☆First Snow☆ | Joshua

19❄️ I CAN'T RUN AWAY

It's been a few hours since I arrived at Areum's mom. Her mom welcomed me so well and helped me to bring my stuff to the room. Since there wasn't an extra room they gave me Areum's. When her mom saw that I was with a man, she confusingly looked at him. Before she thought anything gladly I introduced him as my friend which she believed. Thank god she didn't know about Seventeen.

'Friend? Just a friend? Yeah, fine.. Still, we are friends.'

'I hope so'

It's almost lunchtime. So I decided to take a bath before having lunch that Areum's mom had prepared. After lunch, I went to my room to have a nap. Now I'm staring at the ceiling as I remember what happened between us a few hours ago.

When he showed me that beaded bracelet and said he kept it with himself wherever he went, I felt my heart was heavy. Even now I feel the same way as I memorise everything. The way he loved it, the way he started it has his hobby, his expressions, and his words were like being shot with an arrow.

"How can I clean this mess that I created? I shouldn't have told that much." I closed my eyes as I let a sigh out.

It was nearly 5 o'clock when I woke up. "Oh, Ha Yoon ah~ did you wake up? I was about to wake you up but thought you were tired." As soon as I got out of the room, Areum's mom said. She offered me a coffee so it would help me to recover from dizziness. After the coffee time, I went out for a walk.

There's a little lake a few feet behind Areum's. When I was here years ago, that was my favorite place. I stepped towards my favorite spot. Nestled among rolling hills, this beautiful lake captivates with its crystal-clear waters that mirror the sky's azure hues. Surrounded by a lush, vibrant landscape of emerald forests and colorful wildflowers, the lake's tranquil ambiance invites serenity and contemplation. How has this place not become my favorite place? In the evening as the sun sets, the sky paints a breathtaking canvas of pinks and oranges, reflecting on the lake's surface, completing the enchanting picture of this serene oasis. When I first saw this place I thought I was daydreaming or I was living inside a book. This place is magical and too beautiful to be a real place.

After spending a few hours there, I got ready to go back to Areum's as it was too late to walk around now. When I got back home Areum's mom had already prepared dinner.

"It's been a long time since I tasted your meal." I missed this taste. Back in the time, Areum's mom used to cook for us since my mom was not good at Korean food and culture.

"That's right. How is it?" Asked Areum's mother.

"It's still the same. Delicious!"

"Ahm- so Hayoon-ah! Where did you go earlier?" Her voice trembled. But she tried not to show it.

"To the Lake. Since it was getting dark I couldn't walk around much. I'll try tomorrow." I said.

"But are you alright?"

"Yes sweetie, I'm fine! Let's eat." She answered but she was nervous. I didn't understand why she was nervous as there wasn't anything to be nervous about. I continued eating without asking anything. After dinner, I helped her with dishes and cleaning even though she refused my help. I can't stay here for days for free. So I tried my best to help her. After everything was done, we headed back to our rooms to sleep.

Narrator's POV

Joshua entered their apartment when Jeonghan, Dokyeom, and Seungkwan were about to have a pizza that Dokyeom ordered. "Shua hyung~ come and have some," Dokyeom called him but not Shua cared about it. He directly went to the refrigerator grabbed a can of beer and locked himself inside his room. Boys were looking at him with judging faces and supervised his every movement.

"Why do I feel Mingyu Hyung gonna be burned alive tomorrow?" It was Seungkwan who cut a slice of pizza. "I think hyung will pull his hair out one by one." It was DK and Jeonghan remained in silence.

"Shua ya~ come out, let's eat." Jeonghan knocked on Shua's room after DK and Seungkwan left him alone in the living room. He entered the room but Shua didn't respond to him.

"Oh Han~ah, sorry I didn't hear you," Joshua said removing his air pods. "What were you listening?" Jeonghan asked keeping the plate he brought for Shua on the table. "Just some random songs," Joshua answered looking at his phone.

"Wanna talk?" Jeonghan asked casually. Joshua remained in silence.

"What happened today? What did she tell?" Joshua looked at Jeonghan as he asked about Skylar.

"How did you know that I met her?"

"Mingyu told us everything." Joshua let a sigh out and decided to tell everything. Even though he thought that he wouldn't tell anyone about the things that happened between them, it was Jeonghan his best friend and that man really knows how to make someone speak.

"So are you guys alright now? I mean at least as friends" asked Jeonghan.

"How can we be alright after knowing how much pain I left with her? Jeonghan I've hurt her more than I thought. I just can't run away from what I've done to her." His tears rolled down without his permission. He didn't even care about he's with Jeonghan but he let his tears fall.

"Look, you guys talked.. isn't it what you guys had to do? You can solve this Shua.. You have us, You have her now.." Jeonghan patted his shoulder.

"But what you are going to do with Haeseul now?" Joshua raised his head and wiped his tears.

"I'll talk to her."

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Stay until the next snowfall