Summary: football mishap at 7, visit at 9, talk at 12. busy schedules, stolen moments, interrupted romance.
you were 7, and so was chan, as he observed you always accompanying your older brother — soonyoung — to the playground. where you would sit on a bench, with a stray cat on your lap, observing your brother play football with his friends.
seated in your familiar spot, you would find solace in the routines of watching and the comforting presence of the stray cat amidst the playful chaos of the field.
then suddenly an accident occurred — the football flew over to you, hitting right on your head, causing the startled cat to hiss and run away, as you instinctively pressed your palms against where the football hit you.
your brother ran towards you, hurriedly asking if you were alright, cupping your face to look at your head. as you winced from the sudden impact, another concerned figure darted towards you— chan, rushing to your aid. "you ok? im sorry," he says, worry evident in his voice. you just looked down, tears falling from your eyes as your brother consoles you, "don't cry, don't cry,"
reaching out a tentative hand, unsure of how to comfort you. chan's eyes searched for a solution, a way to erase the mistake, but at that moment, his presence alone offered a strange reassurance. your tear-filled gaze met his, and a wordless understanding passed between you.
you stopped accompanying your brother to the playground then after and chan's remorse weighed heavily on his young shoulders, blaming himself for your absence from the playground. days turned into months, and the field felt emptier without your presence, a void chan couldn't shake off.
chan was 9, and so were you, when soonyoung invited him to your house. chan felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation as he followed soonyoung to your house. the memories of the accident weighed heavily on his mind.
upon reaching your doorstep, soonyoung rang the doorbell, the sound echoing through the silence. as the door creaked open, chan's heart raced with uncertainty. he glanced up, meeting your gaze as you stood in the doorway, a mix of surprise and curiosity flashing across your face. "i've got chan along,"
while soonyoung excused himself to the bathroom, chan and you sat on the sofa, the living room filled with silence. so chan starts — he calls your name, asking you why you don't join your brother to the playground. you simply shrug, telling him that you've found football boring, and that you've found a hobby to entertain yourself with. as soonyoung returned from the bathroom, the conversation shifted to lighter topics.
chan's visit became a catalyst, planting the seeds of a potential return to the playground, and perhaps, the rekindling of a friendship that had been paused by an unexpected accident.
you were 12, and so was chan, when you two had become good friends, or more. chan would hold your hand and take you to his secret hideout.
once, chan, took you to his hideout and kissed you on the cheek. overwhelmed by shyness, you slapped him. your cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as you quickly averted your gaze, feeling flustered by the unexpected turn of events.
chan, taken aback by your reaction, immediately pulled back, his eyes widening in astonishment. "i'm so sorry...i didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he stammered, regret and concern evident in his voice.
the both of you go to college now. you being busy with your academics and a goal in your mind to top all your classes, didn't interact with chan or any of your friends.
sitting across from each other, chan and soonyoung ate in a rather uneasy silence. chan sighs, "what is it hyung?"
soonyoung simply takes a bite out of the bread.
