oo5. Overworked
Ryeowook could only watch as Kibum furiously packed his clothes into his luggage. He's never seen his friend this worked up before, and frankly, he's scared. He's always known Kibum as the level-headed one, the one that's always calm no matter how terrifyingly stupid things are going on around him. To see him angrily packing only sent nervous chills down Ryeowook's spine.
Earlier that month, Ryeowook had watched Kibum silently fumed to himself. When Ryeowook asked why, Kibum had only turned away, and Ryeowook only caught the words "assignments" and "stressed".
From then on, Ryeowook noticed that Kibum's been getting less and less sleep. His eating habits have become awry, and his temper no better. As college roommates, it's not hard for Ryeowook to notice these things, especially if you've been with the same person for the past 2 years. Kibum's been nothing but a caring, amazing roommate, but the sudden change in mood just frightened Ryeowook.
As the month progressed, Kibum's been more... violent, so to say. He never ate with Ryeowook anymore, and whenever Ryeowook asked if he was doing okay, Kibum would snap at him before leaving the dorm. Ryeowook never knew where Kibum would go, but no matter where, Ryeowook would be alone in the dorm, feeling sad and depressed.
But he knew he couldn't show it because somewhere inside, Ryeowook knew that he's the only reason Kibum hasn't lost it yet. So one day, he decided to do some research.
He went to the front desk of the university, asking the lady that works there for Kibum's schedule. It took some time and a bit of persuasion (and a promise of cooking for a week), but Ryeowook managed to get the sheet with the classes.
After going through Kibum's schedule a couple of times, he sat down to think as to who his roommate shares his classes with. Thankfully enough, Kibum's friends are also Ryeowook's friends, so it won't be hard for him to figure out what they were actually doing.
After 3 or 4 days gathering information, Ryeowook was shocked. He knew college-life was supposed to be hard and, at one point, stressful to the point where you have thoughts of dropping out, but Kibum's schedule surprised him.
Projects, papers, outside-school assignments, research... even Ryeowook - who always has something to do regarding assignments and who does it diligently every night, sometimes sacrificing his sleep and meals - isn't as stressed as Kibum. He thought his assignments were hard, but when he figured out what Kibum had to do, he felt shameful. And to top off all the assignments, Ryeowook remembered that Kibum had told him that he's been taking dance and singing classes outside of the university. It seems like his schedules are on top of each other - Ryeowook wanted to help him so bad, but he doesn't know what to do and how to accomplish it.
So that's how he ended up here: watching helplessly as the overworked Kibum furiously packing his stuff for a small trip. What that trip was, Ryeowook doesn't have a clue, but if he read correctly, the flight ticket that sat on the table says of a city in some country far away from Korea. How long Kibum plans to stay, where he plans to stay and when he'll come back was beyond Ryeowook.
"Kibum-ah..." Ryeowook softly said as he watched Kibum in a packing frenzy. "Kibum, please tell me where you're going."
Kibum ignored him, going in and out of their shared room in search of his supplies.
"Kibum," Ryeowook called out, following his friend outside their room.
Still no response.
"Kibum!"
The owner of the name still refused to look at Ryeowook.
"Kim Kibum!! Will you look at me!?" Ryeowook snapped, grabbing hold on both of Kibum's arms. "What are you doing?"
Kibum sighed in frustration. "Wook, let go."
"No!" Ryeowook screamed. He's had enough of it. "You've been acting off the past month or so but you never tell me what's wrong! Do you know how frustrated I am!? You've refused to eat your meals with me, you're losing your sleeping hours, and now you're packing to leave to god knows where and planning to leave without telling me what's wrong!? What's wrong with you?" he whispered the last question, finally letting go the tight grip he's held. He stormed into his room, angry tears rolling down his cheeks.
Ryeowook fell on his bed, small sobs racking through his body. When he felt the bed shift beside him, he quickly got up and wiped his tears away. "Go away," he quietly said.
"Wookie, I'm sorry," he heard Kibum whisper. "Wookie, listen. I'm sorry."
"No!" Ryeowook lashed. "I try to put on a brave face for you because I know I'm the only thing that's keeping you from losing it. Kibum, for the past month, you've been nothing but a mess. I tried to help you, but you refused anything, everything. You've stopped eating with me, you're ignoring your own health. I get that you have so much to think about and you have so many things to do but," Ryeowook stopped to take a breath, "share the burden. I'm more than happy to help."
"Ryeowook, I can't," he silently replied. "I know you also have a lot of things to do. You're a singer, and you're an up-and-coming composer. You already have a lot in your plate, and I can't add more to it. Whether you like it or not, we're both overworked, just in different levels. I can't afford to share my burden with you when I know you already have a lot to do."
"Kibum, do I need to say it again?" Ryeowook said. "You're ignoring your own health to finish whatever you need to finish. I, as a roommate and a friend, am hurt inside to see you like this. You've lost weight," he emphasized the last statement by grabbing Kibum's wrist and bringing it next to his, and true enough, Kibum's wrist was more bony and smaller, "you have dark circles under your eyes, bags even," he touched the small expanse of skin just under Kibum's eye, "and you seem paler. I think even the professors figured it out because they contacted me some time ago, telling me to take good care of you."
"Ryeowook, I..."
"Kibum, I get that you're busy, and I get that you need to get away. But refusing help when it's offered to you can be both good and bad, and in your case, it's bad. Please, Kibum, unpack and let me help you."
"I can't," Kibum finally said and stood up. "I already told my parents I'm taking a break and that I'm going to go visit them for a while."
"How long is 'a while'?"
"A month, maybe a month and a half." Kibum sighed before sitting on his own bed. "I need this, Ryeowook. I need time away from everything to just think and clear my head. I'm sorry if you're upset, but I can't do a thing about it."
Ryeowook knew he couldn't win the argument, no matter how hard he tried. He sighed, finally giving in. "When are you leaving, then?" he whispered.
"In three days. It gives me time to tell the professors that I'll be taking a leave, and if they really do care about their students' health and well-being, they'd let me go."
"Oh," Ryeowook said. "So you're going back to America, right?"
Kibum nodded.
"Well, since there's no way of me stopping you," Ryeowook said, "get me something from LA."
Kibum looked up and smiled, something he hasn't done in a while. "I will."
~*~
Three days after their talk, Ryeowook was at the airport, watching Kibum checking in his luggage and his plane tickets.
"You have everything?" Ryeowook asked when Kibum returned. "Passport? Ticket? Wallet?"
"Yes, mother," Kibum smiled as he replied.
Ryeowook smiled. "How did the professors react?"
"They were reluctant at first, but they understand," Kibum explained. "They promised me a lot of make-up work, but I told them I can take it."
"Just... don't overwork yourself again, okay?"
"Yes, mother," Kibum replied once more, receiving a playful punch from Ryeowook. "Take care."
"You too, Kibum. You too."
Word count: ~1380
Go to archives
A/N: i have no idea how college life works, so pardon the mistakes
Earlier that month, Ryeowook had watched Kibum silently fumed to himself. When Ryeowook asked why, Kibum had only turned away, and Ryeowook only caught the words "assignments" and "stressed".
From then on, Ryeowook noticed that Kibum's been getting less and less sleep. His eating habits have become awry, and his temper no better. As college roommates, it's not hard for Ryeowook to notice these things, especially if you've been with the same person for the past 2 years. Kibum's been nothing but a caring, amazing roommate, but the sudden change in mood just frightened Ryeowook.
As the month progressed, Kibum's been more... violent, so to say. He never ate with Ryeowook anymore, and whenever Ryeowook asked if he was doing okay, Kibum would snap at him before leaving the dorm. Ryeowook never knew where Kibum would go, but no matter where, Ryeowook would be alone in the dorm, feeling sad and depressed.
But he knew he couldn't show it because somewhere inside, Ryeowook knew that he's the only reason Kibum hasn't lost it yet. So one day, he decided to do some research.
He went to the front desk of the university, asking the lady that works there for Kibum's schedule. It took some time and a bit of persuasion (and a promise of cooking for a week), but Ryeowook managed to get the sheet with the classes.
After going through Kibum's schedule a couple of times, he sat down to think as to who his roommate shares his classes with. Thankfully enough, Kibum's friends are also Ryeowook's friends, so it won't be hard for him to figure out what they were actually doing.
After 3 or 4 days gathering information, Ryeowook was shocked. He knew college-life was supposed to be hard and, at one point, stressful to the point where you have thoughts of dropping out, but Kibum's schedule surprised him.
Projects, papers, outside-school assignments, research... even Ryeowook - who always has something to do regarding assignments and who does it diligently every night, sometimes sacrificing his sleep and meals - isn't as stressed as Kibum. He thought his assignments were hard, but when he figured out what Kibum had to do, he felt shameful. And to top off all the assignments, Ryeowook remembered that Kibum had told him that he's been taking dance and singing classes outside of the university. It seems like his schedules are on top of each other - Ryeowook wanted to help him so bad, but he doesn't know what to do and how to accomplish it.
So that's how he ended up here: watching helplessly as the overworked Kibum furiously packing his stuff for a small trip. What that trip was, Ryeowook doesn't have a clue, but if he read correctly, the flight ticket that sat on the table says of a city in some country far away from Korea. How long Kibum plans to stay, where he plans to stay and when he'll come back was beyond Ryeowook.
"Kibum-ah..." Ryeowook softly said as he watched Kibum in a packing frenzy. "Kibum, please tell me where you're going."
Kibum ignored him, going in and out of their shared room in search of his supplies.
"Kibum," Ryeowook called out, following his friend outside their room.
Still no response.
"Kibum!"
The owner of the name still refused to look at Ryeowook.
"Kim Kibum!! Will you look at me!?" Ryeowook snapped, grabbing hold on both of Kibum's arms. "What are you doing?"
Kibum sighed in frustration. "Wook, let go."
"No!" Ryeowook screamed. He's had enough of it. "You've been acting off the past month or so but you never tell me what's wrong! Do you know how frustrated I am!? You've refused to eat your meals with me, you're losing your sleeping hours, and now you're packing to leave to god knows where and planning to leave without telling me what's wrong!? What's wrong with you?" he whispered the last question, finally letting go the tight grip he's held. He stormed into his room, angry tears rolling down his cheeks.
Ryeowook fell on his bed, small sobs racking through his body. When he felt the bed shift beside him, he quickly got up and wiped his tears away. "Go away," he quietly said.
"Wookie, I'm sorry," he heard Kibum whisper. "Wookie, listen. I'm sorry."
"No!" Ryeowook lashed. "I try to put on a brave face for you because I know I'm the only thing that's keeping you from losing it. Kibum, for the past month, you've been nothing but a mess. I tried to help you, but you refused anything, everything. You've stopped eating with me, you're ignoring your own health. I get that you have so much to think about and you have so many things to do but," Ryeowook stopped to take a breath, "share the burden. I'm more than happy to help."
"Ryeowook, I can't," he silently replied. "I know you also have a lot of things to do. You're a singer, and you're an up-and-coming composer. You already have a lot in your plate, and I can't add more to it. Whether you like it or not, we're both overworked, just in different levels. I can't afford to share my burden with you when I know you already have a lot to do."
"Kibum, do I need to say it again?" Ryeowook said. "You're ignoring your own health to finish whatever you need to finish. I, as a roommate and a friend, am hurt inside to see you like this. You've lost weight," he emphasized the last statement by grabbing Kibum's wrist and bringing it next to his, and true enough, Kibum's wrist was more bony and smaller, "you have dark circles under your eyes, bags even," he touched the small expanse of skin just under Kibum's eye, "and you seem paler. I think even the professors figured it out because they contacted me some time ago, telling me to take good care of you."
"Ryeowook, I..."
"Kibum, I get that you're busy, and I get that you need to get away. But refusing help when it's offered to you can be both good and bad, and in your case, it's bad. Please, Kibum, unpack and let me help you."
"I can't," Kibum finally said and stood up. "I already told my parents I'm taking a break and that I'm going to go visit them for a while."
"How long is 'a while'?"
"A month, maybe a month and a half." Kibum sighed before sitting on his own bed. "I need this, Ryeowook. I need time away from everything to just think and clear my head. I'm sorry if you're upset, but I can't do a thing about it."
Ryeowook knew he couldn't win the argument, no matter how hard he tried. He sighed, finally giving in. "When are you leaving, then?" he whispered.
"In three days. It gives me time to tell the professors that I'll be taking a leave, and if they really do care about their students' health and well-being, they'd let me go."
"Oh," Ryeowook said. "So you're going back to America, right?"
Kibum nodded.
"Well, since there's no way of me stopping you," Ryeowook said, "get me something from LA."
Kibum looked up and smiled, something he hasn't done in a while. "I will."
~*~
Three days after their talk, Ryeowook was at the airport, watching Kibum checking in his luggage and his plane tickets.
"You have everything?" Ryeowook asked when Kibum returned. "Passport? Ticket? Wallet?"
"Yes, mother," Kibum smiled as he replied.
Ryeowook smiled. "How did the professors react?"
"They were reluctant at first, but they understand," Kibum explained. "They promised me a lot of make-up work, but I told them I can take it."
"Just... don't overwork yourself again, okay?"
"Yes, mother," Kibum replied once more, receiving a playful punch from Ryeowook. "Take care."
"You too, Kibum. You too."
Word count: ~1380
Go to archives
A/N: i have no idea how college life works, so pardon the mistakes