DASH Novel Chapter 120

Jihong sat on a bench by the pool and looked at the wide water surface. During training during the day, on weekdays, access was closed to ordinary visitors, and there was an almost eerie silence. Now seven of the eight paths were empty. Only one of them was a ten-year-old child swimming continuously. Every ti he cut through the water, he was enveloped in snow-white foam, which imdiately dissipated like a mist in the midday sun.

The bright glare on the water unmistakably indicated to Jihon that this was the dream. For so reason, my soul imdiately felt sad. Ten years had passed, and he still hadn't let go of the past and had co back here again. He felt sorry for himself, for his helplessness, and he wanted to cry. Jihon had devoted ten years to the place, and had not been here for exactly the sa amount of ti. But I still haven't forgotten.

How much more ti is needed? Ten more years? Will he ever be able to leave everything for good? Will his heart stop aching? Will he stop having this dream? But if such a day cos, he will probably be sad too. After all, Jihong loved this place so sincerely. He loved him for ten whole years. It has beco an integral part of his life, which cannot simply be crossed out. I guess Jihong will never be able to forget. Even in ten years, and in another ten.

It was both comforting and hopeless. Comforting, because he no longer has to fight the past. And hopeless, because he is dood to eternal loneliness in this huge, empty pool.

The mont Jihong finally accepted it, soone's voice rang out: "Hyung.

A ray of sunlight filtering through the curtains made Jihon involuntarily frown. He wanted to turn on his side, but at that mont a shadow fell on him.

"Are you awake?"

Imdiately waking up, Jihong looked at Jaekyung. The latter covered his face from the sun with his hand. Only now did Jihong realize that he was lying in bed in his pajamas. He did not rember at all how he washed, changed his clothes and ended up here.

"Have you co to your senses?" Jaekyung asked again.

He must have done all this, Jihon thought, slowly opening and closing his eyes.

"Yes... No...

"So did you wake up or not?"

"I don't know...

"That's right," Jaekyung smiled.

Jihon looked at his smile as if spellbound. The lover's face was the sa as in the dream. In the bright morning light, the brown eyes seed even softer.

"Co here," Jihon muttered, turning on his side.

Jaekyung obediently moved closer, and Jihong, hugging him, kissed him gently.

"An injection... Didn't work?

"Yes," Jaekyung replied with an unusually frown, pulling away. "There are no side effects, no effect itself.

"Money down the drain," Jihong grinned, and as he continued to stroke Jaekyung's cheek, he muttered, "What do I do now..."

"We'll think about it later," Jaekyung hugged him tightly. "Now let's sleep so more." Don't worry.

Jihon wanted to say that it was impossible not to worry, but before he had ti, his eyes closed again. Jaekyung's hug was so warm and cozy that he imdiately relaxed and felt safe. Through his slumber, he heard Jaekyung's voice, "We'll think of sothing.

"Yes, we will co up with sothing. There must be an exit sowhere that is suitable for both of us," with this thought, Jihong fell into a deep sleep.

As if he had driven through a tunnel, Jihon found himself again at the brightly lit pool. Standing next to him was little Jaekyung.

"What are you doing here?"

Jihon was surprised that he spoke first.

"I was looking at you," he said.

Jaekyung blinked, as if asking, "On ?" And then he muttered quietly, "What nonsense," and lowered his eyes in embarrassnt. Looking at him, Jihong couldn't help but smile.

Why hadn't Jihong noticed this before?

After all, Jaekyung himself was looking only at him. But he was so clumsy that he could never express his feelings. It was so sweet and a little sad at the sa ti that Jihon's heart ached.

"Aren't you bored alone?" He asked with a slight tremor in his voice.

"Why should I be bored when I'm swimming?" Jaekyung tilted his head to the side, as if he didn't understand the question. Then he rubbed his eyes again, "Do you get bored when you swim, hyung?"

"No, I'm not bored either," Jihong smiled, but after looking at the empty pool with its shimring glare, he added quietly, "But sotis it can be lonely.

"Why do you feel lonely if you're with ?"

At these unexpected words, Jihon looked at the child. But in front of him was an adult Jaekyung.

"You're not alone now, hyung," he said with a beaming smile and held out his hand to him.

Their hands intertwined, and Jaekyung dragged Jihon with him, into the cool azure. Jihon, who feared that the water would be cold, relaxed at the familiar temperature and sank deeper. It was calm and cozy. At the sa mont, indescribable happiness overtook him. Jihon knew these tender, almost comforting embraces well. The warmth enveloping and accepting him as he was, belonged to Jaekyung.