seaside

XX

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—

"i can't
believe you actually
brought me along,"
Hangyul
whispers once
again to Tazannah-
his girlfriend, who's
currently
pulling
the boy along
through the busy streets.
they're accompanied
by bright-eyed Dongpyo and
Hyeongjun- not forgetting
Dohyon and
Seungwoo,
of course.

the kids had chosen
to spend their
second
last week of summer
in a town farther away
where the
streets
aren't
at all familiar- motorcycles
zoom past the pebbled
paths and
the atmosphere is
very
different.
it's bustling
with noise- rows of
buildings dirty even,
but it
feels
surprisingly
comfortable.

they head back to the
two-storied building
after dinner-
suitable
for housing
three
families, one being the
group of
six. a porch sits
outside with some games
such as
pool and table soccer.
it's very old-school,
nostalgic
even.

"how about we
light some fireworks now?"
the youngest
suggests
and Tazannah
can't help but pinch
his cheeks,
cute!
Hangyul huffs
from behind her and
the 18 year olds
snicker at
their jealous hyung.

so they head up
the stairs to the third floor
with a
box of
fireworks- the
rooftop more specifically,
where neighbouring houses
separated by
the sea
are filled with cheer and
the sound
of firecrackers.

"be careful," Seungwoo
advises to the younger ones.
they each take turns
to run
up and
set flame to the firework
rocket- sending an
array
of colours and lights
that beautifully contrast
the pitch
black night
sky.

and as Hangyul
watches the others with
big giddy smiles plastered
across their
faces, he lets out a grin
of his own.
if only
this moment could
last a little longer.
Tazannah
nudges him out of
his state, "how about
you go
light it?"

the younger kids
who have already done
it a few times
cheer Hangyul on, who has
a nervous expression
painted
across
his face.
"i'm not sure .."

trust me on this
is what Tazannah
says
with her
eyes and
heart- a voice
only Hangyul can hear
and he puts himself
at ease.
"i'll go with you."

the young girl
keeps to her word and
they quickly run up
and light
the rocket
before it flies higher and
higher and boom.
by then,
the lovers have already
run to the side- hearts
pumping
with
adrenaline and
the rush of love
as they
admire the sky.

while Seungwoo
and the younger kids
continue lighting up the
night sky
and a light
feeling consumes
them, Tazannah pulls
Hangyul
over to
the side, where it's just
them in their own
world.
"you
enjoying yourself?" she asks
with a genuine smile
that makes Hangyul's
heart flutter.

"thank you.
i needed this,"
he says to her- admiring
the constellation in her
chestnut irises,
her berry
pink lips,
her pointed nose
that scrunches up
whenever she smiles,
everything
about her that makes
him go crazy.
"i love you,"
he whispers.

and they stay there,
enjoying the night
filled of
uncertainty
but a certain warmth
with the people they love.
and they
know, they
feel like they've
finally found their
home.
their fingers intertwine-
much like
their souls that
can't help but be
fated.
"i love you too."