In Between Time | Seongjoong

11

"So Seonghwa how long have you and Hongjoong known each other?" She smiles taking a bite of food. Hongjoong almost couldn't recognize his mother she looked so lively for once. Then again he never bothered to join his parents at the dinner table and his father came home late.

"Not long we just met recently at the music festival." Seonghwa answered leaving out obvious details that didn't need to be shared.

"Do you like music too?"

"Yes, my parents say that I've been dancing since I could walk any and everywhere." Seonghwa chuckled making Hongjoong's mom giggle.

"That's so cute. Our Hongjoong is very talented when it comes to music." She turned in Hongjoong's direction as he was stuffing his face with food. Even if he never attended the dinner table anymore his mom's food was still the best.

"Sorry," Hongjoong gave a bashful smile. Seonghwa held back a quiet laugh.

"your cooking is really good mom." A tear almost escaped her eye. It had been a long time since they've had a moment like this even if her husband was late.

"This was a really great meal." Seonghwa complimented the dish as well.

"Thank you, I'll clean up everything so don't worry."

"No I can get it real quick, the notebook is on my desk Seonghwa." Hongjoong took the plates and bowls from his mother. He felt a pair of hands on his, larger than his mother's and it was clearly Seonghwa.

"His hands are so small and soft" Seonghwa thought to himself. He had noticed it when he took Hongjoong to the nurse but this time it was different.

"I'll help," He set the plates onto the counter to start the water. Hongjoong took the left over food and placed them in tupperware, except for a portion for his dad who'd be coming home soon.

"Your mom is nice," Seonghwa spoke up.

"Yeah she's really great I'm glad I have her." Hongjoong smiled as he rinsed the plate off.

"You write music, right?"

"Yes..." Hongjoong trailed not sure where this was going.

"Do you think you could write a song for me to dance to? The SRS (Student Run Showcase) is happening at the end of the year and I want to dance to something people haven't heard before." Seonghwa sounded excited and he was practically giving Hongjoong puppy eyes.

"Sure but it will take a bit of time." At that Seonghwa gave Hongjoong the tightest hug getting soapy dish water all over the other.

"Seonghwa!" Hongjoong felt the back of his shirt that was soaked.

"Oops my bad" Seonghwa laughed. Hongjoong turned the faucet on and used the sprayer to spray Seonghwa.

"Now we're even." There was a wet circle on the front of Seonghwa's shirt.

"Aren't you just lovely," Seonghwa flicked some suds onto Hongjoong. Pretty soon the small mess became a bigger mess and in the end the still somehow managed to get the dishes done.

"Hongjoong?" His father walked into the kitchen upon hearing laughter.

"Dad," Hongjoong's father was shocked to see Hongjoong with a friend.

"Hi, I don't think we've met before?" He held his hand out for Seonghwa to shake.

Frantically Seonghwa wiped his hands on his pants to shake the mans hand, "I'm Seonghwa, nice to meet you sir."

"Nice to meet you too, don't mind me I'll just be getting my food and getting out of the way. Make sure you clean up this mess Hongjoong." With that his father was off to the living room to watch tv.

By the time the two boys were finished horsing around as they cleaned it was late. It was way too late to just send Seonghwa home.

"Are you sure I can stay?" Seonghwa cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you can take my bed." Hongjoong shrugged grabbing an extra blanket from the closet.

"I can sleep on the floor and you can take the bed." Seonghwa took the blanket from Hongjoong.

"You're the guest so I'd rather sleep on the floor." Hongjoong took the blanket back and sat on it. Seonghwa sighed with a small smile as he watched Hongjoong triumphantly sit on the blanket.

"Fine, I'll sleep on the bed."

As the two settled down Hongjoong was fast asleep. Seonghwa had noticed how easy it was for him and thought it must be nice to be able to do that. Seonghwa was left awake and got the bright idea of just switching places with Hongjoong. He wanted to see Hongjoong's reaction in the morning.

Seonghwa lightly touched the other's shoulder and he never moved a muscle. He shook Hongjoong lightly but still nothing just a change in his breathing. The older went to move his hands under Hongjoong to lift him but Hongjoong suddenly made it impossible.

"Seojun it's so late did you have another bad dream?" Hongjoong had latched onto Seonghwa and wasn't showing any signs of letting go soon. Some part of Seonghwa didn't want Hongjoong to let go. He was warm and the way he held Seonghwa was rather comforting as if he'd done it a million times before. So there Seonghwa slept in Hongjoong's arms.