oneshots || oneus

‗ ❍「LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL 」¡! ❞

ship : Hwanwoong x Dongju
word count : 1040
warnings : mention of death and alcoholism.

Dongju sat by the shore. The water coming just far enough to tickle his feet before retreating. The tears did not stop. He threw rocks into the water to get some anger out but nothing worked. He tried to hold onto the sand but it just slipped from between his finger.

Hwanwoong sat down besides him. Wrapping his arms around Dongju, he let him cry into his shoulder as he rubbed his back, soon caressing his long black hair. Dongju gripped the back of Hwanwoong's t-shirt.

"It's been 6 years... Dongju.. why do you come here if it makes you cry so hard." Hwanwoong asked holding back his tears. He held the younger in his arms how he would everytime for the past 6 years. The others waiting at the back like everytime.

"Woongie Hyung, what date is it today?" Dongju asked in between sobs.
"January 10th 2021, it's your 21st birthday.."
"You know who else would be celebrating his 21st Birthday if I had been careful."
"Dongmyeong.."

It was true. It had been almost 4 years since the accident. And Dongju still blamed himself. How could he not. It was not possible for him to not blame himself for how his twin died.

They were all playing. Filming for a song. At the beach. The band MAS, Dongju, and all his friends. It was fun splashing each other. Making sand castles. He wanted to go in. He begged Dongmyeong to come. He said no repeatedly, saying he could not swim.

The next bit happened too fast to even process. Their hands slipped. He heard screams. His own, the older ones', Dongmyeong's. He tried to reach for him. Look for him. But the current was too strong. That was the last time he saw his twin.

The memory came back every so often. In dreams, in daylight, on his birthday, on Dongmyeong's death anniversary. It haunted him and oh how he wished he could hold his twin in his arms one last time and tell him, "I'm so glad you're my twin." Once again.

But he couldn't. He was gone. Swallowed by the greedy ocean. Or maybe someone did save him but he didn't want to see him ever again. After all his body was never found, maybe that was the reason he could not find closure. Because deep down he felt like Dongmyeong would walk up behind him, and tap his shoulders. How he always did.

"But.. see you've made it so far, wherever he is...he would have been so proud of you. You, you have gone through so much and are still here.. living your dream." Hwanwoong tried to cheer him up even if it was just a little.

"Who would be proud of a alcoholic."
"Dongju! Don't think so low of yourself." Hwanwoong kneeled down in front of him.
"You beat, you've been sober for so long, you were struggling, losing someone you've known your WHOLE life, your twin, your other half, isn't easy and you made it. You're here. With us.." he couldn't hold back his tears anymore.

"Dongju... He would be so proud of you, I'm so proud of you. And that you're here with me." Hwanwoong left a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"I know he would've been your biggest fan... And he would've loved all your performances and danced to all our songs. I will not ask you to let go because how can you. But we are always here for you okay? And one day we'll find the answer."

Hwanwoong wrapped his arms around the other tightly and soon the rest joined the hug too. There was a comfortable silence between all of them for a while.

Dongju had calmed down. The boys started pulling away slowly. He was facing the water again. Cursing it out with his eyes. When he felt the tap on his shoulder. It wasn't an ordinary tap. It felt like Dongmyeong was standing behind him. The shoulder tap was their special way of telling each other they were there.

"Are you going to turn around or not?" Dongmyeong's voice called out. Dongju froze and rubbed his eyes repeatedly.
"No...but you...you...I saw you...and..."
Dongmyeong held Dongju's trembling hands.

"After Yonghoon pulled you out, a fisherman found me.. and pulled me out, he saved my life and let me stay with him...till I could come back to you..."

Dongju wrapped his arms around Dongmyeong refusing to let go. Everyone was there. The fairy lights lit up. There was music, and cake. It felt like his birthday again. Tears pricked his eyes again. Only this time they were not sad tears. He was overjoyed.

"And I'm so proud of you, you made. You really are the strongest one I know." Those words hit all the right spots as he slowly pulled away. He felt confident. Maybe even a bit too confident. He suddenly turned to Hwanwoong and pressed his lips against his secret boyfriend's.

They had begun dating after debut. When he was down in the dump. When Dongju felt like he had no one but Hwanwoong. And Hwanwoong had stayed with him through everything. The least he could do was let everyone they were together.

He giggled shyly hugging a confused and flustered Hwanwoong.
Dongmyeong jumped around like someone had just awarded him an award. His gasp ringing in the open as he tried to not yell and be calm about it.

Everyone was happy. Most importantly, Dongju didn't hate the ocean anymore. He no longer hated himself either. The bad time was slipping out of his hands like the tiny grains of sand.

Life was beautiful after all. He felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulder. All those troubles. Those hard days, faint memories now that he had his twin back. His life was complete. He was complete. And he would make sure to never let anyone tear them apart.

He looked into Hwanwoong's eyes. The eyes that had gotten him through the four years, he himself didn't want to go through. He paused for a minute. Letting the feeling sink in before pressing his lips against Hwanwoong's once again. Letting the kiss linger long enough for the moment to last an eternity.