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Jay’s head hurt. He was exhausted, and he knew that in his bed, passed out, was where he should be. However, he couldn’t help but feel awake, even a little restless.
He had a big day of work ahead of him tomorrow. They would perform Daydream on Music Bank, and a dance practice too. Overall, not the busiest, but he even felt exhausted the night before. Every bit of energy seemed to be sapped from him by the end of each day, so he knew he should sleep, but he felt like doing something instead. He didn’t know what. Just something. His mind was too hyperactive to ever fall asleep.
He let out a potent sigh, shoving away his empty bowl of instant ramyeon and picking up his phone. No sooner did he open Instagram did he was getting a call from Jungwon, his silly contact photo taking up the whole screen. Jay nearly jumped in surprise, then laughed softly at the photo, a stupid 0.5 he’d taken recently showcasing a huge nose and bulging doe eyes.
“What?” he asked, playfully sour.
“Jay-hyung,” Jungwon mumbled into the phone, his voice soft. “It’s snowing outside.”
Jay turned to the window, a little flicker of excitement. It was too dark to tell, the light of the room reflected off the glass. He really should close the shades. “Oh? I can’t see it.”
“You should come with me,” he asked. “I’m going on a walk. It’s so beautiful out there.”
Jay’s leg stopped twitching. “Of course. Wanna meet outside in five minutes?”
Jungwon hummed. “See you, hyung.”
“See you.”
Jay was happy both to get rid of his restless feelings and to see Jungwon. His heart raced with excitement thinking of a beautiful snowfall, city lights, and his best friend. It probably wasn’t even that cold at only… oh. He sighed, standing up and smoothing down his shirt. It was 10:24 pm. It might be pretty cold.
Either way, he wouldn’t want to keep Jungwon waiting. He laced up his favorite pair of white shoes, which in all truth probably weren’t warm enough, and threw on a puffy winter jacket.
He and Jungwon were in separate dorms, so he hurried down the stairs and waited outside, his fists jammed in his pockets for warmth. It was absolutely breathtaking, and at first, Jay didn’t even feel the cold. Clumpy flakes met the ground and melted immediately onto the pavement, making it slick. Jay briefly wondered if ice would form by morning.
He heard a door open, saw Jungwon walk out.
“Woah,” Jungwon breathed, looking out at the road and the thick snowfall. Jay watched snowflakes sprinkle his hair and eyelashes.
“It is really pretty,” Jay mused, waiting until Jungwon’s eyes met his. They nodded, smiles grazing their features, and set off to the right. The bustle of the city was as present as it always was, but it seemed somehow muffled by the appearance of snow. It was like little specks of magic.
“Agh, my feet are so cold,” Jay complained, mostly just to himself. “I should’ve worn something else.”
“But it’s not real winter yet,” Jungwon countered. “I don’t have the right shoes either.”
Jay shrugged. “I guess this is the first time it’s snowed for a while.”
Jungwon turned to him with a smile that warmed the very air around them. “It’s pretty special.”
Jay agreed, and they fell into a comfortable silence as they approached Yongsan Station. Jungwon was right. It was very special. There were kids building a snowman, and couples and groups of friends standing in awe of the very first snowfall of the winter.
Oh. Right, the first snow.
Suddenly, all the couples out on the street stood out stark against the dark winter landscape as if they’d been singled out by red laser pointers. Of course they were all out here. It was the first snow. Jay could practically taste the prospects of true love in the crisp air. It made his stomach tumble.
“Jungwon,” Jay started, having been struck by an idea. “Let’s cross the street so we can see the skyline.”
“Photo op?” Jungwon guessed.
“Why not?”
They stood at the street corner, Jay a little finicky in the cold. He shook out his legs in an effort to stop shivering now that they were standing still. He stood closer to Jungwon, pushing into his bubble then popping it.
“Cold, Jay-hyung?” Jungwon grinned.
“Very,” Jay huffed, staring intently at a strand of hair on his friend’s head.
“Ah,” he voiced. Then, “we can cross.”
They walked side by side, a little quicker now that they had a destination in mind. Their footsteps matched and their coats made swish sounds when they rubbed together. Jay was lost in thought, comforted by the rhythm of their promenade and the sounds of engines, rubber tires against wet asphalt. There sure were a lot of people out. Maybe they should put their hoods up, to avoid some image of them circulating tomorrow? Not that it would be a big issue, just an invasion of privacy. But should they? It was the night of the first snow. They’d be seen with all the couples, and they–
“Jay-hyungggggggg,” Jungwon drew out, poking a cold finger into his cheek.
“Ow. What?”
“I asked if you wanna get a picture together?”
Jay’s head was filled with couples, true love, and mild anxiety. “Together?”
Jungwon’s smile was blinding, scrunching his eyes. “Yes,” he laughed. “Together.”
“Sure,” he said, quickly. “But hey, should we put our hoods up or something? There are a lot of people out today.”
Jungwon deflated a little. “They all seem occupied,” he commented half-heartedly. “But yeah, you’re probably right.”
Shrugging his hood over his head, and watching Jungwon do it too, Jay mourned the loss of the pretty snowflakes in his friend’s blonde hair. Jay had said it plenty of times, but he still said it again. “I love your hair this way. It suits you.”
Jungwon grinned. “Yeah, I know, hyung.”
Affection bloomed in his chest, and he pinched Jungwon’s side, hoping to get some skin underneath the 3+ layers he was undoubtedly wearing. “Hey!”
“Sorry,” Jay laughed, his voice a murmur he only saved for the other.
“Okay, where do you want your photo?”
Jay began to survey their surroundings. He wanted to capture the skyline… oh, and the Yongsan sign was right there, illuminated in the night. That was cool. He took out his phone, ignoring the cold biting at his skin, and snapped a picture, framing the sign and the skyscrapers as best he could see. The picture turned out okay, considering the snow was now falling so heavily it was starting to look like a storm.
Jungwon was looking over his shoulder. “I want one too.” He jogged a little bit past Jay and took a quicker picture. “This was a good idea.”
“Yeah, it’s…” Jay trailed off. He and Jungwon were a few paces apart, just standing and staring. He no longer felt cold. “It’s really nice out here.”
“Yeah…” Jungwon echoed. He shrugged his shoulders, and Jay could see some wavy blonde strands even underneath his hood. “The first snow.”
Jungwon, even in his bundled-up state, was perfect. So picturesque, a silhouette against the light, features illuminated dimly. Those wonderful wisps of hair sneaking out to catch a snowflake or two. His eyes, the gaze that made Jay feel like he was worth the world. He pulled out his phone once more, snapping another picture.
“Hey,” Jungwon pouted. “What happened to taking a picture together?”
“Oops,” Jay grinned, crossing the distance between them and taking a quick selfie. He opened it. “Aww.”
Jungwon nodded in approval. The picture was nice, their smiling faces with the inviting winter landscape. It was such a beautiful place. It called for something… special. Something just as beautiful.
Jay swallowed hard. He would try to let his heart live up to the expectations of such a beautiful night. He looked at Jungwon, and suddenly, it wasn’t difficult. Suddenly, it was like they were always supposed to end up here. “I’m happy to see the first snow with you, Jungwon.”
Jungwon’s lips parted, and Jay could see his slow exhale in the form of a cloudy breath. “Me too,” he smiled, looking those couple of inches up at Jay. “That’s why I asked you out here.”
Jay grabbed him, pulling him into a tight embrace. The snow whirled around them as if they were in a cocoon, sheltered from the cold. The air around them, sweet and fresh, felt again like the prospects of true love. “I love you, Jungwon-ah,” he pushed past his lips, through Jungwon’s hood to his ear. He hoped it was loud and clear.
Jungwon squeezed him tighter, the snow fell harder. “I love you too.”