⊹ 𑁍 neighborhood.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ j. changmin｡ ✧. ┊   to: not That changmin.
your feet stank, bro.

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@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. taeyong｡ ✧. ┊   to: tae-드래곤.
tell grandma about this and i'll rip out the cables of your computer. im kidding- i think.
eat well, the wind will blow you away.

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@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. hoseok｡ Oh aha I took it in alright and I put everything where it's supposed to be then I realized my cat actually went passed me-i realized it so late I know. Don't worry though, I locked the door on my way out.
I nod quickly with a thumbs up, not wanting you to worry again. I raise my eyebrow at your words, letting out a sudden chuckle.
What the hell does our age gap got to do with knowing each other? Just because I have been here since I was born, doesn't mean I know every single person here especially you, sheriff. People come and go so I don't keep up with people. And also, why do you have to know every single person, is that mandatory?
I walk alongside you, looks at you with curiosity.

@? ⋮ ❛ m. jia｡ "Wait... You left your door open - does that mean you didn't get to take in the groceries?" Hoseok asked and stopped momentarily in his path, wondering if there was anything in there that would go bad or that the wild animals might think to get. Most people left their doors unlocked in the small town because they didn't really get much theft or break in, but it was always still a concern to the sheriff. Even if he was guilty of leaving his own door unbarred sometimes, too. "I know everyone, noona. I have to. Wait- You don't know who I am? I know our age gap is a bit much, but aissh... I'm Hoseok. Lee Hoseok?" He emphasized with a questioning lilt to his tone, trying to see if it rang any bells. "Town sheriff?"

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. taehyung｡ if dongmin had his camera in hand, he would’ve taken a photo of taehyung then and there, smiling whole heartedly at him like a child despite years of cold silence. dongmin doesn’t deserve this much unconditional kindness. he never did. “don’t you think infiltrating is too harsh of a word?” he bites back playfully, suppressing the slightest bit of disappointment when taehyung rushes towards the front of the line. tugging his luggage, he files into line behind the rest of the passengers.

“oh…” is all dongmin can say when he finds taehyung sitting in the window seat besides his spot. it was p̶l̶e̶a̶s̶a̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ surprising to find out that they had purchased tickets next to one another, but he’s really more surprised to find out that taehyung’s hometown was yeongwon. in all of the time they’ve known each other, how did he miss such an important fact? he remembered taehyung mentioning that he was from the countryside, but he never really specified where. if he did, dongmin wouldn’t be here on the bus today with him. “then i guess we’ll be neighbors for…” he pauses, not sure himself how long he plans to stay. “the next month or so.” back in paris, he promised taehyung forever without realizing their relationship had an expiration date. he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

thankfully, taehyung seemed too tired to pry for details. dongmin can tell from the dark circles under his eyes that he must’ve had a long flight. deciding to give him some peace and quiet to rest, dongmin leans back into his seat and puts in his earphones. he has a strong urge to press skip when the familiar tune of lauv’s ‘paris in the rain’ comes on but decides against it. stealing a glance at taehyung from the corner of his eye, he finds him slumped over with his head pressed uncomfortably against the bus’ window. without thinking, he reaches over and gently cups taehyung’s face with his right hand, guiding the other to rest against him.

it’s a silly thought, but dongmin notes how taehyung’s head still fit perfectly against his shoulders, like he was meant to be there. back when they would take long bus rides on their weekend trips across europe, taehyung always had a habit of falling asleep besides him. he also had a habit of waking up dongmin in the early morning, singing loudly in the shower, and apologizing to just about anything he bumped into (human or not). the more dongmin observed these habits of his, the more he came to adore him.

after a few hours on the road, the bus finally slowed down to a halt. “tae…” dongmin mumbles, gently scratching the other’s head. “wake up, we’re here.”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ s. weilong｡ jiwon had thought her confusion was at its limit, but this guy proved her wrong when he bowed without any spoken word before he chose to run past her. she turns her head quickly to see where he went as she squints at his small retreating figure. "weird..." she mutters to herself while rubbing her nape. she was sure that she tried her best in being nice to him, but maybe he was /that/ surprised since she did greet him on a whim. they'll meet again- she was sure of that anyway. in a small town like yeongwon, they were bound to cross paths in some way or another. after a minute of her thinking, she shrugs lightly before continuing on her way to roam the town.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ s. weilong｡ jiwon was excited to finally go out and get fresh air. it had been a while since she decided to drown herself in her paperworks that somehow piled up the previous days. she skips ahead, easily passing the male whom she hasn't met before. it was a fact that the female knew of the people who lived in yeongwon as she grew up most of her time in the town. 'perhaps he just moved here,' she thinks to herself, stopping in her steps; after a few seconds of standing in her spot, she chooses to go back and greet him. her happy expression is soon replaced by one of confusion when she notices him closer than where she had seen him first. their eyes locked at that moment and she raises a hand to wave at him before calling out, "uh, hey, new here?"

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. hoseok｡ I burst out of laughter by your words, nodding with agreement.
aha you right like nothing ever happens here to be honest, not from what i've seen so you're welcome?
I shrug with a smile still plastered upon my lips.
i'll definitely call next time though but then again i left the door open when i was coming back home with groceries so that gave my cat the opportunity to leave out the door aha so it's not gonna happen again! Well let's go!
I said as I start walking instantly.
So, how do you know my name-wait never mind, everyone knows everyone's name around here aha, i'm not surprised.

@? ⋮ ❛ m. jia｡ Having grown up in Yeongwon, Hoseok knew almost every other long-time resident like himself. His father had been the former sheriff before him, so he kind of /had/ to. Granted, you had been a couple of years ahead of him in school and lived on a different side of the small town, but that didn't mean he wasn't familiar with who you were. "You would hardly inconvenience anyone if you asked for help. Nothing ever happens here. If anything, you'd have been saving someone from their boring day." He reassured her with a dopey smile. Even as a cop, he didn't have many actual emergencies to attend to. That is, if wrangling a loose steer before it rampaged through town wasn't an emergency. "You saved me from mine, anyway. And just in time for lunch. So it all worked out~"

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. hoseok｡ i raise my eyebrow at your words, smiling that you were concerned even though you just met me.
i appreciate your concern but my cat was up there and i couldn't stand there and watch my precious baby up there. sure i could've just called a firefighter to get her but i didn't wanna waste their time with this lil task when there is way more important stuff going out there than this one and also i wanted to be a hero for her...and i also forgot my phone too so i don't know how long i was up there.
i chuckled nervously because i feel embarrassed. i instantly smiled again when you accept my offer, put my fist up in victory.
yay! no no you deserve this for your help or i would've been up there all night. i think bistro is nearby so shall we?

@? ⋮ ❛ m. jia｡ Hoseok held the ladder steady as you made your way back to the ground. Having seen you put the cat into the backpack, it suddenly made a lot more sense why you were up there considering he'd come across the ladder laying on the ground. "How long were you stuck up there? You need to be more careful, Jia... You could have fallen and then who would have taken care of your cat?" He chided with a worried knit to his brows. Reaching up to rub at his nape at your sudden insistence, he gave in and chuckled softly. "You don't /have/ to, but I'm never going to turn down any food."

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. hoseok｡ L listen, I can explain but lemme just get down before I scream in fear.
I chuckled nervously as I gently put my cat in my bubble backpack just for her before I climb down the ladder as cautious as possible. My feet finally touches the ground and I let out a sigh in satisfaction as I stretch my arms.
Ah it's good to be on the ground again, I don't know how superheros who can fly can stay up there for so long without missing being on the ground. Anyways, thank you very much!!
I bow a lil multiple times but not too much since the cat was in my bubble backpack after all. I clasp my hands together, bashes my eyelashes at you.
Let me treat you as a thanks pretty please?

@? ⋮ ❛ m. jia｡ Most days, being the sheriff of Yeongwon was like being a fancy errand boy. Hoseok had just finished delivering groceries up to Granny Lee, since the vendor at the market had asked him very nicely to do so and have given him some freshly canned jams as compensation. Not that he would have refused even if he didn't get something in return. He was making his way down the dusty path toward the center of town, the kerchief wrapped jams nestled safely in the crook of one muscular arm, when he heard a similar sound that someone might use to call a cat. Was there a cat nearby? Curiosity and his weak heart suddenly piqued, Hoseok glanced around in search of a new potential feline friend, but his gaze was drawn upward when the source of the call actually spoke. That was when he saw you perched in the tree. "Omo! What are you doing up there?" He gasped in surprise and moved to set his jam safely on the ground before scrambling to get the ladder. Lifting it with ease, he held it up securely against the trunk so that you could climb down without worry of it falling again.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ it would be a lie to say a part of him wasn’t nervous. it had been years since he let his eyes linger on the face where he saw his forever, years since they parted ways that last morning taehyung initially promised he’d keep in touch. it was a foolish oath, but he said it to softened their fall momentarily. taehyung’s sure the both of knew it in the morning of their discussion, this was the end of their story… or at least it seemed until now. he was under the impression that dongmin was no more than a scar, a lifetime that left a reminder on his heart for the remainder of his life. to see him again in this unusual spot only meant he was going to see him time and time again, marking an unexpected new chapter now in the small town of his birth place.

“marking myself memorable to a film director—that’s flattering. possibly one of the most rewarding things I’ve done, I’d say.” it’s clear his voice smiles along with the one evident on his features. it’s genuine, reaching his eyes as he huffs out in a breathy laugh. there’s no denying he had missed him because beyond all, dongmin was a comrade he held close in his most vulnerable moments in paris. exploring the unfamiliar with someone had always brought fond memories and with those he treasured dearly, even moments that left him broken.

taehyung follows the other male’s gaze to where he watches the bus pulls in its lane, whistling to a halt in front of them. the next question leaves a look of amusement under the chestnut strands hovering over his eyes. “I should be asking you that. out of all the places we could’ve met again… what’s a big city boy doing infiltrating a small town?” he questions, grin still present as he wheels his suitcase forward to the line that began to form. he gives one last glance over his shoulder followed by a wink with the ticket in his hand, “guess I’ll see you at the end of the trip.”

“…or not.” if comprehending that they’d be in the same bus heading to the same place shocked him, buying the seat next to him was another story to be told. there weren’t any ill feelings he had viewing the situation, but all he could ask himself was: what were the chances? first being on the same bus and now being beside each other for the long ride. he drew up a hand to rub at his nape sheepishly, now caving into his more timid side as he sinks in his seat and peers out the window. “to answer your question, I was born and raised in yeongwon, so I guess you could say I’m heading home.”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. hoseok｡ i let out a heavy sigh, holding my cat in my arms as i patiently wait for anyone to walk by this tree that me and my cat is on but i haven't seen anyone that seem like an hour when it's probably been only 5 to 10 minutes but i was being dramatic and impatient. even though i was a few minutes by my home, i didn't wanna yell or i'm gonna wake everyone up. i my cat's fur, whispering to her that we was gonna get down very soon i hope until i gasp in surprise when i see a stranger walking by before i yell just a lil so i didn't wake the neighborhood up.
psh hey you, i'm up on the tree, can you please put the ladder back on the tree? aha i know this looks weird but i'll explain once you get me off this tree.
I show you my wide grin, shimmies with excitement because me and my cat wasn't gonna spend the night on the tree after all.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. taehyung｡ for a second, dongmin wonders if he’s imagining things. this wouldn’t be the first time he’s done so. the first few months after their breakup were rough. for a while, he would see taehyung’s face everywhere he went. it didn’t help that he was the first thing dongmin thought about when he got up in the morning and his last thought of the day before he went to sleep. humans are creatures of habit. in the short time they were together, taehyung had already burrowed himself into dongmin’s everyday life. gone with him were lazy afternoon cuddles, weekend movie nights, spontaneous museum dates, and morning walks in the park.

the most difficult part was coming to terms with the fact that he had gotten it all wrong. by the time dongmin returned to the states, he realized a little too late that his feelings for yoora had long disappeared. she was confused herself, still not over the man she had been in love with since the age of fifteen. he still vividly remembers the night they kissed. they both had a little too much to drink and sought comfort in the warmth of each other’s presence. just two broken souls hoping to fill the gaping holes in their chests. when dongmin pulled away and met her gaze, he let out a sad laugh because they knew. never in his life had he felt so empty before. dongmin called taehyung that night only to find out that the number he dialed was no longer in service.

‘trust me, i tried so hard to forget you,’ dongmin wants to say but the words won’t come out. if taehyung knew about how he had deleted all of his photos from his phone and locked away all of his prints, would he hate him for it? it would be easier if he did. “he could never forget you. not in a million years,” dongmin feigns a smile despite the truth in his words. even after years of working with the best talent in the industry, he never found anyone else who could captivate the camera quite like taehyung. he didn’t need any fancy lighting or designer clothes to shine. on the contrary, dongmin most adored the way he would wake up with a mass of bed hair, fair skin glowing under the warmth of the morning sun.

“what are you doing here?” considering they were waiting at a one-way bus stop to yeongwon and hadn’t seen each other in years, there were probably better questions to ask. a simple ‘how have you been?’ would’ve sufficed. dongmin’s eyes wander, finding it difficult to hold taehyung’s gaze, until the sight of the bus approaching in the distance gives him an excuse to look away. in his defense, it was better to maintain a comfortable distance. they were merely acquaintances now, nothing more.

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@? ⋮ ❛ j. chaeyeon｡ the first time dongmin met granny kang, they happened to be the only two people waiting at the bus stop. it was quickly approaching dusk, giving the air an extra edge. dongmin watched his breath fog up and offhandedly wondered if she was dressed warmly enough for the winter night. the small woman was holding on to a bag of hefty groceries to her chest with bare hands that must’ve burned from the cold. not being able to stand the sight any longer, he offered to carry her things for her. she was pleasantly surprised by this small act of kindness. ‘what a fine young gentleman you are!’ during the bus ride home, she talked to him about the most random things— from her favorite childhood memories in the town to the best time to snag deals at the supermarket to rumors about seaside ghosts. dongmin could only smile as she rambled on, nodding attentively every once in a while to assure her that he was listening. it seemed that she was excited not only about the things she was talking about, but also about the fact that she was simply conversing with another person. that made dongmin a little sad.

coincidentally, he kept bumping into her at the town supermarket. she was always ecstatic to see him and bubbled with stories to tell. eventually, it became a routine for the two to grocery shop together. today, he was helping her unload the groceries from her car (apparently she doesn’t mind driving during the daytime), when someone pulls on his sleeves, forcing him to drop the bags and all of its contents onto the floor. before he can answer, granny kang swoops to his defense and (lightly) smacks the girl’s arm. “don’t be so rude! my boy dongmin has been keeping me company and helping me with errands for the past /month/. maybe if you visited me more often, you would know.” dongmin awkwardly glances between the two and crouches down to pick up the bags. “lee dongmin. nice to meet you,” he greets with a gentle smile, hoping to save the girl any embarrassment by pretending like nothing happened.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ the three day trip back from paris left him a bit disoriented, but it was always a bit nice to switch from the extravagant life back to a peaceful one. with how much he enjoyed the silence of the sea, he wonders how he dealt with the speed of his past life everyday for years on end. again, he was never a city boy to begin with, but he found himself dousing in that culture for seven years of his life. in this same moment, it leaves him in awe because he could possibly deal with two weeks in the loud life he once believed was his forever. sometimes he believes it’s the people that ruined his perception, considering it was easy to label that all were the same—ruthless, heartless, indifferent to the dark circles under his eyes when he worked and worked himself to the ruins.

however, his sense of style was something he took from that life. just like today after he found himself lingering off the plane in: classic long grey coat, white blouse, dark grey vest tucked, black cuffed dress pants, all topped with a bottega venetta casette bag in white. an eye for those who dress themselves in their own unique styles, and on this same night, there’s one person that catches his attention when he wheels out his suitcase to the bus stop from the exit. “oh… prada,” taehyung finds himself whispering to himself when he spots the puffer he adored. however, the moment his eyes ponder upwards to see the stranger’s face, he’s left halting, looking away with such offence with his heart lodging up in his throat. that can’t be him, right?

but no, that was him because taehyung’s sketched his face with graphite on at least twenty different pages. he knows all his little marks, tiny crinkles here and there, where you’d find acne if it was one of those days. he knows the way his eyes shone and dulled when he was happy, angry, excited, and sad. taehyung wonders why he’s here… if he possibly found himself on the wrong stop, but he knows this is only the bus that finds itself wheeling around at this time. there’s no telling when and why taehyung’s strolling towards his first love, but he does so enough with a respectful space, now studying the screen of his phone. he notes: dongmin still looks beautiful as ever under the dim street lamp, and he’s still mad that the sky favours him. though, it’s funny that a scam message pops up on his screen, leaving him to scoff. he mumbles with a cheeky grin, “dumb scam texts—reminds me of a boy I met in paris that nearly got scammed at a vendor. wonder where he’s at now. I wonder if he still remembers me.”

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ k. taehyung｡ dongmin doesn’t know what he’s doing at the exit of seoul international airport, clutching a one-way bus ticket to a secluded town far from the hustle and bustle of the city. the winter sun was slowly waking up, blanketing the sky in gentle washes of pink and purple. a few other people were waiting at the station: an elderly couple sitting hunched together under the glass bus shelter, a middle-aged man in a blue technician uniform slurping a cup of instant noodles, and a mother holding the hand of a child whose head kept nodding, seconds away from falling asleep. dongmin looked out of place in his black prada puffer and sleek black slacks, with a large metallic suitcase that screamed business.

his original plan was to resume activities immediately after the holidays. at least, that was until he realized that it was slowly becoming harder and harder to get out of bed with each passing day. somewhere along the line, art began to feel like work, the days began to blur, and passions became burdens. it’s normal, dongmin thinks, to fall into a rut at some point in your life. he just never expected it to come so soon. after hearing his predicament, a good friend of his suggested he come to yeongwon for a change of pace. like any typical burnt-out artist, he packed his bags in pursuit of nature, as if the lush trees and open sea could cure him somehow. being the realist he is, dongmin knows yeongwon is not a solution. still, he couldn't resist the way the waters called out to him.

when dongmin was a child, he most looked forward to summer vacations by the seaside in whatever country his parents felt like exploring that year. he would spend his days roaming around those foreign towns, capturing every little detail with his favorite 35mm film camera. once you’ve been around the world, you become jaded, and once you grow older, it becomes hard to disassociate places with the weight of your memories. sometimes they're sweet, like the neighborhood park in gangnam where his nanny taught him to ride a bike for the first time. sometimes they're bitter, like the apartment in paris where he kissed his first love goodbye. dongmin never felt that way about the sea though. something about the vast expanse of nothingness brought peace to his mind.

@ꕤ ⋮ ❛ l. dongmin｡ it's quite suspicious; her grandmother always goes grocery shopping once every week, but it's nearing the end of the month and she hasn't asked chaeyeon to help? well, then again, perhaps she should find it in her time to offer... but that's besides the point! so, to get to the bottom of this unresolved mystery, she's plans to pay her grandmother a spontaneous visit, as well as supply her with winter jasmines from the shop. whilst on her leisure walk there, she can't help the feeling of inevitable nostalgia from her old neighborhood, flitting a hand to wave to those seen watering their lawn in the wee hours of the morning (not to mention, she's pet two of their puppies already. she just can't resist). with the boost of serotonin, she approaches her grandmother's house, steps lilting, until she's met with an unfamiliar back of someone that well reaches into her grandmother's trunk and retrieves her groceries. her eyebrows furrow in pure confusion, but before she can begin to think rationally, it's the worst outcome she has to consider—he could be stealing! in an abrupt surge of panic, she hurries herself over (not taking into account just how much taller he was) and harshly pulls at his sleeve to have him drop the bags. "excuse me! what do you think you're doing? these aren't yours... this isn't even your car!"