The Hideout I Need

Chapter 12: I hate basketball, but I like spending time with you

Click. Click. The sound of Hyeong-jun's camera taking pictures was overshadowed by the sound of ten boys dribbling and shooting a ball.

It had already been more than a week since the field trip. Hyeong-jun found himself smiling and giggling whenever he thought about it. And then immediately afterward he would curse at himself for reading so much into it.

That day they all came home from the trip, Hyeong-jun sleepily went home with a huge grin on his face.

"You look happy," Hyeon-ah laughed at Hyeong-jun entering their home after the field trip.

"I am," he smiled calmly, "This was, without a doubt, the best field trip I've ever been on."

"What made it so special?" she smirked, not looking up from her phone, knowing the answer.

Hyeong-jun instantly thought of Tae-young. He started smiling and twirling around the tiny apartment like a fool, living off a euphoric high of getting closer to your crush.

Click. Hyeong-jun really enjoyed taking pictures of Tae-young playing. He was in his element, fully focused on the ball. He had his head in the game? Hyeong-jun didn't really know sportsman lingo. He didn't really know sports in general. Click.

As much as he hated gay stereotypes, he loved all things artsy and creative and absolutely dreaded all things sports. Some of Hyeong-jun's fondest memories with his parents were going to a gallery. His mother was an artist herself, so of course, they'd go to exhibitions and galleries every few months.

Back when Hyeong-jun and Hyeon-ah were younger they'd always walk around, holding hands, around some random gallery, trailing after their mother and father. They learned to appreciate art at a young age. And the moment Hyeong-jun discovered photography, he was in love. It was at a photography gallery opening that their mother had been invited to by a friend. That day, Hyeong-jun let go of Hyeon-ah's hand and ran over to a glass display case with a vintage camera in it. It had some writing about how this was the photographer's very first camera and it kick-started his passion for photography. Hyeong-jun fell in love. He wanted to experience that.

After his parents died, he fell into a dark hole, which is more than understandable. Every day he spent from the age of 9, was full of misery. He couldn't help but miss his parents whenever he even looked at a painting. When he was 10, Hyeon-ah being the wise 16-year-old she was, suggested he try a hobby. A way to express the things he was feeling. She remembered that day when she was 12, that Hyeong-jun let go of her hand to look at the camera. She remembered how happy he looked.

So their grandparents bought him a camera for his 13th birthday. He felt incredibly guilty, as it must've cost them a fortune. But he was so fascinated by it. He was so grateful, that he promised to use it as much every day. And he's used it so much, it's almost like he lived up to the promise.

He has brought it with him everywhere that allowed it since he got it and probably has a dozen SD cards filled with photos and memories from his teenage years. He has pictures way back from middle school before he even was good at photography. Pictures of Se-rim and Min-ki eating snacks. Pictures of him and Hyeon-ah, celebrating her 20th birthday. Hundreds of pictures of sceneries.

And though he mostly did scenic photography, he felt a certain type of inspiration when he was taking pictures of Tae-young. There was something special about him. This is also why Hyeong-jun was so happy that he agreed to let him take photos of him.

Tae-young dribbled the ball past the last defender and shot the ball. Score! Or whatever. He gave a high five to a guy on the team and proceeded to laugh with joy. He lifted his arms in the air as a victory stretch and it made Hyeong-jun's heart flutter. The camera said a click as Hyeong-jun took a picture.