Night Rider- Tyunning

Yeonjun's visit

The Saturday after Taehyun's birthday, the 15 year old began to get ready for his 7am shift. He put his work shirt on and grabbed his apron. As he was tying his shoes, he heard a knock at the door. The couple was still asleep in their bedroom so he had no idea who that could be. He walked over then opened the door. "Yeonjun? What are you doing here?"

"Hey. Figured it was time to meet my best friend's boyfriend in person dont you think?"

"I... sure I guess? I need to go to work though..." Taehyun looked around for Hyuka but he wasnt there. "Where... is he okay?"

Yeonjun turned around and laughed. "Yeah he's fine. He's going to Vermont for the weekend with his band. When does your shift get off?"

"1. It's a shorter shift today... why are you here again?"

"Came to give you your birthday present of course. Sorry we couldnt call. We had a meeting at the embassy. It went on longer than expected." Yeonjun looked at the penguin plushie on the couch. "Im glad you like the gift he sent. I told him you were too told for plushies now."

Taehyun looked at the small blue stuffed penguin with a red bowtie. "It's from him. It's perfect."

"Good answer. Go to work. If you dont have plans, I'd like to spend the day with you after."

"I dont. I guess I'll see you after work?"
Taehyun was still very confused. Yeonjun handed him an envelope as he walked out the door. It was a $1,000 in cash with a note that said "treat yourself." He pocketed the money then waited until Yeonjun left in his rental to fly off with Kai.

The dragon dropped him off on the roof of the diner and he started his shift. When it was over, he saw Yeonjun waiting out front for him by his car. "Hey little bro. We're going for a drive."

Taehyun got into the car still just as confused from this morning. He remembered the large amount of cash in his pocket. "Thanks for the gift. You didn't have to give me this much though."

Yeonjun looked like he was getting sad. "I know. It's the best apology I could come up with."

"Apology? Is Hyuka okay? Is he hurt?"

"Taehyun he's fine. He's probably jumping off of a diving board in the hotel pool right now. I'll tell you when we get to the place okay?"

"What place?"

"You'll see."

Yeonjun drove them two hours into the empty Minnesota State Fair grounds. He pulled out a cooler from the back and handed Taehyun a giant turkey sandwich and a large bottle of voss water.

Between bites, Yeonjun said "this was the thing I missed most about this state. No other state Ive lived in has a fair that even comes close to touching this one. Kai and I used to have cookie eating contests and milk chugging ones. We used to waste hundreds of dollars on trying to win toys. We would get up and sing on the stage between acts and then run away through the crowd after security chased us. The international food bazaar was always our favorite spot to eat. Im telling you this because he was planning on surprising you by coming here for his birthday. The fair is something he wanted to do with you."

Taehyun's mood elevated then dropped when he sensed the tone. "...but?"

"I got an offer this morning for me and Kai. One I don't think we should pass up."

"Yeonjun what is it?"

"Stanford, his dream school, sent us an invitation to attend summer classes after we graduate in the spring. It would run from June to the end of August. If I remember correctly, your school starts at the end of August."

Taehyun sunk into a deep depression. What was he supposed to say? No babe? You can't go because I want to be with you for a week? The worst part was knowing Hyuka would choose him if he asked. His worst fear was coming true. That he would hold Hyuka back from a future he really deserved.

Yeonjun saw Taehyun on the edge of crying. "Im really sorry. I thought it was better to tell you in person than on the phone. He loves you so much Taehyun. Ive never seen him this happy before."

That last line broke Taehyun. He began crying into his half eaten sandwich.
Yeonjun held him as he tried to get his breathing under control. When he felt he was able to speak he asked "is-is h-he still moving when he's 16?"

Yeonjun handed him a pile of napkins from the cooler. "I don't know. It depends on his mom to be honest. Right now he is. I want you guys to be together as much as you do. I want my best friend to be always happy. This is just something I don't think we should pass up. I hope you understand."

Taehyun nodded. He understood it perfectly. Hyuka deserved this opportunity and it would selfish of him to hold him back from it. His tears stopped falling as his depression got worse.

Yeonjun started to drive back. Taehyun fell asleep from the emotional bomb that was just released from his body. Only sadness was left behind.

He woke up when he arrived back at his house. Yeonjun left before Beomgyu could start an argument with him. He told the roommates what happened and found himself crying again.

Beomgyu told him to make Hyuka not go which led to Soobin calling him selfish. They began arguing which made Taehyun cry harder. He went into his bedroom and slammed the door. He called his boyfriend out of instinct and heard him say "hello Taehyunnie!"

He tried to make his voice as normal as possible but Hyuka heard something was off. "Baby what's wrong?"

"Nothing. How's- how's Vermont? Yeonjun told me you were there with your band."

Hyuka began telling him the stuff they've done so far. He heard a few band members tease him for talking to him instead of playing Uno. A couple friends yelled "Hi Kai's boyfriend!" in the background.

While Hyuka was talking, Taehyun couldnt stop thinking about breaking up with him. He fought it hard but it was like an alarm going off in his head.

When he didnt respond for a while, his boyfriend asked "Taehyun? You okay?"

"Yeah! Sorry baby. Im fine. Just had a long day. Have you talked to Yeonjun yet?"

"Not since this morning, why?"

"He's going to tell you something when you get back and I just wanted to tell you... I support it. I support it completely."

"...okay? Thank you?"

"You'll see." Taehyun could hear Jake yelling at him to get off of the phone. "Babe go have fun with your friends. Call me tomorrow?"

"I will! I love you!"

"I love you too. Bye baby"

"Bye!"

Taehyun stared at the ceiling until he fell asleep. He decided that if Hyuka couldnt move when he was 16, that he was going to let him go.