Chapter Text
Do you know? Why dusk is so easy to love. Sometimes its blushing red, radiating happiness. Sometimes it's black, dark and somber. But the sky always accepts Dusk, as what it is.
MARTIN
Martin’s eyes snapped open. He was still in the studio and had fallen asleep on the chair. He cracked his neck, looking around. The studio reeked of alcohol and cigarettes as trash littered the ground. It was dark, the lights were off except for the exception of the dimly cool light from his monitors. One displayed Lyrics, one displayed chords, and the third was turned off.
“Shit…”
Martin mumbled, staring blankly into the dimly lit light of his computer. It was now 12:34 am, and Martin was apparently still here, still working, composing, singing and writing lyrics. Martin leaned back against the office chair and clicked on one of the recordings. A soft tune filled the otherwise quiet setting of the studio as the lyrics poured out;
이 자릴 떠 지도는 집어치워 'cause we're on a joyride
더 세게 speed it up 지금 기분 so high
Driving so fast, 가로질러 긴 밤
Day to night, ride, we're on a joyride
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're on a joyride
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're on a joyride
Driving so fast, 가로질러 긴 밤
Day to night, ride, we're on a joyride
Martin softly smiled, It was a decent song, Probably won’t get picked up from any artists… but still. Martin groaned, his back aching after being hunched over for hours and hours on end. He stretched, and reached out for his phone. As soon as he turned it on a string of notifications popped on his screen. Most were messages, a lot from his girlfriend, a few from his mom and a few from management.
“Babe, are we still up for tomorrow's date?”
“How’s America treating you?”
“Dear Martin Edward Park, we are here to inform you that unfortunately, we think that it isn’t going to work out between us. We appreciate–"
“...” Martin skimmed through a few messages before setting his phone down. He dragged his hands across his face, “Think that's enough for today.” He got up, grabbing his jacket and pack of cigarettes, before turning the computer off and leaving.
Honestly, being at home wasn’t any different from being in the studio. Martin still composed music at home, though this time through the comfort of his own bed. He still wrote down lyrics, though this time it could be while making himself a simple dinner of instant noodles and a few kimbab he made. He still smoked and drank, leaving the trash everywhere but the trashcan and he still got messages that he refuses to open or reply too, instead opting to leave them on read.
Tonight though, Martin decided to do something diffrent.
Martin reached his destination, a bar opened throughout the night and early mornings. He frequents whenever he has hard hours in the studio, Whether that is having a hard time finding the beat, searching for the perfect rhyme to a lyric or after being rejected for the 6th time, he’d swallow his sorrows in this bar. And every time, he'd enter, take his usual spot in the corner-end of the bar and quietly sip on a few drinks before leaving.Tonight was no different, He took his spot and ordered his usual shot.
It was a quiet night today, very few people inside, which made sense. The bartender slid over his drink and Martin slipped over into a deep thought.
It has been over 3 years since he left his home country of Korea in pursuit of music and finding “himself”. His career has been steady, being a writer and producer for a few songs. He wasn’t unknown, but not famous either. Lately though, his career has taken a toll, and artists after artists have been refusing to work with him. I have a bit saved up… but if I don't get an offer by the end of october I might as well go back to Korea… Martin thought, Swirling the rim of his glass.
“Martin?” His ears perked up, he swung his head around, coming face to face with an old acquaintance. “Keonho?” He muttered as the younger man took a seat next to him.
“How have you been?” Keonho asked, smiling brightly.
“Okay…” He lied “How about you?”
“Great, James and Seonghyen are doing good too!”
At the mention of his old friends, Martin’s ears perked up. “Really?” Keonho nodded. “They miss you a lot, you know? James especially, me especially!’ “Do you now…” Martin laughed. “So… are you thinking about coming back to Korea?”
Martin froze. “You know I can’t do that… At least not yet.” Keonho’s smile faltered, turning into a small frown. “Why not…?” I cant tell you… “Reasons”
“Reasons?” Keonho laughed. “Martin, if you want to tell me why you can’t go home, at least tell me why.”
“I told you. Reasons.”
“Reasons…” Keonho huffed.
“Reasons, reasons, What are the reasons, Martin. You left Korea all of a sudden, leaving me, leaving seonghyeon, leaving James, leaving mom in pursuit of music and apparently to find yourself. You left us a long paragraph that explained nothing about what you were actually doing.
Then for a year you disappeared and when you finally came back online it was all one sentence, and barely any updates. Mom is worried sick Martin. Ever since you left she’s been living alone without anyone to help. Me and James tried out best but we can’t always be there to accompany her when she’s lonely.”
“Keonho, breath.”
“No. You leaving is selfish and I don't understand why you can’t just come back? Why America? You can make music in Korea, you can find yourself in Korea, you can have an audience in Korea. I’m begging you Martin, Why did you leave us?”
Keonho breathed heavily, gripping his glass harder as he looked straight at Martin.
Before Martin could answer, the bartender came over, sliding a drink over to Martin. “Happy birthday” He simply said before going back to serving another man. Martin paused, Was it seriously his birthday already? Was it March 20 already? Was he 23 already?
“Oh yeah…” Keonho sighed, “Happy birthday.”
“...Keonho,” Martin’s voice shook, taking the glass. “I’m so sorry…”
The two walked and talked for hours, catching up with each other. “So why are you here? It couldn’t just be for me right?” Martin joked, pulling out a cigarette bud before lighting it. “Well, sort off… Partially because of you and partially because me, hyeon and jamie just wanted to go out.” Keonho said. Martin hummed, trying to offer Keonho a cigarette but Keonho politely refused.
“So where is Seonghyeon and James?”
“They’re back up in the hotel, I just couldn't sleep so I decided to walk around.”
“I see…” Martin nodded.
Time went by fast and suddenly it was 4:56 already. “Bye Martin!” Keonho said, “Bye.” Martin replied before they went their separate ways. It was nice meeting an old friend. Unfortunately, Martin hasn’t made any friends since he came to America. It’s surprising that he even has a girlfriend… Most of the people he frequently interacted with were all for business.
Martin sat outside his balcony, looking over the city. The city is starting to light up as people get ready for work. When the city woke up, Martin went to bed. So after a while, he got up, put out his cigarette and got ready for bed.
It was bright out, The clock showing the time of 9:34. The cars are beeping and the new yorkers, yelling. Martin stirred awake, his eyes fluttering open. When his vision finally stilled he saw a man dressed in blue staring at him. Martin gasped, jumping out of bed. He paused, his brain refusing to process what was happening.
“Who are you?” he asked, as he thought of ways to escape.
The man was earlier calm, simply smiling softly at Martin’s question as if it was a stupid thing to ask. There was a long silence before the brunette finally opened his mouth.
“I'm Juhoon. Your husband from the future.”