poems by the shore

o5

they walk side by side, the sun nearly beaming on the two. when they're at his door, jisung types in the code and pulls the door open. holding it just enough for himself to slip in, he reaches to take the bags from hyunjin's hands.

though, the boy tugs them away. "it's okay," he smiles. jisung curses him in his head. he pushes the door further for hyunjin, the two going in and letting the door push itself closed.

jisung sets the bags on the counter, unpacking and putting some in the fridge and others in the cabinets. he can't reach the second shelf, though. the boy takes the cereal from jisung's hand and pushes the cereal on the ledge, closing the cabinet.

"thanks." he can feel the warmth spread on his cheeks. the boy smiles and continues helping to put the groceries where they belong.

once they've finished, hyunjin looks over at jisung who types away at his phone for a moment. he looks up and thanks the boy. "you really didn't have to, though," he hums. hyunjin shakes his head.

"you looked like you were struggling and it would've been kinda cruel to just walk away," he chuckles, hand slipping to the nape of his neck. jisung lets his eyes fall to the floor, thanking him yet again.

hyunjin looks around, commenting that the apartment looks nice. the washer rings. he'd forgotten the laundry was laying out in the living room.

his face grows warm as he rushes about, throwing the laundry in his room and shutting the door. he smiles sheepishly at the boy standing beside his kitchen counter. jisung goes to the washer and takes out the bed sheets he'd stuck in, hanging it on the drying rack.

he curses himself in his head, how could he have forgotten his underwear laying out when a cute boy comes over? a stranger, when a stranger comes over.

jisung makes his way to the door, thanking hyunjin for his assistance, and eager to let him out. the boy nods and asks if his dad was home. "no. he's got work. he won't be home till later."

"so you're alone for a while?"

"yeah. it's normal though."

the corner of his lips drop, offering his company. jisung shakes his head and tells him he should continue wherever he was headed. hyunjin pushes once more.

"i was just heading home, but i don't have a curfew so it's fine. we can go to the beach!" he suggests, showing his guitar case slung across his back. the boy chuckles nervously but ultimately agrees, being sure to put everything away before they leave.

◌

they walk along the edge of the street, going in silence. jisung kicks a rock aside as they reach the sand. the two stop and take off their shoes and socks to not get sand in them. they continue until they find a spot and sit a few steps from the shore.

hyunjin slips his guitar case off, setting it beside him and opens it. he props his guitar on his thigh, strumming a few strings. jisung's captivated instantly.

his eyes trail from the strings to the boy's eyes, his lips, resting there for a moment too long, and to the guitar. he can feel the warmth run along his skin. jisung looks away to the shore and sighs lightly.

"i want to stay by the sea," hyunjin's voice seeps passed his lips. "watching turn into red."

jisung's heart thumps. how could this boy make him feel this way after only two days? or was it three? with him, the days slowly begin to intertwine and jisung can't tell if his summer break is coming to an end or just beginning.

one moment they were sitting side by side on the sand before the beach, and now they're laying on jisung's bed, heads beside each other.

his dad had already gotten home hours ago, collectively had dinner, questions asked and answered, and now it's nearly 22:00. jisung asks, "do you have to be home soon?"

hyunjin shakes his head, his hair twisting into jisung's. "my mom doesn't get home till like," he pauses. counting on his fingers, he finishes, "two."

jisung nods, further knotting their hair together. he twiddles with his fingers on his chest. the boy shuffles beside him, turning his head to look at jisung.

"what's your mom like?"

he hums in thought. "she's pretty strict, but she's nice. she's always getting me and my brother random gifts for nothing. sometimes i think she likes my brother more than me, but he swears i'm the favorite." jisung chuckles, continuing.

"we're not really morning people, so she likes blaming me and my brother for her getting to work like an hour late. but, she still makes breakfast even though she knows we can just get food on the way school or to work."

hyunjin smiles, "maybe she just wants to make sure you're eating."

"if anyone in that house eats, it's me," jisung turns, not realizing how close the boy's face was to his. their nose are only centimeters away. his cheeks turn a soft pink before he can look back at the ceiling.

his heart thumps again.

hyunjin fixes himself back to how he rested before, asking softly, "can i sleep over?"