Youngjae wanted to strangle those teachers who thought it was a good idea to organize a class trip to the Japanese Alps, the coldest area Youngjae had ever been to. It was too cold, too boring and his assigned group wasn’t one to jubilate over either. Okay there was Himchan who he liked and considered a close friend but there were also Junhong and Daehyun and especially the latter just made the vein on his forehead pulsate when ever he opened his mouth.
The teachers had organized a scavenger hunt so the four of them were stomping through the high snow, their shoes and pants already soaked. Youngjae’s coat and clothes did very little to keep him warm, they had been out for too long and even all his protective clothes were useless in this cold. They had gotten lost. Their tasks were long forgotten and nobody of them cared anymore but they were walking over the same hill for the fourth time already and the snow was getting heavier by the minute. It would get dark soon as well and they would probably freeze to death if they didn’t find their way out of the woods.
Daehyun and Youngjae were arguing about who’s fault it was that they had gotten in the first place, not even their friends dared to interrupt their fight. At least all the shouting kept them a little warm but it helped nothing to find the way out of this maze. Where ever they turned everything looked the same, tree next to tree, next to another one, row by row and everything was just white without a single indication of something that could show the way back to the hotel.
“Can you guys stop it now? We have other things to worry about,” Himchan grumbled half an hour later when there was still no hope in sight. There was an abrupt silence that weighed down on them heavily. Youngjae’s shoulders drooped, he felt frustrated and angry and didn’t know how to cope with it. He looked up at the sky, it was covered in thick clouds that spewed out the cold ice crystals in such a high rate, he could barely keep his eyes open. A cold gust of wind almost blew him over, he just managed to keep himself on his feet but he bumped into Daehyun who shoved him away. Youngjae wanted to punch the other but this was not the right time to start another fight.
“There is a snow storm coming up we need to find some shelter,” Youngjae said. He was worried, although they had walked by some lodges that probably belonged to the rangers, it was hours ago and there was no way he could find the way back to them before the snow storm would swallow and freeze them. “I saw cabins a while ago, maybe we can go back and find them,” Junhong suggested as if he had read Youngjae’s mind. “How are we going to find them?” Himchan asked. Junhong shrugged. They had to give it a try, it was their only chance to find shelter.
It was a miracle but Junhong had managed to see a trail of steam rising to the sky despite all the snow and they really made it. They knocked on the door but nobody answered. Daehyun tried his luck and turned the door knob and it opened. Nobody was inside but there was a fire crackling in the fireplace. “Let’s go in,” Daehyun said and didn’t answer for anyone to protest. There was no other choice than this anyway, either they went in or they would freeze outside, the choice was easy to make.
The had reached their shelter just in time, they could hear the wind whistling from the inside and they all huddled together in front of the fire to warm their cold bones. The cabin was furnished with a table and chairs, a sofa with a few blankets and pillows and a stack of logs in the corner to keep the fire going. A radio and water and snacks were on the table as well. It seemed to be a place for the people who worked in the woods to spend their free time or stay safe from the snow. It wasn’t a lot but more than they could ask for.
“I still have no phone signal,” Youngjae grumbled and put his phone back into his pocket, such a useless thing. “It seems like we need to stay here for a while.” It was dark outside and the window was covered in snow completely. They probably had to stay until the next morning before they could dare to try and find the way back. “I need the toilet,” Himchan said and as he looked at the window, his face turned into a grimace. He didn’t want to go out but he had no other chance, there was nothing he could do. When he opened the door, cold wind and snow came in and Youngjae started shivering, he prayed that this would be over soon. Junhong followed him and when they were back it was Daehyun’s and Youngjae’s turn to empty their bladders before they had no chance to do it anymore.
Junhong was spreading the blankets on the floor while Himchan put more wood into the fire to keep them warm for the night. “We have to check on the fire regularly so it doesn’t go off,” Himchan said. “There is nothing we can do now so we may as well just try to make ourselves as comfortable as possible.” Their jackets were hanging over the chairs and table to dry and their shoes were standing in line as well. There were only three blankets, one of them spread out completely and two for them to stay warm. Junhong grabbed one and swung it around his shoulders and Himchan didn’t hesitate to sit next to him and let Junhong wrap the blanket around him as well.
“No way!” Daehyun and Youngjae shouted at the same time. There was no way they would share a blanket with each other. “Well, then freeze,” Junhong said, rolling his eyes. “You’re my best friend!” Daehyun remarked, he looked as frustrated as Youngjae felt. But Youngjae knew what they were up to, he knew that they were fed up with his and Daehyun’s constant fights where most of them were totally useless and Youngjae didn’t even know what they were fighting about. He sighed and unfolded the other blanket, if Daehyun would come and sit next to him was his own choice but he wouldn’t be freezing just because of him. After a moment of grumbling though, Daehyun plopped down next to him and pulled on one side of the blanket.
“Get your shit together, we really don’t need your stupid fights right now,” Himchan almost growled and Daehyun and Youngjae stopped pulling on the blanket. “You act like little kids,” Junhong added. He was right but neither of them wanted to admit it. Youngjae was exhausted so he mostly listened to the others chatting instead of talking. They went to sleep early, shoulder on shoulder, Youngjae was wedged between Daehyun and Himchan. He wanted to run away, anything else than sleeping under the same blanket than Jung Daehyun but he had no other choice.
The wind was still howling outside but the fire and the blankets provided enough warmth so they wouldn’t shiver. Next to him, Youngjae could feel another source of warmth - Daehyun. It was comforting, Daehyun seemed to be sleeping already, he didn’t seem to mind the hard floor or that he was just using his rolled up scarf as a pillow. Youngjae was appalled that even for a split second he felt of Daehyun next to him as comfortable but he couldn’t deny it. He sighed and in the same moment, Daehyun started to stir. Youngjae turned around to look at him and found Daehyun’s eyes open, looking at him.
Usually when they looked at each other, it would not take long for one of them to shoot the first blow but now, the look in Daehyun’s eyes was different. They weren’t feisty and dismissive like they used to look like but there was something else that Youngjae couldn’t put his finger on. Suddenly, Youngjae didn’t feel like fighting with him anymore. He remembered clearly when they had fought for the first time, it was a few years back when they both competed for the spot as the best in their class and ever since then, they had just done nothing but fight and no matter what Daehyun did, Youngjae hated it.
They probably could have become friends, good friends even, Youngjae liked Junhong and the only reason why they never hung out together was because of him and Daehyun. They were so alike that maybe this was the reason they repelled each other like this. Daehyun’s laughter was loud and obnoxious, it gave Youngjae a headache but he also knew that a part of him enjoyed the sound of it, sometimes it even would pull at the corners of his mouth although he would never admit this to anyone. Something between them was changing right now, the silence between them was not uncomfortable although Youngjae felt awkward, being face to face with Daehyun, way too close for his liking. Or maybe it wasn’t too close, maybe Youngjae wanted to be even closer, the thought frightened him.
Daehyun had always been outgoing and straight forward, he seemed to be able to read Youngjae’s thoughts and he must have felt the same because he turned around to face Youngjae completely. Youngjae turned as well, he didn’t want to but his body was moving by itself. The warmth between them suddenly became almost unbearable, he felt like he would choke on it any moment. A warm hand was placed on his side, it felt nice, Youngjae felt safe, but he remembered that it was Daehyun’s hand and he tried to wiggle away without waking Himchan. “Shhh,” Daehyun mumbled quietly and Youngjae is quiet immediately. Youngjae’s heart was racing so fast, that he felt dizzy.
When Daehyun’s arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer, Youngjae didn’t fight it. He didn’t want to admit how good it felt to be so close to Daehyun but he also didn’t want to push him away, he didn’t want to lose this feeling of warmth. Daehyun smiled, was he up to something? Youngjae was waiting for it, would Daehyun burst out with laughter because he had been so gullible? Or would he kick him or hurt him in another way? Another moment passed but none of these happened. Instead, Daehyun leaned his cheek on Youngjae’s forehead and made sure that both of them were completely covered by the blanket they shared.
Youngjae relaxed in Daehyun’s arm and even dared to return the gesture. He wasn’t sure if he imagined it but he thought that Daehyun gave him a gentle squeeze the moment he put his arm around Daehyun’s middle. He had been so restless before but now he suddenly felt sleepy and heavy, he didn’t notice how he drifted off. Just when he woke up, he and Daehyun were entangled as tight as one can imagine and Himchan and Junhong were laughing and giving them suggestive looks. Youngjae could feel his cheeks burn, he felt embarrassed but Daehyun didn’t look fazed at all. Instead he helped Youngjae to put on his jacket and made sure that his thick beanie would cover his ears, he did all of this with a grin on his face.
Youngjae would probably hear a lot of things from Himchan later, but somehow he didn’t mind, as long as Daehyun smiled at him like that.
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