forever ; hyungwonho

10

CHAPTER TEN

FOUR days.

it had been four days since hoseok fled kihyun's home, and had been hiding amongst the overgrown forest from the guards, or any other human, scared he might be killed. it had been four days, and hoseok still remained lost in the maze. he knew there was no way he could even make it out, especially since every way he turned looked all the same to him.

he didn't want to leave- not just yet. he had to do something first.

"it's safe, right?"

"yes, hoseok. are you seriously questioning me?"

"i-i just don't want to get splinters," hoseok pouted, tightening his grip on the wooden fence.

he pulled his exhausted - and unexpectedly heavy - body up and over the fence, starting to trudge along through the knee-high length of grass. the sight of dugout dirt could be seen and he knew he was close to where he needed to be. slowing his pace a little, he quietly stepped past the graves, being respectful to whoever lost their life to an unfair punishment.

"which way do i go?" hoseok turned his head to the left, then right, only seeing rows of graves.

his legs started to shake.

"it's just up ahead."

sunlight seeped through the leaves, casting shadows across the ground. the warmth of the sun hit hoseok's skin in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. he didn't feel so alone with hyungwon and the sun.

"that one," hyungwon spoke quietly.

hoseok noticed how the trees surrounding him, kept him safe, out of view from any other soul around.

finally letting his unstable legs give way, he knelt down on the grass, looking down at the unmarked area of where a boy he used to be able to kiss laid only several feet under.

he placed his hand on the dirt, spreading his fingers out over the area of where hyungwon's heart should be. tears blurred his vision, burning his cheeks. his heart seemed to be skipping beats and his head felt way too heavy, like it was being pulled down by the entire world. with his free hand, he wiped his the tears away, sniffling a little bit.

"hi," he let out a breathy chuckle, which turned into a sob. "i miss you."

hoseok could feel his back getting warmer, and wondered if that was hyungwon who was doing that.

"i'm sorry i broke my promise. i wanted to live forever with you, but i guess things didn't work out like that." taking in a breath, he continued, "a lot of things didn't work out how we wanted it. i'm not going to give up, though, okay?"

"okay." he could basically see hyungwon's smile, and hoseok allowed himself to smile this time.

with the hand that rested on hyungwon's grave, he lifted it up, sticking out his pinkie.

"promise me," he began, "we'll make it to the safe place together, and we'll have our happy ending. even if it wasn't how we originally planned it."

"promise."

a breeze flowed past, and hoseok felt himself shivering under the touch of hyungwon's spirit; under the hot sun. he gazed at the ground, hating how things ended up like that, when life for them should have been extremely different. but, it was never a world built for neither shin hoseok or chae hyungwon. he knew it. but he just thought he could've had a chance to make life better for both of them- the universe had other plans, apparently.

hoseok lowered the upper-half of his body to the earth, laying down next to the bed of soil. he stared up to the sky, watching as the clouds peaked through the branches.

"remember when we used to watch the clouds in your backyard?" his chapped lips parted into a grin.

"yeah," hyungwon giggle, "and you thought one looked like a teddy bear."

"it did!"

"no it didn't!" the dead boy's laugh still sounded beautiful. hoseok's head didn't feel so full anymore.

the trees folded over above him, swaying with the wind, blocking out majority of the clouds. hoseok couldn't make out any patterns within them, so instead, he closed his eyes, listening to hyungwon talk about the past; when they both were alive.

hyungwon's voice was always so sweet, calming, keeping hoseok stable. it gave the boy a strength that made him believe that maybe he could keep living. that he really could live to eighty-six-years old, wrinkly and constantly tired, with hyungwon right with him, inside his mind. but those thoughts didn't last long, they seemed to have vanished along with the breeze, drifting somewhere far away from hoseok.

somewhere far, far from reality.

as the light faded, and the air turned painfully cold, hoseok stayed.

he stayed laying on the prickly grass, reopening his eyes, waiting for the beautiful sunset that never happened. the earth would only turn darker blue, until there was no colour at all, and it was as if all the hope disappeared, too. hoseok wondered what it would be like to see the world from space- sitting next to the stars, holding hyungwon's hand. the younger boy would probably ramble on about how the lights shine so bright, but to him, hoseok would always be brighter. just the thought of being with the boy again, made the smile on his lips remain.

one day, he thought. one day we'll be together again.

"hyungwon?"

"yeah?"

"tell me a story."

hoseok's eyes fluttered closed, and if he tried hard enough, hyungwon was standing right in front of him.

"do you like 'the little mermaid'?" he enquired. hoseok nodded.

hyungwon made most of the fairy tale up, it was only just a tad bit obvious. hoseok didn't mind, though, he liked the younger's version of the story better.

he liked how the little mermaid found a girlfriend, even when she thought she'd live the rest of her days swimming alone. he loved how hyungwon even threw in that the mermaid had magical powers, that could shape-shift her into an octopus if she really wanted that- he had to try and stop himself from giggling at the added part, but hyungwon had to say 'stop laughing, this story is based on true events' and his laughter only continued.

it mixed with the night air, and for once, he didn't feel empty.

waking up the next morning, hoseok immediately say upright. he looked all around him, dazed. upon seeing what - or who - he was sleeping next to, all the memories of the day before came crashing down in his head.

hyungwon was quick to say good morning, followed by an 'i love you'. hoseok rolled his eyes. grinning, he replied with the same thing.

standing up from the dirt, and dusting down his clothes, he gave one more look around, breathing in the smoggy air. he decided that it was time to finally move on from this town, from the life he used to have. before hoseok left, he said a final goodbye to his parents. then, he carefully picked red, wild flowers, placing them on hyungwon's grave.

he kissed his fingers, gently placing them on the ground in a wordless goodbye.

"let's go fulfill our promise," he said, walking away from the graveyard.