Chapter Text
“Just play, it’s way funner than stupid english homework.” Jaeyun comments, balancing himself on the curb while Heeseung studies. Easy for him to say, because he knew English better than Heeseung.
“I can’t, I need to study for the test tomorrow.. Maybe next time.” Some might say Heeseung was responsible for his age, as he prioritized work over play. But in reality he aspired to become smart and get somewhere good so his parents didn’t have to pay for anything when he got older.
Jaeyun had it well off, he wasn’t almost dirt poor like Heeseung. “I can just help you! Sit next to me during the test!” Jaeyun suggested. “No that’s wrong..” Heeseung complains, still trying to focus.
“It’ll be just this time Hee! I promise, I can see you trying too hard, I don’t like seeing you so.. So… um.. what’s that word?”
“Stressed?”
“Yeah! I-I think..” Jaeyun nibbled at his nails, a stupid habit, Heeseung reached over to pull his fingers away his lips, his hands were quite small compared to Heeseung’s.
But when he looked up, Jaeyun was gone. He looked around, so were his books. “Yunie!” He called out. But no response, it was misty and the houses around him started disappearing into the fog. He started running towards the end of the neighborhood, aka Jaeyun’s house but then..
He felt something jump on top of him, and he tumbled to the ground.
“Hyung, look!” It was Jaeyun, somehow a little taller, their surroundings changed too, they were in a forest, it was autumn and the leaves were all orange. Falling at his feet and littered over the ground. The sunlight captured Jaeyun’s face, his tan skin and cute smile.
Jaeyun presented to him a pretty blue flower that almost looked like it glowed. “It's so pretty right? I found more over there!”
Jaeyun was dressed in a thick coat, his cheeks were pink and his hands somewhat red. From the cold probably. But wasn’t it autumn?
However his smile never left his face as ran deeper into the forest, Heeseung running after him. “Jaeyun! We’re not allowed ther-”
Suddenly, time stops. Heeseung freezes, like where he stands. Then he falls again. This time when he looks up, he see’s Jaeyun’s parents crying, police cars, Jaeyun’s mom stares at him with such hatred it makes him look away in shame.
He looks down at himself, he’s dirty covered in dirt, a ripped sleeve and no memory of where Jaeyun is. “You killed my son!” Jaeyun’s mom yells, as police hold her back from attacking a 13 year old.
His own parents shield him, but Jaeyun’s mom breaks down into tears. Heeseung looks around, hoping for Jaeyun to come out, to hug him, to prove he’s not gone, but only guilt and shame remains in Heeseung, no warmth from his sunshine friend..
*
*
Heeseung wakes up, slowly, he looks around taking in his surroundings. The sun is rising, the rays peeking through the blinds and almost blinding him. He sits up, running a hand through his hair and thinking back to the dream he had.
Just remembering that night made Heeseung wanna go back to bed and cuddle with Jaeyun’s favourite plushie and hope Jaeyun came back. He had long since moved away from his old town, his parents feeling ashamed of him and Jaeyun’s parents hating on him daily really messed him up. So he moved away to live with his aunt for a while, before getting his own place as soon as he turned 18. It was hard really, his aunt never looked at him right, always with a dismissive reply or short answers.
He worked hard to get a place for himself, working behind his aunt’s back and hiding money so she didn’t take it. And when he did get a quick visit to his parents, he’d go to the forest where Jaeyun always took him, and let it out. He felt so alone, so naked in this new life without Jaeyun guiding him. Jaeyun always helped with his sadness, giving him a hug and a sloppy kiss to the cheek. He wasn’t the best at comforting since he always had too much energy in him begging to be let out, unable to sit in one place for a long time. But his only source of comfort was gone, and with it, a piece of Heeseung.
Right now, he lives with two others, his roommates. Sunghoon and Ni-ki.
Sunghoon was in between jobs, and still finding one that worked with the time he needed to go to the hospital for daily checkups, he had a weak immune system, like Jaeyun did..
Ni-ki was a college student and kinda broke, Heeseung and Sunghoon helped him in, and sometimes covered his part of the rent because he could barely afford lunch at the campus he went to or supplies.
Heeseung got up, going to the bathroom and taking a good look at himself. He didn’t look too bad, just a quick wash and makeup should do the trick. So no one could see how ruined he really was.
Once he got ready, he went over to Ni-ki’s room to wake up the kid. Ni-ki was a really deep sleeper so that would be a bit of a challenge. He opened the younger’s door, it was a little messy, Ni-ki’s clothes from yesterday were thrown onto the ground, some wires on the ground, his chargers and other things.
It smelled faintly of the deodorant Ni-ki used, something fresh but was probably sprayed too much.
The said owner of the room was tangled under his sheets, his hair spayed across the pillow and some drool on the side of his cheek, and he laid on his back, arms spread around the bed.
“Ni-ki, wake up..” Heeseung whispered, trying not to startle the boy, Ni-ki had afternoon classes today, and after that he said he’d go job hunting again. Sunghoon already recommended him to some of the old part time jobs he used to work at, so he might have a chance today.
Ni-ki groaned, turning away from Heeseung and hugging the pillow next to him. Heeseung smiled, seeing how cute he looked. As much as he wanted to let him sleep, Ni-ki had school, he had work and Sunghoon needed a ride to the hospital. Morning couldn’t wait forever.
“Come on, up you go.” Heeseung shook him once more, soon Ni-ki sighed. “I’m up, I’m up…”
Ni-ki sits up, rubbing his eye. He sits there for a while, taking a few minutes to stare out the window before going to get up. He stretches his arms, the sound of cracking and joints popping almost echoing in the quiet house.
Heeseung was downstairs, packing up Ni-ki’s lunch and adding more healthy stuff. Ni-ki could do it himself, but Heeseung liked helping out, and Ni-ki could brush it off till last minute then he’d be too late to pack it up. It’s happened a lot, really.
“Hyung, are you gonna come back early today?”
A voice asks from behind, he turns to see Ni-ki coming downstairs, now washed up and putting on his jacket.
“Yeah, why?” Heeseung responds, washing his hands in the sink before reaching for the small towel hung on the towel bar.
“I was wondering if you could pick me up later.. And maybe.. Come see my dance recital today..” Ni-ki fiddled with his thumbs nervously. Now Heeseung wasn’t his guardian and he was old enough to do it alone, but he just wanted Heeseung to be there.
“Oh, sure, I’ll see if I can make it.” Heeseung smiled softly at Ni-ki’s happy face.
“Also, can you get Sunghoon up? We need to go in 20 minutes.” Heeseung added, going to grab his jacket, along with looking for Sunghoon’s eyedrops, which he needs to take every morning before leaving. But he can’t seem to find it.
He knows Sunghoon needs them, or else he complains about “not seeing”, so he starts to look harder.
He hears Sunghoon and Ni-ki chatting upstairs, their voices drawing closer and the sound of slow footsteps down the stairs.
“No, I think I can make it, just tea with my mom and then I have a gap of free time in between that and work. So I’ll make it, if nothing comes up.” Sunghoon says, Ni-ki hugs him and thanks him. Finally Heeseung sees them come into view. “Hey Hoon, did you take your eyedrops from the table yesterday?” He asks, standing up and brushing his hands. “Oh yeah I did, and I already took them, so we can just go now.”
Heeseung nods, going to grab his keys and finally putting on his jacket, he also gives Sunghoon his jacket, Sunghoon was a bit forgetful like Ni-ki.
“Ready to go?”
“You have everything right?”
Both Heeseung and Sunghoon turned to Ni-ki, who stopped to think before nodding. “Yep.”