How 21 Students Saved the World

5 - Tension

They were packing their bags after work.

Jihoon was buzzing from excitement, rambling off places they could visit while they had free time in South Korea. He had almost cried when Soonyoung told him the news earlier, how NASA was sending them over to help aid in the research, considering how they were the main two that had discovered the unidentifiable object.

“We can finally talk to other Koreans!” Jihoon said, grabbing shirts off his hangers and throwing them on his bed. “Finally put my native language to use.”

Soonyoung had talked to multiple Koreans before, and had gotten to known other Asians as well, but it was nice for Jihoon to finally have the opportunity as well. 

Jihoon never had much opportunities, and Soonyoung, well-

He didn’t like to talk about it. 

***

8 years ago

Soonyoung was late.

Jihoon hasn’t gotten time to spend with the latter for over a month. He would ask Soonyoung to go to the park, or if Jihoon could come over, but Soonyoung always had plans. 

At least Soonyoung was able to meet him today. That was good, right? 

He was sitting at the bench at the park. It was 6:10, already past ten minutes of their meeting time. Soonyoung wasn’t really the type of person to be late. Maybe something happened. Jihoon had to be patient. 

They were about to graduate together, and Jihoon was going to ask him if they could spent the morning of the ceremony together. It would really mean a lot for Jihoon, and he could only hope Soonyoung would be willing to do it with him. 

He left at ten, when the park manager told him they were closing. 

——

Is everything okay? 

Soonyoung got a text from Jihoon at around 10:15 pm, right when he got out of the shower. 

He had spent the whole day with his soccer friends after school but left his phone at home. He got a scolding from his mother, of course, but when he finally opened it and found messages from everyone, he deleted them all. 

The text from Jihoon, though, was unexpected. What was that about? 

He should have asked him, but not right now. He’ll respond later, he was going to get some snacks from the kitchen first. Yeah, definitely later. 

——

“Did something happen yesterday?” Jihoon asked him before school started.