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“Um…should I be concerned about the blood on your shirt?”
Han Jisung’s eyes lingered on the rush of red splattered unto the taller boy’s white t-shirt, narrowly missing a budding grin.
‘We’re celebrating Halloween!’ Hyunjin declares, almost as if he was reprieved to finally be out with it — which didn’t feel far fetched: Hwang Hyunjin was shit at secrets and surprises.
His brows quirk and he blinks to the point where all he senses is black then he nudges his head back into the door just to stare at the window and make sure the beaming sun was still in the sky.
“It’s—“ he says as he returns his gaze to the older boy. “June.”
Hyunjin’s grin grows. “We’re celebrating early.”
Once again, a physiological reaction happens to his eyelids and he’s blinking rapidly again.
“You’re celebrating five months early?”
The older rolls his eyes and pushes overgrown newly dyed black hair out of his eyes. “Get dressed.”
It’s the tone of his voice that makes Jisung grumble his way back inside — he knew Hyunjin would probably annoy him one way or another until he agreed so it was best to save his energy, anyway.
It was dark out as they made their way into the street: seven in the night, after all. The streets were troubled with masses of people for some reason and they had to squeeze past numerous bodies on sidewalks so maybe that was what distracted Jisung from the fact that they’d been walking for a while and all in the wrong directions; he had no idea where they were going.
“Hey,” he called out to Hyunjin after ten minutes. “When you said we’re celebrating Halloween did you mean—“
“Oh, it’s just us.” The blackhead nods. “Sorry, I see how I should’ve worded that better.”
A sigh rocked his chest. “Where are we even going?”
“I’d say it’s a surprise but it’s literally right down the corner.”
“Uh…the corner is a dead end graveyard so I don’t—“ Jisung interrupted himself when he sees a hint of a smirk on Hyunjin’s lips. “Hwang.” He said instead.
An amused laugh seeped breathily from the taller figure. He drawled, “Yes?”
“Why’re you taking me to a graveyard?”
“Remember when you said friendship is scary and I was all ‘don’t worry Han, I’ll save you with my compassion and understanding and kindness’ and I promised baby steps?” His cheeks have grown increasingly red from holding in a laugh.
Jisung nods and breathes through his nose. “Hwang?”
“Yes…?”
“What makes you think it’s a good idea to begin baby steps in a place where people die?”
“Oh, where’s your Halloween spirit, Han? Scary things build trust.”
“Trust?” He finally screeched. “This is supposed to be the most haunted graveyard in the country.”
He finally let the laughter jump out of his lungs and as he doubled over, Jisung could only fight the — really, really strong — urge to punch the laughter right out of his organs. (Because violence, apparently, is not the answer).
“Come on, Han Jisung, don’t tell me you believe in ghosts?”
“I might not but that doesn’t mean I’m walking into a graveyard at night.”
Eventually, the laughter and wheezing noises die down just as they stopped in front of the rickety gates of the burial ground and Jisung could have sworn he felt a chill rush at him.
“After you.” He said to Hyunjin, ignoring the way he rolled his eyes and sauntered inside the oddly opened gates.
Just as he made to move, he heard a soft sound and felt pressure on his legs. He stopped himself from jumping just in time.
“Meow.” He looked down to find a large black cat rubbing against him.
“Aw, it likes you already. Must be because you’re both evil and grim.” Hyunjin tiltated from a couple of feet away. “You should pet it, for good luck.”
Jisung glances up at him and even as he’s already crouching down, asked. “Isn’t that the other way round?”
The taller boy shook his head. “No.“
So there he was, in a graveyard, petting a black cat for a little over two minutes before he had to travel deeper into the death site. They walked for a few minutes before Hyunjin suddenly stopped in front of a creepy looking shack probably belonging to a graveyard attendant.
“No.” Jisung mimicked. “There is no way I’m walking in there.”
He expected the older boy to plead or at least try to convince him with weird aegyo. Instead, Hyunjin shrugs.
“Okay. I guess I’ll just leave you out here, then. You see that scarecrow over there?” He pointed at a creepy looking stick man further down the field. “He comes alive at eight at night, looking for lone undead souls wandering.”
“Shut up, Hwang. That’s a decoration you probably put up. It isn’t real.”
Hyunjin shrugged and made to go inside. “I hues you’ll find out.”
Jisung was almost tempted to stand his ground but one glance at the abnormally real looking thing coupled with the hooting of owls in the distance broke down his resolve faster than he could ever have imagine.
“Fine!” He declared, running after the disappearing figure.
Inside the shack was nothing like he’d imagined: clean, rustic, autumn themed with many means of luxury lying around — a bed, lounge chair, bean bag, mini fridge, a flat screen TV.
Just how much were they paying the graveyard attendant? And why did outside look so dilapidated?
“I’m not watching horror with you.” He said as his eyes drew way from the only window in the cabin which painted away from the graveyard and to the other side of the road — it’s comforted him.
“I was thinking romcom.” Hyunjin returned from locking the door and beamed, hooking his charger and a spare (for Jisung) into a socket below the TV.
He visibly relaxed after the words, claiming the large bed like bean bag since it had an unobstructed view of the TV. And even with all the available surfaces in the medium sized scan in, Hyunjin still decided to lay with him.
He wanted to roll his eyes but he knew he didn’t mind much — and he had to put in as much effort.
Just as they’d settled in, blackhead bolted upright.
“Oh, before I forget—“ he reached into a bag that was just casually and mysteriously laying beside the bed and he pulled out another white T-shirt with fake blood stains.
Jisung did roll his eyes then. “I’m not doing couple costumes with you.”
Hyunjin threw a hand to his chest, wounded. “Wow.”
“What?” The you get boy asked once he was sure nothing else was going to be said.
“Wow.“ the brunette simply stared at him and shook his head.
“What?” Jisung asked sterner.
“I don’t know.” Hyunjin shrugged. “It’s just, I prepared this entire experience for us and paid good money too and all I ask is you wear a cleverly crafted blood stained t-shirt and you just…wow.”
Han Jisung stared at the dramatic figure in front of him — Hyunjin had slumped over and grabbed his heart — and rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time. A hint of a smile played at his lips.
“You’re insufferable.” He muttered.
At the tell tale signs of yield, he sat up straight. “Matching costumes?”
Jisung stared excitement in the face the longer he gazed in his eyes and along with a satisfying night, he tasted more escapades in the future. Besides, he had to do his part. So with a dramatized sigh and a promise for a stronger friendship, he held his hands out.
“Fine.”