TIME ─ JAEYONG

050⸰

EPILOGUE

✿

"breaking news. south korea's government has declared a new system pertaining one's life clock. as of the new year, your timers will no longer tick. we will incorporate actual currency rather than time due to the high numbers of deaths we've witnessed throughout the year. we hope this news sheds light on a once dark situation. as for other news–"

donghyuck turned to mark, who held the same expression. pure, utter shock. at the news, both felt an ice cold chill sweep throughout their body. neither of them knew what to do other than stare at each other with slack jaws and wide eyes. "did– did we just hear that correctly!?" donghyuck shouted. mark nodded slowly while looking at his wrist.

0024–9–4–23–27–02.

he couldn't stop the tears that pricked at his eyes. he worked so hard these last two years to provide him and donghyuck with time and now, the worries of surviving will be a thing of the past. "i'll live past forty-four. donghyuck! we can grow old and wrinkly together! we'll be able to race on our motorized scooters and point at things with our canes."

with each passing word, donghyuck let his protective walls crumble. he's never cried in front of mark. it was usually him who held the older boy as he cried out his struggles and problems but now it was different. these were tears of joy. donghyuck fell into mark's arms, pressing his head against the crook of his neck.

"we're going to live a happy life mark. we're going to make taeyong proud. if only he was around to live this new life."

mark placed a sweet kiss on donghyuck's temple. "we should visit his memorial. tell him about the news."

"should we tell jaehyun as well? i think he and taeyong both listen in when we visit."

"of course. we'll bring them both flowers while we're at it."

✿
(this is their new life for those who can't seem to comprehend it and i have to put it into literal words. now pls stop asking me)

"say cheese!" taeyong exclaimed from behind his newly bought polaroid camera. doyoung pinched a handful of ten's cheek, smiling brightly underneath the blazing afternoon sun. the trio decided to embrace the newfound warmth by strolling the streets and having mini photoshoots.

taeyong is all about capturing memories in picture form. a little trait he picked up from his mother. besides, it isn't every day they could come together and enjoy each others company when all their schedules were hectic due to college. majority of the time doyoung was stuck inside studying while ten was busy cramming in last minute six-page essays.

"ouch doyoung!" ten scrunched his face up, swatting away at doyoung's hand. "why do you always go for my cheek!? i swear i'm going to bruise one of these days."

"oh stop whining." doyoung poked his tongue out. "you sound just like jungwoo when i poke him." taeyong chuckled at the mention of doyoung's current boyfriend.

when the two met it was an instant connection. trying to separate the two from each other the first five months of their relationship was a struggle, but now that they're a year in it's much easier for them to be away from each other for longer durations. ten was so proud when they hit three hours.

taeyong longed to find someone who made him feel the way jungwoo does to doyoung. it's like the two were destined to be soulmates. taeyong heavily believes something happened in their past life that made it difficult for them to meet so now in this life they're practically inseparable due to missing each other for a whole lifetime.