𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄

#.. NINETY-TWO

It was around seven in the morning but Jiseok was already awake, crying as he hugged his mother tightly.

His mother was crying too, holding onto her only son. "Oh, baby" She sighed once they parted, wiping away his tears. "I never realised how fast the time flied... You're so grown-up.."

Jiseok started crying even more as he held onto his mother's hand. Being an emotional person did not help. It wasn't like he was moving to another country, he could still visit her at least once a month. That'd be worth a 3h train ride.

But everything just suddenly crashed down on him. That he really is an adult now, his years as a child are over. He's leaving his mother behind.

He sobbed, slightly tilting his head down to look his mother in the eyes. "When Dad gets released from prison... Promise you'll be fine..?"

His mother nodded with a sad smile, patting his chubby cheeks. It was so relieving for her to see that her son wasn't struggling anymore.

When he asked her for money to buy himself new clothes because his old ones didn't fit anymore, her heart lit up in joy.

"Don't think of him while you're gone. Leave it all behind" Mrs Cheon smiled, brushing through the boy's hair. "And continue taking care of Seungmin, he still needs it even though he doesn't show it."

Jiseok nodded, taking a deep breath. It was time to go. "I will. Always." One last hug before Jiseok grabbed his suitcase and left the house.

[...]

"Happy birthday, my handsome man" Jiseok called happily as Seungmin opened the door to the flat.

Not even seconds later, he was pulled into a heartwarming hug, with Jiseok snuggling against the younger.

Seungmin was finally 19, as well, just like Jiseok. At first, Seungmin was devastated. It was his first birthday without both of his parents after all.

But then he remembered that it was their moving day, genuinely looking forward to it. Maybe he would feel better when not living in his childhood home.

"Thanks, babe" Seungmin whispered with a smile, kissing Jiseok's forehead once they parted from each other.

Both of them didn't believe that it would stay just a quick forehead kiss. Jiseok immediately leaned in again, kissing Seungmin's lips as he went on his tip toes to reach his boyfriend better. It made the younger smile happily.

They agreed on Seungmin opening his gift in the train, Jiseok was really excited about it. "I'm not sure you'll like it..." was his reasoning. But that wasn't valid to Seungmin.

"I like everything you do. Including your gifts, babe, don't worry about it." Seungmin walked inside to grab his luggage, too. A small look at the flat before he sighed.

Seungmin decided to keep the flat and just put it out for other's to rent. So the past few weeks he's been working hard, removing everything personal, throwing away old stuff (After having a very painful goodbye with his old plushies he had like twelve years ago) and just renovating the flat.

His parent's room was the hardest. He physically and mentally wasn't able to enter it, so Jiseok and the rest helped him out. How happy he was to have them as his friends.

Once the door closed, they knew there wont be no turning back now. Yet before they'd go to the train station, Seungmin wanted to visit his parents' grave again.

Jiseok was glad that Seungmin was comfortable enough to be that vulnerable around Jiseok. It must be hard to leave his parents dug in the ground of a city he'll leave.