Work Text:
To see his best friend’s joy and enthusiasm made almost everything worth it in the end. Someone he has been through thick and thin with, standing shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. The person who served as his anchor and the person he would sacrifice everything for.
The blinding rage he felt the day would remain an unhealed wound. The sudden absence of a person that sat in front of him in class. Deafening silence where not a text or call was answered. Walking to and from school alone only to find out a couple of days later what had been done. Park Humin was well aware of who was responsible and took his anger out on them. His ears rang as his fists collided with ribs, arms, shoulders, and skulls. Not even the key players were punished as hard but he refused to acknowledge the remaining guilt on that part. The names alone burned his tongue if he were to utter them out loud.
The talk with Go Hyuntak’s mom was difficult. Humin had never ran to the hospital so fast to the point he almost trampled over her. He peered into the room through the door’s window, observing the scene as she spoke. He remembered the large words she spoke as she talked about what had happened. Mostly because she was knowledgeable in this field and simply reiterating what she heard. It was severe—that was for sure.
‘Both anterior and posterior ligaments were completely torn. The doctors said he can’t compete anymore.’
Humin would be lying if he said he knew exactly where those were. Eyes focused on his friend, outside of his room, and studying the full extent of his injuries. Small bandages covered up various cuts alongside one side of his face, mostly around his left eye. That same eye was swollen shut with deep bruising lingering. A small cut on his lip and one across the bridge of his nose. His eyes moved down the right leg propped up on a couple of pillows. The knee in particular was wrapped in bandages to protect the recent wounds and surgical sight. Around his leg was one of those long, restricting braces that started halfway up his thigh and down to right above his ankle.
Hyuntak was resting for now, still being kept for one more night for observation. His mom mentioned that he also has a concussion from the force of the injuries. Admittedly, her words started to jumble together at some point. Expressing how she wished he never got into these fights and how she doesn’t know how to give her son his future back. Words that made Humin grow silent; quietest he has been in a while. Tears formed in her eyes as she watched the boy carefully. Watching as her son’s best friend eyes were filled with tears that endlessly fell down his face. Words that blamed himself for this happening to Hyuntak. His hands reaching up to childishly, sloppily wipe away his tears that wouldn’t stop. He wished people would stop hurting and being hurt for his cause.
Word would spread around about recent events. Fortunately, Hyuntak’s name was never brought up. Instead, it was Baku’s. Kids would talk about how Baku took down several of those Union fuckers one evening. He was suspended yet again but some would say it was for a good cause. Others may argue it was hypocritical of him to preach that Eunjang students wouldn’t fight in any circumstance while being the one with the most offenses. Circles would question why he wouldn’t just comply and join, outsiders were thankful for his resilience as the school walls provided safety when he was present. None knew of the brewing conflict between him and the direct perpetrators of this injury.
None of that mattered to him. Humin tuned out the endlessly berating from his dad whenever he first came home after the suspension. Insult after insult was thrown at him but Humin didn’t find it in himself to care enough to listen or fight back. He looked down at his phone and re-read the text from Hyuntak’s mom. She answered his question of coming over to help. She had accepted it with her sending him her schedule and offered compensation. He declined the offer with the reasoning that they were basically family. It was a way for him to ensure his friend’s safety and wellbeing while helping out to mend what he had caused.
Hyuntak resided on the couch for the most part. Said something about how it was easier to access the bathroom if he stayed out here for now. Made it easier for his mom to ensure he was okay and safe. The first couple of times Humin came over to help out and provide company, there was a dullness to Hyuntak. Quieter, short responses, not as easy to get under his skin. One of the days his mom was home when he came over, she mentioned that at rehab, he wouldn’t stop asking how long until he could walk again without support. The estimated length crushed him as the pain was nonstop for a certain period of time. She would make offhanded comments about he wasn’t even trying at home to help rehabilitate his knee.
It wasn’t until Gotak watched as his friend broke down in front of him. Blaming himself for his ruined future and how he shouldn’t have to suffer on his behalf. Hyuntak saw the guilt weighing down on the person closest to a brother to him. He took it upon himself to shoulder some of it and push through. Reassuring him that it wasn’t his fault, it was the bastards that did this to him. Nothing more and nothing less.
Appointments started to be scheduled after school hours. Hyuntak had Humin accompany him to these rehab sessions he had a couple times a week. Baku studied exercises closely, watching the meticulous manual techniques to soothe the nerves, muscles, and skin around the scar area. He was there and was advised on how to properly instruct his friend when practicing certain things at home. And when at home, Baku would watch closely when Gotak was told to start practicing the basic motions of walking, and improving his range of motion within his restrictions. Holding a crutch or two hostage when Gotak desperately wanted a drink or a snack. Shaming him from not walking heel to toe with bending his knee to avoid building bad habits. Them going out together with each accomplishment—the biggest one being going out with no crutches and no brace. At some point, he was given approval to start transitioning back into working out in a gym. And after several months of rehabilitation, Hyuntak was discharged. Through everything…Humin was the physical encouragement and motivation Hyuntak needed to pursue a better future than the one his enemies wanted for him.
Hyuntak has been back at school was awhile now. Only after a couple of weeks of his injury did he go back to school. But now? Baku’s precious GoGo asked to join the basketball team. His arm hung from his friend’s shoulders and dramatically accepted him into the club. Through fake sobs, he declared how this was always a dream of his and how his little GoGo has finally grown into a true man to participate in such a sport. ‘No competing,’ repeated in his mind as the knee he was worried about was wearing a soft brace, supporting the knee for any harsh impact alongside providing necessary compression if the knee was to swell up.
The initial practices were rough. Sudden movements and jerks caused short-lived pains and lingering soreness. Icing after each practice until at some point, his body grew resilient. Tournaments were big deals as they would play back-to-back matches. Long and stressful days yet the team would come out on top. Hands on each other’s shoulders and huge grins on their faces. Even when the infamous Yeon Sieun transferred and trouble started to stir up the next year. Sure, there was a rough patch when the Union conflict started to reach its climax but it reminded them of how far they would go for each other. Go Hyuntak, teamed with Seo Juntae and Yeon Sieun, fought to bring back their Baku after word was getting around that he joined the Union. Park Humin, seeking revenge for those that laid their finger on his friends the moment they were threatened yet again by Baekjin.
Hyuntak was willing to fight until his body was unable to move. Humin was willing to kill until everyone that hurt them were gone. They balanced each other out. Gotak often grounding Baku before he crossed the line of no return. Baku would hold back Gotak before he tried to stand on broken legs. He would never admit this out loud but Humin thanked Sieun for stepping in at the perfect moment in the fight. He wouldn’t know what he would’ve done if Hyuntak actually had to go against Baekjin once more.
Humin was blessed with blissful days with his friends. Grateful for how far they have come. Grateful for being able to graduate together. Grateful that they were together. While Baekjin was gone and left a devastating hole in his heart, his friends were there to support him and remind him of who still remained. Not even Gotak could replace or fill the emptiness left by Baekjin’s death but he would be there the same way Baku was there for him. Mostly distractions and a promise of a fulfilling future. Days where the two were never alone and were always at someone’s place. At some point, Hyuntak’s mom asked if Humin was moving in with how often he was there and the length of his stays. The idea was entertaining but Gotak was adamant that if they were to live together, they needed separate rooms. There was a reason why Baku was forced to sleep on the couch some nights.. unfortunately, the reason didn’t involve any cute girls they hunted for. No, Gotak was just annoyed from being shoved out of his bed the previous night at 2:39 A.M.
Ideas of going to college kept coming up. Juntae and Sieun kept mentioning studying for entrance exams. Humin decided on going to an athletic college for basketball after some ‘lengthy’ consideration. Hyuntak’s decision wasn’t made so easily. In reality, he still couldn’t compete professionally. Tournament days in high school held a rough aftermath every time. Rainy days still caused his knee to stiffen up and ache. Going to an athletic college for a sport meant a lifetime of this never-ending routine. As much as he was thankful for joining the basketball team with Baku, he would only go to practices or small skirmishes. It wasn’t after long thoughts, walks, and talks that he came to a decision. One that would require him to step up his game long-term.
Fast forward a couple of years and the two were planned to hang out yet again that week. Hyuntak gave Humin a general time, informing him that he might be out sooner or later depending on how stuff went. It was during the basketball off season so no important games or practices were coming up so he didn’t mind the wait. The sidewalk was busy. Weekends meant the shopping strips and business areas were busy no matter what. Midday, not a cloud in the sky as the sun shined down on them. Making the present evermore real.
Humin sat on a bench with his phone in one hand and a basketball in the other (a habit he seemed to never have broke). Juntae was speaking in their shared group chat of five people. It started with asking about everyone’s day so far. A cute bear sticker following the question. Sieun sent a short response but said how it was good so far. Most would’ve been satisfied with the answer until a photo was sent of Sieun and Suho hanging out again. Their closeness was a fond sight, after all. The two seemed to be at lunch together. Suho was the one who sent the photo, captioned it with how this place was a hike to get to. A smile on his face, Baku sent a text in reply before shoving his phone into his pocket.
He looked up at the sky as a dramatic sigh escaped from him. The mention of ‘a hike’ from Suho reminded him of the kid first woke up. An easy addition to their band of misfits. After working on her physical wellbeing, making sure his body was no longer running on the bare minimum and had some strength built up, ideas of him walking were put into their minds. The estimated time for his recovery was given rather loosely. Said that it heavily depended on how long he was out and how much effort he was willing to put into this. Each person offered the support and encouragement. For a while, it was just Sieun who accompanied him through those rough initial patches. It reminded Humin of when Hyuntak first had to go through rehabilitation.
Juntae offered sweet words of encouragement. Soft spoken but backed by determination, some parroted logic, and sincerity for the present. Sieun took more of a logical stance. Blunt but hoped for the best while looking at the complete picture. Wanting to be there for Suho the same way Suho was for him. Humin often reminded them of the bright future ahead of them. Saying they would practice day in and day out if needed. The tone of his words conveyed how much he cared and wished for the best. Even sneaking in a tense how Gotak even managed to survive his time. Hyuntak spoke from experience. Gave advice from the past. And his personal experience. Sure, Humin accompanied him through those times but his thoughts and feelings weren’t told to a single soul. That was stuff was then told to Suho. Further down the line, Gotak would even come visit to help solely with rehabilitating. Moving from a wheelchair to a walker, then to a walker to a cane. A purpose that made him feel fulfilled.
The thought process led him to consider if that was a motivation for his Gotak to choose such a path. A future that Humin was convinced was forever gone and destroyed thanks to him was persevering. Thriving as Gotak found purpose else where that allowed him to be active, to do what he previously enjoyed before his knee was fucked up. At first, the idea of Gotak pursuing Physical Therapy seemed a bit out of left field. It caught Baku off guard initially but it made sense. It made him feel like a proud fatherly figure for his best friend.
He checked his watch for the time. It was near the time that Hyuntak gave him for when he would be done. He stood up and stepped closer to the building, observing the indoors of the dojang. The very dojang that Hyuntak used to train at and now worked at to help teach classes on the weekends. His eyes watched as his friend performed moves and stunts that doctors swore he wouldn’t be able to do again. There were no gold medals or trophies that had Go Hyuntak engraved in them. But the desire for a future filled with those no longer haunted them as a bad dream. Just a wish for a successful and bright future was enough for them. Gotak even briefly mentioned that seeing the kid he taught win the medals instead was enough. That the idea of helping people to stand on their own two feet again was enough.
Park Humin had no regrets for anything to end up where he stood in that moment. To see his best friend, his brother, his soulmate find joy in life again made him feel fulfilled. For once, he felt like he had done something right in his life and the proof of it was the smile on Go Hyuntak’s face.