304 & 305
for: holeinmyface: "uhm, then, xing the guitar boy who meet jongdae the piano boy!"
304
Right on time, Yixing thought when he heard the soft murmur of the piano. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, listening to the smooth melody.
That night was a pop mashup. The music started out slow, cautious. Little by little, the tempo increased. Before the chorus of the first song began, the song changed, the tempo quickened. The song after that was slower with the notes held longer, the pressure from the pianist’s fingers softer. After a minute or so the pace began to quicken again. The transitions were fluid and well executed. Yixing would have probably missed them if he hadn’t been listening so closely.
He could picture the swiftness in which the pianist’s hands slid across the keys. The haphazard manner in which his limbs move and the chilling accuracy in which those fingers hit the keys. It made Yixing’s fingers ache and yearn for his guitar.
Most nights he gave in. Holding his guitar close, Yixing played along with the songs he knew, improvising during unfamiliar parts he didn’t recognize. Some days, like today, he held himself back, not wanting to disturb the other boy’s practice. Those were the days he sat cross legged on the floor, his eyes closed, his ears open, just listening and enjoying the music that flowed from the third floor music room.
Kim Jongdae was the quiet boy who took most of the same classes as Yixing. He was a junior, like Yixing, and even though they had entered the university at around the same time, Yixing didn’t really know much about the other boy. Truthfully, until two months prior Yixing had no idea who Kim Jongdae was or that the boy even existed. All he really known was that there was a boy who played the Chopin and pop songs in room 304 of the music building at one in the morning.
The only reason Yixing knew his name and year was because he had seen the boy walk into the room 304. The next day he had seen the exact same face walking into Yixing’s music appreciation class, math class, and history class. He had asked Luhan about the boy and, not without disbelief-“What do you mean who is he? He’s been sitting behind you for the past two months, and he’s in practically all your classes!“-and extensive teasing, Luhan had told him.
Yixing had a bad memory when it comes to faces. He had a bad memory when it came to names and numbers and directions, he was not afraid to admit it, but when it came to music he changed. Music was part of him, something he couldn’t live without. It seemed to be engraved into his being.
Forgetting how to play the guitar would have been like forgetting how to breathe or forgetting how to walk. He couldn’t forget that day, almost half a year ago, when he had first heard the piano in room 304. He didn’t know the name of the song, even now he doesn’t, but he remembered the impression it had given him. It had been beautiful and that, in Yixing’s opinion, was all he needed to know. To him, it was all that mattered.
Jongdae owned 304 like Yixing owned 305. He played the piano at ungodly hours of the night, just as Yixing did on his guitar. He played with skill, but more than that, he played with passion and that was all that mattered to Yixing.
It was two hours before Yixing heard the knock on the door.
“Hyung! Are you in there?”
“Yeah, hold on!” Yixing called, placing his guitar into it’s case and strapping it on his back. When he opened the door Jongdae stared back at him, his messenger bag slung across his shoulders and his hair hidden under baseball cap. Every time Yixing saw him, he seemed to have a perpetual smile on his face. That night was no different.
That day, when Yixing had asked Luhan about Jongdae, Luhan had taken it upon himself to introduce the two of them. (“You’ll have to forgive this one. He forgets his own name sometimes.”) Jongdae had already known who Yixing was, which wasn’t really a surprise if they really did have most of the classes together.
When Yixing had complimented Jongdae on his piano skills. Jongdae had returned the compliment which surprised Yixing because he had never thought that the other boy actually heard him, or listened. It was a stupid thought, but the thought had simply never crossed his mind before. It had felt a little weird-not the compliment, the idea that someone actually listened to what he played at the unholy hour of one in the morning.
Two nights after Luhan’s introduction, Jongdae had knocked on the door to 305 and it has been that way ever since.
“Are you finished?” Jongdae asked, peering into the small room.
“Yeah, I was just packing up.”
“Oh really?” Yixing watched as Jongdae’s smile grew wider. “Then do you want to come over to my place to watch a movie? Baekhyun’s not there...so...” It was hard not to notice the blush that spreads across the other boy’s cheeks and ears. “Um...it’s gonna be quiet...?” He gave a nervous laugh. It seemed like the other boy was always either blushing, laughing or stumbling over his words.
“Sure, why not?” Yixing smiled at the way Jongdae’s eyes lit up and his lips pulled into a full smile.
“Really? Cool!”
As Yixing got to know Jongdae, he realised that he liked the other boy. Not just the music he played, but liked Jongdae himself. Jongdae was quiet, but could got lively and energetic when he spoke about his interests. They had the same sense of humour and liked most of the same things so they had become fast friends. There were still some things that Yixing did not understand about the other boy, like why he blushed at everything and seemed perpetually nervous, but, Yixing thought, that would come in time.
for: shirahimejj: "Need a follow-up on the causes of blushing~ ~\^_^/~"
305
Zhang Yixing is that weird kid in class that sits near the back by the window with that far off gaze in his eyes. He’s the loner who sits in the courtyard and the library and the quad with a guitar in his lap, paying no attention to what’s going on around him. He’s the guy that locks himself up in the third floor music room every evening and doesn’t leave until four in the morning. Sometimes he doesn’t leave at all and Luhan or Kris has to kick him out or else he’ll be there all day.
He’s also the boy Jongdae has a massive crush on.
“Then do you want to come over to my place to watch a movie? Baekhyun’s not there...so...um...it’s gonna be quiet...?” Quiet? He inwardly groans. Smooth Jongdae, realsmooth. He wants to find a little hole, jump in it and never come out because Yixing must think he’s some kind of loser, if he doesn’t think that already.
Jongdae doesn’t even know why he tries. Until two months ago, Yixing hadn’t even known he existed, even though they had had so many classes together. Even though Jongdae always chose the seat closest to Yixing, somewhere he could stare all he wanted and never get caught.
It hadn’t come as a shock when Luhan, Yixing’s friend had introduced them-introduced Yixing to Jongdae, but it had hurt, a lot. It hurt more than he had thought it would, which doesn’t make sense because Jongdae already knew Yixing didn’t care for Jongdae like Jongdae cared for him.
It was two and a half years ago, in their freshman year, when it all started. It had been late in the evening and Jongdae had been on his way to club. He had hear the older boy before he saw him, heard the soft melodies of his guitar echoing through the halls. Jongdae had followed it and it had led him to Yixing’s favorite third floor music room.
It was hot that day and the door had been open. Yixing sat on the bench by the open window, playing some tune Jongdae vaguely thought he knew. It was beautiful, and sad and only added to the etherealness of the boy, his hair swaying in the late autumn breeze, his frame hunched over an electric acoustic, fingers flying over the neck, a somber expression marring his features.
Jongdae hadn’t fallen in love with Yixing that night. He hadn’t even known the boy. He had known who Yixing was-everyone in the freshman class knew the guy who slept through all of Mr. Shim’s classes and still passed with straight A’s, but after that night, it was that image that stayed with Jongdae. He knew Yixing as the pretty boy who locked himself in room 305.
***
“Sorry if it’s a bit messy.” Jongdae says, turning on the lights. His apartment’s small and a bit cramped. It’s only Baekhyun and him in there, sometimes Chanyeol or Kyungsoo or Joonmyun but most of the time all three at once so normally there’s always crap everywhere. Tonight, though, it’s spotless. He made sure of it before leaving and made Baekhyun promise to not touch anything while he was gone.
“Do you want anything to drink?” He asks, setting his bag on the small dining table.
“Umm…do you have coke?”
“Yeah.” He smiles.
They pick an action movie, and twenty minutes in Jongdae can’t bring himself to pay attention any longer. He sits cross legged on one side of the couch with Yixing on the other. He looks so into the movie Jongdae can’t help the small smile that spreads on his lips.
Jongdae had fallen in love with Yixing slowly. So slowly that he doesn’t really know how it happened or the exact moment he knew he was doomed. Yixing with his guitar. Yixing asleep with his head down. Yixing dropping down from wherever far off land he had been in and coming back down to earth. Over the past two years Jongdae has watched and listened, falling harder and harder, deeper and deeper in love with the weirdo who didn’t even know his name.
He almost can’t believe that the same guy is sitting in his apartment, across from him. It’s hard not to stare, and Jongdae forgets to hide it.
“What do you keep staring at?” The question comes as a surprise and it takes a while for Jongdae to realize it’s even been asked.
“N-n-nothing!” He stammers, his face flaming red from embarrassment. Of all the times to get caught! He can feel his ears burning. “I wasn’t staring at anything…” He draws his knees up, curling into a ball, hiding his face. He wants to die.
“Jongdae…” He hears and shakes his head. He wants to die. What does he do now? Yixing must think he’s such a freak. Why did he even invite him over? This had been a horrible idea!
“Jongdae” Yixing says again. He’s closer, much closer and when he touches Jongdae’s shoulder Jongdae can’t keep it in any longer.
“Ilikeyouokay?” He sputters. “I-I just…” He turns his head to the side, “I don’t know. I just like you…” There’s a pause before Yixing speaks.
“Was that it?”
Was that it? Jongdae stiles and then lifts his head, his eyes on Yixing. Was that it? runs through his head, over and over.
“Wha…” Jongdae says quietly, too quiet for Yixing to catch.
“I like you too.” There’s amusement in Yixing’s voice and then Jongdae understands.
Not like that. He wants to say. I don’t like you like that, but the words get stuck in his throat and Yixing’s attention is turned back to the stupid movie.
Jongdae is heartbroken. It feels like someone has just punched him in the gut and he can’t breathe. He blinks and there are tears forming in his eyes. He wills them away but they don’t listen so he buries his face again and tries not to make any sound.
“Hey,” Yixing tugs on his arm and Jongdae shakes his head, wiping the tears on his sleeve. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. It’s stupid.” He is so stupid. Two months ago, Yixing hadn’t even known Jongdae existed. Why would he have returned Jongdae’s stupid feelings-
“Jongdae,” Yixing says and it comes out so gentle.
“No. Don’t. It’s nothing…”
“It’s not nothing.” Yixing manages to pull one arm free, and then another. “Tell me?” A hand brushes against Jongdae’s cheek, sweeping away the tears.
“I-” He starts, “not like that. I…don’t like you like that.” There’s that pause again and Yixing blinks. He breathes out a little laugh.
“Jongdae, I like you.” He says it slowly, calmly. Jongdae will never understand how he can say that with a straight face. He will never understand how Yixing can be so completely un-flustered, so cool, so unlike Jongdae, who blushes whenever the other boy even looks his way.
Yixing leans in and it’s too brief, too light, too sweet to be called a kiss, but that’s what it is. “Okay?” Yixing asks but how can things be even remotely okay? Jongdae nods anyway, waiting for the dizziness to pass. His face is burning and he can’t bring himself to face Yixing.
The movie ends and they throw in another and another. Yixing stays without Jongdae having to ask.
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a/n: …this is also a semi apology for the horrible smut I’m about to write =/ I feel like all I write is Jongdae crying lol
I didn't realize the tense changed o.o that's a little weird...
I'll revise these later.