“Can I…Play with you guys?”

The other kids whirl around to see a scrawny looking boy with a yellow shirt and faded blue jeans. The boy also had the most ridiculous looking haircut, black and rounded-shaped.

The tallest boy looked the other up and down, before laughing and pointing. “What’s up with your hair? You look like a mushroom!” The other kids laughed in agreement and soon began taunting, “Mushroom boy! Mushroom boy!”

The mushroom boy, whose name is Taemin, touched his hair softly. The other kids continued laughing as they made their way to the slides, leaving Taemin to find some other group.

Taemin sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets while making his way to the swings. He sat down on it, making the chains squeak slightly. The girls beside him glance over, feeling a bit nervous sitting next to him. But Taemin was too busy staring at the ground to notice their discomfort.

He was never one to be popular. Taemin knows he should be used to it by now, but it still hurts a little. The rejection. The harsh laughter.

“Hey there.”

Taemin slowly looks up to see a boy with messy black hair in overalls, grinning meekly at him. “W-What?” Taemin let out, thinking the boy must have mistaken him for someone else.

“Do you want to play with me?” He asked, grin still on. “…Really?” Taemin let out, heart racing in excitement. The boy nodded back and stretched out his hand to the other. “My name is Minho. What’s yours?”

“Taemin…” The mushroom boy let out and slowly shook the other’s hand. “Cool name.” The boy let out and looked over to the girl beside him. “May I have that seat, please?” Minho asked the girl, pointing to the swing she was sitting on.

The girl blinked at him for a minute. “E-Eh?” She looked down at her seat and scrambled up. “Sure…” Minho grinned happily and sat down next to Taemin. The girl stared at the two of them before going to play somewhere else.

Minho began pushing himself on the swing, trying to get himself up high. Taemin stayed seated, not moving, only looking at the other. “Why do you…Want to play with me?”

Minho glanced to Taemin while he swung. “Do I have to have a reason? I saw you all by yourself and just wanted to play with you. Plus, I like your hair.”

Taemin’s hands went to his round-shaped hairstyle. “You…You like it?” He couldn’t help but feel warm and pleasant at the compliment.

The two of them swung together—well, mostly Minho who swung, but the two of them talked plenty and laughed together.

“Do you…Want to be friends?” Taemin asked, bracing himself for the rejection.

“No fair.”

Taemin looks up, a bit confused. “Eh?” Minho was smiling as he continued to swing. “I was going to ask you first.”

Taemin felt himself heat up at this. “Oh…Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for that!” Minho laughs. “Of course I’ll be your friend. If you be mine too.”

“Of course I will!” Taemin said, but shrank back once he realized how overly determined he sounded. Minho simply chuckled and continued swinging, letting the wind play with his soft black hair.

“Minho-ah! It’s time to go!”

“Oh! My mom.” Minho stops the swing slowly before getting off. Taemin frowned a bit at this, upset that they couldn’t talk or play more. “I’ll come again tomorrow! Will you be here?” Minho asked, grinning.

Taemin looked up and nodded quickly. There was no way he would miss it!

“Great! Bye bye~” The other waved and ran to his mother, disappearing in the corner. Taemin smiled, and began to finally push himself on the swing, letting it take him up high in the air. He was so happy!

The next few months go smoothly. The two of them meet up, play for a few hours, before each leaving with their mothers. Their friendship grew stronger and stronger, and for Taemin, it soon became something more.

He didn’t understand love very well, but he hoped the other would understand if he told him his feelings.

Once he and his mom got to the playground, Taemin waved her goodbye and dashed into the area, looking for the boy in overalls.

Sadly, after much searching, he wasn’t there. Taemin pouted strangely at this, since Minho was always the one to arrive early. Nevertheless, he decided to wait at their usual area, by the swings.

He sat, and waited…

And waited…

It felt like hours, and the other still hadn’t shown up. Taemin looks around in worry. Did something happen to him? His heart clenched at even the thought of Minho getting into some sort of accident.

Pretty soon, he hears his mother’s voice again, signaling him that it’s time to go. Taemin takes one last look around before getting off the swing and trudging his way to his mom.

“What’s wrong?” His mother asked as they began walking back home. “Minho didn’t show up today…” Taemin mumbles out grudgingly.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you.” His mother stops in alarm, making Taemin look up in confusion. “Minho went with his parents to America for his father’s job.”

Taemin stayed there for a while.

America?

“For how long?”

“A few years. I’m not sure if their even coming back.”

Taemin felt his heart completely shatter. “E-Eh?”

His mother looked back sadly. “I’m sorry Taeminnie…But that’s what his mother told me before they left.” She her son’s soft hair.

“He’ll…Never come back?” Taemin let out, mouth going completely dry. His mother hesitated, but gave a sad nod.

No Way…

10 years later…

Taemin’s in high school now. He’s still scrawny and has that mushroom head, but he’s no longer alone for he has friends and his grades are quite above average. But his life still felt incomplete without Minho.

He walks, almost gloomily, back home. On his way he passes a familiar area. Taemin stops and backtracks, eyes widening once he sees the playground he used to go to when he was little. He didn’t go there after the announcement of Minho’s departure, since it just made him think of Minho’s absence.

Taemin walks in, surprised that there wasn’t anyone around. He climbs up the slide, letting himself slowly glide down the plastic ride. Taemin couldn’t help but smile, feeling somewhat nostalgic about the whole thing.

His eyes go to the swings. Taemin goes over and sits on it. It squeaked a lot louder since it’s been so long and become so rusty. Taemin just sits on it, reflecting back to the memories he had with Minho in the playground.

He really miss-

“Hey there.”

Taemin heard a low voice, plus a presence in front of him. He slowly gazes up to see the same boy, except taller and not wearing overalls. Instead, the boy was wearing more casual clothing, and still had that messy hair and wide grin, plus those big eyes.

Taemin felt his lips curl into a small smile.

“What took you so long?”