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It was Hansol and B-Joo's last night together, two weeks after graduation. Earlier that day, they had vowed to stay up all night together. No tears, no sadness, just cherishing the time they had left. But both B-Joo and Hansol were increasingly sad at the thought of being separated.
They sat in B-Joo's room, making fun of k-dramas and trying to ignore the fact that this was their final night together. B-Joo glanced across the room at Hansol's bags, his eyes passing over the empty dressers, empty bed. He sighed and squeezed Hansol's hand.
"You wanna go out to eat?" Hansol asked, pulling B-Joo up from the bed. B-Joo thought for a moment and nodded. They decided to go to a simple cafe, and the ride there was mostly silent, even though Hansol tried to make small talk. B-Joo seemed oddly distant, often answering with 'yes' or 'no' and not trying to carry on a conversation.
They arrived at the restaurant and ultimately sat at a table in the far corner, by a window. They ordered drinks, and began inevitable conversation.
"Joo," Hansol began, "I hope you know we'll see each other again. Someday." B-Joo stares down at his plate and sighs.
"But how long till then? I can't just move to America, I can barely afford to pay for gas for my car, let alone a plane ticket." B-Joo says, sniffling.
Hansol looks away. "Joo, it's going to be hard, I know. But we'll get through it. Together."
B-Joo scoffs.
"How are we supposed to get through this together, if you're all the way across the globe?"
"Byungjoo, I don't know. We'll make it work. We'll FaceTime, call, text. It's hard for me too, okay?" Hansol snaps.
"Hard for you? Are you serious? This is your choice, going away."
"Do you think I like seeing you upset, B-Joo?" Hansol says, beginning to sob. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Why would I want to hurt you?"
"Hansol, I didn't mean-"
"No, let me finish. You mean so much to me, B-Joo. I am hurting just as much as you are right now. I love you, I love everything about you." They sat in silence for a few moments after that, B-Joo quietly sobbing into his hands and Hansol tying to hold back tears.
"Can we just uh, leave?" Hansol says, glancing up at the young one. B-Joo nods and abruptly stands up, and Hansol follows him out of the restaurant.
"God, I hate you." B-Joo mumbles. Before Hansol can respond, B-Joo grabs his shirt collar and begins to passionately kiss him against their car.
"I hate you more." Hansol responds, laying his head on B-Joo's shoulder. B-Joo giggles.
"You wanna stop by a drive-thru or something?" Hansol nods.
And so they did stop at a local drive thru, picking up tacos and slushies. They park the car along the shore and enjoy their food, exchanging nothing but laughter-filled small talk. For a few moments, it actually felt like Hansol wasn't leaving. He wasn't going to America. This wasn't their last night together.
But it was.
"Byungjoo?" Hansol whispers. They are opening the door to the Topp Dogg dorms after finishing their meal.
"Yes?" Hansol grabs his hand as they open the door.
"Would you like to play one last round of Mario Kart?" B-Joo excitedly nodded, tears welling up in his brown eyes. They raced to the living room, since everyone else was already asleep, and started up the consoles.
"Pick your character already, Hansollie!" B-Joo whines, having already chosen Yoshi. Hansol playfully punches his shoulder and selects Princess Peach. They begin to race, Hansol leading with B-Joo trailing slowly behind. They play several games, ending with rainbow road, and then relax on the couch.
"Hansol," B-Joo asks. He is resting his head in Hansol's lap, facing up to him with wide eyes.
"Hmm?" He asks, placing strands of B-Joo's hair in between his fingers, smiling.
"Is this really our last night together?" Hansol sighed and nodded, placing a soft kiss on B-Joo's forehead.
"B-Joo, I'm sorry. This really hurts me too." B-Joo began to cry, and sat up, nestling himself into Hansol's shoulder
"You're going to forget about me." B-Joo said plainly, looking away from Hansol. "Everyone does."
"B-Joo, we both know that isn't true. You'll always have a special place in my heart." Hansol said, biting his lip to keep from crying. B-Joo turned his head and sobbed into Hansol's shoulder, smelling the familiar scent of his cologne.
"You're right. I'm just sad." Hansol frowned at B-Joo.
"Me too. Stop crying Joo, you'll make me cry."
"I just don't know what I'm going to do without you." He says in between soft sobs.
"Joo, it's hard. I know. But life moves on." Hansol said.
"But I don't want my life to move on without you."
And that's when Hansol cried, too. B-Joo must have fallen asleep there, crying softly in Hansol's arms, even though they promised to stay up all night together. Hansol couldn't sleep, however, and spent the rest of the evening studying over B-Joo's features. The features he wouldn't see again for another four years.
And Hansol must have left for the airport early that morning, while B-Joo was still asleep. Because when B-Joo woke up, he was finally alone.
