Scripted For Us

Cast: Hajin (Yoon Sanha), Shiwoo (Song Kang)

Ost: Offonoff-Cigarette

A puff of smoke blew out of his mouth as he walked out of a building. The bitter taste lingered in his mouth, and he felt out of the air as his chest tightened. But after a moment of pain, he slowly became more relaxed. He repeated it some more times until his entire system became numb. Then he looked up at the starless night sky and got lost in a moment of eternity.

"Sooner or later, you'll get killed by that small thing in your hand."

A voice rang inside his head as he was about to put that small cylinder back on his lips. It halted his hand in mid-air. He stared at the thing between his index and middle fingers, then turned his head to his side.

"How many times should I tell you to stop smoking? It is bad for your body."

An image of a soft-looking, light ash brown-haired guy with almond eyes appeared before his eyes. He put his hands on his waist and tried looking stern as he said those words.

"You are one stubborn guy."

Soon, that person gently smiled at him, but seeing him smiling like that caused a surge of rage to rise within him.

Fuck off, Jin.

He cussed at the image and tried to push him to the back corner of his mind. He didn't appreciate being reminded of him anymore. No, it would be better if he could just forget him forever.

***

In describing Hajin's existence for Shiwoo, one might say:

Hajin was a lovely guy. He owned a beautiful flower shop. People said Hajin was gentle and kind. Every time he interacted with people, he always made them feel warm. His genuineness made every flower bucket he arranged brighten someone's day when they received one. His existence itself even was more beautiful than the flowers he tended. Quickly, Shiwoo became addicted to his existence from the first meeting.

Their fate started when Shiwoo barged into the shop to escape from his pursuers, severely wounded due to street fighting he had just been involved in. When he collapsed on Hajin's flowers, some were covered in blood. That night, Hajin was working overtime to finish the flower arrangements due the next day, and because of the ruckus Shiwoo made, he almost couldn't fulfill his order and had to stay up the whole night to make another one to replace the ones that were ruined. Yet, Hajin still managed to help Shiwoo hide from those street gangsters and tend to his wounded before returning to work on his order.

Guilty, after feeling better, Shiwoo tried to make up for his mistake by helping around his shop. But this was something that Shiwoo soon noticed after hanging around this gentle guy. Despite his gentle and warm facade, Hajin always seemed lonely at times. Something about him made it difficult for people to get to know more about him or simply step into his inner circle. Hajin spent most of his time alone. He never expressed his thoughts nor asked for assistance. He handled everything on his own. Yet that was what intrigued Shiwoo about Hajin. He wanted to break through that defense wall and step into his life.

Later, after a lot of effort, Shiwoo managed to learn a little bit about Hajin's life. Hajin was abandoned at an amusement park when he was a child. Later he grew up in an orphanage before becoming what he is now as an adult. This was why Hajin was accustomed to solitary feelings.

After knowing that, another greed grew inside Shiwoo. He wanted to be part of Hajin's life. Shiwoo wished he could erase the lonely expression on Hajin's face whenever he thought nobody was watching him. Shiwoo wanted to give Hajin all the hugs and kisses in this world.

Yet, Shiwoo's desire seemed harmful to Hajin. His background was a danger to him.

"I've told you not to smoke," said Hajin with his hands on his waist and a stern expression. This guy always became strict whenever flowers were involved. Flowers were one of his few interests.

"You've told me not to smoke inside your shop because I'll kill your beautiful flowers. So, I smoke outside here." Shiwoo showed a cheeky expression while crouching a few meters outside the flower shop. Waiting for Hajin to finish his day at the shop bored him. Therefore, he thought he could use a cigarette while waiting.

"You are so hopeless. Go away. I don't want to see you." Hajin started to walk away from that spot when Shiwoo turned off the cigarette, threw it into the bin, and started to chase after him.

"Come on. You'll be lonely if I don't come to fetch you home, protect you and keep you accompanied." Shiwoo put an arm around Hajin.

"Who are you trying to protect here? You, a little gangster, pretending to be tough by smoking like this."

Hajin's tease would always trigger Shiwoo to show more affection. Then Hajin would struggle to get out from Shiwoo's forceful hug. But it was useless. Hajin always lets Shiwoo hug him anyway.

"I know you love me," said Shiwoo with one quick peck on his lips when he finally managed to hug him. That caught Hajin off guard.

Yet, Hajin didn't make any comment about it. Instead, he just said another thing in response. "You smell bad." Before adding, "Sooner or later, you'll get killed by that little thing in your hand."

"Don't worry, I'm very healthy." Shiwoo laughed, chuckling, but never letting Hajin go. He hugged Hajin tight and put his chin on Hajin's shoulder. "I will keep you accompanied for a long time in this lifetime."

Hajin showed an amused expression and shook his head helplessly whenever Shiwoo said something like this. "Then, you should quit that job first if you want to stay with me for a long time."

"I- [sigh]"

Shiwoo couldn't say anything to reply to that. He could only tighten his arms around Hajin. They stood like that for a moment of eternity. No one said anything. It was always peaceful whenever they stood in silence like this. It felt like nothing else mattered in this world. Just the two of them.

Ironically, Hajin's life span was also shorter than those beautiful things he tended. Their love was like the cigarette Shiwoo always lit up. Burnt at the tip and fast burnt out.

Shiwoo killed him. He was the one who caused Hajin's death. Shiwoo was the only ugly part of Hajin's life.

If only they had never met that night.

***

The entire street was near to empty. It had been late at night, but some drunkards still hung around and drank away their pain and night away at some snack carts on the street side. They were loud, and Shiwoo hated those noises.

He smoked his cigarette one more time, then decided to leave the place he was standing on. He turned the leftover off and threw it into the trash bin. Fresh scars could be seen on his knuckles, but it didn't bother him. He crashed into the night.

Alone.