Chapter Text
There was excitement that surrounded Jaemin as the boat neared Jeju island. It was the young boy’s first time on the island and he couldn’t wait to explore it.
When the boat arrived at the dock, Jaemin felt a tug on his shirt, “Let’s go Jaemin,” his mother looked down at the boy with a slight frown on her face.
“I’m coming mother,” Jaemin huffed as the excitement was sucked out of him by his mother’s nagging.
Obediently, Jaemin followed behind his mother and father as they walked off the boat. His father led the family to a luxurious black car, the driver greeted them as they slid in.
As the car started, Jaemin gazed out the window and watched the waves hit the sandy beach as the black car climbed up the mountain to the resort they were going to be staying at.
When they got to the room, it was magnificent as per usual. Jaemin was allowed to have his own room away from his parents, which he enjoyed.
After Jaemin had unpacked his belongings he went into the main room and found his mother sitting on an armchair with a book in her hand, “Mother,” Jaemin started. His mother glanced up at him for a moment before she looked back down, a motion telling him to continue, “May I go explore the resort? I’m bored.”
His mother waved him off with a “Sure, sweetie,” and just like that Jaemin was off to go on an adventure.
A few days passed and Jaemin was walking near the pool deck when he felt a small poke on the back of his arm. Jaemin turned around as saw a short boy with raven hair and hazel eyes standing behind him with a sweet smile plastered on his face.
“Hi!” the boy greeted Jaemin, “My name is Renjun and I’m ten years old. What’s your name?”
“I’m Jaemin and I’m ten years old too!” His smile was bright at the introduction of this new person that he was to befriend, “What’s up, Renjun?”
“Well,” Renjun started, “I’m at a family reunion right now and none of my cousins are my age so I have no one to hang out with,” he pouted sadly, “So I was wondering if maybe you and I could hang out.”
“I’d love to hang out with you!” Jaemin exclaimed, “I was starting to get pretty bored by just wandering around all the time so it’ll definitely be more fun to hang out with you.”
“Yay!!” Renjun said and grabbed a hold of his arm, “Come meet my parents!”
Jaemin happily followed Renjun to go meet his parents; when they arrived to meet them, Jaemin was surprised to see the two of them smiling at Renjun and Jaemin.
“Mom, Dad, this is Jaemin,” Renjun introduced the taller boy, “He’s my new friend!”
“That’s lovely,” Renjun’s dad smiled as he looked over to Jaemin, “Are your parents around somewhere? We’d love to meet them and talk to them.”
Jaemin looked down and shook his head, “No sir, they aren’t around,” sadness was apparent in the boy’s tone.
“Oh that’s okay Jaemin,” Renjun’s mom stood up and rubbed his shoulder, “Maybe we’ll try to meet them later tonight. Why don’t you and Renjun go have fun?”
There was a small smile that formed on Jaemin’s face as he looked up at Renjun’s mom, “Okay! Thank you,” Jaemin looked back at Renjun, who looked like he could barely contain his excitement.
2010
Dear Renjun,
I am so glad that your parents suggested that we exchange addresses! I had such a fun time hanging out with you on vacation. Do you remember when we put soy sauce in your uncle’s coke? That was so funny but we got in so much trouble afterwards.
Anyways, I was wondering what your favorite kinds of books are. My favorite book right now is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , it’s just such an interesting book and I can’t wait till I finish reading it to read the next one.
Even though I just got home from Jeju island, I miss you a lot Renjun. I hope we will be able to see each other soon!
Missing you,
Jaemin
2011
Dear Jaemin,
Lately I’ve been reading more mystery books. Right now I’m in the middle of reading a series called The Boxcar Children and it’s very fascinating. I’d definitely recommend it if you want to read something beyond fantasy and sci-fi sometime. I’ve been listening to Shinee a lot right now and my favorite song is Love Like Oxygen.
How have things been for you lately? Have you been doing anything exciting at school? What music are you listening to? Do you listen to Shinee too?
Missing you,
Renjun
P.S. I put some stickers in the envelope from my favorite show Adventures With Moomin! I hope you enjoy them :D
2012
Dear Renjun,
Things with my parents are doing okay lately. I am kind of worried that they could go bad at any moment though :( But I have made some new friends recently! Their names are Jeno and Jisung. Jeno and I are the same age but Jisung is a year younger than us. The two of them are really fun to be around but they can’t compare to the fun we had on Jeju island together.
Also, the picture in this letter is of me (in the middle), Jeno (on the right), and Jisung (on the left) out on Songjeong Beach here in Busan!
Missing you,
Jaemin
2013
Dear Jaemin,
I have some really exciting news for you!! My parents told me that we are going to be moving to Seoul next year! We will be so much closer to seeing each other Jaem! When we leave Shanghai I’ll send you the address of our new house.
I’m sorry that things aren't going well with your parents at the moment. I’m sure they’ll calm down and be back to normal soon.
But on a lighter note, have you, Jeno, and Jisung been up to anything fun lately? I’d love to hear about it!
Missing you,
Renjun
2014
Dear Renjun,
I can’t believe that you are finally living in Seoul! We are actually living in the same country now! What are your favorite places in Seoul so far?
I’d love to hear about them so we can go visit them one day when I’m finally able to get up there.
I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing so well and I hope that you’re able to make some good friends up there!
Missing you,
Jaemin
2015
Dear Jaemin,
I just met a new friend today! His name is Chenle and he’s a year younger than us. Mark and Donghyuck introduced me to him and he’s Chinese too and he speaks Mandarin!! He actually just moved to Seoul recently and doesn’t know much Korean yet so hopefully I’ll be able to help him with that.
From what you’ve told me about Jisung, I feel like he and Chenle would be pretty good friends. Maybe we can introduce them to each other one day.
I talked to my parents a while ago about meeting up with you and they told me that once I turn 18, they’re okay with me going to meet up with you again. So until then, we will have to just continue writing to each other.
Love,
Renjun
2016
Dear Renjun,
In this envelope, I have sent pictures of places I want to take you to one day. I have labeled each of the polaroids with the location of it so you can see why I want to take you to each place and what it looks like. Also if you could send your letter to the address I wrote on the envelope, that would be great <3
- The cable cars on Songdo Beach: the view from up there is absolutely beautiful! I am sure that you would enjoy it. There is also a place where we can write wishes when we get out of the cable car that I think you’d like.
- The Haedong Yonggungsa Trail: there are some rock towers that I think you’d like to see. Also the sunset there is absolutely gorgeous when you catch it on the right day.
- The Book Alley in Bosu-dong: I know just how much you and I both love a good book. There is a place called Gyeonghui Seojeong, here that would be perfect for us to shop in and look at all different types of books.
- Jeongdam Bistro in Jeonpo-Dong: This is one of my favorite places to get food with Jeno and Jisung. The three of us go there so often that the staff know us all by name.
- Oncheoncheon Park: this park is one of my favorites to go to especially during the spring. The picture I took has the bench I usually get to sit on there so hopefully we’ll be able to sit together on that bench when you come here.
Things are a bit rough at home right now but I’ve been getting through it. Hopefully soon we will meet.
Love,
Jaemin
2017
Dear Jaemin,
Happy birthday Jaem!! You’re finally 17! That means one more year until we can finally meet up again.
I hope things are going well at home and if not, you have Jisung and Jeno to help you out. I miss you tons!!
Love,
Renjun
2018
Dear Jaemin,
I know I shouldn’t make a big deal out of this, but you didn’t send me a card for my birthday this year. You haven’t ever missed sending me a birthday card even if things were going wrong. I’m worried about you, love.
I swear if you don’t respond to this letter by next week, I’m going to come to Busan and search for you. I love you too much to lose you just like that.
Please Jaemin, respond to this letter and tell me you’re alright.
Love,
Renjun
A week after Renjun sent his last letter to Jaemin, there still was no response from the boy he had constant correspondence with for nearly 8 years.
To say Renjun was a mess wasn’t over exaggerating in the slightest. The boy refused to leave his room until Jaemin responded or showed any sign of still being alive. Mark, Donghyuck, and Chenle would visit him every day during that dreadful week, trying to make him feel better in any way they could. Their attempts though, were futile.
When it had been a full week, Renjun decided to gather his friends at his house.
“Everyone is here right?” Renjun asked his friends as he looked up from a stack of polaroids that he held in his hands.
Mark nodded, “Yeah everyone is here, Jun. What’s up?”
“I think we should travel to Busan to find him.”
“Renjun, are your parents okay with this?” Donghyuck knit his eyebrows in concern. The sunny boy was always overly protective of Renjun while being younger than him.
There was a nod from the black-haired boy’s head, “Yeah, my parents met him when we were kids and told me that after I was 18, they’d gladly let me go to Busan to see him again,” Renjun ran his hands through his hair, trying to think for a moment, “Would all of your parent’s let you go if we went together?”
“I think I’ll be able to go,” Chenle smiled and put his hand on Renjun’s arm, “My parents love and trust you like one of their own,” he laughed slightly, “But what’s your plan Jun?”
Renjun held up the polaroids and the letter Jaemin had sent back in 2016, “I think these are clues or something. He sent these two years ago and I think he might have put clues in these places.”
“Alright, if you think this is the only way, we will come along with you Renjun,” Mark smiled sadly.
It was late in the afternoon when Chenle, Mark, Donghyuck, and Renjun met up at the train station, bags packed and ready for an adventure.
As they entered the train, each paired up with one another: Mark with Chenle and Donghyuck with Renjun. A few minutes after they all got situated in their seats, the train started moving.
Renjun’s mind started to race, wondering if the boy he loved was dead, that his parents made him stop writing, that he didn’t want to talk to him anymore. The black-haired boy leaned on Donghyuck’s shoulder as he fiddled with his fingers and let out an anxious sigh.
“Junnie,” The short boy was able to be pulled away from his anxieties when Donghyuck took one of his hands into his own. His soft voice made Renjun feel a smidge better, “I promise we will find him, okay?”
“Okay,” Renjun said in a hushed voice and gave Donghyuck a small smile.
After three hours, the train finally arrived at Busan station. On the ride there, Mark had convinced Renjun that they should go to the address that Jaemin had given to him, just in case it wasn’t a dead end. They decided that was their first stop, before going to any of the polaroid locations.
When they arrived at the address, Renjun stood at the door with his three friends behind him. Donghyuck held his hand tightly to give the shorter boy comfort as Renjun rang the doorbell.
A few moments after the doorbell had made a sound inside the house, a familiar face appeared in the door frame.
“Renjun?” The boy with black hair and red streaks had a surprised, but confused look on his face, “You’re here?”
“Jisung?”