Bittersweet Memories (A Stray Kids Short Story Collection)

The Night Rider VII

     Seungmin's parents had let Jeongin sleep in.

     That was the first sign that maybe today would be special. Jeongin could go see Minho today. He could return Sunny and leave behind his confusion. He was ready.

     "Do you need to go get the bike?" Seungmin asked.

     Jeongin nodded in between mouthfuls of rice.

     "If you want, I can put your bike in my car booth and drive you over to Minho hyung."

     And Jeongin almost spat out the rice. "You'll do that!?"

     "Of course. Bold of you to assume I don't go and visit Minho hyung from time to time," Seungmin said with a grin.

     Jeongin wouldn't even need to wait until nighttime. This day was getting better and better.

     So the two were off a little into the afternoon. The car atmosphere had also warmed up just like the weather outside. Not a trace of rain remained and Jeongin almost thought it was way too beautiful of a day to follow a storm.

     Soon, the car was back at the repair store, where Seungmin got the bike into the back of the car with Jeongin's help. "So you're riding the bike to and from?"

     Jeongin shook his head. "I actually came to Seoul to return Su- the bike to Minho hyung. I barely use it so I figured... why keep it?"

     "I know Sunny's name, you don't need to hide it," Seungmin said with a smirk. But then he frowned. "Wait, so that's it?"

     "That's it for what?" Jeongin asked.

     "Nothing, it's just that..." Seungmin hesitated. "Are you sure Minho hyung would want it back? He gave it to you for a reason."

     "Of course he'd want it. Sunny is literally his child, following Sooni," Jeongin said with a chuckle.

     Did it sound forced? No, it was true. This was natural. This was the way things were supposed to be.

     Seungmin only shrugged and started the car again.

     The car finally stopped outside of the final destination. Jeongin could feel his heartbeat quicken, though he wasn't quite sure from what. "Thank you so much for everything, Seungmin hyung."

     "No problem. This was fun," Seungmin said. He paused for a moment before placing both of his hands on Jeongin's shoulders, looking him straight in the eye. "Listen. Don't be a stranger. You can still give me a call now and then. Visit again the next time you come to Seoul. I'm sure my parents are fine with you at this point."

     "That's good to hear..." Even if their mess of a family might never be repaired, they could at least stitch one fragment back together. "Yeah, I'd like that!" He leaned forward, arms out stiffly, and exhaled in relief when Seungmin accepted the hug.

     "Cya, Jeongin." Seungmin looked past Jeongin, staring at the gated area they were in front of with a sombre look. "Say hello to Minho hyung for me."

     Jeongin almost asked Seungmin to come with him. But he decided against it. This was the final stretch of his journey he had to do alone. But he felt ready.

     So Jeongin took his bike out of the car and waved to Seungmin until he pulled away. Now, it was just him and Sunny.

     Jeongin took a deep breath and pushed Sunny through the gate. Multiple birds chirped around him, frailing from one tree to another like a game of tag. The leaves were green, the sky cloudless, and the sun shone too bright.

     It was a beautiful area if one ignored the endless rows of gravestones spread out throughout the ground, turning this utopia into a nightmare.

     Finally, Jeongin arrived at his final destination. The point which he had braved through so much to reach. He forced himself to smile.

     "Hello, Minho hyung."

     Lee Minho

     1998- 2018

     Beloved son, brother, and friend. Never truly gone because you truly lived.