baby,don't cry [1/4]
Title: Baby, Don't Cry
Author: Kei17
Pairing: Kaisoo, Hunhan, and Baekyeol
Rating: PG
Published: 06/20/2012 - 07/15/2012 COMPLETED
Summary: Finally, Kyungsoo and Jongin will stop running around and face their feelings for one another. But not before making things a little bit more complicated. Because hey, that's what they do.
(Third Story of a Four Part Series)
PS: This happens almost the same time as Hunhan's in What is Love? So certain events happen on both fics but from different point of views. :)
ONE- Where It All Began
Jongin followed the guy walking several paces ahead of him. The school corridor was full of students hurrying towards the exits, excited to be free for the day. But he paid no mind to them. His gaze was intent on the lone figure as he traced the steps of the corridors, his destination the isolated music room hidden in the back of the school building.
The young guy wore a dark blue cap on his head and a stuffed backpack was slung on his right shoulder. Jongin watched as the guy turned left and disappeared through a door. He smiled to himself. Finally, they'll be alone.
Jongin entered the dark room and called out. "Kyungsoo."
Kyungsoo turned around and smiled. Jongin snatched him, backed him against the door and leaned close. "I've waited all day."
"For what?" Kyungsoo whispered.
"For this." Jongin moved to place his lips against Kyungsoo's. He was getting closer and closer when the lights turned on and he found himself kissing air.
"What are you doing here?" Kyungsoo asked from halfway across the room.
Jongin felt a pang of disappointment as Kyungsoo's voice broke his dream. And shucks, it was a good one, too.
"I said what are you doing here?" Kyungsoo repeated as he walked towards the old piano in the far corner of the room. "Didn't I just leave you with Sehun and Chanyeol?"
"You leave me with those crazy people and ask me why I left them?"
"I thought you were in good company. Being crazy yourself and all." Kyungsoo shrugged.
"Excuse me, they are a different kind of crazy. I'm the more conventional type." Jongin defended himself.
Kyungsoo rolled his eyes. "And I ask myself why I bother to talk to you."
"Ha, so you admit. You can't resist me." Jongin said with a smirk.
"Go away." Kyungsoo told Jongin. Jongin ignored him and just watched as Kyungsoo reached the piano and promptly disappeared behind it, his blue cap the only thing visible from Jongin's position. He heard Kyungsoo take out some music sheets and proceeded to play. Soft music filled the room and Jongin felt transported back in time when he first saw that blue cap casting a shadow over the saddest pair of eyes he had ever seen.
5 years ago...
His arm hurt like the devil. Not only that it itches like hell, too. His father would probably cuff his head if he hears him saying those "bad" words but right now, sitting miserably at the hospital's waiting lounge, he doesn't care. The cast in his arm was so heavy and so uncomfortable Jongin wanted to cry. He probably would have cried by then if not for the girl sitting across from him, staring at his cast while making those irritating sucking noises on her lollipop.
"It's your fault you know. I told you to go left." Jongin's sister said as she pointed at him with her candy. "The problem is you don't listen."
"I went left!" Jongin said annoyed.
"Come on, we've been brothers and sisters for 14 years, you should know by now that when I say left, I mean your other left!"
"You're right. For 14 years! You should get your directions straight!"
"You're being grouchy."
"I'm being grouchy? Tell me why is that? Here I am, my arm in a cast and my knee bruised while you sit there unharmed. Why would I be grouchy?"
"Hmmp! No one forced you to dance with me." His sister stood up. "Tell dad I'll just wait by the car. I don't wanna talk with cry babies."
Jongin shot his sister an evil eye as she walked away from him. "Worst kind of sisters are those with two left feet!"
Jongin slumped back in his chair, waiting for his father to finish talking with the doctor so they can come home. Jongin thought that he would have to skip atleast four dance classes because of his injury. No one warned him that older sisters can be so damned heavy. He indulged in self pity some more.
"What's taking so long?" Jongin impatiently stood up. His father was probably quizzing the doctor about his injury and was running the old man ragged. Not that he minded his father's concern but really, this was just a stupid arm fracture.
He decided to walk around instead. No one was really minding him. Nurses and doctors running to and fro. Wailing children, worried parents here and there.
Jongin came upon a quiet corridor. Peace at last. He walked forward and entertained himself reading the names outside the doors. A few minutes more, nearing the end of the row of rooms, he heard someone whimpering. He was not sure, the sound was barely distinguishable. He walked further and saw a door to his left, ajar. He looked at the name plate on the door but the slot was empty.
Curious, Jongin quietly peeked inside and saw a boy, probably the same age as him, hunched over an empty hospital bed. He was wearing a plain, dark blue cap and the same school uniform as him. He noticed that the boy's shoulders were trembling in time with the sound of his sobbing.
"Eomma, didn't you love me enough? Why did you leave me?" The boy cried. "It's too soon. Too soon."
Jongin felt like an intruder. He knew he wasn't supposed to be there watching somebody else's despair but he couldn't look away. Maybe he could do something to make the boy feel better. No one should be this sad.
"What would I do with the song you left me? How would I finish it without you? Didn't you say we were gonna sing it together? I know appa's waiting for you in heaven for so long now but he could still wait for a little more, right?"
"I swear I'll not murder your rose garden anymore. I'll do all the cooking,the washing, the cleaning and all the chores you can come up with and you can even invent some more. I promise I'll be the best son in the world. Please." The boy was racked with harsh sobs. "I'm so alone. I'm really scared, Eomma. Please come back, even for just a minute, come back."
Jongin let out a small sob of his own. The boy looked up at the sound. Jongin quickly retreated and hid behind the door but not before he saw a huge pair of eyes drowned in tears. He slowly walked away from the room and went to find his father. He felt he needed a hug.
"There you are! Where were you? Where's your sister?" Jongin's father asked as he reached the hospital lobby.
He walked straight to his father and hugged him. "I love you, Appa."
"Jongin, you're not going to die because of a broken arm. What are you saying?" His father said, confused.
"Nothing. Let's just go home." Jongin said quietly. He was eager to get away from there. They passed through wailing children and worried parents again. But nothing could erase those sad pair of eyes from his memory.
So much pain in one place.
One week after, Jongin was going crazy.
TWO - The Start of A Non-Friendship
One week after, Jongin was going crazy. His dance classes were cancelled and he's got nothing to do after school. He was so bored. And he still can't move his right arm which means he couldn't eat properly. If he couldn't eat properly, he'll be hungry and that will make him grumpy all day. Everyone is giving him a wide berth these days lest he turn on them with his wild eyes. Even his teachers were scared of him.
With time on his hands, Jongin decided to scour the school for something to do. Maybe a few guys will be playing some betting games at the back of the school. Or some stupid students might be fighting or beating each other up there. It will be fun to watch them fumble with each other and hit nothing at all. Well, anything to get entertained.
He was on his way to the school backyard when in the corner of his eye he saw a small framed boy turning towards a darkened corridor. The boy looked back a bit before continuing on his way. There was something familiar about his profile.
Abandoning his real plan, Jongin followed the student. He saw him enter a room. Jongin looked around him. He'd never been to this part of the school before but he still went on following the boy. He was pretty sure he's the same one he saw crying in the hospital. He'll never forget those big, round eyes.
Jongin quitely slipped into the room. But his efforts were in vain because the boy was looking straight at him.
"Is it your habit spying on people?" The boy asked.
"Uh, no. I just got lost."
"Nobody gets lost and ends up here. This place is nowhere." The boy continued to look suspiciously at Jongin. "I know you. You were the boy at the hospital. You were also spying on me then."
"I didn't spy on you! I don't even know you. And besides how would you know if it was me?" Jongin asked defensively.
"Well, when I looked up I saw a brown-skinned boy with a cast on his right arm who looks a lot like you. And he was wearing the same uniform as me. I haven't seen anyone else wearing a cast in school except for you."
Jongin didn't know what to say to that. He was still thinking of an excuse when his eyes came upon the other boy's name plate.
"Do Kyungsoo? You're that Do Kyungsoo? The child prodigy? Our district's own Perfect Pitch?" Jongin asked, surprised. He knew him. Well, he knows of him.
"Yes, I'm Do Kyungsoo. But I'm more like the Pitiful-Orphan-so-let's-make-fun-of-him-Do-Kyungsoo nowadays."
Jongin remembered the crying boy in the hospital room. That image was a far cry from the boy standing infront of him. He looked at Kyungsoo's raised eyebrows, defiant eyes and defensive smirk. He looks as if he's ready for a fight. Jongin understood him enough to let him have it. Anything to help him forget the hurt.
"Well, nice to meet you. I'm Everybody-loves-me-because-I'm-so-damn-perfect-Kim-Jongin." Jongin answered with a smirk of his own.
"Nice to meet you, so now can you please get lost?" Kyungsoo said with a sweet smile.
"Why would I? Do you own this place? Last time I heard, this room is school property."
"Yeah? Last time I heard they rounded obnoxious little boys like you and threw them in the river to swim with the fishes." Kyungsoo retorted.
"Last time I heard, you're more little than me." Jongin shot back.
Kyungsoo fumed. "Those obnoxious boys? They drown."
"Good thing I'm not obnoxious. Hell, what does that mean anyway? Is that even a word?"
"Are you sure only your arm is broken? Have you had the doctors check your head?"
"My head's pretty enough, what's to check?"
"To see where your brain ran off to."
Jongin was having the time of his life. This was more than sparring, this was a blood bath. He had to stay on his toes. This Kyungsoo guy was a pro. If he was a weaker mortal he'd have been food for the fishes two hours ago. Hold on. Jongin looked at his watch. It's been two hours?
"I can't believe it." Jongin said to himself.
"What? You admit defeat?" Kyungsoo asked after Jongin went quiet.
"What do you mean defeat? I was just looking at my watch. I just wasted two hours of my life having this non-conversation with you."
"Not to mention my time wasted talking to you. Let's not meet again. Ever."
Jongin walked towards the door but just before he went out he waved at the older boy and said, "Let's do this again tomorrow!"
Then he was gone.
Kyungsoo's eyes travelled to his watch. It's alreay half past four but there was no sign of the bane of his life, Jongin. Not that he was waiting for him. It's just that he's used to seeing the sophomore there in the old piano room when the clock strikes four. It's been a little over two weeks since they started this pattern. Jongin was always there every afternoon, fooling around, disrupting his quiet time. No wonder he hasn't even added a single note to his mother's unfinished song.
Thoughts of his eomma never fail to sweep Kyungsoo into a tide of hurt and loss. He lost his father when he was just two, so although his mom always told him stories about him, he was just a vague memory to him. But his eomma was different. She always took care of Kyungsoo. He knew she was sad having to loose the only man she loved so soon, but she never showed it. She made Kyungsoo feel as if he was enough to make her happy.
That's why Kyungsoo did try to make her happy as a mother should be. They said he was a singer just like his father so he took care of his voice and sang to his eomma everynight. He won competitions where he was recognized as the best in their district. Everybody had high hopes for him. He would hear people say how lucky he was that his father was a singer and his mother a composer so he came out as a very talented kid. He would feel very proud whenever his mom gets congratulated everytime he wins or performs.
He wanted to finish his mother's song. He promised on her funeral. He'll make the perfect love song for his parents. Theirs was a love story that people only read in books and he was intent to give them a happy ending they deserved.
"Now, don't look so sad. Jongin's here." The boy said from the doorway.
Kyungsoo looked up to see Jongin's confident smirk. "Who says anyone's waiting for you?"
"Come on, no need to deny it."
"Maybe you should find a place where somebody actually wants you to be there."
"Well, that's why I'm here!"
Kyungsoo can feel a headache coming. He knows that if he takes the younger boy's bait, they'll fall into another argument that both of them will never win. He doesn't really know why Jongin keeps on coming there everyday. It's not as if they were friends. They couldn't even finish a sentence without insulting one another.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" Jongin teased.
"No, I felt you're comment didn't deserve a response."
"Ouch, How thy princess hurt me!" Jongin clutched his chest. Kyungsoo just rolled his eyes at him. "Roll your eyes all you want but I know you'll miss me when I'm gone."
""You'll be gone? Really?" The older boy asked happily.
"Ha! As you can see I'm free!" Jongin lifted his right arm and Kyungsoo noticed for the first time that he wasn't wearing a cast anymore. So that's what's different.
"I get to comeback to my dance classes! Jolly jolly, ho ho ho!" Then the boy proceeded to twirl around the room with his arms spread wide.
"Good for me, then." Kyungsoo said.
"Awww... Don't feel too bad. I could still come visit you once in a while." Jongin teased.
"I really don't care. It will be nice to have this room all to myself again, thank you." But although Kyungsoo was happy about Jongin's news, he somehow felt disappointed. What the heck?
Jongin just laughed and went to get Kyungsoo's bag. He reached for the older boy's cellphone. Kyungsoo was too surprised to react.
"What are you doing with my phone?"
Jongin looked up. "I'm entering my number just in case, you know, you miss me." He then dialled a number and another cellphone rang from within Jongin's backpack.
"You're saving my number?" Kyungsoo asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah, so when you call and I see who it is, I won't answer. I'll let you miss me more." Jongin said with a big smile.
"That's stupid."
"Shucks, you're mean!"
"You're crazy." Kyungsoo shook his head and snatched his phone from Jongin. His already large eyes rounded some more when he read the name the younger boy saved.
"Beloved Prince?!"
Jongin just answered him with a satisfied smirk. He then showed how he saved Kyungsoo's number on his phone. It read Cranky Princess.
"I pity your parents. How long would they have to put up with you?" Kyungsoo said resigned.
"Obviously they put up with me longer since they're still with me while yours..." Jongin froze and looked at Kyungsoo, who was standing still.
"Kyungsoo, sorry... I didn't mean.. Of course your parents loved you, I wasn't..."
"They loved me." Kyungsoo said quietly. He knows Jongin didn't mean what he was saying, but it still kinda hurts to be reminded that he no longer has anyone.
"I know. I'm sorry. I'll go." Jongin turned to leave.
Kyungsoo watched him go. He didn't know why but it suddenly hurt to see Jongin leave. Because when people he loved leave him they never come back.
"Well, I don't love him." He said to himself.
THREE - The Non-Friendship Progresses
Jongin was hurt. Again. He had another injury in his waist but not because of his sister this time. It's because of the hulking giant who's sitting beside him in the park bench.
"I'm sorry." The tall boy said for the hundredth time.
"It's okay, Chanyeol." Jongin assured his... friend, i guess. The boy still look worried.
"I really didn't mean to topple all over you. It's just well, as you know, I'm clumsy. That's why my mom had me join the dance classes. She says that it will help me be coordinated and all." Chanyeol explained.
Jongin looked heavenward. "Save us all."
"What? I'm really sorry."
"I told you, it's okay. I'm used to it." Jongin sighed. "But do you really want to dance?"
"Honestly? No. I'd rather play the drums or the guitar. Atleast I don't get to hurt people when I play."
"Then why don't you tell your mom about it?"
"Because she'll be disappointed. She's really nice and all but when she wants something, she turns rabid." Chanyeol said with a shrug.
"She wants you to become a dancer?" Jongin asked incredulously.
"Umm... No. She wants to go out with our teacher, Mr. Lee."
"Ahhh..." Jongin doesn't know what to say. "Aren't your parents..?"
"They're divorced. And I'm currently in between a tug of war."
"That's just sad." Jongin patted the tall boy's back.
"I know. But it's better than nothing right? Atleast I still have them both. Unlike others who lose their parents..."
Chanyeol continued to talk but Jongin's mind was on another matter. He remembered the last time he talked with Kyungsoo about parents and all the stupid things he said came back to haunt him. How can he be so insensitive?
He wanted to approach Kyungsoo alot of times since that day, but he was so busy what with his full schedule of classes... Chicken. He just really didn't know what to say.
Jongin wondered why he cared anyway. It's not as if they were friends. You can actually call them Best Not-friends. It's just he feels a certain pride everytime he sees Kyungsoo smirk at him. Because for a time, he can help erase the sadness he first saw in boy's eyes.
"Yeah. and when did I become this sentimental?" Jongin asked himself.
As if his mind conjured the boy, Jongin looked up to see Kyungsoo walking along the park path near them. He was surprised when Chanyeol stood up and waived crazily at the small guy.
"Yo, Kyungsoo! Do Kyungsoo!" He called happily. Jongin saw Kyungsoo's frown turn into a small smile when he recognized who was calling him. But then, the frown came back when Kyungsoo saw who Chanyeol was with. With a small wave to Chanyeol, Kyungsoo went on his way leaving Jongin a little annoyed.
"Yeah, act like you don't know me." Jongin muttered. He turned to Chanyeol and asked, "You know him?"
"Kyungsoo? Yup. We're neighbors. His mom and him used to come to our house every Saturday for our moms' afternoon tea. He used to play piano and sing for us when there's a party or something. Pity though that his mom passed away so early." Chanyeol explained sadly.
"Where is he living now?"
"I think he stayed with his aunt for a while after the funeral but after a few days I saw him back at their house. I guess, it's only his now."
"So he's living alone?"
"I guess so. Why? Do you know him, too?"
"Not really." Jongin shrugged.
"A pity also what happened last saturday at the mayor's event." Chanyeol looked at the sky and paused. And paused some more. Jongin wanted to strangle him.
"You can continue anytime now."
"Oh, cause Kyungsoo was invited to sing. We all know how popular he is. He was like a guest of honor there. My mom was going on and on with her friends about how perfect his voice is. Near the end of the event he was called to the stage and we were all waiting for him to sing as the music started. But he just stood there. Like he was frozen nor something. I saw people pointing at him and whispering. And then he just ran down the stage and left."
Bunch of idiots. Jongin thought. How can they ask him to sing when he just lost his mother?
"That's also why I know he is having a hard time now. I saw some boys making fun of him as he passed through them in school. They were saying such mean things!" Chanyeol said indignantly.
"Like what?" Jongin asked feeling a little angry himself.
"Like calling him the singer who can't sing. They're calling him cry baby, too. They're saying he embarassed the mayor infront of high officials."
Jongin felt his fists clench. He wanted to smack those kids. He shouldn't care though. When did he appoint himself knight in shining armor?
"I was about to tell them off myself but Kyungsoo saw me and shook his head. I guess, he doesn't want any scene."
"Retards." Jongin said.
Chanyeol was a little surprised with the anger he felt behind Jongin's words. "I thought you didn't know Kyungsoo."
"I don't."
"Then why are you so affected?"
Jongin just kept his silence cause he doesn't really know why either.
It was a wednesday and the third day of hell for Kyungsoo as he walked through the school to get to the music room. He could feel the stares and whispers following him as he passed through the corridors. He told himself he could take all the things that they would say about him, but after three days his resolve was frayed.
It wasn't really the snickering or the condescending looks that's bothering him. What he didn't want were the pitying looks that some people were sending his way. He used to walk through school proudly but now... he hates it.
He hates that he had to freeze up infront of the mayor and all those important people. He hates that his throat closed up cause for the first time he realized his mom wouldn't be there to watch him sing. She wouldn't be there to hug him and feel proud of him after. Kyungsoo felt tears gather behind his eyes. They were right, he was a stupid cry baby. He decided to go to the boys' comfort room first to wash his face.
Inside, he looked himself in the mirror, glad he was alone. I am a mess. He told the Kyungsoo in the mirror. He was tracing the lines on his face when in the corner of his eyes he saw his name written on the wall:
DO KYUNGSOO - PERFECT BITCH, LOSER, SISSY, CRY BABY... the words connected by lines that formed a web of hurtful words around his name.
To be fair, his name isn't the only one on that graffiti wall. But it's the first time he was ever in it. He tried to erase the writings with water but the ink won't budge. After a few tries, Kyungsoo gave up. Who cares anyway?
Well, he didn't. So he went back to the comfort room eveyday to check what other words were added and just to check if he still felt the same way; nothing. He was surprised though when on Friday morning he saw new writings around his name.
Someone encircled the word SISSY and wrote: ONE WHO WROTE THIS IS AN IDIOT. Another circle was made around LOSER and it said: ONE WHO WROTE THIS HAS BRAINS THE SIZE OF A PEA. On CRYBABY he wrote : YOU MUST BE PEABRAIN'S BRO, YEAH? And on PERFECT BITCH it said : THIS IS NOT EVEN AN INSULT MORON, DO KYUNGSOO IS PERFECT.
Kyungsoo traced the word perfect. What ugly handwriting, he thought with a smile. Who cares? Apparently, someone did.
Kyungsoo walked outside with a lighter heart.
Kyungsoo's mood was still good four days later as he was walking home from school. He actually made progress with his eomma's song. Just two lines, but it was better than nothing.
He was still lost in thought when someone bumped into him. A very tall and awkward someone. "Chanyeol?"
"Woah, Do Kyungsoo!" Chanyeol greeted him loudly.
"Uhmm. You can drop the Do, you know."
"But I like the Do..It's swag."
"Uh." Honestly Kyungsoo didn't know what to say so he just remained quiet.
"Going home? Sorry for bumping into you, as you can see I'm a bit overladen." Kyungsoo directed his gaze at the books in Chanyeol's arms.
"Catching up on your studies?"
"No. Actually it's for drama class. We're doing Shakespeare."
"And these books are for...?"
"Research. We're doing a play. A musical actually."
Kyungsoo was surprised. He thinks, actually he knows, that Chanyeol isn't any good in singing or dancing. "You're in it?"
"Yeah. I'm the tree-slash-assistant manager. It's a pretty important part. The lovers die infront of the tree." Chanyeol said seriously.
"You need this much book for your part?" Kyungsoo asked doubtfully.
"Oh, these? No. They're actually for Jongin. He's the prince."
"And he asked you for these books?" The smaller guy asked incredulously.
"Well, no to that either. I just thought that since I'm the assistant manager, I have to support my actors. Thus the books."
"Uh, goodluck with that." Kyungsoo was about to turn away when Chanyeol stopped him.
"Do Kyungsoo, since you know more about this than me, can you like help me a bit?"
"Ah..."
"Please?" Chanyeol smiled pleadingly. It looked more creepy than pleading but hey, it's Chanyeol. "I really need to do well on this. It's the only way my mom would let me off those stupid dancing lessons."
The short boy really wanted to say no but the taller boy's expression was so earnest and expectant that he didn't have the heart to.
"Okay." The moment he said it, Kyungsoo wanted to snatch the word back. Because just behind Chanyeol, strutting like a damn model is the Prince.
"Yo, Chanyeol!" Jongin called out. Kyungsoo was consoled a little when Jongin faltered in his steps as he saw Kyungsoo when Chanyeol turned to look at him. It was gratifying to see the boy hesitate before coming to them.
"Hey, Jongin! I just convinced Do Kyungsoo to help us with the play." Chanyeol said with a pat on Kyungsoo's shoulder.
"You did?" He asked Chanyeol but Jongin's gaze was directed to Kyungsoo.
"Yup, so he's coming to our practice today." Chanyeol announced.
"What? Hey, I didn't know I have to come today." Kyungsoo felt trapped.
"It's okay if you don't want to go. Seeing as you must be busy yourself. No one wants to burden you or anything. It's not as if.." Jongin rambled on.
"Fine. I'm not the villain here so shut up already."
Jongin just answered him with a smug smile. Chanyeol then proceeded to walk towards his house, with Kyungsoo and Jongin trailing a few steps behind. He didn't want to walk with Jongin but Chanyeol has big steps. So there.
"About the other day. I'm sorry." Jongin said quietly.
"Forget it." Kyungsoo said disconcerted that the boy will apologize to him. Kyungsoo stole a glance at Jongin and quickly looked away as the younger guy smiled at him.
"You're amazingly quiet." Jongin said.
"I'm just thinking we're near the river. You know, fish, drowning, obnoxious boys and all?"
"Oh, yeah?" The obnoxious boy just laughed at him.
FOUR - JUST PERFECT
Jongin felt a lot better today since the day the drama class teacher pointed at him and announced that he will play the damn prince in the effing play. Yeah, he knows he's handsome and he looks like a prince but he doesn't know a thing about Shakespeare. And he had to admit. He. Can't. Sing.
He knows how to dance-jazz, ballet, hiphop, popping- you name it. But singing? He said as much to the teacher but she was hell bent on making him the lead role. It's to fill the theater seats, she said. And besides, she can have the singing voice dubbed.
So here he was in this stupid costume, memorizing these stupid lines and the stupid blockings. The only good thing that made him feel better is he gets to spend it with Kyungsoo and he can harass the older boy as much as he wants to. Their non-friendship is actually a complicated subject neither one of them breaches. They just feel comfortable slinging insults at each other to bother.
"For the thousandth time, Jongin. You turn to the LEFT, lift your RIGHT hand and punch it to the tree." Kyungsoo said, exasperated.
"I turn left and punch the tree..."
"With your right hand, yes."
"Not too hard." The tree said.
"I'm sorry, Chanyeol."
"Now, come on. It's nearly midnight and the play's tomorrow. I've got homework to do."
"Come on, tree. Let's follow what the Princess says."
"Don't call me that." Kyungsoo said with a glare.
"Yes, your highness." Jongin bowed. He laughed as he saw Kyungsoo was ready to throw the marker he was holding at him.
Jongin decided to be serious for a while as he saw that both Chanyeol and Kyungsoo were getting tired. And when he was serious they actually get something done. Nearing the end of the practice, during the final scene, Jongin was actually torn between delivering the line perfectly or botching it up just to get Kyungsoo riled. But the former won and he was glad he did cause this is the first time he gets to see Kyungsoo hoot in glee and smile approvingly at him. The smile gives him strange feelings. He doesn't like strange so he snatched the marker from Kyungsoo's hand and writes VERY GOOD on Chanyeol's cheeks, one word on each side.
""Wha...t?" Chanyeol couldn't really move away from him wearing that tree costume.
"There, job well done!" Jongin told him. "Now as for you..." Jongin closed in on Kyungsoo but the older boy was a fast runner.
But it maybe was Jongin's night cause Kyungsoo stumbled over Chanyeol's roots. Jongin caught Kyungsoo's arm and wrote PERFECT in bold letters which was difficult since the other was struggling to get free.
"Ya, Kim Jongin!" Kyungsoo shrieked.
Jongin was on the floor rolling with laughter when he saw Kyungsoo's eyes flare with intent. On his hand was the marker. Jongin couldn't breathe with laughter so he wasn't able to defend himself when Kyungsoo pounced on him and wrote on his forehead. Chanyeol laughed at Jongin and Jongin laughed at himself as he saw in the mirror what Kyungsoo wrote: IDIOT.
Kyungsoo laughed, too. And the three of them collapsed on the floor of Chanyeol's room, laughing like there's no tomorrow.
It was 2:30am when Kyungsoo was able to go home after practicing with Jongin and Chanyeol for the last time. He smiled as he remembered how Chanyeol's mom found them on the floor and glared at Jongin when she found out who wrote Very Good on Chanyeol's face. It felt good to laugh.
It felt good to also be surrounded with friends. Well, with a friend and a non-friend.
Kyungsoo turned on the bathroom lights. He wanted to wash away the marker ink from his arm before it gets too difficult to wipe off. He lathered soap in one hand and was about to wipe it on his left arm when he looked closely on the word Jongin wrote. PERFECT.
His heart thudded. The word looks so familiar. Of course he knows the word, but the way it's written...
He traced the letters with his index finger. PERFECT. He remembered the last time he traced such ugly handwriting. DO KYUNGSOO IS PERFECT.
"Kim Jongin..." Kyungsoo whispered. "You, idiot."
Jongin was walking with a limp. It's his waist again. Someday soon, he'll never be able to stand up let alone walk. He feels the world is against him. The world being his sisters, his friend Chanyeol and the little puppy of a boy in his math class yesterday who hit him with his duffel bag squarely at the waist. He never gets injured when he was dancing. It's the people around him. "I've got to meet new people."
He was wincing with every step when an arm shot out from a corner and dragged him. It was so fast that all he knew next was he was facing a wall and someone was holding him pressed to it.
"All I've got is a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. It's yours if you want it." Jongin told his assailant.
"Stop being dramatic."
"Woah! Your Highness! Resorting to thievery now to feed your people?"
"Shut up." Kyungsoo said as he was pulling the back of Jongin's shirt up.
"Hey! What are you doing?! I know I'm irresistible and all, but we're in school..."
"Shut up or I'll gag you."
Jongin felt Kyungsoo's hand on his back. WOAH.
"Uh, really, what are you doing?" He tried to look at what the smaller boy was doing behind his back but Kyungsoo was pushing him quite hard against the wall.
"Stand still, stupid." Jongin heard a packet being ripped open and suddenly he felt a cool rectangular thing against his lower back.
"Huh, there." Kyungsoo eased on Jongin's back. Jongin felt for the cooling pad with his hands and laughed. But when he turned around Kyungsoo was already walking away.
"Thanks!" Jongin called out. "Does this mean we're friends now?"
"Whatever." Kyungsoo said without turning back.
Part I // Part II // Part III // FINAL