Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Love has the gentlest song," Mark spoke in thought as he leaned against the kitchen counter, alone and without anything to do. "Is he...in love or something?"
It was Saturday, and that meant he had to work. He held a cold glass of tap water to his forehead to relieve at least a little bit of the tension he felt in his mind. The nights were long these days. He'd spend them tossing and turning without truly finding comfort, even in his sleep. There were no nightmares. No dreams either, but he just couldn't feel rested.
For the past week, he would go to Donghyuck's field, but today he couldn't and he already felt the separation from the moments of calm. They were precious to him when all he did at home was stress over paying rent and budgeting to buy the essentials.
He pressed his hands against the counter and hopped onto the stool so that he could at least rest his sore feet. They still ached from his daily treks into the forest. He wasn't complaining though. He sipped at the water and looked out the window situated opposite him. The sunny spells were all over the weather channel. Apparently they were expecting a drought soon if people didn't ration their water usage. But that was only if it got dire, and until then (which would probably be in a few weeks) he would happily drink as much water as he could to destress.
"I wonder what the rest of the words are..." he sighed in content as his hazy mind cleared at the mere thought of the mysterious field-dweller. He knew better than to make assumptions, but Donghyuck was just so captivating and thought-provoking that the simplest of theories, so childlike and imaginative, somehow seemed credible. He seemed almost inhuman, in respect to both the overall vibe and aura and also his garden. The garden that disappeared into the forest when he turned his back, or the garden that materialised in the forest when he looked closely.
Or was it the garden that was always there and disillusioned him with the overwhelming intoxication of floral scents? As Donghyuck had explained?
He tapped his fingers against the countertop and rested his cheek in his palm, eyes shifting away from the glass in his free hand. He put it down on the counter and reached his arms high above his head to stretch. He had never wanted to miss work this badly. He wanted to either sleep or delve into the forest like usual. He often wished the weekends to arrive quickly so that he could be productive and work, but today he felt none of that. The clock read nine-fifty so he had a few minutes to get to his workplace.
If only time could just slow down for a while.
•・•・•
"He's working today, isn't he?" Donghyuck whispered to himself when the usual time for their meet-up rolled around and no one showed up. He sat back on his heels with disappointment tugging at his mood. He was only getting used to the company and now, for two days, he'd be alone again. He was accustomed to being alone here, however, a mere few days of consecutive chats and companionship with Mark made the hole in his social life that much wider.
These days, all he could think about was what conversation they'd have. The involuntary smile exposed itself as he thought about it. He picked at the grass with his mind focusing on the fact that he'd have to entertain himself today like he always had. And not to mention he was expecting a visitor soon. It could be today or tomorrow, or in the next few days in general. He'd have to be prepared for that too, and hopefully Mark wouldn't be there for it.
The flowers tilted towards him sensitively at his glum state of mind. "When the world slows down and peace sets in, won't you bring me along?" He hummed softly and pulled the sleeves of his dress shirt over his hands. The glow came back to the scenery and he lay back in the meadow, limbs spread out to soak up the sun. The calmness washed over him as it washed over the entirety of the haven.
Amidst the basking, the flowers' aromas intensified and Donghyuck rubbed his eyes in surprise. He sat up and looked around, blinking rapidly to brush off the drowsiness that followed the floral scents. In the distance, when he stood up abruptly, he could see an unfamiliar figure stumble into the field. Donghyuck brushed himself down and put on a welcoming smile. The wind tickled the shrubbery as he stood still, waiting for the new arrival to approach.
"Wh...where am I?" The man gasped while looking at the utter beauty of the natural field. His eyes wandered over the diversity of the species with an enthralled light to them. He hadn't yet noticed the boy standing in it, but when he did, he froze.
"Hello!" Donghyuck called over and waved, smiling. "I was wondering when you'd arrive."
