TAT (4/?)
4
Jessica doesn’t see things Krystal clear
Jonghyun pulled up to Kibum’s house and parked in his empty driveway. He opened his trunk and pulled out a few baking utensils and a large batter bowl. He held it with one arm while the other waved to Kibum’s mother in the garden. She was sipping a glass of lemonade while enjoying-or staring blankly-her new book from Borders.
“Hi Ms. Kim,” he pushed the large bowl up with his knee,” How’s your day been?”
She looked up briefly and her eyes turned into crescent moons. “Fine sweetie. You’re helping Kibum bake for the new teacher right?”
“Yup.” He shook the plastic spatula around for kicks.
“He’s in the back kitchen. You two have fun, I am going for my Pilates class now.” She grinned as she picked up her yoga mat and readjusted the waistband of her polyester sweats,” Be good.”
“We will!”
She walked into her car and nodded. Once she was out of the community gates he entered the house. He walked through the long hallway all the back to the back. Kibum had two kitchens, all for reasons Jonghyun didn’t know. Kibum was hunched over the marble island flipping through a Betty Crocker cake book.
“You’re late.” He mumbled, slapping the book shut. “But it’ll do.”
“D’you see my mom outside?” he was searching through the cupboards for the sprinkles.
Jonghyun put the mixing bowl down and fished in his pocket for a piece of gum. Once he found it he started chewing ravenously. “Yeah, she’s at her class for her butt.”
“It’s for her body. When did you start checking my mom out anyways? I thought it was just the kids.”
“Ever since I found out that both of you take that class; not to mention how nice to look in your speedo.” He joked.
Kibum laughed and went to the silver fridge that reflected a blurry version of everything. He ran his hands over his backside and smiled with joy. “You win, puppy. Now let’s get to work, shall we?”
Jonghyun leaned in close and let the last word roll off his tongue slowly; the minty fresh air blew into Kibum’s nose. “We shalllll.”
“I think everyone knows about your addiction to 5 gum. Wrigley must be your god.” He giggled.
Jonghyun absently stroked his stomach and an idea popped into his head. He washed his hands and wiped them thoroughly. He dragged his feet up the stairs and into Kibum’s bedroom. He lifted the top of the black laptop up and typed in the password-he memorized it by heart.
He did a little Google research and smiled to himself. He clicked the little audio button for the correct pronunciation and closed it once again. He hurried down the stairs.
Kibum already started the batter and was whisking it at a chef pace. Jonghyun stared curiously into the bowl and back at the icing. He stuck his finger in and swirled it around before pulling it out. He drew a strip of white on Kibum’s face. Kibum didn’t find it so cute.
“Hyun! Wha-what are you doing?! That’s disgusting. Take it off now!” he kept whisking and his face grew red, red, red.
Jonghyun nodded. “Guess what I learned in French class today.” He leaned in and kissed his iced cheek lightly. “La bise.”
And when you thought Kibum couldn’t get any redder, he did. “Pervert.”
*
“I think we should write: To teacher that wasted our time, welcome to Brookfield high. It sounds good to me.” Jonghyun growled. It was a big waste of time to him, every time he tried to pass skinship it ended up being messed up because Kibum told him to focus. Who focuses on a cake anyways?
Kibum already started writing ‘Welcome’ on the cake and Jonghyun rolled his eyes. He hid behind his Sports illustrated magazine. “Have you seen the teacher yet?”
“Nope, but I heard she’s hot.”
Jonghyun shot him a glare. “Whatever. Just get finished so we can go to my house and study.”
“Can’t. I have some other clubs stuff to catch up on. The newspaper wants me to write another column on teen abstinence, isn’t that great?”
“Well you are the perfect candidate for it, Virgin Mary.” He scoffed a little, all this club stuff was getting on his nerves, he was already wondering how Seohyun felt.
“Hey! I love my extracurricular activities, alright?”
“But you’re in like all the clubs. National Honor Society, DJ, TV production, Welcoming committee, foreign student committee, Bake sale, art, tutoring, EVERYTHING! Not to mention your sports. Lacrosse, swimming, soccer, come on Kibum, cut yourself some slack.”
Kibum put the icing cup down with a hard slap and his hand rested on the back of his neck. “Fine, you want me to go study with you so bad, then, I will. Let’s go.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, Kibum, I’m just worried okay?” he sounded exhausted.
Kibum’s hand dislodged themselves from scratching the bone out of his skin. “No it’s alright. Really, I can go study with you, come on, grab your coat.”
“I can do it with Jessica. She has that class too. Pick you up tomorrow, okay?” he grabbed his coat and cleaned bowl out of the drying rack.
Kibum slumped in his chair. “Sure.”
Jonghyun kissed his cheek once and was out the door.
*
Jessica pulled her hair into a blonde ponytail. The rubber band was sticking out of her mouth before she fastened her hair. She was ready to play Dr. Phil with the vibes Jonghyun was giving off. Jonghyun and her have been friends-close friends-ever since she helped him with his broken backpack in seventh grade, which was pretty big.
She knew his ups and downs, his roundabouts, his feelings. All of it made sense and she knew how to neutralize all of it given some time. But she knew one thing that made Jonghyun like this and it was Kibum. Nobody ever made Jonghyun crouched so low, cry so hard, scream so loud, feel so… strong. Jessica decided that maybe Kibum was an angel with some really special powers but she ended up losing it when her tarot cards proved that he was definitely human.
“You don’t have to keep it in, y’know.” It was barely a whisper, and in this quiet room it was like shredding paper.
“I’m just tired.”
So you don’t want to spill the beans, I see what you did there, Kim Jonghyun, she thought.
But Jessica wasn’t as good as she thought. It wasn’t just about Kibum. It was also about her little sister, Krystal. She’s seen some bad things, things that could be threatening if they got out, things that Jonghyun wouldn’t let her say aloud. Who knew that sweet little Krystal Jung would be the barer of Jonghyun’s most lethal secret?