he's supposedly the cupid who struck him with his bow; onkey; pg-13
he's supposedly the cupid who struck him with his bow
Author: kitariii
Pairing: Onew/Key
Genre: Fluff
A/N: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Here's an onkey valentines fic for you guys. I hope you like it!
The sound of fingers clicking against the keyboard could be heard through the silence that’s enveloping the room. There were only two occupants: one who was facing the laptop, amenably typing and another one who was sipping on a drink while observing as the other continued with his work.
“You should call it a day.” He says, putting down his cup and hovering over to where the other was. He looks at the clock and then the outside. “There’s nobody outside anymore, it’s late and it’s dark.”
“I can’t slack off, the Valentines Ball is just around the corner.” He stopped from typing and reached for his own cup of coffee wherein his name, ‘Jinki’ was handwritten on felt-tip pen.
“Ah Valentines Ball… When is it again?”
“Next Saturday. Why, are you planning to take someone with you to the ball?” Amused, he looked at his companion’s reddening face.
“What? I don’t know, depends. How about you, Jinki?”
“This event is for lovers and I don’t have one if you’re forgetting so, no. I will be there though, just to check on if it’s going well. Student council duties.” He flashed the other a small smile. “Since you’re vice president, you have duties yourself, Minho.”
“You’re so lame, you know that?” Minho exclaims while the other merely shrugs his shoulders in reply and goes back to typing and looking through papers.
“Well, I’m going to take my leave now. I’m going home with my step brother today, I left him somewhere here. Are you going to be alright?” He moves to the door and looks back at Jinki, waiting for his approval.
“You have a step-brother?”
He raises his brow and says, “Yeah, didn’t I mention that?”
“Oh, must’ve slipped off my mind then. Anyways, you can leave me now, it’s okay. Have fun at the dinner!” Jinki watches as the other nods back to him and takes his leave.
He looks at the wall clock and sees that it was already six o’clock in the evening -no wonder the outside was already dark. However, he still had work to do so he just continued with what he was doing until he heard a noise coming from outside. Wasn’t there supposed to be no one in the school but him anymore?
“Oh shit that fucking hurt!” His ears picked up the sound of something bumping onto the lockers at the hallway before he heard the person speak.
Curious, he stands up from his seat and goes to check on what’s happening outside. “Excuse me, is something happening over there?” He exclaims loudly, so that the person outside could hear him. However, there was no response. It made him curious even more so he stepped out of the room.
Looking sideways, he saw no one for it was dark but he was so sure he saw someone making a turn in the corridor. Since it was not much of his concern, he shrugged it off and decided not to follow the mysterious person. As he was making his way back, he felt someone under his shoe so he picked it up and on close inspection, he found a bracelet - a key bracelet, specifically. Thinking that he could just put it on the lost and found the next day, he puts it inside his pocket.
He continues his work although it couldn’t be denied that he was bothered by what just transpired.
///
The following day, Jinki was making his way to the entrance of their school, laptop bag in hand when he feels a weight on his shoulders. He looks to side and sees Minho with his arm draped around him. “Hey.” He greets.
“You wouldn’t guess what happened.”
“Why, what happened?”
“You really don’t know? For a second I thought that was your doing since you were the only one left last night.” They walk through a corridor filled with students buzzing about more than usual. Must’ve been because of Valentines He thought.
“No really, I have no idea. What’s up?”
“Well, someone decided to play cupid last night.” Minho said as he dug for something in his pockets. When he got what he was looking for, he handed it to Jinki. It was a heart shaped paper with words written on it.
“So you like Lee Taemin right? Tell him! There’s no hurt in trying.” Jinki reads from the paper. He watches as Minho’s expression changes as he read the paper. Minho quickly gets the paper from him and says, “Be quiet, someone might hear you.”
“Lee Taemin the dancer huh, didn’t know you had it in you, Minho.” He teases.
“That’s not the point. What matters is that someone had been posting these heart-shaped papers on people’s lockers last night and well, it’s the talk of the whole school.”
“Odd, there wasn’t on mine.” Jinki says as he closes his locker shut.
“Well, you don’t exactly have a love life and- Oh Key!” Minho turns his attention the corridor where a figure was standing. Said person locked eyes with Jinki and quickly turned away, running towards the opposite direction.
“Wonder what’s up with him.” Minho looks back at Jinki and notices the look of confusion on his face. “Oh right. That’s Key, Kim Kibum? He’s the step brother I was talking about.”
“Key, huh? The step brother you left loitering while you were with me at the office?” Minho nods as he closes his own locker. Walking side by side, they made their way towards their respective classes.
///
The moment he enters his classroom, his eyes quickly scan for a vacant seat. The only vacant seat left, however, was at the back of the room. He raises his head and his gaze meet’s the one occupying the seat beside his - it was Key. The latter shifts his gaze when Jinki meets his eyes and Jinki could feel the atmosphere around him change as he made his way towards him.
“Is this seat taken?” He says, gesturing at the free space.
Key looks up at him and nods, “Y-yeah.” Then he goes back jotting down on his pink notebook, trying not to notice Jinki’s presence beside him. He watched as the guy was counting and muttering stuff under his breath. “Just a few more to go…” He mumbles.
Finding it awkward, Jinki tried to start a conversation. “So, I heard from Minho that you’re his step-brother. I’m Lee Jinki by the way, Minho’s best friend.”
Kibum stopped from what he was doing and stared at Jinki’s extended hand. After a few moments of debating with his inner self, he takes Jinki’s hand and gives him a hand shake. “I know who you are, who wouldn’t know about the student council president? That would make me so ignorant then.” He stated.
“Right. Anyways, Key right?”
“Key’s my nickname.”
“Uhuh… so what’s your real name?”
“Kim Kibum.” He pauses. “Well technically it’s Choi Kibum but I like ‘Kim Kibum’ better.”
Understanding what Kibum meant by that, he nods in reply. “Nice.”
Kibum goes back into writing on his notebook and Jinki couldn’t help but watch. The guy beside him was emitting a strange aura, he could feel - was it sadness? He couldn’t pinpoint it but he was somehow curious.
“So… what’s that you’re writing?” He suddenly asks, startling the other who was focused on what he was doing. Kibum holds the notebook close to his chest and gives Jinki a surprised look. “It’s nothing to concern yourself about.” He replies rather coldly.
“Okay…”
His mind wanders off to the mysterious ‘cupid’ who posted heart-shaped notes on the lockers. He couldn’t help but wonder if the person last night who was roaming around the corridor had something to do with this cupid. And what about that key bracelet he picked up? Speaking of the bracelet, did he bring it to school today?
He gets his laptop bag and quietly lays the contents out to his table, hoping to find the bracelet among his other things. “Ah!” He says as he holds up the key bracelet. Now that he had a better look at it, he noticed how the bracelet looked expensive, with the diamonds and all.
At the corner of his eyes, he sees Kibum eyeing the bracelet, his eyes widening as if he just discovered something. When Jinki looked at him, he pretended to look away. How odd. He put on the bracelet, just for fun until he would be able to find the owner of it. As the professor was giving out a lecture, he noticed how Kibum would look at the bracelet on his wrist intently.
It wasn’t a few moments when Kibum excused himself to go to the washroom; it was odd how he brought his things along with him. When the class ended, he realized why - he didn’t plan on returning.
//
Jinki was putting his books back on his locker when he noticed something stuck on the door of his locker - a note, a heart-shaped note at that. He peeled it off and examined its contents - You’re charismatic, nice and smart. Not to mention handsome. It’s time to look around and notice the people around you. If you like someone, tell them or it might be too late. It read.
He put the note in his back pocket and closed his locker. With his hands in his pockets, he made a turn to the other hallway but he stopped at the sight of Kibum looking over something. It wouldn’t hurt to ask him why he disappeared just like that, right?
Kibum was intently observing a scene while clutching on his things when Jinki went near. He noticed how the other was not aware of his presence so he decided to amuse himself and watch along.
In front of them were two people - two people he knew, actually. It was Minho and that guy from dance, Lee Taemin. He smirked at the sight, it was going to be interesting he thought.
“So, would you like to go to the ball with me?” He watches as a tinge of red shows in Minho’s cheeks as he rubs the back of his neck. The other person with him has himself in shock. “Is Choi Minho really asking me to go to the ball with him? Wow, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I never thought I-”
“Is that a yes, or a no?”
“Yes, I’d love to!”
Jinki watches as Kibum, who still hasn’t noticed his presence, squirms in delight of the scene in front of him. He found it rather adorable, in fact - it was sort of fangirl-ish? “Aww.. that’s so sweet.” He hears coming from the boy.
He came closer and mumbles a “Boo” near Kibum’s ear. The latter jumps in surprise at Jinki’s closeness and drops all the things he was holding. He helped him pick up his things.
“I’m sorry I startled you I-“ He stops when he spots a pad of a familiar heart-shaped pattern. His eyes widen at realization, he looks up to Kibum who was also stunned, probably at being discovered.
“So it’s you, huh?” He says, handing Kibum his things.
Suddenly, Kibum pulls him and leads him to the rooftop. They stay silent, out of breath for a short while until Kibum speaks up. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“I kind of figured it out, I wasn’t so sure though.” Jinki said as he removed the bracelet from his wrist and hands it to Kibum. “This is yours, right?” The other nods in reply.
“Promise me you won’t tell.”
“Why, what’s the big deal if they find out that it was you?” Jinki asks, amused.
“Nothing but it would ruin the whole thing.” Kibum’s tone hints sadness and Jinki noticed it.
“Oh, how so?”
“Just… I don’t know. I feel like the fact that people are amused with this ‘cupid’ going around, they are excited and motivated.” Jinki nods as he listens to Kibum.
“Okay, I promise I won’t tell. In one condition…”
“What is it?”
“Tell me about yourself. Like, what made you want to do this?” Kibum stares at Jinki, taken aback by his question. Was he really asking him to tell about himself?
“Come on, tell me about yourself and I’ll tell you about me. Not that I think you’d be interested but you never know.”
“I’m Kim Kibum, I’m Choi Minho’s stepbrother. I wanted to do this because well, it’s sort of a personal thing.”
“Something so personal you can’t tell others?”
“Hmm.. I guess I could tell you.” He replied. Jinki could feel that Kibum was starting to develop trust for him.
“Go on, I’m all ears.”
“You know I’m Minho’s step-brother, right? Well, Minho and I have the same mother but different fathers. My mom loved my dad a lot, you know? She loved him a whole lot and I know dad felt the same but I was born in a time when both were not ready to have a child. Dad was reluctant. I couldn’t blame him, he had so much more in store.”
Kibum lied down and looked at the sky, Jinki went along as well and did the same, tracing patterns in his mind. “He loved my mom deeply, I know but he wasn’t ready for the commitment. He was afraid of it. All mom ever wanted was to be loved and when dad wasn’t budging, she broke up with him. He wasn’t even able to tell her how much he loved her. Long story short, I just don’t want to see missed chances like this. I want everyone to be happy, you know? You never know how much one ‘I love you’ could mean to someone.”
He sat up and a tear fell from the corner of his eyes and he felt some soft when he noticed that Jinki was rubbing off the tears in his eye. “Don’t cry, I understand your purpose. You just want everyone to have a happy ending, right?”
Kibum nods while biting on his lips, suppressing his tears from flowing.
“You have a nice heart, I can tell. I’m sure the person who you will love and will love you back wouldn’t want to let you out of their hold.”
“Mmm.”
“Come on, don’t cry! Look, your plan is working - see what happened to Minho and Taemin? You helped them. That guy can be such a coward but I guess your note helped him realize something that made him no longer hesitate to ask Taemin out.”
“Ahaha, you’re right. I shouldn’t be crying over this. I’m cupid right?” He said, wiping off his tears. He stood up and clenched his fists.
“That’s right.” Jinki couldn’t help but laugh at how precious the person in front of him was. The moment he met him, he felt cold - as if he was a restricting person. However, when he got to know him more he learned that deep down that façade he was a good with a good heart.
The two stayed on the rooftop, talking about themselves until night settled in and it was time for them to go. They said their goodbyes, not before exchanging cellphone numbers and walked off different directions - little did they know that it was the start of something wonderful.
///
The next day, the two of them didn’t meet because of conflicting schedules - Kibum had dance while Jinki had a meeting to attend to. However, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t meet each other in the hallways. In fact, they did. He was hesitant at first but at the sight of Jinki, Kibum waved his hand to catch the latter’s attention. The smile painted on his face when Jinki waved back was unexplainable.
“What did you do to him, really.” Minho tells him as he puts down his tray on the lunch table. Jinki, who was munching on a ham sandwhich, could only raise his brow at the other.
“Kibum, I mean.”
“Oh, Kibum. How’s he doing, I haven’t seen him…”
“…since yesterday. You haven’t seen him since yesterday.”
“Right.”
“He’s doing good, okay. Well, better than normal if you ask me. Normally that guy doesn’t care about the people I hang out with but guess what, he’s been playing twenty questions with me.”
“Isn’t that great though? I’m sure he’d want to get closer to you.”
“You don’t get it. He’s playing twenty questions with me, asking questions about you.”
“Well, I am your bestfriend, I bet he just wants to know more about me. I must admit, he makes me curious too.” Jinki continued chewing on his sandwhich as he shrugged.
“And why is that?”
“Oh, for reasons that only Kibum and I should know about.”
//
When he opened his locker, he saw a gift neatly wrapped in white and red paper. He looked at the tag attached to it and found out that it was from Kibum. Inside was a box of homemade chocolate truffles. In delight, he quickly fished his phone and called the sender.
“Hello, Jinki?”
“Kibum! I got your gift, thanks a lot.”
“Uh.. Did you like it?”
“Yeah, I did. How did you know that I like truffles?”
“I kind of, found out from Minho.”
“I see. I really appreciate it.”
He hears a pause from the other line. Concerned, he tried to see whether Kibum was still on.
“I’m here. So uh, have you seen the note?”
“Note? I haven’t seen anything yet. Did you put one? Wait a second.” Jinki holds his phone in between his ear and shoulders. From the corner of the locker, he found a heart-shaped sticky note. “Ah, I found it.” Click He hears. He wonders whether the line was disconnected or did Kibum hung up on him.
He checked the note in his hand and felt his insides churn in response to the sudden impulse that he felt as he read what was written on it.
I think I like you. I’m saying this so that I wouldn’t- forget it, I really like you.
He chuckles in glee and could feel his cheeks growing red. Now that he thought about it, lately he’s been enjoying the time that he spent with Kibum. Sure, they haven’t met for so long but it wasn’t the matter of time; it was the intensity of the feeling. He couldn’t deny, he was starting to feel something for the other guy too.
//
Kibum was sitting in his science class, looking anxious. Taemin, his lab partner notices Kibum’s anxiousness and asks what’s wrong. Then other shook his head, saying that he was just not feeling that well. A lie, but that would do.
Suddenly, a voice booms from the speaker connected to the office. A voice Kibum knows a little too well now.
“Good day, students, this is your Student Council President, Lee Jinki speaking in behalf of our beloved directress. I’m pretty sure you’ve all heard about this but I’d like to make a formal announcement of the Valentines Ball to be held this Saturday at our school gym. Dress up in a decent formal wear, fit for the occasion. People from the outside are allowed, just make sure that they follow the rules as well. Flyers will be given out any time this week.”
He pauses to clear his voice and then proceeds speaking. Kibum closes his eyes as he listens to Jinki’s tone. “As I was saying. It’s Valentine’s Day, everyone - it’s a special day not only for lovers but for people we love in general. Don’t forget to give the people you love a big ‘I love you;’ a simple greeting wouldn’t hurt too. You see, it’s all about taking chances. Want to take a girl out but too afraid to ask her? Then get ready to spend your V Day alone because nothing’s going to happen until you make a move. Be honest, do not be afraid to say what you want to say. Encourage, because you don’t know how far it could take you.”
“This was something that someone special to me taught me.” As the words ‘someone special’ ring in Kibum’s ears, he couldn’t help but feel giddy for a second. He knew it as bad to assume but for some reason, what Jinki was saying as similar to what he had told him that previous day.
“Lastly, I’m taking this opportunity to say something. It’s illegal but hey, so are the songs in your ipod, right? Haha, anyways. There’s this person that’s lately intriguing me. Not so long ago I was able to see a side of him that you guys probably didn’t know about. Whether you’ll see it, I don’t know but I tell you, he was great. A precious angel in a eyes, no matter how cheesy that sounds. Long story short, cupid’s arrow got me.”
Murmurs around the room could be heard, especially from the girls who were fussing over, curious to find out who the person Jinki was referring to was. Kibum on the other hand just wanted to sink in his chair. Somehow, he felt sad - had Jinki not seen what he had written for him? Sighing, he focuses on the boiling chemical on their desk. He grabs the beaker and measures liquids to distract himself.
“I like you too. Wait no, I want to like you more than I already do. So, would you go to the Valentine’s Ball with me, Kim Kibum?”
The sound of glass shattering as they hit the floor could be heard as he notices people around him staring at him in awe. Did Lee Jinki ask him out over the public announcement system?
Author: kitariii
Pairing: Onew/Key
Genre: Fluff
A/N: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Here's an onkey valentines fic for you guys. I hope you like it!
The sound of fingers clicking against the keyboard could be heard through the silence that’s enveloping the room. There were only two occupants: one who was facing the laptop, amenably typing and another one who was sipping on a drink while observing as the other continued with his work.
“You should call it a day.” He says, putting down his cup and hovering over to where the other was. He looks at the clock and then the outside. “There’s nobody outside anymore, it’s late and it’s dark.”
“I can’t slack off, the Valentines Ball is just around the corner.” He stopped from typing and reached for his own cup of coffee wherein his name, ‘Jinki’ was handwritten on felt-tip pen.
“Ah Valentines Ball… When is it again?”
“Next Saturday. Why, are you planning to take someone with you to the ball?” Amused, he looked at his companion’s reddening face.
“What? I don’t know, depends. How about you, Jinki?”
“This event is for lovers and I don’t have one if you’re forgetting so, no. I will be there though, just to check on if it’s going well. Student council duties.” He flashed the other a small smile. “Since you’re vice president, you have duties yourself, Minho.”
“You’re so lame, you know that?” Minho exclaims while the other merely shrugs his shoulders in reply and goes back to typing and looking through papers.
“Well, I’m going to take my leave now. I’m going home with my step brother today, I left him somewhere here. Are you going to be alright?” He moves to the door and looks back at Jinki, waiting for his approval.
“You have a step-brother?”
He raises his brow and says, “Yeah, didn’t I mention that?”
“Oh, must’ve slipped off my mind then. Anyways, you can leave me now, it’s okay. Have fun at the dinner!” Jinki watches as the other nods back to him and takes his leave.
He looks at the wall clock and sees that it was already six o’clock in the evening -no wonder the outside was already dark. However, he still had work to do so he just continued with what he was doing until he heard a noise coming from outside. Wasn’t there supposed to be no one in the school but him anymore?
“Oh shit that fucking hurt!” His ears picked up the sound of something bumping onto the lockers at the hallway before he heard the person speak.
Curious, he stands up from his seat and goes to check on what’s happening outside. “Excuse me, is something happening over there?” He exclaims loudly, so that the person outside could hear him. However, there was no response. It made him curious even more so he stepped out of the room.
Looking sideways, he saw no one for it was dark but he was so sure he saw someone making a turn in the corridor. Since it was not much of his concern, he shrugged it off and decided not to follow the mysterious person. As he was making his way back, he felt someone under his shoe so he picked it up and on close inspection, he found a bracelet - a key bracelet, specifically. Thinking that he could just put it on the lost and found the next day, he puts it inside his pocket.
He continues his work although it couldn’t be denied that he was bothered by what just transpired.
///
The following day, Jinki was making his way to the entrance of their school, laptop bag in hand when he feels a weight on his shoulders. He looks to side and sees Minho with his arm draped around him. “Hey.” He greets.
“You wouldn’t guess what happened.”
“Why, what happened?”
“You really don’t know? For a second I thought that was your doing since you were the only one left last night.” They walk through a corridor filled with students buzzing about more than usual. Must’ve been because of Valentines He thought.
“No really, I have no idea. What’s up?”
“Well, someone decided to play cupid last night.” Minho said as he dug for something in his pockets. When he got what he was looking for, he handed it to Jinki. It was a heart shaped paper with words written on it.
“So you like Lee Taemin right? Tell him! There’s no hurt in trying.” Jinki reads from the paper. He watches as Minho’s expression changes as he read the paper. Minho quickly gets the paper from him and says, “Be quiet, someone might hear you.”
“Lee Taemin the dancer huh, didn’t know you had it in you, Minho.” He teases.
“That’s not the point. What matters is that someone had been posting these heart-shaped papers on people’s lockers last night and well, it’s the talk of the whole school.”
“Odd, there wasn’t on mine.” Jinki says as he closes his locker shut.
“Well, you don’t exactly have a love life and- Oh Key!” Minho turns his attention the corridor where a figure was standing. Said person locked eyes with Jinki and quickly turned away, running towards the opposite direction.
“Wonder what’s up with him.” Minho looks back at Jinki and notices the look of confusion on his face. “Oh right. That’s Key, Kim Kibum? He’s the step brother I was talking about.”
“Key, huh? The step brother you left loitering while you were with me at the office?” Minho nods as he closes his own locker. Walking side by side, they made their way towards their respective classes.
///
The moment he enters his classroom, his eyes quickly scan for a vacant seat. The only vacant seat left, however, was at the back of the room. He raises his head and his gaze meet’s the one occupying the seat beside his - it was Key. The latter shifts his gaze when Jinki meets his eyes and Jinki could feel the atmosphere around him change as he made his way towards him.
“Is this seat taken?” He says, gesturing at the free space.
Key looks up at him and nods, “Y-yeah.” Then he goes back jotting down on his pink notebook, trying not to notice Jinki’s presence beside him. He watched as the guy was counting and muttering stuff under his breath. “Just a few more to go…” He mumbles.
Finding it awkward, Jinki tried to start a conversation. “So, I heard from Minho that you’re his step-brother. I’m Lee Jinki by the way, Minho’s best friend.”
Kibum stopped from what he was doing and stared at Jinki’s extended hand. After a few moments of debating with his inner self, he takes Jinki’s hand and gives him a hand shake. “I know who you are, who wouldn’t know about the student council president? That would make me so ignorant then.” He stated.
“Right. Anyways, Key right?”
“Key’s my nickname.”
“Uhuh… so what’s your real name?”
“Kim Kibum.” He pauses. “Well technically it’s Choi Kibum but I like ‘Kim Kibum’ better.”
Understanding what Kibum meant by that, he nods in reply. “Nice.”
Kibum goes back into writing on his notebook and Jinki couldn’t help but watch. The guy beside him was emitting a strange aura, he could feel - was it sadness? He couldn’t pinpoint it but he was somehow curious.
“So… what’s that you’re writing?” He suddenly asks, startling the other who was focused on what he was doing. Kibum holds the notebook close to his chest and gives Jinki a surprised look. “It’s nothing to concern yourself about.” He replies rather coldly.
“Okay…”
His mind wanders off to the mysterious ‘cupid’ who posted heart-shaped notes on the lockers. He couldn’t help but wonder if the person last night who was roaming around the corridor had something to do with this cupid. And what about that key bracelet he picked up? Speaking of the bracelet, did he bring it to school today?
He gets his laptop bag and quietly lays the contents out to his table, hoping to find the bracelet among his other things. “Ah!” He says as he holds up the key bracelet. Now that he had a better look at it, he noticed how the bracelet looked expensive, with the diamonds and all.
At the corner of his eyes, he sees Kibum eyeing the bracelet, his eyes widening as if he just discovered something. When Jinki looked at him, he pretended to look away. How odd. He put on the bracelet, just for fun until he would be able to find the owner of it. As the professor was giving out a lecture, he noticed how Kibum would look at the bracelet on his wrist intently.
It wasn’t a few moments when Kibum excused himself to go to the washroom; it was odd how he brought his things along with him. When the class ended, he realized why - he didn’t plan on returning.
//
Jinki was putting his books back on his locker when he noticed something stuck on the door of his locker - a note, a heart-shaped note at that. He peeled it off and examined its contents - You’re charismatic, nice and smart. Not to mention handsome. It’s time to look around and notice the people around you. If you like someone, tell them or it might be too late. It read.
He put the note in his back pocket and closed his locker. With his hands in his pockets, he made a turn to the other hallway but he stopped at the sight of Kibum looking over something. It wouldn’t hurt to ask him why he disappeared just like that, right?
Kibum was intently observing a scene while clutching on his things when Jinki went near. He noticed how the other was not aware of his presence so he decided to amuse himself and watch along.
In front of them were two people - two people he knew, actually. It was Minho and that guy from dance, Lee Taemin. He smirked at the sight, it was going to be interesting he thought.
“So, would you like to go to the ball with me?” He watches as a tinge of red shows in Minho’s cheeks as he rubs the back of his neck. The other person with him has himself in shock. “Is Choi Minho really asking me to go to the ball with him? Wow, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I never thought I-”
“Is that a yes, or a no?”
“Yes, I’d love to!”
Jinki watches as Kibum, who still hasn’t noticed his presence, squirms in delight of the scene in front of him. He found it rather adorable, in fact - it was sort of fangirl-ish? “Aww.. that’s so sweet.” He hears coming from the boy.
He came closer and mumbles a “Boo” near Kibum’s ear. The latter jumps in surprise at Jinki’s closeness and drops all the things he was holding. He helped him pick up his things.
“I’m sorry I startled you I-“ He stops when he spots a pad of a familiar heart-shaped pattern. His eyes widen at realization, he looks up to Kibum who was also stunned, probably at being discovered.
“So it’s you, huh?” He says, handing Kibum his things.
Suddenly, Kibum pulls him and leads him to the rooftop. They stay silent, out of breath for a short while until Kibum speaks up. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“I kind of figured it out, I wasn’t so sure though.” Jinki said as he removed the bracelet from his wrist and hands it to Kibum. “This is yours, right?” The other nods in reply.
“Promise me you won’t tell.”
“Why, what’s the big deal if they find out that it was you?” Jinki asks, amused.
“Nothing but it would ruin the whole thing.” Kibum’s tone hints sadness and Jinki noticed it.
“Oh, how so?”
“Just… I don’t know. I feel like the fact that people are amused with this ‘cupid’ going around, they are excited and motivated.” Jinki nods as he listens to Kibum.
“Okay, I promise I won’t tell. In one condition…”
“What is it?”
“Tell me about yourself. Like, what made you want to do this?” Kibum stares at Jinki, taken aback by his question. Was he really asking him to tell about himself?
“Come on, tell me about yourself and I’ll tell you about me. Not that I think you’d be interested but you never know.”
“I’m Kim Kibum, I’m Choi Minho’s stepbrother. I wanted to do this because well, it’s sort of a personal thing.”
“Something so personal you can’t tell others?”
“Hmm.. I guess I could tell you.” He replied. Jinki could feel that Kibum was starting to develop trust for him.
“Go on, I’m all ears.”
“You know I’m Minho’s step-brother, right? Well, Minho and I have the same mother but different fathers. My mom loved my dad a lot, you know? She loved him a whole lot and I know dad felt the same but I was born in a time when both were not ready to have a child. Dad was reluctant. I couldn’t blame him, he had so much more in store.”
Kibum lied down and looked at the sky, Jinki went along as well and did the same, tracing patterns in his mind. “He loved my mom deeply, I know but he wasn’t ready for the commitment. He was afraid of it. All mom ever wanted was to be loved and when dad wasn’t budging, she broke up with him. He wasn’t even able to tell her how much he loved her. Long story short, I just don’t want to see missed chances like this. I want everyone to be happy, you know? You never know how much one ‘I love you’ could mean to someone.”
He sat up and a tear fell from the corner of his eyes and he felt some soft when he noticed that Jinki was rubbing off the tears in his eye. “Don’t cry, I understand your purpose. You just want everyone to have a happy ending, right?”
Kibum nods while biting on his lips, suppressing his tears from flowing.
“You have a nice heart, I can tell. I’m sure the person who you will love and will love you back wouldn’t want to let you out of their hold.”
“Mmm.”
“Come on, don’t cry! Look, your plan is working - see what happened to Minho and Taemin? You helped them. That guy can be such a coward but I guess your note helped him realize something that made him no longer hesitate to ask Taemin out.”
“Ahaha, you’re right. I shouldn’t be crying over this. I’m cupid right?” He said, wiping off his tears. He stood up and clenched his fists.
“That’s right.” Jinki couldn’t help but laugh at how precious the person in front of him was. The moment he met him, he felt cold - as if he was a restricting person. However, when he got to know him more he learned that deep down that façade he was a good with a good heart.
The two stayed on the rooftop, talking about themselves until night settled in and it was time for them to go. They said their goodbyes, not before exchanging cellphone numbers and walked off different directions - little did they know that it was the start of something wonderful.
///
The next day, the two of them didn’t meet because of conflicting schedules - Kibum had dance while Jinki had a meeting to attend to. However, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t meet each other in the hallways. In fact, they did. He was hesitant at first but at the sight of Jinki, Kibum waved his hand to catch the latter’s attention. The smile painted on his face when Jinki waved back was unexplainable.
“What did you do to him, really.” Minho tells him as he puts down his tray on the lunch table. Jinki, who was munching on a ham sandwhich, could only raise his brow at the other.
“Kibum, I mean.”
“Oh, Kibum. How’s he doing, I haven’t seen him…”
“…since yesterday. You haven’t seen him since yesterday.”
“Right.”
“He’s doing good, okay. Well, better than normal if you ask me. Normally that guy doesn’t care about the people I hang out with but guess what, he’s been playing twenty questions with me.”
“Isn’t that great though? I’m sure he’d want to get closer to you.”
“You don’t get it. He’s playing twenty questions with me, asking questions about you.”
“Well, I am your bestfriend, I bet he just wants to know more about me. I must admit, he makes me curious too.” Jinki continued chewing on his sandwhich as he shrugged.
“And why is that?”
“Oh, for reasons that only Kibum and I should know about.”
//
When he opened his locker, he saw a gift neatly wrapped in white and red paper. He looked at the tag attached to it and found out that it was from Kibum. Inside was a box of homemade chocolate truffles. In delight, he quickly fished his phone and called the sender.
“Hello, Jinki?”
“Kibum! I got your gift, thanks a lot.”
“Uh.. Did you like it?”
“Yeah, I did. How did you know that I like truffles?”
“I kind of, found out from Minho.”
“I see. I really appreciate it.”
He hears a pause from the other line. Concerned, he tried to see whether Kibum was still on.
“I’m here. So uh, have you seen the note?”
“Note? I haven’t seen anything yet. Did you put one? Wait a second.” Jinki holds his phone in between his ear and shoulders. From the corner of the locker, he found a heart-shaped sticky note. “Ah, I found it.” Click He hears. He wonders whether the line was disconnected or did Kibum hung up on him.
He checked the note in his hand and felt his insides churn in response to the sudden impulse that he felt as he read what was written on it.
I think I like you. I’m saying this so that I wouldn’t- forget it, I really like you.
He chuckles in glee and could feel his cheeks growing red. Now that he thought about it, lately he’s been enjoying the time that he spent with Kibum. Sure, they haven’t met for so long but it wasn’t the matter of time; it was the intensity of the feeling. He couldn’t deny, he was starting to feel something for the other guy too.
//
Kibum was sitting in his science class, looking anxious. Taemin, his lab partner notices Kibum’s anxiousness and asks what’s wrong. Then other shook his head, saying that he was just not feeling that well. A lie, but that would do.
Suddenly, a voice booms from the speaker connected to the office. A voice Kibum knows a little too well now.
“Good day, students, this is your Student Council President, Lee Jinki speaking in behalf of our beloved directress. I’m pretty sure you’ve all heard about this but I’d like to make a formal announcement of the Valentines Ball to be held this Saturday at our school gym. Dress up in a decent formal wear, fit for the occasion. People from the outside are allowed, just make sure that they follow the rules as well. Flyers will be given out any time this week.”
He pauses to clear his voice and then proceeds speaking. Kibum closes his eyes as he listens to Jinki’s tone. “As I was saying. It’s Valentine’s Day, everyone - it’s a special day not only for lovers but for people we love in general. Don’t forget to give the people you love a big ‘I love you;’ a simple greeting wouldn’t hurt too. You see, it’s all about taking chances. Want to take a girl out but too afraid to ask her? Then get ready to spend your V Day alone because nothing’s going to happen until you make a move. Be honest, do not be afraid to say what you want to say. Encourage, because you don’t know how far it could take you.”
“This was something that someone special to me taught me.” As the words ‘someone special’ ring in Kibum’s ears, he couldn’t help but feel giddy for a second. He knew it as bad to assume but for some reason, what Jinki was saying as similar to what he had told him that previous day.
“Lastly, I’m taking this opportunity to say something. It’s illegal but hey, so are the songs in your ipod, right? Haha, anyways. There’s this person that’s lately intriguing me. Not so long ago I was able to see a side of him that you guys probably didn’t know about. Whether you’ll see it, I don’t know but I tell you, he was great. A precious angel in a eyes, no matter how cheesy that sounds. Long story short, cupid’s arrow got me.”
Murmurs around the room could be heard, especially from the girls who were fussing over, curious to find out who the person Jinki was referring to was. Kibum on the other hand just wanted to sink in his chair. Somehow, he felt sad - had Jinki not seen what he had written for him? Sighing, he focuses on the boiling chemical on their desk. He grabs the beaker and measures liquids to distract himself.
“I like you too. Wait no, I want to like you more than I already do. So, would you go to the Valentine’s Ball with me, Kim Kibum?”
The sound of glass shattering as they hit the floor could be heard as he notices people around him staring at him in awe. Did Lee Jinki ask him out over the public announcement system?