belonging.
sangeun said…
( … )
"It’s nice, isn’t it? Everyone coming together to have fun and support each other.” Sangeun tilted his head to the side. “I think it’s cool you came too, you know?” He straightened his shoulders in an attempt to seem looser, less awkward. “Did you celebrate something like the Feast of the Winter Star too? When you lived in… the States, right?”
the holidays were meant to be a time of “ good cheer ”, where even the most unlikely of combinations came over to share their love for one winter holiday. taeho knew this. and yet, it still seemed so strange to see just how true that was in yangwon. even more so than in america, the town had a community spirit that really shined during the holiday event. it was quite the sight to see, and taeho soon finds himself stepping back to observe the party in mild amazement, simply taking in his very first potluck.
the male’s sudden approach startles the boy slightly, body shifting in the direction of the voice. only when he realizes that it’s sangeun smiling he becomes even more shocked, wondering what had caused such a change in spirit for the other. ironically, throughout the time of the year meant for forgiveness and second chances, taeho had never anticipated a chance for his own. both had started off on the wrong foot, they could both agree on that, but the bad feelings lingered, causing a sort of tension to remain between the two all this time. though he had tried his hardest to make up for the rough patch they’d had, sangeun’s seeming indifference toward him proved his efforts to be worthless. until now.
“ i... ” he struggles to find the proper words to say, but as if on autopilot, his mouth turns up into a friendly smile. he considers making a teasing remark, but decides against it, hoping to preserve sangeun’s kind spirit. “ well....yeah. yeah, i guess you’re right, it is pretty nice. everyone’s really getting along today. ” it’s like the other can read his thoughts, and looking out into the crowd he smiles before his eyes return to the boy. he can’t really hide his shock for the sudden praise, and now a true grin takes form on his face. “ thanks, man. i wanted to see what it was all about, you know ? ” he nods in confirmation of the statement, as memories from winter in his hometown play in his head. “ mm, california. well my family is a classic christmas sort of family, you know ? tree, lights, gingerbread houses. all that. we had all of it. ” he gets silent for a moment, before deciding to speak again. “ is it weird i like it better like this now, though ? in yangwon, i mean. it’s simpler. more real. ” now his body fully faces in sangeun’s direction, playful smile on display as he adresses the elephant in the room. “ after all, i thought hell would freeze over before you talked to me again. just the miracle of a yangwon christmas though, hm ? ”










