o21. Park Benches
Yesung likes to walk around the park, especially at night. The feel of the night wind and the semi-quietness of the location gave him time to think and ways to clear his mind.
He's especially happier when he met the person that he can say, more or less, was his and his only. The one he can hold close, the one he can give his kisses to, the one holding the other end of that red string that's tied to his pinky finger.
They both would enjoy their night walk before sitting on the park bench that faces on the fountain on the center of the park.
"Yesung-ah..."
"Hn?"
"Do you remember how we first met?" he asked and turned his head, looking into Yesung's eyes lovingly.
Yesung smiled and kissed the bridge of his nose. "How can I forget, Kyu? How can I?"
~*~
It was at that park bench where Yesung saw him for the first time and learned his name.
A bright sunny, Sunday morning, around 10. Yesung walked to the park and enjoyed his morning as usual. After a quick shower and some much-needed coffee, he walked over to observe others enjoying their Sunday mornings. The kids played around the fountain, people walking their dogs, the musician playing at a distance... It was all normal to him.
Yesung sat silently, listening to all the noises around him, looking around, recognizing a few faces, until his eyes landed on a certain boy painting at a distance. It may be some distance from where he sat, but he could see the boy's face, and honestly speaking, who could miss that soft smile on his face?
He was tall, taller than Yesung, he gave. A messy plop of brown hair, a soft, milky skin, eyes that seem to twinkle and a cute little smile that tops everything off. At that moment, Yesung was determined to find out as to who that boy is. Secretly inside, he also wanted to know if he was single or not.
His questions were answered moments after, when a girl shouted his name.
"Kyuhyun-oppa!!"
The boy looked up, smile turning to a grin. He waved the girl over and she ran towards him, tackling the boy once she got close enough. Their laughter resounded through the park, a sweet high tone for the girl's and a deep sultry one for Kyuhyun. Who the girl was, Yesung didn't know, but it seems to him like that she was Kyuhyun's girlfriend for he kissed the top of her head. Yesung smiled, albeit sadly, and leaned back, enjoying the rest of his Sunday morning.
~*~
The following mornings for the next 2 weeks helped Yesung determine wen Kyuhyun would be at the park with his easel, canvas and paints. On Sundays, he'd be there at around 9 or 10, on Tuesdays he'll be there at around 9:30, and on Fridays, he'd be there at 8. Yesung never knew when he leaves the park though, because Yesung would be the first to leave.
But to Yesung, it seems like Kyuhyun's recognize his presence for Yesung sometimes find the boy glancing over at his direction at the park bench. Secretly, Yesung smiled to himself, feeling some giddy and warm in the inside for a reason or another.
~*~
That park bench is where Yesung first talked to Kyuhyun.
On one Sunday morning, Yesung walked to the park, expecting Kyuhyun to be standing on his usual place on the other side of the fountain. But instead, he found the boy sitting on the bench where he normally sits, looking away from Yesung's direction as if waiting for someone.
Yesung smiled and approached him. He cleared his throat, getting the boy's attention. "You're, uh... sitting on my seat."
The boy turned to see who had acknowledged him. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry. You don't mind, do you?"
Yesung smiled and sat down next to him. "No, don't worry about it," he replied. "So why aren't you over there where you're normally standing?"
Kyuhyun looked over to where Yesung was pointing. "Oh," he laughed sheepishly, "I'm done painting for now. I'm Kyuhyun, by the way."
"I know," Yesung replied, receiving a shocked look from the younger boy. "I've seen you around here lately, and that one time that girl called you? Yeah, that's how I know your name."
Kyuhyun nodded a look of understanding spreading through his face. "Oh," Kyuhyun said before laughing to himself, a sight that left Yesung speechless. "You have a pretty good memory."
"Why thank you. I'm more of an observer."
Kyuhyun smiled again. "So would you mind if I come here once in a while?"
"No, not at all," Yesung smiled, and in return, Kyuhyun beamed a grin that made Yesung blush ever-so-slightly.
I could get used to this.
~*~
Ever since that morning, Kyuhyun would accompany Yesung on the park bench. They'd share stories and how their previous day went and what they were going to do that day. To Yesung, Kyuhyun is a fresh burst of energy he needed to continue his day. Every morning they met is different; some are happier than others, some are a bit overwhelming, and some are filled with comfortable silence shared between two friends. The two began to familiarize themselves with the park-dwellers - some of the people that walk through that park daily have begun to acknowledge them.
After a couple of days, Yesung and Kyuhyun traded numbers, emails, and addresses. Needless to say, they've become very close friends. Sometimes, Kyuhyun would drop by Yesung's apartment, and vice versa. They'd share coffee together and shared some talks before embarking on their separate ways.
"Come to the park at night whenever you have a chance," Kyuhyun once said.
"I don't know if I can," Yesung replied, but when he saw that little glint of hope in Kyuhyun's eyes disappear, he quickly added, "But I'll try my best to go."
Kyuhyun beamed him a smile.
~*~
That park bench is where Yesung realized that Kyuhyun was all alone.
Yesung had arrived at the park a bit earlier than usual, but he patiently waited for Kyuhyun. After an hour with no sign of him, Yesung was worried. He had tried to call Kyuhyun multiple times and texted him endlessly, but the other boy wouldn't pick up his calls or reply back. This made Yesung anxious because Kyuhyun would normally pick up his calls on the first ring.
Yesung left the park that day with a sinking feeling.
The next morning though, when he walked to the park, he found Kyuhyun sitting on the usual spot, looking down at the ground.
Yesung smiled, but the closer he got to Kyuhyun, the more that smile disappeared. He could feel a sense of sadness from the younger boy.
"Kyuhyun," Yesung said softly once he was seated, "what happened yesterday? You normally answer my call."
Kyuhyun didn't answer. He kept a steady gaze at the ground, not meeting the other's eyes.
"Kyu, is something wrong?" Yesung asked gently again, laying his hand on Kyuhyun's shoulder only to be shrugged off unceremoniously. "Kyuhyun?"
The boy remained silent, staying mute no matter what Yesung asked or said. But suddenly, the tears he's been holding in overflowed. Yesung watched as Kyuhyun's body silently trembled. "My sister," he whispered quietly between sobs, "she... she got in a car accident..."
Yesung pulled Kyuhyun closer towards him. "You were at the hospital yesterday?"
Kyuhyun nodded. "She was in critical condition. The doctors... they said..." his sentence was cut off as a sob racked his whole body. "They said... she only had a... 15% chance... of survival..." With that, Kyuhyun broke down crying on Yesung's shoulder. "She was the only family... I have left..."
Yesung rubbed soothing circles on Kyuhyun's back. It pained him to see Kyuhyun like that. That's also when Yesung realized that the girl who had called Kyuhyun at the park the first time he laid his eyes on him was his sister. From the way Kyuhyun is now and how he reacted to her back then, Yesung had an idea of how much she mattered to him. "Kyuhyun," Yesung whispered, "It's going to be fine. She'll be fine, and you know she will be. Pray for her, I'll do the same. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me or drop by my apartment. You're always welcome, no matter the time."
Kyuhyun nodded, but continued to cry. Yesung sat there in silence, continuously soothing the younger male's pain, hoping that the tears would stop soon because if not, Yesung would completely lose it. He never wanted to see Kyuhyun cry, ever. All those times when they spent laughing with each other at each other, all the subtle smiles exchanged, all the hugs given, all the good-night wishes and good-morning greetings shared through text messages... all those things... Yesung never wanted it to change for the worse. Seeing the person he cared the most cry like that in front of him breaks his heart.
After a while, the sobs stopped and the tears dried, but Kyuhyun remained in the position he was in, leaning on Yesung's shoulder with the older man's arm draped on his back. "Hyung, I'm sorry you had to see me like this."
"Don't be, Kyuhyun. Remember what I said, don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything and pray for your sister," Yesung said, looking down at his dongsaeng before leaning in to kiss his forehead. "She'll be fine."
Kyuhyun looked up after Yesung's lips made contact with his forehead. Yesung could see the blush spreading across his cheeks. "Y-Yeah..."
~*~
A couple of weeks later, Yesung received a text from Kyuhyun.
From: Kyu
To: Sungie-hyung
Hyung!!!! She's released from the ICU!!!!!
Yesung, who was in the middle of eating his dinner, dropped his chopsticks and stood up abruptly, spilling his water while doing so. He quickly texted back.
From: Yesung
To: Kyuhyunie
Which hospital are you in!? I'm coming over right now.
After Kyuhyun texted back the details, Yesung ran into his room and threw on clothes like his life depended on it. The moment he reached the parking garage to get his motorcycle, he received another text. He was a bit surprised to find out that there was reception underground.
From: Kyu
To: Sungie-hyung
Hyung? Thank you.
Yesung smiled.
From: Yesung
To: Kyuhyunie
Don't sweat it Kyubear.
~*~
Yesung spent that entire night in the hospital with Kyuhyun, and as the sun rises the next morning, his sister's eyes slowly opened. Kyuhyun's name slipped through her chapped lips, and despite how frail she seemed, Kyuhyun cried with tears of joy.
~*~
That park bench is where Yesung confessed.
It's been a couple of weeks since the day Kyuhyun's sister came around. Yesung's been receiving updates on how she has been doing. Every time he met Kyuhyun at the park, the boy seemed to get happier and happier. Before, when she was still in the ICU, Yesung noticed that Kyuhyun seemed to lost some weight and that he seemed paler than normal. But now, the boy is back to eating and the color had returned to his face.
"Kyuhyun, can I tell you something?" Yesung asked one morning.
Kyuhyun nodded. "Ask away."
Yesung took a deep breath. "What if... I told you that I'm falling for you?"
Kyuhyun smirked. "I'd tell you that I'll answer it tonight, so you better get your butt down here if you want to know."
"Aish, you disrespectful dongsaeng," Yesung said, smacking the back of Kyuhyun's head, receiving a laugh from the younger one.
~*~
That park bench is where Yesung received his answer.
That night, Yesung walked over to the park, not expecting much. But once he reached his park bench, he was surprised.
The fountain that the bench faces was more beautiful at night than during the day. The brick wall that contained all the water was decorated with small Christmas lights, and Kyuhyun stood facing the fountain. When he heard footsteps, he turned and smiled, seeing Yesung standing there. "Well don't stand and stare like an idiot. Come here," he said, beckoning the older male.
Yesung smirked and walked over to stand next to Kyuhyun. The lights from inside the fountain illuminated both of their bodies. Yesung admired how Kyuhyun's eyes seem to twinkle. Kyuhyun caught him staring, and an embarrassed Yesung looked away and focused himself on the fountain.
"Hyung."
"Hn?"
"Loot at me."
Yesung squeezed his eyes shut before opening them and turning to the younger boy.
He was surprised when he felt a pair of lips against his own, warm and inviting. Yesung's eyes flew open before slowly closing as he leaned in the kiss. Kyuhyun's arm snaked its way around Yesung's waist as Yesung wrapped his arm around Kyuhyun's neck. After some moments, they broke off, both smiling and blushing.
"I guess that's a yes?"
Kyuhyun smiled. "You guessed correctly," he whispered before leaning in to kiss Yesung again.
~*~
Somewhere in Kyuhyun's room was a painting framed with mahogany wood. It was the one he drew months ago, well before his sister was in that accident. On it was a picture of a man sitting on a park bench with a blissfully happy look, enjoying his morning under the tree. That man will forever be in Kyuhyun's heart.
Word count: ~2230
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