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Pure bliss.
Jisung feels it the moment he steps onto the boat.
It’s the same warm feeling that’s been growing inside him ever since he left the tower and began this journey with Jeongin, chasing the one thing he’s been dreaming of his whole life—the floating lights.
The blue water gleams beneath him. The lights of the village dance across the lake in a beautiful, perfect waltz. He carefully takes Jeongin’s outstretched hand and lowers himself into the tiny boat, inhaling the scent of the fresh water mixed in with the lingering aroma of the food from the shops nearby.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Jisung takes it all in. It’s not often he gets to be in a place like this, breathing and enjoying the fresh air. The light mood, the happy feeling. The cheerfulness of the people, the music drifting through the town, the delicious food he tasted for the first time today. And above all, the endless laughter and stories he shared with Jeongin, moments he knows will stay in his heart forever.
Forever. That’s how long Jisung wishes he could stay in this moment.
He listens as Jeongin thanks the man who lent them the boat before settling down beside him, the boat swaying them slightly.
“Come on, Bboki,” Jeongin says sweetly, taking Bboki in his hand and settling him down on the boat. “The best day of your life, you deserve the best spot.”
A giggle escapes Jisung’s mouth before he can stop it, and when he opens his eyes he sees Jeongin already staring at him. Fondly—or at least Jisung hopes so. Jeongin’s eyes catch the starlight, making them shine brighter than ever, and his smile makes Jisung’s stomach flutter with butterflies.
He shakes those thoughts away.
“Are you comfortable there, Bboki?” Jisung teases his small chick friend, Bbokari, instead. The animal chirps loudly, jumping a bit to show his excitement.
Jisung laughs, because he’s free to do so. Because he’s free and happy and sharing this lovely experience with his two friends—if he can even call Jeongin that.
He still couldn’t make sense of what Jeongin was to him exactly. He wasn’t just like the kind strangers he met along the way, the ones who sang about their endless dreams to Jisung. Or the warm villagers roaming the streets they passed earlier. Jeongin just felt… different. Whatever it was, Jisung knew it went beyond friendship. He just needed to make sense of his heart first.
The loud music from the village has faded by now, leaving only the steady drum of his heart and the gentle lapping of the water to be heard. Even the distant laughter behind them seems to disappear, as the boat rocks them farther from the dock.
Jisung breathes in again. For the first time, he feels completely healed. Even with all the healing power his hair holds, nothing has ever eased his mind and body like this. Though his heart feels like it might burst at any moment from anticipation.
The few people on the dock pay them no mind as the boat moves further away. The world isn’t scary like he once was afraid it would be. Not like Mother told him it would be, anyway. The people around them are not a threat, or criminals, or cruel strangers waiting to steal him and use him for his hair.
This place is magical. Beautiful. Being here with Bboki by his side and a handsome man stirring them towards the center of the lake, ready to witness all of Jisung’s dreams come true. It’s something out of his wildest dreams, and he can’t quite believe he’s finally living it.
However, there’s also a strange feeling that comes with all of this.
What if this is it? What if the lights aren’t like he dreamed of? Or worse, what if he sees them and has to go back to the tower with nothing left to hold on to?
Discovering something entirely new in just two days can be as overwhelming as it is beautiful. It’s been something Jisung always wanted, but never had the opportunity to experience. And now that he’s here, the thought of going back to the tower leaves a weird taste in his mouth.
After seeing so many exciting things in this place and only meeting the kindest people, going back would only leave him with an empty heart. He’s terrified to go back to a life where he was trapped, with nowhere to go, nothing new and exciting to do as the clock ticked and the hours passed and—
A soft laugh pulls him back from his thoughts.
Despite his turbulent mind, Jisung smiles. The sound of Jeongin’s laugh is warm, soothing. Steadying. “What are you laughing about?” he asks.
Jeongin sighs, and Jisung can still hear the smile in his voice when he speaks, “You just look so…peaceful. Like you belong in a place like this.”
Turning his head to the side, Jisung looks at Jeongin, still smiling softly, though his heart flutters at the sight of Jeongin’s dimpled smile. “Is that something to laugh about?”
Jeongin shakes his head. “It makes me happy. I haven’t felt this much joy in a long time, and it’s all thanks to you.”
That makes Jisung’s cheeks burn. He lowers his gaze to avoid the embarrassment, looking at his fidgety hands on his lap.
Of course, Jeongin catches the movement. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m actually kind of terrified,” Jisung confesses quietly, returning his gaze back to Jeongin.
“Why?” Jeongin asks, getting closer than before, knees knocking each other softly. He stares right at Jisung’s soul.
Or at least that’s how it feels for Jisung.
He sighs, turning his head to look at the Castle in front of him. “I’ve been looking out a window my whole life, dreaming about what it would feel like to see those lights rise in the sky. And now that I’m here… it all feels surreal. What if it’s not like I dreamed it would be?”
“Hey, look at me.” Jeongin gently lifts Jisung’s head with his fingers. “It will be.”
Jisung lets out the breath he didn’t know he was holding. He wants to look away and hide his face from the intensity of Jeongin’s eyes, but the soft grip on his chin stops him. “But what if it is?“ he murmurs. “What if it’s everything I wanted…and then I have to go back there? What do I do then?”
“Ah, you see…” Jeongin smiles, all dimples and fox-like eyes. “That’s the best part. You get to find a new dream.”
“A new dream?”
Jeongin hums. “Dreams never end, Ji. Not for you. Your heart’s too full of them and your mind’s too beautiful not to dream again.” He pauses, his gaze flickering away for just a second before he smiles softly, eyes back on Jisung. “But for now…” He gently tilts Jisung’s head towards the Castle and oh.
The second Jisung registers what’s happening, he gasps. He wastes no time in rushing towards the end of the boat and gripping the post tight to ground himself in the moment. His breath catches in his throat, and so does his heart when he takes in the scene in front of him.
Hundreds of lanterns float like stars across the sky, illuminating the water beneath them and casting a warm glow on every surface Jisung looks at. Hues of yellow and orange fill the space around him, contrasting with the dark blue of the sky. It’s so warm, so breathtaking, like all these lanterns are meant for him.
Like this is where he has belonged all this time.
A light tap on his shoulder makes him turn. It’s Bboki. Though his breath hitches when his eyes fall on the person in front of him; Jeongin is holding two lanterns, smiling at him softly, tenderly, like it’s just the two of them in this world. The sight reminds Jisung of the couple they saw earlier in town. The way they were beaming at each other as they walked, hand in hand, sharing small smiles and touches that spoke of something deeper, something everlasting.
Jisung wonders if that’s what this is. If what he feels for Jeongin is love, and if Jeongin feels it too.
But, how could he know? He’s never been in love. Never known anyone to tell if this is what a friendship is like… or if it’s something entirely different.
Sure, he’s read thousands of books about romance and falling in love. Books about soulmates and people that are destined to be. But now that he‘s learned nothing is ever like he expected it to be, are those stories he read even true?
Will Jeongin pull away if Jisung gets too close? Or will he pull him closer? Hold him like Jisung’s been waiting for him to do?
“This is…” Jisung starts, but the tears threatening to fall cut him off. He has so many things to say, so many feelings to explore. He just doesn’t know how to.
Jeongin understands. Of course he does. Carefully, he hands one lantern to Jisung, cradling the other in both hands, close to his chest but not too close to let the flame burn him.
“Is it like you dreamed it would be?” he whispers.
With that question, his focus shifts back to this moment.
It’s… more. So much more. Like his dreams were only showing him a tiny glimpse of what the real thing would be like. He can’t describe this feeling. He just feels free, like he can finally breathe again. Like watching the lanterns around him have punched the air out of him and replaced it with something lighter, but still just as powerful.
He doesn’t tell Jeongin that. But the look in his eyes must tell everything, as Jeongin’s eyes soften.
“Ready?” Jeongin gestures at the lanterns, and Jisung can only nod, afraid his voice will break if he tries to say another word.
The tears he’s been holding back finally break free when they let go of the lanterns. He watches as they float around together in a blur, like they’re dancing around each other, in their own world.
He feels a hand brushing his cheek, wiping the tears away, and his gaze flickers back to the person in front of him. Jeongin’s glowing, not only because of the thousands of lights shining above them, but he’s beaming. It makes Jisung beam back at him.
They don’t say anything. There’s no need to. They just let the moment wash over them in the most heavenly way possible. Jeongin looks at him in a way Jisung can’t decipher, his eyes shining brighter than the stars, and Jisung has never felt this delicate before. This loved.
He goes to lean in closer, afraid of making the wrong move and ruining this perfect night. But Jeongin waits patiently, eyes going back and forth between Jisung’s eyes and lips. It’s like he wants Jisung to take the next step, to take the lead on what happens next. And Jisung is thankful for that as he finally closes the distance between them.
The kiss is nothing like the romance books he’s read. There’s no sparks, no fireworks, no grand revelation.
It’s even better.
Whatever Jisung dreamed his first kiss would be like, it’s a million times more. It’s warm and comfortable. Precious, in the way Jeongin cradles his face between his hands and tilts their heads tenderly, as if he were holding the most valuable piece of art. It’s lovely, the soft press of Jeongin’s lips against his own. So perfect and pillowy.
There’s a hint of shyness as they kiss, like it’s all new to them.
And in a way, it is.
Their lips mold together perfectly, as if they were meant to do this their whole lives. Jeongin smiles against Jisung’s lips, making Jisung smile back and kiss harder. Deeper. He can’t get enough of this.
Butterflies soar in his stomach as they pull back to catch their breaths.
They rest their foreheads together, breathing in sync.
“You’re beautiful,” Jeongin breathes out.
Jisung feels a warmth spreading through him that has nothing to do with the lanterns still floating around them and everything to do with Jeongin.
His heart feels full, all worries about the future lost in the sea of glowing lights and the feeling of being loved. Jeongin takes his hand, brushing his thumb lightly against Jisung’s knuckles, and he knows this is only the beginning of another chapter in his life.
He has found his new dream.