Chapter Text
The river was completely quiet.
The sunset painted the water in shades of orange and gold, while a soft breeze moved the grass along the shore. Birds were heading back to their nests, and the crickets were chirping in the distance.
Right in the middle of the river, a small wooden boat was drifting slowly with the water.
Only two guys were in it: Aou and Boom.
Aou pushed the oars gently into the water, steering them a little further from the shore. With every stroke, the sounds around them faded away. It felt like the rest of the world just disappeared, leaving just the two of them.
Boom had his elbows resting on the edge of the boat, his chin propped on his hands. The warm glow of the setting sun made his smile look even softer than usual.
-So how did you even think of coming here- he asked smiling.
Aou just shrugged. -Wanted to surprise you-
Boom raised his eyebrows. -A surprise huh- He took a quick look around the little boat. -Wait let me ask you something real quick-
-Go ahead-
-Do you actually know how to row a boat-
Aou stayed quiet for a second.
-…-
Boom narrowed his eyes. -Aou-
-Well-
-Aou-
-I watched a few videos-
Boom’s jaw dropped. -What You learned off the internet-
-Hey we are doing fine are we not-
Boom couldn't help but laugh out loud. -You are crazy-
-Still have not sunk yet-
-Not yet-
They both burst out laughing. As their laughter filled the quiet air, Aou couldn't take his eyes off Boom. This was why… this exact smile was why his heart pounded like crazy every single time he looked at him.
When Boom stopped laughing, he noticed Aou staring.
-What-
-Nothing-
-What is up-
-Seriously nothing-
Boom leaned in a little. -You are overthinking again-
-About what-
-I do not know- Boom said giving him a cheeky look. -But whenever you get this quiet I know your brain is spinning-
Aou let out a small laugh. -You really know me that well-
Boom didn't even hesitate. -Of course I do- Then he softened his voice. -Because I love you-
Aou’s heart almost jumped out of his chest. This was it. The moment he’d been waiting for. He took a deep breath.
-Boom-
-Yeah-
-Hold on a sec-
Boom watched him curiously as Aou carefully stood up. The tiny boat wobbled under his weight. Boom instantly sat up straight.
-Hey be careful-
-I am fine-
-Are you sure You are gonna fall-
-No I will not-
-Dude I don’t trust you right now-
Aou just smiled and reached into his jacket pocket. The moment his fingers touched the tiny velvet box he’d been hiding for days, his breath caught in his throat. His heart was beating so hard he thought Boom could hear it. With shaking hands, he pulled the box out.
Boom looked at the box, then back up at Aou. The smile on his face slowly turned into total shock. -Aou??-
Aou carefully went down on one knee. The boat swayed again. He opened the box, and the simple silver ring caught the fading sunlight.
Boom stopped breathing. He slammed both hands over his mouth, his eyes filling with tears in seconds. -Aou-
Aou’s voice was trembling. -My whole life I always wondered what real happiness felt like-
Boom couldn't tear his eyes away from him.
-Then I met you- Aou said with a weak smile. -And I realized happiness was you all along-
Tears started rolling down Boom’s cheeks. Aou couldn't hold his back either.
-You became my best friend My safe place The biggest love of my life And every single dream I have for the future has you in it- He paused, taking a shaky breath. He looked straight into Boom’s eyes.
-Boom will you marry me-
Time completely stopped. The wind, the birds, the sound of the water, Boom didn't hear a thing. All he saw was the guy in front of him. The love of his life.
His lips parted. -Yes- He nodded again. -Yes- He smiled wide through his tears. -Of course I will marry you-
Aou froze for a second, like he couldn't believe what he just heard. -For real-
Boom laughed through his tears. -For real-
A huge, pure smile spread across Aou’s face. He slipped the ring onto Boom’s finger, then couldn't help leaning in close.
-I really want to kiss you right now-
Boom closed his eyes with a shy smile. But right as their lips were about to touch… the boat violently rocked to the side.
-Aouu?!?- Boom’s smile turned into pure terror.
He lost his balance in a split second. He reached out to grab the side of the boat, but his hands caught nothing but air.
-AOU-
His scream shattered the quiet river. Aou reached for him with everything he had.
-BOOM-
Their fingertips brushed against each other, just for a fraction of a second. Then Boom was thrown backward. As he hit the water, his head slammed hard against the wooden edge of the boat.
A dull thud echoed. Boom’s eyes opened in pain, then everything went black, and his body sank into the freezing water.
-BOOM-
Aou jumped in after him without thinking twice. The freezing water hit his skin, but all he cared about was reaching Boom. The current was so strong it was hard to even breathe, but he didn't stop. He searched frantically underwater, forcing his eyes open, surfacing every few seconds to scream out.
-Boom Boom-
Only the rushing sound of the river answered him. He dived under again and again, swimming further out, losing hope with every passing second, but he refused to give up.
Hours went by. The sun was completely gone, leaving only darkness. The river was way more dangerous now, and he could barely see anything.
-Aou- He heard voices shouting from the shore. Some local fishermen had spotted the empty boat and rushed over to help.
-Get out of the water The current is too strong He is gone too far by now-
Aou tuned them out. He didn't wanna hear it. He dived down one more time. He had to find Boom. He just had to.
Minutes later, two fishermen managed to pull him out by force. Aou fought back, trying to throw himself back into the water.
-Let me go Boom is still out there I gotta get him-
-Aou calm down-
-No- The sheer desperation in his voice broke everyone’s heart.
That night, a massive search started along the river. Police, local authorities, divers, rescue teams, everyone was checking every inch of the riverbanks. Bright spotlights cut through the dark water, boats pushed against the current, and divers kept going under.
Aou didn't leave the shore for even a second. His soaked clothes had dried on him. Nobody could get him to put on a jacket or go home. His eyes were glued to the water.
Maybe they’d bring him up any minute…
Maybe Boom was holding onto a branch…
Maybe he was still alive.
Day one passed. Nothing. Day two, they searched miles downstream, but didn't find a single clue. By day three, teams from nearby towns joined in, helicopters searched from the air, and divers kept going back under.
Still nothing.
No clothes, no shoes, not a single trace of Boom. It was like the river had swallowed him whole.
On the evening of the fourth day, the head of the search team walked up to Aou with heavy steps. The look on his face said it all.
-Aou-
Aou looked up. -Any news-
The guy couldn't speak for a moment. He took a heavy breath. -We did everything we could man We searched miles down the river but we found nothing-
Aou’s lips trembled. -No-
-The current was just too strong and by now-
-No- Aou snapped, jumping to his feet.
-No Go back and look again What do you mean you could not find him He is out there Just search a little more Please-
His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. -Please-
Nobody could say a word back. Because deep down, everyone knew the truth: Boom couldn't have survived.
A week later, the official search was called off, and the case was logged as a missing person.
But Aou refused to accept it. Every single morning, he went to the exact same spot on the riverbank, staring at the water for hours.
The river kept its secret to itself.
——————————————————————————————
On the morning of the fourth day of the search…
Miles away from the river where everything happened, a tiny village hidden between the mountains was waking up. The sky was shifting from dark blue to orange, and a thin blanket of fog covered the river.
Great was up before sunrise, like he always was. He opened the door of his small wooden house, stepped outside, and finished his morning chores.
Then he grabbed an empty bucket and headed down the dirt path toward the river to fetch water for his garden.
The fog was so thick you could barely see a few feet ahead.
When he reached the water’s edge, he set his bucket down. But right as he bent over, something caught his eye.
At first, he thought it was just a fallen log. But then the wind blew softly, moving dark strands of hair attached to the figure.Great’s body went completely stiff.
-Is that a person??-
He dropped the bucket and ran over. As he got closer, his heart stopped. A young guy was lying face down, completely still on the muddy bank. His shirt was covered in mud, his skin scraped up, proof that the river had dragged him for miles.
Great dropped to his knees. -Hey Can you hear me-
Nothing.
Great’s shaking hands carefully turned him over onto his back. The first rays of the morning sun broke through the fog, hitting the guy’s face. Wet hair stuck to his forehead, his skin was pale as snow, and his lips were bluish. But even with all that, Great had never seen a face so beautiful in his life.
He quickly pressed two fingers against his neck. Nothing at first. -Please- Great whispered. -Please be alive-
Just as he was about to lose hope, he felt a faint, tiny pulse under his fingers. He quickly leaned close to his face,his breathing was super weak, but it was there.
-Thank God- Great let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He was alive!
Great gently brushed the wet hair away from his face and noticed a nasty cut on his forehead, with dried blood running into his hairline.
There was no time to waste. He leaned down, scooped one arm under the guy’s knees and the other around his back, and carefully lifted him up. The guy’s head limply rested against Great’s shoulder.
Carrying him back, Great looked down at the stranger in his arms, feeling this crazy emotion he couldn't even explain. It wasn't just pity,it felt like fate had brought him to the riverbank for a reason this morning.
-Whoever you are- he whispered softly -I am not letting go of you-
He carried him into his small wooden house and laid him down gently on his bed. He carefully changed his wet, muddy clothes and wiped him down, noticing all the bruises covering his body.
He cleaned the head wound and wrapped it up tight. Just as he was about to step back, the stranger’s hand twitched, his fingers weakly wrapping around Great’s wrist out of pure instinct.
The guy’s eyes were still shut, but his lips moved slightly, mumbling something completely unreadable.
Without thinking, Great turned his hand over and held his palm.
-I am right here You are safe-
The stranger’s face relaxed a little, and his grip loosened. Great stood there for a long time, unable to pull his hand away, just watching him sleep.
A strong urge washed over him, he wanted to protect this guy, and he wanted to be there when he finally opened his eyes.
The village doctor came by and gave him a thorough look.
-He is alive- the doctor said quietly. -But he took a nasty hit to the head.He has been in the water a long time so his body is totally drained. A fever is gonna kick in and he might not wake up for days . Even if he does the mind is a strange thing son Sometimes it just wipes everything clean-
For three whole days, Great barely left his side. He kept cooling his fever, dabbing water on his dry lips, watching over him.
On the second night, the stranger shifted restlessly, letting out a barely audible whisper: -Aou- Great couldn't really make out the word, but a strange twist hit his chest anyway.
On the morning of the fourth day…
Great was in the kitchen making some light broth when he heard a faint cough from the bedroom. He dropped what he was doing and ran in.
The guy on the bed was moving, his chest rising and falling unevenly. His eyelashes fluttered, and slowly… very slowly, his eyes opened.
At first, his vision was super blurry. He stared up at the wooden ceiling beams, looking around the unfamiliar room as the morning light streamed in through the window. Then a sharp, throbbing pain hit his temples, making him groan out loud.
Great immediately sat on the edge of the bed.
-Hey do not try to get up.Your head is still in really bad shape-
The stranger took a few sips of water from a cup Great held for him. His eyes scanned the room, the walls, the wardrobe, the window, nothing looked familiar.
The confusion on his face turned straight into pure terror.
-Hey it is okay- Great said softly. -You are safe I found you by the riverbank You have been unconscious for days-
The guy repeated -River- A quick flash of a bright sunset, a rocking boat, and freezing water flickered in his head, but it vanished instantly. He winced from the pain again.
-Do not force it- Great said, gently taking his hand. -Do not try to remember right now-
The guy looked at Great with pure helplessness. -Where am I Who who am I-
Great froze.
Looking at the raw fear in the guy’s eyes, he couldn't bring himself to just say he was a total stranger. He caught sight of the simple silver ring on the guy’s left hand. Right then, a possessive, selfish thought took root in Great’s mind: What if someone comes and takes him away from me? This guy was vulnerable, lost, and Great didn't want to lose him.
He took a slow breath and crafted his lie.
-You are you are my husband-
The guy stared down at the ring on his finger in shock.
Touching the metal brought a strange, distant ache to his chest, like a memory or a promise, but his mind was completely blank.
-Your husband But I don’t even remember you I am sorry-
Great felt a pang of guilt, but he pushed it down.
-Don’t apologize It will come back with time-
Right then, that same name echoed faintly in the guy’s mind again. It slipped off his tongue before he could stop it:
-Aou-
Great’s smile vanished. -Aou?-
-Yeah- the guy whispered, pressing a hand over his heart. -Whenever I say that name my chest hurts I do not know who it is but I think they meant everything to me-
Jealousy flared up inside Great, though he kept his face totally calm. -Do not stress your head over it- He brought over a bowl of soup and fed him himself.
After finishing, the guy looked over at the window. -Can you call me by my name. Not knowing your own name makes you feel so empty-
Great paused. He couldn't give him his real name because he didn't know it.
-When I found you in the river the sun was just starting to rise- Great said, forcing a warm smile. -Everything was glowing so bright and warm. So if it is okay with you I can call you Bright for now-
The guy gave a small, gentle smile.
-Bright I like that-
And just like that, another lie was stacked onto the first one. Miles away, a brokenhearted guy was screaming the name -Boom- into the empty night, while in this quiet wooden house, Boom was now just -Bright-.
———————————————-/////////
Four Years Later…
For Great, the last four years had been lived with one constant fear in the back of his head:
What if he remembers today
What if I lose him
Their little wooden house was lively now, filled with flowers. Boom, or Bright, smiled a lot more, was loved by the whole village, and everybody knew him as Great’s husband.
He genuinely loved their quiet life, the garden, and Great.
But one evening, while sitting on the porch drinking tea, Bright rested his hand over his chest.
-Sometimes I feel this weird empty space inside me Great I am happy really but it feels like something is missing-
Great just listened in silence, like he always did.
That night, the same nightmare invaded Bright’s sleep again.
Cold water rushing, reaching hands, and a desperate voice calling out from far away: -Boom-
-AOU!!-
Bright gasped for air as he sat up in bed, drenched in sweat.
Great immediately woke up beside him. -Another nightmare-
-Yeah- Bright whispered, tears escaping his eyes.
-The same guy and that same name again Aou-
Panicking deep down, Great used the excuse he’d made up years ago.
-I told you before Bright, Aou is my younger brother who lives out of town.You probably just heard me mention him and your brain picked it up-
Bright tried to believe him, but the ache in his chest wouldn't go away.
He looked out the window at the moonlight, whispering to himself -Then why do I feel like crying every time I hear that name-
Great didn't answer. He just reached over and took Bright’s hand, holding it tight, as if letting go for even a second would let the river tear him away forever.