Conversations; All In Blue

Twelve

Somehow the months and weeks had trickled into days. He'd slept and eaten and worked harder than he'd ever worked in his life and it made the time fly by faster than he'd ever known. Packages were being split open and the bedding he'd ordered was just stunning; the teal and white and touches of grey gilding the cherry mahogany finish of the wood with a touch of magic. The room was open to the winter breeze that was just starting to carry a hint of spring warmth in its salty scent and the gauze curtains flapping wildly gave an unnerving sense of freedom that made Junhui wonder.

He wondered why it didn't feel long enough or why it didn't feel real. He'd given himself three months and at the beginning it had felt like an endless purgatory; a punishment. Instead he'd found a reward, joy in the simple things and life in odd little places. A seaside daisy fighting against the odds. A tiny kitten which filled his heart with love. The satiety of a slice of banana bread fresh from the oven next to a hot cup of tea. In this tiny village filled with unusual characters and a banal sense of timelessness Junhui had found salvation. He had truly found himself.

But it was over. He was leaving on Monday morning. He was ready to pack up his car with the tiny kitten on the back seat and head back to reality. Minghao had booked him an easy first month of work, not too much pressure, and he'd made sure to schedule time with Jeonghan weekly. He was going to stick to his new sobriety and work hard, eat well, sleep better. He was going to focus on himself and his health and wellbeing above all else.

He was terrified.

Junhui shook out the last few cushions and scattered them across the beautiful bed. It was so tempting to throw himself down onto it as well and cry the morning away. Its exactly what the old Junhui would have done, with the assistance of a bottle of vodka, but he couldn't fall apart now. Not when he had such limited time left. He had too many things to do.

The knock at the door was perfunctory and only for show. By the time he walked out of the front bedroom Mingyu was already standing in the hallway looking for him. "Ready to build a fence?" he grinned so wide and bright Junhui thought the sun might fall from the sky. He wondered how one man could radiate such pure positivity and loving energy. "Sure," he said and stepped aside when Mingyu caught sight of the bed from the doorway. "Wow, Junhui hyung, its just beautiful." He wandered in and looked around, closely inspecting the woodwork, admiring the slightly kitsch broderie anglaise cushions. "Has Wonwoo seen it yet?" his eyes were alight with second-hand joy; already feeling the wonder and excitement he knew his best friend was bound to feel when he saw the stunning antique bed in the middle of the freshly painted room.

"he's coming later," Junhui felt suddenly shy. "I'm making us dinner."

Mingyu didn't have to ask. He knew it was a last supper. One last chance to spend some solid time together before the chaos of tomorrow and the finality of his departure. One last night of being this man, this capable man who could achieve something so wonderful, who could live with such authenticity. The lingering questions went unsaid. Mingyu would never pry; he wasn't that kind of person and they didn't really know each other well enough anyway.

"This sun is killer today," Junhui lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Yeah, it's the location of the village between those hills and the forest and the water. It traps the moisture from the ocean in the air." Mingyu started to ramble as he was apt to do at any given chance. "There's not really an in-between here, its either freezing or too hot." Junhui didn't really know if what Mingyu was saying was scientific fact or just a made-up tale the locals liked to tell but he enjoyed it anyway. This little village seemed to have so many myths and legends someone could write a whole book about them.