Paradise in You | sope

paradise lived | five

"I didn't think you'd show."

Yoongi didn't know whether to greet normally or be offended by Hoseok's statement. He set his duffle bag down on the grass alongside Hoseok's, heart pounding as if he were already running a marathon though they hadn't started running yet. It was incredibly dark, though Yoongi suspected that Hoseok had suggested a really early time so they'd be more at ease. Nobody they knew would be at the park at this time— at least no one sane.

"It's the thirty first. Halloween," Yoongi responded as they both begun to stretch. "There's no cross country meet today. I would have come out to a run without you."

Hoseok hummed. "Then maybe I would have caught you today."

"Maybe," Yoongi said, "I usually don't come over here to run, though. It's a nice change of scenery."

"Why not?" Hoseok questioned. Yoongi gave Hoseok a small smile.

"My parents wanted us to cut full contact," Yoongi said. "This is the one closest to your home, and they knew this was where we would always hang out. Too many memories here, so they urged me to just run elsewhere, anywhere, just as long as it was away from you. That's what they cared about. Ready whenever you are."

Things were going peacefully between them. If any stranger were to be looking at Hoseok and Yoongi right now, all they would see is a pair of friends conversing with themselves, getting ready to take their morning jog. It was almost as if they had never fought, and for a bit, it didn't feel like they'd ever left each other behind.

They looked like they were having fun. They were having fun. No one would come to Stoney Park on a weekend, especially at five thirty in the morning. It was October thirty first, Halloween, and the weather was on par with the autumn season. It had cooled significantly, going down to about the seventies, but Yoongi didn't mind.

For a second, everything felt like it was in place.

The wind whipped through their hair as they jogged, with Hoseok pulling just slightly ahead to tease Yoongi. After a couple of minutes of silence, they'd fallen back into their old habits, which Yoongi seemed to remember so well. He found himself laughing and playing into Hoseok's mini competitions and bursts of energy, feeling energized every time he looked at Hoseok's brightly lit face, his lips widened into a bright smile.

Yoongi had been the one to grow tired first, while Hoseok had just a bit more energy in him to continue running. But, after they'd run the whole park five times, Hoseok figured it was time for them to take a break. Jogging ahead, Hoseok grabbed he and Yoongi's bags, and Hoseok waved Yoongi's tauntingly.

"If you want some water, come and get it."

Yoongi groaned. "Hoseok, I'm already tired! You're going to make me run more?"

"Do you want water or not?"

In the end, Yoongi ended up chasing after Hoseok, picking up his speed every time that Hoseok was gaining too much distance between them. Though his legs ached, Yoongi knew Hoseok wouldn't give it to him that easily, so Yoongi continued to humor him. After a few minutes, they'd begun to slow down before coming to a complete stop at the farthest end of Stoney Park.

"You suck," Yoongi grumbled as he opened his bag, quickly grabbing his water bottle to drink. Hoseok only looked at him amusedly, wiping the sweat from his face before throwing the cloth over his shoulder, before grabbing his own water bottle.

"You look like you just took a shower," Hoseok chuckled, handing Yoongi. A cloth from his bag. Yoongi made a face, eyeing it with distrust. "Unless you want me to dry your face for you, just grab it. It's clean, I promise."