The night passed as any other, and when Hakyeon made his way to the fields the following morning, it was in high spirits. He'd slept well and felt refreshed and ready for work, any thoughts of the recruiter pushed from his mind easily. He met Wonshik waiting for him on the path, a frown on his face as he watched his friend coming toward him.

“Good morning,” Hakyeon called with a smile, but Wonshik only shrugged and murmured something that could have been a repeat before continuing on in a louder voice.

“Have you seen Sungjong?” he asked, and Hakyeon frowned and shook his head, quirking an eyebrow as he did so.

“Um… why would I have?” It wasn't as if he and the younger boy had anything in common, and besides, Sungjong was always with his friends Sungyeol and Myungsoo. 

“I just wondered. Apparently he didn't come home last night, his mother asked me to ask anyone I saw.” Wonshik turned and picked up his lunch basket, propping the hoe over his shoulder as he fell into step beside Hakyeon. “He’s always been a bit of a wild child, though; maybe he is off having fun with Myungsoo.”

Hakyeon laughed at that, knowing that it was the most likely place for Sungjong to be; he was always into trouble and never one to abide by rules nor propriety. “He’s fine, I’m sure,” he said with a wave of his hand, pushing aside the vague thought in his mind that reminded him that Sanghyuk was missing, too. It was absolutely possible that the two of them were up to shenanigans together! And it was nothing for Hakyeon to worry about.

They joined up with the other field workers, and soon the day settled into an easy, typical rhythm of tending the crops under the warm summer sun. When midday came around Hakyeon met up with Wonshik and a few of the other young men under the shade of a willow tree, settling down on the logs placed there as seats to eat their lunches. Wonshik was joking around with anyone and everyone, as usual, but Hakyeon noticed that Howon was unusually quiet, sandwich held forgotten in his hand as he stared off into the distance.

"Are you okay?" Hakyeon asked quietly, taking a seat near the shorter man and startling him from his reverie. Howon responded by nodding quickly and taking a big bite of his sandwich to forestall any more questions, but Hakyeon could tell that it was a lie. The way the other man's brow would crease in concern when he thought no one was looking spoke volumes of his worry. Hakyeon could remember that he was close with Sungjong, but they had grown apart in the last several years; maybe news of the younger boy running away was bothering him.

None of Hakyeon's concern, though, and so with a sigh he turned away from Howon and delved into the banter shooting back and forth from the other men. There was enough to worry about in the world than adding anyone else to his list. Surely Sungjong would get scared at the next town over and come running back. Hopefully. No, not going to dwell on it.

That evening when they made their way in from the fields, Wonshik grabbed Hakyeon by the shoulder to stop him from continuing on with the others. "Everyone's in a weird mood," he said, and Hakyeon could only nod his head in agreement. Everyone seemed as if they were afraid to go into the village, for fear of who might be the next one missing, and honestly Hakyeon couldn't help but to wonder as well. What if the boys weren't just running away for adventure? Who could be taking them? 

A glance over his shoulder at the twisted, dark woods, and he mentally stomped hard on the thoughts that maybe it wasn't someone taking them and instead, something. "Come on, I need to get bread," he said brusquely, shaking his shoulder free from Wonshik's grip and continuing down the pathway. "It's going to be fine, Wonshik. Besides, you wouldn't want to pass up the chance to see Hongbin, would you?"

His teasing broke through his friend's worry, and Wonshik's face flushed a bright red before he fell into step alongside Hakyeon, murmuring something about liking the bread and not just the boy. When they actually entered the small bak