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Skylar sighed silently while he looked out the window of the car. His eomma was happily chatting with Cirrus while Hayeon was sleeping, listening to music in her headphones. His eomma invited Cirrus to their trip of visiting his appa and gomo in their hometown. He decided to sleep, not wanting to listen to their conversation.
"Skylar." He opened his eyes with a small groan. "We're here. Wake up." Skylar rubbed his eyes and smiled at his eomma. "Are you sure you want to stay home instead?" His eomma smiled at him. "Yes, Skylar. Take care of your sister for me." Skylar nodded and opened the car door. "Good bye, eomma." He said and waved to Hayeon. "Bye, eomma!" Hayeon waved goodbye to their eomma.
"Is this appa's new apartment?" Hayeon asked, staring at the apartment in front of her. It was definitely more luxurious than their own. Cirrus whistled and smiled at Skylar. "Your appa has more taste." He teased and draped his arm around his neck. Skylar huffed and rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Hayeon." He dragged his suitcase and called his dad, telling him that they were in the elevator.
"Appa, what's your apartment number again?" His dad happily reminded his son and told him that he left the door unlocked for them. "Appa, that's so dangerous." Skylar shook his head and let Cirrus and Hayeon follow him through the halls. "Oppa, where's appa's apartment." She slightly whined and huffed. "We're here, Hayeon." Skylar rolled his eyes and opened the door.
Delicious food was immediately seen by the three teens. "Appa, this is so delicious!" Hayeon cried and ran to the table. "Wait for your gomo." Their dad said and came out the kitchen with an apron and a skillet in his hand. "Yes, Appa." Hayeon sighed and Skylar laughed. Cirrus stayed quiet, watching their interactions with an uncharacteristic blank face.
"Appa." Skylar smiled softly at his dad. "Yes, Skylar?" His dad raised his head to look at his son, only now realizing they had brought a friend. "Oh, yes. I forgot, your eomma told me that you'd be bringing a friend." Skylar's dad looked at Cirrus and greeted him with a kind smile. Cirrus bowed respectfully and greeted him as well. "Ah, no need to bow.. uhm?" Skylar's dad trailed off, not knowing his name.
"Cirrus, Baek Cirrus. Thank you for letting me stay, Yeon-ssi." Skylar's dad smiled and nodded. "It's nothing, Cirrus. Make yourself at home." Hayeon took a bite of kimchi that was on the table and smiled at Skylar who huffed playfully at her. "I'm back! Chan-yeol, dear Oppa!" Hayeon gasped excitedly and stood up. "Gomo!" Their aunt also gasped and then smiled brightly. "Oh! Hayeon! Skylar! Both my joka and jokattal have grown so much!!" She hugged them tightly, not seeing Cirrus who was sitting on the couch.
"G-gomo!" Both Hayeon and Skylar tried to escape their aunt's grasp. "I-I can't br-breathe!" Hayeon cried. "Sorry, eheh." Their aunt immediately let go and stepped back. "O-oh.. Gomo, this is Cirrus. He's a...friend that came with us." Skylar hesitated when saying their relationship with one another. "Oh! Hello, I've never heard of you." Their aunt smiled. "I'm Yeon Baram." Cirrus bowed respectfully. "Thank you for letting me stay, Yeon-ssi." Baram smiled before turning to Skylar with a playful scowl. "See, Skylar? This is how you should treat people older than you." She huffed.
Skylar dropped the rice he was about to eat. "Your 25 years old, gomo." He deadpanned. "Still older." She rolled her eyes. "Come on, Cirrus. Eat with us!" The light brunette nodded and sat with the family.
Dinner was... lively. Everyone was laughing and talking excitedly with each other. Cirrus watched them and looked at Skylar's face before smiling slightly.
In the same room, Skylar was on the floor, reading a book while Cirrus stared at his phone. "Skylar." Cirrus said. Skylar didn't make an indication that he heard him but Cirrus knew that he did. "You have... a great family." Skylar's head raised just a bit, surprised. "Th..thanks?" Skylar said hesitantly. "Have I...ever told you about my aunt?" Skylar looked at him and closed the book. He went on his knees and raised an eyebrow at Cirrus. "No, and I do not care, Cirrus." Skylar huffed. Cirrus stayed still while he watched Skylar get ready to sleep.
He smiled and nodded. "What'll we do tomorrow, Skylar?" Cirrus asked and almost laughed when he heard Skylar's not so hidden groan. "Hayeon and I told appa that we would walk around the park tomorrow." Skylar answered eventually. Cirrus nodded and decided to sleep, settling for annoying Skylar tomorrow.
Morning came and Cirrus woke up to the smell of breakfast and the laughter of people. He sat up on the bed and noticed Skylar's neat makeshift bed on the floor. He walked in the kitchen and watched Skylar cook with his dad, occasionally bickering playfully with no ill intent. Hayeon and their aunt were talking to each other while setting the table. "S-sorry for waking up late." Cirrus wanted to bash his head on the wall when he stuttered. He caught Skylar's raised eyebrow and his dad's kind smile. "It's quite alright, Cirrus. Could you help me and Skylar in making breakfast?" Cirrus nervously nodded. He never made breakfast in all 18 years of his life.
"Great, you can cut up the vegetables over there." Chan-yeol nodded his head to the side and Cirrus saw the vegetables on top of the cutting board and walked over there. He gripped the knife, and stared at the vegetables. He didn't know what to do. "You've never even peeled an apple before, have you." Skylar approached him and whispered. It wasn't even a question. Skylar decided to be nice and took the knife from Cirrus' hand and showed the light haired brunette how to slice the vegetables. He cut a carrot and gave Cirrus the knife back when the carrot was done. "You do it now." Cirrus nodded and carefully copied Skylar by cutting up a cucumber.
"Good enough." Skylar shrugged when he saw the cutted up cucumber. "Just slice the lettuce horizontally and only cut half." Skylar said and went back to his own cooking. Cirrus looked at the lettuce and remembered one of the maids saying it was called a romaine lettuce. Cirrus nodded and did as told. Cirrus felt very proud once he finished and told Chan-yeol he was done. "Thank you, Cirrus." Skylar's dad smiled at him. "You can wash your hands and sit with Hayeon if you want." Cirrus nodded and said your welcome.
"Hello, you're Hayeon, right?" Cirrus smiled at Skylar's little sister charmingly. He watched as his charm worked like, well, a charm. "Oh, wow! You look just like Kay-Oppa!" She exclaimed before blushing. Cirrus heard Skylar scoff and chuckle. "'Kay-Oppa'?" Cirrus didn't know who it was and was surprised Hayeon had a picture of the guy. "This!" Cirrus looked at the phone and raised an eyebrow. They did look alike. From the hair, to the eyes. "Hm.. he does look like me." Cirrus acknowledged and nodded. "Right? But Oppa kept saying you don't." Hayeon said and then focused on watching the performances of Kay-Oppa on her phone.
Cirrus looked at Skylar and his dad cooking together. [He thinks we don't look alike?] Cirrus put a hand under his chin. [What does he mean by that..] Cirrus pondered this until the food was set. "Dig in!" Chan-yeol smiled proudly at the food. Baram ate the food in front of her first and her eyes sparkled. "This is really good! Both of you should really consider opening up a restaurant." She joked and continued to eat happily. Skylar and his dad both blushed at the compliment and smiled. Cirrus decided to try the soup first and was pleasantly surprised at the flavor. Yeon-ssi was correct, Skylar and his dad should open a restaurant in the future.
The family of 4 (plus Cirrus) ate their food happily, chatting with one another occasionally.
"We're going to the park now, appa!" Skylar called out as he grabbed his backpack. Hayeon was tying her shoes at the entrance. "Make sure to get back before dinner!" Skylar smiled and said that they would. Skylar and Hayeon left the apartment. Cirrus was outside the door and followed them out of the building. "Oh, I remember that!" Hayeon pointed at a building after they walked a couple of minutes. "You and your friends used to hang out there, right Oppa?" She looked at Skylar who was staring at the building with no emotions. She flinched lightly. "Y-yeah..hmm." Skylar nodded and smiled. Cirrus raised an eyebrow at the response.
When they arrived at the park, they sat on a bench and smiled at the scenery. "I miss this park." Hayeon sighed. "Hayeon?" A voice from their right called out. They looked and Skylar saw Hayeon's friend. "Omg! Ari, is that really you?" The girl, Ari, smiled and nodded. "It's been so long, Hayeon. I was getting restless just having to chat and video call you." She teased. "This is my Oppa, Skylar." At his name being mentioned, Skylar waved at the girl and smiled. "Good morning." She bowed. "Would you mind if I just hang out with Hayeon for the rest of the morning?" Ari smiled and Hayeon looked at her brother with pleading eyes. "Sure," Skylar sighed. "but be sure to text or call me, Hayeon." His sister nodded and smiled. "Thanks, Oppa! Come on, Ari!" The two girls walked away and left Skylar with Cirrus.
"Is there a place you'd like to visit next, Skylar?" Cirrus sat next to Skylar. "Maybe even share a few secrets?" A sly smirk came to Cirrus' face and Skylar rolled his eyes. "What, so you can blackmail me more?" He deadpanned and Cirrus put a hand on his chest. "You wound me, Skylar." He got close to Skylar's face and smirked. "Do I really seem like the type to do that?" Skylar raised an eyebrow and pushed Cirrus' face away from his. "Yes." Skylar scoffed and stood up. "Come on, I wanna visit a place." Skylar started walking already, not bothering to look behind him to see if Cirrus was even following him.
The place Skylar wanted to visit was surprisingly a middle school. "What're we doing here, Skylar?" The dark haired brunette didn't answer and continued staring at the middle school with a blank expression before it turned to a sick one. He looked like he wasn't to puke. Skylar put a hand on his mouth and started to run to a public restroom. Cirrus had no choice but to follow. He waited for Skylar to finish outside. The male existed the bathroom with water on his lips. "Sorry.." He mumbled and Cirrus crossed his arms.
The two classmates walked around aimlessly, not having an exact location to go to and not speaking to one another. They continued to walk until Skylar bumped into someone. "O-oh, I'm sorry." Skylar turned around to apologize only to freeze when he stared at the brown eyed male in front of him. "J-Joonho?" He stuttered and his eyes widened. "Skylar?" A restrained anger was accompanied when he said his name. "Who's this?" Cirrus crossed his arms and looked at the pathetic guy in front of Skylar. "An... acquaintance from middle school." Skylar said, sweating slightly. "With the way he's angry and you're seemingly nervous, it looks like he isn't just an acquaintance, Skylar." Cirrus commented, jealous.
Joonho seemed to be quiet before he smirked. "I guess the incident in Bullgwang Building wasn't enough for you?" He taunted. Skylar froze, his eyes going dark. Whatever the incident was, it had an effect on Skylar. "What did... what did you just say?" Skylar whispered but it was loud enough for them to hear. "Did you turn deaf now? I said," Joonho stepped closer to Skylar, closer than both Skylar and Cirrus would've liked. "Was it fun? Did you-" Joonho couldn't finish his sentence because the next thing everyone knew, Skylar punched him. Joonho heard something crack and fire like pain erupted from his nose.
Cirrus' eyes widened, he never knew Skylar could get so violent to someone other than him. "What the fuck?!" Joonho gripped his nose, blood gushing out. The people passing by were stopping, some even took out their phones and recorded them. Skylar paid them no mind and breathed in and out heavily. His knuckles were red. Cirrus placed a hand on Skylar's shoulder. "Skylar, what are you doing?" He whispered. Skylar shrugged his hand off, not answering. He stepped towards Joonho who couldn't even leave because some people were behind him. Skylar grabbed the front of Joonho's shirt and pulled him close. "Don't you fucking dare joke about that." Skylar heatedly say.
Joonho, always being the stupidly brave one, decided to taunt Skylar one more time. "Why?" He looked towards Cirrus who stayed behind Skylar. "Because he's the new boyfriend of yours?" Skylar gritted his teeth, his hand already becoming a fist. "Was Minw-" Another large smack was heard. Skylar punched Joonho again. "Don't say his name." Skylar muttered. He let go of Joonho's shirt and let the guy fall on the ground. The people surrounding them was murmuring with each other, others already posting the recording they had. Skylar didn't care and walked away, Cirrus following after.
When they were away enough, Cirrus grabbed Skylar's arm he ignored the way Skylar seemed to thrash in his grip and the flinch Skylar always made. "What was that?" Cirrus demanded an answer. Skylar didn't even look him in the eyes. "He.." Skylar began and hesitated. "He reminded me of an experience.." Skylar decided to answer. "A bad..experience." Cirrus furrowed his eyebrows and huffed. "Sure, Skylar." He rolled his eyes. "Who's Min something?" Surprisingly, Skylar froze in his grip. "N-no one." Skylar suttered. "Doesn't sound like he's nothing, Skylar." Cirrus grunted. Who was that Min guy? Who was he to Skylar? Did something happen between the two? Were they lovers? Were they friends? Did they fight? Why did Skylar react so badly to the guy, even just hearing his name? Cirrus ignored his thoughts.
"It's nothing," Skylar freed himself from Cirrus' grip. "Cirrus." He looked at the double color eyed male in front of him. "Why do you care?" Skylar was just so tired already. He wanted to go back to bed and cry and sleep. "Just shut up already." Skylar sighed and walked towards his dad's apartment. He texted his sister about what he was going to do. Cirrus looked at Skylar and frowned. What exactly happened to Skylar in middle school? He followed behind the male, keeping quiet.
When the two were back in the apartment, everything was quiet. When they walked in the kitchen, Skylar's aunt is sitting there, quiet. "Skylar." She said when she caught a glimpse of them. "We need to talk." She sounded so serious that Cirrus grew slightly worried for Skylar. "Yes, gomo." Skylar sighed silently. He waved Cirrus away, telling him to go to another room. "What is this video?" Cirrus heard Baram demand. "It's... it's not what it looks like, gomo." Skylar sounded so tired. "Really? Because it looks like you're beating a poor kid up!" Skylar scoffed when he heard that. "Poor." He rolled his eyes. "Joonho is barely a poor child, as you put it, gomo!" Skylar shouted. "You-- you don't know what he's like!" Baram sighed and shook her head. "Skylar, I don't know what he did to-" before Baram could finish, Skylar cut her off. "Yeah, gomo, you don't." Skylar gritted his teeth.
"F-for all you know, he could be this fucking bully!" He ignored the shout of his name when he said that curse word. "He-he could be this-this guy who... who did something to me!" Skylar wrapped his arm around his own body, as if to protect or not show his body. "..." Baram stayed silent. "Skylar.." She whispered. It was so quiet that Skylar almost didn't hear it. "Did... Joonho... do something to you... in middle school?" Skylar froze before he dropped to his knees slowly. "I... I don't.. I don't wanna talk...about it.." He released shaky breaths. He curled on himself and flinched when Baram put a hand on his shoulder.
Cirrus was in Skylar's room the whole time, he heard everything, of course, but he stayed silent. He didn't know everything but he knew Skylar went through some traumatic shit for him to react that way. He sighed and went on the bed, not knowing what else to do.
He heard the door open but made no movement or indication he was awake. "Cirrus?" He heard Skylar whisper, making sure the male was asleep (which he was not). Skylar let out an exhale, he was so tired.
He set down blankets on the cold floor and laid down. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was good enough. He closed his eyes and hoped it wouldn't be another nightmare of...that night.
He awoke, just a few minutes after and sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to rest peacefully. He left the room and told his aunt he would be just outside. She let him, albeit a little hesitant.
Skylar enjoyed the cold air hitting his face, as he stared at the moon. He was tempted to smoke, but refrained to do so. He promised himself he'd never smoke again, and he intended to keep that promise.
Minwoo looked outside the apartment of his parents. He saw the young kids playing in the dark, in their delinquent phase. He remembered the times when he was like that.
Of course, he remembered Skylar. He was... scum for doing that to his..best friend. The male sighed and looked at the essay homework he yet to answer.
"I'm going for a walk." He yelled in the empty house. Ever since Skylar's mother moved away, his own mom knew Minwoo did something and their relationship was strained ever since. His father had always been working late nights, so it wasn't even a surprise that he never saw him.
Minwoo walked around the neighborhood, it had always been quiet at night. He started to walk aimlessly, not knowing where he was going. He walked until he was in front of an apartment. More specifically, Yeon Chan-yeol's apartment building.
He took a few steps back but froze when he saw a familiar blob of dark brown hair. Despite the new look and more unsparkly eyes, Minwoo knew who exactly this was.
A name was on his tongue, wanting to say it out loud, but he knew Skylar would only have a panic attack seeing him. He saw how Skylar looked.. peaceful, almost. He knew that behind those eyes, something was on his mind, on his chest. Minwoo remembered the times when Skylar would have that look and how he was always the one by his side.
He was tempted to say something, to apologize, to want the way things were. They were foolish hopes, idiotic dreams, but he couldn't help but want that. "Sk-" "Skylar!" Another voice cut his own and Minwoo stared at another guy, his age, emerge from the gates. Almost as if he was waiting there.
"Stop brooding, would ya?" The male slung his arm around Skylar's neck. "It's not a very attractive look on you!" He teased with a bright grin. As if it was like a potion, Skylar got out of his state immediately. Minwoo couldn't believe his eyes and almost wanted to demand who the other guy was.
"Cirrus, get off." Skylar huffed. He ducked his head and grabbed hold of Cirrus' arm. The two bickered and never noticed Minwoo. The male stared at them with a sad look. He remembered the times when he and Skylar were like that. He missed the times when he and Skylar were like that.