Work Text:
In a way, Daeul has always been his anchor.
Leading him by the hand, the same bright smile on his face, he was always the one that brought the courage out of Junseo to do what he wanted— or was simply the one that had enough courage for the both of them.
But people often didn’t understand that.
Why do you hang out with him so much? Isn’t he a bother?
That was the main question often directed his way, whenever people spotted them out together— on campus, at the shopping mall, at the arcade, at the movies, hands entwined with one another, Daeul’s head leaning against Junseo’s shoulder.
Junseo never had the courage to tell them the truth— always avoided the question with a half smile, making up any excuse to leave and drag Daeul away, before the other had the misfortune to come within earshot.
Because the truth was never that Daeul stuck to him.
No, it was Junseo who needed Daeul.
Being with Daeul was like breathing to him. Natural and comfortable and wonderful, and any moment spent away from him was like having the air taken out of his lungs.
The other was always so smart, so bright, so determined— like a burning star in the night sky.
And as long as he shone, he made sure to keep Junseo with him, eyes crinkling with the force of his smile.
I like being with him. He makes me happy. He supports me. Even when everyone else sees me as just a nervous, introverted wreck, he thinks of me as someone special. And I think he’s special too. I would follow him to the ends of the earth.
They’re the words that he would say if he had the courage.
But he doesn’t.
Instead he bottles it up inside, engraving the words into his heart— and simply walks away, holding Daeul’s hand a little tighter, revelling in the blinding sunlight of the other’s smile as Junseo offers to buy him a treat from his favourite store, because he just knows him that well.
Because it didn’t matter what others thought.
As long as he had Daeul, that was enough for him.