Summer had always been Yixing's least favorite season. The weather always was way too hot, the air always was way too humid and the sun always was, in Yixing's opinion, way too harsh for Baekhyun's skin. This summer is not so bad, though, he thought, his mouth unconsciously turned upwards at the memory of The Day. The day his best friend also became his boyfriend.
It was probably the best summer he had ever had.
They were going to meet up at Yixing's soon. It was tourist season, the liveliest time of the year for the island. People traveled from the mainland and stayed for their summer vacation. Markets and carnivals were set up, the island was enveloped with a festive atmosphere. Every year of that time they would stay at the carnivals until the sky turned dark, that year was no exception. Yixing did not really like the noisiness of the crowds, but it was alright, being with Baekhyun makes up for it, I guess.
Baekhyun soon arrived with his dad. Their fathers were going fishing together, tourists loved seafood and they were going to sell it at the market. Baekhyun and Yixing were going to the markets as well because the carnivals were not opened yet. The market was not as fun as carnival, but Baekhyun had suggested that they could also sell stuff, so they were going to do that. They had gone to the beach the day before to pick out some pretty seashells to sell.
"The mainlanders love those things, they don't have them in the cities," Baekhyun said when Yixing questioned anyone would actually buy them.
They got to the market early so they could get a good spot. Others were earlier, though, so, to Baekhyun's disappointment, they did not find an empty stand in the middle. The market was set up on a big flat space on the path up to the mountain. It had a scent that was a mixture of grass and salt. Yixing really liked that. The sun was acting up again so Yixing found a stand close to the mountain. The shade from trees that hung over it kept them cool. They took their shells out from Baekhyun's school backpack and laid some out on the table. Their dads arrived just before the rush of tourists arrived and found a free stand that was not so far away from Yixing and Baekhyun's.
"How long do you think they've known each other?" Baekhyun asked, studying their dad's figures that were busy setting up the fish stand.
"Really long. Why?"
"They seem really close."
"I think way before we were born?"
"How did they meet?' Baekhyun asked again.
"I don't know."
Tourists started to flood into the open market. Their seashells were unexpectedly welcomed; they had to refill the table with a new stash of shells every ten minutes. It was especially popular among girls. They would make up stories of how the seashell represents finding romance in life. To Baekhyun and Yixing, they were just seashells; they were everywhere and they had never spared a thought about it that way. But they went with it because more people bought. They especially liked one of the stories and re-told it multiple times to new customers. Girls swooned at the fairytale and soon the bottom of Baekhyun's bag could already be seen.
"Now we don't have many left," Baekhyun said.
"We can keep some nice ones."
Baekhyun considered it for a minute.
"You can keep some nice ones," Baekhyun said, "I'll go to your house if I want to see our shells."
They selected some shells with unique and pretty patterns and Baekhyun stuffed them into Yixing's pockets.
The flow of tourists gradually decreased as evening approached. Their shells were all sold out except for the ones they had kept. They split the money and each took half. They climbed on the tree that had protected them from the sun and looked below the market. The carnival was about to open and the same flood of people they saw lined up by the carnival entrance.
"Look! They have a Ferris wheel this year." Baekhyun pointed.
"Let's go, then," Yixing jumped off and pulled Baekhyun off along with him, "before the line gets too long."
They knew the carnival like the back of their hand. Sneaking past the guards, they went inside the carnival through the staff door just before the main entrance opened. Yixing and Baekhyun ran straight for the Ferris wheel that stood near the ocean; they were the first ones to get on.
Their cabin slowly ascended. The whole island became visible as they went higher, they searched for their homes among the houses that were scattered around. As they arrived at the very top, the cabin stopped and they looked out the glass doors. Mainland could almost be seen. The lights from the mainland's harbor shone onto the sky, creating an arc of pink-orange among the dark blue of the sky. The cabin eventually climbed back to the starting point but to their surprise, it went back up for a second round. Yixing and Baekhyun sat in front of each other, each busy with their own thoughts.
"Did you know that if you kiss someone on a Ferris wheel when it's at its highest point, your love will be forever?" Yixing suddenly asked.
"Psh, you believe in that?"
"Why not?"
"I mean, we could try?" Baekhyun winked.
Yixing found himself blushing.
Their cabin stopped again when it reached the top. The sun had dropped by then down into the sea. He felt his heart almost flew out of his chest.
He had wondered what it would feel like. To kiss someone he loved dearly in such a romantic situation. Luhan had told him once that it would probably feel like fireworks and butterflies exploding in his stomach. He would not know how that would feel like; he had never had fireworks and butterflies in his stomach before.
But with that in mind, he kissed Baekhyun with trembling lips.
Nothing like Luhan described.
The only thing he felt was, home. He found it better than fireworks and butterflies.
Yixing teetered between his house and Baekhyun's. He walked barefoot on the dry, coarse grass and consistently looked over his shoulders. It was already his fifth time walking past that platform, he was nervous for no reason. He sat on the edge of the platform and yanked a handful of grass off the ground. Finally, he made up his mind and strode towards Baekhyun's house.
Baekhyun's window was lit up. Yixing could hear the faint sound of radio coming out of the room. That meant Baekhyun was alone. Good. Yixing picked up some small rocks by his feet and threw it through the window into Baekhyun's room. After three throws, the curtain gave a small twitch and a head finally peeked out from behind. As soon as Baekhyun saw that it was Yixing, he fully appeared from behind the curtains and leaned over the window sill.
"What are you doing here?" Baekhyun waved.
"I have something to show you," Yixing said.
"Should I go down?"
"Just stay where you are."
Yixing held out a jar of little lights from behind his back.
"You said they make wishes come true."
He opened the lid and let the fireflies flutter out.
"I know now why I brought them to you that day."
A galaxy of fireflies twinkled on and off.
"Make a wish, Baekhyun."
They danced in the dark night and around them.
"It's because I love you."
