Instant Diva (Just Add Water)

[lily_ina]

Onew/Key
PG-13, Humour/Romance

★ If Jinki compared his life to a recipe, he just missed one ingredient.



"This is Kim Kibum," Jonghyun said, pushing Jinki forward so he could extend his hand awkwardly.

Kibum smiled; a dazzling smile. His grip on Jinki's hand was firm and affectionate and Jinki vaguely recalled the last time he had touched a swan (conveniently forgetting the aftermath and the bite mark he still had on his thumb).

"Nice to meet you Jinki-hyung."

An intense burning sensation crept to Jinki's cheeks and he could feel his palms moistening. He looked down at their linked hands, then up to Kibum's eyes which appeared to be slightly worried. Jonghyun cleared his throat behind him, making Jinki realise he had to say something back.

"Hello, I love you."

Kibum chortled. "What?"

Jonghyun was watching from the sidelines and let out a strangled cry that didn't fail to catch Jinki's attention. He blinked a few times, his cheeks still red and flaming. His lips curled upward which made Kibum back away and wring his hand from Jinki's.

"Haha," Jinki forced out. "It's a- it's a joke!"

His fake laughter echoed in the gymnasium; the large empty space amplifying his ridiculous attempt to cover up his blunder -but honestly, what else could he do?

Kibum snorted rudely and made it a point to raise his chin up as he brushed past Jinki.

"Distasteful." He said, the words still ringing out even after Kibum had stepped out of the gym.

Jinki's laughter died away almost at the same time as the door was slammed shut. He released a shaky breath and bit his lips. He jerked back when Jonghyun suddenly appeared in his view.

"What the hell was that?!" Jonghyun screamed. "Do you know how long I nagged for him to agree to meet you? Then you go and do that, you're unbelievable!"

"I panicked." Jinki whispered, looking to the floor with a pained expression. "Do you think I scared him?"

"Oh no, he probably thinks you'd make a very fine lover," Jonghyun twirled around, his sneakers screeching against the polished floor. "You freaked him out, Hyung. And now he must think we're both freaks, you dragged me down with you!"

Jinki wriggled with his fingers awkwardly. "What do I do?" He asked, rocking on his heels and toes. "Do I run after him?"

"I don't know." Jonghyun said, dribbling a basketball ball he had found on the floor. "But if you want to run, run. I won't stop you,"

Jinki hesitated in front of the doors. Then he thought that if he was quick enough, Kibum might be impressed and give him a second chance -which was very unlikely, but hey, a vague hope was better than no hope at all, right? Besides, Jonghyun told him that self-confidence turned Kibum on.

"Kibum-sshi!" He called when a familiar silhouette of a brown-haired boy came into view. "Kibum-sshi, wait!"

Kibum halted in his footsteps and turned his ice-cold brown orbs toward Jinki. He passively looked at Jinki stopping about a meter in front of him. "What? You got other jokes to tell me?"

"No!" Jinki panted hard. "I need to- I want to be honest,"

"Good," Kibum snapped, his piercing eyes looking up and down at Jinki who was straightening his clothes. "I'm listening."

"He-here?" Jinki stuttered, still in the process of catching his breath -so much for impressing Kibum. He studied the narrow hallways and the open door of a biology lab further away. "It's not an appropri-"

"It's very appropriate." Kibum declared. "I'm an impatient person,"

The swish of hair as Kibum flicked his head left Jinki astounded. There was no way he could look that cool. Kibum crossed his arms over his chest and even then he still looked attractive.

"What did I just tell you? Spit it out!"

Jinki gulped and inhaled in hope to gather up vapour of bravery that might be emanating from Kibum.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. Let me start over," Jinki said and extended his arm once again. "Hi, I'm Lee Jinki."

Kibum analysed the outstretched hand for a few seconds, then his eyes went up and stared into Jinki's. "I don't care about that,"

Jinki drooped. His arm fell back to his side sorrowfully. "Oh,"

Kibum sighed loudly and kicked the air with one of his feet. "Did you mean it?" He asked, tugging at the red plaid scarf wrapped around his neck to flatten the unwanted creases.

"Well, I do want to start over with-"

"Stupid," The younger boy cut in. He crossed his arms above his chest more steadily, wrinkling the white shirt where the black square-shaped logo was. Jinki briefly wondered if he should tell him about the weird bump in the fabric his movement had caused but decided against it when Kibum's voice raised again. "I'm talking about back there. Was it really a joke?"

Jinki shrugged his thought about Kibum's shirt aside. "Ah!" He said, his eyes subconsciously going down to look at his feet.

"Was it?" Kibum insisted. "If it was, I'm never setting my eyes on you again."

At the mere thought of living in world were all his chances to talk to Kibum were shot down, Jinki jumped wildly.

"It was not!" He yelled uncontrollably but soon realised people might have heard him. "It...was not..."

"Hyung are you- look at me," Kibum ordered, stepping closer. Jinki shivered but obeyed. "If it really wasn't, then you won't mind me-" He smirked, letting the gesture convey his thoughts.

Jinki spluttered then blushed. Nothing was more confusing than his own thoughts tangling together to form a nebulous mess.

"Do you even know me?" He asked, but wasn't so sure about what he wanted to express.

Kibum jeered at him. "You shouldn't speak when you're in this condition," He said.

"I'm sorry?" Jinki blinked. "I'm just nervous. I mean, you're so pretty...you know,"

Kibum considered him then gracefully glided closer. "Keep talking,"

"Huh...You're like an- an angel or something," Jinki said clumsily, feeling ashamed of the words coming out of his mouth even if he was pretty sure he had thought them somewhere along the line. "You're very special to- at least to me,"

A pleasant smile drew itself on Kibum's lips. "You wouldn't win a prize for smooth-talking, but you're adorable."

Jinki chuckled and squirmed on his feet. Kibum was so very closer than what he remembered.

"Kibum-sshi-"

"Drop the sshi." Kibum raised his chin again, looking superior. "I'm not a stranger to you, am I?"

Memories of the not-so-far-away time when Jinki secretly gazed at Kibum in the cafeteria flashed in Jinki's mind. He had known mostly everything about Kibum long before being introduced to him. And with Jonghyun as his spy, he could keep himself up-to-date with Kibum's daily activities. It was a bit stalker-ish, but could it also be sort of flattering for Kibum? In a very creepy way; yes.

"Sorry," Jinki mumbled. "Kibum-"

"Call me Key."

"Okay. Huh. Key. Would you like to-" He paused, not really for dramatic effect, but more for him to moisten his dry lips. "Would you like to be my-"

"I'll be your boyfriend." Kibum finished for him. "God, I've been waiting for a year now. How slow can you be?"

Jinki choked on his spit. "I'm- eh? If you- Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't confess to people." He said. "People confess to me."

It was a bit cliché of Kibum to say something like that, but it brought sense into the situation. Jinki's right hand wriggled lightly as he pondered about the effectiveness of his desired next move.

Kibum had noticed his ungainly attempt to hold hands and promptly agreed to the unsaid request.

Jinki gasped at the contact of Kibum's warm palm against his and gasped again when Kibum got on the tip of toes and kissed him. He made a little 'oh' sound as he proceeded to wrap his arms around Kibum's hips for the first of many many times to come.

"If you want something, get it." Kibum smirked and bit his lips mischievously. "Let's go tell Jonghyun now," He tugged at Jinki's hand and they rushed back to the gymnasium.

Something in Jinki's head told him that Kibum's kisses weren't going to help him in becoming sane and Kibum might be harder to handle than what he expected. But as he watched their linked hands, Kibum's excited face and Jonghyun grinning at them from the opposite end of the gym, he couldn't help but think that this might just be instant happiness. All he had ever needed was to add a little Kibum to mix in the recipe.

----

I'm moving in two days! YAY!

But that also means I won't be able to access a computer with internet for- well I don't know for how long since I don't even know where I'm supposed to go to get an internet connection.

So yeah, a short fic to thank everyone and tell you guys that I might not be able to update in the next month(s). University is a huge change for me and I need to adjust to my new life!

I always seem to explain where the inspiration of the fic came from in my author note, so here:

I was looking through Sears' Christmas catalogue (is it too early? NO! It's never too early to make my Christmas' list!) and I saw a cup (or a goblet, whatever) with the title of this fic written on it. I found it funny and wrote the fic at work between my only client and the closing time.

I hope you enjoyed! Thank you for reading!