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I’m home (Eventually the truth will spill out)

Pairing : Haehyuk

Genre : Slight angst, fluff, romance

Rating : PG-13

Summary : Hyukjae said he was belong to city, he will never belong to this small city with pretty beach he always visited every summer. Without knowing he pretty much doesn’t belong to anywhere, he doesn’t completely fit. But Donghae has a place that Hyukjae really belong to.

Warning: Grammar error, unbeta, google translate, bxb, confusing sentences structure

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It was few summers ago. Hyukjae couldn't really tell the exact year, he only remembers that day was summer. The peak of summer if he can add when the sun has been painting Hyukjae’s skin red before turned to brownish in the night. The heat that make his popsicles melted fast and he hates because he must spend another hundreds won to buy the new one only for melting fast again and the trickle fall on his t-shirt. Painting his light blue shirt in yellow and red stain, like sun and rose, ketchup and mustard, lemon and strawberry.

He tossed the stick and sighed dejectedly. He decided he’ll buy slushie this time. At least slushie won’t taint his already dirty t-shirt when they melt. He wish autumn will come faster so he will able to cool down and left this place, back to place he always says he’s belong. At town. Big city. The place where Hyukjae's real house was stand and not in this little town near beach, where his father old house look like will collapse in any minutes and the boat beside house need to be fixed so his father would stop borrowing Mr. Han’s boat only to spent hours in the sea trying to catch fishes and crabs and maybe some oyster will be good, he said this morning before he sailed. He really wishes autumn will come faster. So he could back to the place which smells like ashes and smoke but he cherished dearly. He missed deeply.

He put his cap on. Down the old house stairs before ran to a place he knew his slushie was waiting. He ran and ran. And fell down after his body collided with solid posture when he turned in one corner, few meters away from his slushie. His was hurts, his forehead was also hurts, and he rubbed both spot, trying to ease the pain. He glaring to the person who also do similar thing with him and also glaring to him. Similar “Where’d you put your eyes?” slipped out from their mouths and their eyes widen in shock. Another yell, “Don’t copy my words!” and they burst in laugh. Hyukjae noted the boy has nice laugh and smile. Well, it’s normal to find someone else’s laughed and smile is nice isn’t it? Although he met this boy only few minutes ago.

Hyukjae ended paying for two slushies. Nope, he won’t drink both, the blue one he will give to Donghae, yes, his new friend. Who was willing to tell him his name only if Hyukjae bought him slushie as an apologies’. He watched as his last hundreds won were turn out into two tall plastic cup slushie, his slushie was strawberry and the other was blueberry. Sitting at the dock, feet’s dangling on edge as if it will touches the water but instead the wave their feet, Donghae told Hyukjae his life story at least up until his age now that Hyukjae predicted had left elementary school age almost few years ago but not yet entering high school age. His age stood in the middle, same like him. A perfect age where they’ll found out that puberty actually was waiting around the corner and slowly will seeping inside their body in no time, making a way to changes their body and mind and the way they see the world.

Donghae come from city which also near the sea, Mokpo. He came to this city few weeks ago with his father, while his mom still stays in Mokpo with his big brother Donghwa. The reason was because his parents divorced, but he was okay with that or he was trying to be okay because Hyukjae could see sadness in his eyes and he baffled at the fact his family didn't noticed that but him, a stranger, could see that. As clear as the sun in the midday without cloud covering it. As a considerate person, Hyukjae didn't let his new friend sat in silence, trying to pick up shattered memories of happy family he once had and sobbing in the dark corner. He asked why he never see him when the fact Hyukjae had stay in this town since the first day of his summer holiday and that’s mean the 10th summer holiday he spent in this place, he knew almost every person in the town and of course he remember each one of his neighbor, but Donghae, he never see him until now. “My father asked me to spend summer holiday at the mountain but in the end, we thought summer is more perfect at the beach.” And Hyukjae wishing he could switch place with Donghae. Spending summer holiday at the mountain sounds cool for him plus, he doesn't need to worry about sunburn. In the back of his mind he could picturing pretty color the leaves will have once the autumn come and he wished again for autumn to come faster.

Unlike him, Donghae not wished autumn for coming faster or wished autumn for not coming. “What for?” He said when Hyukjae asked why he never wish another season to come faster or never come at all because he did, he wish autumn will come faster, he couldn't bear sunburn any longer and sitting in the dock with Donghae beside him and sun glaring down at them does not help him at all, but he stay anyway. “No matter what season is, I’ll still stay in this place and maybe won’t go anywhere or somewhere.” He contemplated a bit before continued, “Maybe if I’m going to college I’ll leave this city. For a while.” He took a sip of his slushie. Frowning when melted ice make the slushie less sweet. He wasn't a sweet tooth but he prefers his slushie sweet, extra sweet if he managed to get extra syrup.

“You talked about college when you even haven’t in high school yet.” Hyukjae snorted, trying to cover how he wished, just a little, wished Donghae will continue his study in his city. Where Hyukjae always says he’s belong to city. His city has university, academy and other school with good reputation and Donghae could pick one that suit with his interest freely and stay in his house, not really free but he’s welcomed and could claim Hyukjae’s house as his freely and maybe Hyukjae will re think his decision to pick a university out of his hometown and chose the one where Donghae will also attend. “Right. It’s few years later. Honestly, I only want to know what fate has for me tomorrow.” He crushed the plastic cup, stood up and stuffed it in his short pants pocket before took off his pants, and took off his shirt. Hyukjae could see soon-to-be toned abs and firm muscle under his tanned skin and behind his boxer Hyukjae knew Donghae was also well endowed. He doesn’t trying to sound creepy, but Donghae practically was baring himself for his eyes. He jump off the dock without say a word and Hyukjae wished autumn won’t come faster when he also joined Donghae in the water.

Autumn eventually come like nature had promising when unfolding summer. After autumn, winter will come and spring will melt the ice away when the right time comes. Hyukjae scratched his head, no, not because he hasn’t take a bath after swimming in the beach and fall asleep immediately thus he forgot to take a bath yesterday, but because he confused. What he should say to Donghae? What Donghae will say to Hyukjae? And another hundreds of ‘what’ inside his head was rushing and pushing wanting to escape from his mouth. He kicks his duffel bag lying on the floor lightly. And sighed. Another kick. And another sighed. He wishes autumn will not come this year. Only this year. “See you next summer, Hyukjae.” Donghae share his blinding smile when Hyukjae turn around and found his friend stood few meters away from him and Hyukjae thought he needs sunglasses. “I wish autumn never come.” He mumbled in small voice. Donghae’s smile full of understanding. “I wish summer will last longer.” He said.

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Donghae noticed his classmate start changing a bit. Some went towards nice changing and the other simply not changing to the better direction. He also notices himself change. His voice no longer sounds like squeaky kid; his voice was kind of husky now. Muscles starts formed and vein started popped out on his hand, as result of working in the fisherman boat every weekend and also the magic of teenager hormone working in his body. His skin was healthy tan and his face, no one call his face pretty now, they call him handsome. Donghae wonder how’s Hyukjae appearance now.

Last summer, Hyukjae, for the first time didn’t spend the summer in the beach. “I’m going to mountain. Daddy finally agrees.” He said in delight and Donghae could picturing how his smile will bright, teeth will look like pearl and gum pink like sweet candy they share the night before Hyukjae went back to city two summer ago. The place he always said as place where he belongs. “So, no summer vacation here?” He asked casually. “No. Sorry, Hae.” And Donghae can picturing pout formed on his lips. “It’s okay.” And after he turns off his phone, summer suddenly look not as interesting as usual. And now summer was come again. Still hot and still toasting his skin turns it into nice shade of brown, but he loves it nonetheless. The reason was simple; summer will bring Hyukjae back to him. And now summer will really bring Hyukjae back to him. Hyukjae had promised last night.

Donghae still wondering how’s Hyukjae's appearance now. They don’t see each other for almost a year. Sure Hyukjae had introduced SNS, he said they can chat there, sharing picture and everything, but Donghae never made one. He wants to see Hyukjae directly, not through pictures. Pedaling past Hyukjae’s beach house, he noticed black car parked inside garage. A car he doesn’t remember was there before. A car he sure wasn’t belongs to Hyukjae’s father. He stopped his bicycle. Without thinking twice he entering the house’s yard and knocked the door. When he knocked for the fifth time, a sleepy man finally opened the door while yawning. His skin as white as snow, a sign that summer’s sun hasn't paints his skin enough to turn it tan. Pink and plump lips stretched into a big grin and he opened his arms, waiting Donghae for give him a hug which he did immediately. “How are you?” The sleepy boy's voice muffled on Donghae's neck, tickle his skin but he only felt comfort. “I’am fine.” Hyukjae’s smells like strawberry and vanilla and ocean. A smell that doesn’t belong to city. That smell belong to this beach, to this place, where Hyukjae said he doesn’t belong to this city but he belongs to big city.

The door closed before his body was dragged by Hyukjae to his bedroom direction. They're lying on cramped bed, trying to found comfortable position and they managed to find it. Laying on their side and facing each other and Hyukjae was back to dreamland in no time. Donghae’s eyes wide open, tracing Hyukjae’s face using his eyes. He brought his hand and cupped his best friend's cheek and immediately noticed the contrast of color between them. It’s like putting chocolate beside marshmallow, brown beside white, tan skin beside fair skin, his skin beside Hyukjae’s skin. He’s trying to find whether puberty also changing his best friend likes puberty changing him slowly and he found out puberty doesn’t change him drastically. His muscles still looks soft and Hyukjae still look fragile in his eyes. His jawline wasn’t as sharp as before when Donghae noticed the boy has gaining a little bit weight but overall, he’s still looks skinny. Donghae wrapped his arm around Hyukjae’s slim waist and put his head under his chin. Unconsciously, Hyukjae gripped the front of his shirt and even snuggled closer to him. And Donghae thought, summer suddenly looking more interesting than before.

Hyukjae doesn’t know how long he had been sleeping and how long he had been awake. He only knows he had been watching Donghae quite some time. The male was sleeping with lips slightly apart. He looks so peaceful and innocent. Hyukjae couldn’t see the playfulness that usually twinkled inside Donghae’s brown orbs as he had closed his soul window. Hyukjae brought his finger to Donghae’s face and noticed his skin look so pale compared to him. He looking down to Donghae’s hand around his waist and he could feel Donghae’s muscle so firm and strong under his touch. He looking up to Donghae’s face and he see Donghae’s eyes slowly fluttering open. “Good morning.” Donghae mumbled. Hyukjae snorted, if morning means the sky was dark and stars was scattered around in the sky, moon was shining brightly and half of the people in the town was sleeping under their blanket, so maybe Donghae was live in different planet with him. “Good night Hae.” He rebutted. Donghae smiled widely, it feels so good having Hyukjae back in his arm. He kissed Hyukjae’s nose's tip out of reflex before hugged him, and miss to see Hyukjae’s face was as red as strawberry.

“So the car was yours?” Donghae's mouth was full with bread but he couldn’t stop himself for asking. Hyukjae nodded, “Birthday gift, but I still haven't got my own driver license. It’s a miracle police hasn’t catch me.” He grinned, flipped the bacon before poured orange juice for Donghae. A simple breakfast because Donghae doesn't want to buy food although he knew none of them was capable to make complicated food. "Just always be careful." He said after gulping down the orange juice.

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Another summer was come and a boy with fair skin and plump lips was screaming in horror. Eyes tightly shut with hands gripped the bicycle bar, behind him a boy with tan skin laughing happily. He pedaled faster, ignoring the boy with fair skin plea to slowing down. “Are you crazy?” Hyukjae yelling once they had stopped, he glaring to his laughing best friend and temptation to shove the boy down the cliff sounds so good. “Aw, Hyuk. Why’d you angry?” He faked a pout which failed as Hyukjae still glaring hard to him. “We always do this every summer. And you know we always fine. I’ll never let a thing hurt you.” He continued, obviously trying to calm the other down. Hyukjae sighed, the memories of them cycling at the hill and Donghae, always, note that, always took unusual road but today his best friend was taking another extreme road and that was including cycling down the slope. “I know. It’s just…” Hyukjae trailed off couldn’t come out with better excuse as every possibility in his head always sounds not really convincing. Should he use maturity as a reason why he doesn’t want extreme things like this? He was no longer a middle school student Donghae used to know, a boy who willing to do extreme thing in any kind and shape, at least for him with big city mindset that thing was considered extreme although Donghae took that as a common thing. “We’re no longer suit with thing like this. We’re too old for this and we must responsible with our own safety. And this activity is dangerous.” He heaved a sigh. Doesn’t really expecting Donghae to buy his excuse, but at least he had trying. “I prefer we never grown up if that’s mean I able to keep my old Hyukjae.” Donghae’s word stabbed Hyukjae right at the heart. He wants to throw another excuse but he knew Donghae was right. He also wondering, where's the old Hyukjae was gone? A grown up Hyukjae was no fun. He set too much limit and not as daring as his young self.

“Sorry.”

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One humid night in their last year of high school and Hyukjae was again spent summer holiday at that town. He contemplated whether he should visit Donghae or not. He recalled their last summer holiday that doesn’t as fun as he expected. Maybe Donghae was upset or maybe he’s too cautious. But their last trip was when Donghae took him cycling to hill, they were arguing afterwards and their relationship pretty much was turns as cold as ice in the winter despite summer always equal with hot burning relationship, full with passion and enthusiasm.

Hyukjae’s expression dropped as he saw Donghae’s house was locked. No one was there. From Donghae’s neighbor he knew that Donghae was in Mokpo. He will spend the holiday with his mom while his father was in Busan, taking care of his business there. Hyukjae walked away with sad expression. Their last summer as high school student will pass like that, where they supposedly celebrating their graduation together but Donghae weren’t there. “What’s the point of me coming here then?” Hyukjae sulked. Eyeing his skin that no longer white like snow, summer’s sun has burn his skin nicely, thinking that soft brown will look good on him. “Maybe Donghae doesn’t want to see me anymore.”

“What do you think if your friend falling in love with you?” Hyukjae asks his friend who was busy concentrating on his game. “It’ll awkward.” He answered shortly and cursed afterwards when the car’s opponent was few meters ahead his car. “Just imagine, a person who knows you inside and out become your boyfriend or girlfriend and when you broke up, and not in really good way, how many secret they have and ready to spill to other and scared away our possible real soulmate in the future? And we will also losing one friend that actually we cherished and we loved but perhaps not meant to be loved in a romantic way.” Donghae cheered when he able to pass the opponent and win, “Why asking?” He questioned. Hyukjae shook his head and put his console game away, “Just curious.” He stood up and faking a yawn, “I’ll go to sleep now. By the way, you won because I let you win.” He waved his hand with big smile but he knew he’s bleeding inside. Heart was aching and Hyukjae knew a crack was present there.

Hyukjae shook his head when his conversation with Donghae two years ago was replaying back in his mind. Year, when he finally realized he was cherishing the other a bit much than just a best friend. And his heart yearning to make Donghae acknowledge his feeling and if he can, reciprocate his feeling. But the brunette answer was enough to make him stopped on his tracks. Hyukjae loves him but he has no gut to fight for that when he knew his chance was nearly zero. He starts limiting the skinship between them, because every time Donghae touched him, Hyukjae could felt butterflies swarming on his stomach once again while his heart was aching because his brain keep replaying Donghae’s answer. “It’s okay Hyukjae, you’ll be fine.”

Donghae was back from Mokpo few days before the summer break end. He walked passed Hyukjae’s beach house. A familiar black car was on the garage. Mr. Lee’s old car wasn’t there, that’s mean Hyukjae was alone. He paused on his track and turn around before approaching the house. He stood in front of the door and knocked but no one answered. He turned the knob, it’s locked. Donghae sighed, “Maybe Hyukjae doesn’t want to see me anymore.”

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-TBC-

A/N: Happy late birthday Hae..

Hae and Hyuk bicycle position..only less romantic -_-

Hope you like it