Open Mic [one-shot]
[[A/N: If you haven’t heard of the song, I suggest you watch the vid [www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5fBdpreJiU&feature=plcp] just to give you an idea of how intoxicated Siwon was to actually sing the song ;D. And if you’re a reader of my other fics and wondering what the heck am I doing writing this when I should be updating said fics, I’m sorry! I’ll be back home next week and back to my own laptop which has the files. ;_;]]
Saturday night at the Pearl Sapphire Blue club...
Siwon wasn’t mad. No, not really. It was just hot inside the air-conditioned club since it was Saturday night and was also open mic night. Meaning, there was double the amount of patrons inside since members were allowed to bring guests during this night.
No, he wasn’t annoyed at the fact that the table he was sitting on just happened to directly face the table of the fairly new member he just happened to fancy. Fancy. What a silly and archaic term and he hastily corrected himself. He didn’t fancy the tall, brown-haired, fair-skinned boy who was just recently inducted into the club.
He just liked his voice, that’s all. Oh you know, like as in if he was a woman, he was willing to pay any amount of money just to fall asleep every night listening to that voice. Because you see, he was really wealthy but he wasn’t really a woman and he had thought the boy in question, Kyuhyun, wasn’t into men.
Of course, Siwon knew now that Kyuhyun was definitely into guys since one or two of his friends acquainted him with that fact. And if that slightly possessive arm on his companion’s shoulder or the way those lips hover closely on the other’s ear whenever he said something was any indication, then it also meant he already had a boyfriend.
Now if only his friends also had the foresight to warn him that he was already taken, well but ok, how were they supposed to know that Siwon would be interested in that bit of information?
Siwon was just irritated, he wasn’t interested interested. It’s just that, since Kyuhyun was a new member and Siwon was one of the veteran members, they should have told him important facts about the new member right? Like his number (which he did get but he never dared to call yet), address, likes and dislikes, if he had a girlfriend or a boyfriend, did he sleep with the windows open or closed, does he like the rain, or how many cubes of sugar does he put in his coffee? You know, useful and basic stuff.
“You’re pathetic.”
Siwon snaps out of his thoughts. His majestic eyebrows drawn close together as he addresses the man beside him, “Excuse me?”
Heechul rolls his eyes. “It’s a good thing you’re a pro at masking emotions when you want to but I’m one of your best friends and I know you too well.”
“Sorry hyung, I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Fine. Play dumb,” Heechul smiled slyly as he subtly inclines his head towards Kyuhyun’s direction. At his side, his boyfriend Hangeng just lifts his eyebrows then winks at Siwon before taking a sip of his screwdriver and leans comfortably against the booth, effectively signalling that he was putting himself out of the conversation.
“It’s been what, almost two months since Kyuhyun was made a member and have been introduced to you, and you couldn’t just go up to him and put yourself out of your misery?”
Siwon frowns, debating whether to acknowledge the hint Heechul was making or just tell him to shut up because really, there wasn’t anything to what he was saying. He gulps down his vodka and vaguely wonders how many glasses he had already consumed, belatedly remembering that he seemed to be drinking since he came into the club and saw Kyuhyun with his friend. “Look hyung, Kyuhyun and I are g-good. We’re friendsh...friends okay? And if you’re implying what I think you’re implying, we’re cool, we’re fine. I’m a straightforward person-…”
“Who will directly tell the person I’m interested in that I’m interested,” Heechul finishes for him, he had already heard this a lot of times before. He then snorts, “Pfft! Straightforward my flawless ass! You’ve done nothing but sing him love songs every freaking open mic night, don’t bother denying it!” he snaps as he saw Siwon starting to protest and was rewarded with a tell-tale blush on the younger man’s cheeks. Then again, it might just be the alcohol.
Heechul continues his rant, “And the others are starting to ask me if you’re undergoing some kind of personal religious crisis or some similar shit since you’re not singing Your Grace is Enough anymore. If you ask me, no offense to your religion or anything, but it’s actually an improvement. This ain’t bible study session, it’s a bar disguised as a respectable social club for crying out loud.”
Siwon frowns again, he didn’t know that he was that remiss in not singing his favourite church song. He needed to amend that but anyway, there was that other thing Heechul was accusing him of. Was he really that obvious, erm what he meant was, was he that pathetic and cheesy, singing those love songs? He was really just in the mood for it, what was wrong with that? And it was open mic, anyone can sing anything he wanted to!
Before Siwon could point this out however, Heechul starts talking again, “If that’s your plan of wooing him, then you could have just made a mix cd or something and gave it to him. You’ve sang, what, a dozen songs for him by now?”
“Seventeen.”
“Huh?” Heechul and Siwon both look questioningly at Hangeng. Hangeng shrugs, “Seventeen songs, everyone gets to sing at most two songs for open mic. Kyuhyun’s been a member for about two months so that makes eight Saturdays, multiply that by two and add the bonus song Siwon got during his birthday week.”
Heechul stares at his boyfriend, “Wow, you actually notice things like that?”
Hangeng just rolls his eyes playfully, “You forget my dear that I’m one of the club’s officers so I know rules and details like that.”
“Oh okay then, seventeen songs,” then Heechul punches Siwon’s arm, “That’s enough for an album! Why don’t you just ask him out like a normal person already? Now I have to see you pining away just because you were too slow to make a move and now he’s here with someone.”
Siwon gulps down another shot of vodka before he scowls, “You’re asshuming shoo much, shyung,” he shakes his head and tries again, hoping not to slur his words that much. “I just feel like shinging those songs okay? I’m not dedicating those shongs for anyone in particular. And I’m not about to give Kyuhyun a mix cd of my singing, it’s an inshult to him. You’ve heard how great he is.” Siwon wondered if that last bit sounded as miserable as he felt at the moment.
Before Heechul can say anything, the crowd starts clapping as the background music stops and TRAX, the in-house band makes their way to the stage. The band would usually warm up the crowd by playing some songs then open mic formally begins after that. It was assumed that the club patrons would have by that time mellowed down and were intoxicated enough to start thinking that they were rock stars in the making and should, by all rights, be treating the others to their singing.
Everyone at Siwon’s table maintained some respectable minutes of silence listening to the band. They were listening to the band but their eyes were watching someone else. Hangeng was amusedly glancing at Heechul who was looking in irritation at Siwon who was surreptitiously watching Kyuhyun who was watching the band while glancing now and then at his companion and murmuring something into his ear. Siwon was getting ticked off and just a little bit wretched every minute.
Just then, the club’s president, Leeteuk, came up to their table. “Hey guys, any volunteers to start the open mic session?”
Heechul suddenly smiles and hastily says, “Why don’t you let Kyuhyun sing first?”
Leeteuk glances at said boy then shakes his head, “Not him, almost everyone else will then be too shy to sing after him.”
“How about his friend? Or is that his boyfriend?” Heechul innocently asks even as he gives a kick to Siwon under the table. Siwon ignores him.
“Sungmin?” Leeteuk says thoughtfully, “It might be a good idea. Kyuhyun told me he’s putting Sungmin’s name up for membership at the next general meeting. It’s a good way to make his face familiar to the other club members and it’ll give him a chance to experience one of our regular activities.”
Heechul tried not to snort. Really, from the way Leeteuk was talking, it would seem like open mic night was one of the club’s most important events instead of just one of its many entertainments. Anyway, he had other fish to fry.
“Oh, Sungmin’s his name. So that’s the name of Kyuhyun’s boyfriend,” Heechul emphasizes the last word and Hangeng now gives a warning glance, telling him that he was now slipping into obviousness.
“Oh, who wanted to know?” Leeteuk smiles, a dimple showing and there was a twinkle to his eye. Siwon hastily sips his drink. Wow, he wonders how his glass magically refills itself.
Heechul waves a hand airily, “No one particularly, we just wondered who he was. He’s quite pretty, soft features like a girl, isn’t he?” he then smirks at Siwon.
Siwon hastily stands up or rather tries to stand up and accidentally bumps their table quite noisily. A few people from the tables close to them looked up, including Kyuhyun. Siwon meets his eyes for a moment before he hurriedly looks away. He clears his throat as he says, “I’ll start the open mic.”
*************
Kyuhyun was listening contentedly at TRAX’s newest song, ‘Blind’, but he was also covertly stealing glances at the tall male who was making his way to the side of the stage. As the song finished and he clapped along with everyone else, he saw Siwon whisper something to Jungmo, the guitarist. He could just make out the expression of surprise on the older man’s face when his attention was brought back by his friend.
“Is that him?”
“Mmm, who?”
Sungmin gives an exasperated sigh, “Really Kyu, don’t be obtuse. Who else could I be talking about but your crush?”
Kyuhyun scowls, “Siwon’s not my crush.”
Sungmin suddenly gives him a smug smile and points at him, “Aha! Gotcha! How did you know I was talking about Siwon if he isn’t your crush?”
Kyuhyun scowled deeper and he whispered fiercely, “Lower down your voice! I’m not planning to let everyone in this room speculate about my crush or non-crush on one of my co-members.”
Sungmin just gave a satisfied smile as he demurely sips his Merlot. Then he heard someone from the other table say, “I wonder if Siwon’s going to sing another Taylor Swift or Bruno Mars song again. What is up with him anyway? He turned from religious to mushy. Why can’t he sing a Super Junior song like everyone else?”
“But I like those songs hyung,” Eunhyuk protested but he quickly adds, “Of course, I love Super Junior too but you’re right though. I didn’t know Siwon was that sentimental?”
“Maybe he’s lovesick,” Donghae nods to himself as the others stare at him in disbelief, “He sings mostly love songs recently, maybe he’s in love. And he also sings a lot of Sung Si Kyung,” Donghae then suddenly glances and leans over their table to address Kyuhyun who was seated on the table beside theirs, “Hey Kyu, isn’t Sung Si Kyung your favourite singer?”
Kyuhyun nodded faintly. He definitely didn’t want the attention on him when Siwon was about to sing. He had spent the last few weeks seething in unacknowledged and unexplained resentment whenever Siwon sang a romantic song, wondering who the guy was thinking of or dedicating the song to. Of course it was none of his business but he was definitely curious. And maaaaaybe, jealous as well. Of course, Kyu wouldn’t admit that to himself.
“Hi, I’m Kangin. You’re Sungmin right?” Kangin smiles and shakes hands with Kyuhyun’s companion.
“Wow! You know my name,” Sungmin winks and says with high humour to Kyuhyun, “I like it here, I’m already popular on my first day.”
Kangin just chuckles while Eunhyuk explains lightly, “If Kyu hasn’t told you yet, you’ll find out that gossip is the unofficial hobby of the club members here.”
“So what else was said about me?” Sungmin jokingly asked but he was also curious.
Eunhyuk continues, “That Kyu’s nominating you for membership, that you’re quite a pretty guy,” Sungmin mockingly bows at that, “And that you’re his boyfriend of course.”
Kyuhyun almost spits out his drink, “What the-…” he sputters out as Sungmin covers his giggles with a hand.
Eunhyuk and Kangin give a surprised expression while Donghae asks, “You’re not? Oh, but the members thought so.”
Kyuhyun tries to ask calmly as Sungmin’s shoulders shake uncontrollably with silent laughter, “Who said he was my boyfriend? And members? You mean everyone who’s here think…?”
Donghae now has a worried frown on his face, “I don’t know who started it. Ryeowook saw you enter the club and probably told Yesung you had someone with you, then Yesung probably told someone else, then someone, then it was Henry who told us you were his boyfriend,” Donghae gauged his reaction, “I’m sorry, things might have been added here and there from the time you walked in and by the time you sat down…are you angry?”
Kyuhyun smiles tightly, “No. So everyone in this room think that…”
Suddenly, applause and cat calls sounded all around. The open mic session had begun and loud whistles were heard as Siwon takes the mic. The sounds of Jungmo’s guitar playing break the air followed by the sound of synthesizers and drums.
Kangin could be heard through the music commenting that Siwon looked a bit pissed off and everyone had to agree. But this only contributed to the quite different aura he was projecting on stage with the guitars and synthesizers at full blast. He had eyeliner on and was dressed in black jeans and a black vest. Just a vest although no one commented on this since with Siwon, it was quite usual that he lost his shirt sometime before the night was over so what difference did it make that he parted company with it much earlier than expected? At least he still got his vest on.
Then he starts to sing:
Breakin' my back just to know your name
Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game.
Kyuhyun grips Sungmin’s arm as someone from another table squeals out what he wanted to say, “Oh my God, he’s so hot!”
I’m breakin' my back just to know your name.
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink, you might miss.
“Er, what’s happening to Siwon? From staid love songs to this?” Eunhyuk wonders loudly as everyone else nods, never taking their eyes off the stage. “He likes going to extremes, doesn’t he?”
'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this.
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight.
“Is he always this yummy…and angry?” Sungmin asks in a whisper but Kyuhyun shushes him, trying to concentrate. Siwon grips the side of his head dramatically as he closes his eyes then he opens them suddenly in a glare.
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight.
Kyuhyun wonders if it was a trick of the light or was that glare directed towards his vicinity.
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential.
“Wow, he really does seem angry,” Donghae says, “Is he looking at us?”
Ready let's roll onto something new.
Takin' it's toll then I'm leaving without you.
Siwon scowls as he moves to the other side of the stage, then walks to the other side, then goes back to the middle of the stage still looking like a thundercloud. Kyuhyun thought no one looked sexier than that.
'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this.
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight.
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight.
“Umm, Kyu, he seems to be looking at us again,” Sungmin whispers again. Kangin glances at them then at Siwon then back at them, both his eyebrows raised.
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around.
Eunhyuk jerks himself upright from his seat and glances at Kyuhyun, “Was he actually pointing to you?” By this time, some of the other club members and customers were also looking their way.
Pace yourself from me.
I say maybe, baby, please.
Siwon now makes a gesture as if pushing someone away then he closes the same hand in a fist and strikes his chest.
But I just don't know now.
When all I want to do is try.
“Never mind,” Eunhyuk says, “I think he’s just drunk.”
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential.
A rushing, rushing around
“Or not,” Eunhyuk continues as Siwon was now standing very straight and was simply delivering the song while staring at them, or more precisely at Kyuhyun’s table. From the corner of his eye, Kyuhyun could see Hangeng seemingly hitting his head repeatedly on the table while Heechul laughed and clapped openly.
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential.
A rushing, rushing AROOOOUND
Siwon almost screams the last word and throws back his head in time with the last strum of the guitar.
It was perfect and thunderous applause and cheers greeted the ending, some even stood up. And Siwon just stood there, beads of sweat on his face and his exposed arms and chest and he was breathing heavily.
Kyuhyun gulped, “Ming, we need to go.”
“No, I need to go,” Sungmin corrects him as he pushes Kyuhyun back to his seat. “You can explain everything to him but I rather not face him before you do. He looked about to murder us. Literally, me but I think he has something else in mind for you.” He winks and grins suggestively as Kyuhyun whimpers and clings to his arm, “Ugh, Kyu. Let go! He might get the wrong idea again.”
Donghae tries to get their attention as he sees Siwon striding to their table, “Umm, Kyu, I think Siwon wants you,” Kangin and Eunhyuk gasp at the blunt statement and Donghae hastily explains, “I mean, he wants to talk to you!”
Everyone knew Donghae could blurt out the most truthful but awkward things ever but they didn’t think this was the time to do it since they could see Siwon still scowling while Kyuhyun was now pale from nervousness.
Siwon reaches their table but before anyone could say anything, Sungmin pulls Kyuhyun up and pushes him forward, “I’m not his boyfriend! Here, have him!”
Kyuhyun was outraged at his friend’s behavior and gives him a death glare before he smiles nervously at Siwon who was now grinning. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asks and Kyuhyun just nods.
Eunhyuk, Donghae, Sungmin and Kangin watch with varying degrees of amusement as the two make their way out of the club hand in hand. Then Kangin turns to Sungmin, “So you don’t have a boyfriend?”
Sungmin shakes his head as he returns the other boy’s smile, “No. Why?”
“Nothing,” Kangin grins as he stands up, preparing to go on stage to sing next, “Just wanted to make sure it’s safe to dedicate the song I’m singing to you.”
The end.
A/N2: Okay, the last few bits almost bordered on crack, I’m sorry! This is my roommate’s fault. She was singing this song last night and I remembered the lyrics and boom, a quick one-shot! ;D