[CHAPTER XIII]

Us Now

Taekwoon was sitting in the living room while waiting for Soo-ah to get her father. But he was worried about what would happen after he meets the man that he didn’t even come to meet. He lied his way to get inside but now he didn’t know what to do afterward. He couldn’t sit still and started to walk around in circles throughout the room nervously. He couldn’t take it anymore and decided to walk out into the hallway. Maybe he will just find Hakyeon another way.

The mansion was big but definitely not as big as his own home. It was filled with framed artworks and luxurious pottery along the hall. For a mayor of a middle-class town, he sure had a lot of treasures to flaunt. Just as Taekwoon was trying to find the exit, he heard someone talking nearby and peeked to see who it was.

He saw the lady talking to someone around the corner. Was it her dad? What should Taekwoon do if they found out he was lying about wanting to meet with the mayor?

He was just about to make his escape until he heard a familiar voice. So familiar that Taekwoon’s heart automatically started beating both nervously and excitedly. He walked towards the girl and the voice talking to one another.

There he was.

Taekwoon didn’t know how but he knew. Dark yet beautiful caramel-like skin, tall but slightly shorter than Taekwoon, a long neck with firm skin and a lightly slim figure. His eyes were like giant marbles that were pitch black like a doll’s. And the voice that spoke, yes, that voice. The voice that Taekwoon has heard for so long and so familiar with…

“Hakyeon-ah.” Taekwoon blurted out by accident.

Hakyeon looked at him, wondering who the person was that called his name with such affection and familiarity. The two looked at one another as Taekwoon was trying to make sense that this was not a dream.

“You two know each other?” The girl interrupted Taekwoon while he was still busy scanning Hakyeon’s appearance.

Hakyeon shook his head.

Just as Taekwoon was about to tell Hakyeon who he was, he got interrupted again…

“Soo-ah, what are you doing down here? Aren’t you supposed to be at your aunt’s place to learn cooking?” An old man approached the three of them.

“Oh, you’re here as well,” he said to Hakyeon.

The man’s tone had a slightly belittling tone to it which irritated Taekwoon. Taekwoon gave him a glare. His shape gaze caught the old man’s attention.

“Who’s this?”

“Oh right! Daddy, this young man here wanted to meet you. He’s a traveler and he helped rescue Nikki just now. I forgot to ask for your name, how rude of me. What’s your name?”

Taekwoon hesitated for a moment. Does he want to fake his name or just tell them his real name? Does he want to tell more lies than he’s already have told?

“It’s… Taekwoon. Jung Taekwoon.” He told them the truth in his small quiet voice as his gaze started to wander off.

“Oh? Well, nice to meet you, Mr. Jung. How can I assist you?” The old man replied.

Taekwoon didn’t know what to say, to be honest. He was too afraid to look up and see his friend’s face. What if he’s already been forgotten?

“I…”

“Well?” The old man getting slightly impatient with Taekwoon’s hesitation.

“Taekwoonie?” Hakyeon said muttering to himself enough for Taekwoon to hear.

Yes, Taekwoon. That Taekwoonie. The one who you have never met before but have talked to for the past ten years. The one you would run towards when you’re feeling happy or sad. The one you always asked for songs and lullabies. The one who also couldn’t accept your marriage and made you so upset to the point of cutting your friendship with.

Taekwoon wasn’t able to say all that he had in mind aloud. He came all the way in hopes to apologize to Hakyeon but now that they have met, the words just wouldn’t come out. As far as he can remember, the last time the two met, he had hurt Hakyeon’s feelings too deeply to the point that Hakyeon left him. Taekwoon made the one person he wanted to cherish forever, sad and disappointed.

“You’re that Taekwoonie right?” Hakyeon came closer to Taekwoon to make sure. Hakyeon didn’t know what to think. A tall, handsome young man who had the same name as his lifelong friend.

Taekwoon avoided Hakyeon’s gaze and stepped backward without being conscious of it. His heart was beating so loudly that he wanted to make it stop and run away. Taekwoon ignored the intense stare that Hakyeon was giving him.

“I’m looking for a place to stay sir. I’m currently traveling with my companion and is doing a study on nearby towns to report back to the Capital.” Taekwoon made up a lie on the spot. He knew the name of the biggest city in the country because Hakyeon told him stories about it before. If he pretends to be someone from the government, surely he could get away with his lies.

“Oh, my. Did the governor send you?” The old man looking surprised.

Taekwoon nodded and could see from his sides that Hakyeon was still looking at him. Hakyeon had a blank expression on. He’s probably thinking either I just told a lie or that I’m just someone with the same name. Taekwoon looked in front again and let out a silent chuckle.

*   *   *   *   *   *

The old man kept on talking after inviting Taekwoon to his office. He went on and on about how his family has helped the town get to the status it has now and how successful he was from when he was still a young merchant. Hakyeon bragged a lot too but Taekwoon never found it as annoying and boring as this. Taekwoon wished the old man could stop. He let out a fake yawn.

“Oh goodness. You must be tired from your journey. How rude of me to keep you from your rest. Please allow me to arrange one of our guest rooms for you,” he suggested.

“No need,” Taekwoon said. He initially thought of staying at the mayor’s mansion to be closer to Hakyeon but Hakyeon didn’t live here, only frequently visited. Plus, the old man was too annoying and didn’t know when to stop talking. Taekwoon would have a lot of headaches if he stayed.

“I will stay at one of the inns in town for the time being,” Taekwoon remembers the merchant, Jaehwan’s offer from earlier and decided it would be the safest to go there instead.

The old man looked disappointed at Taekwoon’s refusal.

Taekwoon sighed. “I will look for you again once I have rested. It has been a long journey to get here.”

“I understand.”

*   *   *   *   *   *

Taekwoon finally left the mansion and he was feeling really tired. He was at least able to make it through his lies and got away with it. Just as he stepped from the gates, someone called out to him.

“You’re Taekwoonie, right? The Taekwoon that I know of. THAT Jung Taekwoon right?” Hakyeon ambushed him the moment Taekwoon came out and bombarded him with questions.

“Hakyeon-ah. Calm down. You’re running out of breath here.”

“You are really Taekwoon! But… how? Aren’t you supposed to be on the other side? How did you get here? What happened?” Hakyeon’s questioning didn’t know how to stop.

Taekwoon didn’t reply. There was just too much to talk about. He looked at Hakyeon again and reached for his face. He caressed Hakyeon’s cheeks, making sure they were real. He pinched him.

“Ow! What’d you do that for?”

“Are you not angry at me? For all those things that I said to you? Why do you care?” Taekwoon felt a small jab to his chest as he asked.

“I… I am but more importantly, how did you get here? Why are you here? Answer my questions.”

“I-” Taekwoon froze.

Just say it Taekwoon.

“I’m sorry Hakyeon-ah. Those things I said to you before, everything… all of it, I’m sorry. I wanted to apologize to you, come to you sooner but…” Taekwoon’s eyes began to tear.

“Taekwoon-ah…”

Hakyeon never thought he would see this side of Taekwoon. The Taekwoon he knew of, would always be quiet and shy yet strong. He wanted to be mad at his friend but when he saw how small and fragile Taekwoon was becoming, his heart sank in.

“It’s okay. How can I get mad at you when you look like this?” Hakyeon tiptoed a bit to pat Taekwoon’s head.

Taekwoon blushed a bit and held Hakyeon’s hands. He was relief that Hakyeon wasn’t mad at him anymore and he was finally able to touch Hakyeon. His lifelong friend was real. It wasn’t just a fantasy. Hakyeon’s hands were warm and everything about him was real.

“Woof!”

The two broke away from their reunion to finally notice that Hyuk had been waiting outside the gates for Taekwoon the entire time as well. He was having goosebumps just looking at the two’s queasy moment.

“You must be Hyogi!” Hakyeon leaned down to pick up Hyuk even though Hyuk was almost half his size.

Hyuk was slightly startled by Hakyeon’s friendliness but he didn’t dislike it. Hyuk has always been there during the times when Taekwoon went to meet with Hakyeon. He saw the two grow up and he grew up along with them. Hakyeon was being so affectionate that Hyuk didn’t know how to respond. Taekwoon almost laughed aloud when he saw how Hyuk was confused as to what he should do when Hakyeon was rubbing his cheeks on him.

*   *   *   *   *   *

 “I see. So you met Jaehwannie?” Hakyeon asked.

“Mhmm.”

“He’s really nice and a good friend too! He’s only second after you though!” Hakyeon proud as he told Taekwoon he was in first place.

Hakyeon led Taekwoon to Jaehwan’s inn and the two talked forever. Despite having known each other for almost ten years, they still had so much more to talk about. In fact, more so than before now that the two finally got to see one another face-to-face.

“So, you never answered my question. How did you get here?”

“That doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that I’m finally here. Right?” Taekwoon trying to make Hakyeon stop asking that question.

“I guess so. But I still can’t believe it. You’re really here. Standing right next to me even though you’re quite different from how I thought you would be.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know? Just different. And you! You said you weren’t good looking! Liar! Just look at you!” Hakyeon jealous at Taekwoon’s appearance and pinched his cheeks. “Too good looking!” He sulked.

“You’re exactly the way I thought you would be though. Cute.” Taekwoon rubbed his hands through Hakyeon’s hair and ruffled it. He was glad that Hakyeon was shorter.

“I’m not cute,” he pouted.

“You are.”

“Anyways, we’re here! Are you sure you want to stay here instead of my place though? I’m sure my family would love you there. I’ve told them about you before so they will totally welcome you.”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry too much about me.” Taekwoon decided it was best for his heart not to stay at Hakyeon’s home because he knows that his heart wouldn’t be able to take it.

“Are we going to meet tomorrow too?” Hakyeon asked as he grabbed the cuffs of Taekwoon’s sleeves. “I still have so much I want to talk to you about…”

Taekwoon’s heart melts at how adorable Hakyeon was being and gave him a hug to reassure him.

Tomorrow. And all the other tomorrows to come. I will be here with you.