𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 | 𝐣𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥

d a s e o t

another day, another work for jeonghan, he wonders, after all those pain he had went through, the problems he and his mother faced, what awaits us? his alarm goes off as he stares at his ceiling.

it was still four in the morning, he couldn't help but worry for his younger sister, they had been contacting each other for a while, but she recently stopped, since then he had been worrying nonstop.

he shifted around his bed, then went to turn on his lights, grabbed the coat he needed to go outside, tiptoed past his mother's room, and grabbed the house keys, as he always locks the door when he leaves with his mother still inside; this gives him a sense of security.

"oh, cold," he muttered as he walked down the streets, birds tweeting and the sun slowly rising and illuminating the neverending abyss of darkness.

he walked silently, tracing the park trails, although it was still early they were people, but it was fine for him, they were either painting, eating with their significant others, or walking their dog, he sat on a bench where he can see the sun rising in, he puts down his hoodie, taking a deep fresh breath from the smell of a new day, manifesting a peace of mind, "oh please don't be too harsh on me today," jeonghan went on the railings and leaned, admiring the birds that freely flew through the cold wind.

jeonghan sat back down on the bench and was startled when fur brushed against his legs; he flinched and scared the dog away. "ah sorry," jeonghan said, reaching out to the dog and letting his hand float to the dogs' face; the dog began to sniff him, tail slowly wagging and pets were given; "sorry for the trouble, i got distracted and he tried to run away," the owner said, panting and blowing loud breaths.

"what's her name? from the ribbon on her ears, i assume that your dog is a girl," jeonghan clarifies, he finds it endearing when pet owners dress their animals. "y- yeah.. her name's kkuma," jeonghan nodded "oh kkuma, hi kkuma" jeonghan cooed; the pure white dog began to groan in response to the affection she had been receiving. jeonghan's clock alarmed, he pat the dog goodbye jeonghan thanked the owner for allowing him to pet his dog.

he jogged back to their house from the park, "mom?" he called out, and when he didn't hear a reply, he began to gather things to cook for their breakfast. time passed, six o'clock, and he went upstairs and knocked on his mother's door, to see his mother cleaning up her bed, "we're not that early today hannie, mingyu offered a hand to open the mall for us,"

mingyu? that's suspicious, he wondered, mingyu had been acting too rashly this time, making business plans, opening the mall, but other than that, his attitude and personality didn't change, mingyu added to jeonghan's list of people to worry, "oh sorry i forgot, meals ready mom," as he man was standing on his mothers door, he went back downstairs, slowly sat on the chair and waited for his mother to come down, and eat with him.

~

they hadn't been there long when mingyu opened the mall. "hey gyu, what are you doing?" hannie calls out the mall, aware that the younger can hear him because the stalls are closed and only the staff members of that particular stall can open it as the locks are customised to their preferences. "nothing..." he replied, his deep voice echoed the mall, "we'll be in the locker room,"

"in case you need us," he added, jeonghan whistles his way to the lockers, manifesting a good day, he inserts his key to open his locker, pushing his bag and slams the locker door, he sighed deeply manifesting does do good when you're worried about something, "you okay hyung?" startled, he turned around, there was mingyu, standing at the door, his body leaning to the doorframe as he holds his camera,

"yeah - no, you.. are you doing a film now?" the older went to him, the younger tilted the camera to hannie's angle of sight, making him look at the pictures he took earlier. as jeonghan looked at the pictures mingyu had taken, he feels proud, mingyu had a talent for capturing peace through his lens, and jeonghan couldn't help but feel grateful for such a talented friend. "these pictures are amazing," jeonghan exclaimed, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"it's good right? i'm not sure what emotions and atmosphere i'm trying to express here, but i think i want them to see that crowded places can also be lonely too, like how people are, happy yet lonely," he said, trailing off. jeonghan noticed it, mingyu had been feeling very down lately and he was concerned about what that would make him do.

"that's why for me, the happiest people are the strongest fighters, even if sadness tries to eat their beliefs and hope, they never broke down," the former responded, his smile crept to his face as he gazed to the photographer, his eyes glistened, satisfied was written all over his face.

jeonghan asked, "i'll get coffee, do you want some?" mingyu shook his head and began taking pictures of the sunlight coming in through the window. it was seven in the morning, and although staff were slowly coming in and out, mingyu was still capturing moments he found ethereal.

jeonghan then went outside and crossed the street to his favourite coffee shop to place his order. as he waited in line, jeonghan couldn't help but admire the way the city woke up in the early hours. the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, enticing him further.