Dares and Heartbreaks: TaeJoo & KangGook

Chapter 2

Flashback

"Hurry up Tae Joo we don't wanna be late the first day of school!" Kang Gook shouted holding the door open as he was about to exit the dormitory.

"Yahh, we are late already..." Tae Joo softly shouted back with his soft-spoken voice from the bathroom making some final touches to his appearance. He was all about first impression and what not. Today they were starting a new journey as college students at Hankuk University.

They had been together for 15 years and Destiny had led them to each other. It was one beautiful spring day when four-year-old Tae Joo was playing in his room bored out his mind. His father too busy with work to care. He was the Chairman of a huge company. He went to his window to take a look outside and it was by chance that he witnessed something that changed his boring four year old mind.

He was getting new neighbours. A boy his age came out stumbling from the car holding what looked like a car and a remote. At least, he had somewhere to play now.

He sprinted happily and went to introduce himself. He was an adorable baby with teeth gaps in his mouth. The newcomers found him adorable and that's how he became part of the family. They had basically raised twins since they were the same age and surprisingly, they never saw the boy's parents.

The number of days that Tae Joo slept in his bed could be counted on one hand. He had been a typical child scared of the darkness and closet monsters. His father was never there to comfort him or tell him bedtime stories so he sneaked out every night to go and sleep with Kang Gook. Thats how they became best friends.

Tae Joo was just an innocent and naïve baby and very dependent too. Those traits never went away. He became attached hard and fast to Kang Gook who was the complete opposite. He was just mature for his age and he took the role of a mother, a brother and a friend.

Even as 16 years olds when Kang Gook made new friends, Tae Joo didn't because he always wanted to give him his time of the day. Kang Gook was a curious and normal teenager. He wanted to experience and have fun. Fun he had but he never forgot his responsibilities. He would go and have fun and come to take care of Tae Joo.

Growing up Tae Joo  just believed in Kang Gook even when he told him that the stones talk when no one is watching.  That's how much Tae Joo trusted his word. He believed that Kang Gook would never lie to him. They went through thick and thin together. Whenever, Tae Joo acted out in public, he would receive a scolding from Kang Gook when they are alone and somehow this made Tae Joo feel wanted, loved and appreciated. He was never shy to express how he felt. He told Kang Gook how much he loves him whenever he got the opportunity to.

This however created a misunderstanding in their high school days. Tae Joo screamed gay from his lean build to his soft-spoken whiny voice and it didn't help that his eyes only lingered on Kang Gook. It was never something that got to him though. Kang Gook had to get a girlfriend to calm the rumors down and protect their reputation. He had promised Tae Joo that the girl would never get to half of the love he had for him and that he came first.

Today was the first day for classes at the university and they were taking different classes. He hated it though, the thought of being separated from his Gookkie didn't sit well with him.

He remembered how they had had this conversation. It had been one afternoon after graduating from high school that they were chatting in Kang Gook's room.

"I know we grew up together JooJoo but we have different goals, so you have to understand okay?"

He had said as soft and gentle as possible to make him understand.

"Gookkie what is your goal ?" Tae Joo asked him, looking up at his face.

"They are too many, you have to be specific"

"Okay what major do you want to study in College?"

"Business management" and as if he read Tae Joo's mind he said, "I know how much you hate it so don't even think about it."

"I can do business Gookah you know how my father wants me to do that stuff too" he said hesitantly

"I know TaeJoo but you have to do what you love, not follow what I do or what your father says"

"I love you" Tae Joo blurted out not really sure if it was making sense in the conversation, "does that count?"

"Han Tae Joo, you will not do Business Management how about law, you have always liked that type of stuff" Tae Joo winced at that. The only time when Kang Gook called him using his full name was when he was scolding him, and he did not like his straight high voice.

He always called him JooJoo. Tae Joo looked frail and very weak growing up. He had wanted to be as gentle as possible with him. He was the baby at their house. Kang Gook's family treated him as such.  Kang Gook's scolding voice scared him and he might have noticed it because his face softened and said,

"JooJoo, you know I want the best for you right, so believe me when I say you have to go after your heart. I know you will do just fine."

"but it only means I will not be able to see you the whole day probably during lunch time and after school and by then you will be busy with your homework and I wouldn't want to disturb you and...."

"hey hey, stop rumbling and come here" he opened his arms and Joo laid his head on his chest. Kang Gook smelled his hair out of habit and kissed his head.

"Just you know, I love you and nothing can take me away from you" he said as he continued to kiss his forehead. That's how Tae Joo fell asleep in Gook's arms feeling convinced that his Gookkie will not go away no matter what.

But then it had been too soon to be convinced...