Always and in All Ways | heewon

01

"won!" heeseung yelled. "you're taking too long in the shower again! we're gonna be late"

then came running a ten year old boy wrapped in a towel, his wet hair was dripping on the floors.

"that was just ten minutes dad, i didn't take too long" the boy chuckled while wearing his clothes.

after they both got themselves done and ready for the day they went to their destination.

there, he was met by his friends who had been waiting for him.

"didn't expect you to arrive late at this occasion" greeted Jay who placed an arm around the older's shoulder.

they all went to the table where there were a variety of foods and where a photo of their friend was placed.

A photo of Jungwon being all smiley, he looks so young in the photo.

"you're staring at him again sunoo" Sunoo flinched when he heard Jake's voice from behind him.

"i wonder what he looked like all grown up..." Muttered sunoo as he looked longingly at the photo.

Jake could feel the yearning in Sunoo's voice. He was Jungwon's bestest friend after all. Jake witnessed those two talk about which one of them would get their white hair first, he witnesses how those two promised to grow up together and how they would both tease each other and laugh about how saggy they would look as grandpas.

those were the days... Jake thought. He tapped Sunoo's shoulder and gestured for them to go where the others were sitting.

on a grassy field, next to their friend's stone.

it's been 9 years since he left. 9 years since these boys lost Jungwon. Some moved on and learned to let him go, but some... like sunoo, the pain still lingers.

There placed a rusty metal box in front of them. The time capsule they promised to open together when they were kids.

Heeseung was the one who took the initiative to open the old box, and then came the nostalgia that the objects inside the box brought.

they opened something from the past that they didn't realize would be really relevant to the people they are today.

***

“how about we make a time capsule?" Jake suggested. the seven young boys were spaced out sitting in the living room of Jay's house. they couldn't think of anything to do.

they all agreed to do Jake's suggestion because as Heeseung said: "it wouldn't hurt to try, right?"

"hyung!" Jungwon called to the person nearest him. His heeseung hyung.

"yeah?"

"what do people usually put inside a time capsule?"

Heeseung tilted his head, thinking of an answer. "I don't know... maybe something inportant? something you want to show to your future self or... a letter?"

Jungwon nodded, starting to think of what he should put inside.

The boys took their time to look for stuff they wanted to put in the time capsule, after they carefully thought about it, they all gathered under a big tree.

this was where they usually hang out because of the big tire swing.

“everyone ready to bury this?" Jay asked and everybody answered "yes" in unison.

"we should open it after we all graduate" Riki suggested after they successfully buried the metal box.

"no that would be too soon!"

"what about when we all have stable jobs, some might have kids and a family and when we're all settled?" everyone nodded and agreed with Jungwon.

"I can't wait to grow up and see your reaction once you see what i put there" Jungwon said cheekily and ran back to the living room.

***

“So this is why he was so excited...”