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"Sang-woo!"
The boy could hear Gi-hun call his voice from miles away. The fluffy haired man approached him quickly, another brown guy following close behind him. Sang-woo stood up, putting out the cigarette he was holding then smashing it under his foot. Gi-hun greeted him with a smile and a harsh clap on the back which caused him to sputter from his previous smoking session. The man next to Gi-hun seemed timid, almost like he was scared to meet Sang-woo. He couldn't help but observe his clothes from his shoes all the way up to his face.
"Ok, remember that cool space guy I told you about? Thought you should meet him! Go on, introduce yourself, don't be shy!"
Sang-woo pushed his glasses up on his face before holding out a hand for the boy to shake. He was hesitant, but he took it. His shake was firm as well, something Sang-woo could respect.
"Ali Abdul. From Pakistan."
"Cho Sang-woo. Nice to meet you."
Ali Abdul had become an often reoccurrence in Sang-woo's life. He would show up when least expected and unexpectedly make the mans day. Sang-woo hated it. He hated the way he was so passionate. So kind. So naive, yet aware. How he was always considering other people's feelings. The worse thing was the fact he never had to do anything to make Sang-woo feel good, all he had to do was be there. Every time he was around the overworked and tired man, it seemed like things just got better for him. Ali Abdul was his ray of sunshine after a dark storm.
Then they finally became friends. Ali Abdul was a dream. A dream of a beautiful sunset after the sky cleared up from bad weather. A sunset you believed would never come through after all the pain. A sunset that seemed almost ethereal. After the sunset was a warm, comforting night. A sweet, warm night.
Sang-woo felt as if he was dreaming. The night was warm as he drove up to Gi-hun's house. His mother decided a car was fitting for his sweet sixteen, he was forever grateful. It seemed Gi-hun was too.
"Help me get him to be, will you?"
Ali nodded without hesitation, wrapping his arm around the drunken man's shoulders and trying to drag him into the home. Sang-woo closed the car door behind them, following Gi-hun's mother into the house. He let her usher her idiotic son to his room to not disturb Ali and himself any more than she had. This was the last time he'd ever be out this late. He was exhausted.
The late summer air was practically drowning him more than necessary Sang-woo was ready to get home. At the same time, he had Ali Abdul in his front seat with him at this very moment. His heart surged with anticipation. The potential this care ride had was suffocating, it made him want to drive until the forces of nature were the only things left to stop them.
"Where to next?"
"It's your car, you can decide."
"Well said, I need a smoke."
Sang-woo was a fast driver. He pushed his foot down on the gas as soon as they were on the highway. He sped past establishment after establishment until the city was just a blur of lights. Ali sat, staring in awe at the sight out the window when Sang-woo cracked all the windows in the car. A little fresh air never hurt anyone. Ali was only disappointed when they arrived at their destination. For a second, he thought the older male was taking him home. When he did take note of his surroundings, he found himself in an empty parking lot.
Ali heard the door to the driver's seat shut and a rush of fear shot right through him. His nerves were calmed when he found Sang-woo in the backseat moments later, cigarette in one hand and lighter in the other. Ali hesitated before unbuckling his own seat belt, stepping out of the car and getting into the backseat alongside his friend. Sang-woo rolled the windows down a bit more as he lit a cigarette, staring out at the city lights like it was the last time he'd ever see them.
"Do you think about your future, Ali?"
Ali turned his head to Sang-woo, slightly curious about his question.
"All the time, why?"
"No reason.. I'm just.. worried."
"About what? Aren't you going to college?"
"Do you smoke?"
Ali shrugged, Sang-woo handed him the pack and lighter, expecting him to know what to do. Ali had never held a cigarette in his life. He glanced up at Sang-woo to see how he did it. The stick was perfectly balanced between two of his fingers like it was meant to be. The least he could do was try to copy his actions, propping the cigarette between to fingers and attempting to light it, although he fumbled the lighter.
"Let me do it."
Sang-woo was gentle when he was around Ali. Almost like he was a porcelain doll, so fragile that he could crack under a wrong glance. He started up the lighter, holding his own cigarette on one side of his mouth, pointed away from the other. His grip was loose as he grabbed his hand to have better balance. His hands were cold as ice, yet Ali never moved under his touch. His chill was satisfying. Like scratching just in the right spot. It was like he put a drug into the boy he never knew he needed. Something he could definitely become addicted to.
"Don't inhale, once you feel it, exhale. Breathing it in could get you sick."
He trusted that advice. Trying to follow it was harder said than done. He tried his hardest not to inhale the substance, but he couldn't resist the natural urge. Sang-woo grinned at his attempt, reaching over to pat him on the back as he coughed and sputtered, trying to return whatever had just plagued his lungs. Maybe smoking just wasn't for him.
"You don't want to go home yet?"
Once he recovered from the toxic substance, he started with questioning why the two of them were out so late.
"I can take you home if you want."
"Oh, no. I want to stay with you."
"You sure? It's no trouble."
Ali nodded furiously. Every moment with Sang-woo was beautiful. Every conversation could draw him in. There was something so alluring about him, Ali just couldn't figure it out. Honestly, he couldn't figure out if he liked Sang-woo or if he liked Sang-woo. Either way, he was pleased how much of an impact he made on his life.
A person was never able to make more of an impact on him in his life. The bullet was able to Pierce Sang-woo's brain when he wasn't even the one to get shot. It was the way he said his name. So nostalgic, the word rolled off his tongue with a familiar warmth. Something he only felt during a tragic, quiet, summer. The way he said his name reminded him of the sweet taste of freedom and love in the backseat of a car.
Sang-woo could feel himself becoming sick as he was ushered out of the game room. His heart yearned for the memories the two shared in that car once again. He was stupid for not remembering. Maybe then, things would've been different. His mouth had a foreign taste in it. It was sweet, almost like a cigarette. He swallowed hard, trying to drown the thoughts out along with the familiar taste. There was nothing he could do. Ali was gone.
It was almost like he woke up from a dream he'd never remember. The warmth of the sunset started to die out as the moon rose, a dark storm threatening his life. His dream was over the moment he switched out the marbles. His heart yearned for the face of the man who made him feel human, who made him feel right.
As the prize money went up, he finally saw past his feelings. No dream could last forever. This one just happened to drag out longer. Nothing like this was meant to last.