under the sky in room 553 i discovered you and i

3

"Hyung, look here!"
Yeonjun was in the middle of climbing down a tree, the end of a random grass plant tucked between his teeth when he turned to look. "Beomgyu, what are you doing?"
"Come quick, or the wind's gonna blow it away! Look!" The younger male still exclaimed with glee, sounding way too excited as he crouched in the middle of the field, hands cupped protectively around something.
Yeonjun let out a small laugh as he jumped down, walking over. In the middle of a tall grass field, Beomgyu mysteriously looked even smaller. "What is it?" He inquired as he squatted down next to the boy.
With a bright grin, the boy in question unveiled his hands, revealing the item he's been carefully shielding from the afternoon spring breeze.
They were two perfect dandelions—white as snow, round as textbook circles, not a single flake out of place.
Beomgyu noticed Yeonjun staring in awe as well and giggled as he gently plucked the flowers, handing one to the former. "Here! Did you know that when you see dandelions, you can make a wish before you blow them, and they'll come true?"
Yeonjun's brow arched. Beomgyu didn't look like the type to be interested in things like that. "Really? Are you making this up?" Yeonjun mused, looking at the younger with a questioning gaze that was half teasing.
"No! An uncle told me once. Quick quick, close your eyes and make one. Let's do it together." Beomgyu waved around his free hand, his excitement barely contained. With a smile still plastered on his face, he squeezed his eyes shut—so excessively tightly that wrinkles started to form. If Yeonjun found it endearing, he didn't let him know. He only spared a second to stare at Beomgyu, smiling fondly to himself before he too closed his own eyes.
I wish to always spend tomorrow together with you, until the end of forever.
When he opened them again, Beomgyu's were no longer closed. Those doe eyes were now staring at him with anticipation; like he was waiting for him to complete making his wish so they could blow them together.
Yeonjun let out a small chuckle, a nod signifying the green light Beomgyu was awaiting. The latter's smile turned impossibly brighter before they both blew at their dandelions at the same time.
"What wish did you make?" Yeonjun nudged him by the shoulder, the remains of the dandelions scattered around them like miniature snowflakes.
"Hyung, I can't tell you! Or it won't come true!" The younger looked away, a small pout forming on his face.
"Aw, but you tell hyung everything," Yeonjun pressed, tackling the younger male down onto the field. Beomgyu only whined but showed no signs of restraint.
The sun was high above them. The breeze was warm yet gentle. In the distance, Yeonjun could hear birds chirping. Dew drops made their clothes wet as they rolled in the field, but neither of them seemed to care. Giggles filled the quiet of the park; it was as if only the two of them were present in this vast, vast world.
They were ten.
When they turned eleven, Beomgyu took him here again—on a chilly September evening, where the breeze no longer held the comforting warmth of a kiss like it would on a March afternoon. Yeonjun remembered the dew drops caressing his cheeks as he rolled in the field when they last visited.
Now, he only pulled his turtleneck higher, the wind ruthlessly ravaging through his hair. Beomgyu was by his side, a hand clasped tightly around his; wearing a white beanie and a bright yellow sweater. Yeonjun noticed that his beanie had cat ears and snickered. How adorable.
"Come quickly!" The younger male ushered, dragging him by their intertwined hand. Yeonjun only yelped as he tried to keep up. The breeze blew more mercilessly this time around, and he could taste his hair in his lips as he lightly shuddered.
Beomgyu finally stopped once they arrived at Yeonjun's favourite spot of the park—a giant maple tree. They sat, and only then did Beomgyu let go of his hand to dig into the basket he's been carrying. Yeonjun's palms felt oddly empty in the cold, and so he tugged them under his sweater to get rid of the chill.
"Hyung, do you know that they're going to renovate that part of the park over there into an amusement park?" Beomgyu spoke up, his tiny hand pointing. Yeonjun's gaze followed, and surely enough, he already saw a ferris wheel; standing tall in the middle of the eerie dusk, its bright lights in glowing contrast against the dark of the night.
"Does Beomgyu want to go?" He spoke up, noticing the light wash of colour appearing on the younger's face at the third-person address. He always knew Beomgyu was fond of being referred to like that ever since they were toddlers, but didn't realise it would still have the same effect now. "Stop calling me that, I'm not five anymore!" He retorted, but the crimson hue was now evident on his visage. A heartbeat after Yeonjun was done with his fit of giggles, he spoke up in a timid voice. "Beomgyu doesn't like tall places."
"Mm," hummed Yeonjun, slinging an arm over the latter's shoulder. "Hyung knows. We can look at it from afar, then."
Beomgyu nodded silently. A second later, he produced a small box in his hands, pulled right out of the basket. Yeonjun's favourite grin was on his face once again as he stared at him in anticipation.
"Look what I got you!" Singsonged the younger male before he hurriedly put the box down, reaching to pull out other things from the basket. "What's that?"
Beomgyu only smiled cryptically, not answering. Clutched in his hands now were a candle, a lighter, and a bunch of plastic utensils; he quickly scattered them in his lap before disassembling the paper box. Yeonjun's eyes widened slightly. "Your birthday cake, silly." Said Beomgyu in a playful tone, the lack of honorific intentional based on Yeonjun's deduction; yet he paid it no mind. The younger male now proudly handed him the cake, practically shoving it into his arms—which a mildly flustered Yeonjun diligently took.
"Carrot cake, your favourite. I asked my mum to help me make it! I think I did a pretty good job, don't you think?" Beomgyu asked with a triumphant grin as he put a candle in the middle of the cake and pulled out a lighter. In white frosting, Yeonjun could barely make out the handwritten 'Happy birthday Yeonjun hyung' on top of it. Beomgyu usually had neat handwriting, so this could only signify the struggle he had with the decorating process. The mental image of beomgyu putting so much effort just for him put a fond smile on his face.
"You made it, really? Are you lying to me?" Yeonjun remarked, a sly smile on his face. What he didn't tell Beomgyu was that he'd hoped the chuckles emitted from their dry mouths could cover the sound of his own heart beating rapidly against the constraint of his rib cage.
"It's your birthday, I put in my all! How dare you question Beomgyu!'' He pouted, intentionally utilising his baby talk advantage. Beomgyu, too, was aware of just how much the older adored this pet name of sorts. "I, Choi Yeonjun, vow to never question Choi Beomgyu ever again for as long as I live.'' He spoke, voice dramatically deepend. Beomgyu just huffed at the tease, attempting to light up the singular candle amidst the strong evening breeze.
In between the banterful exchanges and muffled giggles, the two boys sang a very unsynchronised, off-key take of 'Happy Birthday'. Yeonjun later would realise that the reason he was only able to focus on Beomgyu—even though it was supposed to be his birthday—would signify more than he'd ever let on.
"Alright now, time for you to make a wish!" Chimed the younger. The cat ears on his beanie were flopping along with the wind, the brightest smile adorning his face. For a moment, Yeonjun was convinced that the orange glow emanating between them was coming from the younger's smile, and not the birthday candle.
Humming, Yeonjun closed his eyes and did as he was told.
I hope to always see you smile like this, until the end of forever.