Short Writings (TXT)

18 | Broken Hearts, Content Souls

“That’s a promise?”

He looked at him as if he were the entire universe, with glistening eyes, with a warm smile before nodding, “It’s a promise. Until the end, I will be here.”

And the other hugged him, gently wrapping his arms around the older male’s waist, “Forever?” he buried his face on the crook of the other’s neck.

The older caressed the back of his head, his fingers gently brushing the younger’s hair, “Forever,” he whispered.

Silence came, although it was a comforting one. Two souls just standing there, silently inhaling each other’s scent. They were calm, as tranquil as the ocean waves during sunset. They made a promise to each other, promised something as if it were nullity, as if it were nothing but a mere promise that involved a lifetime.

Promise.

They made lots of those.

One under the starry sky, one during sunset, a promise made during sunrise, a promise made while cuddling, promises made before kissing each other good night.

But even a glass is fragile, it can break easily. Even a bubble is sensitive, it can pop immediately. A heart can stop beating. Anything can break, anything can disappear, and a promise will be, nothing more, but words that hold hope.

“Hyung...” he managed to say, footsteps getting heavier and heavier as he walked closer to the boy who was sitting on the floor. Nothing else surrounded them but bright lights, scattered balloons, confetti on the floor, and a red box resting beside the older male.

The other looked at him, eyes that were once twinkling with happiness were now staring at him with pure disappointment and pain.

“Taehyun,” the older male breathe, “didn’t expect you’d come back after earlier,” he chuckled while looking down.

Taehyun felt his chest tighten at that, he was disappointed in himself. He had already done this kind of act for countless of times before, he was so sick of himself for always running away.

“Beomgyu hyung, I’m sorry,” he finally said after a few seconds of silence. Beomgyu could only laugh, “You’re sorry?” he looked at the younger, Beomgyu saw the hint of nervousness in his lover’s eyes. It pained him, but he was hurting, too. Both of them were.

“Tyun, how many times have you already apologized to me for doing the same thing over and over again?” Beomgyu’s voice remained calm, but Taehyun easily caught his hyung’s tone shaking a little. He knew he was holding his tears in, or maybe his anger. Either way, he didn’t know.

“Hyung, I know. I’m stupid and a coward, but I...” Taehyun stopped, he looked at his hyung and kneeled in front of him. He bit his lip before looking down, “I’m just... really pathetic, I’m sorry.”

Beomgyu stared at him. He stood up and walked past the younger one, Taehyun also stood up and looked back at the older. Beomgyu stopped walking, his back still facing the other.

“Tyun, you ran away...” he sighed, “...again,” and Beomgyu turned to look at him. He gulped, seeing the hurt in Taehyun’s eyes was too much for him, yet everything was also starting to overwhelm him. He had been humiliated for a lot of times now, he was getting tired of it, but Taehyun always seemed to make all those humiliations worth it.

But what happened earlier, it was too much already. He doesn’t even know if everything is still worth it after that.

“Tyun, I...” Beomgyu’s voice broke, “... if you don’t love me, just say it,” his voice was tight, and his words widened Taehyun’s eyes.