[31. Practice]
At early morning after bidding Good bye to Nin, Phet and Dae started for college. Nin seemed like she wanted Dae to stay at their home for some more days." Hey it's not a trouble at all. Dae, you said, your Dad will be back only by next week. So you are alone at home, right ? You can stay here till then.", she had said with a smile. But anyway Dae refused her offer thank fully. He didn't want to trouble her in any means.Dae felt so happy, as he sat in the passenger seat, enjoying the ride to college. The previous day was such a Joyful day. And he slept peacefully, cuddling with Phet. Everything feels so good. He was smiling, looking out of the window." Why are you smiling ?", Phet asked without turning his face." I am just so happy.", Dae said turning his face to Phet." How did you see I was smiling ?"" I saw your dimples.", Phet smiled. " Dae, I am so happy that you are in the college basketball team. Woah ! You are[32. Rules]When Phet reached the basketball court, the boys were at the end of third quarter. He entered the court and sat down in the side-line. Dae saw him and smiled at him whilst running for the ball. He got the ball and scored a basket within the next minute. Phet didn't clap but he smiled as he didn't want the basketball players to turn and look at him confusedly.Soon the third quarter ended. And Chau ran out the court after whispering something to a senior player. It was already 7: 35 and he had meeting with the coaches at 7:30.
[33. Golden Box]Aroon slammed the car door behind roughly and stormed into his house. He climbed up the stairs and barged into Dae's room in anger. The first thing he saw was the torn teddy bear lying on his bed. Aroon took it and threw it harshly on the floor. Then he saw a framed photo of him and Dae on the wall opposite to the bed which was captured 9 years ago. Aroon saw himself hugging Dae in that picture and anger boiled inside his veins.He angrily grabbed the ph
[34. Courage]Dae was cleaning his messy room when he heard footsteps outside the door. Soon he heard the sound of a door slamming shut. He stood up and walked to the door and made his way to the room adjacent to his. He pushed open the door without knocking and a panicked figure jumped up from the bed."YOU..!!", Aroon yelled."Where is that Photograph ?", Dae asked."So you are back ? Why the hell did you come back ?""I asked where are my things ?", Dae yelled"Oh..! So you are angry? Haha...what if I destroyed it, burned it ? Will you be more angry? HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME, SLUT ?", Aroon r
[35. Not my brother]Dae was able to lead a really peaceful and happy life for some days along with Phet and his uncle's family. The house was always filled with laughter and Joy. Phet's caring aunt, his sweet little cousin sister, his kind hearted Uncle, and above all Phet, his real saviour, made Dae feel really really happy.Phet was now always with him, both at college and home. Dae would leave for college along with Phet at 6:30, as Phet decided to join badminton. Th
[36. Good bye]Phet suggested to watch a movie together since it was Friday evening. Uncle Ted agreed happily. They ate dinner together, a little earlier than usual and then sat to watch the movie called 'A moment to remember'. Aunt Nin was the one who suggested to watch it and they all agreed. It was a little bit old movie but was really nice. Dae was sitting with Phet on a small couch with Phailin on his lap and her parents were sitting on an another couch. They were at the climax of the story. All eyes were glued on the screen. Even Phailin was watching carefully. Then suddenly Phet's phone started ringing. “who the hell is this?", Phe
[37. Deal]Dae found himself staring at Aroon's palm, sitting in the passenger seat of his car with the latter sitting beside him, driving back home. His white bandage had disappeared. In it's place Dae could see a wound mark which had not fully healed yet."What are you staring at ?", Aroon asked."That wound on your hand. Does it hurt ?", Dae asked and Aroon glared at him. They continued the ride in silence until Aroon broke it." Open that drawer and take the box inside it.", Aroon said looking straight at the road in front. Dae opened the gl
[38. Lies]Aroon stormed into his room, slamming the door shut. He sat on his bed, frustrated. The words which escaped Dae's mouth moments ago, echoed inside his head. Hewas shocked at how Dae talked back to him without even stammering. He understood Dae is not that scared boy anymore, who would obey everything he says, who was even afraid to look at his face and utter a word. Today, the sam
[39. Powder]Aroon was glad that his Dad believed the lies they told, without having any suspicions. And he was now really excited about the party. But the thought of Dae being in the party annoyed him. He can't simply stand and watch his Dad introducing Dae as his ‘Son’ to everyone. He should do something to prevent Dae from attending the party. If it was a week before, he could have simply done it by threatening Dae and making him tell Dad, he is not well. But now that's not the condition. Dae is not gonna obey him. Moreover he is going to threaten him back, if he tries to threaten him. Aroon was more than surprised with how the younger
[167. I will be with you.]The drive to Sky Park is only 20 minutes. The boys sits in the back seat of a cab, peering out of the windows at the bright lit malls and shops on either sides of the highway. It's almost 7 Pm and all the shops has been brightly lit with colourful lights.'Fake Love, BTS' is playing on the radio in the background and Dae tries humming along with the song whilst carefully observing the Seoul city. The driver, who is probably a guy in his late twenties also sings along with the song in a low voice whilst vigorously shaking his head. Aroon just sits and enjoys the cool wind whipping through his cheeks from the taxi's open window." Are you two a couple ?", the driver suddenly asks stopping his singing and glancing at them through the mirror. Both Aroon and Dae is surprised. Not because the driver asked them that question but because he asked in English." Yeah..", Aroon replies. The driver just smiles in response and starts
[166. Ice rink]Dae sits in one of the side seats of a bus to Seoul with the older's phone in his hands, his eyes glued on the phone screen, his lips curved upward and his dimples visible as he reads the rest of the comments under their post. There had been a lot of new comments, the morning and new comments are appearing every minute. Most of them are supportive and Dae can’t help but feel extremely happy. Whenever he comes across a negative comment, he quickly skips it. He doesn’t let his mind get affected by the negative remarks.Aroon sits beside the younger, carefully watching his expression, smiling slightly whenever the younger’s smile widens a bit more. The boys had left Min's apartment only half an hour ago, after having the breakfast Granny min prepared for them. “ Enough Bun.”, Aroon says after sometime. “ You will get a head ache if you read while traveling.”“ Oh..really?”, Dae tilts his head and asks. “ Yeah I think I am s
[ 165. Overcame Fear]It had past midnight. Dae lied awake looking at the dark ceiling above him, his eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to make some important decision regarding his relationship with Aroon. The older was sound asleep beside him, still one of his strong arms caging him protectively from one side." Aru..", he suddenly called shaking the older. He needs to tell the older something urgently. Out of nowhere, he has suddenly got some strange yet strong courage, a courage to do something, something daring. He needs to do it right now or what if he loses the courage tomorrow morning?Aroon groaned in discomfort as Dae called him again. Dae reached his hands to the nearby switch board and soon the lights were turned on. Aroon's eyelashes fluttered in irritation at the sudden lightening that filled the room along with the younger calling his name whilst shaking him. " What bun ?", he asked slowly opening his eyes." Aru, I have took one impo
[164. Baby..patience ]Aroon sat on the bed, staring at the younger, sitting huddled up on the couch watching some cartoon on TV after having the ramen noodles cooked by granny min, his plump lips curved upward at the end and his dimples visible as he peered at the television screen. The younger looked so cute and hot in his new light blue shirt and cream short shorts.Aroon looked at his watch. It was almost 9 Pm. Dae isn't getting bored watching the damn cartoon. At last Aroon sat up from the bed, ruffling his hair and walked to the younger, the sweet smell of strawberries encasing him as he reaches near him.He slumps down beside the younger inhaling his sweet smell deep into his nostrils. But the younger is so immersed in the cartoon he is watching that he doesn't give him the attention he needed.Losing patience, Aroon grabs the younger's chin and turns his face to him, making him look at his eyes. Dae's heart rate suddenly speeds up at the way the o
[ 163. The old couple. ]Dae walks holding Aroon's hands, a smile sits on his face as he amusedly watches the infinite number of shops and stalls on either side of the road. A heavy plastic bag hangs on Aroon's free hand and it swings back and forth as they walks quickly through the street market of Cheonan. Inside it are the little stuff they bought from that market." Aru, walk slow.", Dae whines." Dae, it's going to rain soon. I think we need to walk 15 more minutes to reach the bus stop."" It's going to rain? How do you know ?", Dae asks confused." Look up at the sky."Dae looks up and sees the greying clouds above him rumbling with warning. Out of nowhere an ice cool wind blows and whips through their hair. A drop of water falls on Dae's nose tip." Aru..yeah..it's raining."Soon fat droplets of rain hits both of their forehead and Aroon runs holding Dae's hands to a nearby tiny restaurant. Standing there under the leak
[162. Baby goats]After almost an hour, Dae wakes up feeling hungry. He blinks his eyes thrice before slowly lifting his heavy eyelids, adjusting his dreary eyes to the morning sun rays rushing in through the open window. He slowly sits up straight, lifting his head from the older's shoulders." Why you woke up quickly ?", Aroon asks, his gaze on his phone, his fingers dancing rapidly over the screen. "There's one more hour to reach there. Sleep a little more.", he says slightly turning his head. Dae just hums in replay but looks out of the window deciding to watch the sights outside for sometime. The bus is now going through a city and tall buildings array on both sides of the road. Soon Dae notices the board of a restaurant and instantly his mouth waters seeing the variety food items on the banner. He feels extremely hungry after seeing the photo of the food items. He hadn't eaten dinner last night. But he feels reluctant to tell Aroon that
[ 161. Bus ride ]Dae squirmed on the bed, left and right trying to meet the familiar warmth. But he didn’t hit Aroon's body even after rolling about a lot. So he finally opened his eyes to figure out where the older actually was. He turned his face to his right and he was shocked. Abruptly he turned around to the left and there too was no one. Dae sat up on the bed in panic with a fast thudding heart. " Aru..", He called out frightened gazing around in the room. He looked over at the window and it's still dark outside. Dae started getting more nervous by the instant. "A..Aru..", He again called and this time it came out muffled because of fear. He was about to cry as no reply came.He only remember both of them running into a hotel, actually a motel at midnight after walking through the empty roads for almost an hour. He was really sleepy then and as soon he saw a bed, he fell on it and drifted into sleep, hugging the older. But now where is the olde
[ 160. Eloped ]It was really dark when Aroon landed at Seoul airport. He had changed the time in his phone from 5: 52 Pm to 7:52 Pm. And it had past 8:20 when he finally got out of the airport and got a taxi. Somehow he was able to tell the driver that we wanted to go to Daegu and fortunately the man understood him.Aroon took his phone and called Oak as soon as he hopped into the taxi.“ Aroon..be really careful. We will call you if there’s anything. And if your Dad calls you, pick the call. Or he will get suspicions. Bye then, take care.”, Oak said before ending the call.Aroon then placed the phone in his pocket and leaned back in his seat.The taxi driver, who was an young man, not looking anything more than 25 tried to converse with him in a English mixed Korean. And Aroon was able to comprehend something. His one week stay with Kim family had taught him a little bit Korean. He also tried to converse a little with the driver in an attempt to
[159. Let’s bring back Dae.]Aroon didn't have dinner. He sat on his desk chair thinking what to do next. An hour ago, he had texted Dae ' Are you okay ?' just to see whether he has his phone with him. The message was marked ‘seen’ after sometime but no reply came. So he understood the phone was either in Mr Kim’s custody or with his own Dad.' Dae isn't alright. Right now, he might be crying, lying in that room where we stayed. Or they might be questioning him. He is definitely not okay. He needs me.', Aroon suddenly took his phone in his hands and started searching for the next flight to Korea.There was a flight at 5 Am. The booking was about to close and he hastily went to book ticket. But soon he found that there was not enough money in his card. It was strange as the ticket doesn't coast that much. He checked the balance and found the whole money in his account has been withdrawn a few hours ago. Aroon felt totally helpless. He called O