── ✦ fall 1921     
                                               ─── ✦ seungmin pov

"Is what we experience reality or just a construct of our minds? Can we really know reality or is it different to everybody?"

I was smiling already. Hyunjin and his deep questions. "Explain more."

"Like... when you see trees, are the leaves purple?"

"Er, no, green."

"Same for me, but how do you know your green is the same colour as my green?"

I mulled it over. "It probably depends on what we're talking about, right? That's objectively a house behind us, however burnt."

He traded air between his cheeks and nodded in agreement. "What about, like, a feeling, though? What if I associate something with a good feeling, and you associate the same thing with a bad one? The feeling is different for both of us."

"I guess I understand that. Okay, describe what — I dunno — the sky is to you."

He looked up, biting his lip. "Very big. Black. Diamond-shaped stars."

"But what does it mean to you? Like, to me, it's... a blanket. I could be totally detached, floating around, no clue what I'm doing, but as long as the sky is over me, where could I really go?"

"Hm." He was looking at me, into my eyes, instead of the sky. "I think the sky is lovely."

"That's still not an answer."

"I know."

The sound of footsteps. We both turned. Jeongin was walking toward us, wandering in from the orange grove. He sat next to me, legs folded, and looked into my eyes.

"You're right," he murmured. "Lovely."

I smiled. Their shoulders were pressed against mine.