into the unknown |t.k|

eighteen

In the afternoon, when Taheyung was done teaching his class for the day, he called Jeongguk to the sea. Jeongguk was hesitant walking into the ocean again. 

It's only been three days, but he's terrified something might happen to him, like his tail suddenly substantiating. 

He shakes the thought out of his head. 

Taehyung pulled him into the water, a childish smile on his lips. 

"I'm going to teach you how to surf."

Jeongguk looks at him, then back to the board. He turns around, heading back to the shop. But before he can make it anywhere, Taehyung grabs him by the wrist. 

"No, no, you're going to stay here. I'm going to teach you."

Jeongguk looks at him with a distressed look on his face. 

"Do you really have to? Can't we do this some other time?" 

Taehyung shakes his head.

"Today is the perfect time. No one is here right now. Here." 

Taehyung takes off the ankle cuff, placing it around Jeongguk's left ankle.

"I'm assuming you're right-handed. We'll go slowly, we don't have to do everything today." 

Jeongguk nods, taking the surfboard from Taehyung's hands. Taehyung is grinning when he brings them to the shoreline.

"Okay, first lesson, riding the surfboard. To ride the surfboard, you're just going to lay there and let the waves do their work."

Jeongguk nods his head. 

"Got it."

"Let's go." 

They're waist-deep in the ocean, both on their surfboards. 

"You want to paddle out with your hands if you want to go further." 

Jeongguk gets himself acquainted with the ocean anew. Jeongguk doesn't mind 'learning' how to swim, as long as it's Taehyung who's teaching him, it won't be as much of a waste of time.

"Okay, watch me." 

Jeongguk watches as Taehyung paddles out into the middle, waiting for a big enough wave. Once he sees the wave coming, he paddles toward it. 

He did everything else with one fluid movement. Standing up on his surfboard, riding through the barrel.

"I don't think I can do that, Taehyung. I'm not as good as you."

"Nonsense. You can learn, and we can go surfing together. Okay look we can do the next one together. So to stand up it's like a push-up. Both feet are together, and your hands are at your chest, when you feel the moment is right, You push yourself up quickly, and your legs, the dominant one ahead, then you surf. You just ride the wave."

"What if the wave topples me over?"

"Then you swim up, get on your board and ride the next one."

"You make it sound so easy."

"Because it is easy! It's-"

"Your second nature. I get it."

"Okay, how about just one then we can go back and get dinner. My friends are in town tonight and they said to meet them for dinner."

Jeongguk shrugs.

"Yeah, them. Okay, we're not going to go if you don't try at least just once."

Jeongguk sighs. 

"Okay just once. Then we go."

Jeongguk didn't know if he could do this. His legs weren't used to walking let alone riding a board on eight feet tall waves. 

Things that look easy, are never easy.

He followed the same steps as Taehyung. His heartbeat fastened. 

"I'm doing it, Taehyung! I'm doing it!"

"You are but don't lose fo-"

Jeongguk toppled over the water filling his lungs as he gasped for air. 

Taehyung rushed over pulling him to the shallow water.

"You nutcase, why did stop paying attention!"

"I wanted to see your reaction.", Jeongguk coughed lowly.

Taehyung's face was red, flustered. 

"Yeah- well, you did good. You- let's go, nutcase."