ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴʟɪɴᴇ? || k.th + c.sb ✓

epilogue

Soobin's POV

Time.

It unfolds and presents itself as something different from the one before. It changes and changes, bringing the most unexpected face of it. Sometimes it is cruel, sometimes good, sometimes the best it can ever get. It is the most beautiful creation of God. It brings a person to its being, raises them, gives them a taste of this world, bringing along every emotion-- happiness, love, grief, acceptance, resentment, and the list never stops.

However, at one point, time brings them back to the moment it all had started. The only difference here is now the person is mature. They know how the world works, have experienced it. And then all that is left is a sense of deja vu and the memories they made along with it.

"Jobin, let's go for a walk."

I looked up at the elder Kang in surprise, pointing towards myself in disbelief. My eyes darted helplessly to Taehyun, but he was too caught up with his own thoughts, staring off into spaces. It had only been what, two or three hours since I let him know about the whole situation. And there fourth, he was keeping to himself. Although he did inform his parents about it when they arrived back home.

"Yes, you. Alone," added Mr Kang, sounding stern. My gaze snaps back to him and, as slowly as I could, I stood up from my place. The elder followed suit, strolling to the front door. However, I was still unsure, glancing back to Taehyun, who curiously watched his dad's retreating back. But when he felt my gaze, he turned his attention to me.

"Are y'all going somewhere?" he asked, gesturing towards the way his dad had left through. I could just shrug, not knowing what was going to unfold in front of me as well.

When I arrived at the front gate, Kang Hwan offered me a jacket and my mask. By now I was even more confused, pointedly peering at the article of clothing with a frown. The elder pulled me out of my reverie by nudging at my elbow. "Take it," he urged monotonously.

The following hour was something I might never have seen coming my way.

As the other had said, it was just a walk- no thoughts exchanged, no words uttered. I was like a little duck following the mother duck blindly. The December snow crunched under our feet as we trudged down the street of Busan, the sky white like a huge mirror reflecting the earth beneath.

My ears buzzed with the distant sounds of the daily humane activities, the other being the sound of my own heart beating loudly. I knew the elder Kang had forgiven me only the night before, but I couldn't help but feel awkward around him, knowing what he was like before.

I was so into my head that I didn't see Mr Kang halting in his steps, bumping into him.

"I-I am sorry, sir-"

"Dad," he interjected, "You can call me that."

I bowed to him, correcting myself, "s-sorry dad." He stared at me for a second, then nodded.

"Don't slag."

"Sorry, si-dad." And then we continued again, this time with me walking shoulder to shoulder with the elder. Likewise, nothing much happened, until...

"You know, Joobin, I knew everything from the very start." I blinked, glancing at the man whose eyes gazed right in front of him.

"What do you mean?"

I could just see the gears of the other's head reeling as he answered, "I mean, I knew my son was..."

"Not only into girls?" I suggested to which, Mr Kang slowly nodded.

"Yes. That. I knew that, or, you can say, had a fleeting suspicion."

I let his sink into my head, doubts rising on their own. "I am confused. Then why did you react the way you did?"