Being Neighbours

Jun 04, 2010 01:52

She said it's 3AM
and everybody else is fast asleep in bed
and I can't seem to find the switch to turn the lights off
even though I need to fall asleep

Goodnight Moon; HeyHiHello

Onkey | 1,329 words


Peeking through the peephole in the door, Kibum watched as his new neighbour moved into the apartment opposite his. He counted the number of boxes that the skinny looking male carried into the house. He pondered whether he should offer his help, after all, the boy’s build looked no fitter than his own, and he seemed to have trouble carrying all those boxes. But after a moment of deep thinking, Kibum decided against it. He looked like he needed the exercise anyway.

Ever since that day, Kibum developed some kind of boycrush on his neighbour. After a little snooping, Kibum found out that the boy’s name was Lee Jinki, and that he was twenty, only two years Kibum’s senior. Also, judging from the sounds coming from the door across the hallway, Kibum could safely say that Jinki was a clumsy person (or a masochist, but honestly, he’d prefer the first option).

One day, while Kibum was secretly practicing the dance moves of various girl group songs, the doorbell rang. After stashing away all the evidences of his secret hobby, he yanked the door open, jaw dropping as he saw none other than Jinki standing in his doorway, clutching a shirt and pants. And oh, did he mention that Jinki was clothed in only a towel around his waist, with soap all over his (surprisingly) toned body? Kibum forced himself to swallow his spit, trying not to stare at too much at Jinki. (So what if he ended up looking like an idiot, staring the empty space beside Jinki?)

“I, uhh,” Jinki started, “my shower broke suddenly and uhm.”

Jinki stopped talking, realising that Kibum was not looking at him at all. A faint red tinted his cheeks as he started to turn away from his spaced out neighbour.

“I’ll just use the kitchen tap or something,” Jinki said.

As Jinki was about to walk back into his own apartment, Kibum found himself lunging forward and grabbing Jinki’s soapy shoulder.

“Or you should use my shower?” Kibum offered.

A huge grin broke out on Jinki’s face and Kibum couldn’t help mirroring his actions.

“Thanks,” Jinki laughed, “I would hug you, but then the towel might drop and I’d get soap all over you. I’m Lee Jinki.”

Kibum blushed at that, biting back a remark. (“I wouldn’t mind that.”) Instead, he introduced himself before meekly leading Jinki into his apartment and showing him to the shower. Jinki thanked him again before disappearing into Kibum’s bathroom. After he was alone once more, Kibum threw himself down on his bed, using his pillow to muffle his happiness. Today was the day he first talked to his boycrush. Forget the fact that this probably meant that he was gay, he could worry about that a little later.

It didn’t take long for Jinki to finish showering. The towel that was previously around his waist was now around his neck as he lazily wiped his hair with it. To distract himself from the water running down Jinki’s neck, he instead observed Jinki’s clothes. Kibum was a fashionista, and he rarely approved of what other people wear, but he was impressed by Jinki’s dressing style. Then again, maybe his boycrush was making him biased.

Jinki stood awkwardly by the door of the bathroom, staring at Kibum who stared back calmly, even though he was having a panic attack on the inside.

“So,” Jinki wrung his hands together nervously, “you like Girls’ Generation.”

Kibum followed where Jinki’s eyes were in alarm. Jinki had his eyes fixed on the gigantic limited edition Girls’ Generation poster Kibum had pasted above his bed. Groaning in embarrassment, Kibum buried his face in his hands. He looked up again when he heard Jinki laugh. Jinki didn’t seem to be mocking him, but more amused at Kibum’s reaction to his question.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed - I like them too,” Jinki smiled reassuringly, “Who do you like best?”

“Hyoyeon,” Kibum blurted without hesitation, “she’s so underrated. I mean, she dances so well, she can sing and oh my goodness, she’s hilarious!”

Kibum paused, “Who do you like, Jinki?”

“Well, Hyoyeon of course! She’s the best dancer, she can actually sing and she’s always so funny on programs,” Jinki answered, still staring intently at the poster.

“That’s everything I said, silly!” Kibum exclaimed, smiling.

Smiling back, Jinki gave a small shrug, “Can I help it that we like the same things?”

Kibum laughed, glad that the awkward atmosphere had dissolved. “Nope,” he answered, “I guess not. Friends?”

Jinki laughed as well. “Friends,” he nodded in affirmation.

Kibum found out a lot about Jinki that day, including the fact that he, just like Kibum, had a fondness for eating kim-chi flavoured ramyun before going to bed. That night, the two of them sat at Kibum’s dining table, chatting over two hot bowls of instant ramyun.

It became a nightly ritual for the two of them - to eat kim-chi flavoured ramyun every night. They went to Jinki’s apartment to eat occasionally, but Kibum claimed that his apartment was better and did not bother to give Jinki a chance to argue. Their relationship blossomed and Kibum found his boycrush developing even further into infatuation. A few nights later, he was sure. Kim Kibum was in love; hopelessly and endlessly in love with his neighbour. (“Can I panic about being gay now?” Kibum thought to himself.)

One night, Kibum received a text message from Jinki. At first he was puzzled as to why Jinki would text message him when he was just two doors away. But as he read the message, he understood why.

From: Jinki

Hey Kibum! I can’t come over tonight. I’ve got the flu. ):

Don’t come over! I know you were thinking about it.

Pfffft, Kibum, listen to me just this once okay?

(My spare key’s under the doormat, by the way.)

Sent at: 04/06/10, 10:18 pm

Kibum laughed a little, seeing Jinki’s message, before grabbing some food and medicine from his cupboard. He knew Jinki was half-expecting him.

After he let himself into Jinki’s apartment, he was attacked by a mess of flailing limbs that he knew as Jinki. The older boy latched himself onto Kibum and refused to let go.

“You were waiting for me to come, weren’t you?” Kibum laughed.

Jinki snorted, “I’d be lying if I said no.”

Just then, Jinki coughed, reminding Kibum why he was there in the first place. Feeling Jinki’s forehead with his cheek, he concluded that the boy had a fever. Jinki seemed unimpressed by it, however.

“Thanks for telling me I have a fever, Einstein. I already told you I had the flu,” Jinki groaned as he abandoned Kibum for the comfort of his bed.

Kibum skipped happily into Jinki’s room, unaffected by Jinki’s words.

“You’re such an ass when you’re sick, you know that?” Kibum sighed loudly.

Jinki grunted in response.

Just then, Kibum felt himself being pinned onto the bed, Jinki hovering above him. “Kibum, I’ve been thinking,” Jinki said, “I think… I like you. No, it’s more than that. I think, I love you… or something.”

Kibum pushed Jinki’s head onto the pillow.

“Y-you’re sick,” he stuttered, “you don’t know what you’re saying.”

“I’m lovesick, Kibum-ah,” Jinki whined.

Kibum rolled his eyes at Jinki’s corniness before kissing the older boy. He wiped his lips as he pulled away, several minutes later.

“If I fall sick,” Kibum jabbed a finger in Jinki’s direction, “you’re responsible.”

Jinki just beamed in response. Kibum scoffed, before breaking out into a smile and lying down beside Jinki on the bed. He felt Jinki’s arms snake around his waist a while later. It wasn’t the grandest confession ever, but Kibum had never been happier. (Except maybe that one time when Jonghyun slammed his head into the revolving door, but that’s another story altogether.)

Plus, there must be some advantages of dating your neighbour, right? (But that’s another story too.)

And Kibum and Jinki lived happily ever after.

( "Actually, Kibum, I never knew about Girls' Generation until I saw your poster." )



pairing: onew/key, fandom: shinee, !fanfic, author: lynlovesmin, rating: g

Previous post Next post
Up