[oneshot] First
First
Written by: Fiery Von Bielefield
KyuWook | fluff | PG-13
Disclaimer: I own what I own, and the boys belong to each other
*************
People said that the first time you do something always left the strongest impression. Be it your first time to the park, first cooking lesson, first ride, or even first kiss, it would leave the strangest, hardest-to-name feeling inside of you that even when it was the second or third time already, it would still make you feel tingling in your stomach everytime you remembered.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time having a seat next to the window.
He really loved the view. From this position, he could see the whole school yard. Not really far from his window, there was a really beautiful sakura tree. In spring, the landscape would be filled with thousand of delicate light pink petals. Just thinking of it makes his heart flutter, it would be the best sight of all. He would enjoy this seat for sure.
BANG!
He jumped in surprise, turning around to look for the cause of the annoying noise. What greeted him was a cheeky smile.
“Hi there, since I’ve called you several times but you didn’t notice, I had to make some noise to catch your attention,” the black haired kid talked, “My name is Cho Kyuhyun, I’m gonna be your new seatmate.”
And right after he finished, the kid flashed another wide smile before running to his friends who were waiting across the classroom.
Before he had the chance to replied, that kid had already been out of sight.
“Nice to meet you, too. I’m Kim Ryeowook,” he mumbled to himself.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time letting go of his beloved white bunny.
Bunny was his best friend. He brought her with him everywhere since the old days when he was still in kindergarten. Bunny shared his thoughts, his joy, his sadness. He had promised Bunny that they would always be together, nothing could push them apart.
As he entered primary school, his parents were concerned that his classmates may pick on him if they saw him carrying Bunny around, so they told him to put Bunny in his backpack. He could always be close to her and no one would know about it.
He agreed happily and made a promise to Bunny that he would take care of her well, he would always open his backpack a little for her to breathe, and to get a glimpse of his beautiful window view.
What he didn’t expect was one day, he had to stay for a piano practice after class. He knew that his parents would be really tired waiting for him over an hour, so he rushed to the school gate. He ran so fast that as he turned the corner, he bumped into someone, and his backpack dropped to the ground. When he tried to stand up, he saw the other kid, an older kid at that, picked his bag up and reached inside. He was about to protest but the big kid pulled Bunny out and gave him a strange smile.
He decided that he didn’t like that smile at all.
And he was right, because immediately after that smile, the kid did the most terrible thing that he could even imagine.
He ripped Bunny’s head off.
Ryeowook didn’t even believe his eyes. How could it happen? He had promised Bunny that he would protect her, but he let that kid ripped her off just like that.
And of all the things he could do at the moment, he cried.
“What is going on here?”
He turned around at the sound and spotted his seatmate standing not far from where he was. He saw Kyuhyun’s eyes travel from his tear-stained face to the other kid and stopped at the ripped Bunny on his hands, then his eyes landed on Ryeowook’s face again.
Didn’t know what else to do, Ryeowook kept staring at him while his tears continued to flow down his cheeks in fast pace.
In a flash, Kyuhyun ran past him, towards the Bunny-killer and, to Ryeowook’s surprise, punched him in the face. Astounded, the bigger kid fell down, but he regained his stance quickly, he grabbed Kyuhyun’s collar and was about to give him a taste of his own medicine.
“What is going on here?”
As the second interruption, all three heads turned around. The headmaster was roaming towards them furiously, and Ryeowook saw his parents behind him with worried expression of their own.
He didn’t know how it happened, but he soon found himself confined in his parents’ car, watching through the window as the headmaster grabbed both Kyuhyun and the other kid by the back of their collars and led them towards his office.
When the car started leaving, he thought he caught glimpse of a very familiar cheeky smile in the corner of his eyes.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time walking home by himself.
It took a whole week of his mother’s tears to try to persuade his father otherwise. The old man was firm about leaving Ryeowook to take care of himself, so his mother had no other option but to comply. It also took a whole bow of courage for him to confidently agreed to it. However, he was assured that his parents would keep tab on him, they would come immediately if anything happened to him.
In that way, the start of Ryeowook’s home-journey began.
The bell finally rang, signalling school was over. He packed his bag and prepared to leave. As per habit, he looked around for a familiar black car when he reached the gate. However, it was nowhere to be seen.
Then it hit him, he was supposed to walk home alone from this day onwards.
Leaving all the uncertain thoughts aside, he decided that from then on, he would be free to enjoy a slow stroll home. The car was always so fast that he didn’t have the chance to take in the beautiful environment, so this would be his perfect opportunity.
“Hey,” someone tugged at his bag.
He snapped around, and saw that annoying cheeky smile again.
“Where is your car? Your parents don’t pick you up anymore? Are you walking home alone today?” the kid’s eyes shone with excitement.
Getting bombarded with questions, Ryeowook felt a little dizzy, so he did the only thing that he thought would solve it all. He nodded.
“Cool,” the other exclaimed, “I’ll walk home with you then,” and with that, he grabbed Ryeowook’s wrist and pulled him along, despite the small protest.
In conclusion, what could be a peaceful trip home, to Ryeowook, became a journey of blabbering, noise and protest. He didn’t know there was someone that could talk so much, and he didn’t really understand why he had the urge to counter every of the other’s questions.
However, what surprise him more was he really enjoyed it, and he was already anticipating the next day when he reached home.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time joining the school band.
His piano teacher recommended him as the headmaster informed her that the band lacked a keyboardist. This mean that he had to stay after school for practice, which he really didn’t mind that much.
What he didn’t know was that Kyuhyun was also in the band, as the lead singer.
As the years grow, the two have come to a kind of understanding that they found comfort around each other. They still bickered like the elementary kids that they used to be, they knew well of each other’s ups and downs, but they had somehow managed to form a strong bond that people usually refered to as “best friends”.
So imagine Ryeowook’s surprise to see Kyuhyun when he was introduced to the band. He didn’t think about it that much, but he thought at least the other should have mentioned it to him before hand. He kept glancing at Kyuhyun’s direction but the latter successfully avoided his eyes everytime.
When the teacher told them to begin practice, he knew Kyuhyun was in discomfort. Come to think of it, Ryeowook had never actually heard Kyuhyun sing, even after all the years they’ve been friends, so he was expecting it.
After much persuation from the teacher in charge, Kyuhyun finally agreed to sing. When he seriously started, Ryeowook was lost.
He had never heard anything like that before. Kyuhyun’s voice was deep, warm and breathtakingly beautiful. It was something so powerful that can get one drowned and addicted.
When the song ended, he could only stared at his friend, his mouth agaped. He really didn’t regret joining a bit right then.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time going on a pirate ship.
It was a usual weekend hang-out. It was a usual bet among the teenagers involving extreme games in the theme park. It was the male pride that teenboys found hard to control as they tried to top each other in everything.
Somehow, Ryeowook found himself being dragged by an oh-so-serious Kyuhyun toward the scary thing called “pirate ship”, their other friends cheering behind them. Apparently, the guys had betted with each other on how many time could they go on the pirate ship, and Kyuhyun, being the competitive guy he was, decided that he would be the first to win.
It wasn’t that much terrible from an observer’s point of view, but Ryeowook knew better. He saw a girl throw up as the ship went up 90o degree earlier, and he definitely didn’t want to follow her step. That was why he stood his ground this time, he wouldn’t let Kyuhyun pull him on that ship. Never.
In the end, Ryeowook gave in to stubborn Kyuhyun, and they were on the ship, getting ready. “Just lean on me if you can’t take it anymore,” Kyuhyun said as he saw Ryeowook grabbed the safe bar tightly with both hands, his face pale. He nodded lightly.
The ride started slowly, cool wind caressed his face, and Ryeowook foolishly thought that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
It just showed how wrong one can be at the things they haven’t experienced yet.
When the thing started speeding up and went higher, Ryeowook knew that he was doomed. He did the only thing that his mind could conjure: holding tightly onto the excited idiot that was supposed to be his best friend.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time competing on stage.
They were sent off as representatives of their school for a music competition.
All the band members worked really hard, and they were quite confident about winning. However, it was just before the final round started that Ryeowook received a phonecall from his mom telling him that his grandmother had passed away.
He was crestfallen that he almost lost all the will to continue. The other members also told him that it would be okay if he went home first, they could finish without him.
He decided to stay.
It was a hard decision for him, and even for them, but he believed that he could win, for his grandmother.
He wasn’t as strong as he thought he was. When the last performance ended, all participants were asked to gather on stage for the result, he ran away.
Not so long after his escapade, he sensed another present beside him on the bench he was occupying. He didn’t need to look up, he knew who that was already. Only one person could find him there.
“We won,” Kyuhyun announced gently, and Ryeowook burst out into tears.
It was only a few days later when his friends told Ryeowook that Kyuhyun had searched everywhere for him as he didn’t see Ryeowook go back on stage. He even ditched the trophy for his best friend.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time being confessed to.
A small note appeared on his desk one day. Neat hand-writing proposed a small meeting at the garden after class. He came to the appointed place on time, a little bit clueless about what it was about.
Waiting for him was a girl, a fellow piano-classmate of his. He didn’t quite catch everything she said, but apparently, she was amazed of his talent for music, and was quite attracted to his gentle and caring characteristic too. She wanted a chance for them to know each other better and see what would come from there.
To put it another way, someone was confessing their love to Ryeowook, for the first time in his life.
Truthfully, he didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t quite sure about his feelings toward the girl, but certainly it was nothing more than friendship. He would refuse, but was afraid to offend her. Therefore, he did the most logical thing he could come up with, telling her that he would think about it. He would ask Kyuhyun what to do later.
When he decided to go through a secluded hallway which saved him a ten-minute-walk across the school yard, he caught sight of a familiar back.
“Hey, Kyu…” he was about to call his best friend, but realized that the latter wasn’t alone. There was a brown haired girl with him, who Ryeowook recognized a little bit too late to be a junior of theirs. The girl was quite popular among her peers, topping her class and was also co-captain of the cheerleading squad.
She was saying something to Kyuhyun, which Ryeowook failed to catch, but he could sense that she was nervous and a bit stiff.
She seemed to be waiting for some kind of answer from Kyuhyun, and Ryeowook glanced at his best friend as well. When he did, Ryeowook was surprised to see on Kyuhyun’s face was the gentlest, most beautiful smile he has ever seen. He offered his hand, and the girl gladly took it. They share a small hug before walking away, hand-in-hand.
Thanks God Kyuhyun didn’t turn around and see him.
Because if he did, he would thought what the hell had happened to his best friend.
Because if he did, he would see Ryeowook’s legs give up on his body weight as he slid down the wall.
Because if he did, he would see the tears that was flowing freely on the other’s face.
Never in his life has Ryeowook known what a heartbreak was, and he had to learn it the hard way.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time being the consoler.
Being a sophomore was hard.
In addition to the overloaded school works that they had to do, they still had to deal with the fact that they had grown up. The world they were living in was not that of a child anymore.
Duties and responsibilities came one after another that they hardly had the chance to breathe. It seemed like years to Ryeowook since Kyuhyun and he last hang out with each other. He understood that Kyuhyun also had a lot of things on his sleeves. He took more classes than Ryeowook did, so it was not unexpected that he needed to devote himself to his study. Moreover, he still had to make time for his girlfriend. Ryeowook smiled bitterly at that, he knew they only met once a week, except for some brief meeting when they passed by each other in the hallway. He was fine even if the other didn’t have time for him; he just wished that Kyuhyun would take care of himself more. Kyuhyun may look fine and lively to anybody, but Ryeowook had known him for almost all his life, he knew Kyuhyun’s health was not that good.
Ryeowook strolled back to his room after a full day. He was so tired that he wouldn’t care less if he lied down on the hallway and sleep right then. Never has he known that lifting one’s feet could be so hard.
He didn’t bother to find the light switch when he opened the door as his original plan was to go straight to sleep. He was caught by surprise to see that the room was dimly lit. There, lying comfortably on his bed was the person he least expected to see: his best friend.
“Kyuhyun-ah,” the name escaped his lips even before he could realize.
Hearing it, the other turned to him. It was the first time he saw Kyuhyun in such stage, the guy seemed extremely tired and depressed. The dim light added in the effect, making him look even sadder.
“Ryeowook-ah,” Kyuhyun softly called his name, making him stiffen. “Ryeowook-ah, I’m tired,” a tear fell down the corner of his eye. Ryeowook didn’t know what possessed him to do it, but he found himself rushed over to Kyuhyun’s side and pulled the latter in for a tight hug. It broke his heart to see Kyuhyun in so much pain.
They haven’t been with each other for such a long period of time, and Ryeowook realized just then that he missed his best friend so much. He let all the emotion and longing into the hug, and he knew that the other understood.
There was no need for words anymore.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time running through the rain.
Sometimes people ignored the warning when it became so continuous.
He was the kind that was always prepared of everything. However, there was one day that he purposely left his umbrella at home. The utmost reason was, despite the continuous forecast for a rain, it remained sunny for over the span of two weeks, and Ryeowook started feeling really stupid to keep such thing with him.
Unfortunately, on that fateful day, it rained.
“Looks like someone forgot their umbrella, too,” Kyuhyun commented cheerfully as he saw Ryeowook wait in front of his class. The latter had been waiting for almost an hour in hope that his dearest best friend would kindly let him share the umbrella. Turned out, that dearest idiot forgot it as well, hence his wait was useless.
As he was about to curse his luck, he saw Kyuhyun’s ex-girlfriend walk past them. He felt awkward, it had been months since their break-up, but Ryeowook still hasn’t got the courage to ask Kyuhyun for a reason. He was as surprise as everybody else when Kyuhyun announced his reformed bachelority because, just like the rest of the outsiders, he saw the couple as such a perfect item that it was really hard to believe they decided to go separated ways.
Kyuhyun was absolutely normal with the exception of some stiffness when they came across the girl. His ex was the same through other people’s observation, but Ryeowook knew she was anything but normal. She came to him one day after class, asking for an answer since she knew he was Kyuhyun’s best friend. She let down her strong facade in front of him and broke down hard because simply, she didn’t know what had gone wrong in their relationship.
Ryeowook felt guilt rush to him like a tidal wave, he couldn’t give her an answer she wanted; and deep down, he was sorry to feel delighted when he heard that Kyuhyun was single again.
The girl has finally moved on after several weeks of depression, but he still spotted the longing in her eyes everytime she looked at his best friend. He was so torn between his sympathy for her and his own feelings toward that certain friend of his that he still didn’t know what to do.
As he was deep in thought, he didn’t realized Kyuhyun had grabbed his hand, until the latter gave it a nudge. He looked up to meet mischievous ebony eyes with a small incline of head, “What?”
“It’s getting late, we should get going,” came the innocent smile that Ryeowook couldn’t find it in himself the strength to resist.
“But it’s still raining heavily, and we don’t have an umbrella,” he replied, puzzled.
“Then there’s only one thing to do,” Kyuhyun smirked, squeezing Ryeowook’s hand a bit.
“What?” the other asked, he still didn’t quite catch what Kyuhyun wanted to imply.
“Run,” Kyuhyun laughed and ran out into the rain, dragging his unwilling friend along.
Startled, Ryeowook let himself be pulled forward. Cold raindrops landed on his skin continuously, but he couldn’t feel it at all because of the tingling feeling started from their connected palms and spread through his whole body. Kyuhyun’s hand was slightly bigger than his, and it was strangely warm despite the rain.
Looking at the back of the other’s head, he gave a contented smile and unconciously tightened his hold. Without a word, Kyuhyun slowed down his pace and intertwined their fingers.
The next morning, Ryeowook was down with a slight cold. His mother insisted that he stayed at home and rest, and he obidiently complied. After consuming the medicine half-heartedly, he was tucked into bed. He drifted off to dreamland with a smile on his face.
Because their hands fitted perfectly.
*************
Ryeowook remembered his first time eating burnt bacon.
He was walking through a flower field. Lilies, daisies, lavenders, roses… all the most beautiful colors were gathered around him. All the sweet fragrance mingled into the greatest scent of all. He bent down and reached for a daffodil. Soft golden petals caressed his fingers. He swiftly pulled it to his nose, the small flower smelled like…
…something burnt?
Immediately, he opened his eyes. A familiar ceiling welcomed him. Glancing at the other side of the bed, he saw that it was already made.
The smell of burning still lingered in the air. Curious, he rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. As he walked toward the kitchen, the scent was getting stronger and stronger.
He sticked his head inside. There was a person standing near the stove with his back facing the door. He was busy doing something, and cursing.
A small smile crept up his face when he stepped inside the room.
“What are you doing?” he gently asked. He saw the other slightly jumped. Slowly, the man turned around.
“Ryeowook, you are up early,” he smiled awkwardly.
“Kyuhyun-ah, what are you doing?” Ryeowook folded his hands, his face serious, but the glint in his eyes said otherwise.
“No…nothing, I was just looking around,” Kyuhyun stuttered, his hands hidden behind him.
“What are you hiding?” Ryeowook took long stride toward Kyuhyun and tried to peak behind him.
“NO! Nothing is there,” Kyuhyun’s cheek flushed pink, he used his body to block the smaller one’s view.
Sniffing the air, Ryeowook was sure the unpleasant smell that woke him up earlier was definitely coming from behind Kyuhyun. He tried to look over the latter’s shoulder but failed miserably. Kyuhyun, who was still working to get the mysterious thing out of the way without Ryeowook’s notice, couldn’t help but smirked at him.
“Don’t try to match up with my height, you can’t,” he teased.
Ryeowook felt a nerve twitch. He decided to change strategy, he proceeded to tickle Kyuhyun instead. They had had enough “close” moment for him to know the other’s ticklish spot so eventually, the method worked. Kyuhyun let go of the thing he was holding to stop Ryeowook’s hand, and the latter used this chance to move him to the side.
Lying innocently on the kitchenette was his favorite plate, inside was a few burnt bacon and a mess that he suspected to be a half burnt, half undercooked omlette. He then turned to the other with questioning eyes.
“I was just trying to cook us breakfast,” said Kyuhyun as he showed a sheepish smile, his fingers unconciously scratched his messy hair.
Ryeowook let out a melodious laugh as he hugged Kyuhyun tightly. The latter was surprised a bit at the sudden action, but he soon got over it and returned the hug.
“I’ll finish it, why don’t you prepare the table?” Ryeowook smiled and took the abandoned pan.
“Roger it, boss,” Kyuhyun excitedly joked. When everything was perfectly set, he sat at the counter and watched Ryeowook cooking. He loved watching Ryeowook when the other was cooking because of the pure happiness the latter extruded, as if cooking was his whole world. Every small gestures of his was in sync, he would hum softly as he cooked, and the angellic smile on his lips captured Kyuhyun’s heart everytime.
“Here you are,” he looked at his freshly cooked breakfast. It was the same dish that he tried to make earlier, omlette and bacon. However, instead of burnt parts, it was well-cooked. The pleasant smell made his mouth water already. He immediately picked up his utensils and attacked his meal. When he has already finished half of his plate, he finally noticed that Ryeowook hasn’t eaten anything, he just sat there watching contently at the eating Kyuhyun.
“Why aren’t you eating?” he asked gently.
“Because I love watching you eat the food I made,” came the innocent reply. “Beside, I have this,” Ryeowook happily announced as he presented Kyuhyun’s earlier failed attempt of creating a decent meal.
“But half of it was burnt, and the other half was undercooked,” Kyuhyun inquired, sometime he couldn’t get Ryeowook’s logic, surely what he made was inedible.
“I know, but you put in so much effort to make it, how can I not eat it,” Ryeowook said and he scooped a big portion of the egg. He almost closed his mouth on it when suddenly Kyuhyun swatted his hand away and stuffed Ryeowook’s mouth with his own meal.
“…at…chu…doing…hyunnie,” Ryeowook struggled hard to say with a mouthful.
“You are under my responsibilities, and I won’t let you eat improper food,” Kyuhyun used this chance to take the plate away from Ryeowook’s reach.
“But it’s the food you made we’re talking about.” Ryeowook pouted before Kyuhyun forced another spoonful into his mouth.
“Yes, I made it, so I know it’s not edible,” the latter replied skeptically.
“I hate you,” Ryeowook complained quickly before the other fed him again.
Kyuhyun blinked at the smaller’s exclaimation. A smirk appeared on his lips when he reached over and gave the other a peck on the cheek. Ryeowook felt his face heat up when Kyuhyun’s breath grazed his skin.
“You know you don’t,” and he leaned in for a proper kiss this time.
*************
Sometimes it was strange that the smallest, most unimportant thing could lead to a memory that one found hard to forget. Sometimes, first love wasn’t supposed to end with heartbreaks and never-to-bes.
Sometimes, it was fate that led the way.
.owari.