To Be Your First Luck
To Be Your First Luck
2min | pg-13 | romance, fluff, angst, slice of life | 5746w
Somewhere in this world, people are divided into those with luck beside them and whose not.
A pale beauty with long, reddish locks swiftly bounced back and forth. The as white as snow skin shone under the warm effulgence of the sun. Red lips that shaped and curled into a perfect curve, begging the ruthless beasts to crave and savor them. The slim and tall body, with little muscles adding in, swung the hips elegantly.
And those beautiful, round orbs in the slanted eyes that always dented into an eye-smile whenever that sinful lips did a light chuckle.
Even the most gorgeous people, if they are fated to carry contretemps in their hands, no one can keep it away from them.
“ Don’t.. get near him.”
“ Even if he’s so beautiful.”
“ He gets a bad luck on his side. Whoever tends to befriend with him, has to accept any consequence.”
“ So beautiful, to the point that it is a sinful beauty, that leads people around him to death.”
But the said male, whose beauty would never come off second-best even from the prettiest goddess, actually, whether he intended it or not, was capable to eavesdrop.
That case, sometimes, needs a turn-point.
To change their fate.
To change the paradigm that has been built in their mind.
And at the same time, as the legendary beauty in that school, came two men, one with defined unique beauty that no one could compare, and a dashing guy with cropped short brown hairs and sturdy, towering up figure.
The new students had just noticed with their eyes,
What had caught their attention.
.
.
.
“ Dear God, I hope you hear my pray this morning.”
Lee Taemin unclasped his fingers and fluttered the eyes open, looking up at the sky and curling up a little smile. What a clear sky, he thought.
“ Mom, Dad, Heechul Hyung,” Taemin mumbled softly, “ Are you doing good? I’ve been a very good kid too here. You can be proud of me.”
No one answer, because Taemin had expected, nor even hoped at least, a small wish.
The figure of their back, leaving me on this rainy road, you all.
Because of me.
“ I must go now,” Taemin finally decided and wiped off the dust that sticking to his trousers. Subtly turning his back, he began taking steady steps with mind floating to somewhere else. He didn’t realize if there were another people walking across to the opposite with Taemin, and he eventually bumped into a board chest. Taemin, being a male with small and slender figure, bounced off and fell on his butt first at the solid ground, wincing and small groan followed after.
“ I’m sorry,” The other person apologized, and Taemin quickly shot his head up to meet with the other’s pair of eyes.
So round.
So dark.
They are perfect.
“ Uh.. No, I’m.. fine..” Taemin stammered, getting drawn into the deep gaze that seemingly were as black as the night sky.
The taller male smiled warmly. “ Let me help you,” he offered his hand, but Taemin shook his head and rejected him decently, “ No need. I can stand up by myself. Thank you.”
You can’t just touch someone, Taemin.
But there was another person beside the handsome guy standing up proudly. No hesitation yet an obvious confidence was overflowing in his aura. He was sexy, pretty, and strong.
“ My, my,” he mumbled, pushing off the tallest male and coming forward. His feline eyes stared at Taemin quietly, and suddenly he cupped Taemin’s cheeks in his palms. “ You are so beautiful.”
People always say how beautiful, gorgeous, enchanting you are.
But at the end they will realize about something that you always carry around.
People come and go.
That’s called ‘circle of karma’, for what you’ve done.
Hearing such a sudden compliment made Taemin stuttered. He shyly lowered his neck and murmured, “ You are more than what you’ve complimented me..” When he realized that the other party was touching him, Taemin snapped his eyes open and pushed him gently, once again, to lose the same warmth.
When was the last time I’m being touched by someone?
Taemin, actually, hid a hope and longing, deep inside his heart.
But he refused to tell anyone. He just could not.
“ Don’t touch me,” Taemin muttered softly, his voice almost stuck in the throat, but somehow he managed to work it out. “ It’s better if you don’t, for the sake of God.”
The other two people froze upon Taemin’s firm statement and somehow Taemin could dive in to their gentle orbs, he almost regretted what he had said; yet he just had to do it.
Otherwise, they could receive a bad luck if they got closer with him.
So then, Taemin left, hoping that he didn’t leave any regret and vicissitude after this.
He walked away, further, and further, to make sure that they would not see him again.
“ What’s with him?”
The feline-eyed man looked at the view of that small back dissolving as he turned to the school corridor. The other male curled up his brow elegantly and shrugged. “ I don’t know,” his deep voice replied, “ He said something that.. it was better if we didn’t.. what?”
“ Touch him,” the prettier man rolled his eyes, “ Sure Minho, I know you have carried a special interest on him, but I didn’t expect you to be this deaf. Deal with it. Go to a doctor and tell the main problem with your hearing.”
“ It’s not my fault, Key,” The man whose name was Minho objected the understatement and eyed him sharply, “ When he is just too beautiful, what can I do?”
“ You are.. sure stupid,” Key scoffed, this time with no hesitation beneath his tone, pointing out immediately, “ You are lovelorn with this guy. Admit it.”
“ I am,” Minho grinned, playfully, “ You also.. have sort of a want to own him as your son.”
“ He can take after me, especially his beauty,” Key laughed chirpily, ignoring the weird look given by Minho to him. “ He’s really cute, don’t you think?”
Minho’s gaze averted to the place that Taemin was stomping his way off and contemplated. “ Something is just not right.. although yeah, he is,” Minho repeatedly asked himself, convincing that it was just probably his prejudice but as Key showed a little nod, Minho gave up. The way Taemin spoke indicated something, yet he just could not show his true emotion and faked his feelings with that kind of subtle mask.
Also, there was something that caught Minho’s attention.
“ His ‘God’, huh?”
.
.
.
The next day was started running-of-the-mil, so was the first class. Taemin pulled his chair and sat carefully after dropping his bag onto the floor. He laid his head on the desk and breathed softly, eyes examining the situation around him. His classmates were talking and chitchatting cheerfully, maybe gossiping about their crush. Taemin smiled at the warm sight. Even though he wasn’t counted in, he felt happy just by watching it.
I wonder how it feels.. being a part of them..
Quickly, he shook off the thought and scolded himself for having such an unimportant question like that. Nonetheless, he still chuckled lightly watching how embarrassed and happy people were, because they deserved a wonderful life, unlike him.
I am bedraggled by sins.
Happiness doesn’t do me.
“ Hey.”
A jolt of surprise buzzed down his spine and he jerked, arching his back and almost shrieking. A familiar deep voice was too near his lobe and the hot breath brushed the sensitive cold skin, of course Taemin could not get a grip to prevent a silly expression he would make with no intention. The ageless beauty looked over his shoulder and frowned. “ What are you doing?”
“ Greeting you properly. I’m Minho,” he answered with a toothy grin, “ and he’s Key. We are new here.”
Taemin sighed. “ Why are you here?”
“ Well, we didn’t have chance to talk more yesterday. Especially him,” Minho pointed his thumb at Key, “ he really wants it.”
Key muttered ‘liar’ under his breath, which made nonsense to Taemin since he had no idea either what Key meant. Still, Taemin glared at them through his long eyelashes and batted them. “ My name is Taemin. Thank you for your introduction, but,” he curtly replied, “ and if you excuse me, I need to go to restroom.” Taemin rose up and drifted off without even looking back, earning a question from the two. “ What’s with him?” Key wondered and Minho coughed awkwardly. He thought that perhaps he had gone too far, but at the same time Taemin’s yesterday words still swirled in his memory. Taemin didn’t seem to be a person who ignored and hurt someone’s feelings easily, so what made him act ignorantly like that?
As the new students they were, of course they knew nothing. When they stepped in the class, they saw that Taemin had no friends surrounding him. He just sat there, sitting and smiling blankly, but the gentleness and longing forded the round eyes, he looked lonely that they could not take it.
Minho instinctively walked towards a guy, one of Taemin’s classmates, and he tapped that guy’s shoulder friendly. He turned and seemed surprised that the hottest new transferred student was accosting him. “ Y - yeah?”
“ May I ask you..” Minho made sure he had given his thousand-watt smile that could lit up entire world, not just for the sake of a birdcage. “ Everything about Taemin?”
His facial expression changed soon he heard the question Minho just catapulted. He clawed his upper arm, shifting his sitting position uneasily. “ Uh.. about him.. Well.. Maybe if you want to befriend with him, you just need to prepare for the consequences that a rumor had spread in the school.. If you aren’t strong enough either, I think it’s not wise to stay on his side..”
Minho and Key exchanged a thunderstruck look, before finally that guy continued his explanation.
.
.
.
Hours had passed, and after a long unworthy waiting, finally the bell rang fiercely to the students’ loud cheering upon the fact that school officially ended. Taemin rubbed his nape and tucked his stuffs into the school bag neatly. As he flung the bag on his shoulder, Taemin’s eyes caught a view down there from the pane in his classroom on the second floor. Minho and Key were already standing near the school’s gate for unknown reason, and Taemin just didn’t bother to find it. All he wanted to do was going home and doing the homework.
Although, his little heart whispered that if he could pay more attention to Minho’s gorgeous round eyes and admire it.
He could feel his heart increasing its pace ever since Minho whispered to him earlier; he was never that close to someone in his life.
“ Silly,” Taemin suppressed his desire, “ what are you thinking?”
Yeah. Just go home.
Everything is fine. You just have to forget it, Taemin convinced himself.
But that was until Taemin’s walk was halted as soon as the two boys grew a wide smile on their face. Taemin tried to peek even though he didn’t quite dare to reciprocate the tenderhearted stare they were giving.
Also, Minho’s masculine smell that suffocated his lungs and squeezed them.
Taemin just could not take it.
“ Taemin-ah.”
Key’s motherly voice called him calmly, but Taemin still didn’t look back. He just stared his feet that pointed to each other awkwardly, as if they were the most interesting sight he could see. Key knew that Taemin would not respond, so he scurried forward, taking in Taemin’s rosy cheeks, which turned out Taemin squeaking and stupefied. “ If someone calls you, look at him directly,” Key wisely advised in a settled tone, not even anger was heard underneath the string of his words.
Taemin struggled as soon as Key’s warm fingers pressed against his skin. “ No.. don’t touch me.. you can’t..”
“ What if we don’t want to?” Minho asked back, arms crossing over the sturdy chest.
“ B - but.. it’s not good.. it’s..”
“ We don’t care about what the good deeds or whatnot we should consider, because it’s us who decide them, not even God can stop us,” the tallest guy among them conveyed, “ Let’s us do what we want to.” And was added with a big grin from Key, totally ignoring the bewilderment look of the students.
Taemin bit his lower lip - why were they like this? Wasn’t it better if they took up his advice and left him?
“ You.. can’t say harsh things to God..”
Key subtly smirked. “ It wasn’t harsh..” he defied toothily, “ nor we regretted for saying it.”
Taemin gasping, not believing in what he had just heard.
Oh God..
Please, forgive them..
.
.
.
Ever since then, everyone in school could find Minho and Key hanging out around Taemin like a sticky glue since they refused to part except the different classes that forced them apart for a while, but that wasn’t a big deal to the two. Whenever it was before the first period, or school break, or when all classes were finally over, they would catch him up in the first blink before Taemin sensed their presence. Especially Minho, he just had his hands roaming on Taemin’s back, even if it were for friendly gesture, Taemin felt butterflies floating on his stomach. He was sweating, stuttering, and trembling when Minho laid a touch on him, whether it was intentional or not.
“ What are you doing here?”
The low tone dragged Taemin back to his sense as he grasped the question slowly, mouth stopping sipping the milk. He glanced and found Minho’s body towering up above his head, plastering a tender smile as he kneeled so their eyes were on the same level. “ Why are you eating your lunch alone?”
The corner of Taemin’s eyes leered at the empty lunchbox. “ Uh.. I just need a quiet place to eat..”
“ Are you avoiding your friends?”
Taemin shook his head, although he was quite shocked hearing the blunt question. “ N.. No..”
“ So you won’t mind if I sit here and eat my lunch with you.”
The pretty boy was about to protest but what he could do? Minho already settled himself on the ground and laid against the cold surface of the wall. He didn’t say anything but watched Minho taking off the top and clamping the meal with chopsticks. Quietly, he stuffed it into his mouth and took a peek at Taemin, grinning playfully. “ Wanna some?”
Taemin blushed at the thought of them sharing same cutlery and objected it instantly but again, he lost from Minho in whose faster reaction. Minho leaned in, biting one side of a smoked beef and put the opposite site into Taemin’s gaping mouth. The younger boy almost had his eyes fall off their sockets as he proceeded whatever was going on but he could see Minho’s smirk behind that other side of the beef - is he listening to my heartbeat? It’s pounding too fast - Taemin gasped as Minho broke off, letting the beef tear apart and munching the rest happily. Clearly he enjoyed Taemin’s shocked face, he didn’t think that this boy was this unbelievably adorable. Red flush that tinted his already pink cheeks and wet lips that invited Minho to ravish them.
Minho chortled.
“ You should.. eat it..” His fingers were lifted up to touch that cheek, stroking the skin lovingly. Taemin unconsciously did what Minho said and swallowed it in one gulp. He didn’t talk, nor reject Minho’s warm touch - he was already drowned and lost in the chocolate iris, slowly.. and slowly..
Both of them were captivated by each other’s beauty.
Minho made sure he had closed the distance between them; and when he brushed Taemin’s lips with his own, Taemin’s eyes size doubled and his body shot up. He could not believe it; he just had his first kiss.
Feeling that it was unbearable to hold back his embarrassment, he turned and ran away, making Minho dumbfounded. But he still laughed, nonetheless. Upon the cuteness and his honest personality that never lied to his feelings.
So pure, like an angel who had just fallen from the sky.
.
.
.
Taemin’s butt fell on the chair as he dropped his head onto the desk, mind recalling and blushing hard yet again. What the fuck had just happened? Everything was going too fast - he wasn’t ready to experience it; but why did it feel so right, so real?
“ My baby is blushing.”
The little boy squeaked in surprise as the small voice whispered it on his ear to see that Key was grinning in delight seeing the other almost doubled his eyes to be just like Minho’s. “ Well, I see your cheeks have turned pink. Did I just miss something?” the diva narrowed his eyes cheekily, continuing, “ or are we talking about what Minho just did to you?”
Checkmate.
Taemin dropping his jaw was all answer that Key needed to pop a sly chuckle and he scooped the boy in his embrace, tickling the earlobe. “ Oh my, I think I got it right.”
The younger boy winced, pretending innocent as if he weren’t capable to grasp the answer that quick but Key’s typical laugh made his conjecture fumble. After he overcame with it, Taemin’s round eyes pleaded at Key to let him off this time. Even Taemin didn’t mean to leach Key, at the end the mother side that had been taking place every time he saw Taemin, once again, came in handy for the youngest. “ Sure thing. I won’t ask you more,” Key laughed, “ but he is a nice guy, isn’t he?”
There was something that made Taemin contemplating and looking away. They both are nice. Key is a very sweet guy, but as for Minho..
A lump always blocked halfway of his throat. His heartbeat rapidly increased its pace. Butterflies were everywhere.
Just what is this?
Then Taemin only could give a small nod.
What could he do?
When it comes to Minho, I can never think straight properly.
Although no words slipped out of Taemin’s mouth, his blank yet longing expression had explained Key the broad outline about Taemin’s current feelings. This boy was as easy as book to read. He was so pure, so innocent, and impeccable.
There’s no way he has to carry his ‘sin’ alone, or so what he thinks.
Key stooped his back a bit, murmuring, “ some things are better left untold, Taemin-ah..”
Just like your feelings..
“ .. and the rest is better to be spoken, according to your heart.”
And as for this, like the promise from your sin that you always pray to God.
With then, Key stepped back with a slight smile across his face. Taemin clearly could not hide the confusion which all was drawn.
Key just hoped he could understand, some day.
“ I need to look for Minho, we have a class together after this..” Key patted Taemin’s shoulder, “ See you.”
Leaving confused Taemin, he never looked back until the sight of his figure dissolved behind that cold wall.
Literally, what Taemin felt now was bewilderment that played with his head. Key’s statement was nothing but to baffle the order of his thoughts. What were things that could be better untold and whatnot? Taemin didn’t understand at all, not even a clue, nor Taemin reached the point of Key’s advice.
“ Oh my God,” Taemin mumbled to himself, “ Why are people around me so weird?”
What people are you talking about?
So finally you have friends?
You break your promise to your God?
As if the questions weren’t enough, small whispers came following after.
“ Why do the new popular students seem so happy befriending with that guy?”
“ Isn’t he a bearer of all contretemps for everyone around him?
“ Poor them.. I hope there’s nothing bad happens on the new students..”
“ They are quite popular and well-liked.. too bad if he destroys everything..”
The lonely, weak heart that Taemin always carried around, slowly crumbled apart.
Suddenly the class shut silent.. no, Taemin was the one who deafened his hearings.
They’re right.
He had known them all, yet he neglected his promise to God.
I should stay away from Minho and Key.
.
.
.
At the time the school’s bell rang madly to whole classes that it was time for the to go home and get some nice sleep, the students eagerly stuffed their belongings and rushed off the building, not even bother to take a look.
Everyone except Taemin.
The boy looked at his bag blankly, mouth half open and sometimes it perked up as his mind wandered.
I never thought it would feel this hurt.
Taemin chuckled bitterly.
“ Taemin-ah!”
His body jerked upwards a bit as the familiar deep voice called out his name in such intoxicating way. Taemin felt his eyes teary - did he get too used to him?
But why?
Minho spread a silly grin seeing the boy sitting on his seat and freezing up when he heard his name called suddenly. He put up his hand on Taemin’s arm, at first he intended to pull the boy to stand up but all he got was the total opposite from his intention.
“ Don’t touch me.”
Minho looked puzzled, not comprehending Taemin’s demanding sentence. “ Taemin? What’s wrong?”
The smaller boy bit his baby lip as if it was going to bleed.
“ Because of me, you can get contretemps afflict you. It’s not good.”
Because of me, everyone I love died.
If I touch them again, perhaps they won’t be by my side anymore.
“ I am a bearer of all misfortunes.”
Don’t look at me with those eyes, Minho.
“ So please,” Taemin made sure he had put on his best, sincere smile, “ Stay away from me.”
This is for the best.
.
.
.
“ So you said that Taemin asked you to leave him because he carries contretemps in his life and then you was lost to retort it?”
Minho was as well amazed by the way Key wrapped the conversation up in a right conclusion even before Minho had finished the story. If he could clearly remember, he stopped at the words ‘well Taemin said he could bring me to misfortunes if I stayed with him and - “ then Key cut off at the right time according to himself.
“ Wow,” Minho blinked, “ I can’t believe a man who flunks in chemic can conclude this perfectly.”
“ So you’ve decided to grow some balls at me, very nice indeed,” Key tilted his chin upwards arrogantly, “ Said the male who is not even capable in doing the formula of geometry.”
“ I can!”
“ Right. Talk to your ass.”
Minho frustratedly hissed and clenched his fist. “ I am going to talk to Taemin right now and tell him how I feel.”
“ Way to go, Einstein,” Key laughed sarcastically, “ Now you’ve said that, Taemin is nowhere in his class.”
“ How did you know?”
Key rolled his eyes. “ Blackberry, duh.” He showed the screen of his phone, “ The messenger helps me to put an eye on Taemin. I’ve subdued someone to be my subordinate. This guy won’t tell anybody nor harm my baby. Kim Jonghyun is sure one nice guy in million.”
“ Did you - “ Minho gasped, “ do something to him?”
“ Not really,” Key shrugged, “ We are both involved in a sort of romantic relationships with benefits.. though I am sure, he’s going to get over with it and ask me to date him for real.”
Key was sure amazing. Minho would not have befriended with this guy for nothing.
The taller boy giggled, something that was unusual. But what could he say? This man was awesome beyond his belief.
“ What do you think I have to do now?”
“I know the story about him since I’ve enrolled into the same schools with him for nine years.
At the age of 10, Lee Taemin lost his parents on his birthday after he gave a call and they fell into massive accident.
No one picked him since he had no relatives, until there was a very sweet guy, if I am not wrong, named Heechul decided to adopt him, but two years later he passed away since he didn’t take care of his health that apparently he was suffering leukemia. He only spent most of his time to be with Taemin.
Everyone that loved Taemin and the vice versa eventually died because of him, and Taemin blamed himself for it.
Things that I’ve heard; one of them was his pray. He always takes his time to pray behind the school.
And after I eavesdropped, I think I have no confidence to bully him like the whole class does.
Because, you will never believe what he said.”
When the student who was asked by Minho to tell the story finally spoke his the truth and also his honest story, Minho could not remain silent anymore - Taemin needed someone to hang on.
Or else, this boy would be wrecked, decayed, until he became a worthless piece in this world.
Yet I like him.
Surprisingly, the response was quite far from Minho’s expectation. He thought that Key might spit on him for being stupid or something, then lecture him all day long, but all he did was chortling.
“ You only need to do what you think right.”
Because,
He’s just a poor kid losing important people in his life, blessed with ageless beauty that can be a sin to those who are not destined to be together with him.
And I am not to be one of them, neither Key will.
I am going to break the contretemps, and protect him, so he won’t be like this anymore.
I love him, ever since I landed my eyes on the perfect, beautiful boy on my first day in this school.
Minho grinned. “ You’re right.”
Then absolutely, I can do this perfectly fine.
.
.
.
Taemin made sure no one was there to disturb his free time on the rooftop after he managed to escape from those two boys and left the classroom in rush. He crawled to the edge that was enclosed by a low heap of bricks. He blew a soft sigh and a clement breeze brushed his skin gently, swinging the fringes slightly. Taemin closed his eyes and leaned his back, breathing steadily as he relished the coolness that was playing with him now.
After he said a harsh thing to Minho, of course, he wanted to gain more composure and settle down his frantic mind.
Maybe Minho had told Key about the earlier incident.
Probably they hate him now.
Taemin smiled bitterly.
But this is for their sake.
“ I can’t be.. doing this wrong..”
“ For what and for who?”
Taemin’s eyes shot open as he thought that he might hear the owner of the intoxicating voice - was it my imagination? - and when he saw the door was flung open, he knew it wasn’t just a mirage.
On split seconds, there were two people stand upright; thirty centimeters away and staring at Taemin intently.
Taemin could feel his hands shaking - no, his whole body was. Sweats running down and blood rushing beneath his skin, Taemin gulped and tried to ask, but something was strangling his throat that he could not speak.
Minho grunted something about he should have kicked the door and not slinked like two fools, but Key assured that he had done something right.
But anyway, regardless everything, Minho massaged the two sides of his temples and latched an eye contact on Taemin’s.
“ Why did you run away?”
“ I didn’t run away!” Taemin finally got the strength to speak and glared, “ I thought I’ve said it clearly!”
“ I didn’t say that you ran away from us,” Minho hissed, “ but you are afraid to face the world and make stupid assumptions about contretemps or something.”
Taemin was stunned, obviously, from the way his face stiffened and he fisted his hand.
“ But it’s for the best,” Taemin whispered, “ I can’t be together with anyone. I can’t like someone. For their sake. For your sake.”
Strangely, Minho grinned.
“ So you like me?” he emphasized, “ and what sake are you talking here?”
Taemin gasped and felt a blush of embarrassment slowly creeping up. “ I - I mean..” I need to run away, “ It’s.. not like that! You just don’t understand!”
For someone who never knows my past, you can’t be reckless, Minho.
When Taemin was about to run away, Minho had multiple times faster reaction than his, and he captured Taemin’s wrist right away to halt him until their positions were switched. “ I know everything.”
“ W - what..”
“ And we’ve decided to ignore it, because all we want is to be with you,” Minho finally dropped the last reason, “ to protect you.”
Key didn’t say anything, but his eyes showed that Minho had represented his thought.
Taemin shook his head frantically. “ You can’t..” he was too frustrated. He could not take this, it scares me. “ You can’t say things recklessly. You don’t know what will head you off. I can’t be your burden.”
“ Who’s said that?”
The young boy shut his eyes tight, tears welling up on both corners, and he shrieked, “ Just let me go!”
And he pushed Minho who wasn’t prepared for it, pushing him off a bit too hard that he lost his balance; yes, he let go Taemin’s hand - but then everything happened like a flash.
Taemin widened his eyes. His lungs were throttled - tears finally flew down as he screamed,
“ Minho!!”
You can’t die.
Why do people around eventually die and leave me alone?
Yet then instantly, a figure dashed forwards in a speed like thunderbolt, reaching out Minho’s hand before he really fell from the rooftop.
Key instinctively wrapped his hands around Minho’s from up there, yelling, “ You are heavy! Now climb up this alone before I let your hands go and you will be bandaged like a mummy for a month straight just like in our old school!”
Taemin’s knees gave away yet he tried his best to ensure the situation - and when he saw that Minho was fine, he teared up. He had lost half of his strength to live, he just had heart attack. He thought Minho would die.
He thought he could not see Minho again, because of his fault.
“ Geez, hang in there for a while Key. Regardless your skinny figure, you are three times stronger than your looks,” Minho sneered at Key, who was throwing a tantrum to give their hands off.
Then the jock slowly averted his gaze to look at the boy who apparently hadn’t recovered from the shock, and Minho’s face became more serious.
“ You see, we won’t die because of your fault, because we have each other. Key will help me, and so will I. We make sure that both of us will be fine because we want to be with you. We will somehow pull this together, no need to worry.”
“ But -“ The tears dripped one by one, “ If you’re with me, something pesky can harm you and..”
“ Do you know what he always prays everyday?”
Key laughed. “ The contretemps? They sound fun. We are not scared.”
“ It’s not about God,” Minho smiled calmly, “ It’s just because we only want to protect you.”
“ He prays to God to protect people around him. To bless them. To give them the happiness, hoping that nothing bad will happen on them.”
Taemin finally gave his legs away and dropped his lower part onto the floors, eyes squeezing tears so hard that he could not stop crying.
With Key’s little help, Minho succeeded in climbing up and stepped his feet on the rooftop back again, this time with a gentle expression as he scurried forwards to scoop crying Taemin in a warm embrace.
This boy felt so fragile in his arms.
You, drooping your shoulders.
You, taking a rest on the ground.
You, hitting your chest in frustration.
You, praying to the heavens with your hands clasped.*
“ I love you,” Minho whispered softly, “ I can be your first luck. I can be your everything.”
We will start everything over, over again.
Until you can erase all the bad memories.
“ If you are against God,” Taemin hiccupped, “ I won’t take the responsible.”
Key chuckled lightly, murmuring, “ As your new mother informally, I think God will never punish me. This guy also wants to be your lover, and we can ensure you that we’ll be alright.”
With then, Taemin broke into a louder cry.
Mother.
Lover.
How he longed for having a warm family.
.
.
.
“ Say, what’s your answer for my confession?”
“ Huh?”
The three were walking together but Minho just slowed their pace away from Key so now Taemin and Minho had a talk just between both of them.
Taemin looked dumbfounded while the other hand, Minho subtly cleared up, “ You see, I’ve confessed that I love you,” he grinned, “ I’d like to ask if you want to be mine.”
A red blush tinted Taemin’s rosy cheeks.
“ Well,” he replied in a tiny voice, shyly, “ I think it’s fine.”
“ Good,” Minho looked satisfied, slowly ducking his head and then he landed a gentle kiss right on Taemin’s baby lips, ignoring the fact that the blush became more vivid, “ and oh, as for your information, Key is a typical of an overprotective mother. We need to get used to it soon since we are dating now, understand?”
Dear God, please forgive me.
Today, my heart is thrilled.
Please protect them from all bad lucks.
Taemin sheepishly smiled. “ I get it.”
Because I really love them.
*taken from 0330 song, Dongho's rap part (:
2min | pg-13 | romance, fluff, angst, slice of life | 5746w
Somewhere in this world, people are divided into those with luck beside them and whose not.
A pale beauty with long, reddish locks swiftly bounced back and forth. The as white as snow skin shone under the warm effulgence of the sun. Red lips that shaped and curled into a perfect curve, begging the ruthless beasts to crave and savor them. The slim and tall body, with little muscles adding in, swung the hips elegantly.
And those beautiful, round orbs in the slanted eyes that always dented into an eye-smile whenever that sinful lips did a light chuckle.
Even the most gorgeous people, if they are fated to carry contretemps in their hands, no one can keep it away from them.
“ Don’t.. get near him.”
“ Even if he’s so beautiful.”
“ He gets a bad luck on his side. Whoever tends to befriend with him, has to accept any consequence.”
“ So beautiful, to the point that it is a sinful beauty, that leads people around him to death.”
But the said male, whose beauty would never come off second-best even from the prettiest goddess, actually, whether he intended it or not, was capable to eavesdrop.
That case, sometimes, needs a turn-point.
To change their fate.
To change the paradigm that has been built in their mind.
And at the same time, as the legendary beauty in that school, came two men, one with defined unique beauty that no one could compare, and a dashing guy with cropped short brown hairs and sturdy, towering up figure.
The new students had just noticed with their eyes,
What had caught their attention.
.
.
.
“ Dear God, I hope you hear my pray this morning.”
Lee Taemin unclasped his fingers and fluttered the eyes open, looking up at the sky and curling up a little smile. What a clear sky, he thought.
“ Mom, Dad, Heechul Hyung,” Taemin mumbled softly, “ Are you doing good? I’ve been a very good kid too here. You can be proud of me.”
No one answer, because Taemin had expected, nor even hoped at least, a small wish.
The figure of their back, leaving me on this rainy road, you all.
Because of me.
“ I must go now,” Taemin finally decided and wiped off the dust that sticking to his trousers. Subtly turning his back, he began taking steady steps with mind floating to somewhere else. He didn’t realize if there were another people walking across to the opposite with Taemin, and he eventually bumped into a board chest. Taemin, being a male with small and slender figure, bounced off and fell on his butt first at the solid ground, wincing and small groan followed after.
“ I’m sorry,” The other person apologized, and Taemin quickly shot his head up to meet with the other’s pair of eyes.
So round.
So dark.
They are perfect.
“ Uh.. No, I’m.. fine..” Taemin stammered, getting drawn into the deep gaze that seemingly were as black as the night sky.
The taller male smiled warmly. “ Let me help you,” he offered his hand, but Taemin shook his head and rejected him decently, “ No need. I can stand up by myself. Thank you.”
You can’t just touch someone, Taemin.
But there was another person beside the handsome guy standing up proudly. No hesitation yet an obvious confidence was overflowing in his aura. He was sexy, pretty, and strong.
“ My, my,” he mumbled, pushing off the tallest male and coming forward. His feline eyes stared at Taemin quietly, and suddenly he cupped Taemin’s cheeks in his palms. “ You are so beautiful.”
People always say how beautiful, gorgeous, enchanting you are.
But at the end they will realize about something that you always carry around.
People come and go.
That’s called ‘circle of karma’, for what you’ve done.
Hearing such a sudden compliment made Taemin stuttered. He shyly lowered his neck and murmured, “ You are more than what you’ve complimented me..” When he realized that the other party was touching him, Taemin snapped his eyes open and pushed him gently, once again, to lose the same warmth.
When was the last time I’m being touched by someone?
Taemin, actually, hid a hope and longing, deep inside his heart.
But he refused to tell anyone. He just could not.
“ Don’t touch me,” Taemin muttered softly, his voice almost stuck in the throat, but somehow he managed to work it out. “ It’s better if you don’t, for the sake of God.”
The other two people froze upon Taemin’s firm statement and somehow Taemin could dive in to their gentle orbs, he almost regretted what he had said; yet he just had to do it.
Otherwise, they could receive a bad luck if they got closer with him.
So then, Taemin left, hoping that he didn’t leave any regret and vicissitude after this.
He walked away, further, and further, to make sure that they would not see him again.
“ What’s with him?”
The feline-eyed man looked at the view of that small back dissolving as he turned to the school corridor. The other male curled up his brow elegantly and shrugged. “ I don’t know,” his deep voice replied, “ He said something that.. it was better if we didn’t.. what?”
“ Touch him,” the prettier man rolled his eyes, “ Sure Minho, I know you have carried a special interest on him, but I didn’t expect you to be this deaf. Deal with it. Go to a doctor and tell the main problem with your hearing.”
“ It’s not my fault, Key,” The man whose name was Minho objected the understatement and eyed him sharply, “ When he is just too beautiful, what can I do?”
“ You are.. sure stupid,” Key scoffed, this time with no hesitation beneath his tone, pointing out immediately, “ You are lovelorn with this guy. Admit it.”
“ I am,” Minho grinned, playfully, “ You also.. have sort of a want to own him as your son.”
“ He can take after me, especially his beauty,” Key laughed chirpily, ignoring the weird look given by Minho to him. “ He’s really cute, don’t you think?”
Minho’s gaze averted to the place that Taemin was stomping his way off and contemplated. “ Something is just not right.. although yeah, he is,” Minho repeatedly asked himself, convincing that it was just probably his prejudice but as Key showed a little nod, Minho gave up. The way Taemin spoke indicated something, yet he just could not show his true emotion and faked his feelings with that kind of subtle mask.
Also, there was something that caught Minho’s attention.
“ His ‘God’, huh?”
.
.
.
The next day was started running-of-the-mil, so was the first class. Taemin pulled his chair and sat carefully after dropping his bag onto the floor. He laid his head on the desk and breathed softly, eyes examining the situation around him. His classmates were talking and chitchatting cheerfully, maybe gossiping about their crush. Taemin smiled at the warm sight. Even though he wasn’t counted in, he felt happy just by watching it.
I wonder how it feels.. being a part of them..
Quickly, he shook off the thought and scolded himself for having such an unimportant question like that. Nonetheless, he still chuckled lightly watching how embarrassed and happy people were, because they deserved a wonderful life, unlike him.
I am bedraggled by sins.
Happiness doesn’t do me.
“ Hey.”
A jolt of surprise buzzed down his spine and he jerked, arching his back and almost shrieking. A familiar deep voice was too near his lobe and the hot breath brushed the sensitive cold skin, of course Taemin could not get a grip to prevent a silly expression he would make with no intention. The ageless beauty looked over his shoulder and frowned. “ What are you doing?”
“ Greeting you properly. I’m Minho,” he answered with a toothy grin, “ and he’s Key. We are new here.”
Taemin sighed. “ Why are you here?”
“ Well, we didn’t have chance to talk more yesterday. Especially him,” Minho pointed his thumb at Key, “ he really wants it.”
Key muttered ‘liar’ under his breath, which made nonsense to Taemin since he had no idea either what Key meant. Still, Taemin glared at them through his long eyelashes and batted them. “ My name is Taemin. Thank you for your introduction, but,” he curtly replied, “ and if you excuse me, I need to go to restroom.” Taemin rose up and drifted off without even looking back, earning a question from the two. “ What’s with him?” Key wondered and Minho coughed awkwardly. He thought that perhaps he had gone too far, but at the same time Taemin’s yesterday words still swirled in his memory. Taemin didn’t seem to be a person who ignored and hurt someone’s feelings easily, so what made him act ignorantly like that?
As the new students they were, of course they knew nothing. When they stepped in the class, they saw that Taemin had no friends surrounding him. He just sat there, sitting and smiling blankly, but the gentleness and longing forded the round eyes, he looked lonely that they could not take it.
Minho instinctively walked towards a guy, one of Taemin’s classmates, and he tapped that guy’s shoulder friendly. He turned and seemed surprised that the hottest new transferred student was accosting him. “ Y - yeah?”
“ May I ask you..” Minho made sure he had given his thousand-watt smile that could lit up entire world, not just for the sake of a birdcage. “ Everything about Taemin?”
His facial expression changed soon he heard the question Minho just catapulted. He clawed his upper arm, shifting his sitting position uneasily. “ Uh.. about him.. Well.. Maybe if you want to befriend with him, you just need to prepare for the consequences that a rumor had spread in the school.. If you aren’t strong enough either, I think it’s not wise to stay on his side..”
Minho and Key exchanged a thunderstruck look, before finally that guy continued his explanation.
.
.
.
Hours had passed, and after a long unworthy waiting, finally the bell rang fiercely to the students’ loud cheering upon the fact that school officially ended. Taemin rubbed his nape and tucked his stuffs into the school bag neatly. As he flung the bag on his shoulder, Taemin’s eyes caught a view down there from the pane in his classroom on the second floor. Minho and Key were already standing near the school’s gate for unknown reason, and Taemin just didn’t bother to find it. All he wanted to do was going home and doing the homework.
Although, his little heart whispered that if he could pay more attention to Minho’s gorgeous round eyes and admire it.
He could feel his heart increasing its pace ever since Minho whispered to him earlier; he was never that close to someone in his life.
“ Silly,” Taemin suppressed his desire, “ what are you thinking?”
Yeah. Just go home.
Everything is fine. You just have to forget it, Taemin convinced himself.
But that was until Taemin’s walk was halted as soon as the two boys grew a wide smile on their face. Taemin tried to peek even though he didn’t quite dare to reciprocate the tenderhearted stare they were giving.
Also, Minho’s masculine smell that suffocated his lungs and squeezed them.
Taemin just could not take it.
“ Taemin-ah.”
Key’s motherly voice called him calmly, but Taemin still didn’t look back. He just stared his feet that pointed to each other awkwardly, as if they were the most interesting sight he could see. Key knew that Taemin would not respond, so he scurried forward, taking in Taemin’s rosy cheeks, which turned out Taemin squeaking and stupefied. “ If someone calls you, look at him directly,” Key wisely advised in a settled tone, not even anger was heard underneath the string of his words.
Taemin struggled as soon as Key’s warm fingers pressed against his skin. “ No.. don’t touch me.. you can’t..”
“ What if we don’t want to?” Minho asked back, arms crossing over the sturdy chest.
“ B - but.. it’s not good.. it’s..”
“ We don’t care about what the good deeds or whatnot we should consider, because it’s us who decide them, not even God can stop us,” the tallest guy among them conveyed, “ Let’s us do what we want to.” And was added with a big grin from Key, totally ignoring the bewilderment look of the students.
Taemin bit his lower lip - why were they like this? Wasn’t it better if they took up his advice and left him?
“ You.. can’t say harsh things to God..”
Key subtly smirked. “ It wasn’t harsh..” he defied toothily, “ nor we regretted for saying it.”
Taemin gasping, not believing in what he had just heard.
Oh God..
Please, forgive them..
.
.
.
Ever since then, everyone in school could find Minho and Key hanging out around Taemin like a sticky glue since they refused to part except the different classes that forced them apart for a while, but that wasn’t a big deal to the two. Whenever it was before the first period, or school break, or when all classes were finally over, they would catch him up in the first blink before Taemin sensed their presence. Especially Minho, he just had his hands roaming on Taemin’s back, even if it were for friendly gesture, Taemin felt butterflies floating on his stomach. He was sweating, stuttering, and trembling when Minho laid a touch on him, whether it was intentional or not.
“ What are you doing here?”
The low tone dragged Taemin back to his sense as he grasped the question slowly, mouth stopping sipping the milk. He glanced and found Minho’s body towering up above his head, plastering a tender smile as he kneeled so their eyes were on the same level. “ Why are you eating your lunch alone?”
The corner of Taemin’s eyes leered at the empty lunchbox. “ Uh.. I just need a quiet place to eat..”
“ Are you avoiding your friends?”
Taemin shook his head, although he was quite shocked hearing the blunt question. “ N.. No..”
“ So you won’t mind if I sit here and eat my lunch with you.”
The pretty boy was about to protest but what he could do? Minho already settled himself on the ground and laid against the cold surface of the wall. He didn’t say anything but watched Minho taking off the top and clamping the meal with chopsticks. Quietly, he stuffed it into his mouth and took a peek at Taemin, grinning playfully. “ Wanna some?”
Taemin blushed at the thought of them sharing same cutlery and objected it instantly but again, he lost from Minho in whose faster reaction. Minho leaned in, biting one side of a smoked beef and put the opposite site into Taemin’s gaping mouth. The younger boy almost had his eyes fall off their sockets as he proceeded whatever was going on but he could see Minho’s smirk behind that other side of the beef - is he listening to my heartbeat? It’s pounding too fast - Taemin gasped as Minho broke off, letting the beef tear apart and munching the rest happily. Clearly he enjoyed Taemin’s shocked face, he didn’t think that this boy was this unbelievably adorable. Red flush that tinted his already pink cheeks and wet lips that invited Minho to ravish them.
Minho chortled.
“ You should.. eat it..” His fingers were lifted up to touch that cheek, stroking the skin lovingly. Taemin unconsciously did what Minho said and swallowed it in one gulp. He didn’t talk, nor reject Minho’s warm touch - he was already drowned and lost in the chocolate iris, slowly.. and slowly..
Both of them were captivated by each other’s beauty.
Minho made sure he had closed the distance between them; and when he brushed Taemin’s lips with his own, Taemin’s eyes size doubled and his body shot up. He could not believe it; he just had his first kiss.
Feeling that it was unbearable to hold back his embarrassment, he turned and ran away, making Minho dumbfounded. But he still laughed, nonetheless. Upon the cuteness and his honest personality that never lied to his feelings.
So pure, like an angel who had just fallen from the sky.
.
.
.
Taemin’s butt fell on the chair as he dropped his head onto the desk, mind recalling and blushing hard yet again. What the fuck had just happened? Everything was going too fast - he wasn’t ready to experience it; but why did it feel so right, so real?
“ My baby is blushing.”
The little boy squeaked in surprise as the small voice whispered it on his ear to see that Key was grinning in delight seeing the other almost doubled his eyes to be just like Minho’s. “ Well, I see your cheeks have turned pink. Did I just miss something?” the diva narrowed his eyes cheekily, continuing, “ or are we talking about what Minho just did to you?”
Checkmate.
Taemin dropping his jaw was all answer that Key needed to pop a sly chuckle and he scooped the boy in his embrace, tickling the earlobe. “ Oh my, I think I got it right.”
The younger boy winced, pretending innocent as if he weren’t capable to grasp the answer that quick but Key’s typical laugh made his conjecture fumble. After he overcame with it, Taemin’s round eyes pleaded at Key to let him off this time. Even Taemin didn’t mean to leach Key, at the end the mother side that had been taking place every time he saw Taemin, once again, came in handy for the youngest. “ Sure thing. I won’t ask you more,” Key laughed, “ but he is a nice guy, isn’t he?”
There was something that made Taemin contemplating and looking away. They both are nice. Key is a very sweet guy, but as for Minho..
A lump always blocked halfway of his throat. His heartbeat rapidly increased its pace. Butterflies were everywhere.
Just what is this?
Then Taemin only could give a small nod.
What could he do?
When it comes to Minho, I can never think straight properly.
Although no words slipped out of Taemin’s mouth, his blank yet longing expression had explained Key the broad outline about Taemin’s current feelings. This boy was as easy as book to read. He was so pure, so innocent, and impeccable.
There’s no way he has to carry his ‘sin’ alone, or so what he thinks.
Key stooped his back a bit, murmuring, “ some things are better left untold, Taemin-ah..”
Just like your feelings..
“ .. and the rest is better to be spoken, according to your heart.”
And as for this, like the promise from your sin that you always pray to God.
With then, Key stepped back with a slight smile across his face. Taemin clearly could not hide the confusion which all was drawn.
Key just hoped he could understand, some day.
“ I need to look for Minho, we have a class together after this..” Key patted Taemin’s shoulder, “ See you.”
Leaving confused Taemin, he never looked back until the sight of his figure dissolved behind that cold wall.
Literally, what Taemin felt now was bewilderment that played with his head. Key’s statement was nothing but to baffle the order of his thoughts. What were things that could be better untold and whatnot? Taemin didn’t understand at all, not even a clue, nor Taemin reached the point of Key’s advice.
“ Oh my God,” Taemin mumbled to himself, “ Why are people around me so weird?”
What people are you talking about?
So finally you have friends?
You break your promise to your God?
As if the questions weren’t enough, small whispers came following after.
“ Why do the new popular students seem so happy befriending with that guy?”
“ Isn’t he a bearer of all contretemps for everyone around him?
“ Poor them.. I hope there’s nothing bad happens on the new students..”
“ They are quite popular and well-liked.. too bad if he destroys everything..”
The lonely, weak heart that Taemin always carried around, slowly crumbled apart.
Suddenly the class shut silent.. no, Taemin was the one who deafened his hearings.
They’re right.
He had known them all, yet he neglected his promise to God.
I should stay away from Minho and Key.
.
.
.
At the time the school’s bell rang madly to whole classes that it was time for the to go home and get some nice sleep, the students eagerly stuffed their belongings and rushed off the building, not even bother to take a look.
Everyone except Taemin.
The boy looked at his bag blankly, mouth half open and sometimes it perked up as his mind wandered.
I never thought it would feel this hurt.
Taemin chuckled bitterly.
“ Taemin-ah!”
His body jerked upwards a bit as the familiar deep voice called out his name in such intoxicating way. Taemin felt his eyes teary - did he get too used to him?
But why?
Minho spread a silly grin seeing the boy sitting on his seat and freezing up when he heard his name called suddenly. He put up his hand on Taemin’s arm, at first he intended to pull the boy to stand up but all he got was the total opposite from his intention.
“ Don’t touch me.”
Minho looked puzzled, not comprehending Taemin’s demanding sentence. “ Taemin? What’s wrong?”
The smaller boy bit his baby lip as if it was going to bleed.
“ Because of me, you can get contretemps afflict you. It’s not good.”
Because of me, everyone I love died.
If I touch them again, perhaps they won’t be by my side anymore.
“ I am a bearer of all misfortunes.”
Don’t look at me with those eyes, Minho.
“ So please,” Taemin made sure he had put on his best, sincere smile, “ Stay away from me.”
This is for the best.
.
.
.
“ So you said that Taemin asked you to leave him because he carries contretemps in his life and then you was lost to retort it?”
Minho was as well amazed by the way Key wrapped the conversation up in a right conclusion even before Minho had finished the story. If he could clearly remember, he stopped at the words ‘well Taemin said he could bring me to misfortunes if I stayed with him and - “ then Key cut off at the right time according to himself.
“ Wow,” Minho blinked, “ I can’t believe a man who flunks in chemic can conclude this perfectly.”
“ So you’ve decided to grow some balls at me, very nice indeed,” Key tilted his chin upwards arrogantly, “ Said the male who is not even capable in doing the formula of geometry.”
“ I can!”
“ Right. Talk to your ass.”
Minho frustratedly hissed and clenched his fist. “ I am going to talk to Taemin right now and tell him how I feel.”
“ Way to go, Einstein,” Key laughed sarcastically, “ Now you’ve said that, Taemin is nowhere in his class.”
“ How did you know?”
Key rolled his eyes. “ Blackberry, duh.” He showed the screen of his phone, “ The messenger helps me to put an eye on Taemin. I’ve subdued someone to be my subordinate. This guy won’t tell anybody nor harm my baby. Kim Jonghyun is sure one nice guy in million.”
“ Did you - “ Minho gasped, “ do something to him?”
“ Not really,” Key shrugged, “ We are both involved in a sort of romantic relationships with benefits.. though I am sure, he’s going to get over with it and ask me to date him for real.”
Key was sure amazing. Minho would not have befriended with this guy for nothing.
The taller boy giggled, something that was unusual. But what could he say? This man was awesome beyond his belief.
“ What do you think I have to do now?”
“I know the story about him since I’ve enrolled into the same schools with him for nine years.
At the age of 10, Lee Taemin lost his parents on his birthday after he gave a call and they fell into massive accident.
No one picked him since he had no relatives, until there was a very sweet guy, if I am not wrong, named Heechul decided to adopt him, but two years later he passed away since he didn’t take care of his health that apparently he was suffering leukemia. He only spent most of his time to be with Taemin.
Everyone that loved Taemin and the vice versa eventually died because of him, and Taemin blamed himself for it.
Things that I’ve heard; one of them was his pray. He always takes his time to pray behind the school.
And after I eavesdropped, I think I have no confidence to bully him like the whole class does.
Because, you will never believe what he said.”
When the student who was asked by Minho to tell the story finally spoke his the truth and also his honest story, Minho could not remain silent anymore - Taemin needed someone to hang on.
Or else, this boy would be wrecked, decayed, until he became a worthless piece in this world.
Yet I like him.
Surprisingly, the response was quite far from Minho’s expectation. He thought that Key might spit on him for being stupid or something, then lecture him all day long, but all he did was chortling.
“ You only need to do what you think right.”
Because,
He’s just a poor kid losing important people in his life, blessed with ageless beauty that can be a sin to those who are not destined to be together with him.
And I am not to be one of them, neither Key will.
I am going to break the contretemps, and protect him, so he won’t be like this anymore.
I love him, ever since I landed my eyes on the perfect, beautiful boy on my first day in this school.
Minho grinned. “ You’re right.”
Then absolutely, I can do this perfectly fine.
.
.
.
Taemin made sure no one was there to disturb his free time on the rooftop after he managed to escape from those two boys and left the classroom in rush. He crawled to the edge that was enclosed by a low heap of bricks. He blew a soft sigh and a clement breeze brushed his skin gently, swinging the fringes slightly. Taemin closed his eyes and leaned his back, breathing steadily as he relished the coolness that was playing with him now.
After he said a harsh thing to Minho, of course, he wanted to gain more composure and settle down his frantic mind.
Maybe Minho had told Key about the earlier incident.
Probably they hate him now.
Taemin smiled bitterly.
But this is for their sake.
“ I can’t be.. doing this wrong..”
“ For what and for who?”
Taemin’s eyes shot open as he thought that he might hear the owner of the intoxicating voice - was it my imagination? - and when he saw the door was flung open, he knew it wasn’t just a mirage.
On split seconds, there were two people stand upright; thirty centimeters away and staring at Taemin intently.
Taemin could feel his hands shaking - no, his whole body was. Sweats running down and blood rushing beneath his skin, Taemin gulped and tried to ask, but something was strangling his throat that he could not speak.
Minho grunted something about he should have kicked the door and not slinked like two fools, but Key assured that he had done something right.
But anyway, regardless everything, Minho massaged the two sides of his temples and latched an eye contact on Taemin’s.
“ Why did you run away?”
“ I didn’t run away!” Taemin finally got the strength to speak and glared, “ I thought I’ve said it clearly!”
“ I didn’t say that you ran away from us,” Minho hissed, “ but you are afraid to face the world and make stupid assumptions about contretemps or something.”
Taemin was stunned, obviously, from the way his face stiffened and he fisted his hand.
“ But it’s for the best,” Taemin whispered, “ I can’t be together with anyone. I can’t like someone. For their sake. For your sake.”
Strangely, Minho grinned.
“ So you like me?” he emphasized, “ and what sake are you talking here?”
Taemin gasped and felt a blush of embarrassment slowly creeping up. “ I - I mean..” I need to run away, “ It’s.. not like that! You just don’t understand!”
For someone who never knows my past, you can’t be reckless, Minho.
When Taemin was about to run away, Minho had multiple times faster reaction than his, and he captured Taemin’s wrist right away to halt him until their positions were switched. “ I know everything.”
“ W - what..”
“ And we’ve decided to ignore it, because all we want is to be with you,” Minho finally dropped the last reason, “ to protect you.”
Key didn’t say anything, but his eyes showed that Minho had represented his thought.
Taemin shook his head frantically. “ You can’t..” he was too frustrated. He could not take this, it scares me. “ You can’t say things recklessly. You don’t know what will head you off. I can’t be your burden.”
“ Who’s said that?”
The young boy shut his eyes tight, tears welling up on both corners, and he shrieked, “ Just let me go!”
And he pushed Minho who wasn’t prepared for it, pushing him off a bit too hard that he lost his balance; yes, he let go Taemin’s hand - but then everything happened like a flash.
Taemin widened his eyes. His lungs were throttled - tears finally flew down as he screamed,
“ Minho!!”
You can’t die.
Why do people around eventually die and leave me alone?
Yet then instantly, a figure dashed forwards in a speed like thunderbolt, reaching out Minho’s hand before he really fell from the rooftop.
Key instinctively wrapped his hands around Minho’s from up there, yelling, “ You are heavy! Now climb up this alone before I let your hands go and you will be bandaged like a mummy for a month straight just like in our old school!”
Taemin’s knees gave away yet he tried his best to ensure the situation - and when he saw that Minho was fine, he teared up. He had lost half of his strength to live, he just had heart attack. He thought Minho would die.
He thought he could not see Minho again, because of his fault.
“ Geez, hang in there for a while Key. Regardless your skinny figure, you are three times stronger than your looks,” Minho sneered at Key, who was throwing a tantrum to give their hands off.
Then the jock slowly averted his gaze to look at the boy who apparently hadn’t recovered from the shock, and Minho’s face became more serious.
“ You see, we won’t die because of your fault, because we have each other. Key will help me, and so will I. We make sure that both of us will be fine because we want to be with you. We will somehow pull this together, no need to worry.”
“ But -“ The tears dripped one by one, “ If you’re with me, something pesky can harm you and..”
“ Do you know what he always prays everyday?”
Key laughed. “ The contretemps? They sound fun. We are not scared.”
“ It’s not about God,” Minho smiled calmly, “ It’s just because we only want to protect you.”
“ He prays to God to protect people around him. To bless them. To give them the happiness, hoping that nothing bad will happen on them.”
Taemin finally gave his legs away and dropped his lower part onto the floors, eyes squeezing tears so hard that he could not stop crying.
With Key’s little help, Minho succeeded in climbing up and stepped his feet on the rooftop back again, this time with a gentle expression as he scurried forwards to scoop crying Taemin in a warm embrace.
This boy felt so fragile in his arms.
You, drooping your shoulders.
You, taking a rest on the ground.
You, hitting your chest in frustration.
You, praying to the heavens with your hands clasped.*
“ I love you,” Minho whispered softly, “ I can be your first luck. I can be your everything.”
We will start everything over, over again.
Until you can erase all the bad memories.
“ If you are against God,” Taemin hiccupped, “ I won’t take the responsible.”
Key chuckled lightly, murmuring, “ As your new mother informally, I think God will never punish me. This guy also wants to be your lover, and we can ensure you that we’ll be alright.”
With then, Taemin broke into a louder cry.
Mother.
Lover.
How he longed for having a warm family.
.
.
.
“ Say, what’s your answer for my confession?”
“ Huh?”
The three were walking together but Minho just slowed their pace away from Key so now Taemin and Minho had a talk just between both of them.
Taemin looked dumbfounded while the other hand, Minho subtly cleared up, “ You see, I’ve confessed that I love you,” he grinned, “ I’d like to ask if you want to be mine.”
A red blush tinted Taemin’s rosy cheeks.
“ Well,” he replied in a tiny voice, shyly, “ I think it’s fine.”
“ Good,” Minho looked satisfied, slowly ducking his head and then he landed a gentle kiss right on Taemin’s baby lips, ignoring the fact that the blush became more vivid, “ and oh, as for your information, Key is a typical of an overprotective mother. We need to get used to it soon since we are dating now, understand?”
Dear God, please forgive me.
Today, my heart is thrilled.
Please protect them from all bad lucks.
Taemin sheepishly smiled. “ I get it.”
Because I really love them.
*taken from 0330 song, Dongho's rap part (: