The sun was dipping low below the horizon, an orange glow hovering over the golden wheat fields. The chirping of birds could be heard in the distance, carried by the warm breeze that was blowing through the area. The sound of buzzing bees returning to their hive for the evening left a sort of hum over the field. Usually unoccupied, the wheat field that day was lucky enough to have one occupant. A tall young man with jet black hair, his features soft as he stated quietly over the golden wheat fields. A gentle sigh slipped passed his lips, his head slowly turning to the side as if to look over his shoulder.

"What are you doing out here alone?"

The gentle voice of a younger, smaller male, resounded around Shownu like a gentle lullaby. A smile formed on his lips as he turned his attention down to the ground despite it being blocked by the wheat branding into his vision.

"Thinking. . ."

"About?"

Raising his head, Shownu looked towards the sunset once more as it dipped further below the wheat field. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know, I guess I was thinking about the summer we had."

"We did have a pretty great summer, too bad it had to end."

"Yeah, but hey. . .we've got next year, right?"

Shownu chuckled softly, he could almost feel the smile Kihyun was giving him. The warmth his smile brought him was one he welcomed readily. That smile that was so contagious you couldn't help but to return it with one of your own. However, when he didn't receive an answer to his question, a frown crossed over his features, wiping away the smile he previously had.

"Ki. . ?"

"Hm?"

"We have next year, right?"

"Maybe. . ."

The quietness that had entered Kihyun's gentle voice sent a pang of fear rushing through Shownu. He pulled his hands from his pockets, letting them fall down at his sides.

"What do you mean, 'maybe'?"

The sigh that accompanied the next sentence sent an uneasy chill down Shownu's spine.

"I have to go away, I don't know if I'll be coming back or not."

"You make it sound like you're going far away."

"I am, it's time for me to move forward with my life."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Shownu. . ."

Whatever was about to be said was interrupted by someone else calling out. Shownu blinked from his thoughts, turning completely to see who was calling out.

"Hey!"

His eyes landed on Wonho, the happy loveable bunny of a friend. Relaxing a bit, he turned back and lowered his eyes towards the ground at his feet. There in front of him was a single gravestone. It still appeared fairly new, only slightly weathered by the elements. In simple writing it read:

Son Hyunwoo

His birthday written upon the stone with a second date, the date he had left him. The day he felt his world implode in on him. He had lost a friend and partner that day.

"Hey, didn't you hear me?"

Wonho came running up, stopping beside Kihyun. His eyes falling onto the gravestone, a slow nod in understanding was his own response to his question. He slowly raised his eyes and looked towards Kihyun sympathetically.

"Its been a year now, he wouldn't want you to feel this way anymore."

"I know. . ."

It might have been a year, but to Kihyun it felt as if it had just happened yesterday. He believed the whole incident could have been avoided. If they hadn't taken a vacation to China, they wouldn't have gotten caught up in the sudden swarm of Asian Giant Hornets. They had been increasingly bad that year, and on an outing meant to be romantic, had turned tragic within seconds.

Kihyun and Shownu had stumbled upon a rather large nest by accident, disturbing the hornets within it. Shownu had shielded him from the swarm with his own body, taking the stings the hornets administered. After that, he had watched Shownu fade away in a hospital in China as the hornets toxins attacked his body. The pain he had been in, yet put on a brave face to reassure him, still pained Kihyun to that day.

"Come on, its getting late and I doubt he would want you to freeze to death out here."

"Yeah, just give me a second."

Kihyun spoke softly, putting his hands together, closing his eyes and lowering his head in prayer. His heart still ached for Shownu, begged for the heavens to return the man to him despite knowing it was impossible.

As the cool air whirled around him, Kihyun lifted his head and choked back a few tears. Wonho wrapped an arm around the smaller male and walked back to the car, Kihyun climbing into the passenger seat while Wonho took his spot in the drivers seat. The two had fallen silent, unsure of what to actually say to one another. So, Wonho started the car up as Kihyun looked towards the edges of the wheat field that had grown dull now that the sun had disappeared. A sigh escaped him, unsure of when he would actually be returning, or if he even would.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?"

Kihyun looked towards Wonho slowly as the silence was broken.

"Oh, its at seven in the morning. . ."

Anything Wonho might have commented after was lost to Kihyun as he looked back out his window. A sudden calming warmth enveloped him, almost as if he were being hugged from someone sitting behind the passenger seat. The warmth was familiar, yet at the same time it was so foreign.

"Be happy, promise me."

The whispered voice was unmistakeable, Kihyun had to keep himself from bursting out into tears. He wouldn't do that around Wonho, he would wait till he had been dropped off at the house.

"I will, I promise."

Kihyun wasn't aware he had said anything aloud until Wonho said something about it.

"What was that?"

The curiousness had startled Kihyun slightly, his eyes widening as he looked towards his friend. A reassuring smile graced his lips.

"Oh, nothing. It was nothing."

Giving a slow nod of disbelief, Wonho looked back in front of him to pay attention to driving. Kihyun turned his attention back out the window, the warmth of a ghostly hug lingering on him all the way back to the house.

"I promise, I'll be happy. . .so long as you are."

Kihyun muttered softly, a small smile on his face which gained him a quizzical look from Wonho. A look he ignored. It was time to move forward with his life rather than holding onto something he could no longer have. For the first time in the past year, Kihyun felt certain that happier days were ahead of him.