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realm 5.53 a.m

Pairing: Beomgyu x Taehyun Genre/s: a slice of life, angst

Warning: mentioned of suicide Summary: Beomgyu couldn't move on from Taehyun's death so he wished to the stars to meet him. word count: 3.5k words a/n: the world that they are in is the same world as train to nowhere's world. Changbin is in this story :>, find him!

The clicking of the player was the beginning of the song. His legs rock as the serendipitous rhythm greets his ears. It was Taehyun's voice, singing one of his favourite songs.

Beomgyu rested his back on the concrete floor, watching stars drop from the velvet sky that morning. Its golden tail left a temporary mark on the morning canvas. Beomgyu was amused by the scenery. It's 5.53 a.m., and most students are already on their way to school. Missing another day of school was less of his concern. He would rather be dazed off on the rooftop, reminiscing his and Taehyun's memories together than listen to the teacher's nonsense lecture about him failing another test. 

Taehyun's giggle replaced the song and immediately he turned off the player. He removed the earphones and sat up. Beomgyu sighed

 "I keep thinking about you. Is it wrong if I am too attached to you?" He rested his chin on his knee, throwing his gaze to the crying sky. That’s a disadvantage when you adore and love your best friend too much. Their leaving broke your heart, perhaps it’s impossible to piece them back together. The stars are still there oddly, falling slowly unlike the bustling road under.

The white blanket around him blew, covering his vision. He shut his eyes, afraid the blanket would injure him. 

Unfolding his eyelid, he recoiled in horror. His action almost caused him to fall into the railway but a hand was quick to grab a hold of his arm. The silhouette pulled him closer to its chest as a train passed behind at an unbelievable speed. 

"You just arrived here and already thinking of going back?" The silhouette cooed, placing his chin on Beomgyu's head. Beomgyu's heart palpitated. That voice...

It couldn't be him.

No…he must be a figment.

Beomgyu pushed the silhouette and his feet were frozen on the floor. The figure tilted his head with a small smile. His hand reached for a white feather stuck in Beomgyu's hair. His soft touch was enough to show he wasn't a figment moreover a ghost. 

"Taehyun, is that you?"

"Of course! Who else would it be? Welcome to this…odd world" Taehyun looked around.

"I'm not sure what to call this world yet. It's not the afterlife for sure. It's a world between the living and the dead."

The Taehyun in front of Beomgyu was different. A half-completed wings were attached to Taehyun’s back and their school uniform stayed hugging his figure. The white feather hangs loosely around the metal structure of the wing, filling the gap between the wings.

"Why am I here?"

"You wished to the stars so they brought you here, to me."

Tears brimmed in Beomgyu's eyes and he collided his body with Taehyun's, engulfing the younger in the tightest hug he could attempt, a longing hug. The smile on Taehyun's lips widened. He had missed Beomgyu's hug for the longest time. Taehyun broke the contact and laced his fingers with Beomgyu's. 

"Don't cry! You are here to have fun with me!" Taehyun brushed his thumb over Beomgyu's wet cheeks, wiping the fresh tears. He then dragged the ash-haired boy to the entrance.

Setting foot inside, Beomgyu tightened the grasp around Taehyun’s hand, terrified by the sight. Sure, it is an amusement park but the visitors weren’t ordinary - some were headless and others weren’t human alike. Beomgyu pulled himself closer to the younger when a glitched person walked beside them, causing the latter to giggle.

“Didn’t I say this world is odd? Don’t worry much, they won’t harm you, gyu.” 

“But what are they?”

“Lost souls. That’s what the train conductor told me. They are here to revisit old memories like we are.”

Beomgyu hung his head low for a while. The amusement park they were in was the one they went to before it happened. It’s true, they’re visiting their old memories together. Realising that, Beomgyu immediately pulled Taehyun toward the pirate ship ride. Taehyun’s eyes widened as his head shook all the way there. It got Beomgyu to laugh so loud, breaking the silence of the park.

He knew Taehyun was afraid of heights but this might be their last meeting, Beomgyu would use the opportunity to tease Taehyun one last time. They got onto the ride and Taehyun’s glare never left Beomgyu for a minute. The ride began and Taehyun closed his eyes. The ride goes even higher, and their screams dominate. Beomgyu glanced to his side, smiling seeing Taehyun’s expression and how firmly he held onto Beomgyu’s arm.

Taehyun left the ride with wobbly legs until Beomgyu had to escort him to a nearby bench, with an arm placed securely around Taehyun’s waist.

“It’s your fault my legs turned like this!”

“Well, at least, you’re not afraid of height anymore. We spun 360 degrees earlier if I didn’t tell you. So congratulations! My hyun isn’t a scaredy cat!” Beomgyu patted the blonde’s head gently. A grin appeared on Taehyun’s countenance. He loved it when Beomgyu did this, it felt like home, a fitting home for him. His gesture touched the deepest part of Taehyun’s heart. Beomgyu still remembers him after all those weeks. The sudden breeze hit them causing both males to shiver under it.

It messed Taehyun's hair a bit so Beomgyu pushed away the stray hair that was blocking Taehyun's sight. Beomgyu let his hand through Taehyun's hair, tidying them back

“Thank you, beomgyu. Oh! I remember something!" Without another explanation, Taehyun dragged Beomgyu to a small play tent. Taehyun was more excited than Beomgyu was. He kept bumping into everyone there but doesn’t matter, the visitors vanished when they came in contact with them and reappeared as quickly as they vanished.

At first, it was scary but as time passed, the world turned fascinating to Beomgyu. It knew what he wanted to do with Taehyun, it knew his forgotten regrets.

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow as they arrived. Taehyun just raised a ball from the bowl on the counter and threw it toward the castle cups.

“What are you doing?” 

Although it was obvious for Beomgyu to guess from the stall’s design, alluding to the teddy bears in varieties of sizes sitting everywhere in the stall. He just wanted to hear Taehyun's sarcastic remarks again. In past days, his voice only rang in Beomgyu’s ear for seconds.

“Throwing balls” He rolled his eyes before directing the ball to Beomgyu’s head. Beomgyu avoided his attack with light giggles. Taehyun threw another ball, and this time it hit its target.

“Ouch! ok ok, forgive me. Stop throwing!”

“Deserve you right. Shouldn’t grant that stupid wish of yours if I know this will happen.” 

“The stars granted my wishes not you.”

“True but if I don’t show up at the station, you are a lost human here. The creatures like trapping lost humans.”

Beomgyu turned silent at the reply.

Creepy.

“You miss me, right, Taehyun?” 

The castle collapsed at Taehyun’s third attempt and he changed his gaze to Beomgyu. His gaze was tender as he handed the huge teddy bear to Beomgyu. Answering Beomgyu’s question will pain him because he knew an opportunity like this would come once. 

“Let’s take a break.” He said in a low voice. The change in Taehyun’s tone was indecipherable. Beomgyu wasn’t sure whether Taehyun was mad or simply sad by it, now he was scared of the future. Taehyun left Beomgyu to figure his way alone since the teddy bear hovered over his small figure. At least, he got a lead as to where Taehyun was heading. Taehyun's white feathers fall sometimes, lucky for Beomgyu or vice versa.

Beomgyu put the teddy bear beside him on the bench. It was the same teddy bear that Taehyun didn’t win for him last time. “So…where are we heading next?”

“Somewhere that we didn’t have a chance to go last time but first! We should fill our empty stomachs.”

Beomgyu rubbed his hand on the bear’s body, looking over to the lost souls aimlessly roaming. “Should we? I don’t want to waste our time digging into food.”

“Hey, Beomgyu.” Taehyun took Beomgyu’s hand in his, causing the elder to glance up.

“You have been skipping meals since…you know. I hate it when I see you for the first time. You look much skinnier and paler.”

How could he swallow a portion of food when guilt still devouring him? Being truthful to Taehyun will ruin the elated atmosphere, he never wanted that. He had to give in this time although it was unusual for him. He was the hard-headed one in the real world.

“Fine…Bring me anything you think is good for me.”

Happiness just exploded in Taehyun but his heart wasn’t at ease yet.

“Promise me you won’t starve yourself again after this.”

“That’s hard, Taehyun. I’m not used to eating alone.” A bitter smile painted on Beomgyu’s lips. 

“Then try! Force yourself to eat. A time for a day is enough to make me happy.”

Beomgyu stood up, patting Taehyun’s head fondly. “Okay, I will do it if that makes you happy.” 

Now, Taehyun’s heart is at ease. He hoped Beomgyu didn’t break his promise.

“You like messing with my hair, huh?” Taehyun removed Beomgyu’s hand and snapped his fingers, a piece of hot dog appeared on Beomgyu’s hand. Beomgyu was surprised but this world is odd, anything out of his logical mind is possible in here - including that.

“I need to go to the toilet for a while. Don’t go anywhere, I don’t want to lose you again.” Taehyun headed off. Beomgyu looked at the hotdogs and the teddy bear, shifting his gaze between them often. He couldn’t help himself to indulge in the food when Taehyun wasn’t around.

 Wherever he was currently, he was thankful.

The little things he received from Taehyun were enough to bring exhilaration back to his dead walking body. He doesn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve the happiness that was stolen from him. He shouldn’t have wished to the stars. He was a coward for not moving on and it was his fault.

That thought alone managed to dig back the devastation he felt on that day. His vision slowly turned blurry.

“You should stop wasting your tears on the past, young man.”  A deep and throaty voice interrupted his thought. Raising his head, he came face to face with a beared-aged man. He wore a big trilby hat that didn’t fit his head and a pair of rounded glasses. In a glimpse, Beomgyu thought he was one of those vintage film actors. 

“Who are you?”

“A seller in the market. Lucky day for you because I have something perfect for you.”

“What exactly is perfect for me?”

“I can erase your regrets and I assume one of them is this.” He spread his arm, indicating ‘this’ as the amusement park. Beomgyu’s suspicion grew, he met the man seconds ago but the man already knew him like forever. His offer tempted Beomgyu but Taehyun’s advice was the sole reason he stayed put.

“Aren’t you curious, young man? The regrets prevent you from going forward. Don’t you want it to disappear?”

The man unfolded his palm, inviting Beomgyu to follow him. Eventually, he grabbed the old man’s hand and voluntarily, a smirk crept up onto the old man’s face. He entered a glass-designed door that stood between the game stalls. 

Beomgyu was taken back at what was behind the door, a mall filled with people. A mall that was out of place in this world. It felt like he was in the real world for a moment except for people exited the mall without paper bags. The old man continued walking, bringing what Beomgyu assumed was his shop. 

“Please this be worth it,” Beomgyu whispered under his breath.

______________________

Taehyun’s action died down when Beomgyu wasn’t in sight anymore. Worry took control over his body but he shook the feeling instantly, afraid it would cause him to lose his sense. He noticed his tree buddy sitting beside the bench Beomgyu had occupied earlier. 

“Root, where’s Beomgyu?”

The tree turned its head around to meet Taehyun and shrugged. 

“I’m sorry Taehyun but I don't know. I was too immersed in Groot’s story and you need to hear it!”

“Save it for another time. Thank you” A frustrated sigh escaped Taehyun’s mouth. Root supposedly needed to look after Beomgyu when he was away, that’s the only request he’d asked yet it failed. Anger raised as his fist balled. He was agitated, what if the lost souls took him and brought him far from his reach? 

“Fumming with anger wouldn’t suffice anything, Taehyun” he uttered to himself and let go of his balled fist. He made his way back to the station, in heart hoping the boy was there but to no avail. Instead, he stumbled across someone else, a boy about his age holding a bouquet of red roses.

“Excuse me, do you see a boy with an ash-hair here perhaps?”

The boy glanced sideways and shook his head, which brought disappointment to Taehyun. Something glinting under the sunlight caught his attention. “ Hall of Fate” was written on the ticket and a wave of memory rushed through Taehyun. 

“I guess you have been there before?” The boy spoke up, glancing at Taehyun’s half-completed wings and Taehyun nodded.

“I did and they were scary. I might pee in my pants if I’m with them again. They are quite kind to the correct people”

“And you’re one of them.”

“I am not. They just pity a young boy who had a pathetic ending”

The boy chuckled and picked a stem of rose, giving it to him. Taehyun accepted it, amazed at how it changed into a coral-coloured rose when it changed hands. The train stopped in front of them and the boy stepped inside. Before the door closed, he shouted.

“Go find that friend of yours. Being alone in this world is dangerous and confusing.” He bid goodbye as the train moved completely out of the station. 

“Dangerous…Beomgyu where are you?” He immediately returned to the amusement park and continued searching for Beomgyu everywhere but fate disappointed him. Taehyun settled on the previous bench they sat, thinking of the consequences of leaving Beomgyu too long in here. They are fond of luring a living soul like Beomgyu. The blame is on him for being slightly careless. 

“Taehyun? You are unlike yourself today, something happens?” Someone asked with a tiny and soft voice. It was one of his friends here, a baby with stitched eyes who was trapped in a hamster ball.

“My friend disappeared and I’m scared.”

“Does he look like this?” The baby shifted into Beomgyu and changed back to its original form after a loud yes sounded from Taehyun.

“He was heading to the shopping mall by himself.” 

Taehyun's eyes widened and he instantly ran toward the door, thanking the baby on his way there. 

“Glad I could help you again, dear friend.” 

_____________________

[A few years ago]

Hands pulling his hair, he felt the tears collecting on the edges of his eyes. He panicked when Beomgyu didn’t wait for him beside the toilet. For sure he will get scowled by the teachers. His mother’s advice lingered in his head.

“Calm down, hyun. Tell the teachers and search for him.” And he did. Fortunately, the teachers didn’t scold him since he was a young boy after all, they will make mistakes. Taehyun went back to the place they visited, so far, no Beomgyu. 

He had one place in his head but Beomgyu wouldn’t be there. They promised to go there later.

He gave it a shot, better try than regret afterwards. 

Beomgyu was there, expectedly. His eyes glimmered in pure excitement when he saw the soft cotton candy on display. Taehyun hugged his silhouette, tears almost shedding.

“Beomgyu, we promised to go here later! Why did you go alone?! I was scared you would leave me!”

“I’m sorry hyun but look! The uncle gave me a free cotton candy!!”

_______________

“Here you go! Choose one, young man and I will erase them from your mind.” The old man said, dusting the book and gesturing to Beomgyu to go through it. Beomgyu flipped to the first page and saw a moving picture, showing his moment of regret, and so did the other pages. It gave him a deja vu. His breath came to a halt when he came to a page of that day.

The day where he lost Taehyun.

The day he began blaming himself.

The day he wronged the universe.

Watching the moment, he wanted to punch himself. He still remembered how his world crumbled down hearing the news that Taehyun was gone forever…right after they had fun together in the same park. A car crashed into him and after further investigation, turns out the driver was drunk.

He knew Taehyun wasn’t dumb to let himself get hit by a drunk driver. The joke was the reason Taehyun was unaware of his surroundings. Taehyun gave Beomgyu his ring and Beomgyu joked about Taehyun liking Beomgyu, which made the boy speechless. Taehyun might overthink that Beomgyu disliked the gift.

That’s the only reason Taehyun became oblivious.

“Decide it?”

Beomgyu pointed to the page “This moment destroyed my life.”

“Of course. The payment is one of your precious memories.”

Beomgyu averted his gaze to the ring on his pointy finger, Taehyun’s ring. He took it off.

“Beomgyu!” His voice caused Beomgyu to snap his head toward the source. Taehyun quickly brought Beomgyu’s hand down.

“Don’t fall into this world’s trap. Your life will change if you are being careless.”

The old man laughed. His laugh echoed throughout the mall “Taehyun, you can't stop him. This is his decision”

Taehyun glared at the old man. His old face was spared today since Beomgyu is here. “I won’t let you steal my treasure. Let’s go gyu.”

Taehyun dragged him out of the mall. Now, Beomgyu realised there was nobody in the mall and the grandpa had turned into a skeleton, waving them goodbye with a crooked smile. 

Once they back to the amusement park, Beomgyu asked, a playful grin on his lips.

“Treasure huh?” 

“Yep, he will take all of your memories with me as payment. Don’t tell me you let that happen?!”

His reaction caused Beomgyu to laugh. “No, how could I? Come on, the Ferris wheel is waiting for us” 

This time Beomgyu led the way.

“Beomgyu, I want you to know that my death is not your fault.”

________________

His eyes slowly unfolded, blinking as he got used to the light. His earphones stayed tugged in his ear, pretty sure he had removed them. The sun had set down a bit and the sounds of the car subsided, it wasn’t as busy as before. He checked his watch - 5.53 p.m. He skipped his class countless times today. How long was he in that world?

Was that a dream? He opened his folded palm and found Taehyun’s ring. 

It wasn’t a dream? Did he just experience the multiverse? But that thing doesn’t exist…then what did he experience?

“Gyu, be happy. Even if I’m gone, I’m always by your side, here in your heart. Don’t skip any meals, mhm? I’ll be watching you!’ Taehyun’s voice played. A small scold exhaled from Beomgyu. 

“Taehyun…you little dumbhead”

He rose to his feet, approaching the end of the rooftop. The soft evening breeze caressed his face as he pulled the earphones away. He set the player aside and averted his gaze toward the street. If only moving on was easier like Taehyun said, he would stop himself from making this decision. If only he could stop blaming himself, he wouldn't be standing at the edge now.

"I don't want to leave you anymore. I don't want to forget you. I hate being far away from you, hyun."

He pushed himself off the edge, leaving the player as his last remembrance. As if someone will remember him. That's just another false dream of his.

_______________ 

"Taehyun!"

The said boy turned around, eyes widened as ever seeing the boy standing in front of him…for the second time today. Taehyun's gaze instantaneously caught the ticket that Beomgyu grasped. He could hear his heartbeat so close to his ear as he examined the ticket.

"Beomgyu…you're dead."

"I am. I figure it out once I become a coward I will stay as one forever."

"This is surreal. You're out of your mind, Beomgyu."

Taehyun shook his head, grabbing Beomgyu's hand. 

"You'll be staying here forever with me now" 

"I'm happy with it because those lost souls wouldn't kidnap me."

Hearing his best friend is dead shouldn't bring this much happiness to Taehyun but it does because now he has company in this world.

The train stopped and they entered the train together. 

"Those guys are the scariest."

"Well, I shouldn't be because you're here with me forever and will never leave me again."