Work Text:
Joshua had always been a nomad. He couldn’t step on the same ground for too long, he just… always needed to go somewhere. And that was what made him buy a train ticket to Brussels on the spot. Don’t get him wrong, Lyon treated him well, but he couldn’t help it.
So, here he was. A backpack on his back and he peeked at his watch. 30 minutes before departure, he could go looking for some snacks.
It’s gonna be a joyful trip, he thought.
Until a 6 ft tall guy bumped into him a little too hard and ran away just like that.
“I’m sorry!” the guy shouted as he looked back, stealing a quick glance.
Or no…, Joshua rubbed his shoulder aka the original victim of the tragedy.
“Hhhhh, that was… I hope he’s aware how big he is so he won’t bump into anyone else.”
Joshua looked for an empty seat near his train’s platform. He sat and stretched his body. The station wasn’t that packed, maybe because it was weekdays. The weather was perfect. A perfect weather in fall and the leaves were still golden brown. Joshua took out his phone and captured some sceneries he saw. Winter was in just a few days. Ah, his favorite season throughout the year. Christmas, new year, and his birthday. Thinking about it made him feel giddy; he was excited.
An announcement echoed around his place. A long blown whistle escorted the arrival of his train to Brussels. Joshua stood up, hung his bag on his right shoulder, and put back his phone in his pocket.
Another adventure, what do you have for me, Brussels?
Joshua walked through coach after coach and stopped in an empty seat. He checked the number that was written on his ticket and the number on his seat to make sure. He took out his iPad and started to work on his current project. This was what made him happy, working remotely so that he could do it anytime and anywhere. That was also the reason why he traveled a lot.
Few minutes passed until he felt someone sat across him which brought him looking at the other guy in front of him.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry for distracting you. Please, don’t mind me,” said the guy.
Which brought Joshua into realization,
“You’re the one who bumped into me earlier, aren’t you?”
“Wait, what? You are? Oh my God I truly am sorry for that. Please, tell me how to make it up.”
“Well, 5 hours is long enough and I’m afraid I’ll be dead due to boredom. I think it would be great if you knew how to make this trip fun.”
“You go to the right person. But, first of all, may I have your name, pretty?”
Joshua pulled out his right hand, “Joshua. Joshua Hong.”
“What a gorgeous name. I’m Mingyu Kim.”
“It’s a pleasure to know you, Kim.”
“Likewise, pretty,” Mingyu winked. “So, I’ve been wanting to do this with someone and I think our conversation will flow smoother if we do this. Shall we do 20 questions?”
“I’d love to. You go first.”
“Why Brussels?”
“I don’t know… I just randomly bought a ticket to get out of Lyon.”
“Did Lyon treat you badly?”
“One question, Mr. Kim. It’s my turn. What brings you here?”
“Here, as in Europe?”
“Yup.”
“I have a big project to do in Paris and it’s done now but I’ve been wanting to travel around Europe, so here I am,” a smile formed on Mingyu’s face.
“Cute.”
“What?”
“Your canines.”
“Thanks. I’ve heard that a lot,” he giggled. “My turn. May I know in what year you were born?”
“1995. How about you?”
“Oh, you’re older than me by 2 years. How long have you been in Europe?”
“It’s my 2nd year. What do you like about Europe so far?”
“The ambiance. I’ve always loved the classic and antique things and I know you know that Europe offers those kinds of things.”
“Yeah, everyone loves Europe. The number of romanticized things here in Europe is insane.”
“But, you do find the same, don’t you?”
“Yup. Why would I be here for 2 years if I didn’t love Europe and its romanticism?”
“That leads me to a question, what brought you here?”
“My dream. I’ve been dreaming of living in Europe since I was young. I saved my monthly allowance from my parents and worked my ass off to be here right now.”
“You’re such a hard worker.”
“Well, nothing will happen if you don’t do anything to pursue it, right?”
A 5 minutes silence broke through. Joshua looked outside the window and he was greeted with golden brown maple trees and a crystal clear sky.
“Then what about you, Mingyu? What are your dreams?”
Shocked by the sudden question, Mingyu’s eyes flickered.
“Well… being able to capture everything through a lens. The idea of being old and spending limited times with your loved ones scares me sometimes. And it comforts me when I know that I can keep things I want to keep inside a camera.”
“So that’s why you’re now a photographer?”
“You asked one question already!”
“Fuck that 20 questions, we can just talk casually.”
“Okay, Mr. Pretty.”
“You’re so insufferable.”
Mingyu let out a giggle, “yes, that’s why I’m a photographer.”
“Cool.”
“How did you guess it, by the way?”
“Ricoh GR III hanging on your neck speaks a lot. Also, your tripod.”
“Whoa, do you know anything more about photography?”
“Not much. I just enjoy taking photos with a film camera.”
“Did you bring your camera?”
Joshua pulled out his camera, “here.”
Mingyu posed which brought Joshua into a confusion.
“Come on, take a picture of me!”
Joshua laughed, crescents were formed on his eyes. He was glad he decided to go on this impulsive trip.
Click.
The shutter clicked and Joshua put his camera on the desk between them.
“How was Paris, anyway?” He started another round of conversation.
“Artsy, as always. Took a lot of pictures beside the pictures of my client’s exhibition.”
“May I see it?”
Mingyu took a seat beside Joshua, scooted closer and showed him the pictures.
“Whoa, Arc de Triomphe captured from the Champ Élysées! What a beautiful angle, Gyu.”
“Thank you.”
Pictures after pictures and Joshua was still in awe. Mingyu really meant it when he said that he wanted to keep every moment in the form of a photograph.
“Eiffel at night is always captivating,” Joshua said with eyes hooked on the picture of Eiffel tower on Mingyu’s Ricoh GR III. Honey dripped from those eyes as Mingyu’s gaze fell into the latter fondly.
“It is.”
“It would be nice if I could celebrate Christmas eve there.”
Another silence broke through. It lasted longer than before. Mingyu stayed on his seat beside Joshua. Both of them were drowned in their own thoughts. It had been three hours and a half since they met, but they found comfort in each other’s company.
Thirty minutes until they got off the train and bid goodbye.
“Do you believe in fate?” Mingyu stared at the seat in front of them blankly, his eyes wandered far away.
“Depends.”
“If we met again unintentionally, would you believe it was fate that brought us to each other?”
“I would.”
“By then, would you mind if I make your dream come true?”
“Which one?”
“Christmas eve at Eiffel.”
“Gladly, Mingyu. Make me believe in fate.”
And that was how they bid goodbye. Mingyu's figure faded amidst the crowds at the Brussels Central Station. They smiled at each other without knowing it lingered and carved well in the back of their minds.
———
It was barely 9 AM and Joshua had already seated at a cafe near the motel where he was staying in Brussels. His first week in Brussels passed by too fast. He didn’t know for how many days more he would be staying here, he was too lazy to go on another trip, or was he waiting for someone? He didn’t know.
A cup of hot cappuccino on his table was no longer blowing its smoke, a sign that it got colder. But, Joshua didn’t even bother to drink it. He was too focused on his work that he didn’t know a waiter approached his table and put a slice of carrot cake.
“Excuse me, here is your order.”
“Uh, sorry, but I don’t think I ordered this.”
“It was from that guy.”
Joshua’s gaze followed the waiter’s hand. He rubbed his eyes, slapped his own cheek, “ouch that hurts.”
The figure of that 6 ft tall guy was walking towards him. He couldn’t believe his own eyes.
“Did I make it?”
“What? How did you even get here? Why are you here? What brings you here?”
“Whoa whoa, chill, pretty. First, did I make it? Do you finally believe in fate? Second, we were on a train heading to Brussels, of course I would be here. I was strolling around to take pictures when I saw you here and I don’t like wasting a golden chance, you know.”
“You’re so… insufferable.”
“Answer me, Josh!”
“Yes, you made it. Yeay to that,” Joshua smiled sarcastically.
Mingyu bursted into laughter, “so, Paris for our next stop?”
“Paris it is.”