Maybe Memories 24/27
Maybe Memories
24/27
Pairings: KangTeuk, ShiChul, KyuMin...more...
Rating: PG13
Genre: Highschool AU, Romance, Humor, Drama
Disclaimer: Don't own...
Summary: Eeteuk's worst fear is his past but then comes along a person who is willing to replace everything Eeteuk had known and come to dread...
Previous<-- -->Next
‘Stop complaining!’-ordered Heechul holding the phone in front of his mouth, precluding any possibility for a response on the behalf of the other party, -‘It’s like your brain is all muscle. ’
‘Violent people have violent friends…’-mumbled Eeteuk from the side, feeling somewhat claustrophobic in the back seat of Siwon’s car, boxes on the left and a gesticulating Heechul on the right cramming him dead centre.
‘I heard that,’-snapped back the man before returning his full attention to the call,- ‘Stop whining and shut up!’-he demanded, -‘When was he supposed to tell you; before or after you wouldn’t stop talking?’
Eeteuk in turn winced at the words as he played through the possible answer Kangin would provide to such provocation. In the front Siwon moved his hand in a gesture mimicking a slap, much to the amusement of the driver.
‘I’m sorry,’-apologised Heechul, not a single note of remorse in his admission, -‘Why didn’t you say all these things to him, why do you suddenly grow balls when talking to me?’
The merry face of Santa on the wrapping paper smiled back at Eeteuk as he tried desperately to erase the image of Kangin and retractable testicles. Meanwhile Heechul declared ‘I’m hanging up now’ and shut his phone.
‘You tell him!’-cheered Siwon, craning his neck to smile at his boyfriend.
‘Keep talking.’-he barked back, tone taking a lighter quality as he relaxed into the seat, leather upholstering adding to the effect with the sound of his movement. The voice of the inbuilt navigator ordered for the driver to ‘turn left’ before adding ‘you have arrived at your destination’.
‘This should be fun.’-remarked Siwon as the car drew to a smooth halt. He cracked open the door, checking for oncoming traffic before stepping out and opening the door for Heechul.
‘I reject this treatment!’-he sputtered, retreating further inside and inevitably crushing Eeteuk against a wall of presents packed in glorified parcels.
‘I reject your rejection.’-happily announced the younger man and before the situation could transpire into angry banter, grabbed Heechul’s hand, pulling him into the crisp air with a sharp tug. Eeteuk couldn’t help laughing at Heechul’s loud exclamation of ‘rape’ and manoeuvred himself to freedom, careful not to slip on the thin ice covering the pavement. Meanwhile, the driver rolled down his window and lit up a cigarette, taking a long drag before turning on the radio.
‘Is he going to wait for us?’- asked Eeteuk and Siwon nodded absently, too busy grinning at Heechul’s annoyance, an expression directly contradicted by his actions as he laced his fingers with Siwon’s.
The familiar facade of the small restaurant loomed ahead and watching the silhouettes move in the soft light behind the translucent glass, Eeteuk tried to make out Kangin’s figure amongst the dancing shadows. Like in those romantic movies, he thought to himself and glancing to either side, crossed the road. The faint sound of music and low voices from inside the cafe carried with an eerie quality and brought forth his memories of visiting such establishments with his parents. His father and his taste for dated wine and his mother’s fancy for foreign cuisine coming to mind, vague and blurry like worn text obscured by the yellow tint of the pages in an aged book.
‘Trying to use your Jedi powers?’-called out Heechul from behind, alluding to their earlier conversation and Eeteuk chuckled as he watched the pair make their way over, Siwon humming along with the tune drifting from the car.
The interior seemed larger than he remembered, the warmth coupled with the entrancing smell of food teasing him to venture further inside. Yet every table stood taken, occupants of the seats busy with food and chatter, uniformed waiters choreographing their way between the seated customers. Spotting Yunho among them, Eeteuk gave an enthusiastic wave which the man reciprocated in kind, the distraction causing him to stumble, tray of used dishes tilting dangerously in his hands. Eeteuk did not however, recognise the man standing at the entrance though Heechul seemed at ease, exchanging a friendly greeting with him before ushering Eeteuk up the stairs.
‘Less crowded.’-he explained, raising his voice to cater to the noise level. Eeteuk, in turn, obediently began his ascent, gingerly running his fingers along the metal rail, dips and curves of the bizarre design easing away some of his anxiety. He had caught sight of Kangin.
The space on the second floor was far more restricted, by both size and decorations, large plants placed around the floor in a manner that overwhelmed his vision with green. An elderly couple sat at the table by the large window and smiling at the sight, Eeteuk opted for the table closest to the stairs. The metal chair scraped along the stone floor as he pulled it aside, heavy as he moved it and he noted a similar weight of sorts that focused its mass around his eyes.
‘I’m going to go say hi to the cook.’-declared Heechul and hurried off before Eeteuk could ask if the ‘cook’ was Jaejoong. Siwon didn’t stick around either, excusing himself to the toilet after hanging his coat on the back of a chair.
Eeteuk let out a sigh and reclining in his seat, picked up a menu, idly looking over foreign names of dishes, Korean interpretation printed next to fancy Latin lettering. He was in the middle of rolling the pronunciation along his tongue, silently mouthing the exotic words when a question distracted him from his mime act.
‘Have you decided what you’d like to order?’
‘Tiramisu?’-he tried, eyes focused on the dark script on the page, refusing to rise to the occasion and meet Kangin’s stare. The man exhaled loudly and having waited out a couple more seconds unceremoniously sat down opposite Eeteuk, their knees bumping under the table. Eeteuk smiled and putting down the menu, graced the man with a simple ‘Hey’.
Kangin gave him a stiff nod, fingers of his left hand flexing around a pen in a nervous manner. And watching him start chewing the inside of his cheek, Eeteuk moved his left foot to hook around Kangin’s ankle.
‘Didn’t think running away was your style.’-he dropped casually, watching for the changes in the younger man’s expression. And sure enough, his eyebrows drew together, shoulders tensing and without meaning to, wordlessly, he told Eeteuk everything he needed to know.
‘What running, I never said I was finished.’-he protested, vocal confirmation spreading Eeteuk’s lips in a wide smile, his chest inflating with childish delight.
‘Then finish taking our order and scram.’-ordered Siwon, his appearance marked by a lack of warning. -‘And get paper towels for the bathroom while you’re at it.’-he added and on cue picked up a napkin to dry his hands with.
‘Ladies’ room needs more towels,’-snapped back Kangin, standing up, -‘got it.’
‘So basically,’-summarised Eeteuk, chin rested in the palm of his hand, -‘You’d prefer to have a car?’
‘Pretty much.’-confirmed Heechul, fork swinging like a pendulum in his fingers as he contemplated the rose tinted pare lounging on his plate. -‘This really is good.’-he added as an after-thought. Siwon hummed in agreement, moving over a plate with a baked apple filled with what Eeteuk assumed to be dried fruit and spices.
‘Try this.’-insisted the man, free hand wrapping around Heechul’s shoulders, drawing him closer.
‘You guys do this often?’-Eeteuk asked as Heechul cut into the dessert, -‘Test the food for poison?’
‘Jaejoong does this every two weeks on Tuesday,’-elaborated Heechul through a mouthful, -‘Tries out new sweets, runs them past the manager and serves his customers happy.’
‘Why Tuesday?’-wondered Eeteuk, taking a bite from his own plate, smooth cream filling his mouth with the saccharine taste that seemed both light and yet clearly defined, soft biscuits and the bitter tang of coffee completing the bouquet.
Heechul shrugged, displacing Siwon’s hold in the process. A few moments later Jaejoong himself appeared before them, beige apron stained slightly at the front, soft colour contrasted by a dark red splotch that could only have been wine.
‘How did I fare?’
Heechul nodded, swallowing hard on the sip of tea he had taken and coughing slightly voiced ‘A definite nine.’
‘What did you like best?’-asked Jaejoong, addressing Eeteuk as he turned to him, offering up a smile that may or may not have been a reaction to Heechul’s positive judgement.
‘I liked the plums.’-he said, indicating the fruits bathed in syrup.
‘I liked the strawberry soup.’-piped in Siwon eliciting a deep laugh from Jaejoong who nodded in what seemed to be an approving fashion.
‘I call this menu Memories of Summer.’-he declared while bending his head forward at an awkward angle as he pulled the loop of his apron free of his neck before reaching back to untie the knot around his waist. -‘I’m going for a smoke out front; you guys enjoy the rest of the evening.’
And as suddenly as Jaejoong had appeared, he was gone. Eeteuk watched him walking down the stairs as he contemplated the slight urgency in the man’s step. On his way down he greeted someone and as his head disappeared out of view, Kangin’s spiky hair and the furry hem of his coat came into sight.
‘The knight in shining armour is here.’-Eeteuk announced, grinning as he reached into the pocket of his jacket for his wallet before Siwon’s hand gesture stopped him in his tracks.
‘My treat.’
Heechul snorted, muttering ‘He’s veiling evil intent with honey’ before reaching across the table to drag over Eeteuk’s unfinished cake.
‘I’ll see you guys tomorrow then.’-Eeteuk said, ears filling with the crinkling of the artificial material of his coat, fingers coursing along the cool inside of the sleeves.
‘Why Tuesdays?’-Eeteuk asked, shoulder brushing against Kangin’s as they walked side by side.
‘He says it makes him seem mysterious.’-Kangin answered, finger’s tapping out a rhythm against sides of the large box in his hands and listening to the beat, Eeteuk wondered if it was the same tune Kangin liked to hum. -‘He reasons that stupid people don’t notice the pattern. Smart people notice and ask. And smarter people move on with their lives.’
Eeteuk breathed an ‘ah’ of acknowledgement, wondering what category he fell under since his awareness of the pattern came from an outside source.
‘What’s inside?’-suddenly asked Kangin nodding at the packages in Eeteuk’s hands before holding up his own box for inspection.
‘Guess.’-Eeteuk teased, smiling at the intent look of disconnect he was awarded. That same smile slipped from his lips but a moment later as Kangin began to violently shake the package endowed to his hold.
‘Sounds fragile...’-mocked the man and Eeteuk let out a sound akin to a whine, seriously contemplating fist-on-face action.
‘Is this the part where I’m supposed to apologise?’-he asked, voice on edge as he opted to punch Kangin in the gut. The man in turn produced a satisfactory growl, eyes wide with surprise. When the younger opened his mouth to speak, Eeteuk kicked him, boot leaving a muddy print on the leather of the trousers.
‘Stop that!’-Kangin exclaimed, staggering backwards, box held out in front of his torso as a means of defence.
‘What incentive do I have to stop?’-Eeteuk challenged, laughing as Kangin struggled for words before setting his cargo down and mumbling ‘I’m dating Heechul’.
‘Here,’-Kangin said, pulling out a plastic case and handed it to Eeteuk, -‘I left early to get your Christmas present.’
TBC
Sorry for the major delay on this~next part to follow shortly (hopefully)
Comments appreciated and loved (and serve as encouragement :D)
Thanks to shigae for reading through early versions of this chapter and helping out with some mistakes (since then I have probably added many more : P)
24/27
Pairings: KangTeuk, ShiChul, KyuMin...more...
Rating: PG13
Genre: Highschool AU, Romance, Humor, Drama
Disclaimer: Don't own...
Summary: Eeteuk's worst fear is his past but then comes along a person who is willing to replace everything Eeteuk had known and come to dread...
Previous<-- -->Next
‘Stop complaining!’-ordered Heechul holding the phone in front of his mouth, precluding any possibility for a response on the behalf of the other party, -‘It’s like your brain is all muscle. ’
‘Violent people have violent friends…’-mumbled Eeteuk from the side, feeling somewhat claustrophobic in the back seat of Siwon’s car, boxes on the left and a gesticulating Heechul on the right cramming him dead centre.
‘I heard that,’-snapped back the man before returning his full attention to the call,- ‘Stop whining and shut up!’-he demanded, -‘When was he supposed to tell you; before or after you wouldn’t stop talking?’
Eeteuk in turn winced at the words as he played through the possible answer Kangin would provide to such provocation. In the front Siwon moved his hand in a gesture mimicking a slap, much to the amusement of the driver.
‘I’m sorry,’-apologised Heechul, not a single note of remorse in his admission, -‘Why didn’t you say all these things to him, why do you suddenly grow balls when talking to me?’
The merry face of Santa on the wrapping paper smiled back at Eeteuk as he tried desperately to erase the image of Kangin and retractable testicles. Meanwhile Heechul declared ‘I’m hanging up now’ and shut his phone.
‘You tell him!’-cheered Siwon, craning his neck to smile at his boyfriend.
‘Keep talking.’-he barked back, tone taking a lighter quality as he relaxed into the seat, leather upholstering adding to the effect with the sound of his movement. The voice of the inbuilt navigator ordered for the driver to ‘turn left’ before adding ‘you have arrived at your destination’.
‘This should be fun.’-remarked Siwon as the car drew to a smooth halt. He cracked open the door, checking for oncoming traffic before stepping out and opening the door for Heechul.
‘I reject this treatment!’-he sputtered, retreating further inside and inevitably crushing Eeteuk against a wall of presents packed in glorified parcels.
‘I reject your rejection.’-happily announced the younger man and before the situation could transpire into angry banter, grabbed Heechul’s hand, pulling him into the crisp air with a sharp tug. Eeteuk couldn’t help laughing at Heechul’s loud exclamation of ‘rape’ and manoeuvred himself to freedom, careful not to slip on the thin ice covering the pavement. Meanwhile, the driver rolled down his window and lit up a cigarette, taking a long drag before turning on the radio.
‘Is he going to wait for us?’- asked Eeteuk and Siwon nodded absently, too busy grinning at Heechul’s annoyance, an expression directly contradicted by his actions as he laced his fingers with Siwon’s.
The familiar facade of the small restaurant loomed ahead and watching the silhouettes move in the soft light behind the translucent glass, Eeteuk tried to make out Kangin’s figure amongst the dancing shadows. Like in those romantic movies, he thought to himself and glancing to either side, crossed the road. The faint sound of music and low voices from inside the cafe carried with an eerie quality and brought forth his memories of visiting such establishments with his parents. His father and his taste for dated wine and his mother’s fancy for foreign cuisine coming to mind, vague and blurry like worn text obscured by the yellow tint of the pages in an aged book.
‘Trying to use your Jedi powers?’-called out Heechul from behind, alluding to their earlier conversation and Eeteuk chuckled as he watched the pair make their way over, Siwon humming along with the tune drifting from the car.
The interior seemed larger than he remembered, the warmth coupled with the entrancing smell of food teasing him to venture further inside. Yet every table stood taken, occupants of the seats busy with food and chatter, uniformed waiters choreographing their way between the seated customers. Spotting Yunho among them, Eeteuk gave an enthusiastic wave which the man reciprocated in kind, the distraction causing him to stumble, tray of used dishes tilting dangerously in his hands. Eeteuk did not however, recognise the man standing at the entrance though Heechul seemed at ease, exchanging a friendly greeting with him before ushering Eeteuk up the stairs.
‘Less crowded.’-he explained, raising his voice to cater to the noise level. Eeteuk, in turn, obediently began his ascent, gingerly running his fingers along the metal rail, dips and curves of the bizarre design easing away some of his anxiety. He had caught sight of Kangin.
The space on the second floor was far more restricted, by both size and decorations, large plants placed around the floor in a manner that overwhelmed his vision with green. An elderly couple sat at the table by the large window and smiling at the sight, Eeteuk opted for the table closest to the stairs. The metal chair scraped along the stone floor as he pulled it aside, heavy as he moved it and he noted a similar weight of sorts that focused its mass around his eyes.
‘I’m going to go say hi to the cook.’-declared Heechul and hurried off before Eeteuk could ask if the ‘cook’ was Jaejoong. Siwon didn’t stick around either, excusing himself to the toilet after hanging his coat on the back of a chair.
Eeteuk let out a sigh and reclining in his seat, picked up a menu, idly looking over foreign names of dishes, Korean interpretation printed next to fancy Latin lettering. He was in the middle of rolling the pronunciation along his tongue, silently mouthing the exotic words when a question distracted him from his mime act.
‘Have you decided what you’d like to order?’
‘Tiramisu?’-he tried, eyes focused on the dark script on the page, refusing to rise to the occasion and meet Kangin’s stare. The man exhaled loudly and having waited out a couple more seconds unceremoniously sat down opposite Eeteuk, their knees bumping under the table. Eeteuk smiled and putting down the menu, graced the man with a simple ‘Hey’.
Kangin gave him a stiff nod, fingers of his left hand flexing around a pen in a nervous manner. And watching him start chewing the inside of his cheek, Eeteuk moved his left foot to hook around Kangin’s ankle.
‘Didn’t think running away was your style.’-he dropped casually, watching for the changes in the younger man’s expression. And sure enough, his eyebrows drew together, shoulders tensing and without meaning to, wordlessly, he told Eeteuk everything he needed to know.
‘What running, I never said I was finished.’-he protested, vocal confirmation spreading Eeteuk’s lips in a wide smile, his chest inflating with childish delight.
‘Then finish taking our order and scram.’-ordered Siwon, his appearance marked by a lack of warning. -‘And get paper towels for the bathroom while you’re at it.’-he added and on cue picked up a napkin to dry his hands with.
‘Ladies’ room needs more towels,’-snapped back Kangin, standing up, -‘got it.’
‘So basically,’-summarised Eeteuk, chin rested in the palm of his hand, -‘You’d prefer to have a car?’
‘Pretty much.’-confirmed Heechul, fork swinging like a pendulum in his fingers as he contemplated the rose tinted pare lounging on his plate. -‘This really is good.’-he added as an after-thought. Siwon hummed in agreement, moving over a plate with a baked apple filled with what Eeteuk assumed to be dried fruit and spices.
‘Try this.’-insisted the man, free hand wrapping around Heechul’s shoulders, drawing him closer.
‘You guys do this often?’-Eeteuk asked as Heechul cut into the dessert, -‘Test the food for poison?’
‘Jaejoong does this every two weeks on Tuesday,’-elaborated Heechul through a mouthful, -‘Tries out new sweets, runs them past the manager and serves his customers happy.’
‘Why Tuesday?’-wondered Eeteuk, taking a bite from his own plate, smooth cream filling his mouth with the saccharine taste that seemed both light and yet clearly defined, soft biscuits and the bitter tang of coffee completing the bouquet.
Heechul shrugged, displacing Siwon’s hold in the process. A few moments later Jaejoong himself appeared before them, beige apron stained slightly at the front, soft colour contrasted by a dark red splotch that could only have been wine.
‘How did I fare?’
Heechul nodded, swallowing hard on the sip of tea he had taken and coughing slightly voiced ‘A definite nine.’
‘What did you like best?’-asked Jaejoong, addressing Eeteuk as he turned to him, offering up a smile that may or may not have been a reaction to Heechul’s positive judgement.
‘I liked the plums.’-he said, indicating the fruits bathed in syrup.
‘I liked the strawberry soup.’-piped in Siwon eliciting a deep laugh from Jaejoong who nodded in what seemed to be an approving fashion.
‘I call this menu Memories of Summer.’-he declared while bending his head forward at an awkward angle as he pulled the loop of his apron free of his neck before reaching back to untie the knot around his waist. -‘I’m going for a smoke out front; you guys enjoy the rest of the evening.’
And as suddenly as Jaejoong had appeared, he was gone. Eeteuk watched him walking down the stairs as he contemplated the slight urgency in the man’s step. On his way down he greeted someone and as his head disappeared out of view, Kangin’s spiky hair and the furry hem of his coat came into sight.
‘The knight in shining armour is here.’-Eeteuk announced, grinning as he reached into the pocket of his jacket for his wallet before Siwon’s hand gesture stopped him in his tracks.
‘My treat.’
Heechul snorted, muttering ‘He’s veiling evil intent with honey’ before reaching across the table to drag over Eeteuk’s unfinished cake.
‘I’ll see you guys tomorrow then.’-Eeteuk said, ears filling with the crinkling of the artificial material of his coat, fingers coursing along the cool inside of the sleeves.
‘Why Tuesdays?’-Eeteuk asked, shoulder brushing against Kangin’s as they walked side by side.
‘He says it makes him seem mysterious.’-Kangin answered, finger’s tapping out a rhythm against sides of the large box in his hands and listening to the beat, Eeteuk wondered if it was the same tune Kangin liked to hum. -‘He reasons that stupid people don’t notice the pattern. Smart people notice and ask. And smarter people move on with their lives.’
Eeteuk breathed an ‘ah’ of acknowledgement, wondering what category he fell under since his awareness of the pattern came from an outside source.
‘What’s inside?’-suddenly asked Kangin nodding at the packages in Eeteuk’s hands before holding up his own box for inspection.
‘Guess.’-Eeteuk teased, smiling at the intent look of disconnect he was awarded. That same smile slipped from his lips but a moment later as Kangin began to violently shake the package endowed to his hold.
‘Sounds fragile...’-mocked the man and Eeteuk let out a sound akin to a whine, seriously contemplating fist-on-face action.
‘Is this the part where I’m supposed to apologise?’-he asked, voice on edge as he opted to punch Kangin in the gut. The man in turn produced a satisfactory growl, eyes wide with surprise. When the younger opened his mouth to speak, Eeteuk kicked him, boot leaving a muddy print on the leather of the trousers.
‘Stop that!’-Kangin exclaimed, staggering backwards, box held out in front of his torso as a means of defence.
‘What incentive do I have to stop?’-Eeteuk challenged, laughing as Kangin struggled for words before setting his cargo down and mumbling ‘I’m dating Heechul’.
‘Here,’-Kangin said, pulling out a plastic case and handed it to Eeteuk, -‘I left early to get your Christmas present.’
TBC
Sorry for the major delay on this~next part to follow shortly (hopefully)
Comments appreciated and loved (and serve as encouragement :D)
Thanks to shigae for reading through early versions of this chapter and helping out with some mistakes (since then I have probably added many more : P)