adds, “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. We can just sit in silence and watch the waves, if that’s what you prefer.”

If their previous conversations were like shallow water lapping on toes, Kihyun’s question in this moment is the river current rising up to Minhyuk’s knees. It’s a little daunting since Minhyuk can’t swim, but he’s also aware that if he tries to go against the current, tries to deny his own feelings any longer, the water levels will only continue to rise as the riverbed slopes deeper beneath his feet.

Minhyuk turns back to the dark ocean and takes a deep breath, inhaling salty air and exhaling the bitter truth. “I feel like everyone around me is moving forward while I’m stuck at the same spot as always. But it’s not their fault. I can’t move forward because of myself. I don’t have any passion or hobbies to keep myself motivated. I’m only getting older every day, but I’m still frozen in the same spot.” When he exhales again, it’s a little shaky like his hands. “If not having a dream in life isn’t a sin, then why do I feel like I’m being punished?”

The question hangs heavy in the air like an impending storm. Kihyun remains silent and all Minhyuk hears is the ocean roaring in his ears and his own uneven breathing. Maybe he was wrong, maybe he shouldn’t have poured his own shit on someone who’s barely a friend. Hell, maybe Kihyun doesn’t want to be friends with someone as lame as him. “I’m sorry,” Minhyuk forces out a laugh, although it comes out choked and hollow. “It’s unfair to dump heavy stuff on you, forget I ever said that---”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Minhyuk. I understand how you feel.”

Minhyuk bites his lower lip, hugging his legs tighter to his chest. “You do?”

“I know what it’s like to feel lost and stuck at a certain point. It’s scary and confusing, but just because you don’t have a dream doesn’t mean you’re worthless. Your time will come when you’ll find what you’ve been searching for.”

In the shadow of the tent, Kihyun’s eyes reflect the serenity of the moon. Like a lighthouse amidst the storm. But Minhyuk still doubts, how can he not when he’s never been given a constant in life? “But what if I’m just...not meant to dream? Like I know that having dreams doesn’t always mean living a fulfilled life, but it’s still better than not having any...right?”

Kihyun hums thoughtfully, a finger drawing invisible lines on the body of the guitar. “Dreams don’t necessarily mean you have a better chance in a successful life because there’s just no guarantee. I used to think having no dream would make my life useless. So I-”

Kihyun pauses and his finger stops at the edge of the guitar’s body, pursing his lips as a memory clouds his gaze. Minhyuk instinctively shifts closer, as if the guitar strings are connected to him. “What happened then?” he asks gently.

A soft, reminiscent sigh escapes from Kihyun's lips and gets snatched away by the wind. “So I tightly held onto my dream. But something unexpected happened and I couldn’t achieve that dream anymore. It felt like I hit rock bottom, and I started losing sight of everything. I got depressed over not having a dream because it made me feel lost."

Minhyuk stays silent, watching the pain and nostalgia flicker across Kihyun’s face. Minhyuk never had a dream to hold onto but he can imagine how desperate and devastated Kihyun must have been, to pour his heart out for something only to watch it evaporate into smoke, forever out of reach. Minhyuk’s chest clenches with a dull ache and he wishes he could tell Kihyun that everything will be okay, but he doesn’t want to provide empty assurance when he doesn’t know much about Kihyun’s circumstances yet. Perhaps one day Kihyun will tell Minhyuk all about it. If they make it out alive tonight.

“Now that I think about it, dreams can be destructive too, can easily turn into nightmares,” Kihyun continues, his voice almost a whisper like he’s absentmindedly mumbling to himself, “and to force them on people is just cruel.”

Kihyun meets Minhyuk’s eyes again, and they’re just as empathetic as his voice. “So don’t ever force yourself to dream. It’s normal to not have any, life is hard enough with so many issues plaguing this world, and sometimes we just want to live one day at a time instead of stressing about the future. Maybe you’re not where you want to be in life right now and you’d think, ‘what’s life without hopes and dreams?’, but life has much to offer in more ways than others. Don’t let others dictate how you should dream or not dream. It’s your own life that you should be living in.”

Minhyuk thinks that at this moment in time where the world is virtually quiet with just the two of them sitting side by side on the sand and accompanied by the waves, he’s where he wants to be. And perhaps life is offering more than he ever bargained for.

“Wow,” Minhyuk breathes out and it’s much steadier than before, much less suffocating. “I didn’t know I needed to hear this.” He raises his head off his knees, feeling his spirits lift too. “Are you my life coach now?”

Kihyun’s lips curl in amusement. “No, I’m just a friend offering realistic words of encouragement.”

“Oh? So we’re friends now?” Minhyuk can’t help but grin. There's something contagious and grounding about Kihyun’s smile, like a night lamp softly illuminating the darkness while a child falls into a peaceful slumber.

Kihyun shrugs but his smile grows wider. “Well, you gave me an overview of your life story and I shared some of mine. So I guess we have no choice but to be friends now.”

Maybe that’s why their colleagues say that Kihyun is cold, because he only smiles on certain occasions, when there’s a genuineness to them. Most people got it wrong because they haven’t seen this side of Yoo Kihyun, but tonight Minhyuk definitely has something to be grateful for.

“Thanks for making me feel better. You’re a good friend, Kihyun,” Minhyuk says genuinely, and leans sideways to bump his shoulder against Kihyun’s. He doesn’t know why he feels the need to initiate the gesture, but he does it anyway.

Kihyun doesn’t seem to mind the brief contact one bit as he brushes hair away from his eyes and shrugs nonchalantly, although Minhyuk notes the meekness in his smile. “I try to be.”

“Can you play another song? To celebrate our newfound friendship.”

Kihyun quirks an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s not an excuse for a free show?”

“I’ve heard you sing, don’t I have special privilege already?”

Kihyun rolls his eyes but adjusts the guitar’s position on his lap. “Fine. Just for tonight. What do you wanna hear?”

“Anything you want to sing.”

Kihyun stares ahead as he mentally flips through his songbook, lips forming a slight pout. Minhyuk thinks it’s adorable only when Kihyun does it like that.

“Ever heard of Hurricane?” Kihyun asks as he hooks his thumb under the neck of the guitar and positions the rest of his fingers over the fretboard. The urge to put his palm beside Kihyun’s resurfaces.

“Just the storm but not the song,” Minhyuk answers truthfully and Kihyun laughs, a little in disbelief. But it’s a nice sound against the amplifying seawaves.

“I think you’ll like it anyway. And I hope you’ll sleep better tonight.” Kihyun clears his throat and silently counts to four before gently plucking at the strings, creating a soothing melody.

Standing here in disarray

A calm serenity

The winds of change can devastate

And it took this much for me

With nowhere to run and no reason left to hide

Gonna hold on

All the walls around are broken down

Now I can hear the rising sun

Never has Minhyuk ever thought that a late night stroll would lead him here, relishing in the comfort of a friend and music. Of all the decisions he’s made and ignored in his life, Minhyuk silently thanks his own instinct for ignoring the opinions of others and making the choice to approach Kihyun first. The world has taught him a lot for the last 29 years, but one of the things that stuck is that he should never judge a book by its cover. Never judge a person based on the suit they wear. Because everyone has a certain layer of walls built around their heart, but are lowered once they find someone trustworthy enough to accept them as they are.

Minhyuk has let his closest friends climb over those walls, yet the person who’s comforted his heart tonight is neither of them. So perhaps it’s not that Minhyuk has lowered his walls, but that he has unlocked the gates of his fortress to form a bridge leading to the front door of Kihyun’s castle. And perhaps someday, when Kihyun is ready to come out of his own castle, he’ll find Minhyuk waiting for him in the middle.

Minhyuk rests his head back on his knees and closes his eyes, letting Kihyun’s voice wash over him like a flowing river. Even if he can’t achieve any dreams, he hopes that he can at least achieve inner peace someday, starting with Kihyun.

A hurricane, a hurricane

Is sometimes the only way to wash away the pain

A hurricane, a hurricane

Is sometimes the only thing that brings you back again

Minhyuk's life is neither dull nor exciting, and it's been that way since his discharge from the military. No more spontaneously hanging out with his friends in high school or sneaking out with Hyungwon late at night to Changkyun’s basement to watch him work on music and be the first audience of all his songs. Instead, Minhyuk was immediately pressured by future plans with his parents urging him to choose a degree that is useful for the job market.

Minhyuk’s mom had told him that dreams didn't matter if they're not realistic or sustainable, because reality is harsh and he had to always be a step ahead to avoid failure. She didn't give Minhyuk much freedom to choose what he wanted, but it wasn't like he had any ideas and guidance at the time. So Minhyuk decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and took up accounting for three years in university.

The degree wasn’t easy, but Minhyuk still managed to fare well for each course, all the hard work paid off by hours of studying so as to not disappoint his parents. At that time nothing else mattered more than graduating and getting a job. That’s how life is supposed to be, you must transition from one phase to another or you’ll get left behind. That’s also how Minhyuk landed a job in an accounting firm, making life decisions out of necessity and convenience instead of his heart’s desire. It was also a convenient decision when he was scouted during orientation week to join the art club. Sports isn't his forte but at least he can draw decently, and joining the club will make his resume look more interesting. Because employers don’t just look for qualifications but extracurricular feats too. They don’t just want honor-class graduates, they want honor-class graduates with a rich social life or impressive skills. Society’s demands only get higher even when the system doesn’t progress much.

Minhyuk didn’t graduate with an honors degree, but at least his resume wasn’t bland. He had part-time work experience and was appointed as treasurer of the art club, and he served as an active duty soldier in the military. He even participated in the alumni conferences even though there wasn’t much to take away, and even contributed to the art club’s exhibition even though he didn’t know what he was doing. But he just did what he had to build a good resume. Nothing else mattered as long as he would get a job, anything to impress the employers.

However, life is a smatter of twists and turns, so you don’t always end up in the place you wanted. Maybe this applies to lost souls like Minhyuk too, because he got fired two years later when the firm wanted to cut costs by reducing the number of employees. His parents were devastated, of course. Minhyuk? Not so much. He thought the universe had given him a sign, a nudge towards the right direction, that maybe he could find his true calling.

But perhaps Minhyuk’s resume was impressive enough, because he was unemployed for barely a month when he was hired by the graphic design company he currently works in. It still baffles him to this day how it all happened, because Minhyuk doesn’t know much about design, but he’s always been creative with his mindless doodles ever since art club happened. Still, he was accidentally discovered on the streets when he bumped into the then-CEO of Naverland Designs and his notebook fell open on the ground, exposing his ‘potential’, or that was what the CEO said after Minhyuk handed him his resume. In a flash, Minhyuk was thrown back into the nine-to-five of a mentorship program and crash courses. His parents didn’t even complain about the sudden career change because the job paid a decent amount. Minhyuk didn’t complain about it either because even though he was a quick learner and according to his peers, ‘have a knack for art and design’, he’s just trying to survive and not get fired again.

So really, Minhyuk’s life isn’t dull or exciting. The universe just throws him a pothole or rain clouds from time to time but compensates in the strangest ways, perhaps it pities him for not having big dreams, for not knowing what he’s doing with his life most of the time.

So the universe compensated again by giving Minhyuk unforgettable memories, like the ones he made in Busan.

The memories in Busan cling to Minhyuk like a second skin but it’s not unpleasant. In fact, he wears them with a smile whenever those good times resurface. For once in his entire career, Minhyuk’s boss didn’t call him to do extra work or cut his break short, although he had to answer his emails on the trip back to Seoul (Hyungwon nagged at him for ultimately using the laptop, but it wasn’t like he could stop Minhyuk from the driver’s seat). It was definitely a good trip without having to worry about work and getting to spend quality time with his friends.

But Minhyuk’s ultimate favourite Busan memory lies on the sands of Haeundae when the city is mostly asleep, with the melody of steel strings resonating across his mind’s palace, Kihyun’s grounding words, and their established friendship.

Since they’re considered friends, Minhyuk doesn’t hesitate to text Kihyun the morning after their late night encounter and wishes him a safe journey back to Seoul. That’s how they start regularly texting each other, with Minhyuk sending pictures of the places he visited with Hyungwon on their remaining days in Busan and Kihyun telling Minhyuk about his day at work. Even when Minhyuk returns to the office and is immediately swamped with work, he still manages to chat with Kihyun for a while before going to bed.

They meet again a week after Minhyuk’s return to Seoul, in a cafe which serves as a midpoint between their workplaces. Minhyuk finally buys Kihyun coffee and Kihyun finally returns the red shirt, everything coming full circle and all that jazz, but little do they know that it’s just the universe’s way of saying ‘it has only just begun’.

It’s the weekend and even though they have respective deadlines to meet, they stay for a while longer and talk about their last cafe encounter. Kihyun teases Minhyuk for being a klutz and ‘splashing coffee like how artists splash paint on canvas’, only for Minhyuk to tease him back for not recognising him. Kihyun’s cheeks colour at the statement and he avoids Minhyuk’s gaze for a while as he gulps down on his americano, but doesn’t explain further. Minhyuk notices the dimness in Kihyun’s eyes and wonders if he said something wrong, but Kihyun tells Minhyuk he’s just tired from work.

“But don’t worry about me, I’m almost done with my work,” Kihyun assures Minhyuk as they get up to leave. “You should take care of yourself and get more sleep.”

“Who needs sleep when there’s coffee?” Minhyuk waves his beverage in front of his face before taking a huge sip.

“I’m serious, Minhyuk,” Kihyun sighs, pushing the door open and letting Minhyuk exit first. “Don’t overwork yourself or skip your meals. Your health is more important.”

“I know, but sadly my life revolves around work. That's all I have.” Minhyuk says, falling into step beside Kihyun as they make their way to the train station where they’ll go their separate ways. The red shirt is draped over Minhyuk’s shoulder even though it was neatly folded in a bag for him. But Minhyuk didn’t mind taking the shirt back with him like this so that Kihyun could keep the bag. The shirt smells of laundry soap and the freshness of spring, a uniquely refreshing mix of Kihyun. Yet sometimes Minhyuk can almost smell the ocean when he thinks of Kihyun, which is quite often.

Kihyun abruptly stops in his tracks before turning to face Minhyuk. “Do you remember what I said that night?”

Of course Minhyuk remembers. “You said many things,” he purposely stalls just to see Kihyun’s reaction. It’s interesting to observe him and his quirks.

Kihyun scoffs but without annoyance, his eyes clear with patience and something else Minhyuk can’t decipher. “Life is more than just about work. I hope you’ll realise that someday.”

Minhyuk admires Kihyun’s optimism, which makes him hope too, even though hope can be a dangerous thing sometimes. “You have a pleasant outlook on life,” Minhyuk tells him as they resume walking, “that’s very cool of you, honestly.”

Kihyun shrugs, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’m just like the rest of us trying to live a good life. And you know, sometimes happiness can be found in the little things.”

The afternoon sunbeams sift through the gaps between skyscrapers and leaves, casting reddish brown highlights on Kihyun’s hair which bounces lightly like his steps. Their shadows on the ground slant to the position of the sun, Kihyun’s shadow overlapping with Minhyuk’s even though they’re not physically close enough to brush shoulders.

It’s just the little things, mother nature’s small gestures. But as Minhyuk walks with Kihyun all the way to the train station in the summer heat, he thinks that it’s funny yet fascinating how happiness is just within a human’s reach, even when one isn’t aware.

“I think it’s here, at this moment.”

Kihyun turns to him, the rays glowing against his cheeks. “Hm?”

Minhyuk shakes his head and shields his face from the sun as they cross the road, hiding the smile that has bloomed on his face.