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Summer — the warmest season of the year.
Sunghoon used to think that summer wasn't really for him. It always annoyed him whenever the heat would clung to his skin and made everything feel heavy. He doesn't like sweating, doesn't like the humid air, doesn't like the sticky uncomfortable feeling.
He preferred colder days, quieter air, snuggling in his sheets, and not care about anything at all.
Sunghoon wasn’t even supposed to be there that long. He was a city boy, through and through.
He’s more familiar with the tall buildings, fast trains that he always used to ride whenever his car isn't available, crowded sidewalks that never fails to annoy him, convenience stores that were still open at 3 a.m., the constant buzz of notifications and engines and people who never seemed to sleep — that was his normal. That was his home.
The province was supposed to be temporary. Just a summer visit. Nothing more. Just so that he could actually do something this summer instead of rotting in his bed and spend days doing nothing in his house but to play, sleep, eat, and repeat.
At least, that’s what his parents told him when they dropped him off at his aunt’s house with a suitcase and a bored sigh.
The first few days felt foreign. For him, it's too quiet, too slow. Mornings were filled with roosters instead of alarms. Afternoons stretched too long, heavy with heat. The air smelled like grass and smoke and something sweet he couldn’t name.
Everyone knew everyone. People greeted him like they’d known him his whole life.
It was overwhelming in a different way.
Then he met Jay. The loud, annoying, persistent boy who lives right next to their house. Jay who wouldn’t stop talking to him whenever Sunghoon goes to their sari-sari store. Jay who dragged him to basketball games, to late-night walks, to random hangouts like they’d been friends since birth. And because of Jay, he met the rest.
He first met Sunoo, who's bright and affectionate, he also noticed that he’s always clinging onto someone’s arm.
Then Heeseung, calm and dependable, the unofficial older brother of the group.
Then Jake, easygoing and warm, laughing at everything. And Jungwon, quiet but sharp, observing more than he spoke.
And then— Ni-ki.
The boy who felt like summer.
When he looks at Ni-ki, summer is the only word that comes to his mind.
Ni-ki is summer. The kind of warmth that doesn’t burn — it melts.
Sometimes Sunghoon would catche himself staring at him for no reason. He can't help but notice the little things he does. The way Ni-ki laughs with his whole body, head thrown back like he doesn’t care who’s watching. The way his smile stretches wide and honest, like he has never learned how to fake happiness. The way he talks too much, moves too much and feels too much.
It overwhelms Sunghoon. He was the opposite after all.
And yet… he never wants it to stop.
He wonders almost fearfully, Is it really worth it to spend my whole summer with him?
They’ve only known each other for a short time. He doesn’t know Ni-ki’s favorite food, or what he does when he’s sad, or what kind of dreams keep him awake at night.
But he knows one thing for sure.
Ni-ki feels like home. Not the home that he got used to in the city. Because unlike the chaotic and loud city he's familiar with — Ni-ki is the complete opposite. He's cozy, gentle, and kind.
His presence alone is enough to make Sunghoon relax without realizing it.
And his hugs… God, his hugs.
They’re strong, firm, and warm — like being wrapped in sunlight. Like nothing bad could ever reach him as long as Ni-ki’s arms are around him. When they hold each other, Sunghoon feels his thoughts quiet down, his worries soften. It’s embarrassing how easily he melts.
He doesn’t understand it.
He doesn’t understand Ni-ki’s warmth, or why it affects him this much, or why his chest tightens whenever the younger boy smiles at someone else.
But maybe he doesn’t need to understand.
Right now, all he knows is If Ni-ki is summer then maybe summer isn’t so unbearable after all.
Maybe he wants to stay.
—
Two months.
Just two months. But somehow, it felt longer. Long enough for inside jokes to form, for late-night convenience store runs to become a routine, for Sunghoon to memorize the sound of their laughter and long enough for Ni-ki to slip into every part of his day.
He started noticing more things. Things that someone will only notice if they pay much more attention. Like how Ni-ki always walked beside him, not ahead, not behind. How their shoulders brushed naturally, like it was the most normal thing in the world. How Ni-ki would tug his sleeve when he got distracted. And how his hand would automatically reach for Sunghoon’s wrist when crossing the street.
It felt so casual.
So effortless and yet so dangerous.
And lately… Sunghoon’s gaze lingered too long. He didn’t mean for it to. But sometimes he’d look at Ni-ki and forget to look away.
He would unconsciously watch the way sweat slid down his temple after playing basketball.
The way his hair curled slightly when it got damp. The way his lips curved when he smiled at someone else. The way the sunset painted his skin gold.
Sunghoon thinks Ni-ki is too pretty.
Then Ni-ki would suddenly glance back and catch him staring and Sunghoon’s heart would jump to his throat.
Then he’d look away quickly, pretending he wasn’t just memorizing him.
—
In Ni-ki’s Perspective
He likes Sunghoon. No — not just like. Not just a mere admiration.
He loves him. People always say love takes time. Months. Years. Long conversations. Slow realizations. And that you have to know someone completely first — their favorite food, their worst habits, the ugly parts they try to hide because according to them, love is supposed to grow slowly.
So he cannot explain why it only took one summer.
It doesn’t make sense when he thinks about it. If someone asked him why he loves Sunghoon and how did he manage to fall in love to someone that fast, he wouldn’t know how he'll respond.
It’s not like they had some grand, dramatic moment like a confession under the rain.
It was just… Sunghoon.
Just him existing. And maybe that was the problem. Because Ni-ki notices everything about him.
Like how Sunghoon bows slightly when greeting elders, even when no one tells him to. How he quietly washes the dishes after eating the food that Jay cooked at their house without being asked.
How he gives the last piece of food to Sunoo because “you like this more.” How he pretends he’s not tired but still carries the heavy stuff for everyone. How he listens more than he talks. And of course— how he looks at people like they matter.
He's soft, gentle, and unintentionally kind.
Sunghoon doesn’t even try.
If he were trying to impress people, maybe Ni-ki could protect himself. But he isn’t. He’s just naturally like that.
And Ni-ki hates how easy it is to fall for someone like that. Because it didn’t feel like falling. It felt like breathing. To him, loving sunghoon is as easy as breathing.
Gradual, unnoticeable, and yet necessary.
He still can remember the day he met Sunghoon. How could he ever forget that day?
It was their barangay fiesta.
The entire neighborhood was alive — children running around with balloons, uncles already tipsy from beer that they drank in broad daylight and aunties screaming over the videoke mic like they were at a concert. Everything is too loud. Like the music that were blasting from the cheap speakers. Someone was laughing too loudly. Someone was arguing over the basketball scores at the court. People were coming home from mass, greeting everyone they passed.
Everything was chaotic, loud and messy. But Ni-ki heard none of it. It was like the world muted itself.
His brother’s arm rested lazily over his shoulder while they stood near the sari-sari store, watching the crowd.
And then—
“Sunghoon nga pala, ‘ki.” That was all he heard. When he looked up, it felt like time stopped.
There he was.
Tall and quiet. Hands shoved inside his pockets. Calm in the middle of all the noise, like he didn’t belong to the chaos around him. His face was unreadable, almost cold — but soft in a way Ni-ki couldn’t explain.
He's too pretty and Ni-ki almost forgot how to breathe.
“N-nice to meet you,” he stuttered, heat rushing to his ears like an idiot while his heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
Love at first sight, people always joked about it.
He used to think it was fake. Turns out, it was painfully real.
After that day, Sunghoon started hanging out more with his brother and their friends. And somehow, Ni-ki was always there too. Every basketball game. Every late-night convenience store runs. Every random hangout. He wouldn't miss out.
And every time he saw Sunghoon…He fell harder.
Because Sunghoon wasn’t just handsome.
He was quiet but thoughtful and gentle. The type to listen more than talk. He's the type to remember small details no one else noticed.
Kind in ways that weren’t loud. Soft in ways that were easy to miss. And that made Ni-ki’s heart ache even more.
What started as a silly crush slowly became something deeper. He realized it one night while walking home — how his day felt incomplete if Sunghoon wasn’t there.
That was when he knew.
He had already fallen. And there was no way he's getting back up.
He started seeing someone he wanted to keep. Someone he wanted to protect.
Someone he wanted to come home to.
And those thoughts somehow scared Ni-ki.
Because how do you explain loving someone you barely know? But maybe love isn’t about knowing everything.
Maybe it’s about how they make you feel and Sunghoon makes him feel.. calm.
Like the world quiets down when they’re together and he doesn’t have to be loud or funny or extra all the time. Because whenever he's with Sunghoon, he can just sit there. They can just sit shoulder to shoulder, watching the sky turn orange.
And Ni-ki thinks, If this is all we ever do, I’d still be happy. Isn’t that what love is?
When someone’s presence alone feels like home? When you start saving the best stories just to tell them first?
When every small thing reminds you of them? When you catch yourself looking for them in every crowd? When your day feels incomplete without their voice?
He doesn’t remember the exact moment he fell, maybe because there wasn’t one.
Maybe because it was a hundred tiny moments.
Like Sunghoon handing him a towel after they played basketball. Sunghoon waiting for him before crossing the street. Sunghoon quietly fixing his messy hair without saying anything. Sunghoon hugging him back — tight like he didn’t want to let go either.
And that one hurt the most. Because Sunghoon hugs like he needs it.
Like Ni-ki isn’t the only one holding on.
One summer shouldn’t be enough to love someone. But maybe time doesn’t matter when your heart has already decided.
Maybe some people just arrive and suddenly everything makes sense.
Like they were always meant to be there and you were just waiting for them without realizing it. Sunghoon feels like that.
It's like fate, summer— like something warm he never wants to lose.
So yeah, maybe it was fast or reckless or it just doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
But Ni-ki doesn’t care. Because if loving Sunghoon after only a short time is wrong — then he doesn’t want to be right.
He’d rather love him loudly.
Even if summer ends.
Even if Sunghoon leaves.
Even if it hurts.
Because if he only gets one summer with Park Sunghoon— then Ni-ki will spend every single day loving him with everything he has.
With no regrets, without holding back.
That’s why he shares his warmth with him. Not because Sunghoon is cold. Not because they’re opposites. Not because he wants to “fix” him.
But because loving Sunghoon feels natural.
Because if Sunghoon feels cold — then Ni-ki wants to be the warmth that stays. The arms he can always come home to.
—
Summer feels endless.
Until it isn’t.
Ni-ki used to think two months was long.
Long enough to get bored, to get tired of the same streets, the same faces and the same sky.
But now? Two months feels cruelly short.
Too short.
Like trying to hold water in his hands.
No matter how tight he grips, it keeps slipping through his fingers.
Because suddenly— Sunghoon is leaving.
The word sits heavy in his chest.
Leaving.
Going back to the city.
Back to tall buildings and fast nights and places Ni-ki has never seen. Back to a world that doesn’t have him in it.
It shouldn’t hurt this much.
They aren’t even—
They never confessed. Never defined anything. No labels. No promises.
Just shared laughs, shared walks, and shared warmth.
So technically, Ni-ki has no right to feel like his heart is being pulled apart.
But he does.
God, he does.
The day Sunghoon packs his things, it feels quieter than usual.
Even Jay is quieter.
Sunoo keeps trying to joke around but his smile looks forced. Jake helps carry the luggage. Jungwon keeps checking the time. Heeseung just pats Sunghoon’s back like an older brother would.
Ni-ki stands a little farther away from the group.
His hands in his pockets, his head down.
Because if he looks at Sunghoon too long, he might cry and that would be embarrassing.
He doesn’t want Sunghoon’s last memory of him to be pathetic.
So he laughs. And pretends everything’s normal, that this is just another day. He pretends his chest doesn’t feel tight.
It’s okay, he tells himself.
It’s just goodbye. People come back all the time right?
Right?
But when Sunghoon finally walks toward him—All those thoughts disappear.
It’s just them now.
Just the two of them standing there while the others talk in the background. For a second, neither of them speaks.
The air feels too heavy. Too full of things they’re too scared to say.
Ni-ki forces a grin.
“So… back to being a city boy, huh?”
Sunghoon huffs softly. “Yeah.”
“…Thanks for spending your summer with me.”
And Ni-ki almost breaks because he doesn't want Sunghoon to say it like that.
Don’t say it like it’s over.
But before he can even reply— Sunghoon pulls him into a hug.
The tightest hug he’s ever given. Like he’s scared Ni-ki might disappear. Like if he loosens his arms even a little, something precious will slip away.
Ni-ki freezes.
Then hugs him back just as hard. His fingers clutch the back of Sunghoon’s shirt. Ni-ki's hug felt desperate. Like he’s trying to memorize the shape of him.
Sunghoon’s face presses into his shoulder.
And for a second—They both just breathe.
Just heartbeats that's fast and loud but it’s in sync. It feels too much like a confession without words. Like everything they never said is right here, trapped between their ribs.
Then Sunghoon whispers softly, his voice almost shaking.
“I’ll see you soonest.”
A pause.
“…Wait for me.”
Ni-ki doesn’t trust his voice so he just nods. Once but firm. Because if he speaks, he might say don’t go. And that wouldn’t be fair.
Sunghoon pulls back slowly. Looks at him like he’s trying to memorize his face too.
Then
So gentle it almost feels unreal—
He leans down and presses a kiss to Ni-ki’s forehead. It felt warm and soft. It felt so careful, like Ni-ki is something fragile.
Ni-ki’s breath catches. His whole body goes still. Sunghoon has never done that before.
But somehow…
It feels natural.
The kiss feels like a promise.
Then Sunghoon steps away.
He walks toward the car and didn't look back because maybe if he does, he won’t be able to leave.
Ni-ki let out a deep sigh and watches until the car disappears at the end of the road.
Until the dust settles, until everything is quiet again. The province feels bigger, emptier, and colder now. Summer suddenly feels like it ended too fast.
But strangely—His heart doesn’t feel hopeless. It hurts, yeah. It aches like crazy. But underneath all that pain is something warm.
Certain.
Because when Sunghoon said wait for me and he didn’t sound unsure.
Instead, he sounded so sure.
Like coming back isn’t a question. Like Ni-ki is something he plans to return to.
So Ni-ki smiles to himself. Because he knows Sunghoon. Knows the way he keeps promises without saying them out loud.
So he’ll wait. Through the rainy days. Through the boring afternoons. Through the next summer if he has to.
He’ll stay right here. Open and ready.
Because when Park Sunghoon comes back— Ni-ki will still be here.
And maybe next time they won’t need to stay quiet anymore.
Maybe next time— They’ll finally say it.
But for now, this silent, aching, hopeful love is enough.
After all—
Summer always comes back.