Start
Title: Start
Pairing: Onew/Key
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG
dedicated to emptycavern and raelee92
Key screamed at the top of his lungs when the rows of rollercoaster wheels sped up, going through a sudden hustle as the racing air in the sky sent a shocking wave of thrill down his body. Jinki laughed, he laughed so hard his eyes started to sting with tears.
The wagon spin around, the circling motion made it hard for them to stop their sounds of excitement. Jinki spared the last moment of it to steal a glance at Key, the sight was so amusing he couldn’t think twice to consider his helpless giggles. And then series of guffaw.
Next he began to sing. Although the pace they were at was making it sound more like a terrible chant. But Jinki never actually gave it a regard. His voice was getting even louder and louder with every line of rails they were passing through, noisy cackles in the air like a perfect match to Key’s horrified shriek.
“LEE JINKI YOU IDIOT!!!!!”
* * *
Key knew he shouldn’t have agreed to enter the labyrinth after his stupid decision when Jinki forced him to ride the rollercoaster. He was beginning to think that Jinki had planned the day to go that way, including the part where he was shoved forward through a different door that Jinki picked, just after the older had said something about ‘the winner gets a treat’.
What winner? Hell, even he didn’t understand what kind of another silly game Jinki had involved him in.
Key let out an annoyed huff, realizing his death spell for the other wouldn’t help him to find a way out of the maze. It’s been twenty minutes, he noticed, yet the only revelation he saw was that he’s been walking past the same corner for nearly four times.
Just as he was about to growl another curse for his heartless boyfriend who had trapped them in that maze, a pair of arms pulled his lean figure backward. That warmth was so familiar, the tingling feeling against his back was just comforting, Key didn’t need any other ideas of who else it could be.
“Found you,” a voice whispered near his ear, and Key could imagine a pleased grin formed by those lips of Jinki’s. Weird, where did all his anger go now?
“I win,” Jinki giggled as he let go of him, and the younger suddenly registered what his words meant earlier. An offer of treat for lunch almost escaped Key’s lips hadn’t Jinki leaned forward giving their faces barely an inch of a distance.
“Now give me a kiss.”
* * *
“Are you sure about this?” Key asked, boxing gloves loosely closed around his fists. They were at the game zone at the moment, strolling aimlessly before Jinki’s gaze was set on a punching bag machine and a minute later telling Key he should probably try playing it.
Key of course never really got the point of it, just as usual, but he figured he would make every exception he could just for that day.
“Why not?” Jinki asked back, smiling reassuringly to a still squirming Key.
“I’m not good at this.”
“It’s just a game, Key. You are not supposed to have a skilled technique in this. All you have to do is focus on the target and swing your fists, hit it like it had insulted you of gaining weights,” Jinki blabbered with a hint of humor in his twinkling eyes, and his chuckle came to an abrupt halt as Key shot him a glare. “Or maybe you can imagine it as the thing you hate the most in the world. And- oh! Look at that, if you’re fortunate enough to reach five hundred points, you can bring the pink teddy home!”
Key sighed. He made sure to tighten the gloves once again. Jinki was next to him, all smiles and grins on his face like the event he was going to witness was an ultimate entertainment of the year. He patted Key’s head and stepped back.
“Remember, the thing you hate the most.”
Key let out another deep breath, relaxing his muscles for a while before in the next second he swung his right fist and started jabbing relentlessly at the swaying bag. Jinki fixed his eyes on him all the time, listening carefully to every word that flowed through gritted teeth.
“I hate you Lee Jinki I hate you and your stupid guts I hate you and your ridiculous jokes I hate you and your dim-witted sense I hate you and your. Stupid. Smiles! You’re ignorant you’re insensitive- you make me waste those silly tears at night you make my heart clench with hatred and fondness you idiot boyfriend we almost reach two. Friggin. Years. But look at what we’re doing -JUST. Stop giving me reasons to love and detest you at the same time dammit!! I’m glad this is gonna be over I’m glad we’re breaking up I’m glad we’re no longer a stupid couple after this date I’m glad we agreed to this shit I’m glad there won’t be. Fight. Anymore.”
Key panted heavily when the conquest had ended, his cheeks were pink and eyes almost showed the same color with thin glistening layer of unshed tears. He clutched at the glove for a moment then let them fall to the ground.
Jinki approached him with a small but heartfelt smile, and Key gave him a mere chuckle as a reply.
“Did I do good?”
“You were great.”
Key shrugged. “It did feel great.”
Jinki laughed. “Good to know.”
“But you know… I forgot one thing to say, Jinki.”
“What is it?”
Key smiled. “I’m glad we were together.”
Jinki stroked his cheek and pecked him softly on his lips.
Sometimes when the road ahead turned out to be so dark you didn’t have the courage to take another step, sometimes when the obstacles were too unbearable you found yourself stuck in the middle of the way, and when the only option you’re left with was a different path for you to walk on, all it took to have your world keep spinning was to stop doubting.
Suddenly it all just made sense.
* * *
Hands clasped together in a loose but warm hold, Jinki and Key walked side by side, heading toward the exit of the amusement park in a long-dragged yet comfortable silence.
The gate was getting nearer, and they were fully aware that they’re currently slowing down their steps, just so their relationship could last for a bit longer.
“Did you have fun?” Jinki broke the silence.
Key sighed contentedly. “I still am.”
When the exit was finally one step ahead, the both of them stopped walking to face each other.
“So… is this a goodbye or what?” Key murmured.
“I’d rather call it a new start,” Jinki mused. “We’re choosing different ways, Key-ah. But you never know, the lanes might link together again after the separation. Let the future decides.” The last sentence was a whisper against Key’s lips.
“Right,” Key chuckled, gently pressing into the kiss. “See you then, Jinki.”
They shared a long loving glance before turning back to their own routes. Their hearts swelled with so much emotions that it ached a little bit, but it was all in a good way.
It was a path that they chose, a way which they believed. The two of them might be heading toward different directions, but some paths were made apart to be a cycle that would meet again in the end.
And maybe if they’re lucky, they were already walking on the right track.