𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄; boysnextdoor

Wildflowers; leehan

The sun burned brightly over the endless stretch of farmland, painting the golden fields of barley with a warm glow. It was the summer of 1948, and the quiet village near the Taedong River had an eerie tranquility, untouched yet tense under the shadow of political unrest. Y/N wiped the sweat off her brow, gripping the handle of the hoe in her hands. Her family had recently moved here, hoping to escape the rising hostilities in the south, only to find themselves just as entangled in the troubles of this divided nation.

"You're going to overwork yourself," a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

She turned to see Leehan, his sleeves rolled up, revealing sun-kissed arms that carried a bundle of freshly picked wildflowers. His smile was boyish, his eyes reflecting the same warmth as the sun.

"And who will finish this if I don't?" she replied, trying to keep her tone light despite the exhaustion tugging at her.

Leehan shrugged, his grin widening. "Me. I work twice as fast when you're not around to distract me."

Y/N rolled her eyes, unable to suppress her smile. Leehan had a way of making the hard days seem bearable, even enjoyable.

He stepped closer and held out the wildflowers. "For you."

"You can't just pull these from the field," she teased, accepting them anyway.

"They weren't growing with the crops, I promise. Besides, they look better with you."

Her cheeks burned at his words, and she looked away, clutching the flowers to her chest.

---

Evenings in the village were quiet, with most people retreating to their homes after a long day's work. But for Y/N and Leehan, it was their favorite time. The two of them would meet by the edge of the river, away from prying eyes.

One evening, Leehan showed up with his bicycle. "Get on," he said, patting the backseat.

Y/N hesitated. "We'll get caught. My mother—"

"Your mother isn't here," he said, cutting her off with a mischievous grin. "Come on, live a little."

Against her better judgment, she climbed onto the bike, her hands gripping the sides tightly. Leehan laughed, steadying the bicycle as he began to pedal.

The cool breeze brushed against her face as they rode down the narrow dirt path, the fields stretching endlessly on either side. She let out a laugh, her earlier worries forgotten.

"See? You're smiling," Leehan said, glancing over his shoulder.

"Don't crash," she warned, though her voice lacked any real concern.

When they finally stopped, Leehan helped her down and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. Inside were peaches—sweet and ripe.

"Where did you get these?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Let's just say I know someone who knows someone," he said, handing her one.

As they ate, Y/N watched him, her heart swelling with emotions she couldn't quite put into words. There was something about Leehan—his easy laughter, his gentle gestures, the way he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered. She knew she shouldn't feel this way, not when their lives were so uncertain, but she couldn't help herself.

---

Her mother wasn't blind to the changes in Y/N. One evening, as Y/N returned home later than usual, she found her mother waiting.

"Where were you?" her mother demanded, her arms crossed.

"Just... working late," Y/N lied, avoiding her mother's piercing gaze.

"Don't lie to me. I saw you with that boy."

Y/N froze, her heart pounding. "He's just a friend."

"A friend doesn't hold your hand like that," her mother snapped. "Do you have any idea what people will say? You're putting yourself and this family at risk."

Y/N clenched her fists, frustration bubbling inside her. "Leehan isn't like that. He's kind, and he—"

"He's a distraction," her mother interrupted. "In times like these, we can't afford to lose focus. You need to think about your future."

"My future?" Y/N echoed bitterly. "What future? There's a war coming. None of us know if we'll even survive the next year."

Her mother's expression softened, but her tone remained firm. "That's exactly why you need to be careful. Don't let your heart lead you astray."

---

Despite her mother's warnings, Y/N couldn't stay away from Leehan. Their moments together became more fleeting but all the more precious. Every glance, every touch, every whispered word felt like a rebellion against the chaos that surrounded them.

One evening, as they sat by the riverbank, Leehan broke the silence.

"Do you ever think about leaving?" he asked, staring out at the water.

"Leaving?"

"Going somewhere far away, where there's no war, no borders," he said, his voice tinged with longing. "Just... peace."

Y/N sighed. "It's a nice thought, but it's impossible. This is our home."

Leehan turned to her, his eyes searching hers. "Home isn't a place. It's the people you're with."

Her breath hitched at his words, and for a moment, she allowed herself to imagine a future with him—a life free from fear and uncertainty.

But reality had other plans.

---

The war came like a storm, sweeping away everything in its path. One day, Y/N arrived at the fields to find them deserted. Rumors spread quickly—soldiers were moving in, families were fleeing, and Leehan...

Her heart sank as she realized she hadn't seen him since the day before.

She searched for him, her feet carrying her to their usual spots—the riverbank, the edge of the village, even the small shop where he used to buy her peaches. But he was nowhere to be found.

Desperation clawed at her chest as the days turned into weeks. The once-bustling village was now eerily quiet, its residents scattered like leaves in the wind. Y/N held onto the hope that she would see him again, that he would come back for her.

But as the war raged on, that hope began to fade.

---

Years passed, and the world changed. The borders solidified, dividing the country into two irreconcilable halves. Y/N's family eventually returned to the south, leaving behind the fields and the memories that haunted her.

She never forgot Leehan—the boy who had given her wildflowers, the boy who had made her laugh when the world seemed so dark, the boy who had stolen her heart.

Sometimes, she would catch herself looking out at the horizon, wondering if he was still out there, thinking of her too.

And though they were separated by forces beyond their control, Y/N held onto the belief that love, no matter how fleeting, could never truly be lost.

---