fragments of us ֶָ֢ (odehan)

last kiss

Seungmin arrives early at Fragment, his hands already itching for the brush and the paint, the first rays of sunlight barely peeking through the city streets. The events of the previous night are still fresh in his mind, and as he stands before the towering wall, paintbrush in hand, he feels a sense of determination that he hasn't felt in a long time.

He starts painting, his strokes precise and confident, and slowly, the outline of two hands begins to take shape on the wall.

As he continues to paint, Seungmin finds himself lost in the process, the world around him fading into the background as his focus narrows onto the canvas before him. The brush slides over the wall with a steady yet gentle grace, the colors coming together to form two hands, reaching out towards each other, but never quite touching.

Finally, as the last stroke of paint is applied, Seungmin takes a step back to look at his work. The mural is simple yet powerful, the two hands reaching out a potent symbol of an unfulfilled connection. He feels a pang of regret, realizing how much of his own fear is reflected in the image.

With a deep breath, Seungmin picks up a smaller brush and begins to write below the mural—'Fragments of us will always remain.' It's a bittersweet statement, a testament to the fact that even if they can't have a whole story, pieces of them will always linger in the space they once shared.

Seungmin takes a moment to tidy up his workspace, packing away the paintbrushes, discarding the empty paint cans and wiping the excess paint off his hands. Finally, with everything in place, he slings his backpack over his shoulder.

Seungmin muttered to himself, "One coffee won't hurt," but deep inside, he knew he was just making excuses. He wasn't really there for the coffee; he was there to see Hyeongjun, even if it was the last time. 

He walked into Fragment, bracing himself for the encounter ahead, the lingering bitter taste of regret already starting to form in his mouth.

Seungmin stepped up to the counter, and there was Hyeongjun, just as he had expected. The silence between them was stifling, the air heavy with unspoken words and lingering pain. Neither of them spoke, both trying to maintain a facade of indifference, as if they were nothing more than strangers.

The evening was settling in, a storm brewing outside, the rain pouring down relentlessly, the occasional lightning lighting up the dark sky. The café was emptier now, the rush of the day having mellowed down. The silence between Seungmin and Hyeongjun, though deafening, also had an odd sense of comfort to it, as neither felt ready to break it just yet.

The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity, the unspoken words hanging heavily between them. Finally, Seungmin spoke up, his voice soft but firm:
"I'm sorry I didn't stay, but I'm here now." He looked at Hyeongjun, his expression earnest. The simple statement was laden with unspoken confessions, a plea for forgiveness and understanding.

Hyeongjun turned to look at him, his gaze filled with a mix of tender love and deep hurt. His voice was soft, but the words stung like a dagger. "You're too late, Seungmin," he said, a tinge of resignation in his voice. The stark truth of the statement hung in the air, a chasm between them that seemed wider than ever before.

The silence in the air was thick, the weight of their past words pressing heavily on their shoulders. Then, finally, Seungmin spoke, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and trepidation. "What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes searching Hyeongjun's face for answers, his mind desperately trying to make sense of the statement.

Seungmin's heart sank as the reality of the situation hit him. Hyeongjun was leaving, embarking on a book tour that would take him away from the city, and in turn, away from their love.