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Over the Shrine On the Hill

Happy Hobi Day~<3

There was not much to do in the miniscule village that was Gwandong in Jeollanam-do’s most South West. Not much but maybe hiking the mountains that surrounded the traditional homes and shops that lined the just barely paved road with winding dirt roads that branched off into hills. Most children who attended the one school in the entire village helped with chores, and would find solace in playing make-belief or football with each other before the night’s end; some even ventured towards the river that separated Jeollanam-do from Gyeongsangsam-do and would skip rocks across the clear water.

It was a simple life they lived with only one market, one school, two restaurants and one doctor; a place where everyone was known, even if you were a nobody.

Jung Hoseok had always wondered if that was even a good thing.

Of course, Gwandong was not Seoul. Not every family owned a TV, and if a home did have a TV, it was not guaranteed that one could get all of the channels with the best TV shows. There were no karaoke rooms to sing ones troubles away, nor any easy way to travel; the largest city was two hours by a bus that hardly came often enough to make it worth it.

But even so, it was home, and to be quite frank, Jung Hoseok ought to have been thankful—at least, that was what he told himself every night as he stared wide at his ceiling in the middle of the night. Among the others in the small village, he lived quite comfortably as the village Chief’s son. His home, despite the slight draft that seeped through the walls of their home in the winter, was far warmer and secure than the others. And not only did he have a TV in his home, but he could get all the popular dramas from Seoul. Hoseok never had to worry about food on the table or clothing on his back—no, because of who he was, Jung Hoseok could live comfortably.

At school, too, Jung Hoseok was popular. With just a few wise-cracks or exaggerated gestures of his body he could cause a great eruption of laughter from his classmates, and with just one smile he could make them all feel at a home.

“You’re just like your father!” His teachers would exclaim, simply bleeding with pride. “So kid and funny!”

Those words stuck on his back like those stubborn pieces of lint that you just couldn’t pick off without them appearing somewhere else on your body. It wasn’t particularly flattering; more annoying and burdensome than anything. It made the reality of his life and all the complexities that lay hidden underground feel all the more real.

It was true that his father was a kind and funny man in the presence of his people. Hoseok also shared his father’s heart-shaped lips and extravagant laughter, and like Hoseok, Chief Jung could bring a homey-comfort to his people while effortlessly solving problems that arose.

Naturally, that was in front of the people; only Hoseok and his mother saw him behind closed doors.

At home, Chief Jung was a different man; quiet, and solemn with the heavy expectations the weighed down on his exhausted expression. He was strict and firm with Hoseok to not only maintain his own image, but to train his son to be a controlled and disciplined leader like himself. Thus, Hoseok knew that same exhaustion after a day of entertaining his classmates and teachers. It led him to question who he really was—who was he really kidding? Who had he become under the watchful eye of his father?

Hoseok reckoned his father felt the same, and for that reason they argued often in their exhaustive states at home. Hoseok did not want to be his father who had become bitter from exhaustion and hiding his true his self. No, he did not want to become the next Chief like his parents had hoped and planned for him, and he certainly did not want to marry any of the girls in this town that had grown up alongside him like sisters.

He longed for a place outside of that small village where he could pursue his interests without a critic’s eye that would whisper about him to his father so he could be reprimanded later. Hoseok longed for a freedom where not a soul knew him and he was free to be him—whatever that was.

“Father, I just…I don’t wanna be Chief!”

It was a typical dinner in the Jung household. Hoseok’s mother had prepared a delicious meal, as per usual--and it was being brutally ruined by the never ending argument between father and son. It had become so common that the teen did not have to raise his head from bowl of soul to know that his father was giving him a glare that could pierce Hoseok frozen.

It was always the same.

“Nonsense,” Chief Jung scoffed before taking another spoonful of rice. He had only glared at his son for a split second so he could focus on the news on TV. “What else could yo’ possibly do, huh?”

Hoseok was still pierced mercilessly in the chest those very words. He was no the top in his class, but he most certainly was not the worst; in fact, he was quite average and had never understood why his father simply couldn’t accept him. There were far more exciting things that had compelled the soul of Jung Hoseok like music and dance, even his mother had recognized at least that much. For his last birthday four years ago his mother had purchased him a cassette player and a few tapes that he had asked for without his father’s initial knowledge. Hoseok practiced dancing every day like the people on TV and loved it more than Korean history, agriculture or mathematics.

“I dunno…study somethin’ in Seoul…”

“Seoul?” His father nearly choked. “Why Seoul? There ain’t a thing wrong with our Province!”

The teen flinched from the impact of his father’s tight fist on the table, rattling the utensils and foods.

“Seoul has allowed itself to be run by dictators and westerners.” He was becoming passionate again, Hoseok realized, and decided against arguing again. “If it weren’t for our gracious province, our country would still be nothin’!”

“At least it’s Seoul he wants, dear…” His mother sighed gently as she knelt beside their low sitting table and put more side dishes on the table. “It’s not like he’s askin’ to go to Busan—“

Just one mention of the swore enemy province in which the infamous city resides is enough to fuel a fearful glare from Chief Jung to silence Hoseok’s mother instantly; her head falls in apology.

The extraordinary urge through Hoseok to roll his eyes and assure his parents that he had not the slightest desire to Gyeongsang-do was enormous; however, he decided to do neither to keep himself from speaking out of line, and perhaps keep his parents a little anxious and on their toes for fun.

However, Hoseok was not a Jeollanam-do boy born yesterday, and he knew very well what that province meant to theirs. From Gyeongsang-do came two terrible dictators that heavily censored their country and increased the military presences in their cities. Jeolla-do’s largest city, Gwangju, marched on May 17, 1980 to protest against the dictator at the time, Chun Doonhwan to move towards democracy. It resulted in a massacre by the government with approximately 606 innocent Jeolla people dead; one of them had been Hoseok’s uncle.

Ever since, among other political and social reasons, those residing in Jeolla-do had remained bitter towards those in Gyeongsang-do. It was remarkable to Hoseok as he could easily step into the territory of their bitter enemies just by crossing the river that his little village bordered.

But he never did—he would never go there.

Instead of talking, Hoseok excused himself to escape to the river. He found himself walking up the dirt path along the water, following it north towards a neighbouring village on the other side called Beombawi. Sometimes Hoseok would see kids on that side too, but they never spoke—it was like an unspoken role to say nothing to them, for they were nothing to them.

That night Hoseok’s feet carried him further up the river than he usually walked. He kicked stones into the river as he slowly made his way up, humming tunes that he memorized from TV. There were a lot of new groups coming out from the Kpop scene then; he only really liked BIGBANG.

Thoughts flooded him as he walked and hummed. Since entering his second year of High School, Hoseok realized he had begun to spend more and more time alone, simply walking around his little village, watching TV or dancing with some of his classmates.

But that was it, he realized. His classmates had become more and more like just classmates than real friends. They only knew Hoseok as the smiling one, the mood-maker.

That was all.

Further and further Hoseok walked until he found a long board that stretched across the water to a large patch of land in the river that separated the two provinces. It consisted mostly of a hill, trees and a shrine that sat at the very top of the hill. A perfect place to let of some steam, Hoseok had concluded very quickly as he balanced across the board and climbed up to the top of the hill. He found himself overlooking the river and the two countries; the view simply frustrated him as he stared north—somewhere out there was Seoul and he was stuck there.

Then he began to shout.

“Why can’t I go where I wanna go, huh?” Hoseok growled as he threw rocks into the water. “Why can’t I go to Seoul? Why can’t I go dance? I don’t wanna be no Chief! Fuck that!”

His curses were loud and echoed across the water, and to be frank, Hoseok could not have cared less if someone heard him. Chief Jung was well aware with how his son felt about it all, and he clearly didn’t care either.

Or at least, Hoseok didn’t seem to care until he heard a little cough followed by a quick gasp. Heat stung at Hoseok’s ears immediately—he was all chirp and no talk.

The turn of Hoseok’s head was quick and sharp; his eyes fell onto a teen who sat underneath a tree just a few meters away with a bag of shrimp chips and a wide-eyed expression, like he had been caught peeping. Hoseok wasn’t sure how he had missed the boy on his way up, but he certainly was flustered. They blinked at each other, taking in the others’ features; the teen had a sharp square jaw, straight nose, full lips and big ears that stuck out from his shaggy, ink-black hair. His black eyes blinked at Hoseok in shock as he very slowly stuck his arm out as if it offer his chips.

Heat swallows Hoseok’s high cheeks and he shook his head; his hand screatched at the hairs on the name of his neck as he muttered. “Uh…no, it’s…it’s okay…s-sorry about that…”

The boy frowns. “Rough night?”

His voice is far deeper than Hoseok had expected from such a flower-boy face; he looked like he belonged on TV, like a model or actor that had been casted off the streets of Seoul. Hoseok likely would have believed such a story if it weren’t for his golden skin that had quite obviously been kissed by the sun from the likely many hours of chores. The intonation in his speak had been strange as well.

Hoseok wondered if, perhaps, he was from the other side of the river.

“Yeah…” was all Hoseok had managed to choke out initially, too flustered to speak much further. He had never spoken a single word to anyone from Gyeongsang-do before, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to.

But the teen just smiled at Hoseok with a precious box smile that appeared far more genuine than anyone in Hoseok’s own village. Once again the boy offered his chips.

“Want some shrimp chips? They always cheer me up.”

“Sure…”

Each movement Hoseok made was hesitant; but he eventually sat next to the stranger and noticed his dirty clothes, likely from chores. They are certainly not as nice as Hoseok’s—but Hoseok was better dressed than most in his village anyway.

He took a few chips and popped them into his mouth, allowing himself to focus on the shrimp flavour before he finally nods his head in thanks.

“Thanks…I’m Jung Hoseok.”

“No problem,” the dialect was heavy on the boy’s tongue and was unfamiliar to Hoseok, but he could still understand. “I’m Kim Taehyung.”

“How old are you?” Asked Hoseok.

“Sixteen,” Taehyung answered proudly as he stuffed more chips into his mouth than he could chew. Hoseok wanted to cringe, but the image of the handsome boy stuffing chips into his mouth was oddly endearing—maybe even a bit cute.

Hoseok chuckled. “I’m seventeen…so you gotta call me Hyung, eh?”

If Hoseok was going to share shrimp chips with some boy from Gyeongsang-do, he had to at least set some boundaries; which was that he was the eldest and therefore was the one to be respected. Far opposite from how Hoseok had anticipated the typically proud Gyeongsang-do person to respond, Kim Taehyung’s face practically sparkled like the water from the sun’s luminous smile.

“Yes, Haeng-nim!”

“H-haeng-nim..?” Hoseok chuckled under his breath. Taehyung’s dialect sure was heavy and sounded cute whenever Taehyung spoke it, unlike the time Hoseok had heard it on television. Taehyung chuckled as well before putting more chips into his mouth.

“So…do you come here often?”

Taehyung hummed in response as he chewed. “Mmm…I walways come here t’ watch the stars. They’re real pretty yo’ know—can’t see them in Seoul I reckon.”

An abrupt explosion takes place within the chest of Jung Hoseok that spreads up his neck and swallows his face in suffocating heat. Taehyung must have heard his entire rant, including Seoul. Hoseok sighed and nodded as he looked up to the sky that had lost the vibrant colours of the sunset and faded into a darker blue; little specs of white began to litter the sky—just the beginning of a spectacular view once the sky was black.

“Mmm…you ain’t wrong…”

“Have yo’ ever looked at the Milky-way, Haeng-nim?”

Hoseok almost looked offended; of course, it was a weightless expression. Not because he was truly offended, but rather a poor attempt to mask his own embarrassment. Anyone in the countryside would agree that they have observed the Milky-way; however, Hoseok was different. He didn’t stare up at thes tars as much as he did the ceiling in his room, praying for a new life.

“Where do yo’ think I’m from, huh?”

Taehyung shrugged. “Yo’ dress real nice…”

“My dad’s the Chief of our village,” muttered Hoseok, not particularly proud to hold that above his head. “And they ain’t that nice.”

“Compared t’ Seoul folk?”

Hoseok didn’t respond, and only the sound of crunching shrimp chips in their mouths, the flowing river and shrieking cicadas fill the silence. It really ought to have been awkward, Hoseok had thought, to eat shrimp chips with a total stranger—A Gyeongsang-do guy no less. But it wasn’t. It was oddly refreshing, spending time with someone who didn’t know him, who did not expect him to be bright and bubbly. In fact, Hoseok realized that he had acted quite moody and rude between the two of them throughout the entire exchange.

“Haeng-nim, yo’ didn’t answer my question ‘bout the Milky-way.”

A sigh of defeat escaped Hoseok’s lips. “I’ve seen it, but never once gandered at it long ‘nough to know it. But you have, I’m assumin’?”

Taehyung’s boxy smile appeared again as he chewed his chips with an open mouth while nodding. His pride didn’t bother Hoseok—just a boy who was excited about the stars, and who was Hoseok to judge him for it?

“If yo’ stick around, I can show yo’,” Taehyung practically bounced next to Hoseok, startling him enough to pull back in shock. Taehyung was quick to catch onto Hoseok’s rather withdrawn response, thus it was his turn to have rosy cheeks. His voice lowered and his eyes darted away from Hoseok to the river. “O-Only if yo’ wanna.”

“Sure,” Hoseok accepted as he reached for another chip. “I ain’t got anythin’ better to do.”

Taehyung’s smile returned, and it dawned on HOseok that the kid looked a whole lot better to him while he was smiling.

Together they talked about random things; mostly Taehyung did the talking. The teen was quite good at telling stories, perhaps even better than Hoseok himself. Everything was so animated with his waving hands; and with his dialect, it was far more interesting for Hoseok to try and decipher what he was saying. Before they knew it, it was completely dark and they lied on the grass by the shrine. Stars peppered the night sky, some shining brighter than others.

“See that bright patch of stars o’er there runnin’ across the sky?” Hoseok could hear Taehyung grinning as he exclaimed, pointing to the patch. Even Hoseok could not deny the beauty of the stars; indeed, this was far better than staring at his ceiling at home. He continued to listen to Taehyung tell him about the stars and the different myths and stories his grandmother had told him, as well as the books that his parents had sent him.

Hoseok wasn’t sure what time it was after a long pause from the younger, but he felt himself dozing shortly after Taehyung had stopped talking and had begun munching on chips again. It was with slow and shallow bites, Hoseok figured Taehyung msut’ve been falling asleep too.

It was bitter sweet, the twisting feeling in Hoseok’s gut—which he knew very well wasn’t from the amount of snacks they ate. The encounter with the Gyeongsang boy had been so fresh, so pure, and left Hoseok feeling almost cleansed. But he knew well enough that if he didn’t get home soon, the freshness he felt would be cut short by his father’s hand.

“Taehyung-ssi, I think I gotta go...my parents’ll kill me if I don’t.”

They say up, and Hoseok could tell his new friend was disappointed; he had no poker face as he puckered his bottom lip in a childish pout. But he nodded, understanding well.

“Okay…good luck with yet parents an’…uh…take this,” from his sweater pocket TAehyung took out a small packet of sherbet straws. “Yo look like yo’ need it more than me.”

With wide eyes Hoseok accepted the candy with both hands. It was hard to get this sort of candy in their small towns as it was foreign based. He bowed softly with his head and beamed back at Taehyung.

“Thanks, Taehyung—“

“Tae is fine,” He interrupted, mirroring Hoseok’s thankful smile.

“Mmm,” Hoseok put the candy in his pocket and finally stood; he offered his hand to TAehyung once he was firm on his own feet. “Thanks Tae. I hope we can meet again.”

Taehyung stared at Hoseok’s hand with an awful expression; similar to when he stared up at the stars in wonder. His hand was not as hesitant as his eyes and thoughts had suggested, and Taehyung eagerly took Hoseok’s hand. With an easy tug, Hoseok pulls the smaller teen up to his feet.

“I hope we can too, Haeng-nim.”

“Just Hoseok H…Haeng?” Hoseok tried to replicate Taehyung’s accent, which earned him Taehyung’s hiccupping laughter and a squeeze of his hand. “Hoseokie Haem!”

Hoseok chuckled again and let go of Taehyung’s hand so he could ruffle the younger’s hair; it was much softer than Hoseok had anticipated.

“Sure,” he agreed. “See you ‘round, Tae.”

“Mmm, See yo’ ‘round, Hoseokie Haem!”

It had been past one in the morning when Hoseok had returned to his home; however, he had not a regretful bone in his body, and for the first time in months felt an odd sense of peace that knocked him right out until morning.

+

Jung Hoseok spent much time thinking about his new friend over the shrine on the hill throughout the week. He found himself zoning out in class, staring out the window into the direction in which the path to the little island would be. Kim Taehyung was strange, Hoseok had concluded over and over again, there had been no doubting that—but he had be kind, much kinder than that of his friends in his home town.

“Really,” Hoseok exclaimed for what likely constituted as the millionth time that week. “I couldn’t believe it. He offered me his chips an’ everything.”

Junhyuk snorted in complete disbelief from his own seat. “I’m tellin yo’, there ain’t a single person in Gyeongsang that’d do such a thing.”

“Are you sayin’ that I’m a liar?” Hoseok half laughed, half challenged. What did he have to gain or lose by telling his supposed friends about the strange teenager that he too was baffled by? Junhyuk was always that one person there to challenge Hoseok, and he wasn’t afraid to defend his experience.

“Nah, Seokseok,” Wonho yawned as he leaned back far into his chair to prop his legs up onto his desk. He had always been the kindest one out of everyone else in this school, perhaps he was what Hoseok would constitute as his ‘closest friend’ in the small town. “Just don’t seem likely. I mean…I can’t imagine anybody from there bein’ nice, or even civil.”

“Well, I didn’t imagine him up,” Hoseok chuckled as he cradled his head with his hands, elbows rested on the desk that he has known for mandy years now. “Or hell, maybe I did—Lord knows I’m goin’ crazy from stayin’ here.”

His friends laughed at Hoseok’s joke that although felt as light as Hoseok’s bouncing voice to them, weighed heavily on his own heart, dragging it down to his aching middle.

The very thought of having just imagined Hoseok hung over Hoseok over every second of his day after that. Perhaps Hoseok had succumbed to such a desperate loneliness? Maybe he had just purchased those snacks himself and sat on the hill, wishing for a friend that didn’t care about what he was and who he belonged to.

It shows too, the black cloud that hung over Hoseok’s head, raining droplets of lies and insecurities. Days like those came more and more often to him since his adolescence; which naturally confused him as he really did not have anything to complain or be sad about. But the cloud still hung over him, looming and shadowing his bright moon; thus shadowing the mood of everyone else around him.

“Ya, Jung Hoseok, what’s up with you?”

Junhyuk had killed the music that they had been practicing to and immediately snapped at Hoseok, who had stared blankly at his friends with beads of sweat trickling down his chin.

“What?” Hoseok panted.

“Somethin’ up?” Myunjoon questioned as he poked at Hoseok’s side, and oddly hardly go t a response—Hoseok was always the type to squirm.

Hoseok simply shook his head as he rubbed at the sweat on the back of his neck, “No?”

“We’ll, you’re killin’ the mood,” Junhyuk snapped.

It was always the same. The same comment that stirred the ever-present stew of guilt that bubbled in Hoseok’s stomach. If Jung Hoseok was not smiling, not a single soul could smile—if Hoseok wasn’t joking and entertaining then the party, the atmosphere, everything was ruined.

Others could be tired, down, depressed—but not jung Hoseok. Not the son of the Chief.

“I’m just tired.”

“Well, maybe if you weren’t out with some Gyeongsang guy all night, then maybe you’d be practicin’ properly.”

Junhyuk had always been merciless with Hoseok although Hoseok never really understood why. Jung Hoseok had always been nothing but nice and entertaining to everyone in his class, including Junghyuk—there was no reason for him to act in such a way.

But he always did.

It was always the same.

“Common, Jun-ah,” Wonho stepped in between the two, his tall height and broad shoulders worked well as a wall between the two glaring teens. “Step off, huh?”

“Why?” Spat Junhyuk as he shoved at Wonho’s shoulder. “Just ‘cause he’s the Chief’s kid he thinks he can get away with whatever he wants?”

Hoseok felt the corner of his lip twitch and he took another step forward, his fists clenched tight at his sides.

“What’d you say?”

It wasn’t often that Hoseok’s voice came out low like a like a dog’s snarl; nor was it often that Hoseok needed someone to hold him back with their hand against his upper chest as he stepped forward with a burning determinism. Usually it was Hoseok that was the peacemaker, jumping in with a robust joke that would diffuse the parties involved and instead make everyone smile or laugh.

There was no one to stop this roaring thunder this time.

“You heard me.”

“Han Junhyuk, step off,” Myunjoon, another one of their classmates warned as he stood in front of Junhyuk. He too stood taller than Junhyuk and Hoseok.

Hoseok didn’t stay much longer to hear Junhyuk’s rebuttal. He grabbed his bag and left without another word, and with heavy feet and an even heavier heart, set his way towards his home. The adrenaline that had shot through his veins had dissipated, and the exhaustion from another low, as well as the physical exhaustion of dance practice weighed him down. All Hoseok wanted was his bed—it had always been his solace.

As he rounded the small dirt path that led him to his home, he did not have to get close to recognize the shrill shriek of his mother and the commanding bark of his father. Just ten steps from his home and it was enough to send him spinning on his heel to march away from his home. He found himself in the market just moments later and buying a bag of snacks instead.

No real thoughts passed through Hoseok’s mind as he let his feet carry him, dragging across the dirt road that he hadn’t truly travelled until the previous week. It led him along the river until he found the shrine over the hill, and until he was leaning against the same tree he had sat against just a week before. But this time he was alone; nobody was there to greet him.

Hoseok was alone—and this time he really wondered if he had dreamt it all.

A sigh escaped his lips as he sat down on the grass and leaned against the base of the tree, allowing every muscle in his body to relax after hours of tenseness. With his mind too, Hoseok began to let go the debate of Taehyung’s existence and gave into the sounds of the trickling water and the breeze that rustled the leaves. He focused on his breathing too, each filling of his lungs and exhale through his lips. He focused until there was nothing and he had fallen into a deep sleep.

“Haem.”

An odd pressure pressed into Hoseok’s cheek and pulled him from his sleep. The pressure would come and go with different weights, but was perpetual and annoying nonetheless. Hoseok could only vocalize a moan and perhaps a lazy wave of his hand to bat away whatever caused the discomfort in his cheek.

“Haem…Hoseokie Haem…wake up.”

The unfamiliar dialect rumbled low in Hoseok’s ear and warmed him. He chewed on his bottom lip to keep himself from smiling and forced his eyes open despite how painfully heavy they were. But just like the moon offered comfort to Hoseok during sleepless nights or nights when he would wake in a cold sweat, Taehyung’s presence shone—a bright light in the darkness that was Jung Hoseok’s life.

It may have only been their second meeting, but Hoseok could not help but feel just a little happy.

“Taehyungie?”

“Mmm, Haem…are yo’ alright? Yo’ kinda look down again today…”

Hoseok did not answer at first and instead took in Taehyung’s who was crouching before him in dirty work clothes; it looked as if he had been working in the fields that day, which he very might well have been. It wasn’t uncommon for kids in the countryside to take some time off school to help their family with the farming—that was their fate anyway. But even with the dirt that was on Taehyung’s cheek and forehead (like he had rubbed it there on accident in attempt to wipe the sweat away), Taehyung was still a good looking kid. Hoseok almost felt jealous.

“Nah, just a little tired from studyin’” Hoseok chose to smile at Taehyung, and if Hoseok were to be frank, it was far more genuine than anything he would have tried on his parents if he had actually gone home. Hoseok lifted the bag of snacks to Taehyung and grinned.

“Want some snacks? Looks like you worked rela hard today.”

Kim Taehyung, Hoseok had decided, was truly a full moon whenever he grinned widely. It was like he glowed brighter than anyone else in Hoseok’s life—no, in his entire world. There was no one on this side of the river that shone as brightly as he, and with that very reason alone, HOseok came to the conclusion that he really liked seeing Taehyung smile.

“Really? I can have some?”

“I can’t eat all this myself, go on, there’s shrimp chips there.”

The bag was ripped eagerly from Hoseok’s hands as Taehyung plopped down next to Hoseok, their shoulders knocked together as he fell.  Together they began on some shrimp chips, crunching in silence as they overlooked the river that passed around their little hilly island between their provinces.

Finally Hoseok spoke after they slowed eating. “So what’d you do today?”

“I was helpin’ Granny an’ Pops in the field t’day,” Taehyung answered. “We were takin’ out some leeks. They were real big, Haem! Bigger than my fist!”

Hoseok couldn’t help but choke out laughter from Taehyung’s enthusiasm as the teen raised his fist close to Hoseok’s face to compare the size.

“That’s real big, Tae.”

“Right?” He giggled. “They’ll sell well, Pops thinks.”

That’s good then,” Hoseok agreed. There was nothing more satisfying than crops doing well enough that you just knew you’d get some good money out of it. Hoseok nudged Taehyung playfully and questioned, “What’s you’re secret?”

Taehyung went along with the exaggerated game and leaned closer to Hoseok, who could count every one of Taehyung’s long lashes. The younger whispered, “Singin’.”

Hoseok withdrew from the younger, his eyes squinted in scrutiny while the other giggled.

“Crazy, right?”

“Mmm…” Hoseok agreed. “Crazy.”

“My Granny always told me that if yo’ wanna have good plants, yo’ gotta treat ‘em real good. SO every time I watered ‘em, I sang, an’ then they grew so big!”

It was possibly the most juvenile thing Hoseok had ever heard, but he could not bring himself to laugh so hard that he curled over himself like he would if one of his classmates suggested such a thing. But somehow he was not surprised that TAehyung had done such a thing—it suited him.

“Well, I’ll remember that for next time I grow at my radishes.”

“Only if yo’ got a nice singin’ voice,” Taehyung warned Hoseok, pointing forcefully at his hyung with a shrimp chimp. “If yo’ don’t got a good voice, than they ain’t gonna like it an’ they’ll get all shrivelly. That’s why Granny don’t let Pops sing.”

There was no concealing the explosive louder that escaped Hoseok’s lips; his sides ached from how hard he laughed. His hand gripped at Taehyung’s knee to keep him from lolling back against the hill. Taheyung did not look offended at Hoseok’s boisterous laughter; instead, he watched Hoseok with sparkling eyes and a proud grin that erupted into giggles as well.

“Maybe I won’t sing then neither,” Hoseok panted as he wiped the tears from his eyes, “I don’t got a nice voice—but sounds like you might.”

Taehyung flushed and placed his pointer and middle finger in the shape of a v over his eye.

“Just maybe—but I only do shows for my plants.

Hoseok clutched onto his heart, his expression pained. “Ah, I am so heartbroken. I was lookin’ forward to it.”

“Maybe one day I’ll end up on TV singin’ like one of them idols, an’ you’ll hear me sing then.”

“Why don’t you, eh?” Questioned Hoseok. “You got a nice face and if you got a nice voice like you say, then you can become an idol.”

The confidence that had exuberated from the younger melted away, like reality had sunken in and had taken whatever magic that was left in his soul. It caused a rotting feeling in Hoseok’s stomach as he watched Taehyung’s smile melt into a gentle frown. The younger picked at the grass with nervous fingers.

“I can’t leave my family,” Taehyung confessed, his voice much lower. “It’s just my grandparents, my two younger siblin’s an’ me…I can’t just go. They need me.”

Hoseok never asked Taehyung what had happened to his parents, but he could likely guess. It was not uncommon for busy parents in the city to send their children to live with their grandparents in the countryside to save money. Junhyuk’s parents had been that way, ripping him from Gwangju at a young age to live with his grandparents in Gwandong at the age of ten. They hardly visited, they hardly sent money back like he never existed.

“What about yo’rself, Haem?” Asked Taehyung, his voice trembled as he spoke. “Yo gonna go t’ Seoul for dance? Yo’ said yo’ wanna dance last time.”

It had been one of the off handed things that Hoseok had randomly confessed under the stars during their innocent, first meeting. The words had really come out of nowhere, but Taehyung had commented that dance suited Hoseok, even if he could not explain how.

Hoseok felt the same way about dance—he knew it suited him, but he never understood why or how it chose a country boy like him.

“Mmm…but I dunno if my Dad’ll let me.”

“Chief son issues, huh?”

“Mmm…”

“I’m sure yo’ll figure somethin’ you,” Taehyung smiled.

And like that they continued to talk like their last meeting until the moon pulled a dark sheet of black over the country sky and specks of white began to bleed through. Like before they lied on the grass, sometimes talking about random things and sometimes simply lying in silence. Neither was uncomfortable or awkward—it was just how it was, and Hoseok never felt more at home than he did then.

But the cooler it became the unsettled feeling of worry pricked at Hoseok’s back, reminding him of his parents and what they would likely do to him if they caught him coming home late again. But moving felt almost impossible to Hoseok, though, not because of the exhaustion from the day, but rather because it meant moving from his bright moon.

“Taehyung-ah…”

“I know, Haengnim…” Taehyung’s voice was quiet and regretful, just as Hoseok’s was. They sat up and Hoseok gave Taehyung the remaining treats to give to his siblings. Taehyung grinned and Hoseok couldn’t help but reach out to ruffle the ruff of black hair again.

Neither spoke when Hoseok away and they stood, unable to meet the other’s eye. Their gazes reached to the river before them that divided the bodies of land on either side that they belonged to, and wound around the mountains that reached to the sparkling sky

Taehyung’s voice broke through the water and the hum of the wind.

“Hoseokie Haem.”

“Mmm?”

“Can…we meet next weekend too?”

Hoseok looked to Taehyung who had already been watching Hoseok with an expression that was painfully familiar; an expression that Hoseok stared at every day in the mirror, reading of a deep rooted loneliness that Hoseok knew all too well.

He did not mirror the expression—no, Hoseok smiled and caused the younger to shiver.

“Yeah, I’ll see you next weekend, Tae.”

Jung Hoseok left feeling full despite leaving Taehyung behind. The exhaustion that had haunted him all day and the frustration that plagued him dissipated into a little ache deep within; temporarily forgotten for something far sweeter.

The sweetness endured his Father’s roaring insults and complaints of Hoseok’s whereabouts. Naturally Hoseok had responded that he visited the shrine on the hill to meditate and relax, not that his Father believed him. But at least Hoseok knew that he was not fully lying to himself or to his father, so he endured it all before he lied in his bed.

His bed didn’t feel as comfortable as the grass.

+ +

Every week following, Jung Hoseok and Kim Taehyung met over the shrine on the hill, resting under the tree and eating snacks. Some days Hoseok brought cards to teach Taehyung games, and even taught the younger how to dance. Taehyung had been more than a little impressed with Hoseok’s skill, his jaw dropped for all but one minute before bounding to his feet eagerly to learn how to move the same way Hoseok did.

No matter what they did, it always ended with stargazing. Hoseok’s parents had given up on reprimanding him and just resolved to glares. Which of course, was nothing in comparison to the feeling that Taehyung’s laughter gave him, or the pride Hoseok felt whenever Taehyung complained that his stomach felt full from eating so many snacks. Hoseok always brought enough snacks for Taehyung to take home to his siblings, to which Taehyung would always thank him.

One particular weekend; however, was different. Taehyung had suggested that Hoseok come much earlier than usual—at four pm, to be exact. The younger had been very eager to take Hoseok to one of his favourite restaurants, a place that had the best agujjim in the province. Hoseok had never had that dish before, since it was something specific to gyeongsang-do, and his parents would never allow him to eat such a thing.

Hoseok, naturally, had agreed since he could not deny Taehyung anything. They had already gone swimming in the river together in just their underwear one evening at Taehyung’s ridiculous request since it was so hot. Another night Hoseok lost a game of rock paper scissors and had to piggy back Taehyung around their little island. Whatever Taehyung wanted, Hoseok would give it to him—the kid was hardworking and deserved it.

The thought of crossing over to the other side of the river to Gyeongsang-do had been exhilarating to Hoseok. He never left his own province before despite living right on the coast line his entire life. Of course as kids, they would play chicken to see who would actually cross the line and make it across; Hoseok never played in fear of his Father finding out.

But this time, his Father would not know a thing, and Hoseok would go to Gyeongsang-do to have his best friend’s favourite food at his favourite restaurant.

They met at the shrine as they always did. Taehyung was much more cleaned up that day without a spec of dirt on him, and his clothes looked a little cleaner. Hoseok wondered if Taehyung had not worked in the fields that day, but decided not to ask and just ruffled his hair.

“Lookin’ spiffy today, TaeTae.”

“Spiffy?” Taehyung cocked his head to the side.

It had become common between the two, the look of confusion on one’s face from not knowing a particular idiom or word in the other dialect. But they had begun learning from each other, and they found themselves mixing their dialects and slangs while together. Hoseok tried his best not to do so at school, with only one slip up that perhaps only one or two students noticed—Hoseok simply joked that he had seen it on TV, and nobody really questioned him on it.

“Uh…yeah, like…good lookin’? Cleaned up?”

Hoseok smiled fondly when the tips of Taehyung’s ears burned red, and the younger punched him in the gut. “Shut it. Let’s go eat, I’m starvin’!”

Unlike Hoseok’s imagination, walking down the other side of the hill did not feel like crossing over into another dimension. The world did not suddenly shift and his body did not hit some imaginary wall that disallowed him access because he was a Jeolla person.

No he walked easily alongside Taehyund down the hill—the only difference he felt was the strong feeling of accomplishment when he looked up the river and across to where his town was. It was the first time he saw his town from this perspective and he suddenly felt stronger.

“Let’s go, Haem! They’re gonna be expectin’ us!” Taehyung tugged at Hoseok’s shirt to pull him along faster.

“Expectin’?”

“Mmm! I told ‘em yesterday that I was bringin’ a friend. Yo’re really gonna love it, Haem! Really!”

There was a small building just up the dirt road from their little hill, a bright orange sign that read ‘Murangwon’ in white. It looked similar to Hoseok’s own village restaurant, except their sign was blue—but the white font was the same.

They entered and the bell above the door jingled; a few elder folks were present to have an early dinner, but most of the low sitting tables were vacant. The inside was very similar if not the exact same to Hoseok’s own village restaurant; perhaps the layout was a little different, but the feeling was the same—the familiar, home-style feel.

“Taehyung-ah!” A middle-aged woman wearing an apron came out from the kitchen and motioned to a table near the back, “Yo’ really brought yer friend! Take a seat over there!”

Hoseok bowed, feeling flushed from the heavy dialect—she was a lot thicker sounding that Taehyung. It all felt foreign but familiar, a complex feeling that preyed on Hoseok’s appetite.

Taehyung bowed as well, “Thanks, auntie! Can we get two agujjim?”

It was endearing how eager Taehyung was as he ordered before even having sat down. The woman laughed and nodded, “Yap! Comin’ right up!”

Together they sat on the back, Hoseok sat with his back to the other customers in fear of people staring. He was sure they had already begun to stare; an unfamiliar face to the fifty to a hundred faces that you were used to seeing every day. Hoseok himself had been guilty of staring at people he had never seen before that had come to visit or move into his own village.

“It’s real tasty, Haem. Yo’ won’t be disappointed.”

He wasn’t. The angler fish steamed with bean sprouts, water parsley, mideodeok, and vegetables with chili, bean paste, green onions and garlic tasted remarkable to the Jeolla boy. His parents would have called it true peasants food as they used the ugly anglerfish, and had just thrown whatever vegetables and ingredients were likely lying around—but it was delicious. Certainly it wasn’t the particular traditional style of Korean food that Jeolla-do was famous for, but it was new to Hoseok’s taste buds.

He ate it all, and Taehyung took extra-long finishing since he couldn’t stop watching Hoseok eat.

They returned to their hill shortly after their meal, which had been on the house. Hoseok had insisted on paying, but the woman at the front smiled and declined the money again.

“A friend of our TaeTae is a friend of ours—it’s on us today.”

Hoseok had been baffled and silent the entire walk back to the hill while Taehyung was going on another story about his chickens. Gyeongsang-do people really weren’t awful, Hoseok had come to realize. Of course he hadn’t met many, but from the handful that he had come to know or interacted with shortly in his time in Gyeongsang-do, left him thinking that surely they were not as monstrous and egotistical as his father had made them out to be.

So far, Hoseok preferred a Gyeongsang-do person over any of his friends in Gwandong. With Taehyung, everything felt easy and simple as breathing, or as natural as the flowing river that separated their provinces, and as magical as the hill that brought them together. Hoseok never had to pretend with Taehyung when he was feeling low, and the boy never questioned it. Instead he rode it out with Hoseok by eating snacks or telling stories until Hoseok smiled again. As for Taehyung, Hoseok felt like Taehyung could be just as honest and genuine with him.

+

The summer eased into fall, and with that came the drop of the temperature and the changing colour of the leaves until they fell to the ground. But even so, nothing stopped the unlikely friends from their weekly meetings. Hoseok had come that weekend with a blanket for them to sit on instead of the cool damp grass, another blanket to cover them and keep them warm, snacks and his cassette player. Taehyung had been having a difficult time trying to dance since he couldn’t listen to the music that Hoseok always liked dancing to, so Hoseok had started bringing his cassette player every weekend for Taehyung to listen to music. It had been so foreign and exciting to the younger.

That weekend Taehyung’s arrival had been anything but exciting and enthusiastic. It was uncommon for Taehyung to arrive with a frown on his face, and whenever it did, Hoseok could always feel his heart sinking down to his twisting middle. Every time Hoseok wanted to reach for the younger and pull him close, question Taehyung until he spilled all of his troubles—but Taehyung wasn’t like that. Hoseok just waited.

“Hey…” Hoseok let Taehyung collapse into his side, the younger’s head somewhere between leaning back on the tree and Hoseok’s shoulder. “What’s goin’ on?”

“One…of my layin’ hens died this mornin’…”

Hoseok’s eyes widened, his hand came to Taehyung’s knee for a gentle squeeze. “Oh…shit…Tae…what happened?”

“I dunno…” Taehyung sniffled. “Think…they got cold an’ they huddled too close…”

Chickens truly were idiotic animals, was what Hoseok wanted to say or even kind of snicker over the ridiculousness of the situation; however, he knew better than to insult Taehyung’s precious animals. Every day they younger had a ridiculous story surrounding his chickens, fish or puppies. Instead Hoseok tried to offer the best comfort he could.

“Do yo’ want some chocolate? I brought some today.”

“Nah…I’ll pass…” Taehyung huffed.

It certainly wasn’t like Taehyung to deny snacks. The worry hit Hoseok hard and pushed him to try other things like poking at Taehyung’s cheeks or sides while making funny sounds; but Taehyung just shrugged him off. Hoseok tried overdramatic ageyo, which often made Taehyung laugh—but that didn’t work either.

Hoseok pouted and he slung his arm around Taehyung’s shoulders to pull the younger closer. “Common, TaeTae…”

For the first time, Hoseok witnessed an eclipse come over his shining moon. Silent tears rolled down Taehyung’s cheeks, his plump bottom lip protruded in a pout. He quickly rose his hand to wipe the tears that kept falling and Hoseok couldn’t stop staring.

He hated it, no matter how ethereal Kim Taehyung looked even while crying.

Hoseok put his headphones over Taehyung’s head and put on music. Taehyung blinked his tears away as he looked to Hoseok. He was greeted with a smile that shone bright like the sun, as he always did in Taehyung’s life. Hoseok was always warm and welcoming; his laughter so bright that sometimes Taehyung felt like he was blinded and overwhelmed. But today the smile was gentle and understanding; just bright enough to push away the clouds and warm him.

“Whenever I feel sad, I listen t’ music…hopefully it’ll make yo’ feel better too.”

Taehyung leaned his head on Hoseok’s shoulder, allowing his hyung to embrace him and hold him through his tears and the music to remind him that this was all temporary—Taehyung would still move, he would still dance and go forward.

And he would move forward with Hoseok to comfort him.

They did not speak a single word all evening, which brought it to a close much faster than usual. The silence was accompanied by the spit of November’s threatening rain, which was slowing becoming a gentle drizzle. Taehyung covered the cassette player in his pocket and gasped.

“Haem…it can’t get wet—“

“Just take it.”

Taehyung’s eyes shot wide, his muscles tensed; Hoseok never went anywhere without his cassette player. “H-Haeng-nim?”

Hoseok chuckled and ruffled Taehyung’s hair, “I’ll just tell my old man someone broke it or somethin’…you take it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, now get goin’ before it gets wrecked. See yo’ next weekend, Taetae.”

Something with Jung Hoseok swelled when the moon finally shone through the rainy clouds and Kim Taehyung was smiling at him with glassy eyes. He hugged Hoseok quick and rough before slipping down the hill.

“Thanks, Haem! See yo’ next weekend!”

+++

If only this dream of Jung Hoseok’s could have continued forever. If only he could have continued to meet Taehyung every weekend, or perhaps every evening after class and chores like during the holidays. If only Hoseok could bring Taehyung to his side of the river and show him his own favourite restaurant, or his own home with cable TV. There were so many things Hoseok wanted to do with his best friend, but all good things in Jung Hoseok’s life had to come to an end.

Even if it was painfully slow.

Jung Hoseok entered into his final year of High School, which was very serious for some while not so much for others. Those who planned to stay in the village forever did not mind suneung, while those who wanted to desperately find their way out like Jung Hoseok, depended on the test with every single fiber in their being. It was the spreading of his wings and the grand gust of wind that would finally carry him away to freedom, to explore a life away from Gwandong.

For years Hoseok had argued with his Father about going to Seoul, and it was not until Hoseok had managed to bump himself within the top five of his class that it actually seemed plausible to his skeptical Father. His marks alone had inspired his Father to allow Hoseok to follow his dreams to go to Seoul, if and only if he studied business.

It was not perfect, but it was something.

But every time Hoseok took the time to sit and study, he thought of the boy over the shrine on the hill. He thought of his rectangular smile that was incredibly infectious and how his low voice would crack as he slipped into laughter. It was hard to work hard and study to escape, when one was not sure if they entirely want to escape anymore.

Taehyung pushed him, although Hoseok did not want it. Hoseok wanted to see Taehyung all the time, since that was something that friends did; however, the younger had told Hoseok that they would meet every other weekend instead so Hoseok could study hard. In retrospect, it had been a full-proof plan that would indeed boost Hoseok’s chances into getting into Seoul and get him out—But Hoseok simply did not want that, and that very attitude bled into Hoseok’s studies.

Far too often Chief Jung walked in on his son lying on the floor of his bedroom, staring up at the ceiling vacantly. His body would not move for hours until the man would yell or swat his son.

“You’re so close, Jung Hoseok!” His Father, the man who had once ridiculed the thought of his son leaving to attend some school in Seoul, had become Hoseok’s greatest advocate next to Taehyung. Both had done Taehyung wrong; one had pushed him away while the other had become far too aggressive—obsessive.

“Dad…I’m tired,” Hoseok begged, his voice hardly audible over the pounding rain. Hoseok knew he would stay awake that night with an aching heart, as the moon would not be visible because of the rain. The vicious shaking of his Father left Hoseok feeling more nauseous and confused than afraid. Words were spilling from Chief Jung’s lips so quickly that it felt like Hoseok was holding water; all of it slipping through his fingers until it was too late and he had messed up.

Hoseok was startled awake by the impact of his Father’s fist to his face.

This had never happened before.

“Don’t throw this away, Jung Hoseok!” His Father had roared as he shoved his son into his own desk. The impact made the teen yelp and he collapsed to the ground of his room, unable to look up to his Father. Hoseok was not sure of his Father’s expression, but he could hear the man’s trembling breaths and soft mutterings of confusion under his own breath before leaving his son alone in his room.

The physical pain was secondary to Hoseok; his first instinct was to get up and to run. Adrenaline ripped him from the floor and pushed him out the door, stumbling out into the pouring rain.

Each step heavier than the last with the ache of his muscles pulling him closer to the ground. With cramped fingers he clutched the grass as he pulled himself up the steep hill; lightening illuminated the sky and Hoseok looked up to the shrine that towered over him. He was halfway, he could make it if he just kept going.

It was all memory, trudging to the restaurant just up the other side of the river towards Taehyung’s little village. The mud tugged at his shoes in a desperate attempt to pull Hoseok down and keep him from moving; but he fought with all that was left in him until he slid open the doors and stepped in with a broken sob.

“Where is Kim Taehyung?”

The same woman that greeted them that day hurried to Hoseok’s side, her arm slipping around his waist as she took in Hoseok’s bruised, tearstained face.

“Tae’s friend? W-what…what’s going on?”

“Wh-where is Taehyungie?” Cried Hoseok. “C-can…can you t-take me t’ him?”

The journey was faster than Hoseok could have predicted; the woman kept her arm firm around Hoseok as she helped him through the mud and the rain to a small home on the outskirts of the village. Chickens shrieked from the henhouse next door, and the windmill screeched as it turned at rapid speeds.

Over the sounds of the rain and howling wind, Hoseok’s ears pounded with the sound of his own sobbing heart. Every inch of his body was in pain despite only having been hit once in the face and shoved into a desk; but the tenseness of his body and the tightness of his chest put him into overdrive. He wanted to collapse.

The woman knocked hard on the door and called out, “Kim Taehyung! Get out here Kim Taehyung!”

Hoseok could hear the pounding of footsteps over the rain, and he choked out a sob the moment he came eye to eye with his best friend. Taehyung’s jaw dropped, bottom lip trembling as he reached out to his friend immediately.

“Hoseokie?”

“He came bargin’ int’ the shop askin’ fer ya,” the woman exclaimed, her own voice panicked. “Careful, he’s hurt real bad.”

Taehyung’s strong arm replaced the smaller arm of the woman around Hoseok’s lean waist. It was easy for Hoseok to fall into his arms, trusting that Taehyung would catch him, hold him and keep him safe. He hardly remembered entering the Kim residence or what it looked like. His entire body felt like it had been set on fire despite having been drenched in the rain.

Hoseok also made no effort to decipher the words between Taehyung and his grandparents. But he felt other hands on him as they rushed him inside and lied him down on the floor. Fingertips brushed at his skin as he was stripped of his soaked clothes, dried off with a towel and dressed with warmer clothes.

“Haem…Hobi Haem, can yo’ hear me?”

Taehyung’s fingers carded through Hoseok’s damp hair and he hummed; it felt so nice. He could remember when his mother stroked his hair like that when he was a child to get him to sleep. It was so soothing.

“Mmm…”

“Who did this to yo’, son?” It was an older voice, that of a woman. Although her dialect was thicker than Taehyung, her voice was still soft and gentle—it was clear that she was Taehyung’s grandmother.

The words couldn’t leave Hoseok’s mouth, far too ashamed that the leader of their village had beaten his own son. Taehyung frowned and continued to pet Hoseok’s hair.

“Was it him?”

Hoseok nodded as another tear escaped down his cheek, his head turned away from Taehyung’s grandmother and towards Taehyung’s lap.

His grandmother sighed, “Let’s nurse yo’ an’ then get some tea in yo’, it’ll keep yo’ from getting’ sick.”

They tended to Hoseok’s wounds and then sat at the table in the living room. Taehyung had brought a spare blanket and covered his hyung before taking his seat next to him, sitting so close their knees were pressed together.

“Haem…why’d yo’ fight yo’r pops again?” Questioned Taehyung as he stared intently at Hoseok, like he was the only other in the room, the universe. “Thought he said yo’ can go t’ Seoul.”

“I dunno Tae…” Hoseok’s voice was weak as he hands curled around the warm cup of tea. “He says I can go if I study business…but I just wanna dance…I wanna be happy Tae…I just…”

He held his words back, flushed that he had begun pouring his life out in a home that was not his and he had not frequented. Hoseok bowed to Taehyung’s grandmother in his seat, and suppressed the cringe that he nearly exposed from the pain in his back.

“I’m sorry…for causin’ trouble…”

“Not at all!” Taehyung’s Grandmother beamed, her small hands reached across the table to come over Hoseok’s that were still wrapped around his cup. “Tell me, boy…yo’ got more buggin’ yo’ than just yo’r Father I can tell.”

Hoseok could not take his eyes away from Taehyung’s grandmother’s eyes. She stared into him, like she saw past any wall that Hoseok had tried to raise and spoke to the very depths of his sad, lonely soul. He could not help the tears that rolled down his cheeks as he hiccupped.

“I j-just want t-to be happy…I just…w-wanna be…me but…I don’t…I don’t know what that means…I know I just wanna get away from my Dad and here…but I…”

The words wouldn’t come. He couldn’t tell Taehyung’s grandmother how every time he lied in his bed and stared at the moon through his window he felt an ache in his heart that told him that he was copping out—he was leaving something behind. Someone behind.

Someone important.

“Son, just go t’ Seoul,” his grandmother expressed firmly. “Go to Seoul! Search for yo’r own self an’ don’t yo’ worry about us here…”

Another tear rolled down Hoseok’s cheek as Taehyung’s hand massaged at Hoseok’s neck.

“’Cause no matter where yo’ go…yo’ always gonna be from here…yo’ are always gonna come home…”

Taehyung smiled warmly and wiggled his friend playfully. “Yeah, Haeng-nim! An’ think about it! Studyin’ business is just goin’ t’ school, I mean…yo’ still dance now right? Yo’ can still dance, an’ who knows, maybe someone’ll see yo’ an’ you’ll become famous!”

“I guess…” sniffled Hoseok, a small smile finally broke through the rainy clouds.

Taehyung’s grandmother patted Hoseok’s hands, her smile was a lot like Taehyung’s. “Such a handsome smile!”

“Oppa…what’s goin’ on?”

They all looked to the little girl who rubbed her sleepy eyes, exhausted as she stood at a door that was likely her bedroom. Taehyung gasped,

“Mihyun-ah, did we wake yo’?”

She pouted and nodded, she then pointed to Hoseok and asked. “Who’s that?”

Taehyung bounced from Hoseok’s side to hurry to his sister, “It’s Hoseokie Haem—“

“Hoseokie Oppa!?” She bounced excitedly, caught in Taehyung’s arms as she attempted to leap towards them. “I wanna play with Hoseokie Oppa! He’s real fun, right Tae Oppa? Can’t we play!?”

Hoseok felt his cheeks flush, how much had Taehyung spoke about him? Taehyung’s cheeks were also rosy as he carried his sister back into their bedroom. “Shhh…maybe later, let’s go t’ sleep…we’ll wake Joohyungie if we’re too loud…”

Taehyung disappeared into the bedroom and Hoseok was left with Taehyung’s grandmother who had left temporarily to bring more tea. Hoseok bowed softly as she poured him more tea, and he poured her tea with two hands as well.

“Yo’ know…” the woman began with a dreamy sigh. “I never seen that boy smile so much before him meetin’ yo’…”

Hoseok looked to the woman, stunned by her words. His eyebrows narrowed as he tried to think of Taehyung not smiling—was it possible? It felt like Taehyung was always smiling.

“When his parents left ‘em here with his siblin’s…he was such a sad boy…” the old woman frowned deeply and looked to the rain outside. “I could never make ‘em smile…an’ he never really made friends at school but one day…”

Finally the woman met Hoseok’s gaze with such a gentle smile that reminded him of his own grandmother who passed years ago; it was fond and reminiscent. “One day he came runnin’ home sayin’ he made a friend, an’ he smiled every day, even on the days he’d wake up sad, he’d fall asleep with a smile.”

Hoseok couldn’t imagine surviving without his parents despite the tension that was between them. He couldn’t imagine having two younger siblings to look after as well as aging grandparents.

“I’ll never forget…” the woman giggled. “It was a cloudy mornin’ an’ Tae was all fussy from workin’ an’ school…an’ after he saw yo’ he was smilin’ an’ whistlin’…singin’ an’ doin’ some weird dance…”

Hoseok chuckled, the woman found herself staring at Hoseok’s mouth as he chuckled, then up at his eyes. “I asked him what made him so giddy…an’ he told me, ‘I saw the sun, granny. I made Hobi Haem laugh today, an’ I saw the sun.”

It felt surreal hearing such a story; something so incredibly Taehyung to say, and it was about him. The thudding in Hoseok’s heart was surely loud enough for the woman to hear it. Hoseok was Taehyung’s sun. How coincidental as Taehyung was his moon.

Hoseok decided that he would do anything to make Taehyung smile, and would continue to shine brightly for Taehyung if it meant that his best friend could be happy.

++++

Following that weekend, Hoseok continued to visit the Kim home every other weekend, bringing snacks for the kids and playing with them alongside Taehyung. Jaehyung loved Hoseok’s piggyback rides, and Mihyun loved learning how to dance.

Despite the marvelous memories that were created with the family that Hoseok had come to identify more with than his own family, the struggles of Jung Hoseok did not end. Chief Jung clearly had not regretted landing a hand on his son, and had begun using it more as a way to bound the boy. Leaving had become increasingly difficult, and each time Hoseok would sport a new bruise whenever he saw his friend.

Taehyung never smiled when he saw the bruise; but Hoseok couldn’t stop smiling even so, if just because he got to see Taehyung.

“Hobi Haem…”

“Mmm?”

They were lying on the grass, staring at the stars. The days were becoming cooler as summer was nearing its end and the fall was once again vastly approaching. Suneung was in November, just three months away. Soon Hoseok would be bent over his desk with an official paper and a 2B pencil, all of which would decide his future.

“Maybe…we ought t’ stop this…”

The whole world came to a shattering halt in all but two seconds for Jung Hoseok. The words repeated in his mind as he tried to process them and not a single word made sense. With laboured breaths Hoseok  turned to look to Taehyung who had already been watching him with a pained expression.

“What the fuck, Tae?”

“Yo’ can’t just…keep comin’ here while getting’ hit, Haem!” Taehyung exclaimed, his voice was firm and not a single hint of cuteness that he often had when whining to Hoseok. “I don’t…want yo’ to keep getting’ hurt ‘cause of me.”

Hoseok ended up wrestling Taehyung in the grass, ruffling his hair roughly as he cursed at the younger. “You little shit, I come here ‘cause I wanna. I don’ care about him…it’s nothin’, don’t worry about nothin’.”

Taehyung pouted and shoved Hoseok off without any real strength or effort. Hoseok sighed as he looked to the sky and to the sparkling stars, “Besides…I’d always rather be here than studyin’…”

“Why?” Questioned Taehyung. “Why do yo’ hate studyin’ so much when…when you’ll be able t’ run to Seoul an’ achieve your dream an’ leave your father behind…”

Their eyes met and there was a long pause between them. Taehyung looked firm, his eyebrows narrowed and his lips straight as he tried to read his oddly calm Hyung. Hoseok took in every feature of Kim Taehyung; his strong jaw, high bridged nose and almond shaped eyes. He particularly found himself staring the moles on his lip, nose and eye like a consolation of stars.

“Because…I’d also be leavin’ you behind…and you’re my best friend, Tae…”

Hoseok did not ignore the glassiness of Taehyung’s eyes, not even when the younger turned away to admire the sky with a newfound determination; a look that Hoseok had never seen reflected in Taehyung’s eyes even before when they spoke about dance, music or acting. It looked like there was a fire in him.

“Jung Hoseok…I may not be the smartest…but…I’ll get to Seoul after yo’—I’ll study real hard, an’ we’ll live in Seoul together, got it?”

The thudding in Hoseok’s heart resumed and he chuckled as his hand came over his mouth, the other patting his friend’s shoulder. “R-really?”

Taehyung returned his fiery gaze to Hoseok and nodded, “Mmm…so go study hard fer Seoul an’…I’ll follow yo’—just wait fer me for a bit…kay?”

“Yeah, TaeTae…I’ll wait for yo’.”

+++++

Meetings had become shorter and less frequent until the month prior to suneung, in which they did not meet at all; but the passion and fire that had been in Taehyung’s eyes had ignited within Jung Hoseok. Although some days were agonizing and Hoseok felt like he was dragging himself along by his last whims, he still studied late into early mornings every day with the knowledge that his best friend was doing the same and would follow him. They would be free of this place together.

Before Hoseok realized, the day before suneung had come and he found himself taking long strides up to the shrine on the hill. Although the weight of the test was heavy on his back, he was light in his steps. There had been no way of telling Taehyung that he would be at the hill that day, but Hoseok simply felt that his friend would be there.

Disappointment sat in heavy in Hoseok’s stomach as his friend was not there at their usual time. But he waited and sure enough Taehyung came up the hill with a grand smile and a bag full of things.

“Ya, what took yo’ so long!” Hoseok drawled as he leaned against the tree. He did not sit, as he knew that they would not be able to stay long; the thought left Hoseok feeling a little anxious. Taehyung chuckled and explained.

“Just keepin’ yo’ guessin’,” the younger teased.

Hoseok wrestled with him for a bit before he asked, “What’s in the bag?”

“Well, tomorrow’s suneung, yeah?” Taehyung said as he first pulled out a beautiful red scarf. “Granny says it’s getting’ colder an’ to keep up with your health…an’…it snows in Seoul, so you’ll need this.”

Hoseok gasped and wrapped it around his neck, the true warmth of a loving adult came around him in an embrace. “I love it…tell her I say thank you!”

Taehyung nodded and then he gave Hoseok drawings that his siblings had made for him with words of encouragement written in crayon.

“Aigoo-ya…they’re so cute,” Hoseok chuckled; he felt tears pricking at his eyes. His parents would never do such things, and he certainly did not have any siblings to cheer him on like this.

Taehyung finally pulled something from his pocket. A bracelet made of many different colours of thread. Taehyung wore a similar one on his own wrist. Hoseok smirked and swatted Taehyung,

“Aye, what is this? Couple bracelets?”

Taehyung scoffed and swatted him back as he choked in laughter, “Asshole.”

Hoseok would do anything just to hear that laughter and to see that smile; he missed it so.

 “They’re promises,” Tae answered once their laughter had subsided. “That I’ll come to yo’ in Seoul…so yo’ better not take it off an’ forget about me.”

Hoseok took it to his own hands, instantly warmed. He wrapped it around his small wrist and tied it.

“Never.”

++++++++

Suneung comes and goes. Hoseok does not remember much about it, except for the fact that he wore the scarf to his school and back home. He also remembered that whenever he blanked on the test he looked down to the bracelet on his wrist, his heart inspire and compelled to at least try his best to guess the answer. He had to make it.

For him and Taehyung.

He slept for days following suneung to recover from the weeks’ worth of sleep robbed of him from studying before seeing Taehyung again, which they just goofed around at Taehyung’s house and on the hill.

It was a month later when Hoseok received his scores.

Taehyung waited on the hill for Hoseok. He waited and waited and waited; pacing around the shrine and silently praying that his friend would receive a good enough score. The sun had begun to fall and Taehyung wondered if maybe Hoseok was not going to come until he heard shuffling from the other side of the hill that he had never ventured to. He saw Hoseok’s frame appear; he wore sweats, a track jacket and a cap on backwards. He had two plastic bags, one hanging from each arm as he came up the hill.

“Haeng-nim!” Taehyung bounded from around the tree, his eyes nearly tearing up at just looking at Hoseok. His hyung’s face was normal, like he was not on the brink of revealing his fate to his best friend. No, he easily came close to Taehyung and set the bags down while Taehyung shook him.

“So? So?”

Hoseok stood straight and swatted Taehyung’s arm, his face scrunching in offense as he scoffed at the younger. “What? Did yo’ not have faith that your genius hyung-nim wouldn’t get in?”

“You did it?” Taehyung gasped.

The grin that played on Hoseok’s lips shone brighter than the sun on the hottest day in August; and Taehyung soaked it up along with the shrill laughter of his hyung. “Yeah! I’m goin’ to Seoul, Tae!”

Taehyung screamed dramatically as he pounced on Hoseok, his ankles hooked around Hoseok’s calves as he attempted to carry Taehyung, despite feeling weak from his hysterical laughter as well. They jumped around and wrestled after hearing the good news. Hoseok then grabbed the bags and dragged them over to where they were sitting before revealing that did not only bring snacks.

“Is that beer?!” Taehyung gaped.

Hoseok smirked and nodded, “Mmm. My friend got ‘em, an’ I was at a party with them but…obviously I had better places t’ be.”

“I’ve never had beer,” breathed Taehyung, holding the can close to his face to examine it like an artifact.

“It takes getting’ used to, but I thought for the occasion,”

“Yeah! Let’s do it!”

Taehyung didn’t like it at first; his tongue immediately hung out of his mouth with a sour face. But he made up for the taste with the plenty snacks that Hoseok had brought. They talked and caught up, drinking and laughing together on the hill. They dreamed about their place in Seoul together when Taehyung got in too. They would have a small apartment, probably only one room since that’s all they would be able to afford. But they would go to school and drink together, they would travel around the big city and get casted off the streets of Seoul to become famous entertainers.

“Haeng-nim…I’m gonna miss yo’…” Taehyung slurred as he nuzzled into Hoseok’s shoulder as they lied on the cool grass. His arm was linked around Hoseok’s, hugging Hoseok’s arm close to his chest.

“Me too, TaeTae…” sighed Hoseok. His mind buzzed from the alcohol, but he certainly was not as far gone as his cuddling friend next to him. Hoseok looked down and smirked at Taehyung who had a tired, lazy smile on his face.

“Common, let’s getyo’ home before we freeze out here.”

Taehyung refused walking. It was Hoseok who had to hoist the younger onto his back, and he managed down the hill to his home where he put him to sleep before returning to his own home.

The weight of Taehyung on his back was almost a little eerie to Hoseok; as it was exactly his thoughts of Taehyung weighing down on him as he prepared to leave for Seoul. It was exhilarating that he would travel farther than two hours away from his hometown; where he would walk down paved streets lined with karaoke rooms, bars, and shops that he never had the luxury of stepping into on a regular basis. But there was always that thought in the back of his mind; what if something happened to Taehyung? Would Taehyung miss him? Or would he make a new friend?

What if Hoseok missed his hometown; the little market down the road or the river, the hill and the shrine? What if Hoseok missed his best friend and couldn’t just cross the river to go see him. What would Hoseok do then?

“Haem…” Taehyung muttered to Hoseok’s ear before nuzzling into Hoseok’s neck. Hoseok hummed, but Taehyung did not respond. He was guilty, Hoseok could not avoid that feeling. But at least it would not be forever and he would always have his best friend. A river hadn’t separated them, so neither could a few hundred miles of land.

++++++++++++

Jung Hoseok and Kim Taehyung met every day until the anticipated departure of the eldest in August to Seoul. He had a long day of travel with a two hour bus ride to the nearest city and another four hour train ride to Seoul. Packing had been something between exciting and emotional, and Hoseok had nearly had five meltdowns white attempting to figure out what he needed to take to the city.

But what left Hoseok the most anxious was the night before his departure.

He sat on the hill with Taehyung, their last night together before Hoseok would be gone for months—maybe a year, he wasn’t sure if he would visit yet during the holiday. Initially, their meeting had been normal, with lots of laughter and snacks. But as the night drew to a close, they knew that this was it.

“I…should get goin’, Tae…”

“Ah…yeah…”

They stood awkwardly, staring at each other. Taehyung pouted as he kicked at the dirt, unsure of what to say. Hoseok chuckled and pulled Taehyung into a tight hug.

“Common, Tae…don’t be like that…”

Taehyung circled his arms tight around Hoseok’s waist and held his Hyung closely, his chin rested on his shoulder. Hoseok patted Taehyung’s head roughly.

“Study hard…I’ll wait for you an’ I’ll write to you, okay?”

He could feel the younger trembling under him, and Hoseok sighed as he felt his own tears pricking his eyes, but he didn’t let them fall. “Common, stop cryin’…I’ll come back, an’ we’ll see each other again.”

Taehyung pulled back and nodded. Hoseok pointed to the bracelet on his wrist and smirked, “A promise is a promise.”

The younger nodded and lifted his fist to mirror his Hyung’s action and show his bracelet. “Mmm…a promise is a promise.”

Hoseok smiled and ruffled Taehyung’s hair, and as Taehyung stared at Hoseok, despite his tears, couldn’t help but smile as well.

*

Dear TaeTae,                                                                                                         March 10, 2013

Seoul is huge. I ain’t never been in a city this big…I can hardly get around. My roommate is a philosophy major and is from Ilsan…so he knows Seoul. His name is Kim Namjoon and is real nice. Kinda clumsy though. My classes are pretty hard, kids in Seoul are real smart, so I’m studying super hard still.

And oh man, I’ve drank so much since coming here. I can hardly believe it—they don’t joke with freshmen. I think I’m still drunk writing this.

I can’t wait until you get here Tae. There are so many interesting restaurants here that I know you’d just love! I tried a Japanese restaurant, and it was amazing…I had pork cutlet, and it was so different. Also, the parcel has got some snacks that we don’t got at home! Tell me what you think and if you want me to send more!

I miss you lots buddy…I hope you’re not working yourself too hard. How is granny and the kids? What about the chickens? Is brownie almost full grown now?

Keep studyin’ TaeTae, and I hope to see you soon.

Hoseokie Haem.

~

Hoseokie Haeeeeem!!!                                                                                         March 25, 2013

Wow! Are the buildin’s really that tall? An’ are there lots of cars an’ people? Wow, I want t’ try really good Japanese cutlet…whoa, it sounds delicious. Did yo’ ride the subway? What’s it like?

Is your roommate fun? Do yo’ play games together? How clumsy is he? More than me?

Aigoo, Haeng-nim, you’re gonna become an alcoholic soon, be careful! Hehehe, I want to drink with Haem too. Don’t wreck your liver before I get there.

The snacks are amazin’! We liked all of ‘em! Miyoungie liked the chewie ones, maybe send more of those if it don’t cost too much. Thanks for sendin’ them! Even Granny and Pops liked them!

Everyone’s doin’ just the same. Brownie is almost full size! She doesn’t like me holdin’ her no more, so I’m kinda sad. Nobody wants t’ cuddle with me, even Junhyungie doesn’t wanna cuddle with his Haem no more.

You’re the smartest kid I know, Jung Hoseok. I’m sure you’re doin’ just fine, even with them Seoul kids. I miss yo’ too…the days aren’t as bright anymore without yo’ here, but I know I just gotta work for it. I study all the time now, maybe that’s why the kids don’t wanna hug me no more since I don’t play with them as much. But they get it, an’ they’re cheerin’ me on.

Keep waitin’ Haem.

TaeTae

The letters never ceased, even during the busiest times of Hoseok’s semester, or even when his new friends Namjoon, Yoongi and Seokjin kept dragging him out to go drinking. No, Hoseok always took time out to write to his best friend in the countryside; updating him on the new friends that he had that were interested in music just like him. He always assured Taehyung that even though he was making friends that Taehyung was still his best friend, and that he always wore his bracelet.

And even though Taehyung was busy with studying, he always took the time to write to his best friend in Seoul. They both joked how they wrote with less dialect and wrote more standardly, it was gross to both of them, but they figured it was for the best—at least, if Taehyung wanted to get a good grade in Korean writing to go to university in Seoul where they only spoke the standard.

But then November came around and before they knew it was suneung. Hoseok had mailed a care package for Taehyung, containing all of his most favourite snacks, a new scarf that he had found in Hongdae that was similar to Hoseok’s scarf to which he wrote ‘it’s cold here in Seoul, you will need this.’

A reply never came in the following weeks, and Hoseok had no idea whether or not his best friend had passed or failed. Every night he stayed awake staring at the moon, reminded of Taehyung. He felt sick after nearly a month of no response, not even an update or a generic letter—nothing. Maybe he hadn’t passed and was choosing to ignore Hoseok until he went back.

Would he even want to see him then?

It was winter break when Hoseok had finally received a letter.

“Hope-ah!” Namjoon called from the common room, “You got a letter from Tae.”

All of his friends knew about Taehyung—if they all met, no one would likely feel awkward since Hoseok always talked so much about both of them. Namjoon could likely tell Taehyung more embarrassing stories about him that TAehyung would have ever wanted anyone to know.

“Give it to me!” Hoseok nearly screamed as he ran to his roommate and snatched the letter from his hands. He ripped it open and expected at least an essay explaining where the hell he had been.

It was only one page and there was only one sentence written.

To Haeng-nim.

The temple on the hill, 4pm on December 25^th, 2013.

Tae.

Hoseok read it over and over again, his eyes strained from focusing on Taehyung’s scratchy writing. Namjoon frowned as he watched his friend slaving over what looked like only three lines of ink.

“Something wrong? Did he get in?”

“I…I don’t know…” Hoseok breathed, “He just…he wants me to go home to meet him…”

“You should!” Seokjin called from the couch of the common area. “You didn’t go home over the break cause of your dance competition and it’s been almost a year, go home and see him.”

*

Hoseok had packed as quickly as he had ripped open the letter and bought a ticket to return to his hometown. It would be a long and unexpected journey, even his parents were surprised by his phone call that he would be home for Christmas and the lunar New Year, especially since he hadn’t even come home for Chuseok that year.

Getting on the train had felt nostalgic, like when he had got on to come to Seoul. He was different from the boy that in the train carriage nine months ago. Whatever country attire he wore had been replaced for more favourable clothing that more or less satisfied the high standards of Seoul. He cared much about his appearance and how he carried himself. The dialect that was once heavy on his tongue had become a distant memory that only slipped out when he was drunk, tired or angry.

His demeanor had changed; not as lost and broken as he had been in his hometown. He was experiencing new things, meeting new people all the time and allowing different parts of him to flourish. There was no doubt that Jung Hoseok had changed and morphed during those nine months, and he was almost nervous that Taehyung wouldn’t recognize him.

What if he had changed too much?

Hoseok tried not to think about it; thinking about Taehyung during that time had been stressful. A day may have been spent in great company, with plenty of laughter and absorption of new knowledge; the night always came with a sad song from the moon that could not shine as brightly into Hoseok’s window because of the city lights. He could not see the stars like could back in Gwandong.

And for that reason Hoseok felt empty in the evening, and had no moon to break through the darkness.

But he was going back home, riding a train that would take him back to those memories. He was returning to the hardest part of his life, but perhaps the most enlightening. Hoseok was returning to a place that he knew he could still call home.

Because Taehyung was there over the temple on the hill.

After a five hour train ride and two long two hour bus rides on the night of December 24th, Hoseok found himself standing in Gwandong at the only bus stop in the entire village. Not much had changed as the buildings were all the same, the roads were still dirt and the river still ran along it. The walk to his home was not heavy, and he even walked in eagerness to see his parents that he had grown to miss, even just a little.

His parents welcomed him with hugs and proud chuckling over their son who had achieved Seoul. Hoseok had no doubt that his parents boasted about him all of the time, and if that was what he could give to his parents, he was glad that he could at least make his parents smile about something.

That evening Hoseok stared up at his ceiling that night, too nervous to sleep. The moon poured through his window and reminded him of his meeting with Taehyung the next day. Hoseok wasn’t sure if he could wait until four in the afternoon, and wondered if he would just go and sit there the entire day. But he remembered that he would visit his grandparents graves in the morning with his parents since he couldn’t do so during Chuseok. Perhaps after then he would go and wait, since there was no one else that he wished to see and speak to.

+++++++++++++++++++

Before taking the familiar trip up river Hoseok stopped at the old market that he frequented throughout his childhood, particularly in his high school days. The women at the market fawn over Hoseok and how he has changed, he certainly wasn’t a country boy anymore. Of course, laughter could not be avoided when he bought the same snacks that he used to in high school, and one of the women giggled.

“Some things just never change…”

Hoseok arrived right at four. He rubbed the ball of his palm over his pounding eyes; he wondered if Taehyung had changed at all. The sun still hung in the sky while Hoseok paced and kept straightening his clothes. He settled for tighter black jeans a black knitted turtleneck and his denim jacket. It wasn’t too fancy, he wondered. Hoseok found himself staring at himself in the reflection of the water and flushed; he looked completely different from the last time he had looked in the water reflection.

A wolf whistle broke Hoseok’s thoughts before familiar laughter that sent shivers through him.

“Wow, who’s this Seoul guy!?”

Hoseok spun on his heel to look back to Kim Taehyung. He had grown significantly since the last time they had met; he had grown a few inches taller (taller than Hoseok), his shoulders had broadened and had filled-out. Hoseok drank in the sharpness of his jaw and how he had grown into his facial features.

“Kim Taehyung,” smirked Hoseok. “When’d yo’ become a giant?”

Their laughter was louder than the rushing water, and the impact of their embrace nearly sent them falling to the ground. Their fingers gripped tightly at their clothing, faces nuzzled into each other’s necks as they laughed. Hoseok felt like he could be crushed by Taehyung if the teen squeezed any tighter, but he melted into the embrace anyway. Nobody hugged like Kim Taehyung—nobody.

“Where the hell’d you go, huh?” Questioned Hoseok as he pulled back and ruffled the boy’s shaggy hair. “And that cryptic message? I thought you were dyin’ or somethin’!”

“I’m just glad yo’ got it in time,” grinned Taehyung as he pulled an envelope out from the inside pocket of his jacket. Hoseok’s eyes widened as he stared at the letter and questioned.

“Is that..?”

“Yeah…it is,” Taehyung breathed so heavily that Hoseok felt it on his face. “I…I wanted to open it with yo’…”

Hoseok’s anxious heart was already beating too fast for him to be flustered over Taehyung’s thoughtfulness. He could only nod and slung his arm around Taehyung’s waist as the younger began ripping at the end to open it.

The shake of Taehyung’s strong hands almost distracted Hoseok from the letter that he pulled out. He perched his chin on Taehyung’s shoulder as the younger unfolded it and immediately started skimming through the letter; Hoseok did the same.

Taehyung’s hand came over his mouth as he jumped back from Hoseok, his eyes as round as the full moon and his jaw so low that a fly was likely to end up in his mouth. Hoseok couldn’t make fun of the younger since he too had an ajar mouth, choking out bits of laughter.

“Whoa…WHOA!” Taehyung barked so loudly it echoed across the water.

“WHOA!” Hoseok screamed back in laughter as he grabbed his best friend’s wrists. “You did it Tae! You got in!”

“I got…I got…” Taehyung had practically begun hyperventilating. “I got…I GOT IN HYUNG!”

“We’re gonna be in the same university!” Hoseok screamed and Taehyung followed. They jumped around and tackled each other in another hug that nearly knocked them back to the ground again. For what felt like another hour they kept screaming, laughing and dancing with the other over Taehyung’s acceptance letter.

He was accepted into the business program, just the same as Hoseok. The following hours until much past sunset they discussed all of the things that they would do when Taehyung would go to Seoul. All of the foods that they would eat, the places they would drink at, and the memories that they would make together.

They had finally lost their energy and found themselves lying on the grass, staring up at the sky on the clear winter night. It was freezing, but they did not care. They never cared as kids, and they didn’t care then either. Hoseok found himself dumbfounded by the stars that peppered the sky, gazing specifically at the Milky-Way and how brightly it sparkled. It baffled Hoseok how they were so bright, but was so easily hidden by the thousands of city-lights in Seoul.

He then turned to his best friend; Kim Taehyung who shone brighter than the moon that hung in the sky. The one whose smile he would fight for, even if it meant sacrificing his own. Whose smile brought him the truest smile that had ever felt stretch across his own lips.

Taehyung looked to him too, lost deep in thought as he took in his Hyung’s features. He finally asked, “Haem…what are yo’ lookin’ at?”

“You,” Hoseok chuckled. “Idiot.”

Taehyung smirked and nudged Hoseok’s foot with his own. “I know I got more handsome since the last time yo’ saw me, Haem, but yo’ don’t gotta be so obvious ‘bout it.”

Hoseok snorted, “Asshole.”

He then looked back up to the stars. He may not have stars as bright as this in Seoul, but at least he would have Taehyung to remind him.

Taehyung giggled his goofy giggle before softening to a gentle hum. “I missed you, Hobi…”

Warmth spread from Hoseok’s fingertips and swallowed his entire being from Taehyung. His fingers had brushed over Hoseok’s until his larger hand took Hoseok’s into his own. Not once had they held hands, thought Hoseok; but he did not mind the warmth that it brought.

“Yea?” Hoseok breathed as he looked back to Taehyung. Their eyes met yet again, but it was different from before. There was a fondness that Hoseok had never been able to read before that danced in Taehyung’s brown eyes.

“Yeah…” he agreed before squeezing Hoseok’s hand with a shy smile. “My sunshine…”

Hoseok grinned, his heart was full and he finally felt complete. For that smile, Hoseok would burn start wars and burn cities for that true smile, elastic and amiable; and Hoseok had a strong feeling that Taehyung would do the same for him, too.

“I missed you too…” agreed Hoseok. “My moon.”