SEASHORE. － k.yk + y.ty

06

Gosh, why was he so awkward?

Taeyang spotted Youngkyun walking along the shore the moment he arrived at the beach, the brunet's head cast low and his eyes skimming over the pebbles he carefully stepped upon, as if searching for one in particular.

He couldn't deny that his new friend had some evidently odd behaviour, nor could he deny the fact that he found it endearing, and he paused to watch him a while longer until a person's elbow brushed against his arm and he shook the image of the younger from his mind.

Ridiculous, wasn't he, thinking some guy with a really pretty smile － of whom he knows only his name － and has the purest set of glinting irises － and for all he knows could be off his rocker, seeing as how he was always collecting stones － was attractive.

But if he weren't an utterly ridiculous person, what was he? Perhaps a mess of a bisexual who couldn't muster the courage to approach his current interest.

He huffed and constantly hyped himself up before chickening out the entirety of the day, both separated by or whilst he strummed at his guitar or swam in the sea.

Youngkyun hadn't attempted to speak to him yet either, though. He had noticed him, right? Did it mean he didn't take Taeyang's offer of friendship seriously?

When the sun had begun to dip into the vast water's horizon, the sky splotched lilac and pink, Youngkyun was still there, sitting with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, and Taeyang steadied his stare on his slender frame.

The dimming sunlight painted the boy's tan skin a warmer shade, his hair delicately brushing at his cheeks as he adjusted his chin upon his kneecaps.

Taeyang felt like they were in some sort of film, no such scene of beauty capable of existence in real life; but there the boy was, shrinking himself as if he wanted to disappear, without being aware of the ineffable emotions he made bubble within the human's chest.

His lashes fluttered and then he stilled his eager heart.

Slipping on a T-shirt, he ruffled his hair and stood, walking up to his new friend.

"I see you also like to stay until this time."

The words didn't seem to surprise the other at all, instead Youngkyun faintly smiled whilst Taeyang sat beside him, still looking out to the sea.

He couldn't help but notice the air of nostalgia the brunet seemed to be enveloped in.

"It's my favourite time of day," Youngkyun replied, tone wistful and voice a whisper in the breeze, "The sky is gorgeous when it's tinted with such colours and the sea blends in with it."

Taeyang's gaze remained transfixed on the boy's profile, tracing the lines and curves, drinking in the soft tones of his skin and the pinkness of his lips.

"I agree."

He faced forward, imitating Youngkyun's position, but with his knees far away enough that he could comfortably rest his forearms on them.

"So, you come here to admire the view and collect pebbles?"

Finally the brunet looked to him, eyes ever so slightly wider.

"Oh, you noticed?"

"Well, you have a pile right next to you."

Youngkyun blankly blinked, finding his mind to be filled with white noise when Taeyang held his stare for more than a few seconds.

"Ah, then yes. I don't really like swimming."

The taller arched a brow in surprise, resting his jaw upon his right bicep, his head askew and causing some loose strands of his hair to fall against his eyelids.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Ironically, I'm scared of the sea."

He let out a hum, a smile growing on his lips.

"You don't know what you're missing out on. In this heat, it's really refreshing to swim."

Youngkyun knew. Of course he knew.

The sea was his home. The sea was the only existing thing which understood him and never left him.

"People tell me that all the time," nobody really had, nobody ever spoke to him. He shifted his feet and his sight flitted about briefly, struggling to uphold eye contact with the boy abreast him, "but isn't the water frightening? Who knows what's hiding in its depths."

Perhaps honesty had seeped into his words and he flinched, shirking away from the other.

"I must sound like a child to you."

Taeyang responded in delay, engrossed in the sound of Youngkyun's voice.

"Not really. I guess we all have our fears. I'm not one to judge."

Kind. The human was so kind, warm.

"Thank you," he hesitated, then let the words leave him in a mumble.

"What are you afraid of?"

Taeyang appeared taken aback, but the expression didn't last long and soon he was shrugging in nonchalance.

"Many things, but to a certain extent fear is good, don't you think?"

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