"Where to now?" asked Yangyang at the bottom of the stairs, back to street level.
"How about Bryant Park?" Amari grinned playfully, imagining the suggestion was a surprise. "We can catch the Seven just a block up."
"Yeah?" A hand squeezed his shoulder in concern. "It's already late afternoon. It'll be really crowded."
Amari continued smiling and pulled Yangyang forward. "It's always really crowded. That's why I like it."
There was no argument and an arm rested back on his shoulder. When they reached the station, he let the man lead him since it had been too long and he couldn't remember the exact layout. They caught the train, and five minutes later, they were walking out into Bryant Park.
"Here. There's an empty bench over here."
Yangyang took his hand and pulled him through the crowd, taking a seat. He stayed standing for a moment, looking around, trying to get his bearings. He knew the park well and it seemed they were near the fountain, facing the public library.
Sitting next to Yangyang, he took a deep breath. He could smell a fusion of different foods, from both the shops and the street carts. "It's still too early for the winter village and rink, but the holiday shops should be open, right?"
"Yeah, it looks that way." Yangyang chuckled. "Maybe you're feeling hungry, sniffing the air like that?" He gave him a shy smile and nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, and the man chuckled again. "I'm not sure what they have. Is there something you're craving?"
He shook his head. "I'm not picky when it comes to food, so get whatever you want."
Setting the bags at his feet, Yangyang walked off into the crowd. He followed with his eyes as far as he could, but the figure quickly disappeared into the rest of the blur. Shifting the bags between his boots so they wouldn't run away, he closed his eyes, hanging his head over the back of the bench. It was awhile before he heard footsteps close in and felt a warm bowl placed into his hands.
"Sorry. It was busy." Yangyang sat next to him and handed him a disposable fork. "Ramen. Hope that's alright." With a nod, he smelled the delicious contents of the bowl. "I also have chopsticks. I wasn't sure."
He let a light giggle escape at the man's awkwardness. "Chopsticks're fine for the ramen, but the fork's best for everything else."
Stabbing into the bowl, he stirred, vigorously mixing the ingredients together, then put a large helping into his mouth.
"I don't understand. Most of the time you act so cool and collected, but someone sets food in front of you, and you lose all composure." Amari turned and frowned, ramen still hanging from his mouth, and Yangyang laughed, patting him on the back. "Don't choke."
They ate in silence, Amari too interested in his food to stop and speak. When he finished, he let out a satisfied sigh and set the bowl down on the bench next to him.
"...Maybe because I was broke and homeless... Now that I know I can have it, I always crave it."
He said it softly, almost a whisper, just thinking out loud. Did Yangyang know he used to be homeless? He knew about Seungwoo and the shelter. Amari tried to run through his memories, those little moments where he let pieces of himself show, but he couldn't recall anything. There was no response from the man, so he leaned his head back again, closing his eyes.
"Tired?" Yangyang was still eating his food, not as ravenous as his partner. Amari shook his head. "Something else wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I'm just listening."
"Listening?" Setting his food down, Yangyang shifted closer to the boy until their thighs and shoulders brushed together. "What are you listening to?"
"People." He sat up and reached carefully over in the man's direction, feeling for his eyes. Covering them with a hand, he guided his head backward.
"Close your eyes and sit comfortably. Just listen to everything around you, without looking."
He shut his own eyelids, slouching down a bit on the bench. The park and the streets surrounding it were bustling, the activity buzzing in his ears. The water of the fountain gurgled and splashed. Children raced around it, giggling and crying out excitedly as they played. Couples, friends, and even strangers sat on benches chatting, having random conversations about life - about family, work, school, hobbies, and the upcoming holidays. Their voices were happy, sad, angry, disappointed, eager, anxious, sweet – that tone was all he needed to know what expression they wore and how they were feeling.
Further away, people wandered between the temporary shops, deciding what to eat or buy. Customers ordered and merchants sold. Music played somewhere in the distance. Cars and buses drove by behind them, and a multitude of footsteps stomped and shuffled around them.
Everything together was a collection of meaningless noise - that normal hum of city life people quickly learn to ignore. For Amari, it painted a picture in his mind, letting him see what was happening around him. Instead of ignoring it, he tried to pick out each individual sound, putting them together like pieces of a puzzle. The effort was tiring, and he mostly avoided the crowds, but sitting here this way reminded him what it was like to be part of the world.
"This park's always busy, and that's why I like it." He finally opened his eyes again, squinting and blinking in the light. "There's always something going on. Music, movies, shops and events... And always a lot of people roaming around. Meeting to talk, bringing their children to play, or doing whatever. It's lively."
Yangyang was quiet for a moment and then let out a small, breathy laugh. "Like people watching, but with your ears." Amari nodded. "It's nice. It's not something I paid much attention to before."
"I always do these things by myself." He turned toward the man and smiled softly. "But I had a really good day. Thanks."
Yangyang set a hand on his for just a moment before moving it away. "It was your day. You just brought me along." He leaned sideways to get closer. "It was honestly the best day I've had in a long time."
Amari felt his cheeks warm and Yangyang chuckled at him. "But, the day isn't over yet, is it?" The man stretched his arms high above his head. "I don't really want it to end."
"Yeah... It's still Monday. A little earlier than usual, but we could go to the karaoke studio."
Quickly grabbing the bags from between Amari's feet, Yangyang stood and pulled the boy up. "Let's go! I haven't heard Xiǎo Li sing in almost a full day."
Amari rolled his eyes, then paused and hesitantly asked, "Do you wanna invite Yin jiě? Or anyone from your band?"
"Do YOU want to invite them?"
The boy scratched his head, looking away. "It might be fun."
He felt a firm pat on the shoulder. "Alright. I'll call jiě and see if she wants to meet us there. She'll be out of work soon."
"Okay."
An arm was back, resting on him as the man chatted on the phone.
"She's coming?" Yangyang confirmed and he pointed down the street. "Let's just walk. It's only eight or nine blocks away."
"Alright."
The two walked leisurely along the sidewalk, Yangyang pointing out all of the shops and restaurants that had changed since the last time he was in the area, and Amari happily listening to him babble on.
When they reached the corner to turn into Koreatown, Yangyang hesitated. "Are you sure you're alright coming back here?"
The boy smiled. "Are you worried?" He could hear the obvious concern and gave his back a comforting rub. "I took care of that problem. Seungwoo hyung won't bother me anymore. Most of my relationships weren't like that."
"Alright," said Yangyang, not sounding entirely convinced, but he started walking again anyway. "Let's stop in H-mart for drinks and food, so we don't have to go back out again."
The two wandered down the shop aisles, the man throwing random snacks and premade goods into a basket, occasionally asking Amari for his opinion. Turning toward the checkout area, Amari's heart stopped as he heard a familiar voice call out.
"Hyung! Hyuuuuung!"
A boy not much shorter than him came running down the aisle and launched himself forward, arms thrown around his neck. He felt Yangyang tense up at his side and the man pushed the newcomer slightly, letting him know he should release his hold and step back.
With a happy giggle, the arms let go. "Hyung! I haven't see you in so long! You just left and never stayed in touch... though I understand why."
Yangyang pulled Amari a little closer and there was another loud giggle.
"Who is this? The boyfriend? Daaaaaaebak... He's so tall and wide."
Feeling Yangyang flinch slightly, Amari smiled. "Just a good friend. We're going to the noraebang, so we're getting snacks."
"Ne... If you could see the look he's giving me right now, you wouldn't think he was just a friend..."
Yangyang flinched again and Amari let out a small giggle. "Did he turn red when you said that?"
"Ne, wanjeonhi! So red." The boy was easily excitable, but cleared his throat to compose himself. "Anyway, I'm Park Minwoo."
He reached out and took Yangyang's hand, shaking eagerly. Yangyang introduced himself and Minwoo released his grip.
"My hyung never smiles or laughs, so you must be a really great guy... Oh. You're blushing again. Smol."
"Isn't he?" asked Amari, taking advantage of the situation. The man groaned and removed his arm, but he just smiled at the large child and pointed playfully toward Minwoo. "Minwoo... is Seungwoo hyung's younger brother."