In Between Time | Seongjoong

07

Seonghwa

When and where do you want
to meet up to talk about it??

Are you free right now?
I think it would be best to come to
my place ill send my address
*location shared*

Yeah I can stop by for a bit just
give me a few minutes ill be there

Hongjoong checked his phones battery which was at half percentage and decided to just go. He had no plans of telling Seonghwa about the notebook he had and just planned to give him basic information here and there.

The bus ride wasn't as long as he thought it would be but it was enough to go through a handful of songs in Hongjoong's playlist. He had branched out and listened to many different types of music it was an outlet for him other than painting and fashion.

Hongjoong was finally at his stop and there Seonghwa was waiting for him on the bench. For some reason Hongjoong felt a little nervous about this meeting. He didn't know if him sharing information would even guarantee Seonghwa would let him see the other device, and Hongjoong wasn't willing to share his story to get it.

"Hey," Hongjoong stood in front of the other.

"Oh Hongjoong, I thought you'd be on the next bus," Seonghwa stood up now towering over the shorter.

"My house isn't that far it's just up this hill." Seonghwa led the way letting Hongjoong trail behind him. He never picked up his pace or slowed for Hongjoong. He kept the lead and let Hongjoong follow him in silence like a puppy.

Hongjoong really didn't know how to start the conversation. The whole small walk to Seonghwa's place was spent thinking about how he'd bring the topic up.

"Do you want anything to eat or drink?" Seonghwa asked stepping into his home. Hongjoong silently declined with a shy wave.

"Okay, if you want anything just let me know." Seonghwa flashed a smile sitting on the couch. Hongjoong followed suit and took a seat on the other end of the couch.

"So...what do you want to know?" Hongjoong spoke for the first time since he got off the bus.

"Anything you can tell me. I seriously have no clue about this situation at all and I'd like to know at least one thing."

"Okay so I found some notes but it was only two pages and they're worn. I try not to mess with them too much until I can get them preserved some way." Hongjoong lied effortlessly.

"Notes came with it? Are you sure there aren't anymore?" Seonghwa questioned curiously. A weird device with only two pages of notes sounded peculiar but then again the device alone was strange and mysterious.

"I don't think so, it could have been a work in progress and that's all the notes they have. Maybe the person who wrote the notes didn't even make it." Hongjoong suggested with a shrug.

"Hm, so what can you tell me about the two notes and why do you want the device?"

"The two devices together can cover a larger area when stopping time. One device alone can only affect the area the person is in to a certain degree." Hongjoong explains trying to leave out some of the larger details.

"I knew it was something like that. My two friends and I were doing a little experiment when you had frozen everything that's when we found out."

"Wait, someone else knows?"

"Yes the guy I was with when we met and San," Seonghwa was a little confused by this.

"Is there something wrong?" He asks a look of concern growing in his face.

"No, not at all. I was just a little shocked because I haven't officially told anyone." Seonghwa nodded in response.

"But i've noticed that people who come in physical contact with the device but don't know about it are more aware than those who haven't," Hongjoong paused and thought for a bit.

"If your friends know maybe they are way more aware of a stop in time than others?" He added as more of a question unsure of if that's how it worked.

"They can definitely tell when they're frozen,"

"Should we start a notebook to keep tabs on what we learn? You know so the notes are clear and fresh." Seonghwa got up to fetch a notebook from his room.

Hongjoong scribbled down the things he had previously said and then added some other minor things he remembered.

Seonghwa hovered over Hongjoong's shoulder as he made little bulletins and sketches next to them. The notes were neat and the pictures added a guided flair.

"So the devices can be hooked together to reach farther out?" Seonghwa read.

"Yes but I have no clue how large of an area thar can be. That's why I wanted your device I've been studying this for a year now and I can't get very far with just one if it requires two."

"I will let you borrow it in exchange for any new information you can find or already have." Seonghwa offered up a deal.

"I will take the notebook and update it to the notes that I have. They're messy and a bit hard to read so I'll make them neat. When I give your device back I'll hand over the updated notes for you to read. Sound like a deal?" Hongjoong held out his hand for the older to shake.

"Deal,"