章 2: Chapter 2: In the Dark
Over the next passing days Hongjoong regularly returned to the spot at which he had met Seonghwa. He did his best to go there at different times. Every now and then he would even go there more than once during the same day. He was quite sure that Seonghwa had said he would be around often. Right? If he was actually nearby they had not had any luck crossing paths. Hongjoong started heading home for the day. He did not like to admit that his heart sank every time he left the park without having met.
It was currently the weekend and Hongjoong was walking through the park scouting for Seonghwa. It didn't seem like he had any luck today either. As he walked something suddenly felt familiar. Hongjoong stopped to look around. What was this feeling? He looked around the area but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Suddenly he realized it. Was this not where the path to the lake had been? Hongjoong stepped off the main path and started looking for the the smaller passage. He searched for quite a while but did not find anything. He was certain it had been right here. After some time he crouched and started searching through the foliage but there was simply no trace of any path. An uncomfortable and cold feeling suddenly seeped into him. He stood up and looked around. Two people had just passed Hongjoong. They looked like a couple. One was a woman and the other was a very tall man. She was holding on to his arm and from their style and fashion they looked quite rich. The woman had been turning her head away from him and something told Hongjoong that it had been in his direction that she had been looking. He shivered and decided to leave. This place no longer felt comfortable.
Hongjoong stepped through the front door of his small flat. It was late summer and still warm outside. How could he feel this cold. Maybe he was about to fall ill. He went to the kitchen and made himself a hot cup of tea before bringing the tea and his laptop to his tiny couch. He brought his legs up under himself and sat crosslegged with a pillow in his lap, and the laptop on top of the pillow. Hongjoong opened the device, logged in and went straight to Maps. He searched for his city and started to zoom in on the park. His eyes scanned across the map looking for a clearing with a lake. It had been very dark when Seonghwa took him there and he was unsure how big or small the lake had been. He wasn't even sure of it's shape, though he doubted that it would be hard to find. Weirdly enough it was nowhere to be seen. Hongjoong couldn't believe it. It had to be there. One way or another. Maybe the lake was actually covered by treetops and it had been too dark to see back then. He sighed and put his laptop away. Maybe they hadn't updated the satellite photos or maybe the lake had been man made since the pictures were shot.
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Hongjoong sat at the piano playing one of his usual songs. Through the corner of his eye he watched the crowd as it moved about. The place wasn't very known but there were no empty seats left. People called it a hidden gem. It was dark outside and the room was filled with the scent of alcohol. Despite this there were no drunk people. They would be asked to leave so the bar could maintain a relaxed and safe environment for the customers. Hongjoong didn't dislike his job, but is was not well paid and even though he was free most of the day it was still tiring with a night shift. The melodies he played were so familiar that his mind slowly wandered off whilst still playing the correct notes. Seonghwa struck his mind. Who was he? And what was he doing at this very moment? Hongjoong wondered why he couldn't stop thinking about someone he barely even knew. But maybe it was fate. Maybe there was a reason why they had met.
Hongjoong looked up, his eyes not really focusing on anything. He must be mad if he actually started to hallucinate about this stranger, but there he was. Seonghwa. Walking across the room towards the exit. Hongjoong blinked and did a double take. He was actually there. Hongjoong unhesitatingly got up and rushed towards the doors which the other had just passed through, not caring about abandoning the piano mid-song.
HJ: "Seonghwa?!"
He called out as soon as he stepped out onto the sidewalk. Seonghwa's figure disappeared down the street. Hongjoong couldn't figure out if he should follow him or not. His shift wasn't over yet. But he swiftly decided that Seonghwa was more important. He could always stay overtime later. On his way down the street he ran past a narrow alley squished between two buildings. He briefly caught a glimpse of something purple but did not think much of it.
The chase eventually lead Hongjoong back to the park. He slowed his pace and walked attentively through the tall iron gates. It felt much darker than before. He looked up but saw no moon. Had it been overcast today? He couldn't remember clearly. He took out his phone and switched on the flashlight. The light seemed weaker than usual, but not by a lot. All tracks of Seonghwa had been lost but Hongjoong had a strong feeling of where he might be. He followed the path down to where he had been earlier that same day and to his surprise he spotted the smaller passageway immediately. Strange. He swore it had not been there previously. He looked around but it was too dark to see much. Wasting no more time standing around he scurried down the small path and into the darkness. As he continued down the tunnel of trees, his light flickered and faded. This sent chills down his spine. But he kept going. He was determined to find Seonghwa.
Having stumbled about in the dark for a while he finally stepped out of the darkness. The darkness was still intense but he noted that there was indeed lots of access to the sky. There was no way the lake couldn't be seen from a satellite or drone photo. He adverted his gaze from the sky laid it upon a figure sitting by the lake. It was Seonghwa. He was sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms resting on them. Hongjoong moved closer to the man by the lake. On the water surface the countless lights appeared as he got closer. The air felt tense and quiet. Unexpectedly and out of nowhere Seonghwa flinched and moved very suddenly. He stood up faster than Hongjoong had ever seen anyone get up. He turned around to face who had arrived. His legs were softly bent and his right arm hovered by his side as if ready to jump into action. The right leg was behind his left and it was so close to the water that it looked like it was about to slip into the lake at any given moment. Seonghwa's eyes were wide open as he looked at Hongjoong. After some time he finally relaxed and sighed deeply, his eyes closing along with the exhale.
SH: "... just you."
Seonghwa's voice was almost a whisper and the first part of his sentence was inaudible.
HJ: "Are you alright? You seem on edge."
SH: "I apologise for that... I have had some trouble back at home. I did not expect to see you here."
His breathing was deep and slow. He did not make any eye contact with Hongjoong.
HJ: "I saw you at my workplace and followed you here."
SH: "You saw me where?"
HJ: "At the cafe-bar where I work. You don't remember?"
SH: "I have never been there."
Seonghwa looked straight at Hongjoong. An uneasy feeling settled between the two of them.
HJ: "You could come to my place for tonight. It's nearby and you said you had trouble back at your place."
Hongjoong started to walk over to Seonghwa but he didn't get very far before Seonghwa hastily moved away. Nearly sprang. With one swift but elegant movement he had now placed himself somewhere behind Hongjoong.
SH: "Yes. Your place is alright."
Hongjoong studied Seonghwa's face. His voice felt slightly strained. He was acting very oddly and seemed somewhat scared but at the same time scared was not the right word to describe his feeling. He was definitely worried about something though. Something he did not want to share. Hongjoong's trail of thought stopped when the other held out his hand for him to take. He took it and allowed Seonghwa to guide them back out through the darkness.
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Hongjoong unlocked the door to his little home. Though Hongjoong wasn't one to feel insecure he still felt slightly embarrassed about bringing Seonghwa with him. He could only image how amazing Seonghwa's place might be. He probably even had a family. Why else would there be trouble back where he came from. Hongjoong refused to admit that it made him a little sad.
HJ: "Welcome to my home. I live here. It's probably nothing special compared to what you're used to."
SH: "No. I like it. It seems... cosy? Large spaces are nice but there is a certain type of comfort about smaller spaces too."
HJ: "Hmmm. You're right. Please make yourself at home."
Hongjoong couldn't help but smile to himself secretly. Seonghwa always managed to make him feel better. This was only their second time meeting but he had definitely missed him. From the kitchen he observed Seonghwa who was now peacefully sitting in his small couch. He looked out of place like a lion in a pen. Hongjoong wondered.
HJ: "What does your place look like?"
Seonghwa shifted in the couch to face Hongjoong.
SH: "How do I describe it. It is indeed grand as I imagine you have in mind."
They briefly made eye contact.
SH: "There are countless of rooms and halls with large windows and easy access to outdoor areas. In fact the largest of the halls is so big that you could probably fit a whole mansion within it. There are windows so large that you could easily fly a small plane through and into the hall. And at the very end of the hall is a mighty throne. Upon this throne the king shall sit."
Hongjoong who had been preparing some drinks for them came over and set them on the table before the couch.
HJ: "Are you gonna do this to me every time I ask you about something?"
Seonghwa reached for his drink and cupped it in his hands, enjoying the warmth that seeped out from it. He then rested hands in his lap.
SH: "Absolutely."
HJ: "You're enjoying yourself too much with this."
Hongjoong sighed jokingly and shook his head. Seonghwa was very mysterious but it was part of his charm. Though he was curious he decided not to push Seonghwa for an actual explanation. Instead he sat on the floor beside the table.
The two of them small talked for some time before one of them finally checked the time. It was past midnight and they both agreed it was bedtime. Hongjoong attempted to get Seonghwa to take his bed that night but Seonghwa insisted on taking the couch. Hongjoong tried to convince him by saying that Seonghwa would be too tall for it but he could not move him at all.
It was late and the apartment was quiet. A weak light in the kitchen illuminated the small living room the best it could. Seonghwa sat quietly deep in his own thoughts. His eyes scanned the space around him as if taking in where he was. He eventually got up and walked over to the window. They were probably about 4 stories up. He glanced up and down the street a few times and was about turn back when a glow appeared down below. He hurriedly went to check what it was, but it was gone before he managed to see anything.
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