Hyung - a word used by Korean males to address their older brothers and other older males whom they are close to
***
Throughout the trip, Min-jun's heart and mind buzzed with over-excitement. He felt as though he might burst from trying to contain it, yet he had no other option.
Every time Seung-joon called him hyung, he could barely control himself from kissing him.
The first morning after they had fallen asleep together, Min-jun woke up early to the sight of Seung-joon curled up against his arm. His eyes roamed across Seung-joon's peaceful face, tracing every line, every feature. When he spotted a small beauty mark on Seung-joon's bottom lip, it completely captivated him. His heartbeat quickened, pounding so loudly that he feared it might wake Seung-joon. But Seung-joon remained still, his breathing soft and calm. With a deep breath, Min-jun forced himself to look away and calm down. When Seung-joon stirred awake and gently shook his shoulder, Min-jun pretended he had just woken up, too, and opened his eyes slowly.
"Hyung, how are you feeling?" Seung-joon asked as he checked Min-jun's body temperature, keeping his palm on his forehead.
In Min-jun's head, he replied, 'almost died of a heart attack,' but aloud he said, "I'm alright. Thank you, Joon-ah."
Seung-joon looked surprised to hear Min-jun address him in a very familiar way, but then he smiled sweetly and nodded his head.
"Then it's okay. I'm glad. Hyung, I'll have a shower first. I'll be quick, or we'll be late for breakfast."
Min-jun's gaze lingered on the bathroom door long after it closed behind Seung-joon. The tension he had been holding onto finally left him as he exhaled deeply. He dropped onto the bed, cradling his head in his hands, feeling the weight of his emotions. Two more days like this—could he handle it? As he rolled onto the sheets, the delicate scent Seung-joon had left behind hit him, sending a wave of longing through his chest.
Once Min-jun showered, they made their way to breakfast, and his spirits lifted when Seung-joon sat next to him. However, the joy was short-lived, as the rest of the day had them separated by their individual activities, leaving Min-jun quietly longing for Seung-joon's company.
***
Min-jun was in the middle of drying his hair, a towel loosely wrapped around his waist, when Seung-joon returned to the room. Panicking, Min-jun fumbled to cover himself with a shirt, nearly tripping as he struggled to get it off the hook. He ended up smiling sheepishly, scratching his head in embarrassment, while Seung-joon quietly took in the sight, his eyes lingering with admiration.
"Hyung, do you work out a lot?" Seung-joon asked, looking at Minjun's well-toned body.
"Well, I take part in a lot of sports activities," Min-jun said as he put on the shirt. Finally, he had managed to take it off the hook.
"Ah... Yes, you're in the basketball team, right? I haven't been to many games, but from what I've seen, you play really well," Seung-joon remarked casually, rummaging through his bag for his evening clothes. The sun was dipping low in the sky, casting a warm glow in the room. Min-jun glanced at the fading sunlight, then back at Seung-joon, feeling a soft flutter in his chest.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" Min-jun asked quickly before his courage failed him.
Seung-joon looked out of the glass wall and smiled.
"That would be great. I'll have a quick wash and come,"
"Okay. Come find me when you are done. I'll wait outside."
Min-jun quickly dressed and headed to the vending machine. He purchased two hot drinks and tucked them inside his jacket. He waited by the main door until Seung-joon appeared, and together, they walked toward the ocean. The sun had nearly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep reds, oranges, and yellows. In comfortable silence, they strolled until they found a secluded corner of the beach and sat down, the resort now just a small dot in the distance, and the only sound was the soft whisper of the waves.
Min-jun gazed at the sky, its ethereal colors blending into the ocean, and then at Seung-joon, who seemed to belong to that heavenly scene. Seung-joon, with his half-closed eyes fixed on the waves, looked serene, almost otherworldly. A slight shiver passed through Seung-joon as the cool evening breeze swept by, and Min-jun quickly pulled out the hot drinks from his jacket. He held one in front of Seung-joon's face. Seung-joon's face brightened with a smile, and his eyes sparkled as he glanced at Min-jun, his expression filled with warmth.
"Thank you, hyung." Seung-joon accepted the drink with both hands. Min-jun, though filled with questions, chose instead to savor the comforting silence between them. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the moment seep into his soul. This, he knew, was a rare, precious moment—one that felt almost surreal, like a dream he wished he could hold onto forever.
"Thank you, Joon-ah," he said quietly, and Seung-joon looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Just... I feel grateful for this moment."
Seung-joon turned his head toward the ocean again. There was a serene look in his eyes and face.
"I feel the same too."
Min-jun thought there was something almost musical about Seung-joon's voice that evening, a sweetness that lingered in the air. They made their way back for dinner, talking with other students as if the day had been like any other. Back in their room, they spoke of future club activities, the easy flow of their words slowly giving way to silence as they drifted off to sleep.
In the silence of the night, Min-jun was stirred awake by a troubling sound. He turned to find Seung-joon crying silently, his hands pressed against his chest as if he were in pain. The sight was so shocking that Min-jun was momentarily frozen, but then he snapped out of his daze and tried to wake Seung-joon. His voice shook with fear and concern as he called out, but Seung-joon remained unresponsive, clearly trapped in a tormenting nightmare.
"Joon-ah... Joon-ah... Wake up... Please wake up," Min-jun's voice trembled as he gently shook Seung-joon and pulled him into a sitting position, enveloping him in a desperate hug. Seung-joon remained unmoved, his body trembling. Tears spilled down Min-jun's chest as he desperately tried to soothe Seung-joon, kissing his face tenderly as he rocked back and forth, clutching Seung-joon tightly in a futile attempt to awaken him from his nightmare.
"Baby... Baby... Wake up... Please don't scare me like this. Joon-ah... I'm right here. Please, wake up..."
Min-jun enveloped Seung-joon in a tight embrace, his heart pouring out silent prayers to the heavens. Just as he was about to call for help, he felt Seung-joon's trembling cease. He slowly examined Seung-joon's face and felt a wave of relief wash over him when he saw that Seung-joon had drifted back into a peaceful slumber. Min-jun gently brushed the tears from Seung-joon's cheeks and kissed his forehead with trembling lips. He continued to hold him close, ensuring Seung-joon was completely at ease before getting out of the bed and covering him snugly with the sheets. Exhausted and emotionally spent, Min-jun retreated to the bathroom, where he sat as if detached from his own body, quivering. After what seemed like an eternity, he managed to return to Seung-joon. Sinking to the floor beside the bed, Min-jun fell asleep holding Seung-joon's hand.