pixie boy ; vhope

I

Hoseok's neighborhood was usually quiet, sometimes almost painfully so. The Min family was to the right of the Jung residence, an pretty normal family with a nosy shih tzu, kept mainly to themselves. The pretty Victorian house to the left was unoccupied and had been for as long as Hoseok could remember.
In fact, aside from the Parks way down on the end of Eonjuro Street, there were very few people of Hoseok's age on the block at all. Initially, this has caused his mom to fret about her son's social skills until the boy assured her it was okay; he sort of preferred it that way. He and the Park's boy, Jimin became friends in their childhood and that's pretty much all Hoseok needed.
Perched in his very favorite window nook, conveniently located in his bedroom, Hoseok liked to gaze at the abandoned house next door. Always the creative kind, Hoseok liked to gaze at the abandoned house next door. He would envision the future families that would occupy the gorgeous property. He wanted the building to receive the tender love and care it deserved. Hoseok could picture a young couple sharing a warm kiss on the stairs out front as they contemplated starting their family. He could envision a mobile visible in a nursery, a cute playground being built in the backyard, little children giggling and running through the hallways, filing the house with life other the years.
In fact, if Hoseok was being honest with himself, some day he hoped to raise a family of his own in that home. Of course, that would assume that his fantasy family had moved on and the building was vacant once again.
Hoseok was a bit of a hopeless romantic. He had long since fallen in love with the graceful sloping roof, and the quaint porch out front and the surplus of large, ornate windows that littered the building. The paint was peeling in some places and a group of foul kids passing through the block had smashed in a few beloved windows, sure. Hoseok didn't care- it was still ideal.
When he was younger, he had asked his mother why they didn't just move next door. That house was much prettier than theirs.
His mom would always had said something about money and mortgages. Hoseok would always had tuned out with a wistful sigh. At least it was always there to look at from his beloved nook, a reassuring presence, a constant in it abandoned beauty.
So, when, one warm August day as Hoseok was curled into the pillowed embrace of his window sear with a good book, the loud rattling approach of a truck shattered the consistent silence, the boy was startled.
He dropped his book into his lap and sat up straighter, peering toward the silver road available from his current angle. Moving forward, craning his neck, Hoseok could barely make out a large white shape pulling in front of the Victorian home. He scrambled to watch the scene unfold.
It was a moving van; he could tell that much as he just there, in shock. Was a family moving into his dream home? A optimistic smile bloomed onto Hoseok's face, his visions of the newlyweds beginning their family in the gorgeous building springing unwillingly to his mind.
When a distinctly male figure was hopping out of the cab of the moving truck, Hoseok's hopes were ignited and he clasped his hands together gleefully. The figure had a cheery skip in his walk, which was leading Hoseok to assume he was young. The boy waited patiently for the other occupant to appear, the perfectly lovely wife to the chipper young man. When no such woman appeared and the figure drew nearer, Hoseok's face fell into a frown.
The young man was cutting across the front yard with a wide grin that Hoseok could see before the other details of his face; and figure were apparent. The moment he was close enough, cutting through the narrow side lot that connected the old Victorian with the Jung's home, Hoseok realized the reason the man had no wife.
He wasn't a man at all, (okay, maybe by legal standards,) but he couldn't be more than twenty years old. He seemed closer to Hoseok's age more than anything. The new neighbor wasn't possibly old enough to have gotten married, Hoseok finally decided.
Hoseok's frown deepened, though; the house next door wasn't certainly some bachelor pad. Still, Hoseok wasn't about to open the window and ask the strange fellow. That would be far too much for the bookish one. Instead, he watched as the sprightly boy (because Hoseok felt weird calling someone a man, whom was so close to his own age) executed a perfect cartwheel in the connecting lawn.
He lost is shoes midway, the black and white converse flinging off haphazardly, Hoseok found himself with a confused look, and he had a amused smile. The neighbor was some what quirky.
When the boy had righted himself, he seemed to take no notice of his cast aside shoes. He opted for running through the lush, green grass barefoot, with his toes sinking into the pliant dirt. Hoseok shifted in his seat to keep his eyes on the new boy. Then he soon realized it was somewhat creepy of him to wordlessly observe someone who had no clue he was being watched. It was just something Hoseok did. He was a natural observer. Besides, he wasn't doing any harm by it.
The boy came closer to Hoseok's window once more and he was able to see the boy's features. The first time he noticed was the boy's wide brown eyes. They were twinkling mirthfully so that Hoseok could see them from the distance he was at.
Hoseok followed the elegant slope of the boy's nose down that contagious smile, it's brilliant white contrasting starkly with tanned color of the boys skin. Enviously pretty cheekbones that could cut glass, a jawline to die for, a cute cropping of caramel colored hair and overall face of a prince that Hoseok had transfixed on the stranger. Coupled with an endearingly short stature and a seemingly endless source of energy and Hoseok was immediately drawn to the new boy. It wasn't enough to bring Hoseok outside to say hello or introduce himself, though. Gestures such as that were out of Hoseok's realm of comfort and had been a good long while.
Hoseok had been cast off as the shy boy in almost every social setting in which he'd had the misfortune of being placed: the neighbourhood, school, his mother's occasional church meeting, Jimin's parties-especially those parties. His nature practically screamed outcast. He was the dorky kid with the braces, the one who liked to read instead of play football or write instead of partake in video games. That was all people got to know; if they looked deeper, they'd probably find reason to hate him, Hoseok figured. Jimin saw through the barrier Hoseok tended to put up and befriended the boy. He was the one who forced the boy into more socially acceptable events-pep rallies, parties and the like. He dutifully remained at his childhood friend's side, at least until someone fit caught his eye and lured him away so Hoseok was ducking out to go home. It was times like this though, watching the spirited boy spring around the lawn of what Hoseok assumed was his new house, that Hoseok wished he was different. He longed for the cool confidence of Jimin and the ease with which the dark red haired boy made friends with similar interests in his strange music, and habitual smoking. He yearned for the commanding presence the "populars" at school possessed, whatever it was that made everyone look up when Min Yoongi entered a room. He was jealous of the wit and humor of the class clown, Kim Namjoon, who was instantaneously everyone's best friend. Hoseok huddled his knees to his chest, suddenly downtrodden. He was allowed his little sulk, he supposed; it wasn't something he was capable of changing. Interaction outside of Jimin or the occasional question from a peer was enough for Hoseok. Anything else was just too difficult.
The boy in the lawn had halted his altogether too whimsical exploration of the property and was gazing at the road. Hoseok followed his line of sight and saw a beat up mini van pulling in alongside the bulky moving truck. Hoseok's head tilted in wordless inquisition and he waited patiently for the occupants to reveal themselves.
A door slid open and out bounded two tiny brunette girls, hands linked and faces lit up happily. They were screaming something inaudible to the boy next door, en route to the feather haired brunet. Judging solely based on the way he scooped them both in his arms with a bright grin, Hoseok guessed they were his sisters-twins, probably.
Their combined weight and the way they were wriggling helplessly in the boy's arms had the three of them toppling over into the soft grass with the boy shouldering the entirety of the fall. The smile that had fallen off of Hoseok's face with the self-pitying thoughts wormed its way back onto his face at the display of sibling affection.
His attention was drawn by more movement from the van as two older girls peel out of the vehicle. Hoseok's eyes went wide. The new boy had four sisters; he could hardly handle one of his own.
The two girls seemed less interested in the giggling pile of siblings and were chatting to one another with sweeping gestures toward the house. Something they said piqued the boy's interest because he was untangling himself from the writhing twins and charging over. He darted to the front door, arms spread as if to guard the entrance from his sisters.
A final figure was nearing that Hoseok hadn't noticed, ostensibly the driver of the van. Hoseok instantly placed the woman as the group's mother, especially given the fond look she gave to the little twins as they redirected their attention onto her.
The boy had used a key fished from the pocket of his light, rolled khakis to open up the front door and he disappeared inside with a graceful leap. Hoseok relaxed in his seat now that the focus of his attention was out of sight. He waited until the four girls and their mother had followed the energetic boy inside before swinging his legs out of his nook to press his feet against the hardwood floor.
Willing himself to his feet, Hoseok stood and made the trip down the stairs; his legs had fallen asleep and were a bit shaky beneath him on account of the excessive time spent curled in his window seat.
He reached the kitchen where his mother was eating her lunch. She looked up casually, a smile gracing her face. "Oh hey, honey. Did you want something to eat?" she asked kindly from her spot at the table. Hoseok shook his head, folding his arms across his chest.
"We have new neighbors," he announced unceremoniously with a vague nod in the direction of the Victorian house.
"Oh?" She blinked a few times. "Well, isn't that lovely!?" She was getting to her feet as if to investigate Hoseok's information. "I wasn't even aware the house was for sale."
"Me neither," responded Hoseok, a smile working its way back onto his face. His house was going to be loved-and by the pretty pixie boy and his large family at that.
His mother was bustling about the kitchen, gathering together a plate of baked goods Hoseok had recently made-the boy had an affinity for baking which had landed him his job in the bakery downtown.
Hoseok watched her a bit nervously, drumming his fingers against his forearms. He already knew what she was going to ask as well as his answer. As if on cue, she turned on a heel and held out the plate now covered with cling film toward Hoseok.
"Why don't you run these over to them and offer up yourself to help move furniture or something. I'm sure they could use the help and it'd be a nice welcome into the neighborhood," She had suggested. Hoseok was already shaking his head and throwing his hands up so as to avoid accepting the plate.
"But Mom," he whined, half biting on his lower lip. "You know how I am. Can't we send Jiwoo over with the plate of goodies? She'd do a much better job." He tipped his head to one side, giving his mother his very best pleading look that, more often than not, worked on his mother.
This time, however, his mother gave Hoseok a look. "Jiwoo wouldn't be able to help move in furniture."
Hoseok rolled his eyes in exasperation. "They have a son around my age; they don't need my help," he reasoned. Watching his mother's expression change, though, Hoseok wondered if he had said something wrong.
"A son your age? Well, that's lovely! All the more reason for you to go over," She filled, her tone suddenly cheery as opposed to demanding. It dawned on Hoseok that she was attempting to force him into socialization with the pixie boy. Already.
It wasn't as though he didn't want to talk to the lively brunet; he just couldn't. His mom knew that. Sometimes he wondered if she constantly forgot the past seventeen years of his life spent with minimal social interaction of his own accord.
Hoseok took the plate and saw his mom's face light up even more. He shook his head slowly. "I'm giving this to Ji," he explained gently. He could easily have lied and said he'd take it, but Hoseok was a good kid after all. His mother tutted her disapproval but was already turning her attention elsewhere. As Hoseok left, he heard her ringing up someone on the phone, probably to gossip or inquire about the new family.
Hoseok smiled fondly, moving to the living room where Jiwoo was watching some crummy program Hoseok made it a point not to watch. "We've got new neighbors and Mom wants you to bring this over." His sister cast a glance his direction from her seat on the sofa. "They have a son," he tacked on, hoping to appeal to Jiwoo's curiosity.
His sister scanned over Hoseok's form critically, eyes narrowing. "She ask you first?" she intoned after a moment with a knowing smile. Hoseok nodded helplessly, shifting his weight and giving her a hopeful smile. "Poor baby," Jiwoo teased before unfurling from the sofa and standing with a hand out for the plate.
When Hoseok had passed along his burden with a grateful sigh, Jiwoo's free hand moved to ruffle Hoseok's curls affectionately. "Is he cute?" she asked in regards to the aforementioned neighbor boy.
"Oh definitely," Hoseok admitted almost instantly. Seeing the twinkle in Hoseok's eye and the bubble of what would likely be a smartass response on her lips, Hoseok was quick to cut her off with a glare. "Oh shut up," he muttered even though she hadn't the chance to speak, folding his arms over his chest.
"You know I won't tell," responded Jiwoo. Hoseok pulled a face and pushed her, plate and all, in the general direction of the front door. "I'll tell him you say hi," she called back, half running out of the room before Hoseok could chastise her tease.
When she was gone, Hoseok took her seat on the couch, eyes drawn to the tv. His mind wasn't on the program, though, instead filled with images of a cheery cartwheel, a playful prance around the yard and impossibly brown eyes.
A new neighbor meant a new first impression to make, he considered. Despite his initial disinclination to socialize with the family next door, Hoseok was certain he'd run into the boy or one of his sisters at some point within their final weeks of summer holidays. After all, even the Min's in all their elusiveness occasionally greeted Hoseok as they grabbed the mail together or happened upon each other on walks.
Then again, Hoseok pondered, once the boy attended school come the first day he'd learn that his new neighbor was the awkward social outcast who listened to obscure indie bands and buried his nose in a new book every week. He'd join in the teasing the students sometimes threw his way that Jimin did his best to suppress. The new boy would grow to not like Hoseok; something that, for whatever reason, made Hoseok a little sad.
Until then, though, Hoseok could only hope that if and when he happened upon the spirited boy, he'd muster up enough courage to interact naturally with him, maybe leave a good mark that'd last at least until the end of the holidays. With a sigh, Hoseok pulled up his legs to sit cross-legged on the couch. He dug out his phone to send a quick text to Jimin:
Hey J, did you know a family was moving into the old Victorian house? the one next door?
He only had to wait a short while, thumbing through his emails when his friend's reply came through:
that house you talk about all the time? nah, exciting tho bro! whatre they like?
Hoseok was hesitant to spill all he knew about the new family. Some part of him wanted to keep the novelty to himself, especially any and all information about the vibrant stranger. Besides, Jimin, being much more the social type, might take it upon himself to befriend the new boy, and, if that were the case, Hoseok wouldn't know where he'd fit in.
Perhaps, Jimin would try and unite the three of them in some sort of trio of friends. Or, Hoseok would be left out entirely; after all, the brown-eyed boy seemed like he'd make a much better friend than Hoseok himself.
Hoseok sent a brief description of the family along with a promise to alert Jimin if he learned more. By the time he had typed out the message, Jiwoo was traipsing back through the front door. Hoseok got up from his seat to meet her halfway in the entryway.
"So?" Hoseok prompted, eager to know how the exchange went. Jiwoo was still in the taunting mood though and simply shrugged off his question. Hoseok huffed in annoyance, trailing her as she all but skipped back over to her spot on the couch. He perched on the arm rest, glaring at her in as menacing a manner as he could muster.
"He is cute," she said at last. "Wants to meet you."
"You told him about me?" Hoseok blanched, unsure of how to react. He settled for wringing out his hands as he waited for Jiwoo to continue.
"Of course; I told you I'd tell him you said hi," she replied matter-of-factly. Hoseok watched her slow smile and flinched slightly as she patted his knee. "It's not like I told him you thought he was fit or anything."
Hoseok stuck out his tongue and pulled away from Jiwoo. Maybe she was kidding, he thought as he left the room, en route for the stairs. Taking them two at a time, Hoseok loped up the staircase and back into the safety of his room and his window nook. Whatever the case, at least the new boy was aware of his presence.
Hoseok didn't even know the kid's name, he thought as he cuddled back into the cushioned seat. He debated going down and asking Jiwoo but decided against it as he was rather comfortable. Eyes cast down into the book he had scooped up off the floor, Hoseok managed a smile. It really would be nice having neighbours on both sides, he pondered, opening to his marked page.
He glanced over, wanting to take in the beauty of the newly occupied house of his dreams when he saw a face in the window directly across from his. It was a large bay window leading into a bedroom from what Hoseok could tell and perched on the bench set in the little extension was the pretty boy.
He was gazing back at Hoseok, curiosity in those wide brown eyes. Something shifted in his look and he began to speak, from what Hoseok could tell.
The distances between their two houses was close enough that Hoseok could see the boy's expression but not close enough to read the lips as the boy so obviously attempted to communicate through the glass. His arms began waving frantically and his lips were over-exaggerating words Hoseok just couldn't make out.
Hoseok bit his lip, a bit taken aback by the suddenness of the social interaction. He didn't make any attempts to communicate back to the other boy and almost sighed a breath of relief when the boy was springing up from the bench and tearing back into the room, out of sight of the window.
The studious boy was just about to turn his attention back to his book when the boy came back into view, a large white sheet of paper in one hand and a black marker in the other.
He gave Hoseok a pointed look, smile stretching wide on his tanned face in excitement. Using he teeth, the boy freed the marker of its cap. He pulled the paper into his lap and began scribbling furiously on it with a serious expression. He still had the cap held between his lips, head tipping to one side. Hoseok couldn't look away.
When the boy had finished, the paper was pressed to the window for Hoseok to see. Scrawled in adorably messy handwriting was simply: Hi, I'm Kim Taehyung! :)
The smiley face tacked on the end was innocent enough and yet, to Hoseok, it meant so much more. It was an invitation. He was being invited to talk to the boy in the window looking over at him so earnestly. Taehyung blinked a few times, pointing frantically to the message as if Hoseok couldn't see it. The hopeful smile held on Taehyung's lips made up Hoseok's mind and Hoseok disappeared into his room, in search of a paper and marker of his own.