If I ask you out would you say yes? 3/4
Title: If I ask you out would you say yes?
Author:babycloud_ai
Length: 3/4
Rating: Pg 13
Pairing: Kyuhyun x Kibum
Summary: Kyuhyun thinks he likes girls, he even found himself a girlfriend a few weeks after he enters High School but when his girlfriend's older brother starts to steal his best friend away from him, he found himself not liking it one bit. A story about how Kyuhyun and Kibum got together. Set before If I sat next to you would you run away?
A/N: This was written when I first started to write a couple of years back. I didn't change much coz I was too lazy to rearrange the sentences so it might suck big time and it's unbeta'ed so please bear with me guys.
Previously
Kibum groaned and buried his head under a pillow to block out the incessant jingle of his cellphone. He lay motionless, willing for the damn phone to stop shrieking and it miraculously stopped. Thank God! But just as he was about to drift back to sleep it started again, yelling for him to pay attention to it. He groaned again and fumbled for the source of annoyance on his bedside table.
“Yoobseyo.” He rasped groggily.
“Wake up baby.”
“W-what?” He rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes. “Who is this?”
A deep velvety chuckle came from somewhere in the vicinity of his room. “Do you always sleep in your boxers?”
Kibum scrambled for his glasses and latched it to his face. “Jongwoon shii!” He gulped. “W-what are you doing here?” He hastily put on a cap on his messy mop of hair and covered himself as best he could with his pillow.
“I came to see you of course.” He stood up from his study table. “Your mom let me in before she went out just now.” He smiled and started to rummage his wardrobe.
Something dawned on him now that he’s thoroughly awake. “How do you even know where I live or my number?”
“I have my resources.” The older boy muttered contemplating on the contents of his wardrobe, taking out a few piece of top and putting it back.
“What are you doing?” Kibum asked curiously.
Jongwoon finally selected a black sleeveless hoodie and a pair of dark denims to match his own black sleeveless with a white tribal dragon pattern up his right torso and black skinnies. He turned to the young boy and laid out the outfit on the foot of the bed. “Get dressed, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Kibum silently made his way down the stairs half an hour later. “Are we going somewhere?” He interrupted Jongwoon’s channel surfing.
Jongwoon switched the tv off and approached Kibum eyeing him appreciatively. “You look quite different without your glasses.” He said with a slight cock of his perfectly coifed head. He glanced at his watch. “Lunch?”
Kibum gave it a thought and decided to play along. Kyuhyun’s not around, he has nothing planned for today, Jongwoon seems like a nice guy, good looking too and he’s hungry anyway so why the hell not? “You paying?”
“Of course.” Jongwoon led him out of the house with his hand on the small of Kibum’s back. “Do you like Italian food?”
* * *
They arrive at an Italian Restaurant, a little rustic place with round tables and red and white checkered tablecloths and tiny condiments on them, red brick walls and antiqued lamps hanging from the ceilings, tunes of Italian folk music playing softly in the background and homely smell of cooking brought a comfortable ambience to a lazy spring afternoon.
“Hey Jongwoon, haven’t seen you in awhile.” A girl sporting tight braids, a short light blue dress with a white apron and white sneakers greeted them with a friendly smile. “Usual table?”
Jongwoon nodded and she led them to a table by the window at the back and left two sets of menu.
“You seem very well known here.” Kibum looked around casually and thanked a waitress when she brought them a glass of water. It wasn’t busy now that lunch hour is almost up.
“Well I usually bring my dates here to eat.” Jongwoon answered him with a chin propped in a propped up arm.
Kibum laughed “Am I your date then?”
“Do you want it to be?” Jongwoon look him in the eye.
Kibum still smiling shook his head and brushed off his question by scanning the menu in his hands. Jongwoon took the opportunity to admire the young boy, taking in all of his boyish looks and drinking the sight with relish. His palm has been itching to feel the smooth white cheeks with a bit of its baby fat left and pinch it till it reddens. Now that will be just beautiful.
Just then, he looked up and smiled adorably.
“I can’t decide Jongwoon shii. What would you recommend?”
“Call me hyung.” He reached out and touched his hand lightly and withdrew just as quickly.
“Okay.” Kibum replied with a cute tilt to his head.
Jongwoon grinned and launched on to introduce and recommend some of the foods that he personally liked and Kibum finally decided to try the Carbonara, a cream and parmesan cheese based pasta with bacon and eggs while Jongwoon ordered the Vongole with white wine for himself, pizza garlic bread and the soup of the day with baguette for them.
They chatted about nothing in particular while they waited for their orders. Well it was him that chatted anyway. Kibum is more of a listener and will comment or state a view when he wants too. He doesn’t mind it of course since he has the knack of finding out what he wanted even with the most tight lipped people.
Their food came and Jongwoon let him savor a few bites of his chosen pasta before asking how it was.
“It’s delicious hyung.” He mumbled through a mouthful of linguine. “What’s that you’re having hyung?” Kibum poked into his plate curiously.
“Vongole. Pasta with clams in white wine.”
His eyes twinkled “Can I have a taste?”
How could Jongwoon refuse that? He twirled some of his spaghetti on his fork and was about to feed his current obsession when the younger boy’s phone rang. He felt a stab of irritant when his face light up just by hearing a voice on the receivers end.
“Hey Kyu. No, what’s up?”
Jongwoon observed Kibum discreetly while he ate. The boy’s face fell a tiny bit with just a hint of a frown knitting up his brows.
“Nah… It’s okay. Some other time okay? Okay. Bye.” He spoke softly and hung up. He attempted a smile and continued eating silently.
Curse that bloody kid! He’s spoiled everything! Jongwoon twirled he’s spaghetti and offered it up to Kibum pretending that he didn’t notice the sudden change in his demeanor and kept on smiling.
* * *
Kibum was happy to hear from Kyuhyun after not seeing him for three days after the cookout. He was hoping that his friend would want to meet up to shoot hoops or go to the arcade or anything. He doesn’t really mind it as long as it’s with him. But instead, Kyuhyun had asked him if he wanted to join him and Eun Ji to a movie. He doesn’t want to be a third wheel. It was bad enough to see them kiss the other day, to see them together now would be too painful and he don’t think he could hide his feelings well enough like that time, but to be frank with himself, he would have walked out, no, ran way from the cookout if Jongwoon hyung hadn’t been there to make their presence known.
Jongwoon hyung has been a wonderful company and had cheered him up in no time with his silly antics. After lunch they went to a LAN gaming and arcade and spent most of the afternoon in there. Then they goofed around in one of those colorful sticker photo booths and took funny pictures. Later they browsed the mall and Jongwoon dragged him into a music shop selling all kinds of instrument and sang to him while he played the piano.
It feels as though the outing was turning more and more into a date and Jongwoon sometimes makes him feel like a girl if that make any sense. He was the only other person who treated him like Kyuhyun does.
“Hey, you there?” Jongwoon nudged him. “You look lost somewhere.”
Kibum was now aware of how close they were walking together for their arms would brush up occasionally. He turned towards the older boy and smiled. “I had lots of fun today.” He stopped in front of his gate. “Thanks for taking me out.”
Jongwoon gazed at him with an unmistakable adoration in his eyes. “You look a whole lot better when you smile you know.” He gently traced Kibum’s jawline. “And maybe a haircut.” He teased as gently, twirling a lock of hair at the nape of his neck with his finger.
“Will I look better with a haircut too?” He let Jongwoon’s fingers eased into his hair.
“Definitely.” He whispered stepping away from Kibum and made his way down the street in the fading sun. “I’ll see you tomorrow!” He called out and disappeared around the corner.
Kibum sat on his bed with his back against the wall, staring at a framed photo of him and Kyuhyun taken at a theme park during their last year of middle high, hugging and laughing at the camera.The back of his eyes prickled and his vision swam. He got up from his bed and put the frame face down before turning off the lights.
* * *
Kyuhyun had not seen Kibum for a week now since the cookout and he hadn’t heard from him since he invited him to watch a movie together with him and Eun Ji. He had tried calling him but never seem to get through and he’s never home which is weird because Kibum never goes out. Well, he did know that Kibum went out with Jin Kyoung twice after the cookout but the rest of the time he doesn’t know what he’s been up to.
Both Eun Ji and he had been walking around aimlessly and Kyuhyun is seriously getting bored out of his skull. Eun Ji has been dragging him from one shop to one shop that his feet are killing him.
She stopped in front of a trinket shop and gushed at the merchandise. Typical. And boy that was a hint if he ever heard one. She wanted a couple ring. Pure and simple and Kyuhyun’s not ready to give her that. Dating is fine but to declare steady is a different matter all together. It’s just way too soon.
He missed Kibum. When was the last time they went to the arcade or shoot hoops or simply just hang out together? Cleary he’s been neglecting his friend. They had never been apart for so long.
And Kibum never pouts. He ignored the pouting girl as he dragged her away from those shiny little things. Being with Kibum is never taxing. With Kibum he can just relax, no need to talk constantly, no silly little spats, no calls every hour the single minute they don’t see each other and a whole lot more things that he doesn’t care to list.
Damn he missed Kibum.
“Where do you want to go now?” Kyuhyun kept his tone neutral.
“I want to go home.” Eun Ji huffed and stomped away.
Kyuhyun caught up with her and silently vowed that he’ll look Kibum up bright and early tomorrow.
It was nearing dinner by the time they reached Eun Ji’s home, the smell of Kimchi soup set his stomach rumbling. Eun Ji who was no longer sulking asked him to stay for dinner. Kyuhyun would never say no to that, her mom is a fabulous cook and he is only too happy to oblige.
There was a familiar looking pair of sneakers at the entrance but thought nothing of it as he followed Eun Ji into the house.
“Hey guys.”
Jongwoon greeted them from the sofa. It was only Kyuhyun’s second time seeing the older boy so he just nodded in greeting, went into the kitchen to greet Eun Ji’s mom and padded back into the living room.
“What are you doing oppa?” She pulled him to sit on the floor beside her by the coffee table where there were two cans of soda and a few DVD’s scattered around.
“I’ve rented a few movies, just trying to decide which one to watch first.” Jongwoon muttered, eyes reading the content at the back of a case he was holding.
“God… You having a horror fest or something?” She wrinkled her nose at the selections.
“You’re invited to join us. If you’re not scared that is.” Jongwoon dared her. “Don’t ever watch a horror film with her. She’ll claw you to death!” He warned Kyuhyun.
“Yah!”
“Hey guys.”
A voice interrupted them and three pair of eyes swiveled to the newcomer.
“OH MY GOD!’ Eun Ji squealed and jumped up “You cut your hair! You look so much better, now I can see your face!” She bounced excitedly beside Kibum who seated himself next to Jongwoon and ruffled his hair.
Kyuhyun couldn’t take his eyes off Kibum who laughingly tried to fend Eun Ji off. It’s true. He looks much better. Cuter with a short layered cut to show off his cherubic face.
“So, you’ve been hanging out with my brother?” She settled down comfortably on the couch. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you but his idiocy is contagious.” She whispered loudly from behind her hand and nimbly leaped off the couch with Jongwoon yelling after her.
Kyuhyun took the opportunity to occupy Jongwoon’s vacated seat and pulled Kibum into an arm. “I never thought that I’d say ‘I miss you’ to you.”
Kibum smiled stiffly and shifted further a bit. “Ah, you’re just saying that out of guilt. I doubt you think of anything much less anyone when you’re with Eun Ji shii.” He said with and even tone as they sink into the sofa.
Kyuhyun sighed softly. “I really do miss you.” He stared at their reflection on the blank TV screen. “I’m so glad to see you I could kiss you.”
“Would you?”
He turned to Kibum gazing up at him with a strange look and for a maddening second there he actually thought he would. Both of them looked away when Mrs Kim hollered for her two children to set the table.
He cleared his throat. “So you’ve been hanging out with Jongwoon shii.”
“Yeah, he’s really nice. He sucked at video games though.”
“I see.” They watched the siblings in silence. “Kibum ah, wanna…”
“Dinner’s ready!” Eun Ji called out and beckoned them to the table.
* * *
The room was devoid of any lights save for the flickering ones from the TV, curtains drawn closed and the four of them huddled on the sofa. Eun Ji was curled tightly in a corner, hanging halfway off the armrest as she tried to block out the eerie music with both of her palms glued to her ears, her wide eyes transfixed on the screen. Jongwoon and Kibum were stock still, barely breathing. Kyuhyun hugged his knees, most of his face hidden behind a pillow and the only thing that can be seen was his eyes.
They were halfway through their third movie and it feels like all of his nerves have been shredded, frayed and raw. He was so tense he swore he will break if a feather lands on him and Eun Ji’s screaming once every few minutes doesn’t help one bit. He felt Jongwoon’s hand squeezed Kibum’s shoulder and his annoyance shot to a new level high. Where does he get off touching and speaking to Kibum so intimately like that? And his friend was either oblivious to it or doesn’t mind it at all. No. He’s not willing to admit that or acknowledge the fact that Kibum is ignoring him for some reason.
He tried to get his mind to concentrate on the movie which he hadn’t been able to the minute Jongwoon put his arms around Kibum. He grunted in discontent and brought his legs down from their position. That was when Eun Ji screamed. Kibum’s hand closed around his arm in a vice like grip, he stared at it and raised his eyes to him. Kibum let go of him like he was burned but Kyuhyun wouldn’t give him the satisfaction and caught his wrist. They are so getting out of there. Turning abruptly to Eun Ji, he whacked her with the pillow in his hand.
“Yah! What’s wrong with you?”
Eun Ji stopped her screaming and searched frantically around. “Oppa, something touched my foot.”
“You silly goose, that’s just the fabric of my jeans.” He chided. All of them jumped out of their skin when the screen chose to cackle at that particular time inducing a more hysterical Eun Ji.
“AAISHH! You’re scarier than the ghost!” Kyuhyun grumpily extricated the girl’s arms from around his neck as Jongwoon snickers.
“What the hell is going on in here!” The room was suddenly flooded with light, and Mrs Kim was standing by the switch in her nightgown and rollers in her hair. “Are you trying to raise the dead?!” She glared at Jongwoon who was snickering once again. “Both of you go to bed! You two! Go home!” She snapped to them.
“Right! Sorry to intrude!” Kyuhyun bowed and dragged a Kibum who was trying to say goodbye to Jongwoon.
Jongwoon tried to send them to the door but was barricade by his mom. “Clear up the mess now, I’m not going to clear up after you.”
Kyuhyun cackled inwardly as he listened to Mrs Kim nagged at the older guy while they laced up their sneakers. “Lets go Kibum. If we hurry we might catch the last bus.” He forcefully pulled Kibum along at a brisk pace. He hadn’t realized how late it was.
“I can walk fine by myself Kyu.”
He tightened his grasp and kept on dragging Kibum till they reached the bus stop before finally letting go. Kibum massaged his wrist, stepping away from him and looked out to the almost deserted road.
Kyuhyun let the silence pass for a few minutes. “Wanna hang out tomorrow?”
“Sorry I can’t. I’m going out with Jongwoon hyung.”
“Oh. Okay.” What is the deal with Jongwoon?! He fumed silently and turned his back onto Kibum so that the other couldn’t see him scowl at the oncoming bus. “Bus is here.” He yanked Kibum to his side none too gently.
“Kyu?”
Kibum’s wide puzzled eyes melted his anger away. They boarded the bus and rode it all the way back to their stop in dreadful silence. Kibum crossed his arms at his chest the minute he let go of his hand and he had stoically watched the buildings whizzed by, battling with a few thousand senseless questions in his head. The silence became heavier and oppressive as they walked to Kibum’s house. He needed to say something, anything. If he was to let Kibum go now, he feared that the other would just disappear after this.
“Don’t ignore me Kibum.” He reached out for his elbow and spun Kibum around to face him.
“But I haven’t.” Kibum replied warily.
“I could never get through to you, you didn’t reply to my text messages, you’re never home and you didn’t even so much as look at me today. It’s like you’re avoiding me or something. If I did something wrong please tell me Kibum.” His eyes sought Kibum’s as if to find any sort of answer.
Just then Kibum’s phone rang. “Yoobseyo? Hyung..”
Kyuhyun’s jaw tightened as he slowly backed away, glaring fiercely at Kibum and stalked away.
Part 4
So what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Give me some love even if it's tough love ^^
Author:babycloud_ai
Length: 3/4
Rating: Pg 13
Pairing: Kyuhyun x Kibum
Summary: Kyuhyun thinks he likes girls, he even found himself a girlfriend a few weeks after he enters High School but when his girlfriend's older brother starts to steal his best friend away from him, he found himself not liking it one bit. A story about how Kyuhyun and Kibum got together. Set before If I sat next to you would you run away?
A/N: This was written when I first started to write a couple of years back. I didn't change much coz I was too lazy to rearrange the sentences so it might suck big time and it's unbeta'ed so please bear with me guys.
Previously
Kibum groaned and buried his head under a pillow to block out the incessant jingle of his cellphone. He lay motionless, willing for the damn phone to stop shrieking and it miraculously stopped. Thank God! But just as he was about to drift back to sleep it started again, yelling for him to pay attention to it. He groaned again and fumbled for the source of annoyance on his bedside table.
“Yoobseyo.” He rasped groggily.
“Wake up baby.”
“W-what?” He rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes. “Who is this?”
A deep velvety chuckle came from somewhere in the vicinity of his room. “Do you always sleep in your boxers?”
Kibum scrambled for his glasses and latched it to his face. “Jongwoon shii!” He gulped. “W-what are you doing here?” He hastily put on a cap on his messy mop of hair and covered himself as best he could with his pillow.
“I came to see you of course.” He stood up from his study table. “Your mom let me in before she went out just now.” He smiled and started to rummage his wardrobe.
Something dawned on him now that he’s thoroughly awake. “How do you even know where I live or my number?”
“I have my resources.” The older boy muttered contemplating on the contents of his wardrobe, taking out a few piece of top and putting it back.
“What are you doing?” Kibum asked curiously.
Jongwoon finally selected a black sleeveless hoodie and a pair of dark denims to match his own black sleeveless with a white tribal dragon pattern up his right torso and black skinnies. He turned to the young boy and laid out the outfit on the foot of the bed. “Get dressed, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Kibum silently made his way down the stairs half an hour later. “Are we going somewhere?” He interrupted Jongwoon’s channel surfing.
Jongwoon switched the tv off and approached Kibum eyeing him appreciatively. “You look quite different without your glasses.” He said with a slight cock of his perfectly coifed head. He glanced at his watch. “Lunch?”
Kibum gave it a thought and decided to play along. Kyuhyun’s not around, he has nothing planned for today, Jongwoon seems like a nice guy, good looking too and he’s hungry anyway so why the hell not? “You paying?”
“Of course.” Jongwoon led him out of the house with his hand on the small of Kibum’s back. “Do you like Italian food?”
* * *
They arrive at an Italian Restaurant, a little rustic place with round tables and red and white checkered tablecloths and tiny condiments on them, red brick walls and antiqued lamps hanging from the ceilings, tunes of Italian folk music playing softly in the background and homely smell of cooking brought a comfortable ambience to a lazy spring afternoon.
“Hey Jongwoon, haven’t seen you in awhile.” A girl sporting tight braids, a short light blue dress with a white apron and white sneakers greeted them with a friendly smile. “Usual table?”
Jongwoon nodded and she led them to a table by the window at the back and left two sets of menu.
“You seem very well known here.” Kibum looked around casually and thanked a waitress when she brought them a glass of water. It wasn’t busy now that lunch hour is almost up.
“Well I usually bring my dates here to eat.” Jongwoon answered him with a chin propped in a propped up arm.
Kibum laughed “Am I your date then?”
“Do you want it to be?” Jongwoon look him in the eye.
Kibum still smiling shook his head and brushed off his question by scanning the menu in his hands. Jongwoon took the opportunity to admire the young boy, taking in all of his boyish looks and drinking the sight with relish. His palm has been itching to feel the smooth white cheeks with a bit of its baby fat left and pinch it till it reddens. Now that will be just beautiful.
Just then, he looked up and smiled adorably.
“I can’t decide Jongwoon shii. What would you recommend?”
“Call me hyung.” He reached out and touched his hand lightly and withdrew just as quickly.
“Okay.” Kibum replied with a cute tilt to his head.
Jongwoon grinned and launched on to introduce and recommend some of the foods that he personally liked and Kibum finally decided to try the Carbonara, a cream and parmesan cheese based pasta with bacon and eggs while Jongwoon ordered the Vongole with white wine for himself, pizza garlic bread and the soup of the day with baguette for them.
They chatted about nothing in particular while they waited for their orders. Well it was him that chatted anyway. Kibum is more of a listener and will comment or state a view when he wants too. He doesn’t mind it of course since he has the knack of finding out what he wanted even with the most tight lipped people.
Their food came and Jongwoon let him savor a few bites of his chosen pasta before asking how it was.
“It’s delicious hyung.” He mumbled through a mouthful of linguine. “What’s that you’re having hyung?” Kibum poked into his plate curiously.
“Vongole. Pasta with clams in white wine.”
His eyes twinkled “Can I have a taste?”
How could Jongwoon refuse that? He twirled some of his spaghetti on his fork and was about to feed his current obsession when the younger boy’s phone rang. He felt a stab of irritant when his face light up just by hearing a voice on the receivers end.
“Hey Kyu. No, what’s up?”
Jongwoon observed Kibum discreetly while he ate. The boy’s face fell a tiny bit with just a hint of a frown knitting up his brows.
“Nah… It’s okay. Some other time okay? Okay. Bye.” He spoke softly and hung up. He attempted a smile and continued eating silently.
Curse that bloody kid! He’s spoiled everything! Jongwoon twirled he’s spaghetti and offered it up to Kibum pretending that he didn’t notice the sudden change in his demeanor and kept on smiling.
* * *
Kibum was happy to hear from Kyuhyun after not seeing him for three days after the cookout. He was hoping that his friend would want to meet up to shoot hoops or go to the arcade or anything. He doesn’t really mind it as long as it’s with him. But instead, Kyuhyun had asked him if he wanted to join him and Eun Ji to a movie. He doesn’t want to be a third wheel. It was bad enough to see them kiss the other day, to see them together now would be too painful and he don’t think he could hide his feelings well enough like that time, but to be frank with himself, he would have walked out, no, ran way from the cookout if Jongwoon hyung hadn’t been there to make their presence known.
Jongwoon hyung has been a wonderful company and had cheered him up in no time with his silly antics. After lunch they went to a LAN gaming and arcade and spent most of the afternoon in there. Then they goofed around in one of those colorful sticker photo booths and took funny pictures. Later they browsed the mall and Jongwoon dragged him into a music shop selling all kinds of instrument and sang to him while he played the piano.
It feels as though the outing was turning more and more into a date and Jongwoon sometimes makes him feel like a girl if that make any sense. He was the only other person who treated him like Kyuhyun does.
“Hey, you there?” Jongwoon nudged him. “You look lost somewhere.”
Kibum was now aware of how close they were walking together for their arms would brush up occasionally. He turned towards the older boy and smiled. “I had lots of fun today.” He stopped in front of his gate. “Thanks for taking me out.”
Jongwoon gazed at him with an unmistakable adoration in his eyes. “You look a whole lot better when you smile you know.” He gently traced Kibum’s jawline. “And maybe a haircut.” He teased as gently, twirling a lock of hair at the nape of his neck with his finger.
“Will I look better with a haircut too?” He let Jongwoon’s fingers eased into his hair.
“Definitely.” He whispered stepping away from Kibum and made his way down the street in the fading sun. “I’ll see you tomorrow!” He called out and disappeared around the corner.
Kibum sat on his bed with his back against the wall, staring at a framed photo of him and Kyuhyun taken at a theme park during their last year of middle high, hugging and laughing at the camera.The back of his eyes prickled and his vision swam. He got up from his bed and put the frame face down before turning off the lights.
* * *
Kyuhyun had not seen Kibum for a week now since the cookout and he hadn’t heard from him since he invited him to watch a movie together with him and Eun Ji. He had tried calling him but never seem to get through and he’s never home which is weird because Kibum never goes out. Well, he did know that Kibum went out with Jin Kyoung twice after the cookout but the rest of the time he doesn’t know what he’s been up to.
Both Eun Ji and he had been walking around aimlessly and Kyuhyun is seriously getting bored out of his skull. Eun Ji has been dragging him from one shop to one shop that his feet are killing him.
She stopped in front of a trinket shop and gushed at the merchandise. Typical. And boy that was a hint if he ever heard one. She wanted a couple ring. Pure and simple and Kyuhyun’s not ready to give her that. Dating is fine but to declare steady is a different matter all together. It’s just way too soon.
He missed Kibum. When was the last time they went to the arcade or shoot hoops or simply just hang out together? Cleary he’s been neglecting his friend. They had never been apart for so long.
And Kibum never pouts. He ignored the pouting girl as he dragged her away from those shiny little things. Being with Kibum is never taxing. With Kibum he can just relax, no need to talk constantly, no silly little spats, no calls every hour the single minute they don’t see each other and a whole lot more things that he doesn’t care to list.
Damn he missed Kibum.
“Where do you want to go now?” Kyuhyun kept his tone neutral.
“I want to go home.” Eun Ji huffed and stomped away.
Kyuhyun caught up with her and silently vowed that he’ll look Kibum up bright and early tomorrow.
It was nearing dinner by the time they reached Eun Ji’s home, the smell of Kimchi soup set his stomach rumbling. Eun Ji who was no longer sulking asked him to stay for dinner. Kyuhyun would never say no to that, her mom is a fabulous cook and he is only too happy to oblige.
There was a familiar looking pair of sneakers at the entrance but thought nothing of it as he followed Eun Ji into the house.
“Hey guys.”
Jongwoon greeted them from the sofa. It was only Kyuhyun’s second time seeing the older boy so he just nodded in greeting, went into the kitchen to greet Eun Ji’s mom and padded back into the living room.
“What are you doing oppa?” She pulled him to sit on the floor beside her by the coffee table where there were two cans of soda and a few DVD’s scattered around.
“I’ve rented a few movies, just trying to decide which one to watch first.” Jongwoon muttered, eyes reading the content at the back of a case he was holding.
“God… You having a horror fest or something?” She wrinkled her nose at the selections.
“You’re invited to join us. If you’re not scared that is.” Jongwoon dared her. “Don’t ever watch a horror film with her. She’ll claw you to death!” He warned Kyuhyun.
“Yah!”
“Hey guys.”
A voice interrupted them and three pair of eyes swiveled to the newcomer.
“OH MY GOD!’ Eun Ji squealed and jumped up “You cut your hair! You look so much better, now I can see your face!” She bounced excitedly beside Kibum who seated himself next to Jongwoon and ruffled his hair.
Kyuhyun couldn’t take his eyes off Kibum who laughingly tried to fend Eun Ji off. It’s true. He looks much better. Cuter with a short layered cut to show off his cherubic face.
“So, you’ve been hanging out with my brother?” She settled down comfortably on the couch. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you but his idiocy is contagious.” She whispered loudly from behind her hand and nimbly leaped off the couch with Jongwoon yelling after her.
Kyuhyun took the opportunity to occupy Jongwoon’s vacated seat and pulled Kibum into an arm. “I never thought that I’d say ‘I miss you’ to you.”
Kibum smiled stiffly and shifted further a bit. “Ah, you’re just saying that out of guilt. I doubt you think of anything much less anyone when you’re with Eun Ji shii.” He said with and even tone as they sink into the sofa.
Kyuhyun sighed softly. “I really do miss you.” He stared at their reflection on the blank TV screen. “I’m so glad to see you I could kiss you.”
“Would you?”
He turned to Kibum gazing up at him with a strange look and for a maddening second there he actually thought he would. Both of them looked away when Mrs Kim hollered for her two children to set the table.
He cleared his throat. “So you’ve been hanging out with Jongwoon shii.”
“Yeah, he’s really nice. He sucked at video games though.”
“I see.” They watched the siblings in silence. “Kibum ah, wanna…”
“Dinner’s ready!” Eun Ji called out and beckoned them to the table.
* * *
The room was devoid of any lights save for the flickering ones from the TV, curtains drawn closed and the four of them huddled on the sofa. Eun Ji was curled tightly in a corner, hanging halfway off the armrest as she tried to block out the eerie music with both of her palms glued to her ears, her wide eyes transfixed on the screen. Jongwoon and Kibum were stock still, barely breathing. Kyuhyun hugged his knees, most of his face hidden behind a pillow and the only thing that can be seen was his eyes.
They were halfway through their third movie and it feels like all of his nerves have been shredded, frayed and raw. He was so tense he swore he will break if a feather lands on him and Eun Ji’s screaming once every few minutes doesn’t help one bit. He felt Jongwoon’s hand squeezed Kibum’s shoulder and his annoyance shot to a new level high. Where does he get off touching and speaking to Kibum so intimately like that? And his friend was either oblivious to it or doesn’t mind it at all. No. He’s not willing to admit that or acknowledge the fact that Kibum is ignoring him for some reason.
He tried to get his mind to concentrate on the movie which he hadn’t been able to the minute Jongwoon put his arms around Kibum. He grunted in discontent and brought his legs down from their position. That was when Eun Ji screamed. Kibum’s hand closed around his arm in a vice like grip, he stared at it and raised his eyes to him. Kibum let go of him like he was burned but Kyuhyun wouldn’t give him the satisfaction and caught his wrist. They are so getting out of there. Turning abruptly to Eun Ji, he whacked her with the pillow in his hand.
“Yah! What’s wrong with you?”
Eun Ji stopped her screaming and searched frantically around. “Oppa, something touched my foot.”
“You silly goose, that’s just the fabric of my jeans.” He chided. All of them jumped out of their skin when the screen chose to cackle at that particular time inducing a more hysterical Eun Ji.
“AAISHH! You’re scarier than the ghost!” Kyuhyun grumpily extricated the girl’s arms from around his neck as Jongwoon snickers.
“What the hell is going on in here!” The room was suddenly flooded with light, and Mrs Kim was standing by the switch in her nightgown and rollers in her hair. “Are you trying to raise the dead?!” She glared at Jongwoon who was snickering once again. “Both of you go to bed! You two! Go home!” She snapped to them.
“Right! Sorry to intrude!” Kyuhyun bowed and dragged a Kibum who was trying to say goodbye to Jongwoon.
Jongwoon tried to send them to the door but was barricade by his mom. “Clear up the mess now, I’m not going to clear up after you.”
Kyuhyun cackled inwardly as he listened to Mrs Kim nagged at the older guy while they laced up their sneakers. “Lets go Kibum. If we hurry we might catch the last bus.” He forcefully pulled Kibum along at a brisk pace. He hadn’t realized how late it was.
“I can walk fine by myself Kyu.”
He tightened his grasp and kept on dragging Kibum till they reached the bus stop before finally letting go. Kibum massaged his wrist, stepping away from him and looked out to the almost deserted road.
Kyuhyun let the silence pass for a few minutes. “Wanna hang out tomorrow?”
“Sorry I can’t. I’m going out with Jongwoon hyung.”
“Oh. Okay.” What is the deal with Jongwoon?! He fumed silently and turned his back onto Kibum so that the other couldn’t see him scowl at the oncoming bus. “Bus is here.” He yanked Kibum to his side none too gently.
“Kyu?”
Kibum’s wide puzzled eyes melted his anger away. They boarded the bus and rode it all the way back to their stop in dreadful silence. Kibum crossed his arms at his chest the minute he let go of his hand and he had stoically watched the buildings whizzed by, battling with a few thousand senseless questions in his head. The silence became heavier and oppressive as they walked to Kibum’s house. He needed to say something, anything. If he was to let Kibum go now, he feared that the other would just disappear after this.
“Don’t ignore me Kibum.” He reached out for his elbow and spun Kibum around to face him.
“But I haven’t.” Kibum replied warily.
“I could never get through to you, you didn’t reply to my text messages, you’re never home and you didn’t even so much as look at me today. It’s like you’re avoiding me or something. If I did something wrong please tell me Kibum.” His eyes sought Kibum’s as if to find any sort of answer.
Just then Kibum’s phone rang. “Yoobseyo? Hyung..”
Kyuhyun’s jaw tightened as he slowly backed away, glaring fiercely at Kibum and stalked away.
Part 4
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