If I Ever Dream of Happiness...
Title: If I Ever Dream of Happiness
Author: geniebsmart
Pairing: Onew/Hyoyeon
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff
Summary: Blindness can be many different levels.
Author's Note: Hello! Back with another fanfic for you all. This time, I'm writing for a challenge in shawol_haven . I encourage everyone to go and read the all the authors' fanfics for the challenge and vote. Maybe you can participate in the next challenge :D Hope you enjoy this story. Specially made for Valentine's Day ^^ Much love, peeps! <3
The beeping medical machine across the hallway ticked away at the rhythm of the lone heart beat. The laughter of children spilled from the television propped in the top-left corner of the room. The drip, drip, drip of the faucet in the far right echoed relentlessly among the noise. The soft chirps of birds right outside the hospital room window were the only things to not drive the young boy totally crazy.
Eyes open. Eyes closed. It didn’t matter. His awareness to the noise would be the same, so what’s the point of focusing on something else. The texture of the cloth bedsheets beneath his hands didn’t amuse him. The smell of the unfinished breakfast from that morning still bothered him. Why hasn’t the nurse come to pick it up yet? Judging by the warmth of the sun on his right shoulder, it had to be afternoon. The boy felt very bored and wanted to take a walk. However, he knew the nurses and doctors would not let him do such a rigorous activity without their supervision, something that he found unnecessary. The last feeling that he needed was a bunch of eyes staring at him so he won’t run into walls, fall down stairs, etc.
Then again, this was his life of being blind since birth.
“Lee Jinki?” The boy’s ears perked up at his name. There was his nurse. However, he felt something different. Another presence.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been here since breakfast, but I was busy getting your new roommate ready.” Jinki gave an inner groan. He disliked roommates. The sound of a hospital bed being rolled into the room reached Jinki’s ears. He caught a coughing noise from the bed. Most likely his new roommate. He still can’t figure out if the patient is a girl or a boy.
Two other adults entered the room. One was a woman. One was a man. They were the child’s parents. Jinki didn’t have to see all this. The sounds and words of the people were clues enough. At least he now knew the child was a girl. Her voice provided further proof.
“Your name is Jinki, right?” Not really in the mood to talk, he simply nodded his head. The girl’s mother spoke. “It is nice to meet you, Jinki. I hope you and our daughter Hyoyeon become friends.” Because she was an adult, he felt the need to reply. “We will treat each other well.” Yeah, if we both stay quiet, he thought.
Soon, the parents left, their footsteps echoing down the hospital hallway. The beeping. That darn beeping. “Um, I didn’t properly introduce myself. I’m Hyoyeon-“ “I know. I’m blind, but I’m not deaf.” “Oh.” The TV provided the only noise in that room. And that obnoxious beeping sound.
“Jinki, do you mind if I change the channel?”
Was this girl stupid? “I ask because…I thought you wouldn’t like the screaming.” Sure enough, Jinki heard female screaming and dramatic music. Probably a horror film. “Oh. Do whatever.” Jinki turned on his side, giving the impression that he was going to sleep. Nothing else was said that day.
The days in that hospital room would pass by in a relatively peaceful manner (if you called Jinki’s and Hyoyeon’s relationship peaceful). Jinki would grow accustomed to Hyoyeon’s chatter, even her lame jokes. Well, he though they were lame. The boy didn’t understand how this girl could take any situation and find a reason to smile and laugh. For example, Hyoyeon had a bad lung condition. If she moved in the wrong manner, she would go into coughing fits. This condition was a serious hindrance to her dream as a dancer. Even with this in mind, Hyoyeon continued to dream and hope.
Then, there was him. Cold and distant. Complaining about every little thing in life. He felt he had the right to complain. Unlike Hyoyeon, he was born with his condition. Jinki though it was absolutely unfair.
“Why do you laugh?”
He was surprised by his sudden question. Jinki imagined Hyoyeon was too. She was laughing hysterically at a cartoon then fell to silence at her roommate’s inquiry. The beeping across the hallway added even more heaviness to the silence, the sound of cartoon shenanigans being ignored. Jinki was starting to wonder if the girl knew herself until…
“Because I’m happy.”
“…what?”
“I’m happy.”
Happy? Jinki didn’t understand one bit. “What do you mean…happy?” There was her laugh again. What the heck was so funny?
“Cmon, Onew, you know…happy. Getting joy out of the good stuff life has to offer. Parents, waffles, hugs, smiles. Things that make you happy.” Jinki still didn’t get it.
Parents? He had none. They’ve been gone for a longtime. If he was happy with them when he was little, then the feeling was foreign and nothing but a phantom.
Waffles? They tasted alright.
Hugs? He got hugs from the nurse when he cried at night, but he couldn’t see why he would be happy (not that he didn’t appreciate the nurse’s efforts).
Smiles?
“I’ve never seen a smile.” Jinki heard the ruffling of bedsheets, the landing of feet on the floor, and the soft breathing of Hyoyeon, who was very close to his face at the moment. What she said next freaked him out.
“Touch my lips.”
What?!
“What?! What kind of weirdo are you?”
Hyoyeon gave an exasperated sigh. “Just do it.” With hesitance, Jinki lifted his hand, moving in the general direction of Hyoyeon’s face. “Ouch! That’s my eye, you goof! Here.” Hyoyeon wrapped her small hands around Jinki’s finders and placed them on her lips. The boy felt heat rush to his cheeks. What was wrong with him?
“Now feel.” Hyoyeon’s upper lip moved upward as the sides of her mouth spread out. Jinki raised his eyebrows. This is what a smile feels like?
“Now you try, Onew.” Jinki frowned at the nickname. What right did she have? “No, you have to smile, not frown. Since you frown easily, all you have to do is turn it upside down.” Jinki heard the phrase by some of the nurses, but he never got it. “What if I don’t want to smile?”
“So you want to frown for the rest of your life?”
The displeasure in Hyoyeon’s voice unsettled him. He didn’t like it. He preferred Hyoyeon’s bubbly voice. Then again, why did it bother him?
“Fine. Alright already. I’ll try.” He felt the movement of Hyoyeon’s lips again. It was a smile. Geez, this girl is easily please. Or was she showing him how to smile again? Whatever. Jinki moved his lips in the way he felt Hyoyeon did, but it felt awkward and weird.
It must have showed because Hyoyeon giggled. “You look like a crazy person.” Heat rushed to Jinki’s cheeks again. “Y-yah! Just leave me alone.” Hyoyeon’s face of laughter sent vibrations through his fingers. It left a tingling feeling he did not quite understand.
Curious, the young boy moved his fingers from her lips to her nose. Then her eyes. Forehead. Cheeks. Chin. It was like Jinki’s fingers were in a trance, wanting to take in this odd girl’s features. The rest of the world didn’t exist. All noise was shut out. The fragrance of the air purifier was ignored. It was just him and Hyoyeon. His fingers curled around the tips of her hair. Soft. Everything about this girl seemed soft. He was almost afraid to break her, even her facial features seemed soft and fragile.
“Are you happy, Onew?”
Why did his heart jump at the question?
“Are you happy that you know what a smile feels like? You’re even smiling now.”
Jinki gasped. When was this? How was he not aware at the natural tug at the corner of his lips? Jinki quickly withdrew his hand and turned away. These feelings...what was going on?
“Onew…”
“Aren’t you feeling bad, Hyoyeon? I could hear your breathing. You’re straining. Go back to the bed.”
Was he truly concerned? Of course. He didn’t want the girl to pass out on the floor. On the other hand, he also wanted to put distance between the two of them. His bed shifted form added weight. The next thing he knew, he felt a small body pressed against his side and a head settled on his shoulder.
“Hyoyeon, why-“
A yawn from the young girl stifled the rest of his sentence. “I can’t stay here?”
The question was carried on such an innocent tone that he almost felt guilty. “Well…I mean…the beeping on the other side of the hall could get annoying.” Lame excuse, he knew. Figured he would try though. Besides, the beeping was annoying. Hyoyeon’s smile again, this time pressed against his shoulder. “I find it comforting.” Jinki frowned. Comforting? That beeping? Hyoyeon continued.
“Just think. What if the beeping stopped? At least the beeping let us know that person in alive.”
Jinki remained silent. The one noise that he thought that drove him up the wall was actually an indication of life. The many times he wished for the beeping to stop…did he mean for that person’s heart to stop beating as well? Suddenly, to reassure himself, he honed his ears t hear the pulse of life on the other side.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Jinki felt no aggravation. Instead, he felt at peace. Slowly yet surely, the instinct of sleep came over him. His world was already dark, so there was no difference in visuals as his breathing slowed to a steady pace.
It’s funny. He wondered how people with sight would dream. Could they see flying airplanes? The color of grass?
For him, his dreams were based on his senses. How the grass felt. How an airplane sounded.
For some reason Jinki felt appreciation for these dreams tonight. He suddenly wanted to experience more of the outside world to fill his dreams with more feelings. More sounds. More emotions.
That night, Jinki dreamed of laughter. He dreamed of smiles. He dreamed of distinct facial features upon his fingertips.
He dreamed of Hyoyeon.
He dreamed of happiness.
Author: geniebsmart
Pairing: Onew/Hyoyeon
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff
Summary: Blindness can be many different levels.
Author's Note: Hello! Back with another fanfic for you all. This time, I'm writing for a challenge in shawol_haven . I encourage everyone to go and read the all the authors' fanfics for the challenge and vote. Maybe you can participate in the next challenge :D Hope you enjoy this story. Specially made for Valentine's Day ^^ Much love, peeps! <3
The beeping medical machine across the hallway ticked away at the rhythm of the lone heart beat. The laughter of children spilled from the television propped in the top-left corner of the room. The drip, drip, drip of the faucet in the far right echoed relentlessly among the noise. The soft chirps of birds right outside the hospital room window were the only things to not drive the young boy totally crazy.
Eyes open. Eyes closed. It didn’t matter. His awareness to the noise would be the same, so what’s the point of focusing on something else. The texture of the cloth bedsheets beneath his hands didn’t amuse him. The smell of the unfinished breakfast from that morning still bothered him. Why hasn’t the nurse come to pick it up yet? Judging by the warmth of the sun on his right shoulder, it had to be afternoon. The boy felt very bored and wanted to take a walk. However, he knew the nurses and doctors would not let him do such a rigorous activity without their supervision, something that he found unnecessary. The last feeling that he needed was a bunch of eyes staring at him so he won’t run into walls, fall down stairs, etc.
Then again, this was his life of being blind since birth.
“Lee Jinki?” The boy’s ears perked up at his name. There was his nurse. However, he felt something different. Another presence.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been here since breakfast, but I was busy getting your new roommate ready.” Jinki gave an inner groan. He disliked roommates. The sound of a hospital bed being rolled into the room reached Jinki’s ears. He caught a coughing noise from the bed. Most likely his new roommate. He still can’t figure out if the patient is a girl or a boy.
Two other adults entered the room. One was a woman. One was a man. They were the child’s parents. Jinki didn’t have to see all this. The sounds and words of the people were clues enough. At least he now knew the child was a girl. Her voice provided further proof.
“Your name is Jinki, right?” Not really in the mood to talk, he simply nodded his head. The girl’s mother spoke. “It is nice to meet you, Jinki. I hope you and our daughter Hyoyeon become friends.” Because she was an adult, he felt the need to reply. “We will treat each other well.” Yeah, if we both stay quiet, he thought.
Soon, the parents left, their footsteps echoing down the hospital hallway. The beeping. That darn beeping. “Um, I didn’t properly introduce myself. I’m Hyoyeon-“ “I know. I’m blind, but I’m not deaf.” “Oh.” The TV provided the only noise in that room. And that obnoxious beeping sound.
“Jinki, do you mind if I change the channel?”
Was this girl stupid? “I ask because…I thought you wouldn’t like the screaming.” Sure enough, Jinki heard female screaming and dramatic music. Probably a horror film. “Oh. Do whatever.” Jinki turned on his side, giving the impression that he was going to sleep. Nothing else was said that day.
The days in that hospital room would pass by in a relatively peaceful manner (if you called Jinki’s and Hyoyeon’s relationship peaceful). Jinki would grow accustomed to Hyoyeon’s chatter, even her lame jokes. Well, he though they were lame. The boy didn’t understand how this girl could take any situation and find a reason to smile and laugh. For example, Hyoyeon had a bad lung condition. If she moved in the wrong manner, she would go into coughing fits. This condition was a serious hindrance to her dream as a dancer. Even with this in mind, Hyoyeon continued to dream and hope.
Then, there was him. Cold and distant. Complaining about every little thing in life. He felt he had the right to complain. Unlike Hyoyeon, he was born with his condition. Jinki though it was absolutely unfair.
“Why do you laugh?”
He was surprised by his sudden question. Jinki imagined Hyoyeon was too. She was laughing hysterically at a cartoon then fell to silence at her roommate’s inquiry. The beeping across the hallway added even more heaviness to the silence, the sound of cartoon shenanigans being ignored. Jinki was starting to wonder if the girl knew herself until…
“Because I’m happy.”
“…what?”
“I’m happy.”
Happy? Jinki didn’t understand one bit. “What do you mean…happy?” There was her laugh again. What the heck was so funny?
“Cmon, Onew, you know…happy. Getting joy out of the good stuff life has to offer. Parents, waffles, hugs, smiles. Things that make you happy.” Jinki still didn’t get it.
Parents? He had none. They’ve been gone for a longtime. If he was happy with them when he was little, then the feeling was foreign and nothing but a phantom.
Waffles? They tasted alright.
Hugs? He got hugs from the nurse when he cried at night, but he couldn’t see why he would be happy (not that he didn’t appreciate the nurse’s efforts).
Smiles?
“I’ve never seen a smile.” Jinki heard the ruffling of bedsheets, the landing of feet on the floor, and the soft breathing of Hyoyeon, who was very close to his face at the moment. What she said next freaked him out.
“Touch my lips.”
What?!
“What?! What kind of weirdo are you?”
Hyoyeon gave an exasperated sigh. “Just do it.” With hesitance, Jinki lifted his hand, moving in the general direction of Hyoyeon’s face. “Ouch! That’s my eye, you goof! Here.” Hyoyeon wrapped her small hands around Jinki’s finders and placed them on her lips. The boy felt heat rush to his cheeks. What was wrong with him?
“Now feel.” Hyoyeon’s upper lip moved upward as the sides of her mouth spread out. Jinki raised his eyebrows. This is what a smile feels like?
“Now you try, Onew.” Jinki frowned at the nickname. What right did she have? “No, you have to smile, not frown. Since you frown easily, all you have to do is turn it upside down.” Jinki heard the phrase by some of the nurses, but he never got it. “What if I don’t want to smile?”
“So you want to frown for the rest of your life?”
The displeasure in Hyoyeon’s voice unsettled him. He didn’t like it. He preferred Hyoyeon’s bubbly voice. Then again, why did it bother him?
“Fine. Alright already. I’ll try.” He felt the movement of Hyoyeon’s lips again. It was a smile. Geez, this girl is easily please. Or was she showing him how to smile again? Whatever. Jinki moved his lips in the way he felt Hyoyeon did, but it felt awkward and weird.
It must have showed because Hyoyeon giggled. “You look like a crazy person.” Heat rushed to Jinki’s cheeks again. “Y-yah! Just leave me alone.” Hyoyeon’s face of laughter sent vibrations through his fingers. It left a tingling feeling he did not quite understand.
Curious, the young boy moved his fingers from her lips to her nose. Then her eyes. Forehead. Cheeks. Chin. It was like Jinki’s fingers were in a trance, wanting to take in this odd girl’s features. The rest of the world didn’t exist. All noise was shut out. The fragrance of the air purifier was ignored. It was just him and Hyoyeon. His fingers curled around the tips of her hair. Soft. Everything about this girl seemed soft. He was almost afraid to break her, even her facial features seemed soft and fragile.
“Are you happy, Onew?”
Why did his heart jump at the question?
“Are you happy that you know what a smile feels like? You’re even smiling now.”
Jinki gasped. When was this? How was he not aware at the natural tug at the corner of his lips? Jinki quickly withdrew his hand and turned away. These feelings...what was going on?
“Onew…”
“Aren’t you feeling bad, Hyoyeon? I could hear your breathing. You’re straining. Go back to the bed.”
Was he truly concerned? Of course. He didn’t want the girl to pass out on the floor. On the other hand, he also wanted to put distance between the two of them. His bed shifted form added weight. The next thing he knew, he felt a small body pressed against his side and a head settled on his shoulder.
“Hyoyeon, why-“
A yawn from the young girl stifled the rest of his sentence. “I can’t stay here?”
The question was carried on such an innocent tone that he almost felt guilty. “Well…I mean…the beeping on the other side of the hall could get annoying.” Lame excuse, he knew. Figured he would try though. Besides, the beeping was annoying. Hyoyeon’s smile again, this time pressed against his shoulder. “I find it comforting.” Jinki frowned. Comforting? That beeping? Hyoyeon continued.
“Just think. What if the beeping stopped? At least the beeping let us know that person in alive.”
Jinki remained silent. The one noise that he thought that drove him up the wall was actually an indication of life. The many times he wished for the beeping to stop…did he mean for that person’s heart to stop beating as well? Suddenly, to reassure himself, he honed his ears t hear the pulse of life on the other side.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Jinki felt no aggravation. Instead, he felt at peace. Slowly yet surely, the instinct of sleep came over him. His world was already dark, so there was no difference in visuals as his breathing slowed to a steady pace.
It’s funny. He wondered how people with sight would dream. Could they see flying airplanes? The color of grass?
For him, his dreams were based on his senses. How the grass felt. How an airplane sounded.
For some reason Jinki felt appreciation for these dreams tonight. He suddenly wanted to experience more of the outside world to fill his dreams with more feelings. More sounds. More emotions.
That night, Jinki dreamed of laughter. He dreamed of smiles. He dreamed of distinct facial features upon his fingertips.
He dreamed of Hyoyeon.
He dreamed of happiness.