Chapter Text
“No, I don’t want to. Hyung. I want to be with you!” Jiwon held Jinhwan hands in his so tight, Jinhwan swore blood was no longer circulating.
“Jiwon, be rational, please. You are finally getting adopted and I want the best for you. We can write letters to each other and if the computer lab is available, we can always video call via Skype. When I get a job, I will get a mobile phone so we can video call each other all the time. We will not be officially broken up” Jinhwan had to convince himself of his words as well. Deep down he knew he will be just a part of Jiwon’s past. Just a fleeting moment in his memories. To love somebody is to let someone free right? Jiwon was selected by what seems to be a rich couple from Seoul and he knows Jiwon will have a brighter future there. What can this boy achieve being stuck in the provinces as an orphan? Jinhwan did not wish to hold Jiwon back from unleashing his full potential in the city. What Jiwon did not know was Jinhwan cried buckets to make sure he can no longer shed tears for their parting.
“Hyung, are you sure you want me to go? How about you? Do you want me to beg them to adopt you as well? Jiwon was desperate to be with Jinhwan. He finds the whole arrangement so unfair. Damn the timing! They barely dated for three months when he was told his adoption documents were being processed. He could barely recall the couple he had lunch with. It was nauseating to even think of a better future without Jinhwan.
“Idiot. If I get adopted as well, won’t that make us brothers? Would you kiss your brother how you kissed me last night?” Jinhwan joked with a thorn in his heart. Somehow, he was able to still put on a smile for Jiwon.
“Hyung, at least I will be with you and you will also have a chance of “this better future” you constantly promised me” Jiwon suddenly thought of the lovely couple again. Mr and Mrs Kwon. They lost their only son in a car accident and Mrs Kwon was devastated. She lost her prince at the young age of eleven and they have been trying to conceive again, but their age was not an agreeable factor.
When Mr Kwon came for a site inspection in Haenam, he saw Jiwon kicking a ball with his classmates in the street. He ran up to Jiwon and literally shook his shoulder so hard, Jiwon almost kicked his balls. Something in Mr Kwon eyes stopped Jiwon from getting alarmed and violent. It was eyes filled with delirium laced with devastation. Mr Kwon was pulled apart from Jiwon by his classmates and calmed down after he realized Jiwon was Jiwon. He sat Jiwon down and told him of his late son and Jiwon understood. If he chanced upon a couple even with the slightest resemblance of his late parents, he would go berserk as well.
Mr Kwon walked Jiwon back to the orphanage promising Jiwon he will visit Jiwon with his wife the next time he comes along. Mr Kwon sure did work fast because, within a week, his wife came down for visitation with Jiwon. Jiwon remembered how she broke down crying when she laid eyes on Jiwon. She kept sobbing claiming her son came back to life. Their resemblance was uncanny and Jiwon found it freaky as well. The only difference was their late son seems to be pudgier in built.
The greeting seems aeons ago. Days when Jinhwan and Jiwon were not even aware of their feelings of each other. Then, Jiwon without any care in the world grew attached to Mrs Kwon over the few meals they shared and agreed to be her son if she wants to. Now, everything has changed. He either breaks that poor lady heart by rejecting her or Jinhwan’s heart by agreeing to leave with them.
Jiwon punched his pillows with tears streaking his face. “This is not fair Hyung. We will be hours away and I was told I will immediately start school. How would I find time to sneak here to see you? I have parents now and I don’t think I will be allowed to leave Seoul without them. Hyung please tell me what to do” Jiwon looked away, ashamed to be the one abandoning his love.
“Listen Jiwon, I will be out of here in a year or two. You are a smart fourteen years old boy who will blind the world with your beautiful smile. Go study, get good grades for an amazing future and I will be there to sponge off you. I promise. It is just for a year or two. Plus, don’t you think long-distance makes it sexier?
“Hyung, I am so sorry. Please forgive me” Jiwon clenched his fists hard to control his outbursts. “Can I have one last kiss before I go?”
“You did not have to ask” Jinhwan leaned in and kissed Jiwon and pulled away before he could not stop himself from crying. “Go. They are waiting for you. I don’t wish for them to think of you as an imprudent child.
Jiwon peeled himself away from Jinhwan and walked out of the room without looking back.
The four-hour drive to Seoul seems to go on for years. Jiwon slumped at the back seat looking out of the windows with a blank stare. He was void with emotions and had no intention to engage in small talk. The driver drove on in silence and his new parents fell asleep an hour into the drive.
A part of him wanted to jump up and down on the seats. Brown leather with embroidered headrests which he assumes was his new dad’s company logo. His mum had beautiful pearls adorning her and her hair was perfectly coiffed. She must have put in the effort to look good for him today and yet he just gave her the silent treatment ever since they left. He promised himself to make amends with her soon.
The image of Jinhwan smiling and waving goodbye kept replaying whenever Jiwon shut his eyes. It was a beautiful nightmare for him. He wishes for the next two years to pass by in a flash so he will be reunited with Jinhwan soon.