Only a few hours later, Jongup heard a slam on his door. 

"," Jongup cursed under his breath, quickly rushing to the window and throwing it open.

"Unlock the door.  NOW." Mr. Moon banged his fist against the door.

Hesitantly, Jongup climbed onto the branch outside his window.  After getting far enough, he closed the window behind him.  He could still hear his father's muffled yells. 

Jongup hurriedly climbed down the tree and dashed off into the thick woods. 

His running finally slowed down as he approached a clearing.  He saw a small waterfall that fed water into a pond.  After deciding he had come far enough, he sat down and looked into the water. 

The reflection staring back at him looked afraid, lost.  He couldn't turn to anyone.  His mother was gone; his father made him move away from the only two friends he had ever made. 

Suddenly he heard a branch break behind him. 

Heart threatening to beat out of his chest, Jongup grabbed a rock and turned towards the source of the noise.

No noise at all.  Just the sound of the waterfall.

Maybe it was an animal.  Sighing, Jongup lowered the rock a little.  If it had been his father, he would've been attacked or yelled at already.

"I'm not going to hurt you." A voice said, making Jongup nearly jump out of his shoes. The person--or thing behind him grabbed the rock out of his hand and threw it to the side.  Jongup turned and fell on the ground, looking up helplessly at his potential murderer.

It was a man.  A boy, really.  He must've been a few years older than Jongup.  He looked around Yongguk's age.

His hair was blonde, and perfectly styled.  A black cloth covered his eyes, but he must've been good looking based on his nose and perfectly shaped lips.  His jawline was sharp and defined--Jongup couldn't force himself to look anywhere but this person's face.  What did his eyes look like?  Why did he hide them?

"W-Who are you?" Jongup stuttered, trying to crawl backwards, away from this stranger. 

"Don't worry.  I won't hurt you.  I'm Himchan, Kim Himchan, at your service." He crouched down and extended a hand to Jongup. 

Jongup warily looked at Himchan's hand, then back to his face.  Hesitantly, he shook the older blonde's hand. 

Himchan tilted his head towards Jongup and said, "Well, aren't you going to introduce yourself?" Jongup was worried for a second, but Himchan sent him a friendly, reassuring smile. 

"I'm Moon Jongup. I...Just moved here." Jongup said as Himchan helped to pull him up.

"Ah, so you're the new resident, huh?" Himchan mused.

"What are you doing out here?  You nearly scared me to death." Jongup asked.  He surprised himself with how easily he talked to him. Himchan just had this kind of charm that drew Jongup in.

"I live around here." Himchan said simply, turning towards the pond, "Beautiful, isn't it?" He jumped skillfully from rock to rock across the small pool of water.

"Ah...how...?" Jongup mumbled, gaping at Himchan.  The blindfolded man was jumping around on the rocks as if it was nothing.

"Asking about this?" Himchan asked, "looking" at Jongup and pointing towards the cloth over his eyes.  Jongup nodded, but then realized Himchan couldn't see him. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive--"  

"Nah.  I don't mind.  I know this forest inside and out.  It doesn't bother me that I can't see."

"So he's blind." Jongup thought, feeling a little pity for Himchan.

Jongup sat on a rock next to the edge of the water and sighed.  "What's wrong?" Himchan made his way back over to Jongup's side, taking a seat next to him.

"My father is looking for me...He...gets mad when he's drunk."

"...I can't take away your pain, but I'm someone you can talk to." Himchan said comfortingly. 

Jongup smiled.  Perhaps it was strange that he was so at ease talking to this strange, blindfolded stranger, but he found someone that listened.   

And Himchan really did listen.  Jongup told him everything, from his friends Daehyun and Youngjae who he had to leave behind to his family issues he had never talked to anyone about.  By the time he had finished, the sky had turned dark. 

Jongup's heart beat accelerated again.  It was nearly pitch black.  The mountains were a lot different than the city.  The moon barely illuminated both boys' faces.

"Whenever you're in trouble, come out here and talk to me.  It helps to get away for a while, doesn't it?" Himchan said, standing up.

"T-Thanks.  For listening..." Jongup said, looking up at Himchan from his seat on the rock. 

Himchan smiled, "I assume you need help back?  Gets pretty dark around this time."

"There's no way I'd get out of here by myself." Jongup admitted, nervously scratching the back of his neck. 

"Yah, then how will you come back here and visit me again?" Himchan joked.  Jongup and Himchan laughed.  It had been so long since Jongup had laughed, and he loved the feeling. 

The older boy led Jongup back towards the house.  Jongup's light in his room was still on.  It appeared like his father hadn't gone looking for him. 

Jongup began to climb up the tree, but then he turned to look at Himchan. 

"I'll see you later?" Jongup asked nervously.  He had gotten someone to talk to, and he didn't want to ever let that go. 

"Of course, we're friends, right?" Himchan called, waving as he disappeared into the thick forest.  It still amazed Jongup that Himchan could navigate so well without being able to see. 

Jongup climbed onto the branch, tugged the windows open, then jumped into his room. 

Cautiously Jongup unlocked his door and peered outside.  The door at the end of the hall was open, and he saw his father sleeping on the bed, snoring away.  He wouldn't even remember when he woke up tomorrow.

Jongup closed the door quietly and jumped into his bed, snuggling into the covers.

"Friends." Jongup repeated, smiling to himself.

~~~

Jongup finally met Himchan! :D