Crossing Bridges [Part 1]
Title: Crossing Bridges
Pairing: Hyukhae, minor Yunjae, broken!Haesica
Genre: school AU, romance
Rating: PG
Warning: unbeta-ed, suspension of disbelief possibly required :P
Summary: Hyukjae meets another student on the bridge between their schools, and falls in love. (okay, that's a crap summary, please ignore and read!)
A/N: Based on a real bridge and schools in my neighbourhood. If I knew how to upload a picture of it I would! At any rate, I'm glad I was able to post a fic on the last day of 2009!
Cut into two parts for length. This is part 1.
Crossing Bridges
It all starts in middle school, when Hyukjae and Junsu are crossing the overhead bridge to get to the other side of the road to take the bus home together.
Hyukjae’s talking animatedly to Junsu about joining the soccer team, when the prettiest girl he’s ever seen walks across the bridge in their direction, her uniform indicating that she attends the school opposite theirs.
“Hyukjae!” He looks at Junsu in surprise, the younger boy snapping his fingers in front of his stunned face.
“You might want to keep your mouth shut when ogling at a girl, Hyuk.” Junsu smirks, and Hyukjae shuts his mouth quickly, punching his best friend on the shoulder.
“But did you see her, Junsu? Her face, the way she walks…” He goes on dreamily, and Junsu shakes his head in exasperation.
It takes a few weeks for them to establish a pattern: the pretty girl walks across the bridge every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at the same time as them.
Which is why Hyukjae looks forward to those afternoons when they go home. Junsu tolerates this little crush of Hyukjae’s, but draws the line at waiting on the bridge on the other three days a week just to see what time she passes by.
--
“Maybe you should ask her for her number,” Junsu muses one day at lunch, causing Hyukjae to cough violently, covering his plate with droplets of strawberry milk.
Sungmin stares at the now-soggy food in distaste, and kindly offers Hyukjae some of his instead. “Ooh, ask who for their number?”
Hyukjae waves his hands frantically at Junsu, who blithely ignores him and grins at Sungmin. “He’s got a crush on this girl from the school opposite ours.”
Sungmin looks interested. “Hey, I have a cousin in that school - she knows tonnes of people there. I could ask her to get this girl’s number, if you want.”
Hyukjae groans and hides his face in his palms. “I don’t even know her name!”
Sungmin and Junsu share a look. “I know, isn’t he pathetic?” Junsu sighs deeply and Sungmin laughs. Hyukjae decides he needs new best friends.
--
It’s Tuesday; though this time the three of them are headed to Junsu’s house to complete a project, and Sungmin’s excited to see this mysterious girl of Hyukjae’s.
As usual, Hyukjae spies her among a group of girls from all the way at the other end of the bridge, and surreptitiously points out which one she is. As they walk nearer each other, coming to the middle part of the bridge, Sungmin’s eyes widen in recognition.
“Sunkyu-yah!” One of the shorter girls looks up in surprise, and breaks out into a wide smile.
“Sungmin-ah! I forgot, you go to that school,” she points to the other side of the road, “right?” He nods happily. Junsu clears his throat meaningfully, subtly pointing towards a stunned Hyukjae, and Sungmin laughs.
“This is my cousin, Lee Sunkyu.” They all bow politely, while other students coming from both ends squeeze past the large group, wondering why so many students are congregating at the middle of the bridge.
“Er, these are my friends, Lee Hyukjae and Kim Junsu.” He gestures at each of them, Junsu flashing them a cute grin while Hyukjae manages a weak smile.
“Nice to meet you! My real name is Sunkyu, but you can call me Sunny!” The girl is just as bubbly as Sungmin, Junsu thinks in amusement. It must run in their family. “And these are my classmates, Kwon Yuri, Kim Hyoyeon and Jessica Jung.” She gestures to them in turn.
The pretty girl - Jessica, Hyukjae corrects himself - smiles politely and bows again.
They exchange pleasantries, before moving off to the opposite sides of the road. Junsu nudges Sungmin, who looks at Hyukjae spacing out dreamily, and they both laugh loudly.
A student from Sunny’s school walks past them and gives them a curious look before walking on, wondering why there are two boys laughing over a third one who looks oblivious to them at the bus stop.
--
The next time he and Junsu see any of them, they bow slightly to each other before walking on, and Hyukjae silently rejoices that at least she recognises him now.
Then he doesn’t see her for a few weeks, and kind of forgets about her after a while, the stress of exams more pressing as the teachers pile on the homework and practice test papers relentlessly.
“Finally! Now that the last paper’s over, WE’RE FREE!” Junsu throws his paper into the air, and they whoop cheerfully.
“Wanna come to my house and play videogames?” Hyukjae offers, and the other two nod excitedly, as they make their way to the school gate. Junsu suddenly stops, a look of horror forming on his face.
“I forgot to meet my teacher to give him my student council application!” He rummages in his schoolbag and pulls out the set of forms. “You two go on ahead, I’ll catch up to you!”
He runs off before Sungmin and Hyukjae can reply, and the two of them continue on their way, going at a much slower pace. Then Sungmin notices a girl he’s been trying to chat up recently, and nudges at Hyukjae to continue going first.
Shrugging in slightly envious admiration at Sungmin’s nerve, he goes up the bridge jostled along with a whole lot of students leaving both schools simultaneously after the exams.
He doesn’t really see where he’s going, lost in thoughts of how to spend the upcoming vacation, when he bumps into someone coming from the opposite direction, and the paraphernalia in his arms scatters on the concrete of the bridge.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” The other student bends down to gather Hyukjae’s things before any loose sheets of paper fly away onto the road below.
Hyukjae sighs and crouches down as well to gather his books and files. “Here you go.” He lifts his head a little to see a handsome boy around his age smiling apologetically, and the words he was about to say get stuck in his throat.
The boy has the brightest eyes he’s ever seen, on an attractive face framed with soft-looking hair the same chocolate colour as his eyes, and Hyukjae can’t help but stare at him, forgetting for a moment that he’s supposed to be straight.
The other boy looks a little confused, and Hyukjae quickly takes his stuff back from him with a mumbled thanks. They both rise up and shift to the side as more people push past them in annoyance, and suddenly a cracking sound is heard from their feet, and they look down simultaneously.
The boy lifts his foot in surprise to see a splintered CD case, and Hyukjae lets out a cry of dismay as he recognises it as his dance practice CD. The other boy’s face falls, and he quickly stoops down to pick it up and save it from further damage.
“Oh dear, is this yours?” Hyukjae nods dumbly, and the other boy glances at its back cover. “I’m so sorry for stepping on it! I totally didn’t see- hey, is this a hip-hop dance music CD?”
Hyukjae nods again, taking his spoilt CD from the boy’s proffered hand. The boy grins excitedly, and Hyukjae nearly forgets to breathe.
“Cool, are you in a dance group too?”
Before he can reply, the boy turns his head suddenly at the sound of his name, and Hyukjae looks over his shoulder to see Jessica running across the bridge towards them with a smile on her beautiful face.
Surely she isn’t running to say hi to me, Hyukjae thinks in surprise, when Jessica stops right beside them, panting a little for breath.
“Oppa, why didn’t you wait for me?” She hits the boy playfully on the shoulder, and he grins again, a rather different smile from the one he gave Hyukjae earlier.
“I thought you’d already left without me!”
She laughs, a bright tinkling sound that reminds Hyukjae why he’s been crushing on her for so long, and then she finally seems to notice him. Her eyes widen slightly in recognition, and they both bow to each other.
“Er, hi, Jessica-ssi.”
The boy looks surprised that Hyukjae knows her name, and turns to Jessica questioningly. “You know him?”
Jessica nods slowly, as if trying to place him. “Ah, he’s Sunny’s…”
“-cousin’s friend.” Hyukjae finishes for her quickly.
She beams and nods faster. “Yes, that’s it! Er…”
“Lee Hyukjae.” He offers again, his heart sinking slightly, though he didn’t really expect her to remember his name, now, did he?
“Oh, nice to meet you.” The boy bows slightly. “I’m Lee Donghae.”
Then Junsu and Sungmin come up to them, giving Donghae curious glances. “Hey, Hyukjae, sorry for taking so long.” Sungmin says, and then looks at Jessica. “I remember you - you’re Sunkyu’s classmate, right?”
“Yeah, nice to see you again.” And there’s another round of bowing, before she says that she and Donghae must be going now, Donghae apologises for ruining Hyukjae’s CD, and they walk off to the other side of the bridge chatting away happily.
Junsu and Sungmin look at Hyukjae in sympathy, and Sungmin pats him on the shoulder, knowing how upset Hyukjae must feel to see the girl of his dreams with another guy. “Are you going to be alright?”
Hyukjae just looks dazed, and nods listlessly. They continue on down the bridge, Junsu trying to cheer him up by saying how many other pretty girls there are in their own school for him to find.
Hyukjae tries to laugh it off with a nonchalant attitude that neither friend buys, but they don’t talk about it and spend the rest of the afternoon in his room playing videogames.
But later at night when he’s alone on his bed and shuts his eyes, the image of the gorgeous girl with the handsome boy rises to the surface of his mind, and for one horrifying moment, he doesn’t know who he’s more jealous of.
--
Hyukjae trudges along the bridge slowly, flipping through his math exam paper and trying to spot any marking errors in hopes of getting a higher score. He can practically hear Junsu’s husky voice telling him not to be such a nitpicker when he’s already scored an A on the paper.
“Hello, it’s you!” He looks up in surprise to see that familiar good-looking face again, as Donghae grins at him.
“Oh…er…hi.” He finds himself tongue-tied again, and his knees don’t feel too strong either.
“What a coincidence, meeting you here on the bridge! I guess you take the bus home from our side?” Donghae jerks a thumb behind him, and Hyukjae nods slowly, trying to ignore how every little motion the other boy does just seems effortlessly cool. His hand slackens, and the exam paper slips out from his fingers and drifting onto the floor of the bridge.
Donghae swoops down and picks up the exam paper, whistling as he sees the grade on the front. “Wow, you got an A for math! Math’s like my worst subject in school, maybe I should ask you to tutor me.”
He grins cheekily, and Hyukjae is visibly reminded of just how striking this boy is. Donghae hands the paper back to him. “Anyway, I wanted to apologise for breaking your CD.”
Hyukjae blinks, surprised that Donghae even remembers that. He thinks of how he’s kept the splintered CD in his drawer, sort of as a memoir of their first encounter…and realises how lame it is, actually.
“It’s-it’s okay. It’s my fault for dropping it.”
Donghae shakes his head stubbornly. “No, I stepped on it, and I really should pay you back for it. Tell you what, I know which CD that was - I’ll go buy it, and when I meet you on the bridge again I’ll give it to you, okay?”
“No, really, I couldn’t let you buy -” Donghae dismisses Hyukjae’s feeble protests with a wave of his hand.
“Don’t be silly, Hyukjae-ssi.” Hearing his name from Donghae’s lips shocks him into momentary silence. “Well, I’ve got to go home now, see you…whenever I see you next, I guess! Bye!”
Donghae smiles and runs off, and Hyukjae continues on his way. If he ever sees Donghae again, he thinks miserably.
--
Funnily enough, as if someone up there wants to make him suffer, he sees Donghae on the bridge only two days later, this time with Jessica as well.
Junsu pauses in his monologue about the latest H.O.T single, and looks to see if Hyukjae’s alright. “Just pretend they’re not there, Hyukkie. We’ll walk by really fast.” And Junsu demonstrates by exaggerating his arms and stride.
Hyukjae laughs out loud at his friend’s silliness, but it causes Donghae to look up away from Jessica and notice the other boy’s presence.
“Hi, Hyukjae-ssi! And…I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.” The last part is directed at Junsu, who says his name politely, if a little stiffly.
“Oh, Kim Junsu! You’re the one Hyoyeon was talking about.” Jessica suddenly blurts out, and Hyukjae stares at Junsu in puzzlement.
Donghae shrugs and taps Hyukjae on the shoulder, bringing his attention back to him, as Jessica continues explaining to Junsu, who seems to know what’s going on.
“Sorry I haven’t gotten the CD yet - didn’t expect to see you again so soon! It must be fate or something!”
Neither did I, Hyukjae thinks in bemusement.
“Anyway, I remembered you’re good at math, right?” Before Hyukjae can reply, Donghae whips out a thin set of papers. “Could you explain this question for me? What’s wrong with my working?”
Hyukjae nearly blanches at the number of red marks on Donghae’s paper, and proceeds to explain in lengthy detail. By the time he’s done, Donghae looks enlightened, while Jessica and Junsu have similar expressions of slight boredom on their faces.
“You’re like…a genius!” Donghae grins widely, and Hyukjae offers a tentative smile.
“You’d do well too if you didn’t spend all your time dancing, oppa.” Jessica reminds him sweetly, and Donghae nods carelessly.
“Thanks a million, Hyukjae-ssi! See you around! You too, Junsu-ssi.” They bow slightly and both pairs walk off in opposite directions.
“How on earth does he know you’re good at math?” Junsu asks, utterly astounded at this new development.
“I met him on the bridge the day before yesterday, and he happened to see my exam paper. Can we just forget about it?” Hyukjae groans, and Junsu does. Then a thought occurs to him.
“What were you talking to Jessica about?”
“Oh…” Junsu flushes a little and Hyukjae gapes at him, wondering if anything secret transpired between his best friend and crush.
“Well, the other day I was crossing the bridge home, when I met one of their friends…Kim Hyoyeon? Anyway, she bowed and said hi, and I noticed this really cute girl with her…” Hyukjae rolls his eyes and lets Junsu continue talking, his own thoughts drifting back to Donghae and Jessica.
--
“They say that many years ago on February 1st, a young student couple met up on the bridge and confessed their undying love to one another, and that day has been christened the night for young lovers. If a couple meets at the middle of the bridge on that day, and swears their true love for each other, their love will last for eternity.”
Jaejoong reads aloud from the school newsletter, while the others concentrate on the stupid physics assignment they have to finish by the end of the day. Seriously, who gives such hard work when it’s so near the end of the semester?
“What are you talking about, Jaejoongie?” Junsu mutters, crossing out his miscalculations for the third time in frustration.
Jaejoong waves the thin newsletter in their faces. “It means that if you and your girlfriend meet up at that bridge and declare your love for each other, it’ll last forever!”
“Don’t they have anything better to print in that thing?” Sungmin scoffs. “As if anyone’s going to be thinking about this date when Valentine’s Day follows two weeks after that.”
Jaejoong rolls his eyes at his friend’s pragmatism. “Che, you wouldn’t know a romantic story if it came up and danced in front of you in a pink bunny suit.”
Hyukjae chuckles at the mental image it produces, and gives Jaejoong a thumbs-up. He scribbles his last sentence and dots the full-stop with a flourish. “How come you’re not doing your physics assignment, anyway? You do realise we need to put it in the teacher’s tray by the end of today.”
“I’ve finished it already.” Junsu and Sungmin turn slowly to stare at him, identical looks dawning on their faces.
“LEND ME YOUR PAPER!”
--
Hyukjae trudges up the stairs of the bridge wearily, regretting making the kind offer to help Jungsu-sunbae with the student council’s radio broadcast for the special evening. There weren’t even that many people interested in this whole romance-on-the-bridge affair.
He doubts any couple would still be on the bridge at this time. But when he reaches the top, he spies the silhouettes of a boy and a girl, that look a little familiar when dimly lit by the moonlight.
He slows his pace, steps by school shoes soundless on the concrete floor. The couple doesn’t seem to notice him, both of them staring out at the traffic on the road below, and he inches closer, oddly curious as to what lovey-dovey couples actually pledge to each other.
“Oppa, you wanted to say something to me?” Hyukjae freezes in his steps, recognizing Jessica’s sweet voice, which means that the boy must be…
“Yeah.” Donghae’s unmistakable tone wafts through the air, sending shivers down Hyukjae’s spine. He suddenly feels guilty for eavesdropping, but can’t bring himself to walk away.
“About our…relationship…” It doesn’t sound particularly lovey-dovey, and Hyukjae has a sense of foreboding.
Jessica runs her fingers through her long hair and turns to look at him. “You…I’m guessing you didn’t ask me here to declare our undying love.” She laughs shortly.
Donghae leans forward, arms pressed on the railing. “Do you really feel happy together with me? Can you honestly see us together one year from now?”
She opens her mouth, ready to answer in the affirmative, but then she pauses. Both are silent for a few moments as she ponders the question. “I…don’t know. I mean, I like you, but-” She stops, unsure of how to go on, and he fills in the rest of the sentence.
“-but something’s missing. Something that makes me think perhaps we aren’t really meant to be together.” Donghae says it slowly, and Hyukjae thinks that the boy must really be serious.
Jessica bites her lip and looks out on the fast-paced traffic again. “Maybe you’re right.” She fiddles with the strap on her bag. “Then, in that case, I suppose we won’t be seeing each other anymore.” There’s a hitch in her voice, and Hyukjae can tell she’s stifling back a sob.
Donghae straightens and touches her shoulder gently. “You’re a special person, Jessica. I wish it could have worked out between us, but I don’t think we should keep deceiving ourselves any longer.” She nods painfully and runs towards the other side of the bridge, barely noticing Hyukjae through the tears blurring her vision.
Donghae slumps down and sits on the floor of the bridge. Hyukjae doesn’t know what to do; part of him wants to comfort the other boy, while part of him is screaming at his legs to just continue and run away.
“How long have you been standing there?” He gapes in shock, realising that Donghae is aware of his presence on the bridge.
“I…I’m sorry, I was just walking home, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I didn’t want to disturb you two, I’m sorry I-” He babbles on anxiously, because the last thing he wants is for Donghae to hate him now.
“It’s okay, I guess.” The other boy sighs, making no move to get up, and Hyukjae approaches him tentatively.
“Are- are you going to be okay?”
Donghae manages a slightly shaky smile, before patting the floor beside him. “Could you maybe sit with me for a while?”
Hyukjae doesn’t think twice before dropping his bag and sitting down beside Donghae, unsure of what to do next. He stiffens in surprise when Donghae suddenly rests his head on Hyukjae’s shoulder, and the scent of his hair teases at Hyukjae’s senses.
“I really liked her, you know.” The sadness in his tone makes Hyukjae’s heart ache a little. “But…I don’t know…it didn’t feel right in the end. It was like we were both holding back...not physically, I mean.”
Hyukjae winces at the thought of them being…physical with each other, but Donghae doesn’t seem to notice. “We couldn’t really- open up to each other totally, confide in each other…trying to tell her my inner thoughts or feelings always felt so difficult.”
The pressure on Hyukjae’s shoulder suddenly disappears as Donghae sits up properly and reaches for his bag, and Hyukjae wonders why it feels so cold. “Thanks for listening to me.”
Hyukjae shakes his head emphatically. “N-no problem, I’m really sorry for overhearing everything-”
Donghae waves a hand carelessly, interrupting him halfway. “Now you can go chase after her if you want.”
“WHAT?” Hyukjae exclaims in astonishment, his voice cracking on the syllable.
“I know you like her, Hyukjae. I saw the way you looked at her when we met on the bridge. You’re lucky she isn’t my girlfriend anymore, or I’d have to beat you up.”
“But…but…” He finds himself at an utter loss for words at this bizarre turnabout of events.
Donghae’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “So you don’t need to worry about me.” He pats Hyukjae’s back firmly. “Jessica’s a really nice girl, despite all our problems together. As long as you don’t make her sad, I’m fine with it.”
Hyukjae thinks he must resemble a goldfish right now, with his mouth hanging open in surprise, and quickly snaps it shut.
“I’ll see you around…whenever!” Donghae waves goodbye and walks to the other side of the bridge.
Hyukjae realises that two months ago such a statement would have sent him into fits of delight, but not anymore. It isn’t Jessica he wants.
Pairing: Hyukhae, minor Yunjae, broken!Haesica
Genre: school AU, romance
Rating: PG
Warning: unbeta-ed, suspension of disbelief possibly required :P
Summary: Hyukjae meets another student on the bridge between their schools, and falls in love. (okay, that's a crap summary, please ignore and read!)
A/N: Based on a real bridge and schools in my neighbourhood. If I knew how to upload a picture of it I would! At any rate, I'm glad I was able to post a fic on the last day of 2009!
Cut into two parts for length. This is part 1.
Crossing Bridges
It all starts in middle school, when Hyukjae and Junsu are crossing the overhead bridge to get to the other side of the road to take the bus home together.
Hyukjae’s talking animatedly to Junsu about joining the soccer team, when the prettiest girl he’s ever seen walks across the bridge in their direction, her uniform indicating that she attends the school opposite theirs.
“Hyukjae!” He looks at Junsu in surprise, the younger boy snapping his fingers in front of his stunned face.
“You might want to keep your mouth shut when ogling at a girl, Hyuk.” Junsu smirks, and Hyukjae shuts his mouth quickly, punching his best friend on the shoulder.
“But did you see her, Junsu? Her face, the way she walks…” He goes on dreamily, and Junsu shakes his head in exasperation.
It takes a few weeks for them to establish a pattern: the pretty girl walks across the bridge every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at the same time as them.
Which is why Hyukjae looks forward to those afternoons when they go home. Junsu tolerates this little crush of Hyukjae’s, but draws the line at waiting on the bridge on the other three days a week just to see what time she passes by.
--
“Maybe you should ask her for her number,” Junsu muses one day at lunch, causing Hyukjae to cough violently, covering his plate with droplets of strawberry milk.
Sungmin stares at the now-soggy food in distaste, and kindly offers Hyukjae some of his instead. “Ooh, ask who for their number?”
Hyukjae waves his hands frantically at Junsu, who blithely ignores him and grins at Sungmin. “He’s got a crush on this girl from the school opposite ours.”
Sungmin looks interested. “Hey, I have a cousin in that school - she knows tonnes of people there. I could ask her to get this girl’s number, if you want.”
Hyukjae groans and hides his face in his palms. “I don’t even know her name!”
Sungmin and Junsu share a look. “I know, isn’t he pathetic?” Junsu sighs deeply and Sungmin laughs. Hyukjae decides he needs new best friends.
--
It’s Tuesday; though this time the three of them are headed to Junsu’s house to complete a project, and Sungmin’s excited to see this mysterious girl of Hyukjae’s.
As usual, Hyukjae spies her among a group of girls from all the way at the other end of the bridge, and surreptitiously points out which one she is. As they walk nearer each other, coming to the middle part of the bridge, Sungmin’s eyes widen in recognition.
“Sunkyu-yah!” One of the shorter girls looks up in surprise, and breaks out into a wide smile.
“Sungmin-ah! I forgot, you go to that school,” she points to the other side of the road, “right?” He nods happily. Junsu clears his throat meaningfully, subtly pointing towards a stunned Hyukjae, and Sungmin laughs.
“This is my cousin, Lee Sunkyu.” They all bow politely, while other students coming from both ends squeeze past the large group, wondering why so many students are congregating at the middle of the bridge.
“Er, these are my friends, Lee Hyukjae and Kim Junsu.” He gestures at each of them, Junsu flashing them a cute grin while Hyukjae manages a weak smile.
“Nice to meet you! My real name is Sunkyu, but you can call me Sunny!” The girl is just as bubbly as Sungmin, Junsu thinks in amusement. It must run in their family. “And these are my classmates, Kwon Yuri, Kim Hyoyeon and Jessica Jung.” She gestures to them in turn.
The pretty girl - Jessica, Hyukjae corrects himself - smiles politely and bows again.
They exchange pleasantries, before moving off to the opposite sides of the road. Junsu nudges Sungmin, who looks at Hyukjae spacing out dreamily, and they both laugh loudly.
A student from Sunny’s school walks past them and gives them a curious look before walking on, wondering why there are two boys laughing over a third one who looks oblivious to them at the bus stop.
--
The next time he and Junsu see any of them, they bow slightly to each other before walking on, and Hyukjae silently rejoices that at least she recognises him now.
Then he doesn’t see her for a few weeks, and kind of forgets about her after a while, the stress of exams more pressing as the teachers pile on the homework and practice test papers relentlessly.
“Finally! Now that the last paper’s over, WE’RE FREE!” Junsu throws his paper into the air, and they whoop cheerfully.
“Wanna come to my house and play videogames?” Hyukjae offers, and the other two nod excitedly, as they make their way to the school gate. Junsu suddenly stops, a look of horror forming on his face.
“I forgot to meet my teacher to give him my student council application!” He rummages in his schoolbag and pulls out the set of forms. “You two go on ahead, I’ll catch up to you!”
He runs off before Sungmin and Hyukjae can reply, and the two of them continue on their way, going at a much slower pace. Then Sungmin notices a girl he’s been trying to chat up recently, and nudges at Hyukjae to continue going first.
Shrugging in slightly envious admiration at Sungmin’s nerve, he goes up the bridge jostled along with a whole lot of students leaving both schools simultaneously after the exams.
He doesn’t really see where he’s going, lost in thoughts of how to spend the upcoming vacation, when he bumps into someone coming from the opposite direction, and the paraphernalia in his arms scatters on the concrete of the bridge.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” The other student bends down to gather Hyukjae’s things before any loose sheets of paper fly away onto the road below.
Hyukjae sighs and crouches down as well to gather his books and files. “Here you go.” He lifts his head a little to see a handsome boy around his age smiling apologetically, and the words he was about to say get stuck in his throat.
The boy has the brightest eyes he’s ever seen, on an attractive face framed with soft-looking hair the same chocolate colour as his eyes, and Hyukjae can’t help but stare at him, forgetting for a moment that he’s supposed to be straight.
The other boy looks a little confused, and Hyukjae quickly takes his stuff back from him with a mumbled thanks. They both rise up and shift to the side as more people push past them in annoyance, and suddenly a cracking sound is heard from their feet, and they look down simultaneously.
The boy lifts his foot in surprise to see a splintered CD case, and Hyukjae lets out a cry of dismay as he recognises it as his dance practice CD. The other boy’s face falls, and he quickly stoops down to pick it up and save it from further damage.
“Oh dear, is this yours?” Hyukjae nods dumbly, and the other boy glances at its back cover. “I’m so sorry for stepping on it! I totally didn’t see- hey, is this a hip-hop dance music CD?”
Hyukjae nods again, taking his spoilt CD from the boy’s proffered hand. The boy grins excitedly, and Hyukjae nearly forgets to breathe.
“Cool, are you in a dance group too?”
Before he can reply, the boy turns his head suddenly at the sound of his name, and Hyukjae looks over his shoulder to see Jessica running across the bridge towards them with a smile on her beautiful face.
Surely she isn’t running to say hi to me, Hyukjae thinks in surprise, when Jessica stops right beside them, panting a little for breath.
“Oppa, why didn’t you wait for me?” She hits the boy playfully on the shoulder, and he grins again, a rather different smile from the one he gave Hyukjae earlier.
“I thought you’d already left without me!”
She laughs, a bright tinkling sound that reminds Hyukjae why he’s been crushing on her for so long, and then she finally seems to notice him. Her eyes widen slightly in recognition, and they both bow to each other.
“Er, hi, Jessica-ssi.”
The boy looks surprised that Hyukjae knows her name, and turns to Jessica questioningly. “You know him?”
Jessica nods slowly, as if trying to place him. “Ah, he’s Sunny’s…”
“-cousin’s friend.” Hyukjae finishes for her quickly.
She beams and nods faster. “Yes, that’s it! Er…”
“Lee Hyukjae.” He offers again, his heart sinking slightly, though he didn’t really expect her to remember his name, now, did he?
“Oh, nice to meet you.” The boy bows slightly. “I’m Lee Donghae.”
Then Junsu and Sungmin come up to them, giving Donghae curious glances. “Hey, Hyukjae, sorry for taking so long.” Sungmin says, and then looks at Jessica. “I remember you - you’re Sunkyu’s classmate, right?”
“Yeah, nice to see you again.” And there’s another round of bowing, before she says that she and Donghae must be going now, Donghae apologises for ruining Hyukjae’s CD, and they walk off to the other side of the bridge chatting away happily.
Junsu and Sungmin look at Hyukjae in sympathy, and Sungmin pats him on the shoulder, knowing how upset Hyukjae must feel to see the girl of his dreams with another guy. “Are you going to be alright?”
Hyukjae just looks dazed, and nods listlessly. They continue on down the bridge, Junsu trying to cheer him up by saying how many other pretty girls there are in their own school for him to find.
Hyukjae tries to laugh it off with a nonchalant attitude that neither friend buys, but they don’t talk about it and spend the rest of the afternoon in his room playing videogames.
But later at night when he’s alone on his bed and shuts his eyes, the image of the gorgeous girl with the handsome boy rises to the surface of his mind, and for one horrifying moment, he doesn’t know who he’s more jealous of.
--
Hyukjae trudges along the bridge slowly, flipping through his math exam paper and trying to spot any marking errors in hopes of getting a higher score. He can practically hear Junsu’s husky voice telling him not to be such a nitpicker when he’s already scored an A on the paper.
“Hello, it’s you!” He looks up in surprise to see that familiar good-looking face again, as Donghae grins at him.
“Oh…er…hi.” He finds himself tongue-tied again, and his knees don’t feel too strong either.
“What a coincidence, meeting you here on the bridge! I guess you take the bus home from our side?” Donghae jerks a thumb behind him, and Hyukjae nods slowly, trying to ignore how every little motion the other boy does just seems effortlessly cool. His hand slackens, and the exam paper slips out from his fingers and drifting onto the floor of the bridge.
Donghae swoops down and picks up the exam paper, whistling as he sees the grade on the front. “Wow, you got an A for math! Math’s like my worst subject in school, maybe I should ask you to tutor me.”
He grins cheekily, and Hyukjae is visibly reminded of just how striking this boy is. Donghae hands the paper back to him. “Anyway, I wanted to apologise for breaking your CD.”
Hyukjae blinks, surprised that Donghae even remembers that. He thinks of how he’s kept the splintered CD in his drawer, sort of as a memoir of their first encounter…and realises how lame it is, actually.
“It’s-it’s okay. It’s my fault for dropping it.”
Donghae shakes his head stubbornly. “No, I stepped on it, and I really should pay you back for it. Tell you what, I know which CD that was - I’ll go buy it, and when I meet you on the bridge again I’ll give it to you, okay?”
“No, really, I couldn’t let you buy -” Donghae dismisses Hyukjae’s feeble protests with a wave of his hand.
“Don’t be silly, Hyukjae-ssi.” Hearing his name from Donghae’s lips shocks him into momentary silence. “Well, I’ve got to go home now, see you…whenever I see you next, I guess! Bye!”
Donghae smiles and runs off, and Hyukjae continues on his way. If he ever sees Donghae again, he thinks miserably.
--
Funnily enough, as if someone up there wants to make him suffer, he sees Donghae on the bridge only two days later, this time with Jessica as well.
Junsu pauses in his monologue about the latest H.O.T single, and looks to see if Hyukjae’s alright. “Just pretend they’re not there, Hyukkie. We’ll walk by really fast.” And Junsu demonstrates by exaggerating his arms and stride.
Hyukjae laughs out loud at his friend’s silliness, but it causes Donghae to look up away from Jessica and notice the other boy’s presence.
“Hi, Hyukjae-ssi! And…I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.” The last part is directed at Junsu, who says his name politely, if a little stiffly.
“Oh, Kim Junsu! You’re the one Hyoyeon was talking about.” Jessica suddenly blurts out, and Hyukjae stares at Junsu in puzzlement.
Donghae shrugs and taps Hyukjae on the shoulder, bringing his attention back to him, as Jessica continues explaining to Junsu, who seems to know what’s going on.
“Sorry I haven’t gotten the CD yet - didn’t expect to see you again so soon! It must be fate or something!”
Neither did I, Hyukjae thinks in bemusement.
“Anyway, I remembered you’re good at math, right?” Before Hyukjae can reply, Donghae whips out a thin set of papers. “Could you explain this question for me? What’s wrong with my working?”
Hyukjae nearly blanches at the number of red marks on Donghae’s paper, and proceeds to explain in lengthy detail. By the time he’s done, Donghae looks enlightened, while Jessica and Junsu have similar expressions of slight boredom on their faces.
“You’re like…a genius!” Donghae grins widely, and Hyukjae offers a tentative smile.
“You’d do well too if you didn’t spend all your time dancing, oppa.” Jessica reminds him sweetly, and Donghae nods carelessly.
“Thanks a million, Hyukjae-ssi! See you around! You too, Junsu-ssi.” They bow slightly and both pairs walk off in opposite directions.
“How on earth does he know you’re good at math?” Junsu asks, utterly astounded at this new development.
“I met him on the bridge the day before yesterday, and he happened to see my exam paper. Can we just forget about it?” Hyukjae groans, and Junsu does. Then a thought occurs to him.
“What were you talking to Jessica about?”
“Oh…” Junsu flushes a little and Hyukjae gapes at him, wondering if anything secret transpired between his best friend and crush.
“Well, the other day I was crossing the bridge home, when I met one of their friends…Kim Hyoyeon? Anyway, she bowed and said hi, and I noticed this really cute girl with her…” Hyukjae rolls his eyes and lets Junsu continue talking, his own thoughts drifting back to Donghae and Jessica.
--
“They say that many years ago on February 1st, a young student couple met up on the bridge and confessed their undying love to one another, and that day has been christened the night for young lovers. If a couple meets at the middle of the bridge on that day, and swears their true love for each other, their love will last for eternity.”
Jaejoong reads aloud from the school newsletter, while the others concentrate on the stupid physics assignment they have to finish by the end of the day. Seriously, who gives such hard work when it’s so near the end of the semester?
“What are you talking about, Jaejoongie?” Junsu mutters, crossing out his miscalculations for the third time in frustration.
Jaejoong waves the thin newsletter in their faces. “It means that if you and your girlfriend meet up at that bridge and declare your love for each other, it’ll last forever!”
“Don’t they have anything better to print in that thing?” Sungmin scoffs. “As if anyone’s going to be thinking about this date when Valentine’s Day follows two weeks after that.”
Jaejoong rolls his eyes at his friend’s pragmatism. “Che, you wouldn’t know a romantic story if it came up and danced in front of you in a pink bunny suit.”
Hyukjae chuckles at the mental image it produces, and gives Jaejoong a thumbs-up. He scribbles his last sentence and dots the full-stop with a flourish. “How come you’re not doing your physics assignment, anyway? You do realise we need to put it in the teacher’s tray by the end of today.”
“I’ve finished it already.” Junsu and Sungmin turn slowly to stare at him, identical looks dawning on their faces.
“LEND ME YOUR PAPER!”
--
Hyukjae trudges up the stairs of the bridge wearily, regretting making the kind offer to help Jungsu-sunbae with the student council’s radio broadcast for the special evening. There weren’t even that many people interested in this whole romance-on-the-bridge affair.
He doubts any couple would still be on the bridge at this time. But when he reaches the top, he spies the silhouettes of a boy and a girl, that look a little familiar when dimly lit by the moonlight.
He slows his pace, steps by school shoes soundless on the concrete floor. The couple doesn’t seem to notice him, both of them staring out at the traffic on the road below, and he inches closer, oddly curious as to what lovey-dovey couples actually pledge to each other.
“Oppa, you wanted to say something to me?” Hyukjae freezes in his steps, recognizing Jessica’s sweet voice, which means that the boy must be…
“Yeah.” Donghae’s unmistakable tone wafts through the air, sending shivers down Hyukjae’s spine. He suddenly feels guilty for eavesdropping, but can’t bring himself to walk away.
“About our…relationship…” It doesn’t sound particularly lovey-dovey, and Hyukjae has a sense of foreboding.
Jessica runs her fingers through her long hair and turns to look at him. “You…I’m guessing you didn’t ask me here to declare our undying love.” She laughs shortly.
Donghae leans forward, arms pressed on the railing. “Do you really feel happy together with me? Can you honestly see us together one year from now?”
She opens her mouth, ready to answer in the affirmative, but then she pauses. Both are silent for a few moments as she ponders the question. “I…don’t know. I mean, I like you, but-” She stops, unsure of how to go on, and he fills in the rest of the sentence.
“-but something’s missing. Something that makes me think perhaps we aren’t really meant to be together.” Donghae says it slowly, and Hyukjae thinks that the boy must really be serious.
Jessica bites her lip and looks out on the fast-paced traffic again. “Maybe you’re right.” She fiddles with the strap on her bag. “Then, in that case, I suppose we won’t be seeing each other anymore.” There’s a hitch in her voice, and Hyukjae can tell she’s stifling back a sob.
Donghae straightens and touches her shoulder gently. “You’re a special person, Jessica. I wish it could have worked out between us, but I don’t think we should keep deceiving ourselves any longer.” She nods painfully and runs towards the other side of the bridge, barely noticing Hyukjae through the tears blurring her vision.
Donghae slumps down and sits on the floor of the bridge. Hyukjae doesn’t know what to do; part of him wants to comfort the other boy, while part of him is screaming at his legs to just continue and run away.
“How long have you been standing there?” He gapes in shock, realising that Donghae is aware of his presence on the bridge.
“I…I’m sorry, I was just walking home, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I didn’t want to disturb you two, I’m sorry I-” He babbles on anxiously, because the last thing he wants is for Donghae to hate him now.
“It’s okay, I guess.” The other boy sighs, making no move to get up, and Hyukjae approaches him tentatively.
“Are- are you going to be okay?”
Donghae manages a slightly shaky smile, before patting the floor beside him. “Could you maybe sit with me for a while?”
Hyukjae doesn’t think twice before dropping his bag and sitting down beside Donghae, unsure of what to do next. He stiffens in surprise when Donghae suddenly rests his head on Hyukjae’s shoulder, and the scent of his hair teases at Hyukjae’s senses.
“I really liked her, you know.” The sadness in his tone makes Hyukjae’s heart ache a little. “But…I don’t know…it didn’t feel right in the end. It was like we were both holding back...not physically, I mean.”
Hyukjae winces at the thought of them being…physical with each other, but Donghae doesn’t seem to notice. “We couldn’t really- open up to each other totally, confide in each other…trying to tell her my inner thoughts or feelings always felt so difficult.”
The pressure on Hyukjae’s shoulder suddenly disappears as Donghae sits up properly and reaches for his bag, and Hyukjae wonders why it feels so cold. “Thanks for listening to me.”
Hyukjae shakes his head emphatically. “N-no problem, I’m really sorry for overhearing everything-”
Donghae waves a hand carelessly, interrupting him halfway. “Now you can go chase after her if you want.”
“WHAT?” Hyukjae exclaims in astonishment, his voice cracking on the syllable.
“I know you like her, Hyukjae. I saw the way you looked at her when we met on the bridge. You’re lucky she isn’t my girlfriend anymore, or I’d have to beat you up.”
“But…but…” He finds himself at an utter loss for words at this bizarre turnabout of events.
Donghae’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “So you don’t need to worry about me.” He pats Hyukjae’s back firmly. “Jessica’s a really nice girl, despite all our problems together. As long as you don’t make her sad, I’m fine with it.”
Hyukjae thinks he must resemble a goldfish right now, with his mouth hanging open in surprise, and quickly snaps it shut.
“I’ll see you around…whenever!” Donghae waves goodbye and walks to the other side of the bridge.
Hyukjae realises that two months ago such a statement would have sent him into fits of delight, but not anymore. It isn’t Jessica he wants.