Work Text:
He stood up, gazing at the cloudless blue sky with his pair of ambers. The Sun hangs over his head, spreading its warm rays to all life forms–even though this red haired man would never describe that shining menace as 'warm'. The screeching voice of cicadas echoes, sending one signal to another endlessly, creating an abrupt yet natural harmony to accompany the shade of the new coming summer in Seoul.
The scorching heat made him feel really uncomfortable, it felt like the hellification of earth, as if his entire skin had been peeled off from the heat. He regretted why he hadn't worn a more fitting cloth for summer, maybe a simple shirt. The long thick black denim jacket he wore right now didn't even help him at all, nor did the bottle of water he purchased earlier which might have turned warm. God, if it's not for Choi Jung Soo, who begged for a company to buy a new laptop, he wouldn't even want to leave his comfortable cold bed.
Drrrrt drrrt
It was a sound from his brand new smartphone. He grabbed it up from his bag, revealing a dumb-looking face which belongs to Choi Jung Soo. With a frown, he picked up his call, only to find a very loud noise from his friend
"Caleee!"
"Jung Soo! Where the fuck are you!? I've been waiting here for almost an hour, if you don't come here in 5 minutes i swear to any fucking God i will–" before Cale could continue, Jung Soo cut him with his annoying whiny voice
"Calee! I'm so sorry but Professor Eruhaben won't let me go until I finish the grade report!"
"Stop whining! What are you? A dog?" Cale glared, even though Jung Soo can't even see that "Hurry up and finish it you punk! I'm burning inside out here!"
".... uhm, the problem is.. i have so many ungraded reports"
"... so?" Cale knew he won't like Jung Soo's upcoming answer
"... i might have to stay at campus until late night.."
Cale smiled
"... and it seems like we have to cancel the outing… I guess?" Jung Soo still continues his words like the brave soul he is.
With a cold smile, which Jung Soo was unable to see , Cale asked "Choi Jung Soo hyung, what date is today?"
Jung Soo never felt more scared in his 22 years old life, whenever Cale calls him with his full name, it never turns out good. Cautiously, he answered "... it's the 3rd of June"
"Hm"
"...Cale.. you are not mad right? I'm so sorry.."
"Jung Soo, until the 23rd of July"
"Yes? What should I do?" Jung Soo truly thought Cale was going to make him be his personal servant until next month.
"Until then, don't talk to me." Cale hung up, ignoring the scream of his dramatic friend.
" Haaaa … this day couldn't be worse" He monologues, his crimson eyes staring at the bursting crowd around him. A question popped in his mind, about how the hell those people could maintain their activities leisurely in a weather equivalent to the so-called Hell. Cale Henituse hated summer, he grabbed his vermillion locks, and then swapped it behind to maintain his hairstyle. 'Great, now I have to walk home in this weather,'' he frowned.
"Isn't it fun? The weather, i mean"
A deep bass voice asked, destroying Cale's train of grumble in his mind. He folded his hand, his unfocused crimson pair just stared into nothingness.
"Not a single bit, I would rather eat raw lemons for the rest of my life. For your information, I despise lemon."
"Wha– really? But don't you get that marvelous summer vacation?"
Cale rolled his eyes, "Summer vacation? Yeah right. But if i have to choose between standing in this hellish weather and learning about the economic market, i would definitely choose the latter"
Cale closed his mouth immediately and glanced at the young adult beside him, a faint blush graced his face when he realized that he's been in a sarcastic and disrespectful tone to someone he had just met. He was lucky that the man didn't look offended at all to his snarky remarks, instead, he was smiling ear to ear.
"So you hate summer?" The stranger tilted his body, staring at Cale with a pair of eyes brighter than aquamarine. His well trimmed blond hair fell over his forehead, casting a faint shadow on his handsome face.
Cale gave a very menacing stare to the stranger. "I gave you a shit ton of hints for that, but still, good observation" he can't fathom how slow, or maybe how denial this stranger is.
"..... Are you mocking me?"
"No, how could I mock someone as handsome as you, Sir" Cale deadpanned. "You know, this kind of heat is just excruciating, you never know when the summer storm will come, the days are longer than the nights, so i can't sleep more. Moreover, there are so many dust flying around, and i feel like I'll die if i stand more than 20 seconds outside"
The heat that colored the summer days, the brilliant blue sky without clouds, the shining bright sun–hanging uninvited, Cale hated every single thing, more than his lesson, more than those damned lemonade, even more than the constant nagging from his father to inherit their family company. He prefers winter, where snowflakes slowly fall, painting the earth white, accompanied by the pale blue–grayish sky. The best of all? There is no fucking Sun.
The blond haired man frowned hearing Cale's hate speech towards summer, looking at Cale as if Cale killed his entire bloodline.
"But there's a lot to do in summer. You can get a long day off, go to the beach–turn your skin exotic tan for free. There are a lot of beautiful stars and constellations too! Oh maybe, your life would be slightly easier if you stimulate your brain cells a little bit and don't wear a freaking denim jacket with a dress shirt underneath.." The blond man was getting defensive.
"Ho, are we getting bold?"
"You're the one who mocked summer first"
"What are you? Summer defender? The Walmart version of santa? Summer Santa?"
"This punk…" The blond stranger never wanted to punch someone so bad.
"Well, Summer Santa-nim, whatever you say, I won't change my perspective toward summer. I prefer winter, with the real Santa." Cale sighed, folding his hand on his chest. "You can't even ice skate in the middle of summer. Also, who the hell are you!?" Cale glared at the stranger. He always advised his 3 children to avoid any stranger, do not talk, do not glance, and run. Those children averaging 9 years old would be disappointed with him.
The blond man frowned, he was thinking hard. He didn't even hear Cale's critical question. After seconds of silence, he glanced at Cale "From any perspective, summer is far better than winter. Let me show you, you disrespectful punk" The blond man muttered and walked away, oh, he also grabbed Cale's hand.
"Wha—hey!" Cale shouted, trying to break free from the blond man's grasp. "Let me go you bastard! I don't even know you! Even if you want to hold me as a hostage you won't make it alive!" Cale shouted while being dragged away like a rag doll. Seriously, being kidnapped on the first day of summer? Maybe Professor Eruhaben was right, he is an unlucky bastard.
'Why is this man spewing such vicious words?' The blond male cringed. Well maybe he is being creepy right now, but hey! This man mocked summer! Even calling him a Walmart version of santa! His pride won't let it go definitely.
"Who the hell wants a rude bastard like you as a hostage?" The blond stranger said that while keep running, his tone was filled with annoyance and sarcasm which made Cale's fury peak. Oh , of course, The Sun is still rising high, burning his skin which made him a sweaty mess. "I thought you were on the intelligent side, why would you think a kidnapper would conduct his act in the middle of a bustling street? It seems like the summer heat melt your brain as well"
Cale was stomping his feet in frustration. At this point he has given up. He has resigned to his fate. Maybe he will ask this blond man to send his final letter for his children, and advise them to live a slacker life on his behalf.
" Aigoo, i almost forget" The potential criminal suddenly stopped, which made Cale bump on his wide, sturdy back. That menace still had the audacity to smile at Cale–completely ignoring Cale's glare.
"My name is Alberu Crossman." He smiled ear to ear. "Call me hyung, and this handsome hyung will show you that summer is far better than the boring winter"
'What's with this crazy bastard and his hyung kink bullshit' Cale really wanted to cry so bad.
○○○
"So, Alberu–"
"Hyung"
"....no, why are you taking me here?"
Alberu looks back to Cale, showing his bright smile. "Well, it can't be called summer without a pool right?" He looked at the pool and start stretching his arm, "Also, pool is not going to be fun unless during summer"
Cale almost cried at this point, he ruffled his sweaty hair. "I fucking know that!" He shouted, while looking at Alberu who was starting to take off his white shirt. "But my question is…. From every kind of pools, or beach, or even a river, why would you choose a fucking fish pond, Alberu!?"
Cale crossed his arm in front of his face, desperately trying to avoid the splash of water when Alberu fucking cannonballed his way to the pond. What is he? 5 years old? At this point Cale started to feel bad for the fish because that giant walking yellow blob iust ruined their peace.
"Cale, swimming pool is way too mainstream, aren't you that kind of person who always wanted to be different?"
"You made me look like i am a pick me boy"
"Well that's my point, The water in the fish pond is way cooler, it has no chlorine and other chemicals, so it is way safer. Thus, there are no people. Do you know that most people peed in the swimming pool? Do you want to throw yourself in those disgusting pools?"
"It's logical but whose pool is this!? Get up here before the owner finds you messing up their expensive fishes and beat the shit out of us Alberu!" Cale grabbed Alberu's white shirt on the ground, then approached the pond to grab Alberu away.
"You're no fun, dongsaeng" Alberu frowned, folding his arms in front of his bare chest and purposely avoiding Cale's grab. "With this attitude, you will mostly get a heart attack or stroke in your 30s"
"Alberu stop with your nonsense or i will–"
Alberu pulled him to the fish pond.
Cale Henituse, 23 years old, an heir of the wealthy Henituse Corporation, has fallen into a fish pond.
Alberu barked really loud, splitting the loud sound when Cale's body hit the water surface. "You should have fun, dongsaeng! This is summer! Throw away your thesis, forget about it for a while, kick all of your boring novels, the summer sky is way more beautiful than the characters that are made from paragraphs and imaginations, you know!"
Cale's anger had not subsided, but the red haired man couldn't deny the coolness offered by the pond water. Cale was just about to take a breath, throw his anger away and tried to follow the words of the young man in front of him until he could feel something slippery, and slimy, and legless, and swam expertly, past his bare feet.
"UWAAAA!"
Cale Henituse, the stoic, emotionless young man, the calm and collected person, was screaming his lungs out.
On reflex, he jumped and lunged at the blond man in front of him, screaming a series of uncensored words in a frantic manner.
Surprised, Alberu couldn't bear the sudden weight and fell head over heels, making the sound of a heavy object dropping into the water. The clear, transparent droplets of liquid splashed everywhere, crossing the sunlight and forming a small rainbow that didn't last long.
Moments later, both Cale and Alberu reappeared on the surface. Alberu's blond hair was drenched and messy, reminding Cale of a kitten fur that has been rained on. While Cale looked as if he had just seen a ghost, his complexion was pale and the usual stoic man was trying to climb on Alberu's shoulder while muttering something about snakes, leeches, and piranhas.
Sputtering, Alberu swept his bangs back behind his head, sighing in frustration as a strand of hair fell back limply to his forehead. "You're heavy, dongsaeng" he commented, while trying to regain his balance.
"Shut the fuck up Alberu Crossman! What if it was a giant leech passed above my feet!?" Cale grabbed a handful of Alberu's blond locks, horror and panic could be heard from his usually stoic voice.
" Aigoo , Cale, I've been swimming in this pond for many many times to know that there are no leeches here. There are only Koi, and sometimes snakes, but not often" Alberu winced when he felt Cale's grip tightened, making his scalp stings.
Sensing the signs of Cale not going down from his shoulders, a whimsical intent immediately flashed through his wicked mind. Taking a deep breath, Alberu purposely loses his balance and falls backwards. Water splashed everywhere again, again creating a rainbow that didn't last long.
Alberu laughed again, "Don't worry, I already know this pool inside and out dongsaeng, I'll know right away if there's a snake inside" He exclaimed, in a tone of voice that sounded oddly proud of his abilities.
The poor Cale only shook his head, sending the water that sticks in his hair flying everywhere. The crimson pair opened, looking at Alberu, whose face was only inches from his own with an annoyed look. He would have opened his mouth to say if only consciousness had not hit him like a fucking train.
A faint blush appeared on his face. Well, saying that Alberu looks handsome was an understatement. He was dead gorgeous, he felt grateful to the Sun–for the first time– that made his face red from the heat so he could cover his embarrassment.
Now, the problem is, Alberu froze in his place. His crystal blue eyes stared at Cale deeply, seeming ignorant to the effect it had on Cale's poor heart. "Cale" he said, starting. His deep, deep voice had never sounded this serious before.
"Y-yes?" Fuck! Why did I stutter like a maiden , Cale grimaced. He could feel his cheeks heating up, the heat spreading to his ears and neck–hotter than The Sun that had showered him non-stop since morning.
Alberu looked at Cale seriously, his forehead furrowed and his brows furrowed together, as if he was debating whether he should tell Cale what he was thinking or not before it was too late. "...You have a wrinkle" He said finally.
What Alberu received after that was a punch on his left cheek from a fashion perfectionist whose handsome face is now flushed with anger.
On that day, the third day of summer, Cale learned that not every aspect of summer is annoying.
Not with the presence of a walking menace with shining blond hair accompanied with his shit-eating-grin and some sarcastic remarks from his foul mouth.
When you're spending time with someone you care about, or you're working on something you really love, time will pass faster than you think.
Cale often heard these words from his late Mother, even felt them. He often loses track of time when reading novels, but when he has to do his work, he finds himself staring at the clock and wondering why time is running so slowly than it should be.
So, when Cale realized that summer had come to its 90th day. Surprised is not the right thing to describe the feeling he is feeling right now. Usually, the days he lived in the summer seemed very long, very torturous.
But this year, Cale found himself always impatiently waiting for tomorrow to meet the young man who has now become his best friend. Happiness was always something he realized when he spent time trying new things with Alberu.
Cale realized that he now loves summer, and fun activities with Alberu outside the house—whether it's swimming, catching insects, seeing fireflies, coming to festivals, although Cale often complains, he knows that he likes everything.
"Hey, Alberu, where do you actually live?" Cale asked while playing with his smartphone, looking at the young man who was sipping his drink beside him.
Alberu didn't glance at him, "Somewhere on earth. Don't worry, dongsaeng. I'll always visit you in summer, really." He said, half joking.
"...Are you homeless?"
"....no, why would you say something like that"
Cale rolled his eyes, "I'm serious, you know. And why only in summer?" However, as soon as silence greeted him, Cale knew that Alberu didn't want to continue this topic and answered the simple question just now. He stared at the maple and oak leaves, which had now turned yellow, and the sky, which grew paler every day. The wind that blew was no longer hot and dry, but wet and cold.
Autumn will come soon.
Silently, Cale glanced at the youth next to him. Watching the young man who seemed dreamy and lost in his own thoughts. Cale frowned. Alberu being silent was not normal, and frankly, it scared Cale.
His eyes then caught a red mark—like burning—imprinted on Alberu's forearm. Subconsciously, Cale reached out and touched it, flinching when he saw Alberu jump in surprise, as if he had just been electrocuted.
"You're hurt." Cale said—with absolute certainty, "Let me have a look."
Alberu covered his mouth with one hand, staring at nothing but Cale while hiding his hand which was covered in the same red marks behind his back. "I'm fine, really!" he said, submerged in his own hands.
Cale narrowed his eyes, "Alberu Crossman" He called, in his deep voice. Made the young man flinch and slowly roll up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing a reddish color that adorns his brown skin from palms to shoulders.
"Were you burned?" Cale asked, his pupils shook, fear and panic dancing within his pair of amber.
Cale shook his head, "No." The young man then pulled his hand back from Cale's grip, lowered his arm and smiled stiffly—not sincere and forced. "It's a normal wound, really, my friends will also have it when their time is up." Alberu explained, while chuckling lightly.
Cale raised both his eyebrows. He often heard Alberu subconsciously mention 'friends', which Cale recently found out whose real name was Choi Han. Even spending 83 days with Alberu wasn't enough for Cale to get to know him.
"Ordinary wounds? You always get wounds like this?" Cale asked again, his eyes widening when he found the same wound visible on Alberu's neck, and a small part of his face. Like a spreading disease. Cale is not an idiot, he knew the problem was more serious than just an injury.
"That's right, when summer is about to end, I always get injuries like this." Alberu smiled faintly, "Perhaps because our time is running out, we can't interfere with each other's time. The seasons have to stay in order, and even an overpowered punk like Choi Han can't replace winter with his strength." He continued, laughing.
Cale looked at Alberu, his eyes widening. "You're a fucking vampire?" he asked, shocked half to death. Alberu stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter, amused to see Cale's pale expression and seemed ready to pass out at any moment.
"Vampires do exist, but we are greater than that!" Alberu cringed, remembering a certain Vampire with an infuriating personality. He jumped up from his seat and spun around, catching a maple leaf that had fallen from its stem and turned to Cale with his shit-eating-grin. "We are the personification of the seasons, we are the seasons, the seasons are us. We are the ones who make autumn exist, too. with winter and spring. I am summer, summer exists because of me!"
The blond man spun around, spread out his arms while laughing, reminding Cale of an overjoyed child. "Soon, summer will end. This wound will make me sick, so I can't go out and create summer. It happened because autumn is made by Rosalyn, not me. Do you understand, Cale?"
Slowly, Cale nodded. "So... you're the personification of summer? And the Rosalyn you mentioned is the personification of the coming fall?" Cale asked, confirming. A sliver of thought from his brain screamed, not believing it. While a piece of the idea from his heart shouted, for Cale to believe it.
Alberu nodded, "Summer can't come when autumn has arrived. Like clocks, we move in an orderly fashion. Lock is spring, he is the one who makes the flowers bloom. I am summer, I am the one who makes the sun reach its highest point. Rosalyn is autumn, she is the one who makes the leaves fall. And Choi Han is winter, he is the one who makes the snow fall." Obviously Alberu, proud.
A maple leaf then slipped from the grip of the branch, flew down and landed right on top of Alberu's blond lock. "This is my last day outside." He said, smiling gently. A red spot then appeared on his right arm which was originally still clean and unscathed, spreading rapidly all over his skin like a disease.
Cale stood up straight, his mouth opened, about to protest with Alberu's explanation. But a hand tapped him on his frail shoulder, and Alberu's wide smile stopped his words, making his throat tighten almost instantly.
The blond man's blue eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"I've often watched you keep cursing summer—that's as much insulting to me, you know." Alberu pursed his lips, but then, his wide smile returned to his handsome face. "Is summer much more pleasant than winter now, for you?"
Slowly, Cale nodded. And the wide smile grew wider, revealing Alberu's brilliant white teeth. Alberu then lowered his head and kissed Cale's cheek.
Even 83 days was not enough for Cale to be with Alberu.
If only Alberu met Cale on the first day of spring, they could have spent 90 days together.
If only the leaves had fallen when summer really ended, they could have spent 93 days together.
If only summer lasted all year round, then they would be able to spend forever.
However, all of that was just an 'If only' that would never come true.
○○○
The sound of his apartment door bell ringing made Cale jump in surprise. Tidying up the manuals he used to do his winter assignments, Cale grabbed a jacket and made a plea to whoever was behind the door to wait a little longer while he prepared. He was alone because Hans, his butler, took a Christmas paid leave while his 3 children were visiting Ron for their holiday.
Cale turned the doorknob and blinked as his eyes fell upon a young man with dark hair he had never seen before. Snow drifted down around him, some falling gently on his head, making his messy hair look dirty.
That day, the sky looked more blue than usual. Even though the snow is falling from above, it is attracted by gravity and creates piles that will melt when the sun appears. The wind was blowing warmer, drier than usual. Just like the wind that always plays the leaves and summer bells.
"Umm... You want to come in?" Even Cale's statement sounded like a question to his own ears because the man was surprised by a foreign figure who suddenly appeared in front of his apartment door.
The young man ruffled his hair, "It's okay, Cale-nim. I'm Choi Han, I'm sure Alberu-nim told you, I'm the personification of winter. I'm here to deliver something." The young man who introduced himself as Choi Han pointed back, shrugged his shoulders and rolled his shadowy eyes.
Cale looked up, trying to look over Choi Han's shoulder. His eyes widened
There, Alberu stood, leaning against a nearby wall. His face was pale and blue, a dark red color lined his white skin. The young man looked like a giant cocoon, he was wearing thick clothes and layers of jackets and earplugs and gloves to protect him from the cold.
Choi Han bowed lightly, "Sorry for the trouble." And the young man walked away while waving, leaving the 'package' which was now smiling weakly at Cale.
Cale stepped towards Alberu and looked at the young man with his hands on his hips, "Hey, dongsaeng" Greet Alberu, in a weak and submerged voice. The young man looked like a hospital patient who had run away from the hospital, but he still had a big smile on his face, his eyes sparkling with happiness, acting like he was fine.
Summer is always synonymous with smiles, Cale decided.
Cale shook his head and smiled back at Alberu, tiptoed and hugged the young man tightly. "Nice to meet you again, Hyung" He said, for the first time calling the latter Hyung, inviting laughter and hugs back from the personification of that summer.
That day, they continued their lost summer days.
On that day, the 90th day of summer, Cale learned that summer is fun.
Pleasant with the presence of a personification of summer who is always smiling broadly like the sun hanging in the sky, a young man who is willing to meet him in the middle of winter that is not his time with his body at stake.