EXO: SuChen: One. Two. Three.
Title: One. Two. Three.
Word Count: 2,788 words
Rating: PG-13.
Pairing: SuChen
Summary: Jongdae always thought it was inevitable. He saw his best friend everyday. He spends time with him almost everyday. Either he gets sick of Junmyeon's face or he falls in love hard. He's glad it's the latter.
AN: My first ever fanfic, and my first entry in LJ. I don't even know if i did the pairing justice. I am wondering how to format this the way I want to format it.
Jongdae rings the doorbell. One. Two. Three. As if on count, Junmyeon opens the door.
"Hey," he smiles. "You're unfashionably late, which is very unusual."
Jongdae just shrugs as Junmyeon welcomes him in, not that he needed to. He has been to this place so many times, it'll be weird if he feels at all unfamiliar with Junmyeon's place.
Jongdae steps in. One. Two. Three. That's when he sees. Chanyeol, Baekhyun and Jongin are seated on the table. Junmyeon and Kyungsoo are fussing over the food cooking in the kitchen. Chanyeol was laughing over a joke Baekhyun cracked, displaying his enthusiasm by flailing his ridiculously long arms. Jongin followed Kyungsoo with his gaze, who went straight to help the host in the kitchen just as they have arrived.
It is only when Jongdae takes another three steps. One. Two. Three. Stop. That's when he sees. For the first time, he feels weird. He feels strange. Unfamiliar. It feels wrong. Very wrong.
"Come on, Jongdae. The food's ready." Baekhyun waves him over.
"Yeah. Just a sec." Jongdae takes in the set of bags and luggages of Junmyeon, all sprawled out in the living room.
That's when he realizes. His best friend is leaving tomorrow. He won't be back in a year, two or three years. He won't ever be back.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Jongdae met Junmyeon in kindergarden. Saw Junmyeon in family parties. Greeted Junmyeon in elementary school. High fived with him in high school. Gazed at him in college. One. Two. Three. Just like that, he falls in love.
Jongdae always thought it was inevitable. He saw his best friend everyday. He spends time with him almost everyday. Either he gets sick of Junmyeon's face or he falls in love hard. One. Two. Three. He's glad it's the latter.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
The sound of utensils clacking over plates and bowls can be heard as the group of six finishes dinner.
"You'd better not forget about us, hyung." Jongin suddenly says.
"Yeah. Or else we visit you over there and show you what you're missing." Kyungsoo gives Jongin a comforting pat on his shoulder.
Junmyeon chuckles. "Then I guess I have to forget about you guys once in a while so I'll have my much preferred company in the same continent as me."
"Nah, you won't even have the chance to forget about us," Baekhyun says. "Chanyeol and I will be a bother everyday you'll be glad you're not here."
"At this rate, missing us would be a luxury." Chanyeol added.
"Poor us, then." Kyungsoo gestures to himself, Jongin and Jongdae.
Baekhyun and Chanyeol show their disagreement. Junmyeon laughs.
Jongdae stands up, glass cup in hand. "To Junmyeon, who is finally able to live his dreams." In a world where I am not. He nearly adds. "Cheers."
The remaining five stand up, clink their glasses and agree. "Cheers."
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
It was a Friday night. Jongdae was lying down on his bed, a novel open in his hands. He was about to call it quits and sleep. He had a long day at school. More than that, he had been staying longer in school to practice singing. He'd welcome the rest.
Before even Jongdae manages to close his book, his phone rings. He looks at the screen and wonders why Junmyeon was calling him this late at night. He picks up his phone. "Junmyeon?"
"I made it. I'm in." Junmyeon sounded breathless. "I can't believe it, Jongdae! I'm in!"
Jongdae felt a small stab of jealousy, but most of all, he felt happy. It has been his and Junmyeon's dream to be a singer. Only Junmyeon had the guts to apply for an audition. He sent his recording in, hoping that one day, he will be able to sing for the people all over the world.
Jongdae forgets his tiredness, sits up and grins. "Let's make you believe, then. Wanna head out?"
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Junmyeon spent his last night in China with his friends. The dining room and kitchen has long been cleared. The group of six have transferred to the sofas in the living room. They drank, talked and pretty much dramatisized Junmyeon leaving them.
"You're leaving us forever," Jongin whines. "Don't leave us forever, hyung!" Jongin clings to Junmyeon.
Kyungsoo, who was in a conversation with Jongdae, gets up and goes to Jongin.
"I think it's time we head home, Jongin." He proceeds to pluck Jongin off of Junmyeon and heads for the door. "Jongdae. Don't forget what I told you." He gives him a look.
Jongdae nods. "See you tomorrow!"
Kyungsoo turns to Junmyeon. "Bye, hyung! We'll see you off at the airport tomorrow."
"See you, Kyungsoo, Jongin."
Baekhyun and Chanyeol have long since left, but assured Junmyeon that they will see him off tomorrow. Now, Jongdae is the only visitor left.
"I think I should go too. See you tomorrow, Junmyeon." Jongdae gets up and walks to the door.
"Wait. Jongdae." Junmyeon reached for his arm. "Promise me. Promise me you will try."
Jongdae notes Junmyeon's tight grip on his arm, his gaze different from the usual twinkle in his eye. Serious. Determined. Longing? One. Two. Three.
"Did you and Kyungsoo put me up to this?" Jongdae breaks the tension and Junmyeon releases his hold on him. "I'll try of course. If there's one thing I got from this whole thing, it's that if you got in, how could I not?" Jongdae smirks. "Kyungsoo told me to try just a while ago." Try what, Jongdae doesn't specify. Kyungsoo didn't only tell him to do an audition. "I'll go audition too."
Junmyeon laughs. "All right. I'll be expecting you then. Someday."
"Someday. You be careful. I might outshine you."
Junmyeon throws him a disbelieving look. "Try me."
Jongdae shrugs. "Mind if I use the bathroom? It's gonna be a long ride home."
"As if you have to ask."
Jongdae proceeds to the bathroom at the other end of the kitchen.
Junmyeon sees an opportunity. He goes up to his room and plucks something off from his shelf. He goes down, searches for Jongdae's bag and slips something inside.
Kyungsoo didn't talk only to Jongdae that night.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
The events of the night return to Jongdae on his way home.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
They were all in the living room, Junmyeon sandwiched between Baekhyun and Chanyeol, making him promise all sorts of things. Jongin positions himself in front of Junmyeon.
"We'll have online chats every week at least. We can use Skype! Facetime! We Chat!"
"Hey, hyung. Don't forget to send us an autographed album once you debuted. Scratch that. You have to give it to us personally."
Kyungsoo and Jongdae were on the floor, a little bit farther from the other four on the couch.
"Are you ever going to tell him?" Kyungsoo asks Jongdae.
"Yeah, I will."
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. "So you've said for the past decade. He's leaving tomorrow. You shouldn't have put it off."
"What should I do?" Jongdae buries his face in his hands.
"Just tell him. Better late than never, right?"
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Digital cameras were all the rage in high school. Is the teacher writing too fast on the whiteboard? Take a picture. Too lazy to write your class notes? Take a picture (that is, if the teacher will allow it). Find your friend in an embarrassing situation? Take a picture. One. Two. Three. Just a press of a button will enable anyone to capture things-things that sometimes are not remembered by the human mind.
Junmyeon had one. It took him a day to master handling a digital camera. It took him an hour before he showed off his new device to his friends. It took Jongdae a minute to want one himself. One. Two. Three. He wanted to capture the moments he deemed special whenever he was with his best friend.
On his 19th birthday, Jongdae received an instant camera from Junmyeon.
"Happy birthday, Jongdae! I thought I'd get you one, when I went and bought for myself. I hope you like it." Junmyeon hands Jongdae the gift.
Jongdae opens his present. "Wow. Thanks Junmyeon." He brings the camera out. The look on his face was priceless.
Junmyeon reaches for his own. "We have the same model." He snaps a shot of Jongdae wearing a huge smile on his face.
Jongdae snaps a shot back to Junmyeon. "One day, I'll give you a compilation of my photos. When we are at least a step nearer with our dreams, I'll give you an album."
"A signed music album?" Junmyeon jokes.
Jongdae pretends to hit Junmyeon on his head. "If you want my signature that much, I'll sign it for you."
Junmyeon grins. "I'll make one for you too."
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Jongdae went straight to his room once he reached home. He goes to his desk drawer and finds the album he promised Junmyeon. He opens it.
The first photo was of him and Junmyeon, taken the day he received his camera.
The next was a shot of Junmyeon taken during the wedding of Baekhyun's brother. He loved how Junmyeon looked with his formal wear.
The third was a photo of them during voice classes. It was taken at the time both of them were singing.
It went on and on. There was a group photo of the usual six, taken during a road trip, a photo of Junmyeon and Kyungsoo visiting him on his first job, a photo of the first time he treated his friends to dinner using his own earnings.
Jongdae takes his stack of polaroid photos and started sorting through them. He picks up the photos one by one and examines them carefully. Before long, he has filled up all the spaces in the album, except for the last page. He searches for the first shot he took from his camera-the one he took of Junmyeon during his birthday, right after his best friend took a photo of Jongdae.
Jongdae finds it and decided that it's time. One. He picks up a pen. Two. He searches for the right words. Three. He writes.
At the bottom of Junmyeon's picture is a line. One. Two. Three.
"I love you, Kim Junmyeon."
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Jongdae has been fidgety the whole morning. They say it's because of Junmyeon. His best friend is leaving after all. Kyungsoo knows better.
They reach the airport. Junmyeon has to go in soon.
"So this is it, then," he says.
Baekhyun was in tears. "Let me hug you-you.." He was bawling in Junmyeon's arms. The latter was in near tears as well.
Chanyeol comes forward. "You take care, buddy. Come visit us sometime, okay? We'll be sure to visit you in Korea too."
Jongin hugs Junmyeon before Chanyeol had a chance. "Hyung!" Then he cries. "Don't forget us, hyung, even when you're busy promoting your album or training or whatever."
Kyungsoo comforts Jongin.
"Take care of them, will you?" Junmyeon asks Kyungsoo.
"Of course I will. You've been making them cry for the past few days."
"Are you sure you haven't too?" Junmyeon asks.
"Shut up!" Kyungsoo sniffs. He hugs Junmyeon. "I don't think I need to say take care too. I trust you enough to do that." He looks behind and sees Jongdae waiting. "I won't take up any more of your time. Someone's waiting."
"Come on, Yeol. Let's take these two to the washroom. They need to straighten themselves up."
"Kyungsoo, aren't you sure you need to straighten yourself up too?"
Kyungsoo sighs. He mouths Jongdae a 'Goodluck!' and leaves the two alone.
Jongdae and Junmyeon were both already in tears.
Before Jongdae can start bawling, he walks toward Junmyeon.
"Thank you, Junmyeon, for the past few years. You were always there." Jongdae chokes. "And I'll always be there for you, no matter what."
"Have.. Have you checked your bag?"
"Bag? Don't attempt to be funny right now, you idiot. You're leaving." You're leaving us. Me. You're leaving me.
Junmyeon sighs and pulls Jongdae into a hug. "We'll see each other soon, all right?" He brushes Jongdae's tears.
Jongdae just nods, unable to speak. He gives Junmyeon the album he's been holding on ever since this morning.
Junmyeon gives him a questioning look.
"I told you I'll give you one when you're at least a step towards your dream, remember? Thought I'd forget?"
Junmyeon smiles. "Thank you, Jongdae." He starts to open it.
"No!!! Open it on the plane, or in Korea. Anywhere! Just when I'm not here.. there."
The four came back from the washroom. Chanyeol takes a look at the time. "You have to go, hyung."
Junmyeon didn't take his eyes off Jongdae. "Remember your promise, okay?"
Jongdae nods.
Junmyeon takes a step. He takes another, then another. One. Two. Three. And he's gone.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
On his way home, Kyungsoo receives a message from Junmyeon.
'I had the guts to pursue my dream. I had the guts to leave my friends and family. But I still couldn't tell him.'
Kyungsoo sighs.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Once Junmyeon leaves, Jongdae makes himself busy. He spends most of his time now with his singing. He hasn't talked much to Junmyeon too. He wonders if Junmyeon saw his message at the last photo.
It wasn't until Jongdae finally sends his recording, roughly a week since Junmyeon left, when he leaves him a message.
"I've sent mine."
":)"
Jongdae stays in the chat room in the hopes of seeing Junmyeon online.
He replays the very day Junmyeon left for Korea. Maybe one day, he can achieve his dreams too. He scoffs at how Junmyeon tried to lighten up the drama-wait.
Jongdae reaches for his bag, which was carelessly placed, and hidden on the chair of his table. He grabs it and dumps the contents on his bed. That's when he sees. One. Two. Three. An album. A photo album. He suddenly feels oh so stupid. He picks it up, and opens it.
The first photo was of him and Junmyeon, taken the day he received his camera. Below it was a message. 'I had that digital camera first because I wanted to remember the times we spent together.'
The next was a shot of Jongdae taken during the wedding of Baekhyun's brother. A message was also written below it. 'I love how you looked in your suit. I remember being jealous when that girl tried getting close to you.'
The third was a photo of Jongdae during voice classes. It was taken at the time he was singing. 'I have to stop and listen when you sing.'
There was a group photo of the six of them, taken during the road trip. Although different from Jongdae's copy, it was still similar. 'Probably one of the best days in my life.'
Another was a photo of their night out when Junmyeon first learned of his chance to train and debut under his dream entertainment company. 'I thought of how I can't leave you, especially. I didn't ask, but you told me to go anyway.'
It went on and on. Each picture had a message written below.
Jongdae reached the last picture. It was of him. He remembered this scene. This was the time Junmyeon snapped a photo of him out of the blue. He was wearing a huge smile on his face. 'When I saw your smile that time, I knew I was in so deep."
Jongdae's vision starts to blur. He was wiping his tears away when his computer binged.
One. Two. Three. Junmyeon is online.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Kyungsoo and Jongin were the first ones to arrive the night before Junmyeon left for Korea. Kyungsoo went straight to the kitchen to help out with the food preparations. He also had a question to ask Junmyeon.
"Are you oblivious, hyung? That clueless?"
Junmyeon gives him a questioning look.
Kyungsoo replies dryly. "The way he looks at you, hyu-,"
"You don't need to tell me. It's not like you don't know how I feel. Or how we both feel on that matter."
"Are you going to do something about it? It seems like he doesn't plan on doing anything soon."
Junmyeon smiles. He has an idea.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Epilogue: 5 Years Later.
"Hurry! Turn on the TV! They've got an interview or something today. What was the channel again?" Baekhyun shouts by the living room.
Jongin grabs the remote and switches channels. "I found it!"
Chanyeol and Kyungsoo join Baekhyun and Jongin on the sofa.
'1,2,3! Hello everyone! We are one! We are EXO!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Kris!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Tao!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Lay!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Xiumin!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Luhan!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Sehun!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Chen!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's leader, Suho!'
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
And so, five years later, they reunite. One. Two. Three. Just like that, they fall in love together again.
Word Count: 2,788 words
Rating: PG-13.
Pairing: SuChen
Summary: Jongdae always thought it was inevitable. He saw his best friend everyday. He spends time with him almost everyday. Either he gets sick of Junmyeon's face or he falls in love hard. He's glad it's the latter.
AN: My first ever fanfic, and my first entry in LJ. I don't even know if i did the pairing justice. I am wondering how to format this the way I want to format it.
Jongdae rings the doorbell. One. Two. Three. As if on count, Junmyeon opens the door.
"Hey," he smiles. "You're unfashionably late, which is very unusual."
Jongdae just shrugs as Junmyeon welcomes him in, not that he needed to. He has been to this place so many times, it'll be weird if he feels at all unfamiliar with Junmyeon's place.
Jongdae steps in. One. Two. Three. That's when he sees. Chanyeol, Baekhyun and Jongin are seated on the table. Junmyeon and Kyungsoo are fussing over the food cooking in the kitchen. Chanyeol was laughing over a joke Baekhyun cracked, displaying his enthusiasm by flailing his ridiculously long arms. Jongin followed Kyungsoo with his gaze, who went straight to help the host in the kitchen just as they have arrived.
It is only when Jongdae takes another three steps. One. Two. Three. Stop. That's when he sees. For the first time, he feels weird. He feels strange. Unfamiliar. It feels wrong. Very wrong.
"Come on, Jongdae. The food's ready." Baekhyun waves him over.
"Yeah. Just a sec." Jongdae takes in the set of bags and luggages of Junmyeon, all sprawled out in the living room.
That's when he realizes. His best friend is leaving tomorrow. He won't be back in a year, two or three years. He won't ever be back.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Jongdae met Junmyeon in kindergarden. Saw Junmyeon in family parties. Greeted Junmyeon in elementary school. High fived with him in high school. Gazed at him in college. One. Two. Three. Just like that, he falls in love.
Jongdae always thought it was inevitable. He saw his best friend everyday. He spends time with him almost everyday. Either he gets sick of Junmyeon's face or he falls in love hard. One. Two. Three. He's glad it's the latter.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
The sound of utensils clacking over plates and bowls can be heard as the group of six finishes dinner.
"You'd better not forget about us, hyung." Jongin suddenly says.
"Yeah. Or else we visit you over there and show you what you're missing." Kyungsoo gives Jongin a comforting pat on his shoulder.
Junmyeon chuckles. "Then I guess I have to forget about you guys once in a while so I'll have my much preferred company in the same continent as me."
"Nah, you won't even have the chance to forget about us," Baekhyun says. "Chanyeol and I will be a bother everyday you'll be glad you're not here."
"At this rate, missing us would be a luxury." Chanyeol added.
"Poor us, then." Kyungsoo gestures to himself, Jongin and Jongdae.
Baekhyun and Chanyeol show their disagreement. Junmyeon laughs.
Jongdae stands up, glass cup in hand. "To Junmyeon, who is finally able to live his dreams." In a world where I am not. He nearly adds. "Cheers."
The remaining five stand up, clink their glasses and agree. "Cheers."
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
It was a Friday night. Jongdae was lying down on his bed, a novel open in his hands. He was about to call it quits and sleep. He had a long day at school. More than that, he had been staying longer in school to practice singing. He'd welcome the rest.
Before even Jongdae manages to close his book, his phone rings. He looks at the screen and wonders why Junmyeon was calling him this late at night. He picks up his phone. "Junmyeon?"
"I made it. I'm in." Junmyeon sounded breathless. "I can't believe it, Jongdae! I'm in!"
Jongdae felt a small stab of jealousy, but most of all, he felt happy. It has been his and Junmyeon's dream to be a singer. Only Junmyeon had the guts to apply for an audition. He sent his recording in, hoping that one day, he will be able to sing for the people all over the world.
Jongdae forgets his tiredness, sits up and grins. "Let's make you believe, then. Wanna head out?"
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Junmyeon spent his last night in China with his friends. The dining room and kitchen has long been cleared. The group of six have transferred to the sofas in the living room. They drank, talked and pretty much dramatisized Junmyeon leaving them.
"You're leaving us forever," Jongin whines. "Don't leave us forever, hyung!" Jongin clings to Junmyeon.
Kyungsoo, who was in a conversation with Jongdae, gets up and goes to Jongin.
"I think it's time we head home, Jongin." He proceeds to pluck Jongin off of Junmyeon and heads for the door. "Jongdae. Don't forget what I told you." He gives him a look.
Jongdae nods. "See you tomorrow!"
Kyungsoo turns to Junmyeon. "Bye, hyung! We'll see you off at the airport tomorrow."
"See you, Kyungsoo, Jongin."
Baekhyun and Chanyeol have long since left, but assured Junmyeon that they will see him off tomorrow. Now, Jongdae is the only visitor left.
"I think I should go too. See you tomorrow, Junmyeon." Jongdae gets up and walks to the door.
"Wait. Jongdae." Junmyeon reached for his arm. "Promise me. Promise me you will try."
Jongdae notes Junmyeon's tight grip on his arm, his gaze different from the usual twinkle in his eye. Serious. Determined. Longing? One. Two. Three.
"Did you and Kyungsoo put me up to this?" Jongdae breaks the tension and Junmyeon releases his hold on him. "I'll try of course. If there's one thing I got from this whole thing, it's that if you got in, how could I not?" Jongdae smirks. "Kyungsoo told me to try just a while ago." Try what, Jongdae doesn't specify. Kyungsoo didn't only tell him to do an audition. "I'll go audition too."
Junmyeon laughs. "All right. I'll be expecting you then. Someday."
"Someday. You be careful. I might outshine you."
Junmyeon throws him a disbelieving look. "Try me."
Jongdae shrugs. "Mind if I use the bathroom? It's gonna be a long ride home."
"As if you have to ask."
Jongdae proceeds to the bathroom at the other end of the kitchen.
Junmyeon sees an opportunity. He goes up to his room and plucks something off from his shelf. He goes down, searches for Jongdae's bag and slips something inside.
Kyungsoo didn't talk only to Jongdae that night.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
The events of the night return to Jongdae on his way home.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
They were all in the living room, Junmyeon sandwiched between Baekhyun and Chanyeol, making him promise all sorts of things. Jongin positions himself in front of Junmyeon.
"We'll have online chats every week at least. We can use Skype! Facetime! We Chat!"
"Hey, hyung. Don't forget to send us an autographed album once you debuted. Scratch that. You have to give it to us personally."
Kyungsoo and Jongdae were on the floor, a little bit farther from the other four on the couch.
"Are you ever going to tell him?" Kyungsoo asks Jongdae.
"Yeah, I will."
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. "So you've said for the past decade. He's leaving tomorrow. You shouldn't have put it off."
"What should I do?" Jongdae buries his face in his hands.
"Just tell him. Better late than never, right?"
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Digital cameras were all the rage in high school. Is the teacher writing too fast on the whiteboard? Take a picture. Too lazy to write your class notes? Take a picture (that is, if the teacher will allow it). Find your friend in an embarrassing situation? Take a picture. One. Two. Three. Just a press of a button will enable anyone to capture things-things that sometimes are not remembered by the human mind.
Junmyeon had one. It took him a day to master handling a digital camera. It took him an hour before he showed off his new device to his friends. It took Jongdae a minute to want one himself. One. Two. Three. He wanted to capture the moments he deemed special whenever he was with his best friend.
On his 19th birthday, Jongdae received an instant camera from Junmyeon.
"Happy birthday, Jongdae! I thought I'd get you one, when I went and bought for myself. I hope you like it." Junmyeon hands Jongdae the gift.
Jongdae opens his present. "Wow. Thanks Junmyeon." He brings the camera out. The look on his face was priceless.
Junmyeon reaches for his own. "We have the same model." He snaps a shot of Jongdae wearing a huge smile on his face.
Jongdae snaps a shot back to Junmyeon. "One day, I'll give you a compilation of my photos. When we are at least a step nearer with our dreams, I'll give you an album."
"A signed music album?" Junmyeon jokes.
Jongdae pretends to hit Junmyeon on his head. "If you want my signature that much, I'll sign it for you."
Junmyeon grins. "I'll make one for you too."
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Jongdae went straight to his room once he reached home. He goes to his desk drawer and finds the album he promised Junmyeon. He opens it.
The first photo was of him and Junmyeon, taken the day he received his camera.
The next was a shot of Junmyeon taken during the wedding of Baekhyun's brother. He loved how Junmyeon looked with his formal wear.
The third was a photo of them during voice classes. It was taken at the time both of them were singing.
It went on and on. There was a group photo of the usual six, taken during a road trip, a photo of Junmyeon and Kyungsoo visiting him on his first job, a photo of the first time he treated his friends to dinner using his own earnings.
Jongdae takes his stack of polaroid photos and started sorting through them. He picks up the photos one by one and examines them carefully. Before long, he has filled up all the spaces in the album, except for the last page. He searches for the first shot he took from his camera-the one he took of Junmyeon during his birthday, right after his best friend took a photo of Jongdae.
Jongdae finds it and decided that it's time. One. He picks up a pen. Two. He searches for the right words. Three. He writes.
At the bottom of Junmyeon's picture is a line. One. Two. Three.
"I love you, Kim Junmyeon."
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Jongdae has been fidgety the whole morning. They say it's because of Junmyeon. His best friend is leaving after all. Kyungsoo knows better.
They reach the airport. Junmyeon has to go in soon.
"So this is it, then," he says.
Baekhyun was in tears. "Let me hug you-you.." He was bawling in Junmyeon's arms. The latter was in near tears as well.
Chanyeol comes forward. "You take care, buddy. Come visit us sometime, okay? We'll be sure to visit you in Korea too."
Jongin hugs Junmyeon before Chanyeol had a chance. "Hyung!" Then he cries. "Don't forget us, hyung, even when you're busy promoting your album or training or whatever."
Kyungsoo comforts Jongin.
"Take care of them, will you?" Junmyeon asks Kyungsoo.
"Of course I will. You've been making them cry for the past few days."
"Are you sure you haven't too?" Junmyeon asks.
"Shut up!" Kyungsoo sniffs. He hugs Junmyeon. "I don't think I need to say take care too. I trust you enough to do that." He looks behind and sees Jongdae waiting. "I won't take up any more of your time. Someone's waiting."
"Come on, Yeol. Let's take these two to the washroom. They need to straighten themselves up."
"Kyungsoo, aren't you sure you need to straighten yourself up too?"
Kyungsoo sighs. He mouths Jongdae a 'Goodluck!' and leaves the two alone.
Jongdae and Junmyeon were both already in tears.
Before Jongdae can start bawling, he walks toward Junmyeon.
"Thank you, Junmyeon, for the past few years. You were always there." Jongdae chokes. "And I'll always be there for you, no matter what."
"Have.. Have you checked your bag?"
"Bag? Don't attempt to be funny right now, you idiot. You're leaving." You're leaving us. Me. You're leaving me.
Junmyeon sighs and pulls Jongdae into a hug. "We'll see each other soon, all right?" He brushes Jongdae's tears.
Jongdae just nods, unable to speak. He gives Junmyeon the album he's been holding on ever since this morning.
Junmyeon gives him a questioning look.
"I told you I'll give you one when you're at least a step towards your dream, remember? Thought I'd forget?"
Junmyeon smiles. "Thank you, Jongdae." He starts to open it.
"No!!! Open it on the plane, or in Korea. Anywhere! Just when I'm not here.. there."
The four came back from the washroom. Chanyeol takes a look at the time. "You have to go, hyung."
Junmyeon didn't take his eyes off Jongdae. "Remember your promise, okay?"
Jongdae nods.
Junmyeon takes a step. He takes another, then another. One. Two. Three. And he's gone.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
On his way home, Kyungsoo receives a message from Junmyeon.
'I had the guts to pursue my dream. I had the guts to leave my friends and family. But I still couldn't tell him.'
Kyungsoo sighs.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Once Junmyeon leaves, Jongdae makes himself busy. He spends most of his time now with his singing. He hasn't talked much to Junmyeon too. He wonders if Junmyeon saw his message at the last photo.
It wasn't until Jongdae finally sends his recording, roughly a week since Junmyeon left, when he leaves him a message.
"I've sent mine."
":)"
Jongdae stays in the chat room in the hopes of seeing Junmyeon online.
He replays the very day Junmyeon left for Korea. Maybe one day, he can achieve his dreams too. He scoffs at how Junmyeon tried to lighten up the drama-wait.
Jongdae reaches for his bag, which was carelessly placed, and hidden on the chair of his table. He grabs it and dumps the contents on his bed. That's when he sees. One. Two. Three. An album. A photo album. He suddenly feels oh so stupid. He picks it up, and opens it.
The first photo was of him and Junmyeon, taken the day he received his camera. Below it was a message. 'I had that digital camera first because I wanted to remember the times we spent together.'
The next was a shot of Jongdae taken during the wedding of Baekhyun's brother. A message was also written below it. 'I love how you looked in your suit. I remember being jealous when that girl tried getting close to you.'
The third was a photo of Jongdae during voice classes. It was taken at the time he was singing. 'I have to stop and listen when you sing.'
There was a group photo of the six of them, taken during the road trip. Although different from Jongdae's copy, it was still similar. 'Probably one of the best days in my life.'
Another was a photo of their night out when Junmyeon first learned of his chance to train and debut under his dream entertainment company. 'I thought of how I can't leave you, especially. I didn't ask, but you told me to go anyway.'
It went on and on. Each picture had a message written below.
Jongdae reached the last picture. It was of him. He remembered this scene. This was the time Junmyeon snapped a photo of him out of the blue. He was wearing a huge smile on his face. 'When I saw your smile that time, I knew I was in so deep."
Jongdae's vision starts to blur. He was wiping his tears away when his computer binged.
One. Two. Three. Junmyeon is online.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Kyungsoo and Jongin were the first ones to arrive the night before Junmyeon left for Korea. Kyungsoo went straight to the kitchen to help out with the food preparations. He also had a question to ask Junmyeon.
"Are you oblivious, hyung? That clueless?"
Junmyeon gives him a questioning look.
Kyungsoo replies dryly. "The way he looks at you, hyu-,"
"You don't need to tell me. It's not like you don't know how I feel. Or how we both feel on that matter."
"Are you going to do something about it? It seems like he doesn't plan on doing anything soon."
Junmyeon smiles. He has an idea.
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
Epilogue: 5 Years Later.
"Hurry! Turn on the TV! They've got an interview or something today. What was the channel again?" Baekhyun shouts by the living room.
Jongin grabs the remote and switches channels. "I found it!"
Chanyeol and Kyungsoo join Baekhyun and Jongin on the sofa.
'1,2,3! Hello everyone! We are one! We are EXO!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Kris!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Tao!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Lay!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Xiumin!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Luhan!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Sehun!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's Chen!'
'Hello! I'm EXO's leader, Suho!'
^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^ ^.^
And so, five years later, they reunite. One. Two. Three. Just like that, they fall in love together again.