Red Strings

Red Strings 1/?

His hair was well kept though the signs of fingers threading through those locks numerous times were obvious, not considering the fact that Taekwoon had counted each time the man did it in the time span he's known him. His face was angular with sharp features, his jawline threatening to cut those who dare touch it. His nose wasn't too big but wasn't too small, wasn't too pointy but wasn't too round either; it was pretty, Taekwoon thought. His lips were a pale pink, thin in shape but tempting all the while.

His eyes. His eyes were something else. Taekwoon noticed the way they stared at everything with a certain glint in them. Sharp and tantalizing. They could petrify and melt anyone in an instant; the perfect contradiction that was his very being, Taekwoon determined.

His tattoos complimented his lightly tanned skin, scattered anywhere and everywhere on his arms, another peeking out from the collar of his shirt. They wrapped his arms, binding it in black lines, twisting and turning, coming to life with each movement of muscle.

Then, there was that.

That red thread. The string of fate that tied the two together by their pinkies, gleaming brilliantly against both of their skins.

Taekwoon had almost forgotten about it.

So he was the one. Taekwoon's stare of curiosity quickly died down. But Wonsik was man. Not that it was wrong in any way but was that okay? Is this some mistake? Was a man allowed to love another man?

"Wonsik... can I ask a stupid question?"

"It's not like you haven't already, so go for it." Wonsik smiled, his tone light.

"Can a man love another man?" Taekwoon spit out, looking at Wonsik with curiosity brimming in his eyes.

Wonsik turned his head towards Taekwoon incredulously, "Why?"

"They can't?"

"No, it's not that they can't. People can love whoever they want. It's just... why?" Wonsik asked, "Falling for me already?"

Taekwoon broke out in a fit of laughter, clutching his stomach.

"I'm not sure if I should be offended or happy I made you laugh." Wonsik chuckled, shaking his head as the other wiped tears from his eyes, "It really wasn't that funny."

"To you it might not be, to me it was." Taekwoon sighed, settling down.

The air around them was weightless, a happy feeling coming from both of them.

"Don't you think this is a little weird?" Wonsik asked, turning his head up to look at the sky.

"What is?"

"Just moments ago I had you against the wall, looking scared shitless and now we're talking about whether or not gay love is okay. Weird, isn't it?" Wonsik laughed, looking thoughtful. "Most people would've said goodbye by now and been on their way."

"Hmm... I guess it's a little funny. Not weird, but funny. Fate is like that it seems." Taekwoon responded, smiling a little.

"Fate, huh? Bullshit." Wonsik chuckled, "I don't think fate is anything all that powerful. It's the person that decides what road they'll go down."

"But why does a person waiver? Or change their mind? Or procrastinate? It's because they're trying to fight against fate but in the end, whatever choice they made had already been decided for them. That's what my mother always said." Taekwoon explained, clasping and unclasping his hands that sat in his lap. His fingers reached to tug on the red string out of habit, stopping when he realized how weird it would look to see him tugging on thin air in Wonsik's point of view.

"That was probably the smartest thing that's come out of your mouth so far and it was because you were reciting someone else. If that's the case then fate hasn't been all too kind to me." Wonsik said, his head turning down to stare at his hands.

Taekwoon stared at him, unable to understand the look on the others face. His lips were pouted and his eyebrows furrowed. How was he feeling? Taekwoon was sure Wonsik wasn't feeling happy at the moment and the thought of it made his heart cry.

"Are you sad?" Taekwoon whispered softly, leaning closer to look at Wonsik's face clearly.

"Do I look sad?" The other turned to face him, their faces mere inches apart.

"I don't know." Taekwoon breathed, "I don't think I've ever seen anyone sad or felt it to know but my mother says it's not a good feeling."

"That's... I'm not sad, don't worry." Wonsik said, a hand patting Taekwoon on the back softly.

"What time is it?" Taekwoon asked as he looked around, reality coming back to him. "I have to get home before my parents do!"

"What about your cat or whatever?"

"That's right! I forgot! I need to go find Miko!" Taekwoon sprung up from his seat on the bench, his sense of balance nearly nonexistent as he tumbled forward. "They're going to kill me!"

"Chill, chill. Just tell them the cat jumped out of the window and you weren't sure if you should chase it or not so you stayed in like the good boy you are." Wonsik sighed, turning on the bench to lay down on his back.

"Oh, right. I can say that... but that's lying. Oh my goodness, I don't even know how to get home!" Taekwoon suddenly felt very flustered and naive for chasing the cat around when he didn't even know his way to anywhere.

"Are you serious?" Wonsik suddenly sat up, "How do you not know where you live?"

"Because I'm always there!"

"Is there anything that stands out? Do you think you're far from home?" Wonsik asked, standing up.

"I don't know!"

Wonsik was sure the poor guy would break into tears any second, grabbing him by the shoulders to stop his fidgeting. "I could get around the place with my eyes closed. So just tell me, how did the place look from your window?"

"There was... there was... My father has a black car." Taekwoon mumbled.

"More specific! Anyone could have a black car. Was there a school nearby? Your neighbor a grumpy traditional old man?" Wonsik answered back, exasperated.

"Oh! Oh, I know. The house in front of mine, they have this small fountain where birds come. It's a really light blue and it's visibly chipped." Taekwoons eyes lit up as he felt a proud feeling bloom in his chest.

"A fountain... Chipped? Are you talking about the Baek's? Baek In Ha and Baek In Ho?" Wonsik asked as he thought about the old couple who greeted him regularly when they saw him. He noticed the blank look on the other man's face, realizing that he probably didn't even know their names. "The old lady who always wears leopard print?"

"Oh, yes! How'd you know?" Taekwoon cheered, his feline eyes becoming big and round. Wonsik rolled his eyes at the others childish reaction, started to stroll down the sidewalk, listening intently at the soft padding of feet following him. He smiled.

"I told you, I could get around the area with my eyes closed. Come on, your house shouldn't be that far."