ASTRONOMY | SEUNGJIN

14 - A week is just too long

"Mom, I brought someone home!" Hyunjin shouted as soon as they arrived. "Who is it- Jeongin-ah! You've grown so much! What brings you here?" The two were so close in Seoul that even their mothers knew each other. "Auntie!! It's been a while. I would like to ask if I could stay for a week?" Jeongin asked.

"Is that even a question? Of course, you can! You're no stranger to this family after all." She got Jeongin's bag and carried it for him.

"Hyung, your drawing skills improved a lot!" Jeongin looked at the artworks on Hyunjin's wall. "Thanks," he replied. Jeongin saw a specific painting that caught his eye.

"I like this one the most. It's colorful." It was the Alice in Wonderland painting that was hung above Hyunjin's bed frame. "Seungmin and I actually painted that for a project, pretty isn't it?" He said while recalling the memories of when they painted that. "Speaking of him, what's with you guys? Do you like him?" The answer was actually pretty obvious.

"Yeah, I found a liking for him when that project was given to us." He stared at the painting. "He seems to like you too, why won't you guys make a move?" Jeongin was observant; of course, he noticed Seungmin's signs of jealousy earlier. "You don't know that," Hyunjin said. Seungmin was too good for him to be liked back.

"You know what you should do instead of making assumptions about Seungmin's likings? You should reply to Chan hyung." He looked at Jeongin's phone, which had been so noisy with all of Chan's chat and phone call notifications.

"Why should I reply to him when he didn't reply to me?" He was stubborn, but deep inside, he wanted to hear what Chan would say to him.

Another notification sound was heard when Jeongin finally decided to call him back. "Hello?" He softly said. He was a whole different person when talking to Chan. He wasn't being fake or anything, it just goes by naturally.

"Jeongin finally! Where are you? I went to your classroom, your house, the park, the cafe and you weren't in any of them. I tried calling and texting you several times, yet you won't answer. For a second, I thought you were kidnapped! Jeongin I was so worried." Chan's voice was full of worry and frustration, yet Jeongin found that sweet.

"You were?" He uttered, not knowing what to say. "Of course I was; now where are you? We need to talk." How does Jeongin explain that he went to Busan because of him? Right, he doesn't. "I'm in Busan; I'll be here for a week. I'm staying at Hyunjin's house at the moment... Can we maybe save the conversation for when I get back?"

A moment of silence before Chan spoke "Okay, see you in a week Jeongin." He was going to drop the call when Chan spoke once more. "One more thing, don't ignore me, yeah?" He said. "Okay..." He uttered.

"So how did it go?" He had completely forgotten that Hyunjin had been there the whole time.

Three days, Jeongin has been bothering Hyunjin for three days now. Though they have been both busy with online classes and actual classes, Jeongin would always pick Hyunjin up from school and go to work with him.

"Hyung, I got wet." Jeongin went inside the convenience store soaked. "I told you not to play around on the beach when it's a high tide; here, wear my extra clothes." He gladly wore the clothes.

He'd usually go to the beach while waiting for Hyunjin to finish his shift. "Innie, I'm done. Let's go." They walked home.

On the walk home, they passed by someone familiar. "Isn't that Seungmin hyung?" Jeongin looked at the guy who passed by them.

"Hyung!" Jeongin called, and Seungmin looked back. "It is him!" He said as they went to him. "Hyung, what brings you here?" Seungmin looked astounded. "I'm just going to a friend," he uttered.

"A friend? Who?" Hyunjin couldn't help but ask. "None of your business, Hwang. Anyway, I'll get going." He walked away.

"Hyung, I take it back; maybe he doesn't like you back." Jeongin continued walking. "He doesn't...?" He knew the chances of him being liked back were low, but he didn't know it was this low. What if Seungmin already liked someone else and he just wasn't aware?

"Channie hyung?!" Jeongin was surprised. What was Chan doing at their front door? "Jeongin... Sorry, I couldn't wait longer, a week is just too long..." Chan complained, and Jeongin went for a hug. "I missed you, hyung!" Jeongin was here hugging the love of his life, while Hyunjin was wondering how the fuck Chan got his address.

"Hyunjin, it's been so long!" Though they weren't so close, they both got to know each other because of Jeongin. "Hyung, are you planning to stay for the night? It's getting late," Hyunjin asked, knowing he had no more space for another person in their house. "No need; I checked into a hotel. Speaking of that, I'd like to take Jeongin there for dinner tonight, if that's good?" He asked.

"It's up to him, not me." They both looked at Jeongin.

"Of course, I'd love to! Are we going to talk there too? about the conversation we didn't get to talk about?" Jeongin questioned. "Yes, about that," Chan smiled. He can finally say what he's been keeping from Jeongin for years now.