The Fox Boy; Woohyun/Hoya
Title : The Fox Boy
Pairing : Woohyun/Hoya
Rating : PG-13
Summary : Howon was once a fox demon fox. But now, he believes he's just a hopeless lad living under the care of a young man named Nam Woohyun. Yet, they're related to each other in a certain way that makes it impossible for Howon to go away.
Notes : This was written based on a prompt in writingwooya's tumblr. There's a reference to Kamisama Hajimemashita, if anyone had ever read that.
Woohyun's first unexpected encounter with Howon was few months ago. Not that he didn't totally expect it, since he's been searching for this one demon fox-turned-human for many years already. But none of his prediction have told him that he would meet him after a night of hunger that urged him to walk to a nearby convenient store just five minutes away from his rented house for some ramyun.
As he stood in front of the beverages section, he met the gaze of a boy, his hands were full with stuff, a little bit too much for him to bring. It lasted for mere seven seconds before the boy turned around and Woohyun gasped at what he saw.
Coloured eyes, glowing tattoo at the back of neck. Woohyun remembered well of those too marks that's been told by his father upon his quest for this fox.
So when he heard a commotion coming from the back of the store, where he usually would just dismiss such thought to poke his nose into other's business, that one night he decided to take a look and was met with a bloody situation of a gang of men beating a boy that was already helpless on the ground.
Few stuff, mostly food, were scattering on his side, all were totally ignored as the boy was continually punched. Anger rose in Woohyun, noticing how unfair the whole situation was.
He yelled, and that stopped the act for a while. But all eyes were on him then.
"Do you want to die too, boy?"
"Stop hurting him, you jerks."
"He's been stealing stuff from this store for quite a while. Ain't I the saint who's stopping the crime before it gets worse?"
So, that was what it's all about.
"Rather than a saint, you're the ugly jerk who misuse your power, you asshole." Woohyun replied.
The boy was dropped on to the ground with such anger that the man was trying to hint to Woohyun, and that boy, with all his might, lifted his head up to look at Woohyun, and that's when Woohyun noticed the thing he's been looking for this whole time.
The boy's eyes were gleaming red, faintly, as if no more strength was contained in his body. And when there was no reaction from Woohyun, the man who has been doing the punching kicked that helpless boy and his body moved so Woohyun saw the other mark. The glowing tattoo at the back of his neck.
The fox that he has been searching for all this years, was finally before his eyes.
Stupid choice, that Woohyun chose to run towards the man and kick him hard on the left shin. It resulted with him being slapped so hard on the face that he fell next to the helpless fox boy.
"You, are asking for death." The man pulled Woohyun's shirt and stifled his thin neck. "If only you stop meddling into my business. I'm trying to get rid of this satan over here." Another punch hit Woohyun square in the jaw, Woohyun could taste the pain in his mouth as he fell onto the ground again. Another kick went onto his stomach, he tried hard to fight back as his hands reached for the boy's.
It damn hurt.
That's when he couldn't open his eyes anymore, and he felt hands crawling onto his chest. Trembling, they went up his face in such haste. And his lips met another pair.
ღ
That was months ago, and right now the helpless boy is Howon who is sitting with guilt on the couch, playing with his fingers as Woohyun stands in front of him, treating the little wound on his arm. Howon couldn't stand it, so he lifts his butt off the couch and reaches for Woohyun's arm.
"Do you want me to-"
"Sit." Woohyun orders and obediently Howon complies.
Irritation occurs across Woohyun's face, who has just got back from his lectures at his university. He's been knocking on the door as he forgot his keys, assuming the latter would've been up but he ended up knocking for half an hour with no reply.
"But that wound.." Howon eyes the part that has been put a band-aid over it, his eyes glow with grey light, and Woohyun notices that. The pout, too.
Woohyun sighs, slightly defeated.
"This is nothing. I couldn't really yell and order you from outside since the neighbours would kill me for that. So it's just a mere cut for your protective instinct to wake your heavy ass up from the bed and open the door." Woohyun takes the space next to Howon and sits down, huffing in contentment at the softness of the couch.
Howon gapes. So that explains the sudden rush he felt in his body that made him run to the door even in just his shorts, not even bother to grab a shirt. That is the only power left, the protective instinct he'd have whenever Woohyun is hurt. Aside from the word binding power Woohyun has over him.
To be honest, he is slightly annoyed by the misuse of power.
"Are you possibly annoyed at me faking this wound?" Woohyun lifts his arm and shoves it to Howon's face. "It hurts!"
"That's why I've been telling you to give me a handphone! You could just call me instead of hurting yourself like this! Don't misuse the pain instinct! What if it's gone later I wouldn't know if you behead yourself for me to notice!" Howon grabs the arm, pointing out the obvious. His eyes sparks with few streaks of redness. Noticing that Woohyun is looking into his eyes, Howon looks away.
"You don't even know how to use a handphone anyway, why would I give you one." Woohyun drops his hand down, and Howon gently rubs over the band-aid.
"I learned though." Howon still insists.
"Listen. The last time I gave you my spare handphone you called over the police station and they ended up buying you dinner because you told them you were hungry."
"But the number was saved in your phone and that guy was your friend anyway.. what was his name.. Dongwoo?"
"What if you call the fire brigade this time? Huh?"
"Well don't save such numbers on your phone!"
"That's for emergency, idiot." Woohyun flicks Howon's forehead and the latter stops talking for a moment. He then drops his back and rested his body on the couch. "I'm so tired, morning classes got me lethargic like this."
"Are you going to sleep?" Howon asks, eyeing Woohyun who is already closing his eyes.
Woohyun hums a reply. He tries not to look at Howon who's beginning to work his wonder of begging with his pouty lips.
Those lips.
ღ
"I'm just a normal person. Even if I find this demon fox whom grandpa have been searching for, would a contract between us be sealed anyway?" Curiously Woohyun asked his father.
"Who says you're normal? You have inherited bits of grandpa's power. He was a shaman given the responsibility of a land deity. You're his descendant. It shall work." His father calmly replied.
"Why should I seal a contract with him anyway?"
"Because we owe him our lives. With such contract, he'll be bonded by the power of your words, and he'll be able to receive power to do everything you ask. Quite a win-win situation."
Woohyun choked a bit at the fact.
"And he's dying soon, if no new contract is made between him and any of our family descendant. So, please find him."
"And how to seal the contract?"
"With a kiss."
He still remembers how the kiss Howon initiated on the day they met has made them an inseparable duo bonded with a contract now. That once he mouthed "Save us." the helpless boy suddenly glowed his eyes in red flame and everyone who has been punching them at the back of the store were left bleeding and not moving after Howon's doing. Which were too fast and unimaginable for Woohyun to even recall.
Anyway thanks to that, they're alive. And Howon's like his pair now. Whom he wouldn't call as a subordinate.
But a rather cute yet annoying boy (who's in fact older than him) that only eats most of the time.
ღ
"But Woohyun." Woohyun opens his eyes when he felt a soft tug on his shirt sleeve. Howon is eyeing him, his eyes were calm hazel. It took him five seconds to get what the stare actually means.
"Don't tell me.." Woohyun just wants to rest, for god's sake.
Loud stomach noise filled the small space of the living room. And Howon's face turns red.
"I'm hungry.." Howon gently holds Woohyun's shoulder. Such words leap out his pouting mouth of which Woohyun could hardly resist. Woohyun turns around, avoiding the eyes.
"Let me sleep for awhile please. It took me overnight to finish my work and a whole exhausting morning for the sake of my studies, now please." Woohyun mutters.
Howon crawls up his back and whispered, "You don't want another fire in the kitchen, do you?"
"Damn it."
Full as he always does after eating Woohyun's cooked food, Howon sits on the couch again, feeling the full tummy he owns at the moment.
But, as much as he enjoys the food, he sure is feeling guilty for troubling Woohyun like that. His gaze is fixated on a figure sleeping on the bed just across the room, chest moving up and down calmly. That man has been taking care of him since the day he was found bruised and bleeding months ago. Supposedly, he's the one who should protect Woohyun. But to live as human isn't as easy as being said. He feels guilty.
But well, it's not like he could do anything.
Right then it hits him. Yes, he couldn't do anything, actually.
Woohyun could've just ordered him to cook, because with the word binding power he'd be able to do everything that is being said. But Woohyun never did so. Because Woohyun knows, it would drain Howon's power even more if he forces the latter with such mundane task. It saddens him, how he has lost most of his power the more he lives in human world. But he has grown attached to a man once years ago, the best friend who was immortal but he didn't mind. And that now he has Woohyun, he would never want to return to the underworld. Ever.
Howon walks towards the sleeping Woohyun, crouching next to him silently. Woohyun's sleeping face looks so calm, as if there is no dream or troublesome nightmare at all. He only looks like this when he sleeps. Other times, he's busy with the house, his assignments, and his task to fulfill Howon needs which is mostly food and some other activities Howon would suggest whenever he's bored being stuck up in the small apartment.
"It must have been tiring, taking care of me, right Woohyun?" Howon whispers slowly. He touches the few strands of Woohyun's hair that fell over his eyes, and moves them away. "I'm the one who should be fully looking over you, that you're Nam Sojun's grandson." Howon drops his head onto the pillow next to Woohyun, listening to the sound of Woohyun inhaling and exhaling the air. Even just that, it's Howon's secret therapy whenever he feels this kind of guilt.
Yes. He has been feeling it not just once.
"I'm sorry." Howon mutters. Now that his eyes aren't on Woohyun, his gaze wanders all over Woohyun's study desk, before it falls onto the calendar. After a solid one minute of staring at the date, he springs upright. His eyes glimmer, as they widen.
He sits for another ten minutes, in deep thoughts before he gives Woohyun one last look. He smiles and touches Woohyun's warm cheeks. Soon after that, he grabs his jacket and something on the desk before he walks out of the house.
ღ
"It must have been tiring, taking care of me, right Woohyun?"
Woohyun tosses around the bed, the words keep ringing in his head, faintly. He huffs out a loud sigh before he slowly opens his eyes to a dark surrounding. Clueless, his mind is as blank and bleak as what's before his eyes. He searches for someone, when another voice is recalled.
"I'm sorry."
In one second he's already sitting upright, his frantic eyes try to make out stuff around the house but it was dark.
"Howon?" He calls, as he gets off the bed and switches the lights on. It's bright now, but no sign of Howon. The house is small, so there would be no way that Howon would be hiding in the smaller kitchen either.
He's not in the house.
Troubled by the words he heard when he was asleep, of which he barely could recall why they were said by Howon, he became restless as the time goes by. Waiting is such a pain. Despite have been living in the human world longer than Woohyun had ever lived, Howon is still not totally accustomed to the life out there.
It's night. It's cold. He could be anywhere.
"Howon! Damn it.." He calls out for him again, and in frustration he ruffles his hair into messier state. That's when he realize his handphone is nowhere to be found. Quickly he searches for his spare handphone in the drawer, and called the number.
Once. Twice. The call isn't being picked up.
"Howon! God.." Woohyun yells at the phone. Few moments after that, he hears the door being unlocked. He knows that's Howon. And yes, the back of Howon was before his eyes when he reaches the door.
And he's more than relieved to see Howon .
Howon is locking the door with the handphone in his hand keeps ringing. "Woohyun stop calling, I can't answer you because-" Howon halted his talk when he enters the house to be hugged by Woohyun. "W-woohyun?"
"Where have you been?" Woohyun grabs tighter, his palms holding onto Howon's front torso like he would never want to let go. "And don't say such stupid things again. I almost go crazy."
Howon turns around, and he finally saw what a mess Woohyun has become into. "I.. was at the convenient store.." Howon says, and as evident he looks down in his hand. Woohyun follows suit, and is once again perplexed at the stuff in Howon's arm. Those lots of groceries, of which Howon's holding onto.
Reminds him on how he first met Howon stealing in the shop. Precisely like this.
"I got a lot today, didn't I?" Howon says cheerfully, smiling so brightly.
"Howon.." Woohyun eyes those stuff suspiciously. There is no way Howon would be able to buy them all. He's the one who always do the buying.
"Yeah? Oh you know that there weren't a lot of people at the store today so-"
"Did you, steal again?" Woohyun lifts his gaze to meet Howon's shocked eyes. "I couldn't believe this."
Whoa.
Howon stares at Woohyun in disbelief.
"You still do this kind of thing?" His voice is etched with disappointment, yet that actually hurts Howon more. Yes, stealing was his usual routine before he met Woohyun, because he had no other means to support his life. But that was before. He grips harder onto the stuff he has in his arms, fighting the urge to scream out loud. Compared to the guilt, this scratches more. His eyes turn dull and grey, and Woohyun was taken aback at the sight of that.
"Sorry. I mean, well you-"
Howon looks straight into his eyes, before he drops everything to the floor and ran out of the house. Woohyun is startled by the sudden drop of the stuff and Howon who has gone to the door and slamming it close, clearly telling him to stay away. That one last look clearly told him that Howon's about to cry. He must've hurt that fox.
It's better not to go after him now. He knows where Howon would go anyway.
Instead, he squats down and picks up the jars of spaghetti sauce and some other things that he could conclude they're all ingredients for bolognese spaghetti.
His favorite.
And he notices at the end of his feet, few piece of small papers.
"Coupon?"
Howon sits at the corner of the rooftop, hugging his knees dearly due to the coldness that is striking him deep down to the bones. Stupid, he tells himself. He could've just dive into the warm blankets of Woohyun's and sulk there, at least he wouldn't suffer this coldness.
But, he's not in a suitable state to face Woohyun. His face is wet with tears and he hates himself for being a crybaby like that. He was a demon fox, for god's sake, he was the strongest back then, the one who's feared by most of others.
Huh. Who fears a helpless Howon now that he's close to a human being?
Time and surrounding has really changed him.
Or has it been the feelings?
He rests his head onto his kneecaps, blinking his tears away. Deep down he promised this is going to be the last time he would cry. How would he protect anyone in this state? He could've just explained how he got those free coupons after helping the store for the whole afternoon. And Woohyun would understand and he needs not to be up here all alone like this.
However, he always thought that Woohyun would never distrust him like that.
"It hurts." Howon mumbles, now that his eyes are heavy and hot from the crying. He covered his head with his hands. "Oh how to be manly again." He adds his monologue, as he rests his back onto the wall next to him. Despite the coldness, the exhaustion from the emotions makes him sleepy, somehow.
"Sleepy.." His head falls completely in between his knees, his eyes shut closely.
"I'm sorry, Howon."
He barely registers those words being whispered into his ears, as he is lifted up into a warm embrace and is brought back into the warmth he yearns for.
ღ
It was 10 am in the morning, and Woohyun was sleeping soundly. Next to him, apparently, is Howon. Who is already wide awake. His eyes are as wide as they are, staring without blinking. Howon doesn't remember where or when, all he knows is that he's been sleeping next to Woohyun like that.
Since when is Woohyun so lenient and let him sleep on the soft bed? There's always that mattress where he belongs to. He tries to turn around to check if anything happened to the mattress that forces Woohyun to share his precious bed with Howon.
"Stop moving. I still want to sleep, Howon." Woohyun's hoarse morning voice put Howon into a frozen state, now he realizes how awkward this whole situation is.
"How.."
"Compared to ordering you to wake up without you hearing me, asking you to sleep is way easier." Woohyun mutters. Then, he raises his arm and drops it over Howon's body.
He is freaking hugging him. On the bed. Howon is a block of ice now.
"Howon.. sleep." Woohyun's lips move on top of Howon's head, the hair moves to the words. It feels surreal. Howon gives up on trying to get away or whatever. He curls his fingers and rested his hand in between them.
"Woohyun-"
"I'm sorry, Howon ah."
Howon wants to look up, but Woohyun blocks him with his sharp chin that he yelps in pain.
"Don't. Stay still." Howon couldn't help but to obey anyway. "Okay. Good boy." Woohyun ruffles Howon's hair and chuckles. "My guilty face is ugly so don't look. I want to apologize. I have asked the store and they've told me what you did."
"It was those free coupons I got after-"
"..working. Yes, I know. I didn't know you'd be helping them out where it turned out they're short of few workers."
Howon is silent. Still, he's a tad hurt from Woohyun's accusation last night. He's such a child now.
"When I saw you with all those stuff in your hands, my head replayed the scene from the first time I met you. You looked hopeless, helpless. Stealing for a living. It saddens me. I don't want to see that ever again."
"You can just ask nicely." Howon fingers the little white button on Woohyun's shirt collar. And then he feels a hard flick on his head.
"Silly. I was hella worried, my mind wasn't in the right state. Sorry, hm?" Woohyun hums gently, and Howon grins, finally.
"And what's with all those spaghetti ingredients? Hm?" Woohyun's lips get closer to Howon's forehead, though covered by his hair, the warmth is so enthralling Howon gets addicted that he draws his face closer to Woohyun.
"You like spaghetti, don't you?"
"Yeah, but did you plan to cook it?"
"Sort of like that."
"How?"
"Well.. I.. found the recipe on your phone."
"So that's why you took my phone?"
Howon goes silent, slowly nodding to that. And Woohyun chuckles even more. "As much as I want to taste your cooking, I can't let this house burn down to ashes."
"You could properly order me to do so."
"You're going to use up your power." Woohyun breathes through Howon's hair, it softly moves as he rubs his cheek on the top of Howon's hair. So soft, with such warmth that comes from him.
He cannot bear to see Howon losing his demon power as day passes by. Howon isn't as strong as how he was back then when he was guarding Woohyun's grandfather. He cut the ties with everyone from the underworld and came to follow Nam Sojun to the world, protecting that once young chosen deity. His word binding ability is an advantage to Woohyun, but since Howon's turning more immortal, his power is running out with every order.
Howon might age way older than Woohyun, but he might lose him soon if he's not careful.
Howon moves away and sits upright. Woohyun's eyes calmly follow him as he stays lying on the bed. Howon's eyes change colour again, and Woohyun knows how mixed Howon's emotions are right now.
"I don't want to be useless. At least, I need to know how to cook for myself. I don't want to burden you.." He looks down.
"Howon." Woohyun reaches for his hand, but Howon still doesn't look at him. "Listen. This is where I shall repay you, for you have been doing so much to my family. You have lost so much, just for the sake of the weak humans. If you say you're useless, what am I?"
"But.." Howon tries for a rebuttal.
"No. You're not useless. In fact, I still haven't done enough to thank you."
"For what?"
"For being here." Woohyun grips Howon's hand a bit tighter, but with care. "I have reasons to live now, and you have reasons to keep living up here. Let's keep this up and root for each other, shall we?"
Howon tears up, and before it could happen he looks away quickly. He hates it, he hates his own fragility now.
"Such a crybaby." Woohyun laughs. "But it suits you now. I like it. That you could be protective and brave, and also a cute baby at times." He grins. "Now come here and sleep a bit next to me. We're going somewhere later, you'll want to rest a bit."
It sounded like an order, or so Howon thought, though he wants to ask where they're going and what they're going to do, still he lies down net to Woohyun and shares the blanket and soon they're drifted to deep sleep again.
ღ
"It's cold as balls outside, make sure you wear a thick jacket or coa-" Woohyun enters the room while rubbing his palms furiously, to find Howon sitting on the floor with a hair straightening iron in his hands. "..what are you doing?"
Howon looks up, a very pissed off expression appears on his face. "My hair. There's this one part that keeps jutting out of place-"
"Where did you find that though I thought I've thrown it away.."
"-and it must be caused by you ruffling my hair so hard when you were sleeping. I've told you my hair is in bad condition but-"
"Howon.." Woohyun crouches next to him but he seems like not going to stop the rant any time sooner.
"-damn it this clip thingy won't fix it. I saw them do this on tv and it was easy-"
"Oh my god. Silent, Howon!" Woohyun puts his hand over Howon's mouth. "Do you actually know how to use this?" He asks, and Howon slowly shakes his head in reply. Woohyun laughs, as he scrutinizes that one part on Howon's head. Really, the jutting part seems disturbing. He takes the iron off Howon's hands and puts it down, for it has long ago broken actually.
"You're just going out with me, why do you try so hard?" Woohyun chuckles as he tries to fix the hair but to no avail.
"No I'm not?" Howon's face turned a cute shade of pink. To make it worse, Woohyun leans in closer, still trying to make a better state of Howon's hair. Such close proximity makes Howon froze in his sitting, trying hard not to indulge in the beauty of the other's eyelashes.
"Yes you are." Woohyun stands up. "And, why are you wearing so thin? Didn't I tell you it's cold as balls out there?"
Howon huffs a retort.
ღ
The bus terminal is full with people walking here and there, some are waiting for the bus, some are already boarding and departed. There are also few groups of people in reunion mode making joyful cheers and shouting as to live up the excitement of meeting each other. The noise bothers Howon just as much as how his whole attire has been bothering him since they stepped out of the house that evening. Choosing the very peak hour to go out is one, deciding on his clothing where the only thing that's visible is his button nose is another thing that makes Howon want to throttle Woohyun who is standing casually in his checkered jacket and unnecessary black shades. Well, for sure it's cold that day. But he thinks, that this is a little bit too much.
Woohyun is tapping on his phone screen when Howon decides to tug hard onto his jacket sleeve, pulling the other's attention to him. Woohyun raises his eyebrows as to ask why, and Howon furrows his.
"Now tell me again why do you wear this casual jacket while I have to cover up this much?" His mumbles are partly blocked by the black mask Woohyun put over his mouth, so his poisonous pout that always put Woohyun to giving in is covered perfectly.
Gentle sparks is lit in Howon's eyes, the faint blue-ish gleam appeared in his sight and Woohyun smiled. Slowly he draws his hand up and touches the corner of Howon's eyes.
"Because I don't want others to see how cute my lovely fox is." Woohyun says with such soft and assuring tone that Howon's eyes turn calm and normal. But he blinks straightaway and shoved Woohyun's finger away from his face.
For once, he's glad to be wearing the mask. Even if he could control his eyes, his cheeks still go crimson red upon such action. "But my eyes are still visible." He mutters.
"Well, only I could see those glimmering eyes anyway, and I like them. Oh, and your hair isn't visible as well, you need no hair straightening iron anymore." Woohyun grins again, and Howon really likes how the faint dimples show up as if complementing the sparkly smile that Woohyun possessed, as if that isn't enough.
As if it's the most beautiful thing in the world that Howon had ever seen.
"Howon?" Woohyun's soft voice stops his train of ridiculous (as he remarked himself) thoughts, and Howon meets the other's eyes which are just simply dark brown but contain lot more underneath.
Oh crap, he's caught in such kind of thoughts again.
"Look, that's our bus right? Let's go." Howon fumbles with his own fingers that are holding the tickets, trying to check the details on it as he walks away from Woohyun who is already chuckling.
Watching Howon walk in that big winter jacket with big furry hoodie over his head, he looks no less like a tiny child in a big fluffy costume trying to make his steps decent boarding the bus. From outside he sees Howon looking for their seats keenly, even though only his nose was visible, Woohyun can picture the upcoming horror on his face with another person confusingly stands behind Howon.
"Cute." Whispers Woohyun, before he finally boards the bus and saves Howon from humiliation as he almost sits on the wrong seat.
ღ
It is definitely cold the moment they get off the bus, the chill is eating Howon deep down to the spine. Even with this exaggerated attire, Howon's already shivering a little bit. He throws a look at Woohyun who is just wearing a coat, as if the coldness has no effect on him at all.
But he's got nothing to offer for warmth, the furry hooded jacket is so comfortable he couldn't let that go, yet. But his worried eyes couldn't go unnoticed by Woohyun.
"I'm warm enough, don't worry. And. I've told you it's going to be hella cold." Woohyun says, looking at Howon with a lopsided grin on his face.
"Yeah. I know."
"You should be good at telling this kind of stuff." Woohyun grabs Howon's arm and they're walking down the street.
"Where are we right now though?" The surrounding is somewhat familiar to Howon, but he isn't sure since it's already dark. However, the steps down the road really rings a thing in his head.
"You'll know soon." Woohyun hand that is holding Howon's arm now moves across the back of Howon and stops at the shoulder, squeezing it gently as he pulls the other closer. "I'm surprised you still haven't asked another question, though."
Howon squints his eyes at Woohyun, because he doesn't even know if he'd have any other question aside the ones that demand Woohyun to tell where the they are right now. After around ten minutes of walking, they reached a place with very limited light source. But Howon's eyes are good in the dark so he could make out most the things there.
Like the big tree, the bushes around them, the wooden pathway, and the lakeside that reflects the glowing stars.
"Wait." He stops his walking. "This is.." Those cute lips parted a bit too wide, and the eyes sparkles in merry colours they actually look the most beautiful tonight.
Woohyun smiles, he crosses his arms and tilts his head to the side. "Yeah?"
"How did you know this place?" Howon is stunned.
He has always wanted to come to this lake again. The place where he'd always go to with Woohyun's grandfather many years ago, whenever he needs the comfort. The memories run back and hit him warmly. But he is pretty bad with memorizing places, plus with the modernizing that happens almost every day, things change so rapidly he has lost all the memories on how to get here.
"I know that. I have known this place a month ago, but I waited until tonight, especially, to bring you here." Woohyun walks towards the lakeside, and put down his backpack. Howon runs to him.
"You've known this place but you waited for months to show me? How could you!" He hits Woohyun softly on the shoulder, and the latter laughs breathily.
"Say, have you forgotten or are you really unaware of why I choose tonight?" Woohyun asks, as his hands lays out the mat on the ground.
"What?" Howon is squinting hard again. Woohyun motions him to sit down and so he followed. But, he's still squinting as if trying to squeeze out the supposed memory that Woohyun keeps on asking for.
"Like, haven't you been checking the calendar too recently?"
"Calendar..?" Howon blinks his eyes. Now that Woohyun mentions that. Then, something pinches his cheeks.
"Seriously. You sulked so much you have forgotten everything." Howon slaps Woohyun's hand away and rubs at the sore spots on his cheeks. "Now, sit closely next to me." He pulls Howon closer.
"If you're cold we shouldn't be having a picnic or stargazing in the middle of coldness like this." Howon tries hard to calm his nerve. And his rapidly beating heart.
"Stargazing. You're close enough." Woohyun nods firmly. Something glows in the dark, and it was Woohyun's handphone. Howon tries to peek at what's on the screen as Woohyun checks on something.
"Wha-"
"Now. Look at the sky." Woohyun points his finger to the night sky.
It doesn't take long before the sky was brighten with streaks of white lights. Like the sparkling stars, the falling light is as beautiful as them. Even though their surrounding is dark, but Howon feels so good he believes that the whole world has brighten to this moment.
"The meteor rain. Now I remember." Howon mutters slowly. He has always love meteor rain. When he knew another rain would come after few years of its absence, he wants to share it with Woohyun.
But he miscalculated the date. So unusual of him.
"Yes. Isn't this your plan yesterday?" Woohyun asks.
"I thought it was yesterday. But I waited and yet it was so cold and you summoned me to sleep and I have totally forgotten about this." Howon replies.
"Well, internet does a very good job at telling me this kind of stuff, and I know you'll like it."
"Oh, so it wasn't your own prediction?"
Woohyun laughs. "Of course no. I'm not you. How did you miss it, you shouldn't have gotten it wrong. You're always good at telling stuff like this." Woohyun looks at Howon who is still immersed with the view in the sky. The others would always know when it's going to rain, or whether the temperature would be harsh cold or melting hot. That's when the realization hits him.
Silently, he then pulls the other to lie down on the mat. "Like this, you wouldn't hurt your neck. This is going to last for a moment so let's enjoy it."
They stay like that as the sky is decorated with the most beautiful glimmering ornaments. Woohyun's hands are still holding Howon's tightly. Too tight, that Howon could sense the other's concern, no matter how he tries to ignore it. As much as Howon's enjoying it, he couldn't help but to feel hopeless, suddenly. At how he's started to lose his ability of prediction. And his memory is staggering a bit recently. And don't ever mention the power he's losing as the day passes.
"Woohyun." He calls out.
"Hmm?"
"Will I be able to watch this with you for the second time?"
Woohyun couldn't reply. His gaze shifts to Howon on his side, noticing the other's eyes that have turned greyish. He tightens the grip on Howon's hand.
"When will the next meteor rain happen?" Woohyun asks, instead of answering. There is silence after the question.
"I can't.." Howon sounds frustrated. He really wants to know, he should be able to tell. Without him realizing, Woohyun scoots closer to him and wraps an arm over his chest with another hand propping himself up a bit higher. Howon wants to hide his dull eyes, but with this position, he has nowhere to hide.
"Look." Woohyun stares into his eyes. "Humans, we cannot predict things. But we have technologies, and yet they might be wrong too. So, the best way is to live the moment and enjoy as it is right now."
Howon is still silent, so Woohyun continues. "You might lose all your abilities one day, but that doesn't mean you're close to useless. I can teach you some stuff on Google!" Woohyun chirps brightly, and finally that makes Howon smile a bit.
"You're starting to ramble on things, Woohyun." Howon says, but he's less tensed now. That causes the other to bite his lips in embarrassment.
"You got me. I'm bad with words, honestly." Woohyun scratches the back of his neck. "But really. I can't tell what's tomorrow. I don't even know if I would still be alive tomorrow-"
"Woohyun.." Howon's worried eyes turn more vivid.
"-and you too. I don't know when will I lose you either. It could be anytime. I'm so afraid of that, honestly." A forced smile makes it way to Woohyun's expression, and Howon regrets causing that.
"Me too."
"That's what in store for us in the future. But right now.." Woohyun hugs Howon closer towards him, Howon could feel all the warmth from his body and that turns him frozen, somehow. "..we have each other to live the present. Even if you're not the powerful demon fox like the one my grandfather used to have, you're still the Howon that I'd always look for every day."
"Even though I burn the kitchen?"
"Yes."
"And break the heater?"
"Hmm hmm yeah."
"And accidentally explode your laptop?"
"Yup."
"And keeps on sleeping on your comfortable bed?"
"Yes, absolutely.." Woohyun stops, "Ah ha. You're suggesting something here."
"It's very nice, on the bed." Howon reaches out to pinch the end of Woohyun's jacket between his fingers, while his mind remembers the softness of the bed, together with Woohyun.
"Fine. We can change, sometimes." Woohyun says, shrugging.
"No. Together is better." Howon rests his head on Woohyun's arm. Somehow, this is equally comfortable. He loves it. He really likes it. Everything that is with Woohyun.
He really likes Woohyun.
Whoops.
He hears a soft chuckle.
"You know, I always like it when we're together. So yeah, okay, why not?" He hugs Howon tighter. Howon isn't sure if Woohyun gets what he means, or if he had just made it clear it's just about the bed. But like Woohyun says, enjoy it while it lasts, questioning the reaction would make him fall into another depressing prediction again. So he's decided.
That he's going to be by Woohyun's side with his newly developed affection, without more worries anymore.
"Because we have each other to live the present." Howon mumbles against Woohyun's coat, cares not of what Woohyun would've thought of him for suddenly saying that stuff of which isn't related to what Woohyun was talking about.
Little did he know, that all this time, Woohyun could hear his little mind whispering all those thoughts. Such ability is kept a secret, and Woohyun is delighted to figure that out.
"Yeah." He whispers, and smiles gladly.