one shots

Across the Table

"So... how was your day? I assume you're doing well, right?"

Youngjae bit the plastic straw with more force than he intended, his hands fiddling with one another beneath the table.

"I... I'm doing well. Could have been better though."

His eyes captured Daehyun from across the table. He hasn't seen his best friend look so unfazed and bright for so long. He looked so stunning, that Youngjae felt as if he was in front of a completely different person.
Daehyun wasn't always the most optimistic out of the lot, but when he smiled, he could put any light bulb to shame.
Right now it look as if he was hosting a light show.

"Hyun-ah, why are you so happy?" His tone died down by the end.

Daehyun stared with perpetual happiness filling his eyes, indifferently from before.

"I'm happy because it's all over.
Everything is okay now."

Youngjae exhaled sharply.
Eyes never locking on to anywhere but his best friend.

"Daehyun, you know that's not-"

"It's a nice weather, isn't it?"

Loud splatters of cold water can be heard from outside, the wind howling relentlessly along with the songs of the drops.

"I know you don't like storms. But it's stormy in there too, isn't it?" He pointed on the older one's head, trying to bring up a point.

The boy kept mum and proceeded to fumble with a certain book in his hands.
"We used to write here. High school, remember? Our thoughts, our questions, adventures.. everything. I'll be giving this to you since you deserve it for sticking by me no matter how much of a headache I was."

Youngjae shook his head. He never, never considered Daehyun a headache in all their nine years of friendship. He was the biggest blessing in his life, in contrary.

He had the book in his hands, and his fingers grazed through the rotting pages. This book was as old as they were together, and while it wouldn't look much to others, Youngjae knew it was gold to the both of them.

"Take good care of it, okay?"

"I will. Don't worry about it."

The ticking of the clock seemed rather loud despite the heavy rainfall. And so as the beating of his heart, hammering against his rib cage.

"Daehyun.. please don't.
I wish I could have done more Hyun-ah. I'm sorry I let you down."

The older reached for a certain bottle by the side of the table, taking out the cork with little to no problem at all.

"Please don't."

"I'm sorry for being selfish, Youngjae."
He took one small sip from the bottle and placed it back to the side.

Youngjae tried to calm down his heavy breathing, cupping his mouth for fear of hearing his own voice die along with his heart.

"Daehyun, why did you.. I could've helped you, you know that. I was always here for you."

"I am happy now. Please be happy too."
Tears raced down Youngjae's cheeks and he screamed his heart out once more as the video died with the only person he ever truly loved.

Across the table was an empty seat that had always been empty for two years.