a work of art [meanie]

Chapter 25

1036 words
 

When Wonwoo's clothes are finally dry and he's able to leave Hoshi's apartment, the day has already turned into night. But Wonwoo doesn't really mind, he has been having a lot of fun hanging out with Hoshi. They have spent the whole day together; they went to the grocery shop near Hoshi's apartment, cooked meal, watched TV, but mostly they just talked, getting to know each other better.

Wonwoo was a bit worried that they'd be awkward around each other because they danced together pretty closely at the party, but neither of them bring it up and so it's as if it didn't even happen. At some point Wonwoo even considers that maybe Hoshi doesn't even remember anything of it but that can't be the case; Hoshi wasn't all that drunk.

As the boys talk they get more and more comfortable around each other. They spend majority of the time talking about the party but they also talk about other stuff like school, friends and music. Wonwoo gets comfortable with Hoshi pretty quickly but definitely not as quickly as he did with Mingyu.

Wonwoo has so much fun that he actually forgets all about Mingyu, his mother and his missing phone for a while. When he finally glances at the clock on the wall in the evening, he realizes that he really needs to go home.

When Wonwoo mentions that he should get going, Hoshi tells Wonwoo that he can sleep over for another night if he pleases, but Wonwoo figures that it'd be better to at least let his mother know that he's okay. 

As Wonwoo doesn't know the way from Hoshi's apartment to his home, Hoshi walks Wonwoo home. On their way to Wonwoo's house, the boys talk like good friends already.

Wonwoo's feeling good; his hangover is almost fully gone, thanks to sleeping, Hoshi's tea and food. Wonwoo feels also relieved; when he asked earlier if something happened last night, Hoshi reassured him that nothing other than Wonwoo passing out happened. Wonwoo had been worrying that he might have done something stupid for example try to kiss Hoshi or something else.

"Ah, I've really enjoyed your company," Hoshi sighs, a happy smile on his face, "truthfully, I kinda thought that I would've been lonely at the party since I don't really know anyone other than Seomin. And now you."

Wonwoo lifts his head to look at Hoshi, who is walking next to him, looking at the ground with a wide smile on his face. He seems to like hanging out with Wonwoo and that's what makes Wonwoo even more comfortable with him.

"I've had fun with you too. And I also would've been pretty lonely at the party without you," Wonwoo smiles when Hoshi also turns his gaze from the pavement.

There's a moment where neither of them say anything, and the only sound heard is their footsteps as they just smile at each other. And for a moment it looks almost as if Hoshi would be about to say something, but he doesn't. Then Wonwoo is the first to break the eye contact, returning his gaze to the ground.

"Oh, so this is where you live," Hoshi states when they reach Wonwoo's house five minutes later, "you don't even live that far from me."

"True," Wonwoo nods, turning to look at Hoshi, "thanks for everything, I'm seriously so thankful. I should make it up to you somehow." 

"There's no need because you already did. And besides, you don't even have to worry about making up something like this to me, it really was my pleasure."

Wonwoo smiles at Hoshi, giving him a quick hug and thanking again although Hoshi tells him that he doesn't have to thank him anymore. Then he waves at Hoshi, still smiling, and walks to the door of his house.

Wonwoo plops to his bed, sighing in comfort. It feels like forever since the last time he laid on his own bed, let alone slept in it. His mom is not home yet although it's late, and Wonwoo is for once happy about it. It seems like she didn't even notice anything that Wonwoo was out drinking and spending a night over at someone's place he just met the same day.

Getting up from his bed, Wonwoo goes to eat and wash before heading to his bed. 

When he's laying there in the darkness and silence of his lonely room, he starts feeling uncomfortable. It's somehow too quiet, too calm, too empty.

After yesterday's blasting music and cheering people he feels like the silence surrounding him is all at the same time too little and too much. After spending the whole day with chattering and funny Hoshi, the silence feels almost suffocating, like he'd be drowning in loneliness. He feels like the darkness of his room is wrapping around his body, sinking to his body through his skin, and all he feels is empty. The silence rings in his ears, screaming at him, and after a moment he feels like he can't take it anymore.

He fumbles to turn on the desk lamp on his nightstand and grabs his headphones and MP3 player, quickly turning calming music on before his thoughts get too oppressive and he too anxious. He tries to calm himself down just like he has gotten used to during the past few years; he takes deep breaths, focuses on the song playing and tries to think of something cheerful to disturb himself from the awfully familiar anxiety. As he can't really concentrate on thinking of anything happy, he starts counting to hundred, taking deep breaths with every number.

When he gets to hundred, he doesn't feel that awful anymore. He keeps on taking deep breaths, and shifts to more comfortable position. Although calming music usually helps him to fall asleep easier, it still takes him a long time to fall asleep that night.

// a/n: 

this was basically filler so i'll try to update another chapter this weekend

btw if you want to, you can check out the playlist Wonwoo was listening to in this chapter: it's on my soundcloud account! my soundcloud acc is beigetaetae and the playlist is called Calm  C: