"Is this the all amount you got today?" A hoarse voice asked, sounding pissed.
"Y-yes dad. This is all I could earn today." A boy around his teenage said while averting his father's eyes.
The elder man threw the cash on the boy making the younger flinch. "Useless bastard! This was all you could do? I'm here carrying all your shits and you can't even help me!"
"I'm sorry. I am sorry dad. I will do more hard work. I will earn more and give you every single won."
The father just groaned and pushed the boy to the ground. The latter groaned at the painful thud but he still kept his apologies continued. "Don't you fucking call me your dad! I regret marrying that whore who just created another bloody useless creature like you and threw your load on me! She flew away with her living ATM and left you behind because she knew that you'd be nothing but just a living burden." He shouted grumpily which made the younger boy cry a little. He then crawled and started collecting the shattered money. "I'm forgiving you this time. But you must give me more tomorrow or it won't take me much to kick you out of my house, Jungwoo." The man then stood after collecting all the money and left while sipping on his beer bottle.
Jungwoo got up and dusted himself. Dusting all the dirt of his father away. His own father disgusted him. His parents disgusted him. They were literally no one but people who made him and disowned without any valid reasons. His mother was truly just a gold digger who left him to his selfish, alcoholic father. He never cared how Jungwoo was or what he needed. All he wanted was just money from him without even making him capable enough.
Jungwoo worked himself to pay his fees, meals and even rent to his own father. Thankfully, he was born with God gifted talent, graffiti. Jungwoo had passion for creating aesthetic figures on the surfaces which led him to the world of graffiti art. It helped him with earning some little amount as well as getting him into troubles when he drew on walls publicly. But he didn't care. His life was already a mess and he didn't mind messing it even more.
But still, he was fed up with all the buzz, stress, headache and pain of his daily life. He didn't want to live with such a monster and his nonstop hatred towards him. He'd be kicked out anyways if he wouldn't pay the monster. So, one night Jungwoo decides to leave the hell by himself.
Well, he just didn't leave his home like a vulnerable lost kid. He stole all his father's money or more like his own money, as a punishment to the said man.
He decided not to run at some friend since he literally has no true friends. All his known people were just as selfish as his parents.
He found some random public apartment nearby his school and kept his work continued and even got some better offers by the time that helped him in many ways with his living and he finally hoped that he would have a stress less and carefree life.
He was wrong. It's been a few years, he studied in the art field and was almost a university student and he did have a stable job by then. Yet, he still had stress, frustration, unknown pain and of course, his landlady's regular rant.
Knock knock!
Jungwoo sighed tiredly assuming who could be the visitor, already. He opened the door and showed the most artificial smile he could show. The woman in front of didn't have it at all. "Mr.
Jungwoo Kim, may you tell which day is this?"
"Of course not Valentine's day but I could be your paid boyfriend if you're feeling lonely in your life, Miss. Joy."
"Mind your tongue. It is the day when you were supposed to be paying your rent which is due since three freaking months!"
Jungwoo frowned, not processing the latter's rant at all. "Oh my why! I'll pay soon." He said and was about to close the door on the woman's face but the lady crooked her sandal in between to prevent the act. "Not soon. You must pay it by tomorrow otherwise you'll find yourself out of this house. And, did you drink and smoke in my apartment again? Have I not asked you to not do such things here? You got enough money to do those ridiculous things but not to pay my rent?"
Oh yes. That was the exact reason as to why he was running out of money even after earning enough.
"Oh... Have you? My bad! Well, I don't have any money on me right now. You can keep my champagne bottles. They are worth the same. Would you?"
The lady made a disgusted face and shook her head. "No, thanks. One week. The maximum time I'm giving you. And I don't want any of your bullshit by then. Especially this mess here." She pointed at the bottles and crumbs of cigarettes in his living room. "Good night and good luck." She then left and the man exhaled in relief while closing the door. He needed his regular jam and some fine sleep.
______
After a load of mess, it was finally the very first day of university. Jungwoo hoped that at least this tims nothing will go wrong but only smooth and right. But he was again proved wrong as soon as he stumbled into a stranger on the very first day.
He was about to speak his pretty words to the stranger but the latter was fast enough.
"Apologies, Sir. I am a fresher here and just lost my way and I was getting late so I couldn't focus on my steps. I hope you're okay?"
Jungwoo would lie if he wouldn't say that the man looked like a lost and helpless toddler from the kindergarten. He wanted to coo at the man but he didn't forget that he was actually the reason for him getting late for his class.
"It's okay. I'm fine."
The latter smiled at him as if he wasn't the reason for them almost falling on the ground. "My name is Byun Taeil. But, you can also call me Moon or Moon Taeil. I'm a fresher and today is my first day here. It's very nice to meet you?"
Jungwoo looked at the man's hand and them to his face. He raised one of his brows but moved his hand forward nonetheless. "Jungwoo Kim. And same." Jungwoo again ended his side with a not so impressive response. However, the shorter man still seemed full of glee.
"Thank you. Oh, I got you another moment late. Sorry. I think we should get going. Hope we'll see each other around, Jungwoo."
And they did see each other. Often. So often and more often. Taeil understood him. Taeil didn't take any advantage of him. In fact, he had helped him with many things and he was probably the best person Jungwoo had ever seen in his life. They had become somewhat inseparable. Learning many things about each other. Or, mostly and only Jungwoo learning about Taeil but never revealing much of himself.
How could he even? He had nothing positive to reveal. Taeil coming from a well respected family with well stable status while him? It was getting even more difficult for him when he realized that he was falling for Taeil. He was falling in love with someone who could never be his and it just frustrated him. The first person he loved was out of reach. He was dreaming of catching the moon in the sky while he was just on the land.
He felt so heavy that he decided to drink all his anxiety away. But, he didn't expect to find a fine car on his way back home from the bar. The finest look of it was inviting him to ruin it. So he sprung his spray out and started creating art while smoking his lungs out slowly. Did it feel right?
Hell yeah! It was always relaxing to draw on walls but he felt even great when he ruined rich people's personal belongings.
"Yahh! You punk! What are you doing to my property?"
Jungwoo stopped and turned towards the man. He smugged in satisfaction after seeing the horrified expression on the latter's face. Well, not only the said man but on the other beside him, too. Probably some rich old couple date night.
The man didn't waste another second and grabbed on Jungwoo's collars roughly making him almost trip and dropping his cigarette. "You filthy lower class bug! What did you do to my car? Do you even know it's worth? Is your fucking father going to pay the price?"
"Well, you should actually thank me because it's value has increased. You better sell it. It's old fashioned, anyways."
The man seemed ready to launch his fist at Jungwoo so he sprayed the colored liquid at the man's eyes making him release his hold onto him and cursing while massaging his eyes to sooth them.
"Fucking brat! What did you do to my eyes! Ahh..."
Jungwoo quickly picked his cigarette and inhaled while bowing to the other man who was just stunned at the event. He straight up and exhaled the smoke in the air and left the duo with the mess he caused.
The amused man collected himself and got into action as he went to the other's side. "Baek, are you okay? Here, I'll lead you."
"That son of a bitch! These young bugs are just getting out of hands nowadays. The hell did he spray? It fucking stings!"
"I think it's just paint. You just put some ointment and sleep while I drive us home."
"I knew! I had a feeling that today wasn't a good day to go out but your beloved son wanted us to have a romantic time. Seriously, it was hella romantic. Right Dae?"
"Stop generalising him as 'my' son when he does something silly. And it wasn't actually bad. Don't act as if you didn't kiss me like there was no tomorrow tonight." "Whatever."
______
The crowd at the college campus was just too large to ignore. It seemed as if the entire university was gathered there. It made Taeil curious so he went to check. Though, he didn't expect to see what he saw.
There was a figure on the wall. Portraying a moon landing on the ground leaving the high sky. It seemed so aesthetic. It was perfectly pictured and Taeil was just mesmerized by its beauty. It also had the similar curves to the patterns he had seen on his father's car recently.
He then turned his head to where the crowd was actually looking. He saw Jungwoo and their dean who seemed to be scolding him.
"I don't want to create a scene here so you are required to be meeting me at my office after the session. Everyone, please continue with your schedules."
Everyone started leaving but Jungwoo and Taeil stayed right there. Having pretty much distance in between. They looked at each other in the eyes and Taeil could see the unshed tears in the latter's eyes. And an expression of regression on his face. He wanted to go to him.and comfort him from whatever circumstance he was suffering. But the latter just turned and left without saying a word or looking back.
______
Patterns. Various meaningless patterns soothed Jungwoo and he kept creating more of them on a random public wall at midnight while sipping on his champagne. It was really the best way to get rid of his misery. No wonder why his father was alcoholic.
"Woo-ah!"
The voice was precious. Too precious to be there that late at night.
Jungwoo turned and he was met with a warm hug instantly. The latter's small and smooth frame fitted so well in his arms. He hugged back the man.
"Please, don't distance yourself away from me. Tell me what's wrong. I will listen to you. I will support you. I will appreciate you." The shorter man said while sniffling. It hurt Jungwoo's heart.
"I fell in love with someone who will never accept my love."
The latter looked at him still a few droplets of years in his eyes. "Did you even try telling them?" Jungwoo chuckled motionlessly. "My mom was a slut and my father was an alcoholic monster. I'm a disowned, abandoned child. I drink, smoke and mess things up. I have no background and I'm just a clueless living being. Who'd love me, Taeil?"
"Me." Jungwoo looked up and blinked, not believing what he just heard.
"I'm a very bad person, Taeil."
"You are not! You're just being like this because situations make you. Our love, my love will change for the good. You will feel the real you. You'll be the real you." Taeil said slowly and realized that they were just mere inches away.
"I love you, Moon Taeil." Jungwoo confessed and crashed their lips. They both felt sparks in their stomachs that they never felt before.
"I love you too, Kim Jungwoo." Taeil responded and they both smiled while blushing at each other. They kissed again with more passion.
It was just right. So right. So good and so lovely. They were in love.