A Matter Of Timing; Minho/Key
It's Kibum's fault Minho's 22nd birthday went a little like this...
Author's Note: Inspired by this. and this too. dear lovely readers, i wanted to write a birthday fic for Minho, so i'm actually really happy the fancams plus photos came out so i can write this as realistic as it can get. lol. alrighty, before i leave you to read the mess of words i came up with on a cab ride, thank you for giving this story a shot and i hope you like it! ^^
credits seoulers.tumblr & tongsengyui.tumblr
11:59pm - 8th December
Lying in bed, Kim Kibum has his phone in his hands as he begins typing a message.
Call me when you see this.
It takes him less than a second to finish what he wants to say. His fingers stop moving as he waits until the time on his phone changes to midnight. When it does, he sends the message and tosses his phone aside. Now, there is only more waiting to be done.
▷▷
12:39am - 9th December
Kibum's phone rings. He doesn't even need to look at the screen to know who is calling. A smile instantly appears on his face as he answers the call.
“Hi stranger!”
The person on the other line chuckles, “I've been too busy, haven't I?”
Kibum hums in agreement, “Can't be helped, you have a drama to finish filming... But I hope you at least have the time to celebrate your birthday?”
“Yeah... That's why I'm calling you late. The crew surprised me with cake just now.”
“Well, if you're at the dorm now, you won't get anything at all…” Kibum laughs, amused at how the members have been together for so long that everyone doesn’t even bother celebrating each other's birthdays anymore.
When his laughter dies down, he finally gets to the point of the phone call, “Happy birthday Minho.”
“Thanks bum.” Minho replies before he sighs out loud, “I wish I was with you right now…”
“Don't waste your wishes like that.” Kibum jokingly reprimands before he seriously says, “And don't sulk, I'll see you in Nagoya alright?”
“Do you have something planned for me?”
“Maybe... Maybe not…”
“You're a tease.”
“You're impatient.”
“You’re rude.”
“You’re childish.”
Their squabble continues and only ends when Minho has to get back to filming. It’s something they're used to already so both Kibum and Minho have smiles on their faces as they say goodbye and hang up the phone.
▷▷
1:29pm - 10th December
It is in Nagoya where Kibum reunites with Minho backstage at their concert venue. After 4 days apart, he finally gets to poke his boyfriend in the flesh. And Kibum does just that as he reaches out to press a finger into Minho’s cheek after they're done with rehearsals and settled at a place backstage where they can be left alone.
“Have you been eating well?” Kibum asks with a frown as he takes a good look at Minho's face, “You seem skinnier.”
“Filming has been hectic but don't worry about me, I'm fine!” Minho smiles as he catches hold of Kibum's finger and adjusts to hold his hand in his, lightly swinging their interlocked hands to and fro, “But I know I would feel even better if you give me my birthday present…”
“What birthday present?”
“Didn't you prepare something for me?” Minho questions, anticipation growing by the second.
Kibum blinks innocently at his boyfriend and shakes his head slowly, “I’m sorry baby, but I didn’t.”
Minho lets out a hearty laugh, lightly squeezing Kibum on his cheek, “Stop bluffing me... pass me my present, bummie.”
“Minho... I really... didn't get anything for you…” Kibum says slowly, suddenly worried about hurting Minho's feelings.
The smile on Minho's face slowly disappears and it is his turn to feel awkward, “Really?”
Seeing that Minho is trying to hide his true emotions, Kibum wishes he has another answer for his boyfriend but all he can do is nod.
“Nothing at all?” Minho asks again, still finding it hard to believe that Kibum seriously doesn't have a present for him.
Kibum squeezes Minho's hand, “I'm sorry... I-”
“You know, bum, it’s not too late to point at yourself and say that you're my birthday present.”
“Minho…” Kibum rolls his eyes but mutters under his breath, “I already did that two years ago.”
“You can always give yourself to me again?” Minho suggests.
“Do you hear yourself talking, Minho?”
“Alright alright,” Minho sighs dramatically, “No present this year. I get it.”
“Well, if you see something you like, I can always-”
“Nah, it's okay, bummie.” Minho quickly reassures, “Don't worry about it.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely. I don't need presents, I'm happy enough to hear you wish me a happy birthday year after year.”
Just like that, Kibum’s worries disappear and he smiles, secretly feeling very much relieved and thankful that he manages to get past Minho.
▷▷
7:22pm - 10th December
He isn’t that relieved or thankful anymore. Now, Kibum highly suspects that Minho didn't mean what he said. In fact, he is almost certain Minho lied when he said he didn't need presents. At the same time, he goes through the same thing that happened to him a little over a year ago on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans in Singapore. Once again, his heart stops for a split second and all of a sudden, he finds it hard to breathe. And in that very second, he also feels as if he and Minho are the only two people left in the world.
However, this time round, it isn't because Minho kneels down and proposes to him in front of an entire concert stadium. No. Not that. Because this time, after getting rejected thrice, his idiot of a boyfriend decides to show him who's boss by grabbing his face just so he can pretend to aggressively kiss him. Yes, it may have been a pretend kiss but Kibum manages to catch that look in Minho's eyes. It is in that moment in time when Kibum realises how sneaky Minho can be.
▷▷
7:23pm - 10th December
Kibum hates Choi Minho with a vengeance.
▷▷
8:15pm - 10th December
Kibum decides he loves Minho instead and with that, he manages to get the attention of everyone in the concert venue. He takes a deep breath and starts singing 'Happy Birthday', pointing directly to his boyfriend. With every single person following his lead, Kibum is more than happy, almost excited, to sing at the top of his voice just so shinee and shinee world can come together to celebrate Minho's birthday. After all, his boyfriend deserves the best.
▷▷
8:36pm - 10th December
Kibum becomes a different person as he pulls Minho into their dressing room by the end of his t-shirt and locks everyone else out. Not even giving Minho any time to react, Kibum pushes his boyfriend roughly backwards until he falls onto the couch.
Standing tall, looking all high and mighty, Kibum then crosses his arms and glares at the confused rapper. “Do you think it's funny, Choi Minho?!”
Kibum’s question may have sounded vague but Minho knows exactly what he is referring to.
With a smile, Minho shakes his head, “Nope.”
“Then why the hell did you-”
“Well, I have to get a present from you one way or another, so how can you blame me when the opportunity presented itself, bummie?”
"You lied.”
“I did.” Minho agreed without hesitating, a smug grin stuck on his face, “Thanks for the present, baby.”
Kibum groans, yet again finding himself utterly defeated by his boyfriend. And if it isn’t for the constant pounding and shouting coming from the door, he would have murdered Minho.
▷▷
10:22pm - 10th December
Equip with a key card he snatched out of Jonghyun’s hand, Kibum storms into Minho's hotel room and drops a box of cake on his boyfriend's chest. Minho, who is originally fiddling with his phone while lying in bed, quickly gets up as he steadies the box in his hands and looks confusedly at an expressionless Kibum.
“What's this for?”
“Your birthday present.”
“Cake?”
Kibum shakes his head, “Not just that.”
As Minho turns his attention to the box and opens it to check if there is anything more, Kibum continues as if he is talking about the weather, “It's for you... to eat it off me.”
Minho instantly looks up, his eyes as wide as saucers, jaw completely dropped.
“This is supposed to be my birthday present to you… But since you already got your present from me just now, I guess we'll just eat the cake the normal way.” Kibum smirks...
But not for long because in a blink of an eye, Kibum feels a hand around his wrist and the next thing he knows, his whole world starts spinning.
▷▷
11:56pm - 10th December
It marks a historic moment in Kim Kibum’s life because he gives up and is forced to do something he has never done before after losing rock, paper, scissors to Minho.
He calls housekeeping at night and requests for them to make up their room.
As soon as he ends the call, he and Minho escape to the pool and pray that no questions will be asked.