Abscond || Taegyu

Time is just an illusion

No more family of ducks, the leafless trees, and the thin sheet of ice coating the once bright green grass. People love to visit the ecopark around spring and summer- the peak of all seasons for the flowers to bloom, trees to grow, and animals to roam. In a complete contrast setting, the chilly winter made it different. It has become lifeless. Lifeless with its own charm. Lifeless as there are no signs of life around the area, but not lifeless enough to stop Taehyun's fascination with the comfortable silence and empty walkways.

For Taehyun, it still looks the same. The smooth bricks at the side of the gravel path are still there. The huge tree trunks are still standing strong. Lamp posts still unlit. And he's still there walking with Beomgyu side by side. The absence of greens didn't make any major changes for him as his own and Beomgyu's presence were enough to fill the life it was missing.

Beomgyu's laugh with his dry, sarcastic jokes can easily brighten up the park. Greenies be damned, Beomgyu's here to take their job away.

Wiping the small tear at the corner of his eyes, Beomgyu's giggle was slowly dying down, "No, but why would you say that?"

"Because it was annoying. It's common sense, so I couldn't help but be sarcastic."

"But you really have a great sense, Tyun. It's like a leveled up version of Yeonjun-hyung's lame dad jokes."

A chuckle and then a laugh followed. Taehyun started to giggle as well when he heard Beomgyu laughing at his own statement.

"Don't say that, he'll kill us both." Taehyun squeaked playfully.

"He's not here. And I'm his favorite dongsaeng, he'll spare me."

"No he won't, he'll kill you first. You're his favorite to butt heads with."

Beomgyu continued to giggle more, his body slightly bouncing from the action. He looked oh so tiny and extra small with Taehyun's scarf around his neck. He just looked so so warm, Taehyun could feel his overflowing energy transferring to him.

"You're absolutely right." With a big smile on his face and an adorable giggle, Beomgyu agreed with his statement.

As the sun was inevitably setting down, the time running as fast as it could for Taehyun to notice, it didn't seem so dark and cloudy for him. Beomgyu tells another story like usual and he would listen like usual while they carefully walk on the slippery gravel. Beomgyu just shines. He shines in Taehyun's eyes like he doesn't want Taehyun to see anything other than his beaming image as he inanimately continues to speak.

It made Taehyun think. Time felt so fast and felt so slow. It was an illusion that can make you feel different things in different circumstances. And as for Taehyun, the time with Beomgyu was both.

Every moment felt slow like dancing to the slowest waltz, yet as you look back, time had let them experience all those in just a span of a few months.

We weren't like this before.

Running a few months back, he remembered not responding properly to any of Beomgyu attempts to talk to him. He remembered sending him death glares and spitting sarcastic remarks as if Beomgyu casted his life doom. He remembered feeling utterly jealous of the older as he saw him laughing and running freely everywhere, lighting up the places he walked on.

And then he remembered the pain. The pain he bore in front of Beomgyu after the older did it first. He remembered seeing the deep part of his soul, the hurt part of him. He remembered relating to him, then swearing to protect him just like how Beomgyu does to him. He remembered the spiteful exchanges turning to playful banters, and then ended up with laughter and giggles and soft stares. And then everything felt slow as things turned softer and gentler.