Tae Shin is a simple boy with simple dreams, who likes to hide his half-forgotten past into the shadows of his low self-esteem. Kim JaeHwan is a sole heir to a gigantic multi-billion conglomerate, who likes to reminisce the ghosts of his happy child...
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Shin never had dreams when he slept. It was, perhaps, an internal defense mechanism on his part. His mind tricking itself into the lulls of peaceful sleep. Even when he laid with JaeHwan, hands held together on the pillows and their faces barely inches away, he would still not dream.
Maybe... just maybe because the monster from his dreams hadn't faded away into oblivion yet. He had not been reduced to a mere nightmare which Shin could dream about.
He was still alive. And very much real.
. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : - ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ - : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .
The dates for JaeHwan's departure were drawing close. He had already been to the States twice in the past month, for his interviews and admission applications. But Shin knew that those were simply for the formalities.
Any school would be over the moon to accept the Empire conglomerate's son in their undergraduate programme.
JaeHwan's admission was finalized, his passport and visa papers were stamped and certified, he went to buy new clothes for himself, but ended up buying more clothes for Shin, despite his protests. And ultimately, JaeHwan said that he would rather live in the dorms than spend his days alone in the house he had bought for himself and Shin.
"But... there would be strange people there, Hyung! They don't even eat kimchi!" Shin squeaked.
"Yeah." JaeHwan looked skyward, as glum as the colorless clouds, "their hamburger makes me puke. How would I live there without you, Shinnie?" JaeHwan put his arm on Shin's shoulder and pulled him close without warning, laughing a little when Shin let out a startled gasp.
"I said earlier," Shin pouted, "you'd live without me."
They had agreed on five text messages every day, a phone call every two days, a video call twice a week, and if JaeHwan's schedule permitted, he would fly down to Seoul. At first, JaeHwan had wanted to make it as frequent as every month. But Shin suggested changing it to once every three months, because he didn't want JaeHwan to be jet lagged all the time.
"And two shirtless pictures, and a pantless picture every night," JaeHwan whispered in Shin's ear, letting his lips graze Shin's earlobes.
Shin jumped up at the suddenness and put his hands over his ears, his face flaming red and eyes wide like saucers. "H-Hyung!" He shrieked. "We're in the middle of the street!"
A few onlookers looked at the young boys and laughed, while others ignored them and walked past, minding their own business. The streets were pretty, with the scent of yet to bloom plum flower buds dotted on the branches of trees lined along the sidewalk.
Winter wasn't over, but the warmth of spring had begun to show. And that had somehow made JaeHwan throw all caution to the wind.
"Let me do this, come on," he said with a sad smile, "who knows when will I get a chance again."
