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The blue sky is getting dark. Birds are going to their houses. The sun is getting closer to ending his work for today. But the two pretty best friends are still laying on the grass field.
Usually, they go to their houses before the sun gets down but today is an exception.
Today is Jay's last day in Korea before his flight to Seattle.
10 years old Sunghoon and Jay want to spend this day together. They even wish this day not to end.
"Jay-ah" Sunghoon sat upon the grass.
"Hmm" Jay hummed while still laying.
"Do you remember that you said you have read a book where a gay couple is there?" Sunghoon asked.
Jay looked around the ground before sitting up.
"Yeah, I remember what about that?" Jay frowned.
He always says the stories to Sunghoon after he read a book. And this was like other books too.
"Do you love me?"
Jay became flustered with the question.
"All of a sudden?"
"No or yes!" Sunghoon whined.
Jay giggles.
"Yes, I love you Sunghoon" Jay smiled when the boy sitting in front of him smiled happily.
"Then if we love each other can't we be like that? Like lovers?"
Jay was speechless.
"Can't we?" Sunghoon asked with innocence in his eyes.
"I- Sunghoon I am goi-"
"Jay when we become adults I meant" Sunghoon laughs and hugs Jay.
"Promise me, Jay, let's meet again after you come back here and be lovers"
"Promise"
It's hard to say goodbye but they made a promise to meet again and be in love with each other.
"Sir?"
Jay woke up from the air hostess calling him. He slept on the landing.
Going back to his hometown felt new to him.
In the past 10 years, everything has changed in his life. He came to visit Korea after his school graduation in Seattle. And mainly to meet his beloved childhood friend.
He had to ask some local people for the way to his destination since he forget. But he hasn't forgotten about one person, Sunghoon.
"This is the one"
Standing in front of Sunghoon's house, made him feel strange. When they were children, almost every time after school he was at Sunghoon's but after 10 years everything feels so different so many mixed emotions.
Before he rang the doorbell he heard the door open and there he was just like before.
A beautiful familiar handsome man was looking at Jay surprised.
"Jay?" The man uttered.
Jay just smiled.
"Long time no see Sunghoon-ah"
"You still skate right??" Jay asked when they settled down on the restaurant.
"Yeah" Sunghoon mumbled.
"I would love to skate with you again"
Jay loved watching Sunghoon skate. He has been skating ever since he was a child. His parents wanted him to become famous by doing figure skate. And now Park Sunghoon is a prominent figure skater in Korea.
"How is it going? Are you busy with all the fame?" Jay asked curiously.
"Kinda?" Sunghoon smiled awkwardly.
Jay could feel Sunghoon ain't that uncomfortable asking about the figure skating.
"Are you going back soon?" Sunghoon asked. He asked.
"Not so soon. I am staying here in the meantime." Jay said while giving Sunghoon his food.
Sunghoon nodded while he started eating.
Jay stared at the boy. Park Sunghoon havr became more mature and his face have become prettier.
"You have become more pretty Sunghoon" Jay blurt out.
Sunghoon blushed.
"You ain't no bad either. Just became more handsome" Sunghoon said looking at Jay with smiley eyes.
Child Sunghoon used to run his hand through Jay's jawline. Adult Sunghoon noticed that it have became a more knife-like jawline. He wonders if Jay can cut the steak with a jawline.
"This place hasn't changed a bit," Jay said as they walked to their old school.
"Only the people here have changed," Sunghoon said looking around the playground they used to play as kids.
"Jay~ah!"
"What Sunghoonie?"
"Look I made this sandcastle," Sunghoon said happily.
"Wow it looks so beautiful" Jay smiled and clapped for him.
"This is a house where you and I will live "
Jay smiled and sat near Sunghoon then continued helping Sunghoon to finish THEIR house.
"Should we make a sand house again?" Sunghoon asked excitedly.
"Why not?" Jay smiled as they both ran towards the sand and started making sandcastles.
Even both of them are in their 20s they both felt like a child with each other. So at peace not thinking about anything. Lost in their own world.
"You remember the aunty near the corner who gave us free candies every evening?"
"She has become a grandma. Come one let's go meet her" Sunghoon said as they both walked to the house.
"As expected you two have become more handsome" The grandma exclaimed.
Jay and Sunghoon just giggled saying thank you.
"You two came to invite me for your wedding or anything?" The old grandma frowned.
They both glanced at each other.
"We both are going to get married when we are old enough," Sunghoon said to the aunty.
Aunty laughed. "Good for you two".
Jay was surprised at Sunghoon's response.
"No- we just came here to say hello to you" Jay said without making the atmosphere awkward which was already filled with tension.
"It was fun meeting her," Jay said after they went out.
"Yeah," Sunghoon said as his lips formed a thin line.
Soon their awkward atmosphere came to an end when they reached the final destination.
Their favourite place.
They both sat down in comfortable silence and watched the sun slowly bidding them farewell for today.
Sunghoon watched the beautiful sky as Jay watched the most alluring view he had ever seen in his life.
"It's so beautiful up here," Sunghoon said as he watched birds going to their own homes.
"But you are the most beautiful view here," Jay said as he started at Sunghoon.
"Huh?" Sunghoon looked at him confused.
"Do you remember our promise Sunghoon?" Jay smiled as he expected Sunghoon to remember it.
"What promise?"
That question broke Jay into pieces.
"Our promises? The confession? Don't you remember?"
Of course, he does. But he has to act like this.
"No" Sunghoon looked away from Jay.
"Really? Did you forget that precious moment? You made that promise Sunghoon" Jay's voice cracked.
He came here to meet his first love and to be in love with him over again. To be with him for the rest of his life. But this was unexpected.
"Jay, I was a kid back then we were kids back then. It's not applicable now" Sunghoon said as he got up.
"Why it is not? What is the reason Sunghoon?" Jay asked holding Sunghoon's hands
"Don't you love me anymore?"
Sunghoon's eyes got teary. How can he tell Jay that he loves him the most in this world and is so happy that he came back. But he can't do anything because of his homophobic parents.
"Jay, I am sorry," Sunghoon said and ran away from there as tears fell from the boys tears.
"Why did he come back? Why were you both there? Are you two in a relationship?"
These were the questions Sunghoon inquired by his parents when he came back to his home.
"Sunghoon you know you are a figure skater, we have a reputation we should not let that go. You should not be in love with a man"
Sunghoon felt like giving up on his life right now. He is a crying mess in front of his parents. He is so tired of the shits his parents have done for their reputation. The only reason he is tired of figure skating is that of his parent's compulsion. When he became 18 he got a scholarship in Washington. He was excited so that there is a chance he can meet his first love, Jay. But his parents put fire to it. That's when he learned that it was his parents who had made him distant from Jay.
There was no way he can do anything to them. But to obey their commands.
Jay takes his phone and dials Sunghoon's phone number that he got a few min ago. He isn't taking his phone. Jay is worried. He knows about Sunghoon's parents.
Jay knows Sunghoon will be at his home that's why he came to his house and started knocking on Sunghoon's window. He saw his parents going out a while ago.
"Sunghoon! It's me, Jay, open the window!" Jay shouted.
Sunghoon was a crying mess in his room. He was so regretful for everything, especially for turning down Jay and his feelings.
Sunghoon got startled by the noise outside his window door and opened it immediately when he heard Jay's voice.
"Jay? What are you doing here?" Sunghoon sniffed trying to wipe his tears which were already seen by Jay.
Jay sighed and gave Sunghoon a tight hug. Sunghoon let out all his worries on Jay's shoulder.
"Shhhh just let it out it's okay, I am here," Jay said as he patted Sunnghoon's back.
They pulled away after a couple of minutes as Sunghoon stopped crying.
"Sunghoon this life is yours. You should decide where to go and whom you should love. I hope you know it" Jay said as he held Sunghoon's puffy cheeks as he wiped the dry tears.
Sunghoon looked at Jay.
"I know Jay. I am sorry"
"You can come with me you know right?"
Sunghoon hung his head down.
Jay sighed.
"It's funny how I came here today and going back today itself." Jay chuckled.
"What? You are going?" Sunghoon gets shocked. He isn't ready to let go of Jay again.
"Sunghoon, come with me. I will wait for you tonight at the airport. Be brave enough to tell your parents. I love you"
As Jay finished his sentence he placed his lips on Sunghoon's. They both slowly devoured at the moment when both of their lips started moving against each other. Their first kisses with their first loves.
Jay pulled away and got up when he heard a hon from outside.
"If I don't see you I will go...I am hoping you will come" It was Jay's words before he went back.
It was time for Sunghoon to be brave.
In his life, the only happiness he was given was from Jay. Bidding farewell to Jay is the most heartbreaking thing he has ever experienced. He doesn't want to give Jay another farewell. He waited 10 years for Jay to come back.
He started packing his bag. He stopped in his tracks when his parents stopped him from going.
"Where are you going?" His parents shouted at him.
"I am going from here. I am not a child anymore so leave me alone now. And thanks for everything"
He didn't mind the shouting of his parents. All he thinks now is about Jay and his life with him.
Jay looked at his watch again. It's already getting time to get to the airport.
"Can you drive faster?" Sunghoon was so furious if he didn't reach the airport by now, Jay will go. And fuck his phone got no charge.
Jay sighed as he walked towards the entrance of the Airport. He stopped when he heard a voice calling him
"Jay!"
A panting Sunghoon stood behind him.
"Sorry the taxi driver was a slow driver," Sunghoon said which made Jay giggle at him
Jay pulled him to a hug and pulled away.
Sunghoon pushed Jay into a kiss. A lovable and passionate kiss. The kiss they had earlier was fearful. Now they don't have any worries. They both smiled through the kiss. Finally, they are in their safe places.
"Since you drink a lot of honey will your lips taste like that?" A curious little Sunghoon asked little Jay.
"Maybe. Taste my lips when we are older"
"Your lips taste like honey Jay"
"It is because I eat too much honey"
Sunghoon giggles " I love you"
"I love you too"
They started their journey has lovers now.