Night Rider- Tyunning

Fall colors

Taehyun made sure to wake up extra early that morning so he could catch Hyuka before school. He called and when his crush answered, he got super excited to hear his voice again. "Hey!"

Hyuka responded "good morning to you too. Isn't it like 5am where you are? Why aren't you asleep?"

"I wanted to increase my odds of you answering."

"Awe! Thats sweet!"

"So... you like me?"

"Yeah. Thats crazy right? Ive never really met you."

"I dont think it's crazy". The big knott returned to Taehyun's stomach again. "I like you too. I like you a lot Hyuka."

"Really?!"

Taehyun giggled. He found the other so fucking cute. "Yes really!"

Hyuka whined "you should have came... I wish you did. Then we couldve met!"

"I know, I regret it so much. Are you ever moving back here?"

"I have no idea. My mom wants to retire up there but I dont know when she's retiring. If you ask me, I dont get why. Its too cold over there and the humidity in the summers are terrible."

Taehyun looked out the window to see his dragon shooting small fire balls at a migrating flock of geese. A couple of them fell down. The dragon kept shooting more until he had a small pile on the ground. "Its not so bad. Id be with you right? So would Beomgyu and Soobin!"

Hyuka started to laugh. "That's true. Listen, Im just going to be honest with you. I really like you but there's nothing we can really do about it. Soon, I'll only be able to contact you once a month. If even that. Then Im moving countries again, depending on what my mom decides."

Taehyun begun to feel sad. He knew everything the other said was true but it hurt to hear. He was in love with someone he couldnt have.

Hyuka didnt hear anything for a while so he asked "Taehyun? Are you okay?"

"I just wish things were different..."

"Me too. I have to go to school now. Ill text you when I can. I promise. I really do like you though Taehyunnie. Youre one of the best people Ive ever met. Talk to you soon."

Taehyun stared at his phone at the photo of Hyuka on his lock screen. He thought back on being told Hyuka's mom wanted to retire in Minnesota. Taehyun would wait an eternity if he had to for Hyuka. It wasnt because he was 12 and naive, it was because he knew no one had ever made him feel this way before and he wasn't going to give up on it.

Hyuka went downstairs to eat a small breakfast with Yeonjun before school. On the drive over, he kept thinking about the conversation he had that morning. The odds of him moving back were low, especially considering college was just around the corner and he had no idea how soon his mom was to retirement.

Yeonjun could see him deep in thought and asked what was wrong. Hyuka sadly responded "I have to let him go dont I?"

"Please tell me youre not going to cut him off. Beomgyu and Soobin would never forgive you for that."

"What difference does it make? Every time I move, no, every time WE move, we cut people out like it's nothing."

"We dont cut off people we actually care about. I know you care about him. You're hurt that you guys cant be together. I get that. Believe me. Ive been there. Dont take it out on him though. He doesnt deserve it." Yeonjun pulled him into a hug. Hyuka sank into his chest.

The older was right. If he cut Taehyun off, he would only hurt both of them. They could keep talking as friends like he planned to before. "You're right. Im sorry. I was just upset."

"What are best friends for?"

They arrived at the school and split to go to their classes.

The next week would be compromised of review for midterms and then the midterm finals. As much as Hyuka wanted to text the Minnesotan people back, he couldnt. Priority was his grades. Every second of his free time was spent either working on a project, studying by himself or studying with friends.

There was one thing Hyuka and Yeonjun made sure to do every day though. Every morning, at exactly 5:15am, they would walk to central park and watch the sunrise in the autumn scenery.

No one would talk for the first 10 minutes. The two best friends would just sit and enjoy the way the sun shown through the red and orange leaves like they were pieces of stained glass. Geese would fly overhead. Some would be seen walking by the lake. It was quiet but perfect.

If Hyuka had to go back to Minnesota for any season, it would be autumn. The midwest in general experienced a more beautiful fall than any other place he had been to. Those colors just seemed to ripple across that area of the country like someone took a giant paintbrush and painted in the lines.

Hyuka began to imagine Taehyun and himself, sitting on the dead grass, in a fall painted forest. They would be holding hands. He would be staring into the slightly older's eyes, looking at the way they reflected his own. He would make a dumb joke to see the other smile. God he loved the way Taehyun smiled. Then they would maybe kiss and be the happy couple he imagined them to be.

Or maybe things would be awkward in person. The spark they felt would be gone, replaced by tension. Maybe if he really did move back, Taehyun would be taken by then. Someone else would make him smile while Hyuka just had to watch.

Fall colors faded to black and white as he imagined a life without Taehyun. Yeonjun was again right, he couldn't just cut him off. He wanted the color to stay in his life forever. Hyuka sent Taehyun a quick text saying "Midterms are kicking my ass. I'll send you a present when I get to my new home. Your birthday is in February right? That's what Soobin told me."

Yeonjun helped him to his feet and they started to walk to the diner. They ordered their usual and helped each other study more. Hyuka said "just think. In 2 more months, we can make our own school schedule."

"2 more months." Yeonjun raised his glass of coffee to Hyuka's glass of orange juice. They said cheers to a new beginning.