Summer 1 - Welcome dinner

[kollomods]

[ It's the very first dinner on Norrhamn and the kitchen staff (???) has really gone all out. The counter is covered by a variety of the finest cuisine Sweden has to offer — sandwich cakes of every variety, from the classic salmon and shrimp to ham and horse radish or more modern, vegan varieties with avocado and cherry tomatoes. There's a smaller table set out with strawberry and cream cake, and the traditional spread of seven different types of shortbread cookies. Of course there's coffee and tea by the bucketload, along with other drinks such as elderberry or lingonberry squash. The community center has been decorated for the occasion with bunting and strings of lights leading out into the garden. It's still early summer so the nights are mild and surprisingly bright — the sun has yet to fully set by the time the celebrations kick off. Better get used to the light, it's not getting darker anytime soon. ]

Comments

[unwieldy]

[ There are dark times ahead for Haein, but right now, he's in one of the better points in his life.

Right at this moment, though? There's a lot of frustration going on. He watches Hyunseok's expression, the way he clams up and allows silence to take over between them. It isn't... fair. Haein's supposed to know. Hyunseok had said so not too long before.

He's not used to this sort of thing. He doesn't know what to do. Years of fucking with people rather than getting close with them has left him floundering. He feels tense, nervous... upset that he's being kept in the dark. ]

... You're not going to tell me.

[ He tries to keep the hurt and anger from his voice, but it still manages to slip out. Having secrets kept from him? That's not how he operates. Haein has his own secrets that he'd take to the grave, but he's allowed to be hypocritical. He's given himself that right. But other people? Especially Hyunseok and when Haein is supposedly involved? That's unacceptable. ]

[dumbstruck]

[ Something about this sucks more than Hyunseok can verbalize. He doesn't understand why upsetting Haein hurts him when Haein has done so many terrible things to him, but it does. He looks down at the ground between their feet, letting the guilt settle over him like a heavy blanket, wondering if it wouldn't be better to just admit the entirety of the truth right now.

But he can't. The risk of telling Haein what becomes of their friendship seems too great. Haein could easily turn on him again here, and he doesn't want to deal with that a second time. ]

Sorry.

[ He should at least offer something small in way of explanation though. ]

It's just... it's not really my thing to tell anyway.

[unwieldy]

[ Not good enough. Hyunseok's attempt at an explanation does nothing to console Haein. There's a burst of anger burning away inside of him, and the scorching glare directed at Hyunseok promises that this won't be forgotten. Haein is a master of keeping grudges, and this is one of the more upsetting things he's had to deal with in a while. ]

Fine.

[ The word is practically spat out, the venom in his voice hard to miss. He's been more than patient. Some friendship this was turning out to be. ]

Keep your fucking secret.

[ Haein turns sharply, heading for the exit. As far away from Hyunseok and his bullshit is where he wants to be. He needs some time to cool off. It'll be more than beneficial for the both of them, but there's no way in hell that Haein isn't going to be petty about this every chance he can get later on. ]

[dumbstruck]

[ Well this feels more familiar. Incredible... Haein has no idea the way that Hyunseok will screw him over in Haein's future, and Hyunseok still managed to completely blow his chance to have a decent relationship with the guy. How is he this much of a fuck-up?

Hyunseok sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He doesn't feel good about how this all went down, but maybe it's better if Haein doesn't want to talk to him.

But it feels bad. They are friends in a weird, bitter and constant fighting sort of way. Now it feels like he might not even have that. ]