Superheroes
Title: Superheroes
Pairing: Jonglo
Rating: PG
Type: One Shot
Genre: Angst/Fluff
A/N: Tried to write jerk!jongup... I think I failed...
❊❊❊
Junhong was sure Jongup was a superhero. He was everything a superhero needed to be. And he was Jongup's sidekick. The sidekick that always needed his cape to be adjusted, the sidekick that was took comfort in the time he spent with his favourite hyung, ths sidekick that got his back covered, the sidekick that wished they would never be too old to play that game of superheroes.
Junhong had fun growing up. Because for as long as he could remember he had jongup by his side. Everything was easier when there were less candles on your birthday cake. When you toasted with apple juice, not alcohol. Life was easier back then. When junhong and jongup were superheroes. Capes on their backs, dollar-store masks on their faces. They would save neighborhood kitties from alien abductions, finish their greens in one gulp, kill off all the bad guys with their foam bullets. It was okay to watch cartoons back then. They'd do whatever the superheroes did in the cartoons. Except save the damsels in distress. They were far too young to think girls were worth saving. Girls had cooties and they smelt bad.
"Junhong you're the bestest sidekick ever!"
That's what jongup would say, adjusting the cape on junhong's back. And junhong would smile. He always felt the safest, the happiest when he was beside his favorite hyung. He was the superhero after all. And junhong would wish they would never be too old to play that game.
But they did grow up, birthday parties weren't about cakes and presents anymore. It was more rowdy than anything. Jongup was surrounded by a bunch of girls and Junhong only stayed because jongup occasionally shot him pleading gazes when he saw him sling his bag on.
But past the extra candles on the birthday cake, they still spent a good amount of time together. Saturday afternoons were their thing. They'd hang out at the old milkshake shed, sail paper planes down the bridge into the river below. They'd pay for movies that looked bad and sit in an empty cinema with a full bucket of salted popcorn and a hearty conversation. They'd take their bikes and ride as far as their legs could carry them. It was Saturdays that made junhong feel like a kid again. Like all the grown-up troubles were far away, way past the clear blue sky that they lay under, watching the seamless clouds go by. "Will I always be your sidekick, hyung?" junhong knew it was uncool to rake up the past and talk about kids' stuff, but it just the two of them so it was alright. Jongup would chuckle and ruffle his hair, and that means yes.
But then jongup became a senior and he started hanging around with the big boys. At first he asked if junhong could tag along. Superheroes always had to look out for their sidekicks, you see. But apparently no one thought that that was a good idea. Junhong felt the mounting pressure to find other friends. He wasn't very good with making friends. But they were still close. Still hung out. Because after you've been best friends forever it's pretty hard to live otherwise. Junhong didn't like Jongup's new friends. They reminded him a lot of the bullies that used to pick on them and steal his cape when they were younger. Jongup would wrap around junhong and make sure he wasn't the one getting hit. When it was all over he's drape his cape on junhong's back and smile amidst the bruises that would start to show on his face.
But things were different now.
"Is it because they told you not to hang out with me?" junhong asked. He was annoyed that jongup was barely spending Fridays with him anymore. He was annoyed that jongup's friends called him names.
"It's not that. Just... I don't wanna talk about it alright?"
But most of all, he was annoyed that jongup was weak. He saw the brightness in jongup's face fade away, the bravery you get from being a child was slowly diminishing in his eyes. But junhong left it at that. He was the sidekick after all. The sidekick that was afraid to lose whatever small thing he still had with his best friend.
Junhong remembers the first time jongup got snuck into a club. The bouncers let him through, because it was a shady establishment after all and they didn't care for rules. Junhong remembers because jongup stumbled into his house after getting drunk. He couldn't go home looking like a wreck you see. The only place he could go was junhong's house. Junhong's parents were barely home. He banged hard on the door, and junhong knew it wasn't his best friend knocking. He was different. "Jonguppie hyung... Why?" junhong sighed. But he was sure it was loud enough for jongup to hear. But all jongup could hear was the flush of the toilet as he hurled up the contents of his gut. But junhong keeps his unanswered question snug behind his teeth for another time. He never did something like this before. Taking care of people. It had always been jongup looking out for him, taking care of him, making sure he ate his medicine when he was sick.
There was going to be a party. All the cool kids in school were going. The flyer promised booze. Junhong didn't drink, but he wanted to go. Wanted to see what all the fuss was about. But he knew he regretted it when he saw jongup grinding up those girls. His grip on the bar stool tightened. He's never felt so out of place before, so uncomfortable in his own skin. He wanted to claw at himself, to somehow fish his soul out of his body and run. Run away from this feeling of utter loneliness. But he couldn't peel his eyes off jongup. His hands running up the sides of that girl's waist. She had her hands around his neck and junhong felt something tightening in his chest. Something wretched curling around his heart, constricting it in a chokehold. And he wonders where it began. When he started feeding the butterflies with this emotions. When he started brewing this dreaded- jealousy. Jongup didn't know he was there. They stumbled towards one of the rooms. Junhong felt his skull numb, his hands shaking. He grabbed his bag and headed out, ordering a cup of hot chocolate from the nearby cafe. He tapped his fingers against the marble surface and rearranged the mess in his mind. Why think the unthinkable, junhong? Why think the impossible? Maybe it's because when he was a kid, he was taught nothing was impossible, as long as jongup was by his side. But he didn't care anymore. Superheroes could handle themselves.
Maybe the next part is junhong's fault, but he didn't know how else to get the message through. "Junhong what is your fucking problem?"-
Silence.
Junhong was firm this time. Sidekicks had to show that they were in charge sometimes. That they didn't always have to listen to the superheroes. "Junhong..."
"It's you, okay? It's all you! You changed and... And I- I don't even know who you are anymore... Things were easier in the past, alright?" junhong finally found out how his thoughts sounded aloud, and to be honest, he quite liked that. "Don't pour that sentimental shit out on me..." jongup's eyes flashed in utter annoyance and junhong couldn't see how this was his jongup hyung. Jongup never used this tone on him. Or anyone in that case. He didn't see how this was the jongup who used to go along with anything he said. Who would climb that intimidating tree just to retrieve junhong's worthless kite. "Hyung..." junhong whimpered. "Look... Don't be stupid. We can't be five forever okay, junhong. Grow the fuck up..." with that, he left. Just like that. When the door slammed, junhong felt a surge of pride. He did it. But that's how it always was. You don't feel the pain until the adrenaline fades away and the harsh words are digested. Junhong cried. Hot tears slipping down his cheeks. Everything was easier when you had less candles on your cake. They were unstoppable then. And junhong wished that he'd kept the capes and masks, to remind himself that those times once existed. The times that jongup promised would last forever. He huddled up against himself and imagined jongup ruffling his hair. Asking him how his day was. If the kid in his class still didn't know that his pants was the wrong way round. If he got full marks for that recent test. If he liked the candy he gave him for recess. But then again, when was the last time jongup gave a damn about his grades. He probably didn't even know that the kid with the trouser problems rectified his issues and was now one of the popular kids in his class. Wondered if jongup even remembered what candy he liked. He watched as his memories passed like flowing water under the bridge. Except this time it wasn't disrupted by random paper arrow planes stilling on its surface.
But he couldn't shake off the responsibility of a sidekick. He still looked out for jongup. He found him one night in an alley, drunk. Junhong brought him back and made some hot chocolate. Hot chocolate always made everything better. It settles the tummy. It was really bad this time and after the nth time of vomiting up clear fluid, jongup was brought to the bed. Jongup closed his eyes, occasionally wincing at the churning of his stomach. Junhong was still beside him, occasionally placing a comforting hand in his hair. Maybe it was the darkness, or the alcohol making the world spin around him, but jongup felt like a scared kid again.
"Junhong? You know the thing you said about life being easier when we were kids? I'm sorry for calling you stupid... Because I agree. Being a superhero with you was a lot less hard..."
Junhong heard jongup clearly. And he didn't know how to take it. Because maybe it was the alcohol. Alcohol always made the world seem less harsh. Jongup fell asleep to the sound of sniffling and when he woke in the morning he was certain it had been junhong, who had fallen asleep beside him, head resting against the side table. There were tear steaks on his cheek, where a slight pink coloration should've been. Junhong was right. He hadn't seen him in a while. Like really see him. His jaw-line was more prominent than before, his arms notably more muscular, his shoulders almost as broad as his was. But there was something still vividly familiar about him. The way his lips formed a slight pout when he slept and the crinkle of his eyes. Jongup smiled and ruffled junhong's hair gently. Junhong was a superhero and he was the arch nemesis. One that has realized his worthlessness. He had to leave this town, let junhong be the hero, coz junhong was evidently more deserving than he was. Junhong was the brave one, and he was the coward. So he walked out the door despite his splitting headache.
Junhong woke up and instinctively wiped at his tears. So began his days without jongup. Entirely without jongup. But months later the bigger boys saw it coming. They'd been pushing jongup to do things he shouldn't be. And junhong couldn't handle it anymore. It happened by the school gates and junhong walked up to them, bravery in his stride, fear in his eyes, amidst jeering by them. Jongup prayed that he wouldn't do anything stupid, but it was expected, seeing as how junhong held a strange supply of defiance in his fists. "What the f-" but before the ring leader could continue, junhong dealt a blow to his jaw. Junhong froze in his spot, adrenaline starting to fade. He didn't know where he got that blind courage from. All he knew was that it was going to be the death of him. But he stood his ground, because he remembers what he said to jongup years ago. "Hyung I'll protect you... When I get bigger, okay?" junhong remembers those words leave his lips. And jongup would smile and pat his head. Now he is bigger, shoulders almost broad. So he stood his ground because he promised. The first few punches were blocked by junhong's arms but more rained down upon him and he could only crouch close to the floor and close his eyes. He always counted to ten when he was in pain, because that made the pain go away faster. One... Two... Thr-
And it stopped. The pain stopped. Replaced by a familiar warmth wrapping around him. There were too many of them, but Jongup had his back. Before he knew it he had helped jongup back home. This was worse than all of the other times combined. Jongup's face was covered with bruises and his lip and nose were bleeding. Junhong grabbed a warm towel and mopped furiously at his face and arms, careful not to let any tears touch jongup because saltwater singes.
"Junhong? I- I'm sorry..." jongup murmured through bruised lips and junhong just nodded. "We got them good didn't we?" Jongup smiled. They did. The other boys probably had to be in casts for a while. Junhong could've sworn he felt the cape on his back. Jongup's cape. The one he always placed on his back. But he shook it off. It was just his t-shirt sticking to his back. Jongup would be gone by sunrise.
"Wake up sleepy head! You're burning daylight!"
Junhong woke up with a start only to see jongup in front of him, doing a strange hobble about his bruised ankle.
"H-huh?" junhong mumbled intelligently.
"It's Saturday junhong!"
And for the first time in far too long, junhong darted out of bed excitedly, he scrambled to change and brush his teeth, not daring a look at the mirror. He was afraid he might catch a glimpse of reality- eye bags, lifeless eyes- that would have otherwise told him this wasn't real. But jongup was at the doorframe, holding the door open for him, like as if junhong were four and needed his hyung's help to tie his laces before the house.
They walked on the streets, side by side. The looks people were giving the bruised and bumped up jongup told junhong that this was real. Jongup wasn't a ghost, an apparition or a wizard or whatever weird theory his tired mind came up with.
"So... What movie should we watch?" jongup asked, beaming his sun-lit smile at junhong.
"Uhm... There's this show with the chameleon that loses its way and... And..." junhong said in a small voice, anticipating a laughter that would have told him that this was all a joke and jongup was pulling a candid camera on him.
"That sounds terrible... It's perfect!"
Jongup smiled, a rather nervous smile that junhong saw fit to look away from. His head swirling slightly. He wanted so much to punch his gut, to tell the butterflies in his stomach that he wasn't a teenage girl and jongup was just a friend. Before he knew it a warm hand brushed against his rather purposefully. And it wrapped around his. Junhong looked at jongup, but jongup had his eyes trailed on the road, his smile undeniably shy and boyish. Junhong felt his face heat up. A secret smile spread across his face as his mind wandered off to a memory as clear as the sky they were under-
They were kids, and junhong was jongup's bestest sidekick ever.
"Junhong? I'm gonna marry you next time..."
By next time, jongup meant when he had a little more than a few pennies in his pocket and when he was a little taller so he could help junhong get his coat off the hook. And junhong just nodded and smiled toothily, not fully comprehending the full implications and responsibilities of marriage. Jongup takes his hand in his relatively larger one and they run back home for milk and cookies.
Junhong turns to look at the hand around his. It feels somewhat familiar, though undeniably bigger and rougher than he remembered. Jongup gave occasional squeezes to his hand and junhong leans into his arm. He lets the adrenaline rush a wave of nostalgia through his veins, because everything felt good back then. Everything was easy. And he sure it would be now.
It was a Saturday. A bucket of salted popcorn and a hearty conversation.
He imagined the soft trailing of capes behind them and the irritable itch of the masks on their faces, covering the stupid blushes on their faces.
Pairing: Jonglo
Rating: PG
Type: One Shot
Genre: Angst/Fluff
A/N: Tried to write jerk!jongup... I think I failed...
❊❊❊
Junhong was sure Jongup was a superhero. He was everything a superhero needed to be. And he was Jongup's sidekick. The sidekick that always needed his cape to be adjusted, the sidekick that was took comfort in the time he spent with his favourite hyung, ths sidekick that got his back covered, the sidekick that wished they would never be too old to play that game of superheroes.
Junhong had fun growing up. Because for as long as he could remember he had jongup by his side. Everything was easier when there were less candles on your birthday cake. When you toasted with apple juice, not alcohol. Life was easier back then. When junhong and jongup were superheroes. Capes on their backs, dollar-store masks on their faces. They would save neighborhood kitties from alien abductions, finish their greens in one gulp, kill off all the bad guys with their foam bullets. It was okay to watch cartoons back then. They'd do whatever the superheroes did in the cartoons. Except save the damsels in distress. They were far too young to think girls were worth saving. Girls had cooties and they smelt bad.
"Junhong you're the bestest sidekick ever!"
That's what jongup would say, adjusting the cape on junhong's back. And junhong would smile. He always felt the safest, the happiest when he was beside his favorite hyung. He was the superhero after all. And junhong would wish they would never be too old to play that game.
But they did grow up, birthday parties weren't about cakes and presents anymore. It was more rowdy than anything. Jongup was surrounded by a bunch of girls and Junhong only stayed because jongup occasionally shot him pleading gazes when he saw him sling his bag on.
But past the extra candles on the birthday cake, they still spent a good amount of time together. Saturday afternoons were their thing. They'd hang out at the old milkshake shed, sail paper planes down the bridge into the river below. They'd pay for movies that looked bad and sit in an empty cinema with a full bucket of salted popcorn and a hearty conversation. They'd take their bikes and ride as far as their legs could carry them. It was Saturdays that made junhong feel like a kid again. Like all the grown-up troubles were far away, way past the clear blue sky that they lay under, watching the seamless clouds go by. "Will I always be your sidekick, hyung?" junhong knew it was uncool to rake up the past and talk about kids' stuff, but it just the two of them so it was alright. Jongup would chuckle and ruffle his hair, and that means yes.
But then jongup became a senior and he started hanging around with the big boys. At first he asked if junhong could tag along. Superheroes always had to look out for their sidekicks, you see. But apparently no one thought that that was a good idea. Junhong felt the mounting pressure to find other friends. He wasn't very good with making friends. But they were still close. Still hung out. Because after you've been best friends forever it's pretty hard to live otherwise. Junhong didn't like Jongup's new friends. They reminded him a lot of the bullies that used to pick on them and steal his cape when they were younger. Jongup would wrap around junhong and make sure he wasn't the one getting hit. When it was all over he's drape his cape on junhong's back and smile amidst the bruises that would start to show on his face.
But things were different now.
"Is it because they told you not to hang out with me?" junhong asked. He was annoyed that jongup was barely spending Fridays with him anymore. He was annoyed that jongup's friends called him names.
"It's not that. Just... I don't wanna talk about it alright?"
But most of all, he was annoyed that jongup was weak. He saw the brightness in jongup's face fade away, the bravery you get from being a child was slowly diminishing in his eyes. But junhong left it at that. He was the sidekick after all. The sidekick that was afraid to lose whatever small thing he still had with his best friend.
Junhong remembers the first time jongup got snuck into a club. The bouncers let him through, because it was a shady establishment after all and they didn't care for rules. Junhong remembers because jongup stumbled into his house after getting drunk. He couldn't go home looking like a wreck you see. The only place he could go was junhong's house. Junhong's parents were barely home. He banged hard on the door, and junhong knew it wasn't his best friend knocking. He was different. "Jonguppie hyung... Why?" junhong sighed. But he was sure it was loud enough for jongup to hear. But all jongup could hear was the flush of the toilet as he hurled up the contents of his gut. But junhong keeps his unanswered question snug behind his teeth for another time. He never did something like this before. Taking care of people. It had always been jongup looking out for him, taking care of him, making sure he ate his medicine when he was sick.
There was going to be a party. All the cool kids in school were going. The flyer promised booze. Junhong didn't drink, but he wanted to go. Wanted to see what all the fuss was about. But he knew he regretted it when he saw jongup grinding up those girls. His grip on the bar stool tightened. He's never felt so out of place before, so uncomfortable in his own skin. He wanted to claw at himself, to somehow fish his soul out of his body and run. Run away from this feeling of utter loneliness. But he couldn't peel his eyes off jongup. His hands running up the sides of that girl's waist. She had her hands around his neck and junhong felt something tightening in his chest. Something wretched curling around his heart, constricting it in a chokehold. And he wonders where it began. When he started feeding the butterflies with this emotions. When he started brewing this dreaded- jealousy. Jongup didn't know he was there. They stumbled towards one of the rooms. Junhong felt his skull numb, his hands shaking. He grabbed his bag and headed out, ordering a cup of hot chocolate from the nearby cafe. He tapped his fingers against the marble surface and rearranged the mess in his mind. Why think the unthinkable, junhong? Why think the impossible? Maybe it's because when he was a kid, he was taught nothing was impossible, as long as jongup was by his side. But he didn't care anymore. Superheroes could handle themselves.
Maybe the next part is junhong's fault, but he didn't know how else to get the message through. "Junhong what is your fucking problem?"-
Silence.
Junhong was firm this time. Sidekicks had to show that they were in charge sometimes. That they didn't always have to listen to the superheroes. "Junhong..."
"It's you, okay? It's all you! You changed and... And I- I don't even know who you are anymore... Things were easier in the past, alright?" junhong finally found out how his thoughts sounded aloud, and to be honest, he quite liked that. "Don't pour that sentimental shit out on me..." jongup's eyes flashed in utter annoyance and junhong couldn't see how this was his jongup hyung. Jongup never used this tone on him. Or anyone in that case. He didn't see how this was the jongup who used to go along with anything he said. Who would climb that intimidating tree just to retrieve junhong's worthless kite. "Hyung..." junhong whimpered. "Look... Don't be stupid. We can't be five forever okay, junhong. Grow the fuck up..." with that, he left. Just like that. When the door slammed, junhong felt a surge of pride. He did it. But that's how it always was. You don't feel the pain until the adrenaline fades away and the harsh words are digested. Junhong cried. Hot tears slipping down his cheeks. Everything was easier when you had less candles on your cake. They were unstoppable then. And junhong wished that he'd kept the capes and masks, to remind himself that those times once existed. The times that jongup promised would last forever. He huddled up against himself and imagined jongup ruffling his hair. Asking him how his day was. If the kid in his class still didn't know that his pants was the wrong way round. If he got full marks for that recent test. If he liked the candy he gave him for recess. But then again, when was the last time jongup gave a damn about his grades. He probably didn't even know that the kid with the trouser problems rectified his issues and was now one of the popular kids in his class. Wondered if jongup even remembered what candy he liked. He watched as his memories passed like flowing water under the bridge. Except this time it wasn't disrupted by random paper arrow planes stilling on its surface.
But he couldn't shake off the responsibility of a sidekick. He still looked out for jongup. He found him one night in an alley, drunk. Junhong brought him back and made some hot chocolate. Hot chocolate always made everything better. It settles the tummy. It was really bad this time and after the nth time of vomiting up clear fluid, jongup was brought to the bed. Jongup closed his eyes, occasionally wincing at the churning of his stomach. Junhong was still beside him, occasionally placing a comforting hand in his hair. Maybe it was the darkness, or the alcohol making the world spin around him, but jongup felt like a scared kid again.
"Junhong? You know the thing you said about life being easier when we were kids? I'm sorry for calling you stupid... Because I agree. Being a superhero with you was a lot less hard..."
Junhong heard jongup clearly. And he didn't know how to take it. Because maybe it was the alcohol. Alcohol always made the world seem less harsh. Jongup fell asleep to the sound of sniffling and when he woke in the morning he was certain it had been junhong, who had fallen asleep beside him, head resting against the side table. There were tear steaks on his cheek, where a slight pink coloration should've been. Junhong was right. He hadn't seen him in a while. Like really see him. His jaw-line was more prominent than before, his arms notably more muscular, his shoulders almost as broad as his was. But there was something still vividly familiar about him. The way his lips formed a slight pout when he slept and the crinkle of his eyes. Jongup smiled and ruffled junhong's hair gently. Junhong was a superhero and he was the arch nemesis. One that has realized his worthlessness. He had to leave this town, let junhong be the hero, coz junhong was evidently more deserving than he was. Junhong was the brave one, and he was the coward. So he walked out the door despite his splitting headache.
Junhong woke up and instinctively wiped at his tears. So began his days without jongup. Entirely without jongup. But months later the bigger boys saw it coming. They'd been pushing jongup to do things he shouldn't be. And junhong couldn't handle it anymore. It happened by the school gates and junhong walked up to them, bravery in his stride, fear in his eyes, amidst jeering by them. Jongup prayed that he wouldn't do anything stupid, but it was expected, seeing as how junhong held a strange supply of defiance in his fists. "What the f-" but before the ring leader could continue, junhong dealt a blow to his jaw. Junhong froze in his spot, adrenaline starting to fade. He didn't know where he got that blind courage from. All he knew was that it was going to be the death of him. But he stood his ground, because he remembers what he said to jongup years ago. "Hyung I'll protect you... When I get bigger, okay?" junhong remembers those words leave his lips. And jongup would smile and pat his head. Now he is bigger, shoulders almost broad. So he stood his ground because he promised. The first few punches were blocked by junhong's arms but more rained down upon him and he could only crouch close to the floor and close his eyes. He always counted to ten when he was in pain, because that made the pain go away faster. One... Two... Thr-
And it stopped. The pain stopped. Replaced by a familiar warmth wrapping around him. There were too many of them, but Jongup had his back. Before he knew it he had helped jongup back home. This was worse than all of the other times combined. Jongup's face was covered with bruises and his lip and nose were bleeding. Junhong grabbed a warm towel and mopped furiously at his face and arms, careful not to let any tears touch jongup because saltwater singes.
"Junhong? I- I'm sorry..." jongup murmured through bruised lips and junhong just nodded. "We got them good didn't we?" Jongup smiled. They did. The other boys probably had to be in casts for a while. Junhong could've sworn he felt the cape on his back. Jongup's cape. The one he always placed on his back. But he shook it off. It was just his t-shirt sticking to his back. Jongup would be gone by sunrise.
"Wake up sleepy head! You're burning daylight!"
Junhong woke up with a start only to see jongup in front of him, doing a strange hobble about his bruised ankle.
"H-huh?" junhong mumbled intelligently.
"It's Saturday junhong!"
And for the first time in far too long, junhong darted out of bed excitedly, he scrambled to change and brush his teeth, not daring a look at the mirror. He was afraid he might catch a glimpse of reality- eye bags, lifeless eyes- that would have otherwise told him this wasn't real. But jongup was at the doorframe, holding the door open for him, like as if junhong were four and needed his hyung's help to tie his laces before the house.
They walked on the streets, side by side. The looks people were giving the bruised and bumped up jongup told junhong that this was real. Jongup wasn't a ghost, an apparition or a wizard or whatever weird theory his tired mind came up with.
"So... What movie should we watch?" jongup asked, beaming his sun-lit smile at junhong.
"Uhm... There's this show with the chameleon that loses its way and... And..." junhong said in a small voice, anticipating a laughter that would have told him that this was all a joke and jongup was pulling a candid camera on him.
"That sounds terrible... It's perfect!"
Jongup smiled, a rather nervous smile that junhong saw fit to look away from. His head swirling slightly. He wanted so much to punch his gut, to tell the butterflies in his stomach that he wasn't a teenage girl and jongup was just a friend. Before he knew it a warm hand brushed against his rather purposefully. And it wrapped around his. Junhong looked at jongup, but jongup had his eyes trailed on the road, his smile undeniably shy and boyish. Junhong felt his face heat up. A secret smile spread across his face as his mind wandered off to a memory as clear as the sky they were under-
They were kids, and junhong was jongup's bestest sidekick ever.
"Junhong? I'm gonna marry you next time..."
By next time, jongup meant when he had a little more than a few pennies in his pocket and when he was a little taller so he could help junhong get his coat off the hook. And junhong just nodded and smiled toothily, not fully comprehending the full implications and responsibilities of marriage. Jongup takes his hand in his relatively larger one and they run back home for milk and cookies.
Junhong turns to look at the hand around his. It feels somewhat familiar, though undeniably bigger and rougher than he remembered. Jongup gave occasional squeezes to his hand and junhong leans into his arm. He lets the adrenaline rush a wave of nostalgia through his veins, because everything felt good back then. Everything was easy. And he sure it would be now.
It was a Saturday. A bucket of salted popcorn and a hearty conversation.
He imagined the soft trailing of capes behind them and the irritable itch of the masks on their faces, covering the stupid blushes on their faces.