when he was eight and the boy was seven;

🌼

after their first meet up, the two were starting to see each other more often till they were the best of buddies. actually, it wasn't that hard to be friends with yukhei since he's quite of a talker and very friendly towards people.

and even towards dogs.

❝you know,❞ by now, yukhei already was fluent with their language and it honestly made jungwoo frown as he missed the boy who had a broken accent. ❝we can't just stay here forever.❞

building the sand castle that yukhei is helping up with, jungwoo handed the boy the flags and gave him the honors to place them on their castle. ❝but our moms would get worried.❞

❝we won't go far!❞ yukhei said, pouting after putting the flags up. he then threw his arms around the boy and pointed that ice cream parlor right across the street. ❝see that?❞

jungwoo gasped and pushed the younger male beside him. ❝are you crazy?❞

❝come on!❞ whining, yukhei hoped that he'd be able to convince jungwoo this way. ❝what's a childhood without an adventure?❞

crossing his arms, jungwoo looked at the younger boy who's slightly taller than him. probably just by an inch. ❝last time we went on an adventure, you scraped your knee.❞

❝correction,❞ yukhei held his index finger up as he was trying to make a point. ❝i wasn't able to see the vision.❞

which meant that he wasn't able to see the tree branch on the ground that he stumble on it. jungwoo sighed, ❝thus causing you to bruise your knee.❞

jungwoo hasn't thanked him yet but he was able to talk a little more because of yukhei. that boy would always throw a tantrum on him whenever he's silent, or annoy him till he speaks a word. it went on like that till jungwoo got comfortable with his company and now started to speak much with him. he would even sassy comments that surprises yukhei every single time.

❝i have money with me,❞ wiggling his brows, yukhei knew this would make jungwoo go with him. ❝i'll treat you ice cream.❞

❝yukhei..❞ jungwoo puckered his lower lip before turning around to see if his father was looking back at him fortunately for him, both his parents were busy talking with yukhei's mother. ❝fine—❞

screeching, yukhei immediately dropped his arm on the older's shoulder. ❝i know you would give in.❞

rolling his eyes, jungwoo let the younger boy drag him. he actually just can't resist him and his crazy ideas. ❝but if we get in to trouble, don't blame it on me.❞

❝sure,❞ the two of them succeeded in leaving the playground without getting caught by their parents and now they had to face the road. ❝i'll blame it on superman.❞

mentioning his favorite superhero, jungwoo's jaw dropped and made him smack the younger's chest. it only made yukhei laugh at his reaction though. ❝don't blame it on my superman!❞

chuckling at how adorable the older is in defending his pwn favorite hero, yukhei had his eyes on the road that had cars passing by. seeing a pedestrian lane with tons of people waiting to cross, the boy took hold jungwoo's hand and dragged him towards there, also making him stop from talking about amazing his superman is.

❝just hold my hand.❞

with his brows raised at the younger's statement, jungwoo just can't seem to trust him. ❝do you even know how to cross?❞

giving him a sheepish smile, yukhei had his hand rubbing his nape while slowly shaking his head. ❝nope.❞

❝yukhei, we are going to die!❞

❝relax, superman is here to save us.❞ yukhei hissed when jungwoo had screamed a little bit too loud near his ear.

turning his head everywhere, looking for the superman that yukhei is referring to, jungwoo furrowed his brows at the boy beside him. ❝where?❞

shamelessly raising his hand and settling it below his chin, yukhei just gave the older beside him his usual bright smile. ❝here, i'm your superman.❞

at a very young age, jungwoo didn't know what he was feeling after hearing the boy say that. he felt butterflies inside his tummy but he couldn't remember eating one. he busy wondering what he was feeling and why his face was heating up that he didn't even notice the younger boy already pulling him as they crossed the road with a bunch of adults in different occupations.

jungwoo wanted to know what this feelings was, what the butterflies are called, and why on earth was his heart beating so fast that he could feel it leaving his ribcage.

❝woo?❞

looking up, it jungwoo widened his eyes at how time slowed down for him upon seeing the younger boy's face so close to his. ❝h-hm?❞

passing him his goofy smile, yukhei didn't bother the little boy anymore and just went over to the ice cream parlor that he surprisingly had convinced jungwoo to go with him. the boy struggled to push the glass door open but with jungwoo's help, the two finally had gotten inside and felt the cold breeze of the air conditioner. they stood there with their mouths wide open, trying to eat the cold air.

realizing the idiotic action they are doing, both boys looked at each other before laughing.

the kids' laughter echoed inside the ice cream shop they were in. it caught the other customers' attention but they only cooed at the cute sight instead of getting annoyed by it.

❝what flavor do you want?❞ yukhei questioned, dipping his hand inside his small pocket and getting a bill that his mother gave him the other day.

still holding the boy's hand, jungwoo pressed his lips into a thin line and tapped his chin using his finger. he was thinking very deeply even though he already had a flavor in mind. yukhei watched him with a smile, already knowing what the little boy's favorite was but he just wanted to ask him.

and plus, at least he got to see an adorable sight of little jungwoo pondering.

❝chocolate it is then.❞

jungwoo was cut off when the boy just mentioned his favorite, but he didn't even tell him about it. ❝hey!❞

❝you're taking too long to think!❞ complaining, yukhei now went to counter while dragging the little boy with him. the two were still holding each other's hands and didn't plan on letting go sooner. happily placing the bill down the counter, yukhei hoped that the bill was enough for two ice creams. ❝one vanilla and one chocolate ice cream!❞

his bubbly attitude made the person behind the counter smile. she registered their orders and noticed that the bill wasn't enough. eyeing down on the two kids, she then decided to just pay the remaining coins and left the counter for a short moment just to get their ice creams.

jungwoo stood their silently as he still wasn't used to being around with a lot of people. yukhei noticed this and didn't hesitate to pull the little boy close to him. not saying anything, jungwoo scooted close to the boy and was now clinging to him.

❝here are your ice creams.❞ the woman said, leaning down for the two to have no problems in getting their ice creams.

jumping, yukhei passed the person a happy grin. ❝thank you!❞

jungwoo took the ice cream and looked away shyly, not knowing what to do as he could feel her stare on him. the little boy hid behind yukhei but thanked the woman for his ice cream nonetheless. ❝t-thank you..❞

they were opposite, with one looking like he overdosed with candies and one being a shy type. she honestly found it adorable as wrong as it sounds, because they were still kids, she could already tell that these two would get somewhere in the future. may they be inseparable bestfriends or destined soulmates, who knows?

finding a table for them, yukhei still held the boy's hand and helped him up to sit down. jungwoo felt his cheeks heat up once more at how yukhei tried to carry him up and placed him down to the seat, feeling the butterflies once more.

seriously, did he unconsciously eat some butterflies?

❝it's dripping!❞ jungwoo was snapped out from his thoughts when he heard the boy across him shouting. raising his head to look at him, the little boy was taken aback when yukhei reached his hand out holding a tissue and wiping the ice cream scattered in his cheeks and also the melted ice cream on his hand.

the little boy blinked as he let yukhei clean him. ❝yukhei?❞

❝eat your ice cream, it's melting.❞ the boy said with a frown, finding it a waste. ❝what is it?❞

following what he said, jungwoo carefully ate his ice cream before it melts in his hand. ❝thank you.❞

his usual smile creeping to his face, yukhei gave him a giggle. ❝no problem man!❞

the two of them were so different but they clicked so well. yukhei never fails to put a smile on the little boy's face and jungwoo would was always there to stop the boy from making stupid decisions. well, except this one. ice cream isn't stupid so jungwoo agreed to get some with the boy. although, he was quite worried as to what their parents would say once they find out that they aren't in the playground anymore.

❝do you think we should go back?❞ jungwoo's soft voice then caught the boy's attention.

humming in a pondering tone, yukhei shrugged before laughing. ❝later, after finishing this ice cream.❞

but the two didn't last that long when they heard a shout coming from the entrance of the ice cream parlor they were in.

"jungwoo?!"

"yukhei, were have you been?!"

turning their heads around at the same time, they saw their parents walk towards them. jungwoo was carried up by his father (he had a small figure despite of his age) and frowned when yukhei was being scolded by his mother. although, the boy didn't look like he was scared at all, he was just laughing nervously as yukhei was guilty for running without telling her.

jungwoo licked his ice cream as he just continued to watch them till he heard his father speak.

❝how did you get here?❞ the man asked, running a hand on his son's hair.

looking at yukhei, jungwoo only smiled innocently as he diverted his eyes to his parents that looked worried. ❝it was superman's fault.❞

⚊ t b c ⚊