"So handsome," was Byun Baekhyun's first thought upon seeing the boy.
"Ah...ah, thank you, I just needed your help!" Byun Baekhyun didn't refuse and handed the smaller suitcase to the other person.
"Give me the big one, I'm really strong." Without waiting for Baekhyun's reply, the boy took the other suitcase and started walking up the mountain.Byun Baekhyun hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed.
"How did you know where I was going?" Byun Baekhyun asked as he watched him walk forward without hesitation.
"There is only one road leading up the mountain."
"Oh... I still don't know your name?" Byun Baekhyun asked.
Park Chanyeol.
"Are you Korean?" Park Chanyeol asked.
"Hmm, what about you? Oh my! You speak Korean! You're... too?" Byun Baekhyun realized that when he spoke to the other person from the foot of the mountain, they had been speaking Korean.
"Yes, I am Korean, but I have lived in Japan since birth."
"You speak Korean very well."
"After all, we are Koreans, so we always have to learn our mother tongue."
"Too."
The conversation stalled, and the atmosphere became a little awkward. But the two of them were too tired to talk after carrying their suitcases up the mountain path.
Upon reaching the mountainside, Byun Baekhyun noticed that there were significantly more people on the mountain than at the foot of it. The mountain had basic infrastructure, including a convenience store and a hospital, and a small plaza offering panoramic mountain views. Next to the plaza's viewing platform stood a very tall and ancient cherry blossom tree, but because it was only March and they were on a mountain, the blossoms hadn't yet opened.
Thank you!
"Okay, you're welcome." Park Chanyeol turned to leave, but Byun Baekhyun called him back.
"Hey! Do you know how to get to FOREST? My phone's dead, and the signal's a bit weak up here..." Byun Baekhyun explained that he was only bothering him because he had no other choice.
"Are you going to Forrest?"
"Yes, I'm going to stay at that guesthouse for a while."
"What a coincidence, I am the owner of that guesthouse."
"Hey hey hey! Really?!"