Insobriety - [Oneshot]
Title: Insobriety
Length: Oneshot (approx 1,200 words)
Author: sayhell
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Kyuwook
Genre: Angst
Summary: Sometimes it's only during our times of stupor that we get what we want.
They walk along the moonlight-drenched shoreline, fingers entwined in perfect harmony. They walk in a quiet understanding, the soft crash of waves an accompaniment to their blissful thoughts. When they reach the ridge at the end of the beach, he turns back to face Ryeowook. He kneels down on one knee and stretches his hand out. The silver ring in his hand gleams brighter than all the stars above. He pops the question and watches as Ryeowook brings a hand to his mouth to stifle a gasp of surprise. Finally Ryeowook nods, his eyes shiny with unshed tears. He stands up in delight and pulls Ryeowook into a bone-crushing embrace. His world is now complete.
They walk down the aisle, busking in the sincere applause and blessings of their guests. The crowd quietens when they stop before the minister. When the minister recites the sentences bearing a lifetime of promises, he gazes at Ryeowook, who is resplendent in his white suit. They deliver their vows and exchange their rings, and the crowd ripples with applause once again. He bends down to kiss Ryeowook, feeling Ryeowook’s smile on his lips as he does so. The vows he has taken a minute ago fleets across his mind and he promises, for the second time, that he will not break any of it.
They walk down the pavement that leads to the heart of the park, their hands tightly linked. Their adopted children - one son and one daughter - skip ahead of them, their cheers complimenting the rustle of foliage. Soon they reach their picnic spot. They sat on the mat he has laid, watching as their kids send a kite soaring into the air. His son beckons him when the kite gets stuck in a tree and he jogs over to help. When he has successfully freed the kite, he realises that his children are already on the mat, the kite long forgotten. He looks at his family - his children munching away at sandwiches and Ryeowook dusting bread crumbs off their cheeks - and he smiles. This is his happily-ever-after.
::::::::::
Kyuhyun flung a hand out and swiped blindly at the coffee table. A dozen of empty beer cans clanked to the floor and alongside with them was the target of his actions - the handphone that had been ringing away for the past fifteen minutes.
He tossed and turned, realising with increasing frustration that it was impossible to get back to sleep. He jerked up from the sofa and his living room spun before his eyes. It took a moment for his world to return to normal, and another more to realise that in the wake of vertigo was a nasty hangover determined to conquer his head. He rubbed his temples and ran a hand - with considerable difficulty - through his knotted hair.
Perhaps a drink can help.
He padded to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Just as he was reaching for a fresh can of beer, he heard the jingle of keys and the door to his house opened.
Ryeowook stormed in with a formidable fury Kyuhyun had never thought was possible for his small frame. His face was red, from the winter bite or anger, Kyuhyun preferred not to know.
“I’ve been calling you for the past - ” Ryeowook paused in his tirade and he narrowed his eyes at the can Kyuhyun was holding. “Seriously, Cho Kyuhyun? In the morning?”
“I’m thirsty,” Kyuhyun lied. His once smooth voice was hoarse, and he remembered that the last time he had spoken was two days ago, when Ryeowook had called to remind about the wedding.
Ryeowook rolled his eyes. He approached Kyuhyun and wrinkled his nose. “When was the last time you bathe? You smell like a brewery and that,” Ryeowook took a step back and pinched his nose, “is not a compliment.”
“Why are you here this early?” Kyuhyun asked instead.
Ryeowook let out a false laugh that was full of disbelief. “I can’t believe that you’ve the cheek to ask me that question.” Ryeowook folded his arms across his chest. “Where were you yesterday?” His eyes bore into Kyuhyun’s, as if daring him to lie.
“I was caught up with…something.”
“With what?” Ryeowook exploded, throwing his arms into the air. “Alcohol?”
Kyuhyun looked away when the gears in his head failed to churn out a response that would placate Ryeowook. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Ryeowook dropped himself on a dining chair. His shoulders were now slumped, his anger having given way to disappointment and defeat.
“Yesterday was our wedding.” There were tears in Ryeowook’s voice. “You were supposed to be there when we exchanged our vows.”
Our. We.
Two words that will never have me as part of their equation.
“I’m sorry.” Kyuhyun mumbled, looking away again because seeing Ryeowook so devastated delivered a hard pang to his chest. He clenched his fists to curb his mad urge to wrap his arms around the smaller man.
Ryeowook shook his head. “You aren’t.”
“You know Kyuhyun,” Ryeowook inhaled deeply, “I don’t know you anymore. Where did the Cho Kyuhyun who had loved life gone to? Who is this alcoholic I’m seeing?”
Cho Kyuhyun had loved life only because of you, Kim Ryeowook. Kyuhyun thought but did not say.
There was silence between them again. Since when had such suffocating silence replaced the all the endless conversations they used to have?
Ryeowook’s handphone buzzed, breaking the stillness.
“I’m nearly late for my flight. Hyungshik’s waiting downstairs.” Ryeowook stood up after reading his phone. He slung his bag onto his shoulder. Jealousy crawled under Kyuhyun’s skin when he heard Ryeowook speak that name.
It should have been me.
“Look Kyuhyun, I don’t know what’s up with you or what you’re unwilling to share with me. All I know is that I hate my best friend like this,” Ryeowook said when he was at the door. “Since you’ve been so sure that nothing I do can help you, then please, help yourself. Please, give me a man who’ve picked himself up when I come back from my honeymoon.”
“Go.” Tears burned the back of Kyuhyun’s eyes but his voice was taut, commanding.
Ryeowook looked at him for a moment more and then sighed. “Just…” Ryeowook waved at heaps of beer cans on the coffee table and the floor, “Just stop drinking.”
“Just go.”
He counted the number of steps it would take for Ryeowook to reach the car park. He imagined how Hyungshik would reach over and tighten Ryeowook’s seat belt, and the kiss he would plant after he did so.
And he felt his heart break from the love he had never ever voiced in the seven years he had known Ryeowook.
He smoothed a hand down his face and forced his tears away. He pulled open the can he had been holding all along, brought it to his lips and tipped its contents down his throat.
How can you tell me not to drink, when only in my insobriety am I the one to marry you?
END
::::::::::
A/N: Writing still heals. Thanks for reading.
Length: Oneshot (approx 1,200 words)
Author: sayhell
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Kyuwook
Genre: Angst
Summary: Sometimes it's only during our times of stupor that we get what we want.
They walk along the moonlight-drenched shoreline, fingers entwined in perfect harmony. They walk in a quiet understanding, the soft crash of waves an accompaniment to their blissful thoughts. When they reach the ridge at the end of the beach, he turns back to face Ryeowook. He kneels down on one knee and stretches his hand out. The silver ring in his hand gleams brighter than all the stars above. He pops the question and watches as Ryeowook brings a hand to his mouth to stifle a gasp of surprise. Finally Ryeowook nods, his eyes shiny with unshed tears. He stands up in delight and pulls Ryeowook into a bone-crushing embrace. His world is now complete.
They walk down the aisle, busking in the sincere applause and blessings of their guests. The crowd quietens when they stop before the minister. When the minister recites the sentences bearing a lifetime of promises, he gazes at Ryeowook, who is resplendent in his white suit. They deliver their vows and exchange their rings, and the crowd ripples with applause once again. He bends down to kiss Ryeowook, feeling Ryeowook’s smile on his lips as he does so. The vows he has taken a minute ago fleets across his mind and he promises, for the second time, that he will not break any of it.
They walk down the pavement that leads to the heart of the park, their hands tightly linked. Their adopted children - one son and one daughter - skip ahead of them, their cheers complimenting the rustle of foliage. Soon they reach their picnic spot. They sat on the mat he has laid, watching as their kids send a kite soaring into the air. His son beckons him when the kite gets stuck in a tree and he jogs over to help. When he has successfully freed the kite, he realises that his children are already on the mat, the kite long forgotten. He looks at his family - his children munching away at sandwiches and Ryeowook dusting bread crumbs off their cheeks - and he smiles. This is his happily-ever-after.
::::::::::
Kyuhyun flung a hand out and swiped blindly at the coffee table. A dozen of empty beer cans clanked to the floor and alongside with them was the target of his actions - the handphone that had been ringing away for the past fifteen minutes.
He tossed and turned, realising with increasing frustration that it was impossible to get back to sleep. He jerked up from the sofa and his living room spun before his eyes. It took a moment for his world to return to normal, and another more to realise that in the wake of vertigo was a nasty hangover determined to conquer his head. He rubbed his temples and ran a hand - with considerable difficulty - through his knotted hair.
Perhaps a drink can help.
He padded to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Just as he was reaching for a fresh can of beer, he heard the jingle of keys and the door to his house opened.
Ryeowook stormed in with a formidable fury Kyuhyun had never thought was possible for his small frame. His face was red, from the winter bite or anger, Kyuhyun preferred not to know.
“I’ve been calling you for the past - ” Ryeowook paused in his tirade and he narrowed his eyes at the can Kyuhyun was holding. “Seriously, Cho Kyuhyun? In the morning?”
“I’m thirsty,” Kyuhyun lied. His once smooth voice was hoarse, and he remembered that the last time he had spoken was two days ago, when Ryeowook had called to remind about the wedding.
Ryeowook rolled his eyes. He approached Kyuhyun and wrinkled his nose. “When was the last time you bathe? You smell like a brewery and that,” Ryeowook took a step back and pinched his nose, “is not a compliment.”
“Why are you here this early?” Kyuhyun asked instead.
Ryeowook let out a false laugh that was full of disbelief. “I can’t believe that you’ve the cheek to ask me that question.” Ryeowook folded his arms across his chest. “Where were you yesterday?” His eyes bore into Kyuhyun’s, as if daring him to lie.
“I was caught up with…something.”
“With what?” Ryeowook exploded, throwing his arms into the air. “Alcohol?”
Kyuhyun looked away when the gears in his head failed to churn out a response that would placate Ryeowook. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Ryeowook dropped himself on a dining chair. His shoulders were now slumped, his anger having given way to disappointment and defeat.
“Yesterday was our wedding.” There were tears in Ryeowook’s voice. “You were supposed to be there when we exchanged our vows.”
Our. We.
Two words that will never have me as part of their equation.
“I’m sorry.” Kyuhyun mumbled, looking away again because seeing Ryeowook so devastated delivered a hard pang to his chest. He clenched his fists to curb his mad urge to wrap his arms around the smaller man.
Ryeowook shook his head. “You aren’t.”
“You know Kyuhyun,” Ryeowook inhaled deeply, “I don’t know you anymore. Where did the Cho Kyuhyun who had loved life gone to? Who is this alcoholic I’m seeing?”
Cho Kyuhyun had loved life only because of you, Kim Ryeowook. Kyuhyun thought but did not say.
There was silence between them again. Since when had such suffocating silence replaced the all the endless conversations they used to have?
Ryeowook’s handphone buzzed, breaking the stillness.
“I’m nearly late for my flight. Hyungshik’s waiting downstairs.” Ryeowook stood up after reading his phone. He slung his bag onto his shoulder. Jealousy crawled under Kyuhyun’s skin when he heard Ryeowook speak that name.
It should have been me.
“Look Kyuhyun, I don’t know what’s up with you or what you’re unwilling to share with me. All I know is that I hate my best friend like this,” Ryeowook said when he was at the door. “Since you’ve been so sure that nothing I do can help you, then please, help yourself. Please, give me a man who’ve picked himself up when I come back from my honeymoon.”
“Go.” Tears burned the back of Kyuhyun’s eyes but his voice was taut, commanding.
Ryeowook looked at him for a moment more and then sighed. “Just…” Ryeowook waved at heaps of beer cans on the coffee table and the floor, “Just stop drinking.”
“Just go.”
He counted the number of steps it would take for Ryeowook to reach the car park. He imagined how Hyungshik would reach over and tighten Ryeowook’s seat belt, and the kiss he would plant after he did so.
And he felt his heart break from the love he had never ever voiced in the seven years he had known Ryeowook.
He smoothed a hand down his face and forced his tears away. He pulled open the can he had been holding all along, brought it to his lips and tipped its contents down his throat.
How can you tell me not to drink, when only in my insobriety am I the one to marry you?
END
::::::::::
A/N: Writing still heals. Thanks for reading.