» Eternal Sunshine, Part 1. Hanchul. AU/Romance. 2391 words.
The consequences of Targeted Memory Erasure.
A/N: This is only my second time writing Hanchul! It's not going to be perfect but I've been dying to get this out. Loosely based on the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Valentine's Day, 2005.
Today is a holiday, invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like shit.
Han Geng decided, what the hell; he would skip work today. Took a train out to Busan, although he doesn't know why -- he's not an impulsive person.
It's snowing when he gets to the beach; the sand freezes his feet, even through his shoes, and he can feel the wind whipping against his chest, even through his coat. He looks out over the ocean and thinks, maybe, just maybe, he'll meet someone new.
There's a girl not far off from him -- wait, no, that's a man. His hair is the color of fire, his chocolate eyes wide as he looks out over the same tumbling mass of grey water.
Han Geng looks over at this peculiar stranger; they make eye contact. Han Geng looks away quick, walks off. He wonders why he can't make eye contact with anyone without feeling self conscious.
An hour later, he's sitting in a lonely diner not far from the beach and, lo and behold, there's that same strange man with the strange hair. He's dressed in a black peacoat with ripped grey jeans and sneakers on. Rather classy.
The two look up, make eye contact. The stranger smiles, then looks down at his tea and sighs. Han Geng blushes, and thinks to himself, why do I fall in love with everyone who shows me the tiniest bit of attention?
Two hours after that, he's seated on a train back to Seoul, and, lo and behold, there he is again. The same fiery head of hair is seated five rows away, and is staring out the window like it's the most fascinating thing he's ever seen in his life.
Han Geng looks over and watches for a few moments, completely fascinated by the way the other man just stares out the window with such concentration. But, oh no, he looks up, and they make eye contact again.
The stranger smiles. "Hi," He says loudly, waving his hand. Han Geng stumbles a bit, pauses.
"Hi," He says back, looking away.
The stranger gets up, walks over to Han Geng and sits in the seat in front of him. The train is practically empty, so really, he could sit anywhere. But he decides to sit right there.
He then turns around to face Han Geng.
"Where you going?" The stranger asks, tilting his head to the side quizzically. Han Geng can't help but find it adorable.
"Seoul," He says with a smile. The stranger gasps.
"No way!" He cries. "Me too." He then thrusts out his hand at Geng and says, "Heechul. Kim Heechul."
"H-Han Geng," Is the reply; Han Geng takes Heechul's hand and shakes it gingerly. "It's a nice name, it's...yeah, Heechul. It's nice."
"Thanks, I guess," Heechul says with a smile.
After a minute, Heechul still hasn't let go. "Have I seen you before? I feel like I know you."
Han Geng's brow furrows; he's sure he's never seen Heechul before. "Um..."
"Oh!" Heechul cries. "Do you work at SME?" He asks.
"Um, yeah, how did you--?"
"So do I! I must've seen you around there somehow." Heechul says with a grin, batting his eyes playfully at Han Geng.
"Oh..." Han Geng trails off, before staring out the window again. A few minutes pass by in silence, neither of them making eye contact or any significant attempt at continuing the conversation.
After about five more minutes, Heechul turns back around to face Han Geng once more and sighs. "Look, I'm...sorry if I came off kind of strong. I'm kind of a vindictive little bitch, truth be told."
Han Geng blinks, tilts his head to the side. "I wouldn't think that about you."
Heechul's brow furrows, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Why wouldn't you think that about me?" He asks, tilting his head to the side. He's not mocking Han Geng in the least -- he's actually curious.
"I just, I dunno..." Han Geng shrugs. "You seem nice."
Heechul rolls his eyes. "Do you know any other adjective?" He snaps, almost glaring at Han Geng. The other man is clearly taken aback, because most people would just take the compliment and run with it. But Heechul... "I don't need to be nice and I don't need anyone to be it to me."
"...sorry," Han Geng says, looking out the window again.
Again, minutes pass in relative silence, the only noise coming from the rattling of the train. Heechul sighs after a moment. "Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you," He says. "I'm just gonna...go back to my seat." He says, getting up. He walks over to his original seat, plops his ass down, and looks out the window, and everything is back to the way it was.
Han Geng is driving home, through the busy streets of Seoul, when he sees a familiar head of fiery hair walking down the sidewalk next to him, staring at the ground as he goes without a care in the world. Han Geng pulls to a stop and quickly rolls down his window. "Hey!" He calls out the window; Heechul stops and looks up. "I could give you a ride home if you want."
Heechul stares at him blankly, and slowly starts to walk off when he turns around and dashes for the car. "Yeah, sure," He says, opening the door and climbing into the shitbox. (Han Geng's car has seen far too many days.) "It is a bit nippy out."
A few moments pass in silence, something that is apparently common when the two are together. "You're not some kind of stalker, are you?" Heechul asks after about five minutes, looking up at Han Geng and grinning.
"Um," Han Geng starts with a laugh. "You're the one who talked to me."
"Oh, come on," Heechul says. "That is the oldest trick in the Stalker Handbook."
"There's a Stalker Handbook?" Han Geng asks, eyes wide. Heechul laughs, an airy, clear sort of sound. Han Geng finds himself drawn to this peculiar stranger.
"I'm sorry if I came off as kind of nuts," Heechul says, quoting the word nuts with his fingers. "I'm really not, I promise."
"I...didn't think you were," Han Geng says, turning and smiling, uncertain if whether his words will piss the other man off or not. Heechul simply smiles, turns his head and gazes out the window; the conversation is dropped.
They reach Heechul's apartment building ten minutes later. Heechul is getting out of the car when he stops, pokes his head back inside. "Do you wanna..." He starts, uncertain. "Come upstairs for a drink?"
Han Geng blinks. "What?"
"I have plenty of drinks -- soju, sake, vodka, et cetera..." He pauses, then chuckles to himself. Han Geng doesn't realize the look of pure confusion on his face. "You know what, just...forget it. Have a good night."
"No, wait--"
"Goodbye, Han Geng."
Ten minutes later, Han Geng is sitting awkwardly in Heechul's black leather recliner in his apartment. The decor is filled with paintings of roses and numerous figurines, sculptures and crystal pieces in the shape of cats. There is a Russian Blue, whose collar reads Heebum in exquisitely-written Hangul, seated on the couch next to Han Geng's chair and is staring at him like he's a threat. Han Geng tries not to make eye contact; even with animals, he's awkward.
Heechul comes out a minute later, two cat-covered cups in hand. "Two screwdrivers," He says, holding one out to Han Geng, who stares at it awkwardly. "Drink up, it'll make this whole seduction thing a lot easier."
The look on Han Geng's face is apparently priceless, because Heechul immediately bursts into laughter. "What?" Han Geng asks, nearly spilling his drink with how hard his hands are shaking.
"I'm just kidding!" Heechul laughs, collapsing on the couch next to Heebum. "Come on."
A few more minutes pass, again, in silence. Heechul takes a gulp of his drink and turns to Han Geng. "You're pretty quiet, huh?"
"Sorry," Han Geng mutters, looking down at his glass. "I just..."
"What?" Heechul probes.
"My life isn't very...interesting," Han Geng answers. "I go to work, I come home, I...do nothing. You should just read my journal, it's...it's blank."
"Doesn't that make you...I dunno, anxious?" Heechul asks, downing the rest of his drink. "I mean, I'm always worried I'm not living my life to the fullest or whatever."
They stare at each other, and finally, they break into smiles and giggle like old friends.
Heechul nonchalantly leans his head on Han Geng's shoulder, causing the other man to jump slightly. Heechul takes Han Geng's hand and draws patterns on his palm, and smiles up to him. "We should go on a picnic. On the Han River. It's frozen this time of year."
"That sounds..." Han Geng starts, attempting to find the words to say. "Frightening."
"Exactly." Heechul laughs. He laces their fingers together and sighs, causing Han Geng to jump again.
"Y-You know, I should...go," Han Geng says, starting to get up.
"No, you should stay!" Heechul says, grinning. "Please."
"No, really, I have to get up early, and I...yeah," Han Geng replies. Heechul sighs, obviously irritated; panic spreads through Han Geng's body.
"Then will you call me?" Heechul asks, raising his eyebrows. "To wish me a happy Valentine's Day?"
Han Geng returns home and it's ten o'clock. He drops his bag by the door and collapses on his couch, stares at the ceiling and sighs.
Life is...boring.
He waits about five minutes, then looks at the back of his hand, where a number is scribbled messily. He fishes out his cell phone with his other hand and dials the number quick.
After three rings, someone picks up. "What took you so long?" Heechul asks, a smile apparent in his voice.
"I just walked in," Han Geng says, grinning.
"Do you miss me?" Heechul asks nonchalantly, like how he seems to ask all awkward questions.
"Surprisingly," Han Geng starts, a smirk forming on his lips. "I do."
Heechul gasps. "You said I do," He says, laughing. "Looks like we're married."
Han Geng chuckles and nods. "Yeah, looks like it."
The following evening, Heechul is standing by the Han River as Han Geng's car pulls up. "Jesus," Heechul says as the younger man gets out of the car. "What took you so long?"
"Is that all you ever ask?" Han Geng asks. He's dressed in a heavy coat, a hat and some mittens, along with his normal jeans and sneakers.
"Yes," Heechul replies smartly. He holds his hand out to Han Geng, who takes it gingerly.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Han Geng asks. "I mean, isn't it...dangerous?"
"Oh, please," Heechul says. "The ice is thicker than your head. Nothing to worry about."
Han Geng snorts. "Gee. Thanks."
Heechul leads them out onto the ice, Han Geng nearly slipping and breaking his neck within the first five seconds. "Don't be so skittish," Heechul says. "Be confident that you won't fall, but not overconfident."
Han Geng listens, and soon gets the hang of it; he doesn't let go of Heechul's hand, however.
Heechul is the one who lets go; he runs forward and stops abruptly, sliding forward with a squeal. He then falls on his ass and cries out in pain. "Motherfuck!" He screams, laughing. He leans back on the ground and stares up at the sky. "Aww, come look at this!"
"What if it breaks?" Han Geng asks cautiously, not wanting to go too far out. Heechul sits up and gives him a look.
"Do you really care right now? Come on!" He cries. Han Geng sighs and obliges, not wanting to get Heechul all up in a tizzy. He walks over to him and gets down on the ice next to him, and gazes up at the sky. "Isn't it gorgeous?"
Han Geng smiles. "Yeah," He says softly. He rolls onto his side and looks over at Heechul, and can't help thinking, but you're more gorgeous.
They spend the rest of the night on the ice, laughing and talking about old times that they never had.
A few hours past sunrise, Han Geng pulls up outside Heechul's apartment building. The redhead, passed out in the passenger's seat, stirs lightly in his sleep.
"Heechul," Han Geng says gently, touching the other man's face with a feather-light touch. "Heechul, we're here."
Heechul instinctively grabs Han Geng's hand and rubs it gently before opening his eyes. He immediately lets go and sits up, his face flushing almost the color of his cheeks. "Ah...can I sleep at your house?" He asked, yawning. "I'm so...I'm so tired."
Han Geng pauses, then nods. "Yeah," He says with a smile.
Heechul nods and unbuckles his seat belt. "Let me just...grab my tooth brush, 'kay?" He asks, opening the car door and sliding out. Han Geng watches as the redhead makes his way into the building.
Han Geng sighs and leans his head back, his eyes fluttering shut. This is going so...so well.
Suddenly, there are three knocks on his window. He spring up and looks out to see a young man -- obviously younger than him -- standing there, dressed in a black jacket and jeans. His hair is brown and shaggy, and his eyes are wide and the color of chocolate.
Han Geng rolls his window down. "Yes?"
"Can I...help you?" The young man asks, almost nervously. Han Geng raises an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry?"
"Can I help you with something?" The young man repeats. "I mean...are you here for a reason?"
"Um..." Han Geng starts. "I'm visiting a friend."
"Oh," The young man says. "Oh. Okay." With that, he turns around and walks off.
Han Geng stares out the window after him for a few moments; he then shrugs, rolls up his window, and shuts his eyes once more.
Minutes later, Heechul reappears -- hair a mess and eyes flooded with tears. He throws open the car door and stares at Han Geng, who simply stares back.
"What?" Han Geng finally asks, breaking the silence.
"You need to come upstairs," Heechul says. "Now."
---
My name is Han Geng, and I am here to erase Kim Heechul from my memory.
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a/n: expect part two by the end of next week!