Addicted Too Your Love [jongkey, 2min] [2/4]
Title: Addicted Too Your Love
Pairing: Jongkey, 2min
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama
Rating: PG-13 (Consumption of alcohol, Slight sexual content, Language)
Word count: 4,105
Disclaimer(s): I own nothing.
Summary: Some addictions just can't be quit.
A/N: A big shout out to my beta, siaht ! <3
Chapter One
Every inch of my body is ready to take off as my heart beat begins to race and an awful amount of sweat begins to collect under my thick outfit. I can't think of anything other than just who had dared to come to the restaurant, where he knew I worked, with some bimbo on his arm.
From across the room, Jonghyun looks just as frozen and shocked as I am, but then why would he be? He's the ass hole coming in to rub it in my face that we're over and he can't even wait one full week before grabbing up some hot chick to be his new love. He turns to the businessmen and looks as if he's excusing himself before standing up, and as if in slow motion, makes his way over to the bar. Over to where I'm standing dumbstruck and completely still like a statue. A big, dumb, hopelessly in love statue.
And just as he reaches the bar it's as if a switch flips in my mind and I'm back to Kim Kibum, the friendly bartender. The Kim Kibum who isn't totally desperate for his ex to take him back, to tell him the whole thing was just a big joke. I turn all of my attention on the man, who has finally finished his order, and realize maybe he wasn't taking as long as I thought because now that I've begun to make his drink it doesn't seem very complicated or drawn out at all.
My eyes are solely on my work, ignoring the stare I'm getting from my ex boyfriend as he leans against the countertop right in front of me. No, I'm totally not staring back just as hard out of the corner of my eye while praying I'm mixing the right drink.
"Here you are, sir," I say, all smiles as I hand the man his drink, "Let me know if you need anything else." Or if I completely screwed up your order.
The waves of electricity between me and Jonghyun are enough to even spark the man's attention. He nods his appreciation towards me before taking his drink and going to the other end of the bar, as far away from us and the upcoming confrontation as possible. I want to yell at Jonghyun to get lost because he's disturbing my customers, but that would mean acknowledging him and I can't do that. Instead I take the rag hanging around the neck of the sink head and start wiping off my work area, because dammit if those tiny droplets of water weren't disgusting.
"Key?"
I use more force to scrub the stubborn surface of my counter. How dare he use his pet name for me, after everything he's done? The muscles in my jaw go tight as I use all of my will power to not snap this very second.
"Kibum, listen to me," and this time Jonghyun slams his hand on the bar to get my attention.
I throw my dish towel to the side and glare into those lying, betraying, hurtful eyes. Those eyes that cause me so much pain because all I can see in them is our happy past together. "Why should I, you bastard?" I spit while placing one hand on my hip.
Jonghyun leans forward, voice low. "Look, Kibum, I didn't mean to - I thought you wouldn't be here, you don't normally work on Tuesdays." I scoff so he reaches out to put a hand over mine, which was resting on the cool marble countertop. "You know I would never hurt you on purpose."
And I almost give into that pleading, deep brown gaze and the familiar warmth of his hand. But then I see that woman over his shoulder, laughing obnoxiously while waving her wine glass around, and I'm back to reality. Back to me and him broken up by his choice. The hell he wouldn't hurt me on purpose! I pull back my hand from his touch like it's fire and quickly find something to keep my hands busy. Those glasses look a little dusty.
"Why don't you go tell your line of bull shit to your girlfriend over there," I say as I begin pulling glasses off of shelves to be cleaned off," I have work to do."
Jonghyun spares a quick glance backwards but seems uninterested. "What, her? She's just the daughter of one of the label owners, I need her to get to him is all," he explains with a shrug," And you don't look very busy."
I make sure he can see my rather dramatic eye roll. "So you're just using her? What a gentleman." And despite the venom in my words, I can't help the relief that flutters in my heart. "Look, order something or go away," I say, because he keeps looking at me with some hidden emotion I can't figure out and it's bothering the shit out of me. And because he's wearing my favorite cologne and I really want to jump him this second as it drifts across the bar.
Jonghyun straightens while giving me an undecipherable look. "Fine, just as long as you know I didn't intend for us to meet up like this."
I turn my back to him, but mutter just loud enough for him to hear," Yeah, whatever."
"Don't assume you know everything, Kibum."
I can hear the heavy thuds of his footsteps as he walks away and I have to fight every fiber inside me from turning to watch him leave. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Maybe - no, even if he still cares about me enough to come over and explain himself that doesn't change the fact we are over. He couldn't possibly have any feelings left for me. Besides, he's already gotten so much closer to his dream in the short time we've been apart than in all the eighteen months we were together. Label owners? That sounded pretty serious.
We are over. I tilt my head up as if I'm checking out the lights so I can blink back tears. Maybe if I keep telling myself that, eventually it won't hurt so much.
-----
Two hours. They stayed for two hours eating, drinking, and flirting heartily. With every coy smile and every cautious brush of skin, I can feel my heart ripping in half just that much more. Fortunately, when I didn't have customers out my ass, Nickhun came over and chatted to keep me distracted. But even as I considered Khun's offer to go out for a drink sometime, I can still sense the immense sexual desire emitting from the woman with Jonghyun. It was nauseating, the way she stared at him like she couldn't even see there's a person with feelings inside that hot body.
"So, what do you say, Kibum?"
And my eyes dart from where the skanky whore had sat across the room before they left almost an hour ago back to the adorable waiter seated beside me. He was back after escorting his last customers out the door to see if I had my answer yet. Khun was so adorable in the way he fidgeted nervously, waiting for my answer with school boy hope as if he were asking out his first crush. I feel guilty, because I have to crush that hope. It was just too soon.
"Khun, I - "
"And you are free to go, people!" Jokwon announces loudly as he enters from behind the 'Employee's Only' covered door.
As if sensing the coming rejection, Khun shoots out of his seat and waves at me as he takes off for the door. "Don't worry, you can answer me later!" He calls as he disappears into the back to get changed.
I slowly blow out a huff of air, frowning down at my hands folded in my lap. I scoot back my chair from the table where I had been waiting to be released so I can go get myself changed.
By the time I get outside, once again in my comfortable street clothes, my feet are dragging. The thought strikes me that I'm not going to be able to call off from the studio two days in a row. I'm going to have to get up, I check my watch, five hours from now fresh and ready to dance my ass off. Awesome. I find my scooter where I parked it, a yellow and white beacon transportation. The ride home is chilly.
By the time I make it home, all I have the energy left to do is crawl into my bed and sleep. So that's what I do, ignoring the gut wrenching plea for food and the uncomfortable itchy feeling my jeans cause. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out like a light.
-----
"Step and one and two, and one and two, and one and - Stop!" I bark above the music, voice reverberating against the walls of the practice room. "What is wrong with you girls? Get the moves right or get out of my class!"
I watch as one of the girls', Krystal, eyes start to water. She knows she's the reason everyone is off, because she hasn't put in the proper practice time needed to get through the routine smoothly. I cross my arms over my chest, not feeling even the slightest twinge of guilt as she struggles to control her emotions.
"I will show you the moves one more time- " I stop giving my orders as a head of brown hair bobs into the room. I glare at Taemin. Why is he interrupting my lesson? He motions for me to come out into the hall, so I wheel my attention back to the oldest student," Amber, I know you have the routine down, go through it with them again," I send a pointed look in Krystal's direction," And how about we pay attention this time."
I follow the young instructor out. "Someone had better be dead," I warn as soon as we are away from student's prying ears.
"I take it you didn't sleep well?" Taemin says through his dazzling smile and I just want to reach out and strangle him for being so damn chipper.
"How could you tell?" I say flippantly as I lean back against the wall.
"Other than the fact that I just witnessed you make a student cry?" Taemin raises an eyebrow at me.
I open my mouth to preach the importance of focus, which Krystal is clearly lacking, but I'm cut off at the sudden scent of creamy vanilla mocha underneath my nose. Seemingly pulling the coffee from nowhere, Taemin continues to grin as I grab the warm cup of my life force from his hands.
"Oh, Taeminnie, you have made me very happy," I say, momentarily forgetting my sour mood.
Taemin laughs. "I figured you'd need it," and as his gaze drifts down the hallway, he takes in a sharp breath of air. "You're really going to need it. See ya' later, Kibum!" Taemin rushes off, probably back to whatever class he was skipping out on.
What an odd kid. I don't have time to consider just why he's so quick to run off, because holy shit this coffee is so heavenly. I'm rejoicing in the near orgasmic flavor when a tap on my shoulder cuts my attention to my left. I immediately straighten, in case it's one of the superiors wondering just why I thought it was okay to leave my students to have a coffee break.
"Kibum ~ "
And oh my god, it's not one of the superiors, it's Sunny. My coffee is nearly lost as I take in her murderous eyes; she looks like a mother bear whose cub was taken away.
"Sunny?" I question, trying to ignore the way her hand is twitching, like she wants to lash out and scratch my eyes out with her perfectly trimmed to a point nails.
The corner of her lips turn up like she's trying really hard to smile but her muscles won't comply with her. "Kibum, darling, do you have any idea what I came home to last night?" she asks in a sing song voice.
A light bulb turns on in my mind and suddenly the thought strikes me I never let her or Jinki know I had to leave last night. "Oh, about last night, I got called into work - "
"I came home to two horny teenagers making out in my living room," Sunny spoke through clenched teeth," Kibum, why would you even consider leaving Hana with those boys? And without even asking me first?"
All kind words slip off my tongue and any earlier plans of being pleasant are forgotten. If there is one thing I can't stand, it's being interrupted. I place my free hand on my hip.
"So would you have preferred if I left Hana by herself?" An eyebrow juts upward as I stare Sunny straight in the eyes,"Taemin and Minho are both adults. Their first priority was Hana, but since she was sound asleep I'm sure they didn't think it was such a big deal if they made out a little bit."
"Don't start with me, Kibum. This is my daughter we're talking about and I don't approve of that kind of behavior in my home," Sunny is fuming and I'm not far behind her. "You should have called me to make sure it was okay before you took over the situation with your 'almighty' knowledge."
Her words feel like a smack in the face.
"Don't assume you know everything, Kibum."
Shit. I managed to keep him off my mind all morning, now Jonghyun's mysterious comment is back and the meaning is swirling around in my mind. What had he meant? And do I really act so almighty, because to have two people point it out in the span of twelve hours seemed a little more than coincidental?
My shoulders slump and I no longer want to argue with Sunny. What's the point? "You're right," I say with a frown. "I need to get back to my class."
"Wait, Kibum - "
The door to the practice room slams shut behind me. I'm drowning in my own self pity, I don't need anyone else's to go along with it.
-----
I used to complain about work all the time; Jonghyun would have to listen to me rant for hours on the topic. Now work seems like a blessing. As soon as I'm done with the school, I'm on my scooter heading back home to get in a quick shower and grab my uniform for the restaurant. I unlock the door to my apartment and step inside. Everything is quiet and I'm really wishing I had some kind of pet now to fill in the void Jonghyun normally took up.
I settle for turning on the radio instead, because any noise is better than none. Some new girl group is playing. What if someday it's Jonghyun playing on the radio? What if he became the next big thing? I guess I could gloat and rub it in all of his little fangirls' faces that I used to date him. Jonghyun never said he was ashamed of our relationship, that wasn't why we broke up, so it wouldn't cause any issues. Even if it did, he would deserve it.
Ugh, I'm so incredibly lame. I need to move on. It's not like he hasn't.
I arrive at work, somehow late despite all the time I had spent wandering around the apartment figuring out what to do with my extra time. I'm never late. I glare at my watch, maybe it was off?
"Kibum, you're late," Jokwon snaps as he prances his way into the staff's room,"Hurry up and get out there, you're waiting tables today."
I frown. Where did the time go? I enter the front of the restaurant, adjusting my hanbok so it hangs correctly.
"Kibum!" Nickun calls from behind the bar, waving me over.
Since when did he bartend? The look I give him as I sidle up to the bar must voice my curiosity enough, because Khun motions towards a veteran bartender, Seulong. "He's teaching me," he informs with a soft smile.
I take in that smile and those large brown eyes and know exactly what I have to do.
"I think I'll take you up on your offer, babe," I say like it's nothing so he can't tell just how big of a deal this really is for me.
Khun's mouth drops just as quickly as the glass in his hand, except his jaw doesn't hit the floor with a shatter. He begins speaking in a jumble of excited speech and I can't help but smile at just how pure this guy is. I talk him down from his flurry, reassuring him that Friday night is perfect and of course I want him to pick me up. I ignore the dull pang of guilt echoing inside me, because maybe I will grow to like him as something more than just a distraction.
-----
Work ends, I avoid any real contact with Khun successfully, and I'm on my way home. Everything is perfect. And then out of nowhere a car swerves in front of my scooter and the bright lights of the city are gone and I'm falling in what has to be the slowest motion since the Matrix movies. I barely see the black pavement of the road before my face is kindly introducing itself to it with a big 'thunk'. Everything goes black.
-----
Kibum. Kibum. Kibum. Who the hell is yelling into my ear? My head is pounding like a bitch and someone feels the need to shout? Why wasn't this Kibum guy answering - Oh, wait, I'm Kibum. The person is shouting my name. I try to force my eyes open, but the pain in my temples only increases and maybe the shouting isn't that irritating it can't wait a few more seconds.
"Kibum?" The voice rings in my ears again.
Okay, it was irritating enough. I will my eye lids to open if only for the fact I want to tell this jerk off for waking me up. But my mouth goes dry as I focus in on the blurry image of none other than Kim Jonghyun. Wasn't Seoul a big enough city for us to stop meeting up like this?
Wait, like this? And I become vividly aware of the cool night air whistling over fresh scrapes and gashes along my body and just how hard the ground is beneath me. My vision is blurring the next moment and all the colors of the lit up city and Jonghyun's concerned gaze mix together. My brain feels like it's going into overload, I just can't figure out anything.
"J-Jjong?" I ask, panicky because I can't remember how I ended up on the side of the road, my scooter barely recognizable a few feet in front of me.
Jonghyun's smile is all relief and I realize he's cradling my shoulders and head in his arms. "Kibum, finally!" He lets out a big breath. "Are you okay? Can you move everything? Do you need me to call an ambulance?"
I wiggle my toes and flex my fingers. I try to sit up, but my vision swirls and I check that off my list of things to do at this moment. "I - I'm fine," I say with a shaky intake of air," What happened?"
"Some asshole bumped you off the road! God, you're lucky you're not seriously hurt!" And Jonghyun's mouth is moving, but I can't keep up with his words.
I blink and try to swallow, but my throat is dry and it hurts. "Jonghyun," I croak," I want to go home."
He immediately stops talking. He looks unsure for a moment, but then pulls himself to his feet, dragging me up along with him. Jonghyun supports most of my weight as he watches me with a cautious eye.
"Can you walk?" He asks, biting down on his bottom lip in the way he always does when he's nervous.
I take a step and shit I'm seeing stars. Before I can face plant after losing balance from the blood rushing to my head, a pair of strong arms scoop me up. My head rolls and finds a comfortable position on Jonghyun's shoulder right before I black out for the second time.
-----
The next time I wake up I'm completely conscious, although there is still a dull pounding behind my eyes. I slowly lift myself into a sitting position and check myself over. There were multiple bandages on my left arm and leg and I can feel something covering up a good part of the left side of my face. I guess that was the side that took the impact of the fall. I stretch and bend, making sure everything is operating the way it should - which, aside from a few sharp pangs of pain, they are.
And now that I know I'm fine it is time to focus on just where the hell I am. I take in the cheap sheets I'm wrapped in and just how bare the rest of the room is aside from a guitar, amp and radio on the far wall and can already guess where I am. And at that moment my suspicions are confirmed as Jonghyun comes waltzing into the room in all his bare-chested glory.
"Hey, you're awake," he's grinning that familiar grin and I feel like Friday didn't happen.
"Yeah," I grunt while rubbing the sleep and dreams from my eyes," Sorry for taking up your bed."
Jonghyun shakes his head. "It's no problem. You really scared me last night," he comments, smile faltering as he glances at me worriedly," You are feeling okay, right?"
I reach across the bed to grab a random t-shirt off the floor. "I'm fine," I say while pulling the shirt on, wincing at the tearing feel in my arm. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to borrow some of your clothes, I assume mine are shredded?"
Jonghyun looks thoughtfully through a pile of clothes before pulling out a pair of jeans. "These are too big for me, so they should fit," he said as he tosses them at me," And yeah, you took a pretty nasty fall."
I sigh, because those were my favorite skinnies I wore yesterday. Oh well, an excuse to go shopping again. I get off the bed to tug the pants on, they hang off my waist but that helps give them extra length so I don't look like I'm waiting for a flood. When I finish Jonghyun is busy rifling around for god knows what and I can't help but to admire his fine body. He must've just gotten out of the shower by the way beads of water glistened over his well defined muscles.
Jonghyun turns just then and catches my drooling over his hot bod. His full lips part to comment, but I'm quicker than him. My lips are crashing onto his before he can get a word out and it just feels so natural to be with Jonghyun I don't spare a second thought on my actions. Jonghyun must feel the same way, because he's returning my kiss with just as much passion. Before I know it he's pushing me back onto the bed, lips never parting from mine.
Damn, why'd I even bother putting clothes on if they were going to be taken off just as quickly?
Previous | Next
Pairing: Jongkey, 2min
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama
Rating: PG-13 (Consumption of alcohol, Slight sexual content, Language)
Word count: 4,105
Disclaimer(s): I own nothing.
Summary: Some addictions just can't be quit.
A/N: A big shout out to my beta, siaht ! <3
Chapter One
Every inch of my body is ready to take off as my heart beat begins to race and an awful amount of sweat begins to collect under my thick outfit. I can't think of anything other than just who had dared to come to the restaurant, where he knew I worked, with some bimbo on his arm.
From across the room, Jonghyun looks just as frozen and shocked as I am, but then why would he be? He's the ass hole coming in to rub it in my face that we're over and he can't even wait one full week before grabbing up some hot chick to be his new love. He turns to the businessmen and looks as if he's excusing himself before standing up, and as if in slow motion, makes his way over to the bar. Over to where I'm standing dumbstruck and completely still like a statue. A big, dumb, hopelessly in love statue.
And just as he reaches the bar it's as if a switch flips in my mind and I'm back to Kim Kibum, the friendly bartender. The Kim Kibum who isn't totally desperate for his ex to take him back, to tell him the whole thing was just a big joke. I turn all of my attention on the man, who has finally finished his order, and realize maybe he wasn't taking as long as I thought because now that I've begun to make his drink it doesn't seem very complicated or drawn out at all.
My eyes are solely on my work, ignoring the stare I'm getting from my ex boyfriend as he leans against the countertop right in front of me. No, I'm totally not staring back just as hard out of the corner of my eye while praying I'm mixing the right drink.
"Here you are, sir," I say, all smiles as I hand the man his drink, "Let me know if you need anything else." Or if I completely screwed up your order.
The waves of electricity between me and Jonghyun are enough to even spark the man's attention. He nods his appreciation towards me before taking his drink and going to the other end of the bar, as far away from us and the upcoming confrontation as possible. I want to yell at Jonghyun to get lost because he's disturbing my customers, but that would mean acknowledging him and I can't do that. Instead I take the rag hanging around the neck of the sink head and start wiping off my work area, because dammit if those tiny droplets of water weren't disgusting.
"Key?"
I use more force to scrub the stubborn surface of my counter. How dare he use his pet name for me, after everything he's done? The muscles in my jaw go tight as I use all of my will power to not snap this very second.
"Kibum, listen to me," and this time Jonghyun slams his hand on the bar to get my attention.
I throw my dish towel to the side and glare into those lying, betraying, hurtful eyes. Those eyes that cause me so much pain because all I can see in them is our happy past together. "Why should I, you bastard?" I spit while placing one hand on my hip.
Jonghyun leans forward, voice low. "Look, Kibum, I didn't mean to - I thought you wouldn't be here, you don't normally work on Tuesdays." I scoff so he reaches out to put a hand over mine, which was resting on the cool marble countertop. "You know I would never hurt you on purpose."
And I almost give into that pleading, deep brown gaze and the familiar warmth of his hand. But then I see that woman over his shoulder, laughing obnoxiously while waving her wine glass around, and I'm back to reality. Back to me and him broken up by his choice. The hell he wouldn't hurt me on purpose! I pull back my hand from his touch like it's fire and quickly find something to keep my hands busy. Those glasses look a little dusty.
"Why don't you go tell your line of bull shit to your girlfriend over there," I say as I begin pulling glasses off of shelves to be cleaned off," I have work to do."
Jonghyun spares a quick glance backwards but seems uninterested. "What, her? She's just the daughter of one of the label owners, I need her to get to him is all," he explains with a shrug," And you don't look very busy."
I make sure he can see my rather dramatic eye roll. "So you're just using her? What a gentleman." And despite the venom in my words, I can't help the relief that flutters in my heart. "Look, order something or go away," I say, because he keeps looking at me with some hidden emotion I can't figure out and it's bothering the shit out of me. And because he's wearing my favorite cologne and I really want to jump him this second as it drifts across the bar.
Jonghyun straightens while giving me an undecipherable look. "Fine, just as long as you know I didn't intend for us to meet up like this."
I turn my back to him, but mutter just loud enough for him to hear," Yeah, whatever."
"Don't assume you know everything, Kibum."
I can hear the heavy thuds of his footsteps as he walks away and I have to fight every fiber inside me from turning to watch him leave. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Maybe - no, even if he still cares about me enough to come over and explain himself that doesn't change the fact we are over. He couldn't possibly have any feelings left for me. Besides, he's already gotten so much closer to his dream in the short time we've been apart than in all the eighteen months we were together. Label owners? That sounded pretty serious.
We are over. I tilt my head up as if I'm checking out the lights so I can blink back tears. Maybe if I keep telling myself that, eventually it won't hurt so much.
-----
Two hours. They stayed for two hours eating, drinking, and flirting heartily. With every coy smile and every cautious brush of skin, I can feel my heart ripping in half just that much more. Fortunately, when I didn't have customers out my ass, Nickhun came over and chatted to keep me distracted. But even as I considered Khun's offer to go out for a drink sometime, I can still sense the immense sexual desire emitting from the woman with Jonghyun. It was nauseating, the way she stared at him like she couldn't even see there's a person with feelings inside that hot body.
"So, what do you say, Kibum?"
And my eyes dart from where the skanky whore had sat across the room before they left almost an hour ago back to the adorable waiter seated beside me. He was back after escorting his last customers out the door to see if I had my answer yet. Khun was so adorable in the way he fidgeted nervously, waiting for my answer with school boy hope as if he were asking out his first crush. I feel guilty, because I have to crush that hope. It was just too soon.
"Khun, I - "
"And you are free to go, people!" Jokwon announces loudly as he enters from behind the 'Employee's Only' covered door.
As if sensing the coming rejection, Khun shoots out of his seat and waves at me as he takes off for the door. "Don't worry, you can answer me later!" He calls as he disappears into the back to get changed.
I slowly blow out a huff of air, frowning down at my hands folded in my lap. I scoot back my chair from the table where I had been waiting to be released so I can go get myself changed.
By the time I get outside, once again in my comfortable street clothes, my feet are dragging. The thought strikes me that I'm not going to be able to call off from the studio two days in a row. I'm going to have to get up, I check my watch, five hours from now fresh and ready to dance my ass off. Awesome. I find my scooter where I parked it, a yellow and white beacon transportation. The ride home is chilly.
By the time I make it home, all I have the energy left to do is crawl into my bed and sleep. So that's what I do, ignoring the gut wrenching plea for food and the uncomfortable itchy feeling my jeans cause. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out like a light.
-----
"Step and one and two, and one and two, and one and - Stop!" I bark above the music, voice reverberating against the walls of the practice room. "What is wrong with you girls? Get the moves right or get out of my class!"
I watch as one of the girls', Krystal, eyes start to water. She knows she's the reason everyone is off, because she hasn't put in the proper practice time needed to get through the routine smoothly. I cross my arms over my chest, not feeling even the slightest twinge of guilt as she struggles to control her emotions.
"I will show you the moves one more time- " I stop giving my orders as a head of brown hair bobs into the room. I glare at Taemin. Why is he interrupting my lesson? He motions for me to come out into the hall, so I wheel my attention back to the oldest student," Amber, I know you have the routine down, go through it with them again," I send a pointed look in Krystal's direction," And how about we pay attention this time."
I follow the young instructor out. "Someone had better be dead," I warn as soon as we are away from student's prying ears.
"I take it you didn't sleep well?" Taemin says through his dazzling smile and I just want to reach out and strangle him for being so damn chipper.
"How could you tell?" I say flippantly as I lean back against the wall.
"Other than the fact that I just witnessed you make a student cry?" Taemin raises an eyebrow at me.
I open my mouth to preach the importance of focus, which Krystal is clearly lacking, but I'm cut off at the sudden scent of creamy vanilla mocha underneath my nose. Seemingly pulling the coffee from nowhere, Taemin continues to grin as I grab the warm cup of my life force from his hands.
"Oh, Taeminnie, you have made me very happy," I say, momentarily forgetting my sour mood.
Taemin laughs. "I figured you'd need it," and as his gaze drifts down the hallway, he takes in a sharp breath of air. "You're really going to need it. See ya' later, Kibum!" Taemin rushes off, probably back to whatever class he was skipping out on.
What an odd kid. I don't have time to consider just why he's so quick to run off, because holy shit this coffee is so heavenly. I'm rejoicing in the near orgasmic flavor when a tap on my shoulder cuts my attention to my left. I immediately straighten, in case it's one of the superiors wondering just why I thought it was okay to leave my students to have a coffee break.
"Kibum ~ "
And oh my god, it's not one of the superiors, it's Sunny. My coffee is nearly lost as I take in her murderous eyes; she looks like a mother bear whose cub was taken away.
"Sunny?" I question, trying to ignore the way her hand is twitching, like she wants to lash out and scratch my eyes out with her perfectly trimmed to a point nails.
The corner of her lips turn up like she's trying really hard to smile but her muscles won't comply with her. "Kibum, darling, do you have any idea what I came home to last night?" she asks in a sing song voice.
A light bulb turns on in my mind and suddenly the thought strikes me I never let her or Jinki know I had to leave last night. "Oh, about last night, I got called into work - "
"I came home to two horny teenagers making out in my living room," Sunny spoke through clenched teeth," Kibum, why would you even consider leaving Hana with those boys? And without even asking me first?"
All kind words slip off my tongue and any earlier plans of being pleasant are forgotten. If there is one thing I can't stand, it's being interrupted. I place my free hand on my hip.
"So would you have preferred if I left Hana by herself?" An eyebrow juts upward as I stare Sunny straight in the eyes,"Taemin and Minho are both adults. Their first priority was Hana, but since she was sound asleep I'm sure they didn't think it was such a big deal if they made out a little bit."
"Don't start with me, Kibum. This is my daughter we're talking about and I don't approve of that kind of behavior in my home," Sunny is fuming and I'm not far behind her. "You should have called me to make sure it was okay before you took over the situation with your 'almighty' knowledge."
Her words feel like a smack in the face.
"Don't assume you know everything, Kibum."
Shit. I managed to keep him off my mind all morning, now Jonghyun's mysterious comment is back and the meaning is swirling around in my mind. What had he meant? And do I really act so almighty, because to have two people point it out in the span of twelve hours seemed a little more than coincidental?
My shoulders slump and I no longer want to argue with Sunny. What's the point? "You're right," I say with a frown. "I need to get back to my class."
"Wait, Kibum - "
The door to the practice room slams shut behind me. I'm drowning in my own self pity, I don't need anyone else's to go along with it.
-----
I used to complain about work all the time; Jonghyun would have to listen to me rant for hours on the topic. Now work seems like a blessing. As soon as I'm done with the school, I'm on my scooter heading back home to get in a quick shower and grab my uniform for the restaurant. I unlock the door to my apartment and step inside. Everything is quiet and I'm really wishing I had some kind of pet now to fill in the void Jonghyun normally took up.
I settle for turning on the radio instead, because any noise is better than none. Some new girl group is playing. What if someday it's Jonghyun playing on the radio? What if he became the next big thing? I guess I could gloat and rub it in all of his little fangirls' faces that I used to date him. Jonghyun never said he was ashamed of our relationship, that wasn't why we broke up, so it wouldn't cause any issues. Even if it did, he would deserve it.
Ugh, I'm so incredibly lame. I need to move on. It's not like he hasn't.
I arrive at work, somehow late despite all the time I had spent wandering around the apartment figuring out what to do with my extra time. I'm never late. I glare at my watch, maybe it was off?
"Kibum, you're late," Jokwon snaps as he prances his way into the staff's room,"Hurry up and get out there, you're waiting tables today."
I frown. Where did the time go? I enter the front of the restaurant, adjusting my hanbok so it hangs correctly.
"Kibum!" Nickun calls from behind the bar, waving me over.
Since when did he bartend? The look I give him as I sidle up to the bar must voice my curiosity enough, because Khun motions towards a veteran bartender, Seulong. "He's teaching me," he informs with a soft smile.
I take in that smile and those large brown eyes and know exactly what I have to do.
"I think I'll take you up on your offer, babe," I say like it's nothing so he can't tell just how big of a deal this really is for me.
Khun's mouth drops just as quickly as the glass in his hand, except his jaw doesn't hit the floor with a shatter. He begins speaking in a jumble of excited speech and I can't help but smile at just how pure this guy is. I talk him down from his flurry, reassuring him that Friday night is perfect and of course I want him to pick me up. I ignore the dull pang of guilt echoing inside me, because maybe I will grow to like him as something more than just a distraction.
-----
Work ends, I avoid any real contact with Khun successfully, and I'm on my way home. Everything is perfect. And then out of nowhere a car swerves in front of my scooter and the bright lights of the city are gone and I'm falling in what has to be the slowest motion since the Matrix movies. I barely see the black pavement of the road before my face is kindly introducing itself to it with a big 'thunk'. Everything goes black.
-----
Kibum. Kibum. Kibum. Who the hell is yelling into my ear? My head is pounding like a bitch and someone feels the need to shout? Why wasn't this Kibum guy answering - Oh, wait, I'm Kibum. The person is shouting my name. I try to force my eyes open, but the pain in my temples only increases and maybe the shouting isn't that irritating it can't wait a few more seconds.
"Kibum?" The voice rings in my ears again.
Okay, it was irritating enough. I will my eye lids to open if only for the fact I want to tell this jerk off for waking me up. But my mouth goes dry as I focus in on the blurry image of none other than Kim Jonghyun. Wasn't Seoul a big enough city for us to stop meeting up like this?
Wait, like this? And I become vividly aware of the cool night air whistling over fresh scrapes and gashes along my body and just how hard the ground is beneath me. My vision is blurring the next moment and all the colors of the lit up city and Jonghyun's concerned gaze mix together. My brain feels like it's going into overload, I just can't figure out anything.
"J-Jjong?" I ask, panicky because I can't remember how I ended up on the side of the road, my scooter barely recognizable a few feet in front of me.
Jonghyun's smile is all relief and I realize he's cradling my shoulders and head in his arms. "Kibum, finally!" He lets out a big breath. "Are you okay? Can you move everything? Do you need me to call an ambulance?"
I wiggle my toes and flex my fingers. I try to sit up, but my vision swirls and I check that off my list of things to do at this moment. "I - I'm fine," I say with a shaky intake of air," What happened?"
"Some asshole bumped you off the road! God, you're lucky you're not seriously hurt!" And Jonghyun's mouth is moving, but I can't keep up with his words.
I blink and try to swallow, but my throat is dry and it hurts. "Jonghyun," I croak," I want to go home."
He immediately stops talking. He looks unsure for a moment, but then pulls himself to his feet, dragging me up along with him. Jonghyun supports most of my weight as he watches me with a cautious eye.
"Can you walk?" He asks, biting down on his bottom lip in the way he always does when he's nervous.
I take a step and shit I'm seeing stars. Before I can face plant after losing balance from the blood rushing to my head, a pair of strong arms scoop me up. My head rolls and finds a comfortable position on Jonghyun's shoulder right before I black out for the second time.
-----
The next time I wake up I'm completely conscious, although there is still a dull pounding behind my eyes. I slowly lift myself into a sitting position and check myself over. There were multiple bandages on my left arm and leg and I can feel something covering up a good part of the left side of my face. I guess that was the side that took the impact of the fall. I stretch and bend, making sure everything is operating the way it should - which, aside from a few sharp pangs of pain, they are.
And now that I know I'm fine it is time to focus on just where the hell I am. I take in the cheap sheets I'm wrapped in and just how bare the rest of the room is aside from a guitar, amp and radio on the far wall and can already guess where I am. And at that moment my suspicions are confirmed as Jonghyun comes waltzing into the room in all his bare-chested glory.
"Hey, you're awake," he's grinning that familiar grin and I feel like Friday didn't happen.
"Yeah," I grunt while rubbing the sleep and dreams from my eyes," Sorry for taking up your bed."
Jonghyun shakes his head. "It's no problem. You really scared me last night," he comments, smile faltering as he glances at me worriedly," You are feeling okay, right?"
I reach across the bed to grab a random t-shirt off the floor. "I'm fine," I say while pulling the shirt on, wincing at the tearing feel in my arm. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to borrow some of your clothes, I assume mine are shredded?"
Jonghyun looks thoughtfully through a pile of clothes before pulling out a pair of jeans. "These are too big for me, so they should fit," he said as he tosses them at me," And yeah, you took a pretty nasty fall."
I sigh, because those were my favorite skinnies I wore yesterday. Oh well, an excuse to go shopping again. I get off the bed to tug the pants on, they hang off my waist but that helps give them extra length so I don't look like I'm waiting for a flood. When I finish Jonghyun is busy rifling around for god knows what and I can't help but to admire his fine body. He must've just gotten out of the shower by the way beads of water glistened over his well defined muscles.
Jonghyun turns just then and catches my drooling over his hot bod. His full lips part to comment, but I'm quicker than him. My lips are crashing onto his before he can get a word out and it just feels so natural to be with Jonghyun I don't spare a second thought on my actions. Jonghyun must feel the same way, because he's returning my kiss with just as much passion. Before I know it he's pushing me back onto the bed, lips never parting from mine.
Damn, why'd I even bother putting clothes on if they were going to be taken off just as quickly?
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