It had already been a week since Insoo arrived, he made so many friends and everyone welcomed him warmly but even with befriending so many people Insoo still couldn't feel settled in the town - he was still lying to everyone and he hated it but then again he already started the lie so he wanted to just let it be until he had to return home and just leave the fake life he created behind. 

 

****

 

It was Saturday, Hongjoong always had his studio closed over the weekend, it gave him time to do the weekly admin and write up reports and plan out lessons for the following week. 

 

Though he already made plans for the weekend and they definitely didn't include work, but they did include his part-timer. 

 

Hongjoong wanted to show Soo around, he felt bad that Soo had come to relax and instead he ended up helping him in the studio, so instead Hongjoong woke up extra early and with the help of Seonghwa he prepared a whole picnic basket filled with snacks and desserts. 

 

He arrived at Soo's apartment building and called him. He had only recently exchanged numbers with the boy and felt like a giddy school boy, he loved making friends.

 

"Good morning Sunshine~ I'm waiting downstairs" Hongjoong Sing-songed over the phone, Soo chuckled a bit. 

 

"I'll be right down" 

 

It didn't even take 4 minutes before Soo appeared through the entrance, Hongjoong couldn't help but curiously scan over the man in front of him. 

 

He had his hair tied up in a braid keeping it out of the way of the rough winds, he wore a scarf that was tightly wrapped around his neck so much so it covered his nose and mouth, he had on sneakers, a pair of blue jeans paired with a black long sleeved shirt. 

 

Although his face was somewhat covered, Hongjoong could tell from Soo's eyes that he was smiling. 

 

"Slept well?" Hongjoomg asked as the two started walking almost immediately. 

 

"I did," Soo said, his words a little muffled, "how about you boss?" 

 

"I did, though I probably was a little too excited about today… I was up before the sun" Hongjoong admitted shyly. 

 

Soo couldn't help but let out a small laugh, Hongjoong looked at him as he laughed. The sparkle in Soo's eyes and his laugh was really something… Hongjoong found himself feeling a little warm even though the cold wind was hitting him. 

 

The two explored various places in the town, Hongjoong dragged Soo to visit their friends who were still at work and they went to explore the school Hongjoomg attended, at some point they visited Hongjoong's mother. 

 

Insoo felt a little envious when they visited Hongjoong's mother, Hongjoong's older brother was also there and it just seemed like everyone was getting along well, it was a feeling he couldn't ignore. 

 

And it was something that didn't go unnoticed by Hongjoong either. 

 

Their last stop was on a beach - it was secluded and only a few people knew about it. Insoo stood and took in the view, Hongjoong couldn't help but reach for his camera to take a picture, it was really just a beautiful sight to see.

 

The two sat on the beach and watched the waves, they drank coffee that Hongoong had brought with in thermos, the two sat in silence for a while, Hongjoong couldn't help but observe Insoo, he could tell that there was something on his mind and it made him worry a little, Insoon never seemed carefree but at the moment it seemed like whatever was bugging him was quite serious.

 

"Soo what's on your mind?" Hongjoong finally asked after much contemplation.

 

"It's nothing" Insoo said with a smile but Hongjoong could tell that it was fake.

 

"Seriously, I can see it's something," Hongjoong said, bumping into Insoo a little.

 

Insoo hummed a little and let out a small sigh, "It's really nothing, I just had a fight with my older brother last night… he wants me to go back home, but my mom told me to stay here for a while… she wouldn't send me here without reason, even if I don't know why yet, but now I just don't know what to do" 

 

Hongjoong was silent and listened to the boy, he didn't know a lot about Insoo and hearing th him speak of his family was quite a reminder of that, he realised that he truly knew nothing about Insoo, he seemed like someone who was quite distant and out of reach, Hongjoong couldn't help but wonder how he could break the walls all around Insoo and finally get to know the real him.

 

"I think, personally that is, if you want to stay here it should be your choice, your brother can't force you to do something you don't want to, you are an adult Soo - plus your mother sent you here if anyone has the ability to force you back home it would be her" Hongjoong said, trying to comfort the man next to him, it was obvious that there was obviously a lot more to the fight than Soo told him, Hongjoong knew better and decided not to force it out of him, instead he thought he could use this opportunity to get to know Soo more.

 

"But you have an older sibling?" Hongjoong asked curiously, Soo nodded a little.

 

"Two actually, both live abroad - they work in art galleries as well - it's somewhat of a family trade I guess? Anyway my brother is currently in France - he's about 15 years older than me, he already has his whole life established over there, and my br.. my sister, she's currently in Thailand, she's working as an art appraiser in a gallery in Bangkok - she's 6 years older than me" Soo explained.

 

Hongjoong was a bit surprised, it seemed like Soo was a bit of a late baby - and the gap with his brother probably didn't help their relationship much since they had such different experiences in life.

 

"Are you close to your sister?" Hongjoong asked curiously, the way Soo spoke about her made him seem quite fond of her.

 

"Hmm, a lot more than my brother, She was around more than my parents - our parents were quite busy with work and it was hard to see them, she basically raised me before she finally left for Thailand, even now we talk almost daily… I just haven't told her about the fight yet because they just started mending their relationship and I don't want to cause any useless drama" Soo told Hongjoong.

 

Hongjoong felt bad, he didn't like that Soo had to go through so much and on his own as well, he knew fighting with siblings weren't fun and it caused a lot of tension as well, he just wanted to hug Soo, he could only imagine what was going on in Soo's head.

 

"Did you talk to your mom?" Hongjoong asked curiously, if anyone can deal with their children's fights it's a mother… he knew from experience.

 

"No… My mom is busy with a really important project, one I am actually supposed to be helping with, so talking to her about this isn't something that I really want to do either because I don't want to cause her even more stress" Soo told Hongjoong with a bitter smile.

 

"It's quite complicated… well when you need to vent about anything I am here~ I can listen all you want" Hongjoong said, placing a hand on Soo's shoulder and giving it a small squeeze.

 

"Thank you" Soo said with a small smile.

 

The two spent a few more hours together, a majority of it was on the beach, they found themselves playing in the water even though it was cold and they built some sandcastles and searched for shells and seaglass.

 

Hongjoong told Insoo about a small craft that was popular in their town, you could take your shells or sea glass and go to a small craft shop to turn them into a necklace or bracelet, some people even used the seaglass and made rings or earrings.

 

The two decided to make another trip once they had time, to search for more supplies, so they could make a few different items at the shop - Hongjoong wanted Insoo to have a proper experience.

 

Hongjoong walked Soo home, the two kept laughing and making small jokes among themselves, they were completely isolated from the rest of the world inside their little bubble - a warm bubble that rivalled that of the cool spring breeze.

 

The two stood in front of the apartment building Soo lives in, neither said anything but neither wanted to say goodbye as well, they just stood there in content silence.

 

"Thank you for today… I really needed to let loose a little, now I know where to go when my head is a mess" Soo said, finally breaking the silence.

 

"Happy to help~ tell me if you ever need some company, okay? We can go scream our lungs out on the beach" Hongjoong said, causing Soo to laugh.

 

"Hmm, goodnight boss" Soo said with a small smile, Hongjoong nodded a little.

 

"Goodnight Soo, rest up okay?" Hongjoong said and Soo nodded with a smile.

 

The two finally went their own way, Hongjoong headed home, halfways home finding Seonghwa - he told Seonghwa all about the day he had with Soo - Seonghwa looked at his best friend with a small smile on his face… 'Finally you can be happy as well'  Seonghwa thought to himself as he listened to Hongjoong speak.

 

Insoo on the other hand stood at the door of his apartment, he already took his shoes off but his mind was just blank and his body felt hot… There was just something about being around Hongjoong, it made him feel free from everything in the world, he couldn't exactly put his finger on it… but he had an inceling to what it meant when his heart started thumping in his chest whenever Hongjoong smiled at him.