Proof [Yesung/Kibum]
Title: Proof
Pairing: Yesung/Kibum
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6,442
Ragged breaths of air escaped Jongwoon’s mouth as his feet pounded on the pavement. He made a quick series of complicated turns through the network of streets, stumbling here and there. The steps and voices behind him were becoming more and more submissive, but their threats could still be heard. He tried swallowing larger amounts of air so the oxygen would reach his legs, willing them to run even faster.
A few more turns and a slip through a small gap in a wired fence, which gave him scratches against the chest but they were the least of his worries at the moment, and Jongwoon leaned against a brick wall a few steps further to stop and listen.
Silence.
Relieved, Jongwoon bent over and put his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath. He looked down at his chest and saw that his shirt was ripped and the marks were beginning to bleed. Jongwoon flinched as he brushed his good hand across the cuts. He didn’t need to test the gash along the side of his face to see if it was bad. He could feel the skin where the cut was pounding just as fast as his heart was. But it wasn’t as bad as the abrasion on his right arm. He experimentally lifted the arm but stopped with a dull aching pain shot through the limb. He would need to take of them before they got infected.
At least I got away. Taking one more deep breath, Jongwoon pushed himself off of the wall and began to jog down the street as if nothing happened.
A few moments later, he came to his building. It was the same as all the others in the neighborhood, dark and bare except for the graffiti that covered most of the building’s entrance and sides. The windows were impossible to open, especially in the summer when air was needed the most, though it didn’t really help since it was always thick with pollution and smoke. His window couldn’t even close, it was horrible during the winter. The paint of the front door was peeling and the wood that was visible was starting to splinter. Not that it bothered Jongwoon. He really hated the color. Even the fire escapes seemed like they would collapse as soon as any weight was put on top of them. But this was as close to home as Jongwoon could get.
Jongwoon climbed up the concrete steps, taking slow steps since by now he was beyond exhausted. He gave a curt nod to the mother of his landlord. The old woman hardly ever spoke out loud, but Jongwoon could hear her mumbling some incoherent words from time to time, and just sat outside of their door, listening to the radio. She was much more pleasant than her daughter who would yell at Jongwoon for every little thing. Who knows what she would’ve said if she saw him at that moment.
Worried by the thought, Jongwoon began his trek up to his apartment. As he reached the third flight of stairs, he began to regret that he lived on the top floor. The planks complained under the weight of his steps, his breathes coming in and out on the same rhythm. When he finally reached his door, Jongwoon let out an air of relief. Using his left hand, he awkwardly opened the door with the key and shoved it aside.
Jongwoon stepped in and closed the door behind him with his foot. He shuffled his way through the foyer and over into the kitchen. Using his left hand, Jongwoon searched in the cabinets for the first aid kit, the only thing that he really kept in the house.
He grinned when his hand came in contact with the hard case. Jongwoon dragged his tired feet to his room, passing the empty rooms and walls of the hallway and into his room.
But as soon as he opened the door, he froze.
There, lounging comfortably on his windowsill with a book in his lap, was a boy. Or a teenager. Well, whatever it was, it was in Jongwoon’s room and that was not good.
Before Jongwoon could do anything, the other male looked up from his book and right at him. He looked Jongwoon up and down before turning back to his book. “You should really clean yourself up.”
Jongwoon was surprised by how deep and smooth his voice was. The stranger looked only a few years older than himself, though he acted more mature than the boys that lived in the neighborhood. But it still didn’t explain what he was doing in his room.
“Not until you get the hell out,” Jongwoon growled as he shifted to a more defensive position.
The other boy seemed to be unfazed by Jongwoon’s threats. “Sorry,” flipped a page in his book, “once I’ve been assigned I can’t leave until I’m told.”
Jongwoon narrowed his eyes. “Assigned?” A deceptive looking assassin, but he couldn’t let his guard down. This kid was most definitely sent. Though by which gang, he wasn’t sure of.
“Yeah,” the boy continued, still engrossed in his novel. “Though I don’t understand why you’re so old. I usually get much younger kids.”
“Easier for you to take care of, huh?” His eyes shifted to his table where a pile of books lay. They were only a bit out of his reach.
“Not really. They’re pretty loud.”
If Jongwoon was quick enough and aimed…
Just then, the stranger closed his book. Taking no chances, Jongwoon leapt for the book and threw it as hard as he could toward the other boy. Unfazed, the boy just sat there as the book flew towards him. But instead of hitting him right in the gut, the book passed through his body and knocked into the flower pot behind him, sending it flying off the ledge and out the window. They stayed in silence, Jongwoon shocked and the other indifferent, until the crack of the pot hitting the cement was heard.
Maybe putting the flower pot on the windowsill was a bad idea.
The mysterious boy sighed. “Now was that really necessary?”
Jongwoon was still frozen in his position. “But…how did it… I actually aimed this time…”
The other boy rolled his eyes. “And I thought dealing with 15-year olds would be easier.”
The stranger moved to get up and Jongwoon flinched. Ignoring his fatigue and arm, Jongwoon scrambled for door only to slip and fall. He quickly got back up to reach for the door when he collided into a soft but firm surface. Jongwoon looked up and saw the boy who was just at the windowsill standing right in front of him.
“My name’s Kibum,” the boy said. “And of you didn’t figure it out by now, I’m not a petty little assassin or gang member. So stop trying to attack me. You’re not doing a very good job.”
Jongwoon rubbed his head and tried to sit up. “Then what are you supposed to be?”
Kibum sighed to himself. “I’m an angel.” He walked around the younger boy’s body and back to the windowsill. “Your guardian angel.”
Now, Jongwoon didn’t believe in angels. Well, he believed in God and all of that so of course he believed in angels, but he never believed that he would actually see one with his own two eyes. And he knew they didn’t just show up in front of you like this. Unless you were dying or something.
“I don’t believe you,” he declared, staring at the back of the supposed angel who was gazing out the window.
The other just shrugged. “I’m not lying, but you can believe whatever you want to believe.” He grabbed his book again and opened to his page.
Jongwoon got up and looked at the first aid kit he threw down. “If you’re an angel, then heal me.”
Kibum smirked. “I’m not God. If you don’t like healing yourself then I suggest you learn to stay out of trouble.”
Jongwoon frowned and plopped down on his bed. “Some guardian angel you are,” he mumbled as he opened the case.
“I’m only supposed to guide you, not be your nurse,” Kibum replied, eyes focused on his novel.
“Guide me to what?” Jongwoon asked incredulously. “Help create world peace? Help old ladies cross the street?”
“To guide you to achieve what you want most, what you lack,” Kibum recited. “I’m not a scout leader and you’re not part of a beauty pageant.”
There was a pause as Jongwoon cleaned his wounds, still hesitant about his supposed ‘angel.’
“Aren’t angels supposed to be nice?”
Kibum snorted as he turned a page in his book. “Who told you that?”
“JONGWOON!” the landlord’s voice boomed through the air, clear even though they were five stories up. “WHAT IS THIS BROKEN POT DOING IN MY YARD? YOU BETTER GET DOWN HERE AND CLEAN UP THIS MESS RIGHT NOW!”
Jongwoon scowled. Putting that pot on the windowsill was a very bad idea.
~EnterBreakEnter~
It took some time for Jongwoon to get used to having this so called guardian angel. He was used to being on his own, in the apartment, out on the streets and even in school. He would always find some way to get into trouble during class and most of the kids knew about the kind of people he mixed with outside of school. They were smart to stay far away from him.
But this Kibum guy just wouldn’t leave him alone. Well, he wouldn’t really talk but anywhere Jongwoon would go, there he would be. In the classroom, in the lunch room, in the hallways. Not that anyone could see Kibum since he was an angel and all, so they would give Jongwoon weird looks when he would start making faces randomly while walking, mumbling under his breath at times. He would sit there on the windowsill when Jongwoon went to bed and was there when he woke up, his nose always in a book. It didn’t even seem like he was watching him at all.
“Careful,” Kibum said as Jongwoon tripped and fell over a step that jutted out from the floor unexpectedly. “There’s a step there.”
Did Jongwoon mention he liked to make snide comments?
The young boy scowled and picked himself off. “I’ll try to be more careful next time,” he sarcastically replied.
Kibum just continued to read. “You do that.”
He really was annoying.
~EnterBreakEnter~
“You’re late,” Kangin sneered as Jongwoon crawled through the dug-out hole in the wall.
Jongwoon dusted the rubble off of his shirt. “Sorry. I was delayed.” He gave a pointed look to Kibum who was already lounging by a window behind Kangin. The angel had kept him under house arrest until he finished his homework. And made sure all of it was correct.
“You and your excuses,” Heechul remarked, not taking his eyes away from his nails that he was busy filing.
Kibum glanced at Heechul. “I thought there were only guys in your gang,’” he said to Jongwoon.
The teenager smirked. “Heechul’s an exception,” he muttered under his breath, but he knew the other could hear him fine.
“Aish,” Kangin said, coming over to Jongwoon and smacking him over the head. “Will you stop talking to yourself? You’ve been doing that way too much recently. People will think we’re a bunch of nut jobs.”
“We’re already a bunch of delinquents,” Kyuhyun remarked, gaze focused on the game system in his hands. “Why can’t we add mental to our list?”
Heechul sneered at Jongwoon. “It’s long enough as it is. Now can we hurry up with this initiation? My drama’s going to be on in half an hour.”
Kangin grunted. “Fine, I’ll bring him out.”
A moment later, Kangin dragged in a thin boy with high cheekbones and a scared disposition. He wore plain clothes, a little worn and faded, that hung off of his thin body. The boy looked more like an orphan than a thug.
“This is Ryeowook,” Kangin said. “And he wants to be a part of our little gang. So let’s start shall we?”
The others hadn’t even bothered to get any of their weapons; they could tell breaking the boy wouldn’t take much effort. Kyuhyun didn’t even bother to shut off his game. “This’ll be too easy, huh Jongwoon?”
Jongwoon gave a weak smirk, a nagging feeling tugging at him. This didn’t feel right and he was starting to blame Kibum for his new conscience.
“Stop them.”
Jongwoon turned around to face Kibum. “What?” he whispered.
Kibum lifted his head. “You can’t let them do that to the kid. Look at him,” he said motioning to Ryeowook’s shaking figure.
The other boy looked at the scrawny boy, his eyes already wide and lips quivering in fear.
“Do you know how much crap they would give me?” Jongwoon demanded, not ready to deal with the questions that would come with his mediating with initiations. They were already mad that he was spending less and less time with them.
“Would you rather see someone like him end up in jail?” Kibum said as he crossed his arms and lifted an eyebrow.
The teenager looked back and forth, from Kibum to Ryeowook who was already being cornered by the others. “Aish, I hate you,” he muttered before walking over to the others. He stepped in between Kangin and Ryeowook.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” he stated, looking at Kangin straight in the eye.
The older boy narrowed his eyes. “What’s not a good idea?”
“Look at him, he’s scrawny, weak. I doubt he’d make it past three days.” Jongwoon could feel the weak, feigned glares Ryeowook was sending at his back, but he could still see Kibum’s figure out of the corner of his eye. “We don’t need him.”
“The kid’s got a point,” Heechul agreed from his spot. “He doesn’t look like he’d do anything we’d tell him to. Well right at least. He’d sing to the cops if he got caught.”
Kangin stared hard at Jongwoon, as if trying to make him move. But Jongwoon only returned his glare, staying in his position. The older boy drew his lips into a fine line when he realized it wasn’t working. “Fine.” He motioned to Ryeowook. “Get him out here,” he growled before nudging Jongwoon in the shoulder hard and headed out of the warehouse.
Heechul rolled his eyes. “And I thought I was the drama queen,” he said as he gathered his things and followed Kangin.
Kyuhyun walked in front of Jongwoon and looked at him. “Kangin is right, there is something weird going on with you.” He gave him one more look over. “Just make sure you know what you’re doing hyung,” Kyuhyun said before stepping around the older boy and out of the building, leaving only Jongwoon, Ryeowook and Kibum.
Jongwoon sighed and turned to face the boy he had just spared. His head was bowed, hands folded.
“Go home and take care of yourself. You don’t want to get tangled in this kind of stuff.”
Jongwoon was about to walk away before he heard a whisper.
“But I want to be strong.” He turned to see Ryeowook’s mouth moving, his hands folding and unfolding. “I want to prove myself.”
Jongwoon clenched his fists and looked at the smaller boy. “Listen, if you want to prove yourself, this isn’t the right way. You’re probably a good kid, you could make anyone proud no matter what you do, except this. You’re better than this.”
Ryeowook continued to look at Jongwoon for a moment before giving him a nod, then smiled a smile so innocent and familiar, Jongwoon couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you, he mumbled then scampered out through the hole and down the street.
“See,” Kibum said, book back in his hand. “That wasn’t too hard.”
The teenager glared at the other. “Whatever.”
Kibum watched as Jongwoon stalked off, scowling. The angel sighed before following the other. “You’ll thank me later,” he whispered under his breath.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Jongwoon frowned as a cloud of dust surrounded him. He had been forced to clean the entire classroom one afternoon after Miss Jung caught him with a switchblade in class.
‘Jongwoon-ah,” her young face showing only signs of sincere disappointment, ‘I know you’re better than this.’
The boy had just scowled and looked away. Pity and disappointment did nothing in this world, and it especially did nothing for him. Though
he wasn’t sure if it was her words and concern or the fact that he had to stay late to clean that bothered him.
“Stop frowning,” Kibum said as his sat in a desk. “You’ll get wrinkles.”
Jongwoon just huffed and swatted the air around him. The boy was still mad about the fact that Kibum made him go against Kangin like that. Now he couldn’t even face them anymore. He threw the broom down and leaned against the chalkboard instead. It was getting dark; he would have to be careful getting home again.
“You know she’s right,” the angel stated.
The teenager blinked and looked at his companion. “What?”
“Your teacher,” Kibum replied, his head resting on his right palm. “What she said was right.”
Jongwoon narrowed his eyes. “Like you’re doing anything to help.”
“I told you, I’m only supposed to guide you,” Kibum retorted. “Give you advice and try to keep you out of trouble.”
“That’s why I’m stuck here right? And why I can’t even face the others now?”
The angel shrugged. “You brought it for self-defense. You weren’t going to use it on anyone innocent.”
The younger boy looked out the window. “How do you know that? What do you know about me?”
“I know more than you think.” Kibum leaned back in his chair. “Like how you like to sing along to those old songs on the radio and want a pet turtle.”
Jongwoon scowled at that comment but didn’t deny it. “Lucky guess.”
“What you said to Ryeowook,” Kibum continued, staring up at the ceiling. “You were talking about yourself. You hate that you’re a part of this because of who it chased away.”
Jongwoon felt himself tremble, fists clenching at his sides, chest pounding.
“You’re better than them. You’re stronger than you think. I know you’re a good kid.”
Jongwoon looked up at the statement coming from his guardian. Kibum was looking at him straight in the eyes. They continued to stare at each other until Jongwoon finally broke the silence. “Did you,” he started, taking a breath of air, “just give me a compliment?”
“I’m an angel,” Kibum said, turning his gaze back on the words in front of him. “I’m supposed to be nice, aren’t I?”
Jongwoon couldn’t help but crack smile. Maybe he wasn’t all that bad.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Things took a turn for the better after Kibum’s little confrontation. Jongwoon knew that his angel wasn’t joking or making stuff up, he knew what was going on in his head, and that made Jongwoon want to work and prove himself even more. Only because Kibum knew the truth, not because he wanted to do it for Kibum or anything.
His grades were improving, he hardly came into class late and even Miss Jung noticed the change. The only downside was that Kangin and the others were also taking note of this change, and did not approve. But Jongwoon was always good at avoiding others and decided to fix up the apartment instead. Kibum had always made faces when Jongwoon would have to hit the faucet a few times so the water would turn from brown to its usual transparent form. It took a lot of time, work and money out of him, but he didn’t mind, as long as Kibum was happy.
Jongwoon glanced up from his workbook at the angel who sat in his usual spot on the windowsill, reading yet another book. He had fixed the window so it could actually close, but Kibum was used to sitting with it opened all the way, foot propped up in the rail. The afternoon sun was starting to set, but its rays were still able to cast light on Kibum, creating shadows across his flawless face. If only Jongwoon could actually hold a camera without dropping it, then he would take dozens of pictures, just so he couldn’t forget this exact moment.
“Stop staring.”
The teenager dropped his gaze and returned to simplifying radicals for a few moments before he spoke. “How old are you?”
Kibum blinked before raising his eyebrow at the other.
“I mean.” Jongwoon paused, tapping his pencil against the page of his book. “You look pretty young. Unless they make you look younger when you become an angel. You look like you could’ve been a model or something.”
There was a hard look in Kibum’s eyes, and it wasn’t the kind that Jongwoon was used to seeing when he had done something wrong, like stolen from the convenience store or talked back to his teacher. This was different. It was almost as if he was hiding something.
“So.” Kibum’s voice was lower than usual. He cleared his throat. “You think I’m that good looking?”
Jongwoon heard the tightness in his voice, even though Kibum was trying to joke, but the look in his angel’s eyes told Jongwoon to drop the subject. He gave a bashful grin. “Yeah, but I’m better looking.”
“In your dreams.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
“I’m going to the store.”
Kibum flipped a page. “That’s nice.”
“You can stay here.” Jongwoon rubbed his arm. “I’ll be real quick.”
“I’m sure.”
Jongwoon nodded, a bit disappointed at the lack of response, but then walked to the door.
“Hey.” The teenager froze but stopped and looked back at Kibum. “Be careful.”
Jongwoon gave a nervous and forced smile. “I always am.” He quickly shut the door behind him before he gave anything away.
The teenager tightened the wrist guards he had hidden underneath his sleeves and took one big breath before walking down the stairs and onto the street. It was only about ten, the fluorescent lights from the signs in the store windows glared at Jongwoon as he walked by, couples and families still littered around to commemorate the start of the weekend. He walked a few more blocks before turning down a familiar street and alleyway. Carefully, he climbed through the opening in the wall, his feet making a loud echo as he dropped down onto the floor on the other side.
The others looked up.
“You actually decided to come today, huh?” Kangin walked up to Jongwoon. “You’re behind.”
Jongwoon nodded.
Kangin motioned with his shoulder. “Well come on.”
“I want out.”
Heechul and Kyuhyun both looked up from their games and magazines. Kangin blinked. “What?”
Jongwoon lifted his head, eyes determined, showing no fear. “I want out of the gang.”
“You,” Kangin opened his mouth and closed it a few times before another voice spoke.
“You do know what that means, right?”
Jongwoon felt his blood turn cold. He wasn’t supposed to be here.
Another figure stepped out from the shadows. Dark hair with smoldering eyes and a pale complexion, a sickly gaunt body, all made him look like death itself.
“Yes, I do,” Jongwoon responded, his voice cracking on the first word.
Their leader smirked, his eyes burning into Jongwoon’s. “You all know what to do.”
Jongwoon could see the looks of hesitance on everyone’s faces, but they all knew better than to go against his wishes. As he saw them walking towards him, he could see their faces of regret, their mouths moving in silent apologies. His arms threw themselves up as the first punch was thrown.
Am I strong enough for you yet?
~EnterBreakEnter~
The sound of soft music was the first thing Jongwoon heard, his ears picking up the familiar melody. Soon, his eyes opened after blinking a few times. He looked around, taking in the white walls and white floor and white everything.
He tried to lift himself up but the familiar sound of someone grunting in disapproval sounded from his side. Jongwoon turned to see Kibum reading one of his books. “You still need to rest.”
Jongwoon smiled and lay back down in his bed. “I like this song.”
“I know.”
The teenager closed his eyes and hummed along.
Kibum placed his book down in his lap. “Are you stupid?”
Jongwoon opened one of his eyes and looked at the angel. Kibum’s face was dead serious, but his eyes were shining with anotheremotion Jongwoon never saw before.
“What were you thinking?” Kibum continued. “Do you think getting yourself beat up is going to do anything?”
“I wanted out.”
Kibum rolled his eyes. “So don’t go to the meetings, don’t keep weapons in your backpack. Don’t just go right into the place and tell them straight out!”
Jongwoon looked at the other as he paced. “I wanted to prove myself, I wanted to be brave.”
Kibum walked up to the other and grabbed his wrists. Jongwoon’s eyes widened. He had never touched him before. “What does being sent to the hospital prove, Jongwoon? That you can lose everything with one stupid mistake? That you bleed and bruise? That you can almost die?”
Jongwoon looked up into the angel’s eyes. He was crying. “You were worried about me.”
Kibum took a step back and loosened his grip on Jongwoon, the latter felt his chest flutter at the action. “I’m your guardian, of course I was worried.”
Jongwoon stared at the other’s back. “Thank you, no one really worried about me before.”
The angel sighed, his hand playing with the cord for the blinds. “I was fifteen when I got accepted into a modeling agency. My parents were a little skeptical, but they let go because they knew I liked it and that I could help support them and my sister. The two of us, we were really close. She was really upset when I had to constantly leave home to go to shoots.” Kibum paused, his hand still on the cord. “I had to go overseas for this photoshoot for a month.”
Kibum plopped his luggage down on the ground of the foyer. “I’m home!” No one responded to his voice. He frowned. It was so quiet.
He dragged his bags with him upstairs, hoping to surprise his sister. She must’ve been asleep, or listening to her music. As he walked down the hall, he passed her room. Empty. Kibum rubbed the top of his head before noticing the light in the bathroom was on. He knocked on the door.
“Are you taking a shower?”
But she didn’t answer. It really was too quiet.
Kibum carefully pushed opened the door, a distinct smell already overpowering his senses. He felt his heart stop as he finally saw his sister.
Her entire body was pale, as white and unmoving as the floor she was sprawled upon, her dark hair matted around her face. There was blood everywhere, pouring from her thin wrists like tiny rivers and seeping into her clothes and the rug. But her eyes, the ones that would light up every time he would come back home, they were nothing but blank.
Kibum lifted up his shirt sleeves. Jongwoon could see the long, slender red lines that raced up and down Kibum’s arms.
“I saw most of her blood was gone, soaked into the carpet and her shirt, so I took mine and tried to put it into her veins.” He chuckled. “I guess I wasn’t really thinking.”
Jongwoon bowed his head. “You’re a good brother.”
Kibum turned to face Jongwoon, but kept his head down, unwilling to look at him. “Just, rest up, okay?”
Jongwoon felt his eyes and body grow heavy at the mention of ‘rest.’ “Fine.” He settled back into his covers and waited a few moments before speaking up again. “Kibum.”
“Mm.”
“I love you,” he whispered before falling asleep.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Kibum always stayed in the hospital room with Jongwoon, and he meant always. Even when they were back at the apartment, Kibum would disappear for a few minutes at a time, but now he never left Jongwoon’s room. He kept him company and would help him with homework; a girl from his class would drop off his books. Whenever he finished, Kibum would read to Jongwoon, translate his Western books about heroes and bandits and places Jongwoon had never even heard of. They were half way into the story “Robin Hood,” when there was a knock on the door.
Jongwoon gave Kibum a confused look. “It’s probably the nurse. Come in!”
The door clicked open but it was not a nurse who poked their head through the door.
“Jongwoon,” Ryeowook said as he gave a low bow.
Jongwoon sat up in his bed and looked at the other boy in surprise. “Ryeowook, what are you doing here?”
The small boy gave a glance around the room as he kept his hands on the door. “I found out where you were from those boys. Kyuhyun told me where you were.”
Kyuhyun? Jongwoon glanced at Kibum who was buried in his book, refusing to meet Jongwoon’s gaze.
“Um.” Ryeowook seemed anxious. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Ah, you didn’t have to do that Ryeowook.”
“No no,” Ryeowook injected. “I really had to. As a thank you gift.”
Jongwoon stayed silent, his lips pursued. But he gave a nod.
Ryeowook smiled before leaning back into the hallway and motioning for someone to come in. A boy who looked the same age as
Ryeowook stepped into the room. His black hair was short, but his bangs covered his eyes. He took hesitant steps, but when he lifted his head, Jongwoon held his breath.
The boy smiled, tears in his crescent eyes. “Hyung.”
“Jongjin.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
Kibum and Jongwoon sat on the window sill, facing each other, as the moon glowed in the midnight sky. It was only a few days after Ryeowook and Jongjin had visited the hospital and Jongwoon had been discharged only the day before.
After Jongwoon had stopped Ryeowook, the boy had gone to the city to try and find something that was right for him. It was while he was scanning the streets that he came across auditions for a music company and got accepted. That’s where Ryeowook had met Jongjin. The boy recognized the similarities between Jongjin and Jongwoon right away and decided to reunite them after what Jongwoon had done for him.
“He wouldn’t have found him if he was in the gang.” Jongwoon’s foot dangled over the edge and brushed against a stray piece of rusted metal. “You knew that didn’t you?”
“I have to watch out for you.” For once, Kibum’s book lay discarded on the desk. “Remember?”
Jongwoon drew his legs up to his chest, his arms reaching around to hug them. “It was really good timing huh?”
“Mm.”
“Do you think I can live with them now? Do you think she’ll let me?” Jongwoon looked up, so much expectation gathered in his eyes.
Kibum smiled and nudged him. “I’m not a fortune teller. You’ll see tomorrow.”
Jongwoon smiled back at the other’s response. He sighed. “I guess I’ll have to wait,” he said in between yawns.
“Hey.” Kibum nudged him, softer this time. “Go to bed now.”
The teenager stretched and put his feet on the floor. He peeled off his shirt and tugged another over his head before climbing into his bed.
“Hey Kibum.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you,” Jongwoon said, drawing the covers close to his neck, his gaze directed towards the ceiling. “For being with me all this time. For believing in me.”
Kibum walked over and his fingertips gently brushed the hair that fell across Jongwoon’s forehead, the touch making Jongwoon even more comfortable and at ease. “Good night, Jongwoon.”
Jongwoon smiled sleepily at Kibum and closed his eyes. But just before Jongwoon fell asleep, he heard a faint whisper.
“I love you, too.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
When Jongwoon woke up the next morning, Kibum was nowhere to be seen.
When he came back home from seeing his lost-long mother, Kibum was nowhere to be seen.
When a week had passed and Jongwoon’s mother had finally asked him to move in with them, Kibum was nowhere to be seen.
And every night since then, Jongwoon would crawl into his bed and stare at the window where Kibum would always sit and fall asleep wondering what he did wrong.
~EnterBreakEnter~
“Is this everything, hyung?”
Jongwoon dusted off the top of the box Jongjin had just set down. “Yeah, that’s it.” He wiped his brow as the sweat trickled down his face. “I don’t have too much stuff.”
“That’s why all of your clothes and accessories are in it, right?” Jongjin teased. “I thought I was getting my hyung back, not a noona.”
Jongwoon pushed him playfully before ruffling his hair. “I just need to give in my key. Wait in the car.”
Jongjin walked to the door of the car and sat inside. “Just don’t take a detour in the bathroom or something, okay?”
Jongwoon stuck his tongue out at his brother over his shoulder as he walked back up the steps for the last time. He politely nodded to the landlord’s mother before knocking on the door.
“What?” she asked, already agitated so early in the morning.
“Thank you for letting me stay here,” Jongwoon said, hands stretched out to give the key, bowing at the waist.
She looked at him, then the key before snatching it from his hands. “Yeah. Good riddance,” she said before slamming the door in his face.
Jongwoon sneered at the door. She was always so grouchy anyways. He turned and began to walk out the door before an unfamiliar voice stopped him.
“Where is your friend?”
The teenager turned and saw no one but the old woman who always sat in the hallway. He looked at her and tilted his head.
“My friend?”
Her eyes and face were still, her mouth the only thing changing. “The one who always has a book.”
Jongwoon felt the color drain from his face, an unsettling feeling rise in his stomach. “How could you…see him?”
“Ah.” Finally, her eyes lit up, she bowed her head in a shy smile. This was the most movement he had ever seen from her. “So he was one of them.” The look in her eyes, it was if she was thinking back to personal experience, something no one else Jongwoon knew had.
“Did you know one, too?” Jongwoon asked. “Do you know where he went?”
The look in her eyes as she looked at Jongwoon, they could only be described as sympathetic. “His job must have been fulfilled,” she said quietly, like a mother speaking to her child.
Jongwoon blinked. “Job?”
The woman just smiled. “Have a safe trip.”
The teenager wanted to know what she meant but didn’t ask anything more. He gave a polite bow and walked back to the car. Jongjin was already hanging out of the window.
“Hurry up~”
It was just as Jongwoon jogged up to the car door that it hit him.
His family. To guide you to achieve what you want most, what you lack. Kibum had left after Jongwoon had found his family again.
Defending Ryeowook, helping him with school to make him stay out trouble, it had all been to help him find his family, to achieve what he wanted most and what he needed. That’s what his job was and now it was complete.
But as they drove away, Jongwoon couldn’t help but feel that something else was missing now.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Jongwoon leaned against the stone of the gate that surrounded the company building, waiting for Jongjin and Ryeowook to come out from their rehearsal.
It had been a few months since Jongwoon had moved into the city with his brother and mother and the new setting hadn’t been that difficult for Jongwoon to settle into. Since he had kept up with his homework since the year before, his grades were fine. But he took no interest in his future and would tend to stay in his room right after school since his mother had work and Jongjin was usually at the company building.
Jongjin would take notice of his brother’s attitude, and often asked him to audition for the same company so that the three of them could stay together. But Jongwoon declined, memories of singing along to old songs from the radio, teasing laughter and comments coming back to him. Instead, he would spend most of his time reading the books that he remembered Kibum would have to pass the time.
It was weird for Jongwoon still. He had his family, and he was more than thankful for being reunited with them, but he still missed the times that he and Kibum would spend together in the old apartment. He had gained an important part of his life back, but at the cost of something equally, if not more, significant.
Suddenly, Jongwoon heard his phone go off. He took it out from his coat pocket and flipped it open.
From: Jongjin
Hyung~ Meet us in the building,
we’re just getting something to
snack on. Ryeowook was getting
hungry again and you know I
can’t refuse him ^^
Jongwoon rolled his eyes and closed his phone before stuffing it back in his pocket and walked through the doors. He got to the revolving door, a little apprehensive about how to use it. He watched as a couple pushed through the doors and out to his side, talking as they walked past him. Jongwoon carefully walked into one of the divisions and began to slowly push forward. Satisfied with his progress, Jongwoon waked faster until he could exit through the opening on the inside of the building.
He took a step before being yanked backwards. Jongwoon turned and saw a section of his coat was caught in the door. Silently cursing, Jongwoon tugged on his coat, but the door wouldn’t budge. He was about to smash the glass with his foot in frustration until someone came up from behind him and pushed the door the opposite way, freeing his coat.
Jongwoon watched as the doors continued to swerve, the person coming back around. It wasn’t until they stepped back out and walked right up to Jongwoon, hands deep in his pockets that Jongwoon lifted up his face and froze, the unsettling feeling in his stomach rising for the first time in months.
“You’re Jongjin’s brother, aren’t you?” he asked, the tone and voice so soothing and nostalgic. “I’m Kibum.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
A/N: That was a crappy ending, I’m not going to lie. But I finished it~ I’ve only been working on this for….four months? I keep getting distracted. I still have to finish the other two Kisung fanfics I started too. And I might make another part of this, but from Kyuhyun and his prespective, because yes he has an angel too if anyone guessed it. But I can't choose between Donghae and Sungmin, let me know if you have any preference ^___^
Please be patient with me~ But thank you to those who waited this long and who will keep waiting. I’ll try to stop getting distracted…hopefully ^________^ Thank you for reading!
Pairing: Yesung/Kibum
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6,442
Ragged breaths of air escaped Jongwoon’s mouth as his feet pounded on the pavement. He made a quick series of complicated turns through the network of streets, stumbling here and there. The steps and voices behind him were becoming more and more submissive, but their threats could still be heard. He tried swallowing larger amounts of air so the oxygen would reach his legs, willing them to run even faster.
A few more turns and a slip through a small gap in a wired fence, which gave him scratches against the chest but they were the least of his worries at the moment, and Jongwoon leaned against a brick wall a few steps further to stop and listen.
Silence.
Relieved, Jongwoon bent over and put his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath. He looked down at his chest and saw that his shirt was ripped and the marks were beginning to bleed. Jongwoon flinched as he brushed his good hand across the cuts. He didn’t need to test the gash along the side of his face to see if it was bad. He could feel the skin where the cut was pounding just as fast as his heart was. But it wasn’t as bad as the abrasion on his right arm. He experimentally lifted the arm but stopped with a dull aching pain shot through the limb. He would need to take of them before they got infected.
At least I got away. Taking one more deep breath, Jongwoon pushed himself off of the wall and began to jog down the street as if nothing happened.
A few moments later, he came to his building. It was the same as all the others in the neighborhood, dark and bare except for the graffiti that covered most of the building’s entrance and sides. The windows were impossible to open, especially in the summer when air was needed the most, though it didn’t really help since it was always thick with pollution and smoke. His window couldn’t even close, it was horrible during the winter. The paint of the front door was peeling and the wood that was visible was starting to splinter. Not that it bothered Jongwoon. He really hated the color. Even the fire escapes seemed like they would collapse as soon as any weight was put on top of them. But this was as close to home as Jongwoon could get.
Jongwoon climbed up the concrete steps, taking slow steps since by now he was beyond exhausted. He gave a curt nod to the mother of his landlord. The old woman hardly ever spoke out loud, but Jongwoon could hear her mumbling some incoherent words from time to time, and just sat outside of their door, listening to the radio. She was much more pleasant than her daughter who would yell at Jongwoon for every little thing. Who knows what she would’ve said if she saw him at that moment.
Worried by the thought, Jongwoon began his trek up to his apartment. As he reached the third flight of stairs, he began to regret that he lived on the top floor. The planks complained under the weight of his steps, his breathes coming in and out on the same rhythm. When he finally reached his door, Jongwoon let out an air of relief. Using his left hand, he awkwardly opened the door with the key and shoved it aside.
Jongwoon stepped in and closed the door behind him with his foot. He shuffled his way through the foyer and over into the kitchen. Using his left hand, Jongwoon searched in the cabinets for the first aid kit, the only thing that he really kept in the house.
He grinned when his hand came in contact with the hard case. Jongwoon dragged his tired feet to his room, passing the empty rooms and walls of the hallway and into his room.
But as soon as he opened the door, he froze.
There, lounging comfortably on his windowsill with a book in his lap, was a boy. Or a teenager. Well, whatever it was, it was in Jongwoon’s room and that was not good.
Before Jongwoon could do anything, the other male looked up from his book and right at him. He looked Jongwoon up and down before turning back to his book. “You should really clean yourself up.”
Jongwoon was surprised by how deep and smooth his voice was. The stranger looked only a few years older than himself, though he acted more mature than the boys that lived in the neighborhood. But it still didn’t explain what he was doing in his room.
“Not until you get the hell out,” Jongwoon growled as he shifted to a more defensive position.
The other boy seemed to be unfazed by Jongwoon’s threats. “Sorry,” flipped a page in his book, “once I’ve been assigned I can’t leave until I’m told.”
Jongwoon narrowed his eyes. “Assigned?” A deceptive looking assassin, but he couldn’t let his guard down. This kid was most definitely sent. Though by which gang, he wasn’t sure of.
“Yeah,” the boy continued, still engrossed in his novel. “Though I don’t understand why you’re so old. I usually get much younger kids.”
“Easier for you to take care of, huh?” His eyes shifted to his table where a pile of books lay. They were only a bit out of his reach.
“Not really. They’re pretty loud.”
If Jongwoon was quick enough and aimed…
Just then, the stranger closed his book. Taking no chances, Jongwoon leapt for the book and threw it as hard as he could toward the other boy. Unfazed, the boy just sat there as the book flew towards him. But instead of hitting him right in the gut, the book passed through his body and knocked into the flower pot behind him, sending it flying off the ledge and out the window. They stayed in silence, Jongwoon shocked and the other indifferent, until the crack of the pot hitting the cement was heard.
Maybe putting the flower pot on the windowsill was a bad idea.
The mysterious boy sighed. “Now was that really necessary?”
Jongwoon was still frozen in his position. “But…how did it… I actually aimed this time…”
The other boy rolled his eyes. “And I thought dealing with 15-year olds would be easier.”
The stranger moved to get up and Jongwoon flinched. Ignoring his fatigue and arm, Jongwoon scrambled for door only to slip and fall. He quickly got back up to reach for the door when he collided into a soft but firm surface. Jongwoon looked up and saw the boy who was just at the windowsill standing right in front of him.
“My name’s Kibum,” the boy said. “And of you didn’t figure it out by now, I’m not a petty little assassin or gang member. So stop trying to attack me. You’re not doing a very good job.”
Jongwoon rubbed his head and tried to sit up. “Then what are you supposed to be?”
Kibum sighed to himself. “I’m an angel.” He walked around the younger boy’s body and back to the windowsill. “Your guardian angel.”
Now, Jongwoon didn’t believe in angels. Well, he believed in God and all of that so of course he believed in angels, but he never believed that he would actually see one with his own two eyes. And he knew they didn’t just show up in front of you like this. Unless you were dying or something.
“I don’t believe you,” he declared, staring at the back of the supposed angel who was gazing out the window.
The other just shrugged. “I’m not lying, but you can believe whatever you want to believe.” He grabbed his book again and opened to his page.
Jongwoon got up and looked at the first aid kit he threw down. “If you’re an angel, then heal me.”
Kibum smirked. “I’m not God. If you don’t like healing yourself then I suggest you learn to stay out of trouble.”
Jongwoon frowned and plopped down on his bed. “Some guardian angel you are,” he mumbled as he opened the case.
“I’m only supposed to guide you, not be your nurse,” Kibum replied, eyes focused on his novel.
“Guide me to what?” Jongwoon asked incredulously. “Help create world peace? Help old ladies cross the street?”
“To guide you to achieve what you want most, what you lack,” Kibum recited. “I’m not a scout leader and you’re not part of a beauty pageant.”
There was a pause as Jongwoon cleaned his wounds, still hesitant about his supposed ‘angel.’
“Aren’t angels supposed to be nice?”
Kibum snorted as he turned a page in his book. “Who told you that?”
“JONGWOON!” the landlord’s voice boomed through the air, clear even though they were five stories up. “WHAT IS THIS BROKEN POT DOING IN MY YARD? YOU BETTER GET DOWN HERE AND CLEAN UP THIS MESS RIGHT NOW!”
Jongwoon scowled. Putting that pot on the windowsill was a very bad idea.
~EnterBreakEnter~
It took some time for Jongwoon to get used to having this so called guardian angel. He was used to being on his own, in the apartment, out on the streets and even in school. He would always find some way to get into trouble during class and most of the kids knew about the kind of people he mixed with outside of school. They were smart to stay far away from him.
But this Kibum guy just wouldn’t leave him alone. Well, he wouldn’t really talk but anywhere Jongwoon would go, there he would be. In the classroom, in the lunch room, in the hallways. Not that anyone could see Kibum since he was an angel and all, so they would give Jongwoon weird looks when he would start making faces randomly while walking, mumbling under his breath at times. He would sit there on the windowsill when Jongwoon went to bed and was there when he woke up, his nose always in a book. It didn’t even seem like he was watching him at all.
“Careful,” Kibum said as Jongwoon tripped and fell over a step that jutted out from the floor unexpectedly. “There’s a step there.”
Did Jongwoon mention he liked to make snide comments?
The young boy scowled and picked himself off. “I’ll try to be more careful next time,” he sarcastically replied.
Kibum just continued to read. “You do that.”
He really was annoying.
~EnterBreakEnter~
“You’re late,” Kangin sneered as Jongwoon crawled through the dug-out hole in the wall.
Jongwoon dusted the rubble off of his shirt. “Sorry. I was delayed.” He gave a pointed look to Kibum who was already lounging by a window behind Kangin. The angel had kept him under house arrest until he finished his homework. And made sure all of it was correct.
“You and your excuses,” Heechul remarked, not taking his eyes away from his nails that he was busy filing.
Kibum glanced at Heechul. “I thought there were only guys in your gang,’” he said to Jongwoon.
The teenager smirked. “Heechul’s an exception,” he muttered under his breath, but he knew the other could hear him fine.
“Aish,” Kangin said, coming over to Jongwoon and smacking him over the head. “Will you stop talking to yourself? You’ve been doing that way too much recently. People will think we’re a bunch of nut jobs.”
“We’re already a bunch of delinquents,” Kyuhyun remarked, gaze focused on the game system in his hands. “Why can’t we add mental to our list?”
Heechul sneered at Jongwoon. “It’s long enough as it is. Now can we hurry up with this initiation? My drama’s going to be on in half an hour.”
Kangin grunted. “Fine, I’ll bring him out.”
A moment later, Kangin dragged in a thin boy with high cheekbones and a scared disposition. He wore plain clothes, a little worn and faded, that hung off of his thin body. The boy looked more like an orphan than a thug.
“This is Ryeowook,” Kangin said. “And he wants to be a part of our little gang. So let’s start shall we?”
The others hadn’t even bothered to get any of their weapons; they could tell breaking the boy wouldn’t take much effort. Kyuhyun didn’t even bother to shut off his game. “This’ll be too easy, huh Jongwoon?”
Jongwoon gave a weak smirk, a nagging feeling tugging at him. This didn’t feel right and he was starting to blame Kibum for his new conscience.
“Stop them.”
Jongwoon turned around to face Kibum. “What?” he whispered.
Kibum lifted his head. “You can’t let them do that to the kid. Look at him,” he said motioning to Ryeowook’s shaking figure.
The other boy looked at the scrawny boy, his eyes already wide and lips quivering in fear.
“Do you know how much crap they would give me?” Jongwoon demanded, not ready to deal with the questions that would come with his mediating with initiations. They were already mad that he was spending less and less time with them.
“Would you rather see someone like him end up in jail?” Kibum said as he crossed his arms and lifted an eyebrow.
The teenager looked back and forth, from Kibum to Ryeowook who was already being cornered by the others. “Aish, I hate you,” he muttered before walking over to the others. He stepped in between Kangin and Ryeowook.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” he stated, looking at Kangin straight in the eye.
The older boy narrowed his eyes. “What’s not a good idea?”
“Look at him, he’s scrawny, weak. I doubt he’d make it past three days.” Jongwoon could feel the weak, feigned glares Ryeowook was sending at his back, but he could still see Kibum’s figure out of the corner of his eye. “We don’t need him.”
“The kid’s got a point,” Heechul agreed from his spot. “He doesn’t look like he’d do anything we’d tell him to. Well right at least. He’d sing to the cops if he got caught.”
Kangin stared hard at Jongwoon, as if trying to make him move. But Jongwoon only returned his glare, staying in his position. The older boy drew his lips into a fine line when he realized it wasn’t working. “Fine.” He motioned to Ryeowook. “Get him out here,” he growled before nudging Jongwoon in the shoulder hard and headed out of the warehouse.
Heechul rolled his eyes. “And I thought I was the drama queen,” he said as he gathered his things and followed Kangin.
Kyuhyun walked in front of Jongwoon and looked at him. “Kangin is right, there is something weird going on with you.” He gave him one more look over. “Just make sure you know what you’re doing hyung,” Kyuhyun said before stepping around the older boy and out of the building, leaving only Jongwoon, Ryeowook and Kibum.
Jongwoon sighed and turned to face the boy he had just spared. His head was bowed, hands folded.
“Go home and take care of yourself. You don’t want to get tangled in this kind of stuff.”
Jongwoon was about to walk away before he heard a whisper.
“But I want to be strong.” He turned to see Ryeowook’s mouth moving, his hands folding and unfolding. “I want to prove myself.”
Jongwoon clenched his fists and looked at the smaller boy. “Listen, if you want to prove yourself, this isn’t the right way. You’re probably a good kid, you could make anyone proud no matter what you do, except this. You’re better than this.”
Ryeowook continued to look at Jongwoon for a moment before giving him a nod, then smiled a smile so innocent and familiar, Jongwoon couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you, he mumbled then scampered out through the hole and down the street.
“See,” Kibum said, book back in his hand. “That wasn’t too hard.”
The teenager glared at the other. “Whatever.”
Kibum watched as Jongwoon stalked off, scowling. The angel sighed before following the other. “You’ll thank me later,” he whispered under his breath.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Jongwoon frowned as a cloud of dust surrounded him. He had been forced to clean the entire classroom one afternoon after Miss Jung caught him with a switchblade in class.
‘Jongwoon-ah,” her young face showing only signs of sincere disappointment, ‘I know you’re better than this.’
The boy had just scowled and looked away. Pity and disappointment did nothing in this world, and it especially did nothing for him. Though
he wasn’t sure if it was her words and concern or the fact that he had to stay late to clean that bothered him.
“Stop frowning,” Kibum said as his sat in a desk. “You’ll get wrinkles.”
Jongwoon just huffed and swatted the air around him. The boy was still mad about the fact that Kibum made him go against Kangin like that. Now he couldn’t even face them anymore. He threw the broom down and leaned against the chalkboard instead. It was getting dark; he would have to be careful getting home again.
“You know she’s right,” the angel stated.
The teenager blinked and looked at his companion. “What?”
“Your teacher,” Kibum replied, his head resting on his right palm. “What she said was right.”
Jongwoon narrowed his eyes. “Like you’re doing anything to help.”
“I told you, I’m only supposed to guide you,” Kibum retorted. “Give you advice and try to keep you out of trouble.”
“That’s why I’m stuck here right? And why I can’t even face the others now?”
The angel shrugged. “You brought it for self-defense. You weren’t going to use it on anyone innocent.”
The younger boy looked out the window. “How do you know that? What do you know about me?”
“I know more than you think.” Kibum leaned back in his chair. “Like how you like to sing along to those old songs on the radio and want a pet turtle.”
Jongwoon scowled at that comment but didn’t deny it. “Lucky guess.”
“What you said to Ryeowook,” Kibum continued, staring up at the ceiling. “You were talking about yourself. You hate that you’re a part of this because of who it chased away.”
Jongwoon felt himself tremble, fists clenching at his sides, chest pounding.
“You’re better than them. You’re stronger than you think. I know you’re a good kid.”
Jongwoon looked up at the statement coming from his guardian. Kibum was looking at him straight in the eyes. They continued to stare at each other until Jongwoon finally broke the silence. “Did you,” he started, taking a breath of air, “just give me a compliment?”
“I’m an angel,” Kibum said, turning his gaze back on the words in front of him. “I’m supposed to be nice, aren’t I?”
Jongwoon couldn’t help but crack smile. Maybe he wasn’t all that bad.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Things took a turn for the better after Kibum’s little confrontation. Jongwoon knew that his angel wasn’t joking or making stuff up, he knew what was going on in his head, and that made Jongwoon want to work and prove himself even more. Only because Kibum knew the truth, not because he wanted to do it for Kibum or anything.
His grades were improving, he hardly came into class late and even Miss Jung noticed the change. The only downside was that Kangin and the others were also taking note of this change, and did not approve. But Jongwoon was always good at avoiding others and decided to fix up the apartment instead. Kibum had always made faces when Jongwoon would have to hit the faucet a few times so the water would turn from brown to its usual transparent form. It took a lot of time, work and money out of him, but he didn’t mind, as long as Kibum was happy.
Jongwoon glanced up from his workbook at the angel who sat in his usual spot on the windowsill, reading yet another book. He had fixed the window so it could actually close, but Kibum was used to sitting with it opened all the way, foot propped up in the rail. The afternoon sun was starting to set, but its rays were still able to cast light on Kibum, creating shadows across his flawless face. If only Jongwoon could actually hold a camera without dropping it, then he would take dozens of pictures, just so he couldn’t forget this exact moment.
“Stop staring.”
The teenager dropped his gaze and returned to simplifying radicals for a few moments before he spoke. “How old are you?”
Kibum blinked before raising his eyebrow at the other.
“I mean.” Jongwoon paused, tapping his pencil against the page of his book. “You look pretty young. Unless they make you look younger when you become an angel. You look like you could’ve been a model or something.”
There was a hard look in Kibum’s eyes, and it wasn’t the kind that Jongwoon was used to seeing when he had done something wrong, like stolen from the convenience store or talked back to his teacher. This was different. It was almost as if he was hiding something.
“So.” Kibum’s voice was lower than usual. He cleared his throat. “You think I’m that good looking?”
Jongwoon heard the tightness in his voice, even though Kibum was trying to joke, but the look in his angel’s eyes told Jongwoon to drop the subject. He gave a bashful grin. “Yeah, but I’m better looking.”
“In your dreams.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
“I’m going to the store.”
Kibum flipped a page. “That’s nice.”
“You can stay here.” Jongwoon rubbed his arm. “I’ll be real quick.”
“I’m sure.”
Jongwoon nodded, a bit disappointed at the lack of response, but then walked to the door.
“Hey.” The teenager froze but stopped and looked back at Kibum. “Be careful.”
Jongwoon gave a nervous and forced smile. “I always am.” He quickly shut the door behind him before he gave anything away.
The teenager tightened the wrist guards he had hidden underneath his sleeves and took one big breath before walking down the stairs and onto the street. It was only about ten, the fluorescent lights from the signs in the store windows glared at Jongwoon as he walked by, couples and families still littered around to commemorate the start of the weekend. He walked a few more blocks before turning down a familiar street and alleyway. Carefully, he climbed through the opening in the wall, his feet making a loud echo as he dropped down onto the floor on the other side.
The others looked up.
“You actually decided to come today, huh?” Kangin walked up to Jongwoon. “You’re behind.”
Jongwoon nodded.
Kangin motioned with his shoulder. “Well come on.”
“I want out.”
Heechul and Kyuhyun both looked up from their games and magazines. Kangin blinked. “What?”
Jongwoon lifted his head, eyes determined, showing no fear. “I want out of the gang.”
“You,” Kangin opened his mouth and closed it a few times before another voice spoke.
“You do know what that means, right?”
Jongwoon felt his blood turn cold. He wasn’t supposed to be here.
Another figure stepped out from the shadows. Dark hair with smoldering eyes and a pale complexion, a sickly gaunt body, all made him look like death itself.
“Yes, I do,” Jongwoon responded, his voice cracking on the first word.
Their leader smirked, his eyes burning into Jongwoon’s. “You all know what to do.”
Jongwoon could see the looks of hesitance on everyone’s faces, but they all knew better than to go against his wishes. As he saw them walking towards him, he could see their faces of regret, their mouths moving in silent apologies. His arms threw themselves up as the first punch was thrown.
Am I strong enough for you yet?
~EnterBreakEnter~
The sound of soft music was the first thing Jongwoon heard, his ears picking up the familiar melody. Soon, his eyes opened after blinking a few times. He looked around, taking in the white walls and white floor and white everything.
He tried to lift himself up but the familiar sound of someone grunting in disapproval sounded from his side. Jongwoon turned to see Kibum reading one of his books. “You still need to rest.”
Jongwoon smiled and lay back down in his bed. “I like this song.”
“I know.”
The teenager closed his eyes and hummed along.
Kibum placed his book down in his lap. “Are you stupid?”
Jongwoon opened one of his eyes and looked at the angel. Kibum’s face was dead serious, but his eyes were shining with anotheremotion Jongwoon never saw before.
“What were you thinking?” Kibum continued. “Do you think getting yourself beat up is going to do anything?”
“I wanted out.”
Kibum rolled his eyes. “So don’t go to the meetings, don’t keep weapons in your backpack. Don’t just go right into the place and tell them straight out!”
Jongwoon looked at the other as he paced. “I wanted to prove myself, I wanted to be brave.”
Kibum walked up to the other and grabbed his wrists. Jongwoon’s eyes widened. He had never touched him before. “What does being sent to the hospital prove, Jongwoon? That you can lose everything with one stupid mistake? That you bleed and bruise? That you can almost die?”
Jongwoon looked up into the angel’s eyes. He was crying. “You were worried about me.”
Kibum took a step back and loosened his grip on Jongwoon, the latter felt his chest flutter at the action. “I’m your guardian, of course I was worried.”
Jongwoon stared at the other’s back. “Thank you, no one really worried about me before.”
The angel sighed, his hand playing with the cord for the blinds. “I was fifteen when I got accepted into a modeling agency. My parents were a little skeptical, but they let go because they knew I liked it and that I could help support them and my sister. The two of us, we were really close. She was really upset when I had to constantly leave home to go to shoots.” Kibum paused, his hand still on the cord. “I had to go overseas for this photoshoot for a month.”
Kibum plopped his luggage down on the ground of the foyer. “I’m home!” No one responded to his voice. He frowned. It was so quiet.
He dragged his bags with him upstairs, hoping to surprise his sister. She must’ve been asleep, or listening to her music. As he walked down the hall, he passed her room. Empty. Kibum rubbed the top of his head before noticing the light in the bathroom was on. He knocked on the door.
“Are you taking a shower?”
But she didn’t answer. It really was too quiet.
Kibum carefully pushed opened the door, a distinct smell already overpowering his senses. He felt his heart stop as he finally saw his sister.
Her entire body was pale, as white and unmoving as the floor she was sprawled upon, her dark hair matted around her face. There was blood everywhere, pouring from her thin wrists like tiny rivers and seeping into her clothes and the rug. But her eyes, the ones that would light up every time he would come back home, they were nothing but blank.
Kibum lifted up his shirt sleeves. Jongwoon could see the long, slender red lines that raced up and down Kibum’s arms.
“I saw most of her blood was gone, soaked into the carpet and her shirt, so I took mine and tried to put it into her veins.” He chuckled. “I guess I wasn’t really thinking.”
Jongwoon bowed his head. “You’re a good brother.”
Kibum turned to face Jongwoon, but kept his head down, unwilling to look at him. “Just, rest up, okay?”
Jongwoon felt his eyes and body grow heavy at the mention of ‘rest.’ “Fine.” He settled back into his covers and waited a few moments before speaking up again. “Kibum.”
“Mm.”
“I love you,” he whispered before falling asleep.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Kibum always stayed in the hospital room with Jongwoon, and he meant always. Even when they were back at the apartment, Kibum would disappear for a few minutes at a time, but now he never left Jongwoon’s room. He kept him company and would help him with homework; a girl from his class would drop off his books. Whenever he finished, Kibum would read to Jongwoon, translate his Western books about heroes and bandits and places Jongwoon had never even heard of. They were half way into the story “Robin Hood,” when there was a knock on the door.
Jongwoon gave Kibum a confused look. “It’s probably the nurse. Come in!”
The door clicked open but it was not a nurse who poked their head through the door.
“Jongwoon,” Ryeowook said as he gave a low bow.
Jongwoon sat up in his bed and looked at the other boy in surprise. “Ryeowook, what are you doing here?”
The small boy gave a glance around the room as he kept his hands on the door. “I found out where you were from those boys. Kyuhyun told me where you were.”
Kyuhyun? Jongwoon glanced at Kibum who was buried in his book, refusing to meet Jongwoon’s gaze.
“Um.” Ryeowook seemed anxious. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Ah, you didn’t have to do that Ryeowook.”
“No no,” Ryeowook injected. “I really had to. As a thank you gift.”
Jongwoon stayed silent, his lips pursued. But he gave a nod.
Ryeowook smiled before leaning back into the hallway and motioning for someone to come in. A boy who looked the same age as
Ryeowook stepped into the room. His black hair was short, but his bangs covered his eyes. He took hesitant steps, but when he lifted his head, Jongwoon held his breath.
The boy smiled, tears in his crescent eyes. “Hyung.”
“Jongjin.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
Kibum and Jongwoon sat on the window sill, facing each other, as the moon glowed in the midnight sky. It was only a few days after Ryeowook and Jongjin had visited the hospital and Jongwoon had been discharged only the day before.
After Jongwoon had stopped Ryeowook, the boy had gone to the city to try and find something that was right for him. It was while he was scanning the streets that he came across auditions for a music company and got accepted. That’s where Ryeowook had met Jongjin. The boy recognized the similarities between Jongjin and Jongwoon right away and decided to reunite them after what Jongwoon had done for him.
“He wouldn’t have found him if he was in the gang.” Jongwoon’s foot dangled over the edge and brushed against a stray piece of rusted metal. “You knew that didn’t you?”
“I have to watch out for you.” For once, Kibum’s book lay discarded on the desk. “Remember?”
Jongwoon drew his legs up to his chest, his arms reaching around to hug them. “It was really good timing huh?”
“Mm.”
“Do you think I can live with them now? Do you think she’ll let me?” Jongwoon looked up, so much expectation gathered in his eyes.
Kibum smiled and nudged him. “I’m not a fortune teller. You’ll see tomorrow.”
Jongwoon smiled back at the other’s response. He sighed. “I guess I’ll have to wait,” he said in between yawns.
“Hey.” Kibum nudged him, softer this time. “Go to bed now.”
The teenager stretched and put his feet on the floor. He peeled off his shirt and tugged another over his head before climbing into his bed.
“Hey Kibum.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you,” Jongwoon said, drawing the covers close to his neck, his gaze directed towards the ceiling. “For being with me all this time. For believing in me.”
Kibum walked over and his fingertips gently brushed the hair that fell across Jongwoon’s forehead, the touch making Jongwoon even more comfortable and at ease. “Good night, Jongwoon.”
Jongwoon smiled sleepily at Kibum and closed his eyes. But just before Jongwoon fell asleep, he heard a faint whisper.
“I love you, too.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
When Jongwoon woke up the next morning, Kibum was nowhere to be seen.
When he came back home from seeing his lost-long mother, Kibum was nowhere to be seen.
When a week had passed and Jongwoon’s mother had finally asked him to move in with them, Kibum was nowhere to be seen.
And every night since then, Jongwoon would crawl into his bed and stare at the window where Kibum would always sit and fall asleep wondering what he did wrong.
~EnterBreakEnter~
“Is this everything, hyung?”
Jongwoon dusted off the top of the box Jongjin had just set down. “Yeah, that’s it.” He wiped his brow as the sweat trickled down his face. “I don’t have too much stuff.”
“That’s why all of your clothes and accessories are in it, right?” Jongjin teased. “I thought I was getting my hyung back, not a noona.”
Jongwoon pushed him playfully before ruffling his hair. “I just need to give in my key. Wait in the car.”
Jongjin walked to the door of the car and sat inside. “Just don’t take a detour in the bathroom or something, okay?”
Jongwoon stuck his tongue out at his brother over his shoulder as he walked back up the steps for the last time. He politely nodded to the landlord’s mother before knocking on the door.
“What?” she asked, already agitated so early in the morning.
“Thank you for letting me stay here,” Jongwoon said, hands stretched out to give the key, bowing at the waist.
She looked at him, then the key before snatching it from his hands. “Yeah. Good riddance,” she said before slamming the door in his face.
Jongwoon sneered at the door. She was always so grouchy anyways. He turned and began to walk out the door before an unfamiliar voice stopped him.
“Where is your friend?”
The teenager turned and saw no one but the old woman who always sat in the hallway. He looked at her and tilted his head.
“My friend?”
Her eyes and face were still, her mouth the only thing changing. “The one who always has a book.”
Jongwoon felt the color drain from his face, an unsettling feeling rise in his stomach. “How could you…see him?”
“Ah.” Finally, her eyes lit up, she bowed her head in a shy smile. This was the most movement he had ever seen from her. “So he was one of them.” The look in her eyes, it was if she was thinking back to personal experience, something no one else Jongwoon knew had.
“Did you know one, too?” Jongwoon asked. “Do you know where he went?”
The look in her eyes as she looked at Jongwoon, they could only be described as sympathetic. “His job must have been fulfilled,” she said quietly, like a mother speaking to her child.
Jongwoon blinked. “Job?”
The woman just smiled. “Have a safe trip.”
The teenager wanted to know what she meant but didn’t ask anything more. He gave a polite bow and walked back to the car. Jongjin was already hanging out of the window.
“Hurry up~”
It was just as Jongwoon jogged up to the car door that it hit him.
His family. To guide you to achieve what you want most, what you lack. Kibum had left after Jongwoon had found his family again.
Defending Ryeowook, helping him with school to make him stay out trouble, it had all been to help him find his family, to achieve what he wanted most and what he needed. That’s what his job was and now it was complete.
But as they drove away, Jongwoon couldn’t help but feel that something else was missing now.
~EnterBreakEnter~
Jongwoon leaned against the stone of the gate that surrounded the company building, waiting for Jongjin and Ryeowook to come out from their rehearsal.
It had been a few months since Jongwoon had moved into the city with his brother and mother and the new setting hadn’t been that difficult for Jongwoon to settle into. Since he had kept up with his homework since the year before, his grades were fine. But he took no interest in his future and would tend to stay in his room right after school since his mother had work and Jongjin was usually at the company building.
Jongjin would take notice of his brother’s attitude, and often asked him to audition for the same company so that the three of them could stay together. But Jongwoon declined, memories of singing along to old songs from the radio, teasing laughter and comments coming back to him. Instead, he would spend most of his time reading the books that he remembered Kibum would have to pass the time.
It was weird for Jongwoon still. He had his family, and he was more than thankful for being reunited with them, but he still missed the times that he and Kibum would spend together in the old apartment. He had gained an important part of his life back, but at the cost of something equally, if not more, significant.
Suddenly, Jongwoon heard his phone go off. He took it out from his coat pocket and flipped it open.
From: Jongjin
Hyung~ Meet us in the building,
we’re just getting something to
snack on. Ryeowook was getting
hungry again and you know I
can’t refuse him ^^
Jongwoon rolled his eyes and closed his phone before stuffing it back in his pocket and walked through the doors. He got to the revolving door, a little apprehensive about how to use it. He watched as a couple pushed through the doors and out to his side, talking as they walked past him. Jongwoon carefully walked into one of the divisions and began to slowly push forward. Satisfied with his progress, Jongwoon waked faster until he could exit through the opening on the inside of the building.
He took a step before being yanked backwards. Jongwoon turned and saw a section of his coat was caught in the door. Silently cursing, Jongwoon tugged on his coat, but the door wouldn’t budge. He was about to smash the glass with his foot in frustration until someone came up from behind him and pushed the door the opposite way, freeing his coat.
Jongwoon watched as the doors continued to swerve, the person coming back around. It wasn’t until they stepped back out and walked right up to Jongwoon, hands deep in his pockets that Jongwoon lifted up his face and froze, the unsettling feeling in his stomach rising for the first time in months.
“You’re Jongjin’s brother, aren’t you?” he asked, the tone and voice so soothing and nostalgic. “I’m Kibum.”
~EnterBreakEnter~
A/N: That was a crappy ending, I’m not going to lie. But I finished it~ I’ve only been working on this for….four months? I keep getting distracted. I still have to finish the other two Kisung fanfics I started too. And I might make another part of this, but from Kyuhyun and his prespective, because yes he has an angel too if anyone guessed it. But I can't choose between Donghae and Sungmin, let me know if you have any preference ^___^
Please be patient with me~ But thank you to those who waited this long and who will keep waiting. I’ll try to stop getting distracted…hopefully ^________^ Thank you for reading!