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"Wow! Pretty rocks." A ten year-old Hyunjin was looking up, admiring the shiny dots that decorated the evening sky.
"Mom! Did you se-"
"M-mom?!"
The young lad was focused on watching how the stars twinkled that he didn't notice his mom was left behind.
His stubby little legs dashed through the busy crowd, dragging his plushie while squeezing himself out of every tight fit, the bright lights obstructed his vision, as he was on the brink of losing hope until he saw something that caught his tired eyes.
The merry-go-round stood there in the heart of the amusement park, a beacon that was calling him in, pulling him there towards his least favorite ride.
As he got closer to the ride, he heard small sobs coming from it.
"I-I wanna go h-home..." A kid, wearing a bunny headband, buried his face on knees, and hugged them closer to his chest.
"T-the c-clown will eat me.. I- I'm scared.." The kid said between his sobs.
Everytime he heard the boy's cries, a thorn pierced through his heart. He felt sorry that they were both in the same predicament. With tight fists, a plushie on his hand, he kneeled, and gently tapped the boy's shoulder.
"Hey... kid are you lost?" The other stopped crying, and froze for a second. He was taking too long to reply, Hyunjin figured maybe it was best to leave him alone.
"Y-yea... Have you seen my m-mom?" The boy lifted his face, and Hyunjin gasped in astonishment.
Little specks of light blanketed his rosy cheeks, his doleful eyes were staring at his, glossy from his own tears, his little nose was red from sniffing. He was smaller, and thinner than Hyunjin. But nonetheless the boy looked like someone who came from the stars.
He felt a sudden urge to protect the kid from clowns, that he was also scared of.
"N-no." A wave of shyness caught his tongue before speaking any further, while he was questioning himself in how to comfort the kid.
He never comforted anyone before, he never had any friends at school.
The kid pouted, tears welled up on the corners of his eyes.
"I-I'm kinda lost too." Hyunjin said in a weak voice, embarrassed to admit it.
"R-really?" His face lightened up, Hyunjin noticed that he was missing a front tooth. still it couldn't stop him from wanting to pinch those chubby cheeks.
"Yeah, I am kinda stupid. I got carried away from watching the rocks in the sky."
Hyunjin pointed at the thousands of sparkling gems, shining upon them.
The kid followed his gaze, and laughter spilled out from his tiny body.
"My momma told me that those are stars." He said, rocking back, and forth.
"And it's not stupid. No one is stupid." He lightly chuckled. Seconds later, they were both laughing. temporarily forgetting their situation. That was until, the kid saw a family exiting the place.
"Hey, we will find our moms. "
"But I'm s-scared."
"We will stick together." Hyunjin stood up, and offered his hand. The kid grabbed it, and Hyunjin helped him up.
Hyunjin put his bear headband on top of the boy's head.
"Here, Mr. Bear always makes me brave."
"Waahhh, Thank you." He brought out his sweater paws, and began clapping. as if it was working.
"Cute." The boy's eyes widened at random compliment.
"I m-mean, let's go."
Hand in hand, they searched the place. Bumping into everyone they came across, yet they had no luck. Both decided to come back to the merry-go round.
"Where are they?" Hyunjin whispered, getting a little uneasy from how late it was. until he heard a stomach grumble.
"Oops, sorry. I am a little hungry." The kid's face was red, as he looked down, finding the ground interesting. earning a giggle from Hyunjin.
"Want hotdogs?" Hyunjin asked while looking at a hot dog stand in front of them.
"But I don't have any money.."
"Don't worry, I have two dollars here." The taller proudly showed him the green paper.
Hyunjin was about to let go of the other's hand, when he felt a small tug on it.
"D-don't go." The boy pleaded with glossy eyes.
"I will be quick, promise. Here hold spiderpig." Hyunjin said as he handed him the small spderpig plushie, before turning his back. He didn't have the heart to leave him, but they needed to eat.
Hyunjin came back with a hotdog on a bun, and split in the middle for the two of them.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome!"
As they ate together, they began to talk about their favorite cartoons. they found out they have a lot in common, and Hyunjin really wanted to be friends with him,
"Do you want to play ps3 in my h-" Hyunjin was about to invite him to play.
When a pair of heels was heard in the background, the second after, his mom was holding him close.
"Don't you ever do that again! Were you scared? I'm sorry.." His mom cried, because he was reunited with his son.
"At first, but I have a frien-"
Hyunjin looked back, and saw that the kid was being dragged by a woman to his car. The woman had the same eyes, as he did. Fear rose from the pit of his stomach, fear of never seeing the kid ever again, so he ran.
He ran, he ran until his legs gave out
"Hey! What's your name?" He shouted, before it was too late. before the opportunity was lost forever.
"My name is Yongbok! Thank you for everything..."
The car's window was sealed, before Hyunjin could even scream his name.
"No! Wait! I haven't even told you my name yet..."
8 years later -
Hyunjin was staring out the window.
Hyunjin didn't see the boy ever again, the boy was tattooed in his mind, heart, and soul. He tried going to the fair every Sunday, but fate didn't let their paths cross again.
The boy never left his mind ever since that day, but alas they were destined to meet but not destined to stay in each other's lives.
His mind replayed that scene like it was a scene from his favorite movie.
"We have a new student today ! Did you bring something that you hold dear to your heart for today's discussion."
"Hi, my name is Lee Felix, and yes, I did." The deep voice said.
"These both are my most treasured items. A bear headband, and a spiderpig plushie."
The words caught Hyunjin's attention, his heart beat faster as his mind started to tinker on its own.
"Could he be?" A thought form inside of his head, A speck of hope was born in his heart. he wanted
No. He needed to know that it was him. If he was that boy from that day.
"Could you tell us why? Mr.Lee."
"These things are the only reminder I got from a very special boy who saved me back then."
"The boy never left my side. He gave me courage while I was struck with fear when I got lost in the fair. I wish I could see him again."
It's him! His heart screamed at him to look at the boy.
Hyunjin bit his lower lip, and slowly turned his head. Their eyes met in a stand still. Like no one was there, except them.
"It's you!" they both exclaimed, gaze never leaving one another.
A smile crept on both of their lips, as their wishes came true but this time. It was the start of their blossoming story.