It's quiet, so quiet now that everyone in Day is tucked into their beds. Well, everyone but Yoongi and I. I can feel sweat forming on my forehead and resisted the urge to wipe it or fan it with my hands. Yoongi is still looking at me so suspiciously.

But there's no way he knows. He's not interested in Night at all, he wouldn't have seen or even be near the border.

"U-um, Yoongi," I break the silence, not realizing that I've been holding my breath back a little. "It's late, don't you think? Maybe you should head back."

"Maybe you can answer me."

There's no way I could hide the shock in my face now. His voice had become more curt, almost impatient. I'm almost confused on how to respond because I'm not used to this Yoongi at all and Hoseok isn't here to break the building tension.

"Yes," I say, being sure to sound as neutral as I can be. Besides, it's pretty true for an answer. "For the past Days, I've been by myself."

Yoongi sits up now, the accusing look on his face still present. He tilts his head, the angle emphasizing his jaw line and it only makes him more intimidating. 

"It's hard for me to believe that," he admits. "You know why? You're talking less than you usually do, if we even see you around at all. It doesn't make sense. Since when are you that much of a small talker? 

"Well, I-"

"We've been friends for such a long time, Seokjin. I'm your first friend here. You don't think I won't notice when something's off about you?"

"Of course not," I say exasperatedly. "Maybe I am a little different but I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."

It's only then that Yoongi scoffs, but it's not of irritation. His expression says otherwise. 

"Why do I feel like you're hiding something from us? From me?"

"I'm not hiding..." my voice dies down, unable to finish my sentence. It just couldn't come out, like I can't lie to him since he knows that it'll be a dishonest answer. It's frustrating, but I can't feel mad at him, not when he looks this upset. 

"I'm going to ask you some things, and you have to be honest with me" Yoongi says, standing up. His feet stand firmly on the floorboards while mine resist the urge to walk away.

"You haven't been meeting someone regularly? Someone that is not me, Hoseok, or Namjoon?"

I remain quiet as my thoughts are overlapping, telling me, 'Lie. Just lie to him. You have to protect Taehyung's identity, don't you?' or 'Tell him the truth. Yoongi is your best friend. He would never tell, would he?' to 'Just be quiet, just don't say anything.'

I must've taken too long thinking. Yoongi asked another question.

"You're not... this can't possibly have anything to do with Night, right?"

This question sounds more unsure, like Yoongi will have more trouble believing me no matter what I answer between yes and no.

It's getting hard to breathe. The air has suddenly thickened and my throat is getting drier. I try gulping in as much as I can but it hardly does anything.

"Jin."

My ears heat up with Yoongi demanding me to say something to him. His stare is hard so I look down, away from his eyes, wanting to shrink and disappear.

"I can't-" I finally hear myself stutter quietly, so meek it only makes it obvious how uncomfortable I feel. 

I've gone to the border. I've crossed over to Night. I've befriended a Night boy. His name is Taehyung. I've brought him over to Day. I care about him immensely. I can't speak properly, I don't know what to say, I don't know what to do, I don't know what's going to happen...

 

 

 

 

"I see."

My eyes open. I didn't even know that I've shut them and had curled down, hands and arms over my head as I tucked it close to my knees.

Footsteps...

I can hear Yoongi walking until he appears in my sight, but in my position, I can only see his shoes stop before me. 

My lips start to tremble, eyes watery but I don't want to cry. I hate that I can't be truthful to my friends. I haven't been a good friend, not even a decent friend lately. They've been so caring even when they don't know what's been going on. I hate that I can't stay with them, be with them, be like them. Yoongi and Hoseok mean so much to me.

I can't abandon Taehyung. Like Namjoon said, the world is not ready for Night and Day to come together. I can't reveal Taehyung to my friends. Even if they accept him, they'll be punished too if we're figured out.

I've started this. I won't bring my friends into it.

 

 

 

Something touches my head.

I gasped. Or maybe hiccuped.

Yoongi had placed his hand on my head. It's gentle and with my own hands on my head, some of our fingers touched or overlapped. He doesn't smooth his hand over my hair or pat softly. There's only a warm pressure as his hand stays still.

He's not upset anymore. His calming touch reassures me that he's sorry. I am too.

 

 

"Take care, Seokjin."

His tone now is different. He's different in many ways today, I noticed. "Take care." He's said this multiple times throughout the time we have been friends. "Take care," as a casual goodbye like the very first time we parted ways at the hill, looking forward to seeing each other later on as new friends. "Take care," as a forceful yet playful goodbye when he catches me not eating or sleeping enough, threatening to send over Hoseok to annoy me if I don't follow through. And "Take care," as a caring goodbye like when I didn't feel well Days ago, genuinely wishing me good health ever so subtly.

 

Take care.

Goodbye.

 

His hand leaves my head, the warmth leaving with it.

The shoes walk away from my blurring vision and soon, the footsteps fade away, completely gone after the shut of the front door.

I don't want to cry.

I really don't so I shut my eyes, preventing the water from falling down my cheeks in drops. They dampen my lashes instead. 

I don't want to cry so I bite my lips. It hurts when my teeth digs into my lower lip too much but it keeps Day quiet and free of audible sadness.

As it should be.

~~

Many Days later, I find myself at the top of the hill once more. It's a beautiful Day as usual, the light blue sky unchanging in its peaceful aura. It should be a nice break, an uneventful moment, but I had received some news.

Yoongi had become a Day knight. 

Hoseok confirms it when he and I decide to relax on the hill, lying down at the very top like always. He asks how the conversation went like when Yoongi told me at my house. I said that I was sad.

But as I know, Yoongi never told me. Not directly anyway. It made sense to me now. It had felt like he was saying goodbye, but I didn't know it was to become a knight, and I didn't know he'd be leaving so soon afterwards. It was probably why he asked me those questions, as a friend and as an upcoming knight.

"Aw, I was sad too, bawled my eyes out when he broke the news to me" Hoseok rambles, sighing sadly. "But it's not like he'll be gone forever. He'll come back. Like Namjoon usually does, right?"

"Yes," I respond, observing the passing clouds. "It might be a while, but he'll be back."

I hope to properly apologize to him the next time we see each other. Although I'm sure both of us didn't have any true negative feelings towards each other, it's still something I want him to hear from me, that I'm sorry.

"Also, I'm sorry," I then say to Hoseok, who seems surprised at the sudden apology. Turning to face, him, I chuckled at his confused face.

"Why are you sorry?"

"When Yoongi visited me the other Day, I realized that I haven't really been there for the both of you as a friend," I explained.

Hoseok rolls onto his side, forearm cushioning his head. "Seokjin, you don't have to apologize. I will admit, I was kind of sad that we haven't been hanging out as much as we used to but I understand. We all have our own lives. It's just that..."

He looks at me solemnly, "You seem very affected by something."

I look away briefly, still facing him but thinking to myself. Of course I am. It's something big and as much as I tried to keep it discreet, Yoongi pointed it out so Hoseok must have been sensing something as well. Even Namjoon noticed something different in me. 

I took this chance to be honest, "I am." But that's all I say though, because I cannot tell him about Taehyung. I cannot tell him that it had happened a Day ago, or a couple Days after my last encounter with Yoongi.

One Day ago:

I had been checking the border for Taehyung consistently but he has not showed up yet. Once I had decided that he would not be showing up again, I retreated for the Day, avoiding suspicion from the townsfolk once more.

He should be fine, right?

Jungkook said he should be in a couple Nights when I first met him, so he should be fine now. Taehyung doesn't need to come soon. I can wait. It's just that I don't know if anything is happening to him in Night.

It kept me awake and constantly thinking.

I also haven't seen Yoongi since the last time he visited either. Based on our last exchange, I don't think I'll see him for a while. He didn't say anything but like I remember, it was a goodbye.

As I see the hill coming up ahead of me, it makes me remember the Day Taehyung spent with me around town. We sat there, enjoying the view until he had spotted those flowers from afar.

Speaking of, the place is not that far from where I am.

When I arrived at the flower field, the yellow flowers look the same. Not interested in entering it alone, I sit by the edge, on a spot where the ground raises high enough for me to overlook the field.

A couple Days ago, Yoongi had asked me if I had been with anyone. I answered that I have been by myself. 

The answer has remained.

I felt bad that I couldn't say much to him. The timing is not right, and I just can't explain things without being sure that it won't cause him to freak out.

In addition, it still felt strange to see him like that. Maybe that's how he felt too when he said that I, too, am acting different. I sigh at the thought, at how things have changed in my life.

I haven't seen any of my friends here, and haven't seen Taehyung for a while now too. I don't really interact with anyone else here in Day and Taehyung's friends probably don't count; they want me as far as I can be.

Wanting to lean back against something, I scooted over until I am able to press my back against a tree. The bark is rough but I can tolerate it. 

From here, I can see how the flowers are facing in all directions: some facing me, some facing away, and others tilting upwards or slightly downwards.

I've decided that I'll be sticking with Taehyung from now on. It doesn't mean that I would terminate my friendship with Hoseok and Yoongi though. By this, I mean that I won't leave him. I'll stay with him for as long as I can, no matter how difficult it may be or become.

I'm not even sure why I'd want to. Taehyung is my friend, but he's different compared to Yoongi and Hoseok. I care for them all so why am I treating him differently? No, maybe it's not the treatment that differs.

Maybe it's how I feel?

I imagine him again, the unique traits on his face, the dark color of his hair, the outline of his body. He'd be so carefree whenever we talk, we can go on and on just about anything.

I can easily imagine his smiles, from the sweet ones to the ones carved by laughter to the soft ones where he'd look so fondly at me-

"What the..." I look down at my chest. 

That feeling is back again. 

That weird tightening in my chest, so tight that I can really feel my heart beat without placing my hand over my chest where it lies under. It's not as prominent as it was last time but it's the same feeling.

I've already established that the flowers are not the culprits, but I look back at them with furrowed brows anyway. 

"Oh!"

Just in the short moment of me thinking to myself, the flowers have turned to face me. Every one of them of them did. When I stood up, I saw that even the ones far back are facing my way. It should be a bit eerie, but because they're pretty flowers, they're not.

"Wait, why are they like that? Those flowers didn't follow me before. It was only Taehyung..."

Before the realization can even fully sink in, a familiar hand nudges at my own hand.

 

As much as I love Yoongi, Hoseok is much more easier to talk to since he never pokes around with any of us when it's something serious despite his upbeat personality that might make one think otherwise. He asks, but never pries. Lying here with me, looking at me, not interrupting. It's not that he doesn't care, just that he'll listen to whatever I feel comfortable with sharing, if there's any at all.

"Do you mind telling me if it's because of someone?"

"Yes, it's someone."

"The same person you said that you've been seeing before?"

"What person?"

Hoseok laughs lightly, "The one that was making you lose sleep a while ago, remember?"

I chuckle along, "Oh, right. Yes, that's the person."

He hums pleasantly as our small laughs die down, leaving us back in the peaceful atmosphere the hill always serves. 

"I don't want to talk too much about it, but please understand that it's not that I don't trust you," I tell him. "I just can't talk about it now, please believe me. I don't want you and Yoongi involved for your own sakes."

It's very vague, what I said, but Hoseok nods.

"You're gonna be okay though, right?"

Based on the tone of his voice, I can tell he's somewhat concerned. He's not hiding it behind a joke or one of his loud laughs that define him. I give him a small smile to ease him.

"Yes, I hope so."

Hoseok reaches over and holds my hand. 

He closes his eyes, breathing calmingly and it feels like he wants to take a nap. I do the same, shutting my eyes closed, the blue sky above me replaced with darkness as I let my mind wander, picturing the rest of what had happened the Day I finally saw Taehyung again:

On the ground, I actually felt myself let go and the tears came despite me not wanting them to. I didn't realize how overwhelmed I have gotten. The same hand reached for my head, pulling me in. I could then feel him caressing the back of my head as I stay tucked into his shoulder.

Taehyung whispers something close to my ear but I can't understand him at the moment, the words tickling my ear too much and my body shaking from the crying. I'm sure it's him comforting me with sweet-laced phrases.

I only squeezed him tighter, not wanting to let go.

The vivid memory flashes away when Hoseok squeezes my hand and my eyes open, feeling temporarily blinded by the bright sky above us.

Looking over to see what the matter was, it seems that he is just dreaming. He squeezes my hand once more and this time, I see his nose scrunch up slightly. It's so endearing, yet I find myself somewhat torn. I told him as much as I could, which isn't much at all, but he is so understanding. I hope that one day, I'll get to tell him the whole truth.

I squeeze his hand back as I took in a deep breath.

 

I've decided that I will be with Taehyung for as long as I can. I've decided that I'll continue to see him even though Night and Day should be kept apart. The future is uncertain, but I'm willing to step forward and face it myself.

~~

After we had settled down from our reunion at the flower field, Taehyung had explained to me that we can continue to meet as usual. The only change it that it should not be for more than a Day, his reasoning being that the sickness will only occur if he stays too long, meaning that he should see no harmful effects on himself if its only for a Day. 

Wary, I instead suggested that we return to meeting at the border like we previously had, and was met with a disappointed whine from Taehyung. The spot had become unamusing to him, but he understood the precaution of it based on how he didn't put up a fight in removing the idea.

Though a joyful reunion, I sent him back to Night shortly afterwards, where we promised to see each other again. Despite me hurrying for him to go back, I found it difficult to let go of his hand, like he would become a butterfly and fly away somewhere I wouldn't be able to reach.

Taehyung took notice, and with eyes soft as honey, came closer. Wrapping his arms around my torso, I felt his weight on me. It felt warm, and nice, and I couldn't help but do the same, except one of my hands ended up in his hair, down until resting on the side of his face. Each breath of his brushed against the shell of my ear. In return, my fingers began tracing his lobe. 

"I'll miss you," I whispered. The words were supposed to come out as comforting but instead, the tremors in my voice made me sound vulnerable instead. I almost wanted to clasp my hand over his ear to prevent him from hearing more of my breathing that's becoming increasingly ragged. 

Taehyung tightens his hold. His steady voice, unlike mine, soothed, "What are you talking about? We just said that we're going to see each other soon."

I knew that. All I wanted was to see Taehyung safe and happy, but not seeing him meant not knowing how he is. Even though I knew we would meet again very soon, I clutched him for one moment longer to make up for the time I haven't seen him.

Taehyung's breath hitched.

 

 

 

And the time for us to see each other at the planned time had come as I embark on the usual routine of sneaking past the homes of sleeping townsfolk and dashed towards the trees in the distance. 

It's funny. Back then, just seeing Taehyung at the border already seemed like a huge crime, interacting with him being a higher violation. Now, I've come to see it as a much smaller matter because if we get caught, it won't be like we'd be guilty of crossing over. As long as the border is close enough, Taehyung and I can make sure to jump back to our designated sides before anyone sees. That's good enough for now.

"You're late!"

I hear the voice before I even see that owner of it. Balancing my basket in one hand and my book in another, I hopped over a log before looking up at the remaining trees ahead.

"You're early!" I called out in return, quickening my pace until the trees momentarily clear, and the stream, along with the Night boy, comes into view.

Taehyung had already crossed over to Day and instead of scolding him like I would have in the past, I silently joined him from where he stood. With the both of us relying on the tentative conclusion that Taehyung should be fine if he makes sure to shorten his stay in Day, I felt no need to reprimand him with Night being less than five strides away. 

He's working on something, back facing me when I approached. Standing next to him, slightly behind that our shoulders overlapped a bit, I observed him fiddling with some flowers. Purple flowers, to be exact, like the ones Jungkook plucked when I first met him.

"Hey," he greets me casually, turning just for a quick moment to flash me a smile before turning his focus to the tangled mess of flowers.

"Hello," I simply say back, arm immediately linking with one of his as I give him an odd looking side hug, pressing myself close to his side without any intention of separating myself soon.

It was Taehyung that broke our little hug first, but only to gift me the purple flowers. Seeing it in a circular chain, I'm guessing that it is a headpiece, which was confirmed as Taehyung places it atop of my head. He shifts it until he's satisfied, taking only one step back as he appears to be admiring his work.

"How does it look?" I ask curiously, although I'm sure of the answer already.

"I think it looks okay," he says dully. As I was going to express my offense, he then says, "But you look even more handsome today."

I gleefully accept the compliment as Taehyung grabs me down to sit with him on the grass. He watches me set my belongings down in front of us, eyes then traveling to me.

"I missed you," he says, sounding much more solemnly. It hasn't been long at all since our reunion but here we are again, missing and missing.

"I missed you too," I reply. I couldn't help my dig up that awful memory, how horrible I had felt when Taehyung had to return to Night to heal. Missing was all I felt as I waited for him afterwards.

"Stop that," Taehyung demands as he drapes an arm over my shoulders, resting his head against mine while holding one of my hands. With the two of us sitting side by side, his forehead ends up touching the side of my face, near my temple. "Don't look so sad. I'm here now, right? I'm okay, we can see each other again."

"Yes," I spoke quietly. "But are you really okay? We can try sitting in Night instead in case anything happens again."

Taehyung doesn't hesitate to to hum in disapproval, "No. I'm fine here. Just stay with me."

When he starts to adjust his head into a more comfortable position, I decided to let it be. If Taehyung starts showing even the slightest symptoms (that I know of), I will immediately bring him back. 

A moment goes by as we enjoyed each other's presence. The birds sing their little tunes behind the thick tress as I bask in the comforting presence of Taehyung as any worries about the future temporarily dies away. 

"You really do look good with the flower crown," he compliments again. "If I could, I would have added some light pebbles."

"Rocks?" I ask, confused.

He chuckles, "No, not light pebbles, light pebbles." He explained how they're little rocks that glow. He's made a few when working before, but they're never for him to use or have. I ask him again if he's been in recent trouble for the times he missed work.

"Yeah, but it's normal that I'm used to the punishments. They actually have lessen the beatings a lot but continued to cut down my food rations. But that's why I have you as my personal chef, isn't that right?" he pokes playfully at the last sentence. My lips tighten into a thin line, and Taehyung quickly apologizes.

I remove my hand that he's holding, using both arms to fully engulf him in a warm hug to let him know I'm not mad at him. I just wished he wouldn't say those things so casually. The hurt he's gone through should not exist at all. 

"Seokjin?" he muffles through my hug.

"Yes?"

"Do you know how to make cake?"

"I do. Why?"

Taehyung wiggles in my hold as he turns his face up stare at me curiously. "I hear that some people get cake when they turn a year older. Is that true?"

"On their birthday, yes."

"Can you make me one?"

The simple request made me smile once more. "Of course. When's your birthday?"

Taehyung shifts again, leaning his head on my shoulder, this time facing away. He mumbles, "Don't worry about that. Just make me one whenever you can. Please?"

"Alright. I'll have to make sure I have the ingredients for it."

Our talk continues, endless as we spoke about anything on our minds, a lot about small wishes and many fun cases of 'what-if's'. I also asked about his friend that I had met, Jungkook, who he described as a good friend despite his timidness. We ate from my picnic basket like we did in the past and I read him the book I chose to bring with me. He fell asleep partway through, probably from the exhaustion of staying awake past the bells' ringing. I make sure to note that we can switch it to me whenever we can so he can sleep better.

I left him alone, sitting with my legs criss-crossed while reading my book silently now, with Taehyung napping on his side next to me. Every once in a while, I'd check on him. Every time I did, I'm filled with relief seeing that he's still there in the same position, breathing softly. No symptoms.

It's as if time has stopped for us, waited for us to relax and enjoy a beautiful view. If only it can stay like this forever.

~~

It goes on like this for many Days, or Nights for Taehyung. Nothing changed in our routine; we were always at the border at the same time without missing one meeting. Until one day...

"I'm here!"

I called out with my regular basket in hand, skipping the rest of the way out of the trees and into the free space before the stream. 

He's not here. 

Ever since we started seeing each other here again, he's been arriving here before me. It appears that he might be late.

 

But he isn't.

That seems to be the case when he still doesn't show up. The bells have rung long ago. Maybe he can't come see me now. Should I try the next Day?