poems by the shore

o7

the sun seeps through the curtain covering the window gingerly. the two boys snore carefully just beside each other, jisung's hand hanging from the edge and hyunjin's cheek almost reaching to be cradled by it.

he blinks warily, feeling the warmth of jisung's skin on his cheek. his heart quickens. why does jisung do this to him? it isn't his fault.

hyunjin sits up, trying not to wake the boy up as he rises to use the bathroom. he's not successful. "where're you going?" jisung asks in a soft tone. he clears his throat and answers, "just the bathroom."

jisung stretches his arms and legs and says he can use an extra toothbrush under the sink. hyunjin nods and thanks him before making his way there.

he sits up, sighing away any remaining drowsiness. the bird just outside his window chirps as he rummages through his closet for a pair of shorts and sweater. it's warm outside but he can never seem to go about outside in a short sleeve no matter the weather.

his dad mumbles passed the door, assumingly to hyunjin. he runs his fingers through his hair and sets a layer of deodorant on. the floor hums as his dad makes his way back to his own room.

jisung tugs his shorts up and his sweater on, the morning breeze nipping at his stomach. the hem touches his hips as he puts his arms down. he turns and sees hyunjin standing in the doorway, his cheeks a bit flushed.

his skin floods with warmth as he realizes the boy must've seen him changing. he's not embarrassed. a boy he barely knows just saw his shirtless.

of course he'd changed while hyunjin was in the bathroom last night; he'd simply thought the boy wouldn't get ready so quickly this morning.

"i was going to ask if i could borrow a shirt," he stutters.

jisung nods, slowly then quickly as if he'd thought of his answer while answering. he hurries to his closet and finds a nirvana tee; considering it's one of his larger shirts, it should fit the taller boy.

butterflies start playing about in his stomach, holding out the shirt for hyunjin. the boy takes it, thanking jisung, and goes back to the bathroom to change his top.

he feels his cheek with the back of his hands to see just how warm hyunjin makes him, and he sighs realizing how pink he must look.

when hyunjin walks back in wearing jisung's shirt, he sits on the edge of the bed as the butterfly filled boy folds up the sheets hyunjin used last night. they sit on his bed in silence, the ac humming and jisung's dad walking about the apartment.

"thanks," he starts. "for letting me sleep over."

jisung smiles, "yeah. it's no problem."

silence falls once more.

"hey, jisung! you guys ready to go?" his dad calls out from the kitchen. he'd forgotten his dad wants to take him for breakfast today. he stands quickly. "yeah! we're going," he responds and looks to hyunjin.

"come on. we're going to get breakfast."

◌

they sit side by side, jisung's dad across from them, ordering for himself. he looks at jisung, hinting to make his order. "i'll have a watermelon juice and cheese cake, please." the waiter nods and looks to hyunjin.

"can i get an iced americano and a cherry tart?"

the waiter says he'll be back with their orders in a few minutes and they nod in reply. jisung's dad looks at hyunjin. "you like iced americano?"

he hums a yes and smiles lightly. his dad looks at him. "the total opposite of you," he turns back to hyunjin. "jisung loves sweet drinks. he tried an americano one time and he almost spit it out."

they chuckle, jisung sinking unnoticeably in his seat.

hyunjin looks over and says, "it's okay. my mom still can't get me to drink sikhye."

his dad looks at the boy with his brows raised. "really? jisung used to ask for more when he was little. remember?" jisung nods sheepishly.

why is his dad so comfortable telling hyunjin such details about his son? they're not that personal.

the waiter comes back with their orders, setting each before them respectively. "thank you," jisung's dad smiles, the waiter nodding and going back. they eat and drink, conversations had in between bites and sips.

once they finish, jisung's dad pays and they head back to the apartment; though, hyunjin parts after thanking them and saying he'll meet jisung at the beach later.

he doesn't know what time 'later' is, but he assumes it's perhaps at or after sunset. "he seems like a nice kid," his dad smiles as he types the code in.

they go in, relaxing in their rooms and planning to watch a movie together towards the night. jisung takes his phone from his pocket, checking his messages and seeing nearly dozens from felix.

he decides to call after reading them all.

"hey," he hums. "hey," the boy smiles softly. jisung brings his phone close. "you okay?" he nods, attempting a brighter smile but fails. "felix," he frowns.

the boy clears his throat and lets his smile fall. "i'm scared. what if she doesn't come back?" his voice cracks.

jisung sighs, his brows furrowed. "when did she run away?"

felix sniffles, "yesterday. we tried asking around and looking for her, but we can't find her. my mom said she'll be fine or find her way back but i don't know. she's still really little, jisung. what if someone stole her or she gets run o-"

he hiccups and tears run down in streams before he can finish his sentence. he doesn't want to finish his sentence. "was she home alone and ran out or.."

"chan took her on a walk and they came back home, but i think he didn't close the door 'cause when we checked, it was kinda open."

jisung bites at his bottom lip. "i'm sorry, felix. i'd help look for her if i could," he trails off, wishing he was back home to help the boy find his dog, berry.

"i just hope she's okay.."