affaire de cœur [chapter 1]
Title: affaire de cœur [chapter 1]
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Ryeowook, Kyuhyun/OC
Genre: angst, romance, drama
Rating & Warnings: PG-13.
Summary: When faced with two choices - to retain his almost happy marriage, or act on his feelings and pursue his new love - what would Kyuhyun do?
When Cho Kyuhyun first stepped out of the airplane and into the air of Japan, it was raining lightly. The droplets of water made little streams down the glass window as Kyuhyun, along with a bunch of other people, made their way into the main building of Narita Airport, to get on with immigration procedures.
It was rare that Kyuhyun paid any attention to little details of his surroundings, like how the trees are yellowish brown in color. how the wind blew away leaves from said trees and into the ground, and how the skies sent down buckets of water to wash over all things that stood in the ground around Narita airport. It's autumn, Kyuhyun thought absentmindedly, and it's just the same around here as it is over there.
But Kyuhyun's mind is a mess today. Anything, anything at all would be a better place to put his focus on than his own thoughts.
The rain got heavier and Kyuhyun sighed. Thank you, Japan, what a grand welcome. He dragged his luggage and walked with heavy steps towards the arrival gate. He pondered on why he agreed to do this business trip in Japan thing. What he told other people was that he wanted to earn his boss' full trust, something that he has been working on for quite a long time, ever since he got a job at his current company. This is a good opportunity, Kyuhyun would say, Mr. Park trusted me completely for this project.
All he has to do is prove himself well in this three-weeks trial period, and he would be established in the Japan office for a longer period of time. With higher pay, and better opportunity.
Does he want that, though? He left behind a huge deal of a mess back home in Korea. His family was, no, is a mess. At least to Kyuhyun. Unfortunately for him, though, he could not seem to leave the mess that was Cho Kyuhyun's heart back in Korea.
He wasn't even in it for the money. He didn't like spending it on himself, and his wife had her own income to fully spend on herself. The only person he would spend his money on is gone. Kyuhyun frowned again, tears threatening to fall. Only, Kyuhyun wouldn't let it. He has broken down, and it took a great deal to put himself back together.
It might seem cowardly, but this, Japan, could be Kyuhyun's sweet little escape. At least-
"Are you Mr. Cho?"
Kyuhyun snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the direction of the voice. He found a young man, a wet young man, who looked much younger than Kyuhyun himself. Kyuhyun's mind played Mr. Park saying that another Korean is coming to pick him up, this must be him. He also remembered Mr. Park saying that this person is going to be his business partner, if you manage to make friends with him, it would be beneficial to yourself and the company, and that I know Ryeowook-ssi personally and he's very nice. Kyuhyun highly doubts it though. Business partner? This man looks like he couldn't be older than 17.
"Y-yes. I'm Cho Kyuhyun, very pleased to meet you." Kyuhyun grabbed his name card from his jacket pocket and offered it to the other man with a bow. Mannerism, to Kyuhyun, is very important.
"Don't be so formal. I'm Kim Ryeowook. I'd offer you a handshake but my hands are wet from the rain." Ryeowook grinned pleasantly and waved his right hand, and only then did Kyuhyun took an once-over look at the other man.
Ryeowook was a petite man, Kyuhyun thought, noticing that how dark blue dress shirt clung to his slender body, hugging it perfectly, his pants were dripping with the rain, holding an umbrella in his left hand. His dark brown short hair was also slightly wet, but it seems like he had fixed it before calling for Kyuhyun. He had brown eyes and high cheekbones, and his lips formed a really warm smile. Kyuhyun was taken aback when his heart skipped a beat and started to drum faster against his ribs. What the ...
"Um. Yes. It's okay."
"The car is over there, and I did not expect it to rain so I got this for you." Ryeowook handed Kyuhyun the umbrella he was holding, and seemingly affected by Ryeowook's grin, Kyuhyun smiled back sincerely for the first time in a while.
"Thank you. You are very nice, Ryeowook-ssi."
"Don't mention it. Just call me Ryeowook, please." Ryeowook chuckled.
Kyuhyun followed Ryeowook towards the car, where he was ushered to the passenger's seat while the other man took the driver's seat. Ryeowook would make small conversations while he drove, aiming to make Kyuhyun more comfortable. After all, Ryeowook thought, this is a brand new country for him. I needed a friend too when I first came here.
"Kyuhyun-ssi. How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-five..."
"Whoa, me too! 87 line?"
"What, you're not under twenty?" Kyuhyun said out of nowhere, completely surprised.
"The company wouldn't employ me if I am. Guess I look young~" Ryeowook happily said in a sing-songy tone and chuckled. "I'm an 87 liner."
"So must I call you hyung? I'm an 88 liner."
"Early 88? Call me hyung, call me hyung! Scratch that, how's hyungnim?"
Kyuhyun laughed at Ryeowook's excitement.
"Alright, it's decided. Ryeowook hyungnim."
Ryeowook covered his face with one hand and giggled into his palm, until he looked up and saw Kyuhyun raising one eyebrow at him, before bursting out into a laughing fit. Kyuhyun, clearly affected, joined in as well.
- - -
"So Kyuhyun-ssi. Any girlfriend you leave behind at Korea?"
"Actually... I am married and I had a son." Kyuhyun chuckled to mask his discomfort.
"Whoa. I haven't dated in about two years! Way to go."
Kyuhyun continued laughing, trying his best to look like he meant it, but Ryeowook noticed the way Kyuhyun looked down at his feet and wouldn't elaborate more on the topic. He's seen other people brag about their beautiful wife, and their children especially. There must've been something unsettling, Ryeowook thought.
"Look, there's the train station where we ride the train to go to work...."
And Kyuhyun is forever thankful that Ryeowook changed the subject, or else he would have gone crazy with that awkward air that passed from his side.
Kyuhyun and Ryeowook surprisingly had a lot in common, and Kyuhyun felt and odd sense of comfort just sitting there in Ryeowook's old sedan, listening to the radio humming old Japanese ballads and chatting mindlessly with Ryeowook. He felt like they had been friends for a long time, and he could get used to seeing that smile a lot more.
It's almost like his problems are all gone, and he had this new life and new friend, new everything.
Ryeowook stopped the car as he successfully parked on the hotel basement. The movement kicked Kyuhyun back out of his thoughts, and he followed Ryeowook out of the car.
"So this is where you'll be staying for the time being! The company provided you an apartment but it is not quite ready yet, but it will be soon. It's on the same building as mine! The day after tomorrow, you will start work, but tomorrow is holiday, and I can take you sightseeing. If you'd like, that is. Where do you want to go, Kyuhyun-ssi?" Ryeowook chattered as they walked in the hotel and he checked Kyuhyun in.
"Eh? I haven't got anything in mind.."
"Then, do you have anything you need to get?"
"A ..." Kyuhyun pondered. "A cellphone, so I can call back home, maybe?"
"Cellphone it is. I know just the brand. There is this brand where you can call cheaply to Korea..." Kyuhyun listened as Ryeowook chattered again. Ryeowook noticed that they arrived at the elevator, and stopped talking immediately.
"I'm sorry! I must have been too chatty and made you uncomfortable. Anyway, this is your room key card, floor 13, room number 15. Have a good rest, Kyuhyun-ssi."
Ryeowook's chatter did not annoy Kyuhyun, something that he himself was surprised about for the nth time of the day. It was quite the opposite, in fact, Kyuhyun enjoyed it. There was something calming and reassuring in Ryeowook's voice... Only it was too weird for Kyuhyun to admit.
"No, not at all. Thank you, Ryeowook hyung. And.."
"And?"
"Call me Kyuhyun, please. Just Kyuhyun."
Ryeowook smiled brightly.
"Alright, Kyuhyun-ah. At ten, tomorrow?"
"Sure."