#in this essay hwan would write passionately about supporting his friends goals and dreams-

[hwanhd]

if there are chapters written in hwan's life of every important timeline that this would be one of it; bolded and in the fanciest font he could think of. sure the start of it may have been bad, especially after hwan had his episode, but at this very moment of mason sharing his secret and them being absolutely pure about it, is something hwan would like to remember for life. he's eternally thankful that mason would share this part of him with him, and to hwan, it's the biggest trust he's ever be handed to. perhaps mason may not know it, and the raven haired isn't sure if he would be able to tell mason about it yet. perhaps some day when he sees mason on stage where he shine the brightest, but for now, he would hold it in his heart that mason just so happen to be one of his biggest savior. not in terms of just seeing his bad sides, but how much mason had helped him grow as a trainee with all the years of their friendship and working together.

hwan listens earnestly when mason tells him about his goal. he lets mason have his talk to which he nods as affirmation, to let him know that he's listening well - that he's processing each and every words he's being told of. perhaps in some way, hwan feels himself tearing up with once again how he finds mason to be admirable. but the tears never came when he holds it down firmly. instead he smiles sincerely and takes some time for him to processing his brain thoughts to words. "dude," he starts. very typical of lee hwan to say. "yo dude can i like- hug you?" he asks, sincerely but before he gestures for it, he continues. "you're honestly one of the coolest and down to earth person i know. and i'm so happy honestly that you told me about this goal." he comments, taking his time with his words before adding on, "best bet i'd be there to see this happen, that in some way or another, i'd be there to see you and help you fulfill this!"

sure there's a lot of stereotypes and reactions when it comes to the autism spectrum but he knows that if there is anyone who is as strong and bold as to educate others on this, it would be mason. if the world and the people in it are against mason for this, for being himself, then best bet that hwan would not sit down unbothered. it would be great if ever comes the times for mason's goal to come alight, that the people would be understanding and that there would be mostly positive reactions than bad. of course hwan understands as well he could never truly control the world but take babysteps with mason. but when the time comes, he hopes that mason would find strength in him as hwan did with his friend.

"everything will be worth it." hwan assures mason in their native language. "you are worth it, and i'll be there to see that. to see your goals happen!"

hwanhd​:

mason’s equal excitement makes hwan grin from one end to the other. he’s happy that he’s meet a good friend like the latter who shares equal passion if not more than him and hwan truly respects him as a trainee and future artist. given if they would not be able to debut in the same group and would have to walk different idol paths, he hopes that mason and him would be friends for the longest time. hwan could only dream truly, that if ever one day he becomes a talented composer and songwriter and if mason were to debut as a soloist, he would personally gift him a track or a whole album of songs. that is, if ever mason would have him in his journey.

“please that’d be so sick,” hwan comments, excited english spewing and truthfully, he could no longer contain his excitement. “you’ve been there for me when i needed dance practice, i’d be more than grateful if you’d choreograph to my music,” the raven-haired adds on.

hwan gives mason a light pat to his shoulder, happy to hear that he had been someone who mason could trust with his secret and glad mason open up to him just as hwan had to him. he makes a lip zipping motion and crosses to where his heart is, “your secret is safe with me, forever.” he mentions with a nod before blinking over the excitement mason displays. “c'mon i’ll take all the secrets you have! i’ll be your personal pandora box of secrets!” he comments with a grin, but part of him feels excited as well to what mason would tell him.

“You’re the best, dude,” Mason smiled before chuckling at Hwan’s eagerness; it was always nice to feel like someone was excited to listen to you. Even though he knew it was pointless since they were completely alone, Mason looked around for a moment to look and see if anyone had materialized to eavesdrop on their conversation. Obviously, no one had, but Mason still felt the need to lean in and whisper his secret plan.

“I have… this sort of… goal, I guess,,” he said, not hesitating because he didn’t want to tell Hwan, but because he wanted to word it properly. “I want to debut more than anything, but once I do that… well, more like once I’m in the public consciousness, like we get our first win or something, like after we’re sort of… known and loved, you know? That’s when… that’s when I want to go on weverse or Weekly Idol or something and tell the world I’m autistic.” He felt his chest swell at the words. “I want to show people all over Korea and the world that you can be autistic and still achieve whatever you want to achieve.” He then chuckled nervously. “And then they’ll probably kick me out of the group, but that’s why I’m waiting until we’re… I don’t know, until I’m a part of something first that people would be upset if I left? Does that make sense?” He shook his head. “I don’t know, I just… it’s kind of a pipe dream, but I feel like even if I get kicked out, I’d be the first idol to ever officially come out as autistic and I think that would be huge for kids like me everywhere, If I could get one autistic kid to see themselves in me, then it’d be worth it, right?” Once Mason got started talking about this dream, it was hard for him to stop, but he managed to stop himself in time to look up and gauge Hwan’s reaction.