watch my heart burn | yhw+lkh

i'll never let you back to put it out

this is only s l i g h t l y messy :) who am i kidding this is a huge mess–

//

"Is this... is this illegal?"

Hwanwoong shivers slightly, shoving his hands deeper into the pockets of his coat and turning around to face Keonhee. It wasn't very cold outside, he was just felt a surge of excitement rattling down his spine. He gave the other a smile, "Not unless anyone catches us, but also, I pulled a few strings so most likely nothing's going to happen."

He pulled a silver key out of his pocket, unlocking the gate to the community pool. Hwanwoong pushed it open and let Keonhee explore while he walked into the 'EMPLOYEES ONLY' shed. After shedding his coat and grabbing a few snacks his friend who set this up for him left out, he walked out to see Keonhee already having his feet dipped into the water with the lights on.

It's been a month since their first meeting at the convenience store that rainy day, and it was scarily easy for Hwanwoong to admit how much he really enjoyed Keonhee and his weird friendship. The two got along almost smoothly, apart from the expected bumps and dips in the road, and they never toed the stark lines of each other's breaking points. They may not have had much in common, but that's what made them work.

Hwanwoong knew but didn't understand Keonhee's habit of collecting art books and cutting up the pages to paste the art all over his room. He hasn't seen any of it in person, just a picture of some of it when Keonhee and he were texting. The boy was studying late at night, sending a picture of his notebooks and desk when he refused to walk around town with Hwanwoong. The blond was a tad bit shocked seeing the fantastical art taped up behind the desk, pages overlapping each other and cutouts decorating pieces that weren't their own. It was some kind of strangely beautiful collage in dark hues illuminated by the white lamplight overhead. Hwanwoong thought the picture was so pretty he saved it, and it's one of his most favorite things Keonhee's ever sent him.

And Keonhee knew about, but probably didn't understand, Hwanwoong's collection of lighters. He said it was "interesting" over text and Hwanwoong can't tell whether he was intrigued or disappointed. The conversation didn't go much past that as it was yet again late in the night and Keonhee had an AP Chemistry test the next morning.

Little things, just little things they knew about each other. Some surface level, others not exactly secrets but things the average person didn't know about. Stupid, unimportant, little things. Like favorite colors, childhood best friend (that was actually a bit of a tough subject for Keonhee for some reason, and Hwanwoong made the conversation trudge past despite the curt answer threatening to kill the mood), least favorite teacher, and everything in between and after.

Little things, just little things.

"Are you gonna stand over there forever, huh?" Keonhee called, a soft smile stretching across his face.

Something in Hwanwoong tensed before crumbling away slowly with a small ache.

Little things, just little things.

He felt like something was going to happen tonight, but he ignored the looming feeling of alarm and smiled back. The corners of his smile were withering with every step closer he took to the pool edge. Hwanwoong kicked off his socks and shoes and sat with his feet in the water.

The water was cold, and all he could hear in the quiet was katydids and crickets among the soft movement of the water with Keonhee's swinging legs. Chilly air nipped at his exposed skin, wrapping around his limbs and dragging him further into himself, he shivered a bit.

"Want to... swim?" Keonhee whispered, leaning down to pluck something off his leg. He looked up at Hwanwoong, the blue lights reflecting in his eyes and making them look like dark pools Hwanwoong wanted to curl up and drown in.