The Shortcomings of A Vertically Challenged Boy
The Shortcomings of A Vertically Challenged Boy
→ Eventually Jonghyun/Minho
→ PG
→ Humor/Romance
→ 1387w
→Summary The two times that Jonghyun's height was the main factor of him not being with the person he loves and the one time it wasn't.
Age 10
When Jonghyun is 10, he believes he has fallen in love. She has pale skin, that contrast with her piercing eyes and her coffee brown curls that cascade around her doll like features. She is taller than him and completely his opposite. He knows they have nothing in common and yet, he believes he has fallen harder than he has ever fallen before.
Jonghyun confesses to her, it is a Friday. He draws this wonderful stick figure picture of the both of them holding hands and because in his mind, he is quite tall, he draws himself fairly taller than his girl. He hands her the picture that afternoon, and with his heart out on his sleeves and pumping faster than ever, he spills his feelings to her like the glass of milk he spilled this morning due to how tired he was.
He never really thought about if he would ever reach the ground, when falling for her.
But when he does reach the ground, it is anything but a soft and pleasant landing. When he lands, it hurts. He feels like he has shattered the bones in his body and his heart has been pulled with a strong fist out of his chest and his headaches from the tears that are stinging the back of his eyes (because boys don’t cry).
“You’re too short for me.” She states. It is simple, but it means so much more.
“…I’m what?” His smile falters and he wonders why her “glow” suddenly disappears.
“You are very short.” And suddenly he feels smaller than he really is.
She walks away without sparring him another glance and suddenly, she isn’t as beautiful as she was.
He goes home that night and he is on a mission; to become taller. He raids his mother’s closet and he finds her tallest heels.
He feels accomplished, he feels those baby love wounds heal and he stands tall. That is, until his mother comes into the room, only to faint at her son’s display.
Age 17
He is now a faux blonde and tougher than before but that doesn’t mean that his armor never falls a little bit loose when he sees a fair maiden, just waiting for him to stroll by and give his number to her so she can call when she is in “distress”.
Today is his birthday and it is a Friday and things are going to change. Jonghyun is out on a mission today. He is going to stop being such a jackass for a minute and actually be genuine about his feelings with Jessica. This time he decides that his drawings aren’t the best and he doesn’t want to take the chance of Jessica getting on his case because her breasts might be too big in the picture and not as big as they are on her, so he buys a card.
Within this card is something simple, just like his feelings. Nothing is complicated about it at all.
They’ve been friends for a while now and while she never gave off any notion that she might be interested in him, he decided to take it upon himself and take the first move. Try to actually get to base one because since the beginning of their friendship, they’ve been at base zero.
So he has this card in his hands, and he has this confidence that is practically oozing out of his eyes and he knows he is ready.
He sees her by the lockers gathering her things so she can head out.
“Hey!” He calls to her with such enthusiasm that it kind of freaks her out.
“Um, hey? What’s up with you? Did you not piss your pants this time or something?” She responds casually as she cleans out her locker.
“Shut up! Come on…” He warns her and she lets out that beautiful chuckle that just has him swooning but he keeps his composure. He stays at bay.
“Jessica, I need to say something.” She doesn’t look at him but she nods and so he takes this deep breath that he believes will make everything better, that will change all other things and suddenly the magic and his luck will set in.
“Jessica, I think I like you and I felt that this was the most appropriate time to tell you and all because, well, I just haven’t had the slightest idea of when to tell you or how to go about this without creeping you out and-“
Jessica breaks out into a cackle which causes Jonghyun to look at her, confused and scared written all over his face. He hides the card behind his back and he holds his breath.
“You can’t be serious, ri-?” And she never finishes that because it gets stuck in her throat because he is very serious and it is written on his face. She places her bag down and she fully turns to him. Jessica has never been the warmest person. She was very blunt and that is what Jonghyun admired about her. That is, until she used it on him.
“Jonghyun…it’s just…you really aren’t my type and-“
“Come on Jessica! Give me a chance!”
“No, I can’t. You just aren’t my type.”
“Well, what is your type then?’ He asks exasperatedly.
“Someone tall.” And with that, she walks away leaving him to bite the dust.
With the money he receives from his family because of his birthday, he decides that maybe it is time to step his game up and buy insoles.
Age 21
He works part-time at a sports store and goes to school fulltime now.
This is all new to him but it is something about the younger boy that drives him into insanity. Maybe it is his baritone voice that creeps upon his spine and leaves goose bumps in wake. Or maybe it could be those big curious brown orbs that stare deep into his soul. Sometimes those eyes freak him the hell out but other than that, he thinks they are nice.
All Jonghyun knows is that he has never felt like this before and he is ready to face it all. He believes that it is set in stone, his feelings that is. The way the younger carries him and his quietness just eggs Jonghyun on even more to digging into his mysterious personality and breaking that shell, to set the boy he knows exists, free.
“Hyung,” He hears the other say and he feels in rumble within him and just the thought of Minho talking to him and calling him that empowers him. “Are you alright?” and it is laced with the most sincerity because Jonghyun knows how he is.
He smiles at him and he nods, continuing with moving the sports equipment across the room. “Everything is fine.”
The silence shared between is fairly nice and nothing about it is awkward in any way. But Minho decides to break the ice.
“You know hyung, I like you too.” And he doesn’t stop from moving the basketballs over to the appropriate section as Jonghyun just stares at him. He feels like he could vomit up his heart and dance while the confetti falls.
“But I’m short.” Is the next thing that flies out of Jonghyun’s mouth. He doesn’t think , he just acts and that causes the younger to go into a fit of a hearty laughter that Jonghyun has never heard before and he is kind of glad he said that. He believes he loves this laugh.
“Your height has nothing to do with it hyung, not at all. I like you, not your height.” That is probably the most that Minho has said to him at once and that has him feeling powerful and important. “I mean sure, you might have to lean up to kiss me but other than that, nothing is wrong, you know?” Jonghyun glares at him. But he knows he cannot stay mad at the boy long, he never could.
“Well, thanks.” Jonghyun says sarcastically as he moves the soccer equipment over to where it is supposed to be. Suddenly, a hand covers his to help him and it squeezes his hand to give some reassurance and really, Jonghyun knows he cannot stay mad at him too long.
Today is Friday and today is a good day.
∞I really do not know what came over me but I was doing something and the title just flew into my mind and I began writing. This is just an experiment with styles of writing because I have two and so I want to see which one works best for me. I hope you have enjoyed this.