[High School Fic Contest] Graduation
Title: Graduation
Author:
daynah_bo
Rating: PG-13 (for slight use of swear words, alcohol references, crude humor (from JaeMin--one scene), and brief sexual content)
Genre: Romance/General/Slight Angst (because no one is confident when it comes to love and confessions)
Pairing(s): YooSu (main); mentions of YunJae and one-sided JaeMin
Summary: Saying goodbye was hard enough, but Junsu (junior) does not want Yoochun (senior)--his best friend--to graduate without a proper confession. He has one week till graduation, and he fears that it might be too late. From hanging out on the bleachers on Monday to the actual day of graduation on Saturday, Junsu tries his best to say three simple words...
For my ever-present sunshine, swallowtt, for dedicating hers to me, and for patiently waiting while I suffered a creative block (still have it, too, hence the lack of updates) You're the best, love, and you make my day a whole lot brighter~ I also dedicate this to my playlist, which has been playing nonstop lately trying to get me into the writing mood, and my family for understanding why I am up at three in the morning at times throughout the past two weeks blaring music as I wrote and rewrote idea after idea for this contest...
Enjoy~
It was Monday, the start of the last week of school for all students at the high school, especially the graduating class, leaving to journey out into the world on that Saturday, the night of the graduation.
Most students were happy, but one Kim Junsu was devastated about this.
Out of his close group of friends, three were seniors this year. His two greatest friends, Kim Jaejoong and Jung Yunho, and then the best friend he had ever had in the whole world (and the--secret--love of his life), Park Yoochun. Next year was going to be hell without them, their jokes, their laughter. It was only going to be him and Changmin with the new school year, and he knew that things were not going to be the same.
But despite all this--all his fears and frustrations--Junsu decided that he was going to tell Yoochun about his feelings before graduation.
“Just do it now,” Changmin muttered that evening, his textbooks open all over the bleachers they were in, waiting at the football field for Jaejoong.
Junsu took his eyes off the smiling duo in front of him, the two athletic seniors kicking a soccer ball back and forth (Junsu’s new ball he had gotten for his marks at the end of the year), and said, “I can’t just go up to him and say, “Hi, Yoochun, I am head over heels in love with you,” it just doesn’t work like that, Min.”
The more studious of the two quirked a brow but left the topic alone for the moment, knowing that it was best for now, Junsu being quite stubborn with this particular subject.
“How about Jaejoong? Are you going to tell him?”
Changmin sighed, adjusting the black frames that rested on top of his nose, and replied, “I don’t think that he needs to know. We’re not like you and Yoochun. It’s not going to work.”
Junsu protested though, as he had always been the most naïve of the group, believing in happy endings and fairy tales. “No! You cannot say that. You won’t know unless you try.”
“I don’t want to try, Su. He’s two years older, and he is leaving this year. So, drop it, alright!” Changmin snapped, slamming his books shut and stomping away to the other end of the bleachers that Junsu was propped up on.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Love,” Junsu stated simply, letting his head fall back so that he could stare up into the flirty brown eyes he had fallen in love with.
Yoochun laughed, taking a seat beside his best friend, and twirled the ball in his hands around. Junsu could not understand why there had not been more girls (and guys--like himself) that found the teen before him attractive. Yoochun was everything; he was sweet, funny, smart, beautiful… maybe he did have a big forehead, but Junsu liked to overlook that feature.
“So, are you excited? Nervous? Saturday is the big day,” Junsu murmured, laying his head on the other’s shoulder, a habit he had adopted over the years they had been friends.
Yoochun leaned his head against the younger’s, breathing out, “It really doesn’t seem like it would be so soon. God, I remember starting middle school… I’m getting old.”
“You are,” Junsu laughed out, poking his friend in the side as the other could not help but to contain a smile.
Yoochun bit his lip and composed himself, swatting at the hand jabbing into his ribs, and said, “I’m going to miss this.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
From where they sat they could see Jaejoong come up to the group, out of breath from running to get there, apologizing to his younger friends, his backpack unzipped with papers sticking out everywhere. They could hear Changmin sigh, annoyed with his older friend’s (crush’s) organization skills, and took the bag from the other with a smile, ready to rearrange everything to his liking. Yunho greeted the other warmly, being one of the closest to the eldest of the group, teasing Jae lightly under his breath, saying things that only he and the older male understood.
This was how Junsu wanted it to be forever, the sun setting over them, their laughter echoing across the field. He wanted them there, bickering and joking around. He wanted Yoochun’s arm around him, to love him, to never let him go.
“Hey,” Yoochun mumbled softly, his words light and carrying off with the breeze, making it so Junsu barely heard him. Junsu shifted from where he sat, cuddled into the other’s warmth, and peered up at the senior. “Are you still coming over tomorrow night? Mom’s been wondering when you were going to drop by again. I swear that she loves you more than me.”
“I don’t blame her,” Junsu teased, nudging closer into the other, ignoring the whistles and catcalls of their friends. Yoochun ruffled the other’s hair with his unoccupied hand, the other wrapped loosely around his best friend’s waist. Junsu smacked Yoochun lightly on the thigh, and continued, “Yeah, I’m still coming. Are you going to tell me about the latest issue of your favorite comic book?”
“Maybe,” Yoochun said with a smile, loosening his grip as he stood up from his seat, calling out to Yunho, and left Junsu in the stands, watching with fearful eyes as the sun was sinking down, and Monday was ending.
One step closer to losing his chance.
On Tuesday Junsu spent the whole day with Yoochun.
It was just the two of them, in his home, in his room, on his bed. The perfect place and time for him to tell Yoochun how he felt. They were in the middle of discussing which super hero was better, which plot was more creative, and then arguing their points--because both were too stubborn to do anything else.
“I personally think that if the only ability he has is flight then he--” Yoochun was cut off when Junsu clamped a hand over his mouth, silencing the confused senior very much.
Junsu flushed, his cheeks heating up into a rosy tint--a thing that happened often when he was in the presence of his best friend--and started, “Yoochun, I have something important to tell you. It might come as shocking, and I know that it’s a lot to take on at once. I probably shouldn’t say this, I mean, it might be a complete mistake, and then things might be weird between everyone and…” He trailed off, noticing Yoochun’s amused expression at his ramblings.
Yoochun smiled, tilted his head to one side, and asked, “What are you trying to tell me, Su?”
“Chunnie, I think that I am in lo--” It was his turn to be interrupted when Yoochun’s cell phone started ringing, a cute girl in his best friend’s math class calling, and Junsu felt all his determination crumble.
Yoochun furrowed his brows, glancing back and forth between his friend and the phone, and was about to push the reject button when Junsu just nodded, telling him that it was fine, to answer the phone.
“Yes… I’ll be there. Okay.” Yoochun paused, listening to the female on the other line, rolling his eyes, smiling when he made Junsu chuckle at his expressions. “Yes, damn it… No, that’s okay,” then his eyes shifted to the brunette on his bed, seriousness washing over his features, “I have someone in mind already.” Then he shut his phone off, throwing it to the other side of his bed after putting it on vibrate, and turned his attention back to his best friend.
Junsu completely blew off the previous topic, choosing to distract his friend with something else, not wanting to have to confess now that he had lost his nerve. “What was that about?” He asked instead, motioning with his head to the neglected and abused silver cell phone, ignoring the look on Yoochun’s face (he could not quite make out what Yoochun was trying to say with his eyes, too many emotions located within the inky depths). Did he see disappointment shining in them--or was it a reflection of his own crushed hopes?
“Ah, it’s about some small gathering tomorrow night for the seniors. And then about the party at Jun Ki’s on Friday.” Junsu nodded to his friend, looking down to his worn-out blue jeans, ripped at the knees. “So, what were you saying?”
Junsu squeaked, not expecting Yoochun to get back on that subject, and said, “Umm, it was nothing! Absolutely nothing, Chun.”
Yoochun gave him an incredulous look, but, otherwise, said nothing more about it.
For some reason, Junsu was not sure if that made him happy or sad.
Wednesday there was only him and Changmin.
“So, you still haven’t told him?”
Junsu ruffled his own hair, causing the light brown locks to stick up in all directions, and snapped, “It’s hard! Yoochun is my best friend… and he’s a boy that’s always been fond of girls, made no indication to be interested in any of the boys in our school and--”
Changmin placed his hand over the other’s mouth to keep him from saying anymore and asked, “How do you know that he has not been waiting for you to say that for a long time?”
“Because he is Yoochun! He’s… he’s…”
Another voice cut into their conversation, “Totally in love with you?” Both Changmin and Junsu spun around to see Jaejoong, hair tousled by the light breeze that drifted past, early for their after school meetings.
“Would you both stop saying that,” Junsu said with a pout on his face, arms folded over his chest, “It’s not true, okay? Yoochun is my best friend, and I am afraid to tell him that I am--”
“--getting hard every time you hear that sultry bedroom voice--” Changmin voiced and Jaejoong snickered behind his hand, bumping shoulders with the younger, causing the mature one to blush faintly.
“--in dire need of his hard, warm cock shoved inside you--” Jaejoong stated, his smile growing wide with victory when Junsu started squealing and hiding his face in his hands, briefly wondering how Jae knew that Chun had a warm and hard cock.
“No, damn it! I am in love with Yoochun!”
Then the junior’s breath caught in his throat as he heard footsteps come close and stop at the end of his outburst. Both Jaejoong and Changmin sobered up immediately, choosing to remain silent as the newcomer came closer. Junsu gulped, reluctantly turning around in his seat on the cold metal to come face-to-face with his best friend--or soon to be ex-best friend, he just knew it.
Yoochun seemed confused, brows furrowed and a frown on his face, as he came upon the trio. Jaejoong was practically sitting on top of Changmin, the other barely noticing, and Junsu was straddling the bench, face bright red and mouth gaping wide open.
“Umm… do I want to know what you are all talking about?” he was answered with silence. “I suppose I don’t. Anyway, Yunho and I need to borrow Jae, senior meeting--I think that the old bastard of a principal wants to wish us well or something like that.”
Jaejoong nodded, hugging his two younger friend’s goodbye, Changmin shying at the touch and Junsu sent him a knowing look. Then Yoochun leaned over, draping his arms around Junsu, placing a sloppy and wet kiss to the side of his best friend’s face, laughing loudly when the junior started wiping at his skin mumbling something about “Chunnie germs.”
Changmin sighed softly to himself, watching the two retreating figures leave the field, his eyes particularly trained on the black-haired beauty that smiled into his hand at something that Yoochun had said. Junsu turned away from the sight, not liking the fact that soon their backs would be to them and that they would be leaving for good. It was too soon, he wanted more time with his best friend, this was not fair.
“So… are you going to tell him, Junsu?”
“I… don’t know… I can’t. I don’t want this--what we have now--to be thrown away because I am an idiot.”
Changmin chuckled bitterly, muttering, “We’re both fools in love then.”
And Junsu smiled weakly, thinking that there was no way that he and Yoochun could work out, that he was not good enough, that this would end in tragedy, but… For some reason, there was still hope.
He still had two more days.
On Thursday the tiny group reunited at the arcade, playing their favorite games and eating pizza. It was one place where Changmin forgot about his studies and the effects of unrequited love, clinging to Jae and demanding that he buy him food. It was where Junsu and Yunho danced off to see who was better, Yoochun laughing at the display and trying to pick up girls that were fawning over the muscular body of Jung Yunho. Yoochun never stood a chance, but while everyone else looked at Yunho in pure admiration, Junsu was staring at the guy in the back, small smile on his face, and tried to get those beautiful brown orbs to stare back at him.
Usually the day ended with them being kicked out by the owner for disrupting the area.
They sat in the parking lot, Jaejoong propped up on Yunho’s car, leaning against his best friend since childhood. Changmin was usually sitting in Yoochun’s car, the door open as he watched everyone else silently, only occasionally sending a biting remark to his older friends. Yoochun would be sitting down on the pavement, a cigarette in one hand if he was stressed or writing something down in his notebook while he took a few glances at Junsu--the reckless boy dancing around the area, not caring if their were cars coming by or not.
It had rained that day, the paved space wet and slick from the water that still sprinkled down, the streetlights glowing dimly around them, casting an ethereal glow on the watery ground that Junsu danced on. Changmin had turned on the radio, studying for a test that next day, and Jae was asleep on Yunho, head resting peacefully in his younger friend’s lap, while Yunho himself laid back against the hood with his eyes closed.
“Hey, Junsu,” Yoochun called out, catching the said boy’s attention who paused in his steps, soft brown eyes curious as to what his best friend wanted. “Do you want to dance?”
“With you?”
Yoochun looked around--as if worried that someone heard--but he had a smile on his face and said, “Well, I don’t see anyone else around here willing to dance with you and your two left feet.”
Junsu pouted, hands on his hips, expression offended. Yoochun laughed lightly under his breath and came up to his favorite junior, looping his arms through Junsu’s and locking them behind the shorter one’s back. Junsu stiffened in response, surprised by the older teen’s actions, but relaxed into the awkward embrace when Chun rested his chin atop his shoulder, swaying them both.
The music in the background was not fitting--some fast paced rap song that Changmin was babbling to, head bouncing around as he copied down information from his textbooks. Junsu did not complain, though, happily slow dancing with his secret love, laying his head down onto his friend’s shoulder, nose brushing the black locks that fell in loose waves around the other’s face--usually tied back , but Junsu preferred Yoochun wearing his hair down, loving the way the tresses swirled around his fingers. Now that he thought about it, he probably could not recall a time when he was not in love with the Park, it seemed improbable to the young Kim, looking back at their years together.
“Chunnie… I want to…” Junsu started, trying to keep his voice from wavering as he pulled back in the tight and comfortable embrace.
Then his breathing hitched and he lost all words. Yoochun was looking straight at him, brown eyes glowing lighter in the light that lit up the small lot, his eyes crinkled at the corners. Junsu found himself drawing closer to the other, leaning forward, eyes closing shut, and then… He felt Yoochun’s lips against his, soft and warm on his own cold and slightly chapped lips. Even though it was only a few short seconds (Junsu pulling back, embarrassed by what he had done), he could still feel the fuzzy feeling in his gut and the aftershock of the peck tingle against two full lips.
“Ch-Chunnie, I am--”
Yoochun shook his head, his smile still there, if not forced on his face and Junsu felt like he ruined everything. He ignored the pain in his chest, a dull throb against his rib cage, and returned the gesture, albeit weakly.
“Let’s get these two up and take Minnie home, okay, Junsu?”
Junsu had never felt the urge to cry as much as he did then.
On Friday, Yoochun had dragged him out of his house, demanding that he go to the party that evening. Yoochun made no comments on what happened the night before, keeping a tiny bit of space from his best friend, and it hurt… a lot… like hell.
He never liked parties where everyone got inebriated and ended up naked on the floor, but his best friends were going to be there so he could suffer one night for them. Besides, maybe confessing would be easier if he got drunk… or it could take his mind of Yoochun and he could find someone else to spend the night with.
It did not happen, though.
“Your boyfriend is either dying or is entirely shit faced at this moment,” Changmin commented, sitting on the bottom steps on the host’s staircase, motioning with his head to the awful singing coming from the bathroom.
“What the hell was he drinking?” Junsu asked, glancing inside at the pathetic sight of Yoochun curled up in the bathtub, singing a song that Junsu found familiar but did not know for sure since it was currently being skewered by the intoxicated teen.
Changmin shrugged, biting his lip as he loomed behind the slightly older male, trying to keep himself from laughing at Yoochun who was clutching at a beer bottle and crying like a baby.
Junsu clenched his eyes shut tight, trying to refrain from inhaling the scent of vomit and alcohol that he knew was wafting throughout the small compartment. He bent over, grabbing hold of Yoochun by his forearms and tugging him out of the tub. Yoochun laughed as he tripped, clinging onto Junsu, his hands all over places they probably should not have been (making Junsu blush), trying to find some leverage.
Changmin jerked the bottle--half empty of its vile contents, the smell alone causing Junsu to turn away in disgust, and oddly enough Yoochun did not smell so much like it.
“I’ll take this and I--” his words were cut off as he stared wide-eyed before him, beer bottle dropping to the floor--Yoochun yelped beside them, scared as tiny shard scattered across the floor, unnoticed by the people loitering about, drunk as well.
Junsu furrowed his brows, stepping closer to his youngest friend, and started, “Min, what’s wrong?” Then he looked in the direction that held Changmin’s attention and gasped at what he saw.
Jaejoong was straddling Yunho in a chair, the younger’s shirt tossed somewhere in the crowd and his pants undone, attached at the lips as Jaejoong kept shifting around on his best friend’s lap, drawing out strangled moans from the boy beneath him. Jaejoong’s raven hair was tangled from Yunho’s fingers gripping it in his sweaty palms, the older teen’s shirt unbuttoned completely.
Junsu turned sympathetic eyes toward his best friend who composed himself quickly, stopping down to pick up a few of the sticky shards of glass, as he whispered, “I’m going to go, Su, take Chun home.”
Junsu started to protest calling back his younger friend, wanting to help pick up the pieces, not of the bottle that crashed, but of the heart that broke. He knew he could not though, the only person able to do it would be Jae, and he was sure that this would never happen--Changmin was too proud to admit he wanted love and needed help. It was one of his many--and rarely seen--flaws.
“Su, I want to go home,” Yoochun whined from beside him, his arms wrapped around the other’s torso, face pressed tightly against Junsu’s shoulder, body slouched.
Junsu sighed and hefted Yoochun back up, allowing the senior to keep his hold around him, still singing terribly to songs that Junsu found better left alone. There was a reason that they were classics, they did not need a drunken remix by one Park Yoochun, wailing away and playing air guitar, tripping over his own two feet.
If it were not for the fact that he smelled like sweat and cheap alcohol, Junsu would have found the sight cuter.
“Junsu,” Yoochun spoke, his tone serious and Junsu started to think that he was only acting drunk. Until the next thing came out of his mouth. “I love you.”
Junsu brushed it off as brotherly affection and replied, “I love you, too.”
Then the figure wrapped tightly around him started shaking his head furiously, eyes on the verge of tearing up again, as he shouted--voice slurred--in the otherwise quiet neighborhood, “No, I am in love with you! Like head over heels, in too deep, crazy about you, cannot stop thinking about you kind of love.”
“You’re drunk, Chun, let’s go home.”
Yoochun gave up, bottom lip jutting out and the trip after that remained quiet. Junsu decided that it was best to take his best friend to his house, sneak in without disturbing his twin and parents, and get Yoochun some clean clothes and allow him to take a shower--Junsu did not know how much more of the smell he could take…
… Or the confusion that this one week was instilling.
Saturday came, the day of the graduation finally upon the group, and none of them wished for it to happen so soon.
Things were not awkward between the love triangle, all three smiling, the new couple sneaking glances at each other in their robes, playfully hitting each other in the arm and joking around like always. They acted like they always had, and Junsu felt like their friendship had been more than that for quite some time. He barely caught the crushed look in Changmin’s eyes, but the other made no big deal out of the situation, no ill feelings between the trio.
Junsu could not say the same about Yoochun and himself. He had woken up that morning to find a note stuck to his forehead, a hurried message saying thanks and such. It probably should not have had such an impact, but when it was not signed with, “Your best-est friend in the world, Yoochun,” Junsu felt like balling up on his bed and crying his heart out, watch chick flicks and eat three tubs of ice cream. He felt stupid and like a girl, and maybe it was best to get over this crush, it had ruined their friendship and if he moved on, maybe they could start over, even though it would hurt.
But Junsu did not make it through the ceremony, his eyes leaking crystal drops that splashed onto the back of his hand, and he found himself bailing before the Valedictorian’s speech was even complete.
An hour later, Yoochun found him outside on the bleachers overlooking the football field where all five of them had spent most of their days. He did not acknowledge the other’s existence, preferring to keep quiet and gaze into the darkening sky. Yoochun had changed out of his robe, now dressed in his casual attire, more than likely ditching his family and their other friends to come find the sulking boy outside.
“What are you doing out here by yourself?”
“Thinking,” came the short reply, Junsu’s eyes only briefly flickering to the right to glance at his best friend, or what he hoped was still his best friend.
Yoochun leaned forward, arms rested on his bent knees, and asked, “About what?”
There was a prolonged silence, that, for the first time in the past two days, was comfortable.
“You.”
Then all things around the two seemed to stop and Junsu closed his eyes to keep from looking at what he assumed was a disgusted look on his friend’s face.
What surprised him was the soft chuckle that came from the pink lips. Junsu turned, startled, and searched Yoochun’s face. Was this a sign of rejection? Did Yoochun think that this was a joke--that his (un)proclaimed love was a joke?
But he did not have to dwell on it long as Yoochun’s lips met his once again this week. Like the first, it was short, this time Yoochun remained lingering there, foreheads barely brushing each other.
Junsu finally found the courage to speak again, hoping that this time he could do this. “Chunnie, I am in love with you.” Yoochun nodded with a smile, to which Junsu frowned. “Are you not going to say anything back? Reject me? Love me? Yoochun, damn it, give me a straight answer!”
“I thought I made it clear how I felt last night,” was all that his best friend said, and Junsu thought about that phrase, recalling the incident with the drunken teen… Was he--
“Were you really drunk?”
Yoochun smirked and enveloped the tinier boy in an embrace. “Tipsy, but not shit faced.”
“You jerk!” Junsu squeaked, pounding against the other’s chest lightly. “How could you do that to me?!”
“I just wanted to see what your reaction would be. I was hoping that you’d say it back…”
Junsu stared, incredulous. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
“Nope. Kim Junsu, I am in love with you. Like head over heels, in too deep, crazy about you, cannot stop thinking about you kind of love.”
“I hate you.”
A chuckle and a peck on Junsu’s forehead. “I know.”
“Just making sure.”
There was a period of silence, sun long gone beyond the horizon and the stars twinkling brightly in the sky. They shared a kiss or two here and there, a moan from Junsu when Yoochun’s hands became more adventurous, groping along his backside, and the humming of songs that Junsu assumed were composed by his (new) boyfriend.
“Chunnie?”
“Hmm.”
A sigh. “When you go to college, I don’t want you to forget me, okay? I want you to call me sometimes and maybe visit every now and then and--” He was cut off by a short kiss, Yoochun drawing back, lightly nipping at the tender flesh of the boy’s bottom lip.
“No matter what happens, Junsu, you’re still my best friend--the most important person in my life. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I’d like to share it with you…”
And for the first time in that one week, Kim Junsu felt whole… he had finally found completion with his best friend, boyfriend, and the love of his life, Park Yoochun.
Okay, so I know that this, culturally, is probably the most incorrect thing in the world... but I was only going by what little I know about graduation and those in the US and then... well, whatever else I could think of. The idea--not original in the slightest I suppose--came from my very abused (creatively) mind, asking my sister for some kind of prompt. And I said, "But you're graduating this year! You should know something!" And that is when it hit me: Graduation... I am still in high school, so I thought this challenge would be easy... HELL NO! God, perfect time to get writer's block.
Anyway, I also found out, that--by using the entry level requirements in my state--Yoochun and Junsu would be a grade apart, making my idea better than I thought at first (It still sucks) So that worked in my favor but it was still a pain in the ass to write... Ugh...
But I hope everyone that read it enjoyed this. It's for the contest on YooSu_YongWonHi just because I wanted to see if I could meet a deadline~ :P Silly, I know, but I still hope that it can do well in the contest, even if it's not the best...
Thank you all so very much! *hugs*
Edit (12-14-08): Oh, my! I did not expect this in the slightest! *hugs* Thank you all for your support with this story~ I took second place with "Graduation" in the contest and I know I could not have done it without all of you. You are all what keeps me going and I could not be happier than I am at this exact moment~ *more hugs* I am so happy that I could cry~ I think I am! *laughs* Anyway, glad you enjoyed, and the comments were greatly appreciated~ :P
Author:
daynah_bo
Rating: PG-13 (for slight use of swear words, alcohol references, crude humor (from JaeMin--one scene), and brief sexual content)
Genre: Romance/General/Slight Angst (because no one is confident when it comes to love and confessions)
Pairing(s): YooSu (main); mentions of YunJae and one-sided JaeMin
Summary: Saying goodbye was hard enough, but Junsu (junior) does not want Yoochun (senior)--his best friend--to graduate without a proper confession. He has one week till graduation, and he fears that it might be too late. From hanging out on the bleachers on Monday to the actual day of graduation on Saturday, Junsu tries his best to say three simple words...
For my ever-present sunshine, swallowtt, for dedicating hers to me, and for patiently waiting while I suffered a creative block (still have it, too, hence the lack of updates) You're the best, love, and you make my day a whole lot brighter~ I also dedicate this to my playlist, which has been playing nonstop lately trying to get me into the writing mood, and my family for understanding why I am up at three in the morning at times throughout the past two weeks blaring music as I wrote and rewrote idea after idea for this contest...
Enjoy~
It was Monday, the start of the last week of school for all students at the high school, especially the graduating class, leaving to journey out into the world on that Saturday, the night of the graduation.
Most students were happy, but one Kim Junsu was devastated about this.
Out of his close group of friends, three were seniors this year. His two greatest friends, Kim Jaejoong and Jung Yunho, and then the best friend he had ever had in the whole world (and the--secret--love of his life), Park Yoochun. Next year was going to be hell without them, their jokes, their laughter. It was only going to be him and Changmin with the new school year, and he knew that things were not going to be the same.
But despite all this--all his fears and frustrations--Junsu decided that he was going to tell Yoochun about his feelings before graduation.
“Just do it now,” Changmin muttered that evening, his textbooks open all over the bleachers they were in, waiting at the football field for Jaejoong.
Junsu took his eyes off the smiling duo in front of him, the two athletic seniors kicking a soccer ball back and forth (Junsu’s new ball he had gotten for his marks at the end of the year), and said, “I can’t just go up to him and say, “Hi, Yoochun, I am head over heels in love with you,” it just doesn’t work like that, Min.”
The more studious of the two quirked a brow but left the topic alone for the moment, knowing that it was best for now, Junsu being quite stubborn with this particular subject.
“How about Jaejoong? Are you going to tell him?”
Changmin sighed, adjusting the black frames that rested on top of his nose, and replied, “I don’t think that he needs to know. We’re not like you and Yoochun. It’s not going to work.”
Junsu protested though, as he had always been the most naïve of the group, believing in happy endings and fairy tales. “No! You cannot say that. You won’t know unless you try.”
“I don’t want to try, Su. He’s two years older, and he is leaving this year. So, drop it, alright!” Changmin snapped, slamming his books shut and stomping away to the other end of the bleachers that Junsu was propped up on.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Love,” Junsu stated simply, letting his head fall back so that he could stare up into the flirty brown eyes he had fallen in love with.
Yoochun laughed, taking a seat beside his best friend, and twirled the ball in his hands around. Junsu could not understand why there had not been more girls (and guys--like himself) that found the teen before him attractive. Yoochun was everything; he was sweet, funny, smart, beautiful… maybe he did have a big forehead, but Junsu liked to overlook that feature.
“So, are you excited? Nervous? Saturday is the big day,” Junsu murmured, laying his head on the other’s shoulder, a habit he had adopted over the years they had been friends.
Yoochun leaned his head against the younger’s, breathing out, “It really doesn’t seem like it would be so soon. God, I remember starting middle school… I’m getting old.”
“You are,” Junsu laughed out, poking his friend in the side as the other could not help but to contain a smile.
Yoochun bit his lip and composed himself, swatting at the hand jabbing into his ribs, and said, “I’m going to miss this.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
From where they sat they could see Jaejoong come up to the group, out of breath from running to get there, apologizing to his younger friends, his backpack unzipped with papers sticking out everywhere. They could hear Changmin sigh, annoyed with his older friend’s (crush’s) organization skills, and took the bag from the other with a smile, ready to rearrange everything to his liking. Yunho greeted the other warmly, being one of the closest to the eldest of the group, teasing Jae lightly under his breath, saying things that only he and the older male understood.
This was how Junsu wanted it to be forever, the sun setting over them, their laughter echoing across the field. He wanted them there, bickering and joking around. He wanted Yoochun’s arm around him, to love him, to never let him go.
“Hey,” Yoochun mumbled softly, his words light and carrying off with the breeze, making it so Junsu barely heard him. Junsu shifted from where he sat, cuddled into the other’s warmth, and peered up at the senior. “Are you still coming over tomorrow night? Mom’s been wondering when you were going to drop by again. I swear that she loves you more than me.”
“I don’t blame her,” Junsu teased, nudging closer into the other, ignoring the whistles and catcalls of their friends. Yoochun ruffled the other’s hair with his unoccupied hand, the other wrapped loosely around his best friend’s waist. Junsu smacked Yoochun lightly on the thigh, and continued, “Yeah, I’m still coming. Are you going to tell me about the latest issue of your favorite comic book?”
“Maybe,” Yoochun said with a smile, loosening his grip as he stood up from his seat, calling out to Yunho, and left Junsu in the stands, watching with fearful eyes as the sun was sinking down, and Monday was ending.
One step closer to losing his chance.
On Tuesday Junsu spent the whole day with Yoochun.
It was just the two of them, in his home, in his room, on his bed. The perfect place and time for him to tell Yoochun how he felt. They were in the middle of discussing which super hero was better, which plot was more creative, and then arguing their points--because both were too stubborn to do anything else.
“I personally think that if the only ability he has is flight then he--” Yoochun was cut off when Junsu clamped a hand over his mouth, silencing the confused senior very much.
Junsu flushed, his cheeks heating up into a rosy tint--a thing that happened often when he was in the presence of his best friend--and started, “Yoochun, I have something important to tell you. It might come as shocking, and I know that it’s a lot to take on at once. I probably shouldn’t say this, I mean, it might be a complete mistake, and then things might be weird between everyone and…” He trailed off, noticing Yoochun’s amused expression at his ramblings.
Yoochun smiled, tilted his head to one side, and asked, “What are you trying to tell me, Su?”
“Chunnie, I think that I am in lo--” It was his turn to be interrupted when Yoochun’s cell phone started ringing, a cute girl in his best friend’s math class calling, and Junsu felt all his determination crumble.
Yoochun furrowed his brows, glancing back and forth between his friend and the phone, and was about to push the reject button when Junsu just nodded, telling him that it was fine, to answer the phone.
“Yes… I’ll be there. Okay.” Yoochun paused, listening to the female on the other line, rolling his eyes, smiling when he made Junsu chuckle at his expressions. “Yes, damn it… No, that’s okay,” then his eyes shifted to the brunette on his bed, seriousness washing over his features, “I have someone in mind already.” Then he shut his phone off, throwing it to the other side of his bed after putting it on vibrate, and turned his attention back to his best friend.
Junsu completely blew off the previous topic, choosing to distract his friend with something else, not wanting to have to confess now that he had lost his nerve. “What was that about?” He asked instead, motioning with his head to the neglected and abused silver cell phone, ignoring the look on Yoochun’s face (he could not quite make out what Yoochun was trying to say with his eyes, too many emotions located within the inky depths). Did he see disappointment shining in them--or was it a reflection of his own crushed hopes?
“Ah, it’s about some small gathering tomorrow night for the seniors. And then about the party at Jun Ki’s on Friday.” Junsu nodded to his friend, looking down to his worn-out blue jeans, ripped at the knees. “So, what were you saying?”
Junsu squeaked, not expecting Yoochun to get back on that subject, and said, “Umm, it was nothing! Absolutely nothing, Chun.”
Yoochun gave him an incredulous look, but, otherwise, said nothing more about it.
For some reason, Junsu was not sure if that made him happy or sad.
Wednesday there was only him and Changmin.
“So, you still haven’t told him?”
Junsu ruffled his own hair, causing the light brown locks to stick up in all directions, and snapped, “It’s hard! Yoochun is my best friend… and he’s a boy that’s always been fond of girls, made no indication to be interested in any of the boys in our school and--”
Changmin placed his hand over the other’s mouth to keep him from saying anymore and asked, “How do you know that he has not been waiting for you to say that for a long time?”
“Because he is Yoochun! He’s… he’s…”
Another voice cut into their conversation, “Totally in love with you?” Both Changmin and Junsu spun around to see Jaejoong, hair tousled by the light breeze that drifted past, early for their after school meetings.
“Would you both stop saying that,” Junsu said with a pout on his face, arms folded over his chest, “It’s not true, okay? Yoochun is my best friend, and I am afraid to tell him that I am--”
“--getting hard every time you hear that sultry bedroom voice--” Changmin voiced and Jaejoong snickered behind his hand, bumping shoulders with the younger, causing the mature one to blush faintly.
“--in dire need of his hard, warm cock shoved inside you--” Jaejoong stated, his smile growing wide with victory when Junsu started squealing and hiding his face in his hands, briefly wondering how Jae knew that Chun had a warm and hard cock.
“No, damn it! I am in love with Yoochun!”
Then the junior’s breath caught in his throat as he heard footsteps come close and stop at the end of his outburst. Both Jaejoong and Changmin sobered up immediately, choosing to remain silent as the newcomer came closer. Junsu gulped, reluctantly turning around in his seat on the cold metal to come face-to-face with his best friend--or soon to be ex-best friend, he just knew it.
Yoochun seemed confused, brows furrowed and a frown on his face, as he came upon the trio. Jaejoong was practically sitting on top of Changmin, the other barely noticing, and Junsu was straddling the bench, face bright red and mouth gaping wide open.
“Umm… do I want to know what you are all talking about?” he was answered with silence. “I suppose I don’t. Anyway, Yunho and I need to borrow Jae, senior meeting--I think that the old bastard of a principal wants to wish us well or something like that.”
Jaejoong nodded, hugging his two younger friend’s goodbye, Changmin shying at the touch and Junsu sent him a knowing look. Then Yoochun leaned over, draping his arms around Junsu, placing a sloppy and wet kiss to the side of his best friend’s face, laughing loudly when the junior started wiping at his skin mumbling something about “Chunnie germs.”
Changmin sighed softly to himself, watching the two retreating figures leave the field, his eyes particularly trained on the black-haired beauty that smiled into his hand at something that Yoochun had said. Junsu turned away from the sight, not liking the fact that soon their backs would be to them and that they would be leaving for good. It was too soon, he wanted more time with his best friend, this was not fair.
“So… are you going to tell him, Junsu?”
“I… don’t know… I can’t. I don’t want this--what we have now--to be thrown away because I am an idiot.”
Changmin chuckled bitterly, muttering, “We’re both fools in love then.”
And Junsu smiled weakly, thinking that there was no way that he and Yoochun could work out, that he was not good enough, that this would end in tragedy, but… For some reason, there was still hope.
He still had two more days.
On Thursday the tiny group reunited at the arcade, playing their favorite games and eating pizza. It was one place where Changmin forgot about his studies and the effects of unrequited love, clinging to Jae and demanding that he buy him food. It was where Junsu and Yunho danced off to see who was better, Yoochun laughing at the display and trying to pick up girls that were fawning over the muscular body of Jung Yunho. Yoochun never stood a chance, but while everyone else looked at Yunho in pure admiration, Junsu was staring at the guy in the back, small smile on his face, and tried to get those beautiful brown orbs to stare back at him.
Usually the day ended with them being kicked out by the owner for disrupting the area.
They sat in the parking lot, Jaejoong propped up on Yunho’s car, leaning against his best friend since childhood. Changmin was usually sitting in Yoochun’s car, the door open as he watched everyone else silently, only occasionally sending a biting remark to his older friends. Yoochun would be sitting down on the pavement, a cigarette in one hand if he was stressed or writing something down in his notebook while he took a few glances at Junsu--the reckless boy dancing around the area, not caring if their were cars coming by or not.
It had rained that day, the paved space wet and slick from the water that still sprinkled down, the streetlights glowing dimly around them, casting an ethereal glow on the watery ground that Junsu danced on. Changmin had turned on the radio, studying for a test that next day, and Jae was asleep on Yunho, head resting peacefully in his younger friend’s lap, while Yunho himself laid back against the hood with his eyes closed.
“Hey, Junsu,” Yoochun called out, catching the said boy’s attention who paused in his steps, soft brown eyes curious as to what his best friend wanted. “Do you want to dance?”
“With you?”
Yoochun looked around--as if worried that someone heard--but he had a smile on his face and said, “Well, I don’t see anyone else around here willing to dance with you and your two left feet.”
Junsu pouted, hands on his hips, expression offended. Yoochun laughed lightly under his breath and came up to his favorite junior, looping his arms through Junsu’s and locking them behind the shorter one’s back. Junsu stiffened in response, surprised by the older teen’s actions, but relaxed into the awkward embrace when Chun rested his chin atop his shoulder, swaying them both.
The music in the background was not fitting--some fast paced rap song that Changmin was babbling to, head bouncing around as he copied down information from his textbooks. Junsu did not complain, though, happily slow dancing with his secret love, laying his head down onto his friend’s shoulder, nose brushing the black locks that fell in loose waves around the other’s face--usually tied back , but Junsu preferred Yoochun wearing his hair down, loving the way the tresses swirled around his fingers. Now that he thought about it, he probably could not recall a time when he was not in love with the Park, it seemed improbable to the young Kim, looking back at their years together.
“Chunnie… I want to…” Junsu started, trying to keep his voice from wavering as he pulled back in the tight and comfortable embrace.
Then his breathing hitched and he lost all words. Yoochun was looking straight at him, brown eyes glowing lighter in the light that lit up the small lot, his eyes crinkled at the corners. Junsu found himself drawing closer to the other, leaning forward, eyes closing shut, and then… He felt Yoochun’s lips against his, soft and warm on his own cold and slightly chapped lips. Even though it was only a few short seconds (Junsu pulling back, embarrassed by what he had done), he could still feel the fuzzy feeling in his gut and the aftershock of the peck tingle against two full lips.
“Ch-Chunnie, I am--”
Yoochun shook his head, his smile still there, if not forced on his face and Junsu felt like he ruined everything. He ignored the pain in his chest, a dull throb against his rib cage, and returned the gesture, albeit weakly.
“Let’s get these two up and take Minnie home, okay, Junsu?”
Junsu had never felt the urge to cry as much as he did then.
On Friday, Yoochun had dragged him out of his house, demanding that he go to the party that evening. Yoochun made no comments on what happened the night before, keeping a tiny bit of space from his best friend, and it hurt… a lot… like hell.
He never liked parties where everyone got inebriated and ended up naked on the floor, but his best friends were going to be there so he could suffer one night for them. Besides, maybe confessing would be easier if he got drunk… or it could take his mind of Yoochun and he could find someone else to spend the night with.
It did not happen, though.
“Your boyfriend is either dying or is entirely shit faced at this moment,” Changmin commented, sitting on the bottom steps on the host’s staircase, motioning with his head to the awful singing coming from the bathroom.
“What the hell was he drinking?” Junsu asked, glancing inside at the pathetic sight of Yoochun curled up in the bathtub, singing a song that Junsu found familiar but did not know for sure since it was currently being skewered by the intoxicated teen.
Changmin shrugged, biting his lip as he loomed behind the slightly older male, trying to keep himself from laughing at Yoochun who was clutching at a beer bottle and crying like a baby.
Junsu clenched his eyes shut tight, trying to refrain from inhaling the scent of vomit and alcohol that he knew was wafting throughout the small compartment. He bent over, grabbing hold of Yoochun by his forearms and tugging him out of the tub. Yoochun laughed as he tripped, clinging onto Junsu, his hands all over places they probably should not have been (making Junsu blush), trying to find some leverage.
Changmin jerked the bottle--half empty of its vile contents, the smell alone causing Junsu to turn away in disgust, and oddly enough Yoochun did not smell so much like it.
“I’ll take this and I--” his words were cut off as he stared wide-eyed before him, beer bottle dropping to the floor--Yoochun yelped beside them, scared as tiny shard scattered across the floor, unnoticed by the people loitering about, drunk as well.
Junsu furrowed his brows, stepping closer to his youngest friend, and started, “Min, what’s wrong?” Then he looked in the direction that held Changmin’s attention and gasped at what he saw.
Jaejoong was straddling Yunho in a chair, the younger’s shirt tossed somewhere in the crowd and his pants undone, attached at the lips as Jaejoong kept shifting around on his best friend’s lap, drawing out strangled moans from the boy beneath him. Jaejoong’s raven hair was tangled from Yunho’s fingers gripping it in his sweaty palms, the older teen’s shirt unbuttoned completely.
Junsu turned sympathetic eyes toward his best friend who composed himself quickly, stopping down to pick up a few of the sticky shards of glass, as he whispered, “I’m going to go, Su, take Chun home.”
Junsu started to protest calling back his younger friend, wanting to help pick up the pieces, not of the bottle that crashed, but of the heart that broke. He knew he could not though, the only person able to do it would be Jae, and he was sure that this would never happen--Changmin was too proud to admit he wanted love and needed help. It was one of his many--and rarely seen--flaws.
“Su, I want to go home,” Yoochun whined from beside him, his arms wrapped around the other’s torso, face pressed tightly against Junsu’s shoulder, body slouched.
Junsu sighed and hefted Yoochun back up, allowing the senior to keep his hold around him, still singing terribly to songs that Junsu found better left alone. There was a reason that they were classics, they did not need a drunken remix by one Park Yoochun, wailing away and playing air guitar, tripping over his own two feet.
If it were not for the fact that he smelled like sweat and cheap alcohol, Junsu would have found the sight cuter.
“Junsu,” Yoochun spoke, his tone serious and Junsu started to think that he was only acting drunk. Until the next thing came out of his mouth. “I love you.”
Junsu brushed it off as brotherly affection and replied, “I love you, too.”
Then the figure wrapped tightly around him started shaking his head furiously, eyes on the verge of tearing up again, as he shouted--voice slurred--in the otherwise quiet neighborhood, “No, I am in love with you! Like head over heels, in too deep, crazy about you, cannot stop thinking about you kind of love.”
“You’re drunk, Chun, let’s go home.”
Yoochun gave up, bottom lip jutting out and the trip after that remained quiet. Junsu decided that it was best to take his best friend to his house, sneak in without disturbing his twin and parents, and get Yoochun some clean clothes and allow him to take a shower--Junsu did not know how much more of the smell he could take…
… Or the confusion that this one week was instilling.
Saturday came, the day of the graduation finally upon the group, and none of them wished for it to happen so soon.
Things were not awkward between the love triangle, all three smiling, the new couple sneaking glances at each other in their robes, playfully hitting each other in the arm and joking around like always. They acted like they always had, and Junsu felt like their friendship had been more than that for quite some time. He barely caught the crushed look in Changmin’s eyes, but the other made no big deal out of the situation, no ill feelings between the trio.
Junsu could not say the same about Yoochun and himself. He had woken up that morning to find a note stuck to his forehead, a hurried message saying thanks and such. It probably should not have had such an impact, but when it was not signed with, “Your best-est friend in the world, Yoochun,” Junsu felt like balling up on his bed and crying his heart out, watch chick flicks and eat three tubs of ice cream. He felt stupid and like a girl, and maybe it was best to get over this crush, it had ruined their friendship and if he moved on, maybe they could start over, even though it would hurt.
But Junsu did not make it through the ceremony, his eyes leaking crystal drops that splashed onto the back of his hand, and he found himself bailing before the Valedictorian’s speech was even complete.
An hour later, Yoochun found him outside on the bleachers overlooking the football field where all five of them had spent most of their days. He did not acknowledge the other’s existence, preferring to keep quiet and gaze into the darkening sky. Yoochun had changed out of his robe, now dressed in his casual attire, more than likely ditching his family and their other friends to come find the sulking boy outside.
“What are you doing out here by yourself?”
“Thinking,” came the short reply, Junsu’s eyes only briefly flickering to the right to glance at his best friend, or what he hoped was still his best friend.
Yoochun leaned forward, arms rested on his bent knees, and asked, “About what?”
There was a prolonged silence, that, for the first time in the past two days, was comfortable.
“You.”
Then all things around the two seemed to stop and Junsu closed his eyes to keep from looking at what he assumed was a disgusted look on his friend’s face.
What surprised him was the soft chuckle that came from the pink lips. Junsu turned, startled, and searched Yoochun’s face. Was this a sign of rejection? Did Yoochun think that this was a joke--that his (un)proclaimed love was a joke?
But he did not have to dwell on it long as Yoochun’s lips met his once again this week. Like the first, it was short, this time Yoochun remained lingering there, foreheads barely brushing each other.
Junsu finally found the courage to speak again, hoping that this time he could do this. “Chunnie, I am in love with you.” Yoochun nodded with a smile, to which Junsu frowned. “Are you not going to say anything back? Reject me? Love me? Yoochun, damn it, give me a straight answer!”
“I thought I made it clear how I felt last night,” was all that his best friend said, and Junsu thought about that phrase, recalling the incident with the drunken teen… Was he--
“Were you really drunk?”
Yoochun smirked and enveloped the tinier boy in an embrace. “Tipsy, but not shit faced.”
“You jerk!” Junsu squeaked, pounding against the other’s chest lightly. “How could you do that to me?!”
“I just wanted to see what your reaction would be. I was hoping that you’d say it back…”
Junsu stared, incredulous. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
“Nope. Kim Junsu, I am in love with you. Like head over heels, in too deep, crazy about you, cannot stop thinking about you kind of love.”
“I hate you.”
A chuckle and a peck on Junsu’s forehead. “I know.”
“Just making sure.”
There was a period of silence, sun long gone beyond the horizon and the stars twinkling brightly in the sky. They shared a kiss or two here and there, a moan from Junsu when Yoochun’s hands became more adventurous, groping along his backside, and the humming of songs that Junsu assumed were composed by his (new) boyfriend.
“Chunnie?”
“Hmm.”
A sigh. “When you go to college, I don’t want you to forget me, okay? I want you to call me sometimes and maybe visit every now and then and--” He was cut off by a short kiss, Yoochun drawing back, lightly nipping at the tender flesh of the boy’s bottom lip.
“No matter what happens, Junsu, you’re still my best friend--the most important person in my life. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I’d like to share it with you…”
And for the first time in that one week, Kim Junsu felt whole… he had finally found completion with his best friend, boyfriend, and the love of his life, Park Yoochun.
Okay, so I know that this, culturally, is probably the most incorrect thing in the world... but I was only going by what little I know about graduation and those in the US and then... well, whatever else I could think of. The idea--not original in the slightest I suppose--came from my very abused (creatively) mind, asking my sister for some kind of prompt. And I said, "But you're graduating this year! You should know something!" And that is when it hit me: Graduation... I am still in high school, so I thought this challenge would be easy... HELL NO! God, perfect time to get writer's block.
Anyway, I also found out, that--by using the entry level requirements in my state--Yoochun and Junsu would be a grade apart, making my idea better than I thought at first (It still sucks) So that worked in my favor but it was still a pain in the ass to write... Ugh...
But I hope everyone that read it enjoyed this. It's for the contest on YooSu_YongWonHi just because I wanted to see if I could meet a deadline~ :P Silly, I know, but I still hope that it can do well in the contest, even if it's not the best...
Thank you all so very much! *hugs*
Edit (12-14-08): Oh, my! I did not expect this in the slightest! *hugs* Thank you all for your support with this story~ I took second place with "Graduation" in the contest and I know I could not have done it without all of you. You are all what keeps me going and I could not be happier than I am at this exact moment~ *more hugs* I am so happy that I could cry~ I think I am! *laughs* Anyway, glad you enjoyed, and the comments were greatly appreciated~ :P