“The government appeals to every people in South Korea to please stay alert and vigilant. The coming Category 5 Typhoon Maemi may impose terrifying damages on infrastructures, livelihoods, and lives as soon as it makes a landfall on Western Busan tomorrow morning. We are asking everyone for your full cooperation as we battle this natural disaster. Your government is doing its best to assure your safety, but we cannot do it alone. Typhoon Maemi is a very powerful threat but as one nation, I believe we will win this battle. Please keep safe everyone. Thank you.”

Kyungsoo cringed as he watched the South Korean president step down from the podium. It was only turning 4 in the afternoon but the sky’s as gloomy as ever. He walked over to the window and stared outside. The ocean was calm as normal waves kiss the monotonous stretch of already-drenched sand. With the absence of the sunlight, the view was monochromatic. Somehow, it generates an eerie atmosphere.

“Keep us safe please,” his eyes slipped close as he mentioned the short prayer. The voice of the news anchor continuously played as a background to the silence, like a deafening reminder of how dangerous the impending disaster could be.

It scared him how images from weather bureaus from all over the world shows how Typhoon Maemi dwarfs the whole Korean peninsula. It scared him to think that such powerful storm will target the place where they are right that moment. It scared him that even the government is unsure of how they can battle something they’ve never faced before. It scared him that death is a possibility.

A tear escaped Kyungsoo’s eyes as he continued to take in the peculiarity of silence outside. Has the saying ‘calm before the storm’ really turned literal? He couldn’t tell. He just wanted everyone to be safe.

He looked around his house and hoped that everything will be as it has always been after the storm. He couldn’t imagine if this nest he had built with blood and sweat with his lover will be damaged. It’s a two-storey Zen-like home perched on a relatively tall hill just across the southern part of Haeundae Beach. It’s a sanctuary for them. He cannot afford to lose it too.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, stealing him away from his thoughts. Immediately, he ran downstairs to see from the doorbell camera to see who came. As soon as he knew, he pressed a button to unlock the door and immediately wiped the tears away. In no one’s name would he show the person who just came those waterworks.

“Hey,” he said as the door swung open revealing a fairly tall guy in with slightly tanned skin, carrying several grocery bags on hand. Automatically, Kyungsoo came to help.

Jongin smiled at his hyung as he put the bags down for a while to remove his shoe. “Thank you,” he muttered as he successfully slipped into a pair of fluffy slippers the other guy bought for him.

Together, they went to the kitchen and put the bags on the countertop. Kyungsoo got a glass of water and gave it to the younger guy. “Is everything okay out there?” He asked as he rested his gaze on the view outside again.

Jongin nodded but his plump lips turned into a casual pout as he slightly tilted his head to the sides. “I think so,” he said, “but at the supermarket, everyone was doing panic buying. It’s a good thing I came there early otherwise I wouldn’t have bought enough.”

At the sound of the situation, the older guy closed his eyes as he contemplated on the possibilities yet again. His head bowed automatically as his eyes fell close in fear once more.

Of course, the other person in the room would notice that something’s wrong. “Are you okay?” He asked as he reached out for his hyung’s hand.

Kyungsoo lifted his head up as he placed his free hand above Jongin’s. “I’m just scared of what may happen,” he confessed. “Everyone’s telling how this is by far the strongest typhoon in history and it’s going to hit us directly, and I just can’t help but think of the possibilities of losing everything.”

A loud sigh escaped Jongin’s lips as he stood up from his chair to walk behind his hyung. He bent forward and wrapped his arms around Kyungsoo as he rested his chin on his shoulder, their cheeks against each other.

“It’s not the end of the world yet,” he said as he chuckled. “Just pray and believe that everything’s going to be safe.”

Albeit the anxiety, the older guy pursed his lips into a thin line. “Promise me you’ll be safe?” He asked as he looked at him through the reflection in the glass table.

Jongin smiled. “I will be safe to keep you safe,” he promised.

Paying attention to their dinner that night, Kyungsoo went on to prepare the food as the other guy decided to hit the showers. The TV was still on, showing news of how local governments are trying to help in the evacuation of the target areas.

“I wonder if we will need to evacuate too,” the younger guy, now in sweatpants and black tank top, stated randomly as he propped himself on the couch in front of the television. He was drying his hair with a towel as he continued watching the news.

Kyungsoo shrugged. “We’re in a high area and the flood wall of our town is quite tall so hopefully we won’t need to,” he said, completely not entertaining the possibility. “I don’t want to leave this house unattended.”

The younger guy smiled, thankful that his hyung is confident about it in some way. Well, he is too, but of course, he couldn’t help but fear as well. He isn’t so dense to not feel dread of facing a Category 5 Typhoon…

But he just has to believe that they’re going to be okay. Simply because there’s no other option.

Dinner was served around 7PM and both prepared for bed afterwards. As they entered the room, Kyungsoo headed directly to the balcony to marvel at the ocean and the sky as usual. It was his most favorite hobby before going to sleep, next to cuddling with his lover of course. The night sky decorated with glistening stars which reflection makes the ocean glitters like a sea of diamonds is his favorite sight to see,

But that night, it’s nowhere to be found.

He couldn’t help but cower in fear once more as he felt the eerie silence from the afternoon still there. He felt goosebumps all of a sudden as his heart