Love is...
A/N: Darn this friggin couple and my obsession for them. This is almost 4000 words. It was meant to end at 1000 words. /sigh/ I've been writing quite a bit of angst so to heck with it, I cranked out this uber-fluffy fic. Comments are appreciated~
1. being stupid together.
“Hey, Hyoyeon.”
She glanced sideways at the boy with the maddening grin. “Don’t tell me you wanna do something dumb.”
“Let’s roll down this hill.” he said, eyes glittering with pure excitement as he jumped up suddenly.
Hyoyeon remained still, lying on the soft green grass, hands folded on her stomach, squinting up at the sun. Hyukjae moved and blocked the sun and she let out a soft huff. “You’re crazy.”
“Now, now, let’s remember that you chose to be friends with me, Miss Hyoyeon.” Hyukjae bent down and poked her in the stomach, emitting a shriek from her.
“Don’t you dare do that to me ever again.”
“Come on, it’ll be fun!” he pleaded, tugging impatiently on her arm.
“Give me three good reasons why, then.”
Hyukjae stuck up his index finger. “It’ll be fun.”
Hyoyeon rolled her eyes and his middle finger went up, making it two. “You need to loosen up a bit.”
She rolled her eyes again as his ring finger rose. “Because you’re my best friend and you can’t resist my puppy-dog face.”
Hyukjae stuck his lower lip out and got close to her face. “Right?”
“Pfft,” Hyoyeon pretended to flick his forehead. “Yeah, right.”
“So?”
“I’m gonna regret this so much--”
“You’re the best!” Hyukjae cheered.
“I’m so stupid,” she grumbled.
“I see I’ve rubbed off on you.” he smirked.
“You are absolutely right about that,” Hyoyeon watched Hyukjae lay down next to her. “I think I should start hanging out with girls more often.”
“Harsh,” Hyukjae poked her stomach again.
“Quit it!”
He grinned. “On the count of three?”
Hyoyeon nodded, bracing herself for the disaster about to unfold. She was prepared to die any minute. Although, she supposed, it wouldn’t be that horrible, dying rolling down a hill on a beautiful sunny day with her idiotic guy of a friend.
“One, two, THREE!”
Down the slope they went, grass stains finding their way on to their clothes; down the slope their worries and troubles for the moment went. With him, she felt young and rejuvenated again.
Young and free.
2. fighting with each other.
“Why can’t I come?” Hyoyeon frowned for the ninth time, pressing the phone more tightly against her ear.
“It’s a guy’s night out!” he sighed heavily on the other line. “Don’t you ever have times when you go out with girls and I’m not allowed to tag along?”
“But Doojoon, Junsu, and Kikwang are my friends, too! You don’t think I’d like to see them again?”
Hyukjae sighed again, but this time, it sounded angry, rather than aggravated like before. “God, Hyoyeon, if you love them that much, why don’t you date them all?”
“Who the hell ever said anything about loving them?” Hyoyeon snapped, pacing about the room furiously.
“No one.”
“You did, you jerk!”
“Hyoyeon, it’s nothing, you don’t even need to get so pissed off. I was joking.”
“Me, pissed off?” she laughed bitterly. “You’re the one who sounded pissed off when you suggested I should date three guys who are like my brothers.”
“Is every guy friend of yours a brother?” Hyukjae retorted hotly. “Is that all they are?”
“What do you mean, is that all they are?” Hyoyeon’s voice began raising a few decibels. “What’s wrong with considering them my brothers?”
“What do you consider me?”
“H-Huh?” Hyoyeon blinked, unintentionally quieting her voice, making it sound gentler.
“Never mind. Forget it.”
“Hyuk--”
The line went dead.
3. saying overly cheesy things.
“You cheated!” Junsu whined.
“I’m just better than you, buddy.” Hyukjae gave his childhood friend a smug smile.
“Hey, I thought you said Hyoyeon was coming.” Doojoon was lacing his sneakers back up.
Kikwang rejoined the group after returning their bowling shoes. “Yeah, what happened?”
“She...I don’t know.” Hyukjae finished lamely, eyes cast downwards.
It was Junsu’s turn to do the teasing. “Still crushing on her?”
Hyukjae’s eyebrows furrowed. “What?”
“It’s obvious, even from my point of view.” Kikwang snickered.
Junsu bobbed his head up and down in total agreement and patted Hyukjae on the shoulder. “I told you it was obvious. I saw it ten years ago, dude.”
“She dumped me for you,” Doojoon added wryly.
“She dumped--what?” Hyukjae asked in disbelief, head swiveling back and forth with all his friends.
“Well, I don’t think dumped is the right word to use here,” Doojoon shrugged, “But she couldn’t stop talking about you when we went out a while back.”
“Oh,” Hyukjae muttered out.
“Go apologize to her for whatever dumb thing you did,” Junsu winked, “Before she gives you the silent treatment for three days and you come crawling to me, complaining.”
Hyukjae chewed on his lower lip, taking one step to the door.
“Yeah, Junsu’s right. It isn’t every day you meet a girl like Hyoyeon.” Kikwang gave his friend a good push to the door.
“You don’t wanna lose her, right?” Doojoon smiled.
“No,” Hyukjae’s hand gripped the door handle. “No, I don’t.”
“That’s my boy.”
The last thing he saw was Junsu’s encouraging thumbs-up.
He found his way to her dorm; he had memorized the path so long ago. It was like learning how to ride a bike--you never could just forget how to do it, or in his case, how to get there. His fist rapped on the door without him realizing he did so, and soon, a girl wearing Hello Kitty pajamas appeared in front of him, stifling a yawn.
He thought she looked absolutely adorable.
“You,” Hyoyeon said indifferently.
“Your hair’s a mess.” Hyukjae gave her a lopsided grin.
“Thanks,” she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Here,” he ran his fingers through her blonde locks with as much care as possible.
He didn’t notice the faint blush growing on her cheeks.
“Look, Hyoyeon, I’m sorry. I hate when you’re mad at me. I want you to always be smiling around me, laughing at me, if you want. Honestly, I don’t know what the heck I even did wrong this time. But I swear, I’ll try to be a better friend because I really don’t want to lose you--”
She laughed. “You’re rambling.”
“Am I forgiven?” Hyukjae looked at her patiently, which was a major first for him.
“You’re so cheesy sometimes.” she tsk’ed and shook her head.
“Am I or not?” Hyukjae whined.
“What do you think, stupid?” she laughed once more, letting herself be buried in him.
“Do hugs mean forgiveness?”
She flicked him in the back of his head.
“OW!”
And things were alright again.
4. being there, always.
“Hyukjae!”
Hyoyeon blew stray strands of hair out of her face and crept to Hyukjae’s bedside. He was out cold and sleeping very deeply, it seemed. His mouth was open a little and his arm was hanging off the side of the bed, as well as one of his legs. Hyoyeon had to smile. Just a bit.
It was true; boys were pretty cute when they were asleep.
Certain boys were even cuter than the average boys.
Namely, Hyukjae.
“Yah,” she tried again, keeping her voice hushed.
He moaned and rolled over to the other side of the mattress. “Hyung, let me sleep a little more...”
Hyoyeon cracked a grin again, but he left her no choice. She reached out and slapped his chest.
Hard.
“OW!” he jolted awake and squirmed, eyes darting around crazily. “Who--?”
Hyoyeon pounced on him and silenced him. “Shut up!”
“Hyo?” his muffled voice asked, confused.
“Can I sleep here tonight?” she whispered.
“Did you have those dreams again?” Hyukjae’s face darkened as she climbed into bed next to him.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it though. I’m sure they’ll go away soon.” her head hit the pillow.
“This is serious, Hyoyeon. You should see a doctor or something about this.” he propped himself up on his and looked down at her with a frown.
“But I never have those dreams when I’m here,” she mumbled under her breath.
“What was that?” Hyukjae smirked.
“Shut it.”
He sighed and turned away from her, shutting his eyes. “’Night.”
“Goodnight.”
“Sweet dreams.”
The sound of her breathing was the only noise in the room. Hyukjae was restless; he didn’t know why, but he was. He couldn’t fall back asleep. Slowly, he turned to her, only to find her back to him. He watched her for a minute, until he noticed she was shivering. Unconsciously, his arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her closer to his chest protectively.
“You okay?” Hyukjae asked cautiously.
“Thanks,” Hyoyeon curled herself into a ball and turned into him; his arms tightened around her.
They were so close, she noticed. She could see his chest rise and fall steadily. Meanwhile, he could see the wrinkles forming on her forehead from...worry? Fear?
“Are you...comfortable?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she refused to stare into his eyes.
“Sorry, I’m just saying...random stuff. Sleep now.”
They fell asleep in seconds.
“TEUKIE-HYUNG, THERE’S A GIRL IN HYUKJAE’S BED!” Donghae screeched the very next morning.
“Tell me she has her clothes on.” Leeteuk hands went to his eyes. “TELL ME SHE HAS HER CLOTHES--”
“...It’s Hyoyeon.” Donghae lowered the volume of his voice and tilted his head in slight surprise.
“Then let’s let them sleep for now.” the leader advised, making a sigh of relief.
You’re close, Hyukjae-ah. You’re almost there. Leeteuk smiled, before stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind him.
5. wiping her tears away.
The Golden Disk Awards.
The Daesang.
It would be Super Junior’s for sure, Hyoyeon nodded, positive. She held her breath, ready to jump up and be the first to high-five Lee Hyukjae.
“So Nyuh Shi Dae!”
Nine girls rose out of their chairs in unison, shocked. Ten boys clapped and cheered and hooted and hollered for them, being the supportive brothers, friends, and boyfriends they were.
“Go up there!” she heard Hyukjae.
It was all a blur. Hyoyeon could only remember Taeyeon shouting out, “SONEs, I love you!”
Then it was a bigger blur. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the tears amongst her fellow members or her own tears blocking her vision. Either way, it was difficult to tell what was going on. She then had a vague memory of heading backstage and hugging all the girls--no, not the girls. A boy. A boy had taken her into his strong arms.
“Are you crying?” Hyukjae’s laugh made it to her ears.
“No,” she denied stubbornly.
He caught the rolling tears with his thumb and smiled. “It’s okay to cry sometimes, you know. And it’s okay to let someone wipe them away for you.”
“Since when were you so philosophical?” Hyoyeon sniffled, pushing his hand away.
But it came back.
6. wiping his tears away.
The Seoul Music Awards.
The Daesang.
Hyukjae was zoning out, gazing at a certain blonde out of the corner of his eye. He couldn’t help but notice more and more every day how beautiful she was--
“Super Junior!”
And like a dam bursting, the tears flooded. They came, naturally.
“This seems like déjà vu.” Hyoyeon said to him backstage, observing his tear-streaked face with honest curiosity.
“I didn’t want you to see me crying,” he laughed, running the back of his sleeve across his face.
She pulled his arm away and brought both of her hands to his face. She wiped the falling tears and he smiled appreciatively.
“Sometimes it’s okay to let someone else wipe your tears away for you.” she quoted him with a smile of her own.
“Okay, okay, I’m good now.” he chuckled, inching away from her.
“No congratulatory hug?” Hyoyeon’s mouth fell open in mock surprise.
He came back, arms open for a hug.
She went for it.
7. often concealed.
“Unnie?”
Hyoyeon frowned in the darkness. “Seohyun? You’re not asleep yet?”
Seohyun shook her head and Hyoyeon could just barely make out her figure. “I have something to ask you.”
“Sure, anything.”
“What’s your ideal type?” the maknae asked artlessly, sitting up in her bed.
Hyoyeon followed suit. “Hm, my ideal type?”
“Yes, unnie, if that’s okay?”
“It’d be nice if we were already close friends; you know I hate awkwardness. I really like funny people a lot, too. If he was a phenomenal dancer, it’d be even better. And I’ve always admired people with nice jawlines. But above all, they need to know me really well. I wouldn’t like if the two of us couldn’t connect on a deep level.” Hyoyeon answered thoughtfully.
She could see Seohyun smile, almost knowingly. “I see.”
“Seohyun...?”
“Nothing, I was just thinking.” she hummed.
“About?” Hyoyeon prodded.
“Didn’t you just describe Eunhyuk-oppa?”
Hyoyeon blinked. “Hyukj--Eunhyuk?”
Seohyun nodded innocently. “Didn’t you?”
“I...I guess I did?”
“Well, that’s all, unnie. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Seohyun.”
Hyoyeon continued to bore holes into Seohyun’s backside with her eyes, but found it no use. The maknae was clearly asleep, or ignoring her. Probably the second one, Hyoyeon figured.
She pulled the covers over herself, resisting the major urge to shiver. If only she was with--
No. Why was she thinking about him?
“Hyukjae, huh?” she spoke softly to herself, closing her eyes.
-----
“Psst, Hyukjae!”
The owner of the name trooped to the door and found Kyuhyun’s inquisitive face. “What, Kyuhyun?”
“You got a minute?” Kyuhyun entered without permission and plopped on to the bed.
“Sure, sure,” Hyukjae shrugged his shoulders. “Whatcha need?”
“Well--”
“You don’t have your laptop with you!” Hyukjae noticed, surprised.
“My baby needs to rest sometimes, y’know.” Kyuhyun stretched out his legs and made himself comfortable.
“Right, of course, Kyuhyun.”
“So anyways, back to why I came in the first place,” the maknae put on a devious expression. “I wanted to know something.”
“Shoot.”
“Your ideal type.”
Hyukjae looked taken aback. “My ideal type?”
Kyuhyun nodded furtively.
“First of all, I really like dancers. But I think that was pretty obvious. I don’t actually prefer the girly, sweet, feminine types. I’d rather have a girl who’s kind of tough, who can keep me on my toes and make sure I don’t do too many stupid things. If she’s funny, that’s an added bonus.” Hyukjae responded after a minute. “Oh, and she needs to be someone close to me already.”
“Very interesting,” Kyuhyun rubbed his chin.
“What? What is?” Hyukjae urged.
“Did you have anyone in mind while describing your ideal girl?”
“N-No, not really...”
Kyuhyun hopped off the bed and headed to the door, his back to Hyukjae. “It sounds like you just told me all about Hyoyeon.”
“Hyoyeon?” Hyukjae repeated dumbly.
“Sleep well, hyung.”
The door closed.
“Hyoyeon,” Hyukjae mumbled under his breath.
8. thoroughly confusing.
“Unnie, aren’t you sure you don’t want to go? I can stay home, I really can.” Yoona turned away from the door for the umpteenth time.
“Yoona, just go already.” Hyoyeon pushed her face into a pillow.
“Okay...will you be alright home alone?”
“I’ve been home alone before, I’ll be fine.”
“If you say so,” Yoona held back her sigh, leaving Hyoyeon alone in the dorm.
Once at the venue, Yoona found her seat, which was conveniently situated behind Super Junior.
At one point, Siwon twisted around in his chair to make a face at her. Yoona pouted, not sure why he was making fun of her when she hadn’t said anything to him.
“Yoona,” Siwon hissed later on.
“What?” she murmured.
“Eunhyuk wanted to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
“Why isn’t Hyoyeon here?”
Yoona smiled gloomily. “She didn’t tell me why. She only told me to come and represent SNSD in her place.”
“Somehow, this has to be about Eunhyuk.” Siwon whispered.
“You think so?” Yoona’s eyebrows rose.
“I know so.”
When Yoona returned home, she discovered Hyoyeon asleep on the couch, a tub of ice cream cradled in her arms, and some romantic drama blaring on the TV.
“So she’s in love, finally.” Yoona clicked the television off and took the ice cream.
“Yoona?” Hyoyeon slowly brought herself up. “You’re home already?”
“It’s been a few hours, Hyo-unnie.” Yoona shoveled some half-melted ice cream into her mouth.
“Oh.”
“Now, tell me--when did you fall in love?”
9. difficult to come to terms with, but one hundred percent worth it.
“I’m so sorry--”
“No, it’s fine, I’m sorry--”
“Hyukjae?”
“Hyoyeon?”
The two laughed.
“What are you doing here?” Hyukjae asked first.
“I was just leaving; I had to talk to a choreographer really quick.” Hyoyeon replied. “What about you?”
“Rehearsal, since I’m leaving for China soon.”
“Oh...right.”
“You sound disappointed.” he teased, poking her forehead. “Are you gonna miss me?”
“Yeah.”
Hyukjae pulled his finger away from her head, not expecting to hear that. “You...you will?”
Hyoyeon’s eyes were directed on the floor; she nodded hesitantly. “I will.”
“I thought you were mad at me again. You’ve been avoiding me.” Hyukjae moved her hair aside, tucking it behind her ear.
“No, it’s just--” she stopped abruptly, jerking her head up to meet his worried eyes.
“Just what?”
“I can’t see you as a friend anymore.” Hyoyeon looked at his shoulder, unable to look at him.
“...What do you mean by that?”
“I like you, okay?” she kept her eyes focused on the spot above his shoulder.
Hyukjae’s eyes widened. “Oh...”
“Well, it’s more than that--way more than that.” Hyoyeon sucked in some air and pushed past him. “I’m sorry for ruining everything.”
Hyukjae whirled her around, his hand gripping her arm firmly. “Hyoyeon, what do you think you ruined exactly?”
“I don’t know, our friendship!” she burst, dropping her head to the ground.
“You didn’t wreck our friendship at all. Now hear me out.”
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Hyoyeon mentally slapped herself.
How could she blurt her thoughts out so recklessly? How could she just tell him she loved him? Indirectly, of course, but still. How could she--
“Look at me.” he tilted her chin up.
“I don’t want to hear what you’re about to say.” Hyoyeon said.
Translation: She didn’t want to be hurt.
“Really?” Hyukjae’s eyes were amused. “You don’t want to hear me say, ‘Hyoyeon, I love you, too.’?”
“No, no, you don’t.”
“What do you mean, I don’t?”
“You can’t,” Hyoyeon trailed off. “You don’t.”
“Hyoyeon--”
“You don’t need to sugarcoat the whole thing or make it hard for me, just reject me and get it over with.”
“Kim Hyoyeon.”
She stared at him, pained.
“I said I love you.” he smiled. “I don’t throw those words around for fun. I mean it when I say I love you, Hyoyeon. What do I have to do to make you believe me?”
“You...you really do?” her eyes turned soft.
“You’re making this harder for me now, Hyoyeon.” Hyukjae laughed.
“You really meant that?” Hyoyeon continued, still not accepting the truth.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more positive of anything in my whole life.”
“Absolutely sure?”
“Hyoyeon, why is it hard to believe?” Hyukjae sighed.
“You always treated me like a little sister or a friend. I never would have guessed that...” Hyoyeon blushed, something that was rare for her.
“I love you?” he grinned.
“Yeah, that,” Hyoyeon exhaled deeply. “Are you gonna say that a lot?”
“Most likely.”
Hyoyeon groaned.
“Hey!” he pinched her cheek. “No whining.”
“Don’t pinch me!” she hit him.
“I’m only going to say it a lot because I don’t want you to ever forget it.”
“God, you are cheesy...” Hyoyeon covered her mouth to hide the laughter.
“Such a moment-spoiler,” Hyukjae scolded, but enveloped her in a warm embrace.
Hyoyeon laughed and then suddenly stopped short.
“What’s wrong?” he pulled away and inspected her face.
She pointed. “Did you know that there’re eight boys standing --”
Hyukjae crashed his lips against hers in a spur-of-the-moment thing.
“They’re kissing!” Ryeowook shrieked.
“Why here?” Yesung wrinkled his nose.
“So immature, you two...” Sungmin said.
“Hurry, capture the moment!” Siwon proclaimed.
“I’m trying, hyung!” Donghae yelped.
“Gimme the phone!” Shindong barked.
Kyuhyun whistled, “They sure move fast.”
“Kyuhyun-ah!” Leeteuk reprimanded.
“Why did you do that?” Hyoyeon asked breathlessly.
“Because I don’t care about them,” Hyukjae jerked a thumb behind him.
“I feel hurt!” Donghae cried out.
“Get to practice, slacker.” Hyoyeon pushed his shoulder.
“Anything for you,” he grinned cheesily.
She continued to point at Super Junior. “Not for me, for them!”
“Fine,” he kissed her cheek.
“Ew, not again!”
“I wish I had a girlfriend.” Yesung sighed heavily.
-----
“What happened?” Taeyeon demanded the second Hyoyeon walked through the door with a little more spring in her step than usual.
“Wow, I’m hungry.” Hyoyeon noted, putting a hand to her stomach.
“Hyoyeon!” Taeyeon raced to the kitchen and blocked the refrigerator. “What happened?”
“Huh?”
“What happened?” Taeyeon reiterated.
“Something...good.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, something really good.”
“I’m going to assume you and Eunhyuk finally confessed to each other and then you kissed or something romantic like that.”
“Spot on as always.”
“They don’t call me the leader for nothing.”
10. everlastingly wonderful.
“Are you sure about this?” Donghae nudged his best friend.
“Other than the time I told Hyoyeon I loved her, yes, I’m more sure about this than anything else right now.”
“More than the fact your name is Lee Hyukjae?”
“Right now, yes.”
“Then you’re ready!” Donghae beamed, shaking the man beside him excitedly.
“Hyukjae?” Hyoyeon’s voice came from down the hallway.
“Get out of here!” Hyukjae exclaimed, hurrying Donghae out.
“Okay, okay! And hey, don’t worry, I brought everyone to watch!”
“You what?!”
“We’ll be outside Hyoyeon’s window. Good luck!” Donghae smiled idiotically before disappearing behind the door.
Hyukjae grabbed the tray of delicious-looking breakfast foods and placed a small, wrapped square box in the corner that he removed from his pocket. He walked briskly, but was careful not to spill anything.
“Morning~” Hyukjae sang, waltzing into the bedroom.
Hyoyeon laughed. “You made me breakfast?”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” he placed the tray on her lap and knelt at her bedside.
“What’s this?” she picked up the box, ignoring the food.
“Happy Birthday,” he grinned.
“Hyukjae--”
“Here, let me open it for you.” he took it from her hands and peeled the paper here and tore it there.
He was left with a black velvet box in his hands.
“What...” she gaped, speechless, unable to finish her sentence.
“Hyoyeon,” he opened the box, making sure it was facing her. “I love you and I will never stop loving you for as long as I live. I can’t imagine spending the years to come without you. Marry me?”
A muffled squeal came from outside; Hyukjae thanked the heavens above Hyoyeon didn’t hear it.
“Hyukjae, this...” she was speechless again.
“Hyoyeon, it’s getting really tiring kneeling here.”
“I’m sorry--I mean, yes. Yes!”
“Yes?” he wanted to confirm, rising to his feet.
“Yes,” she threw herself at him, as he slipped the ring on her finger.
Enormous cheers erupted from outside the bedroom’s single window. Hyoyeon dashed over and couldn’t believe all the people who just witnessed the scene.
“You guys!”
“Unnie, please don’t be mad at us!” Seohyun begged, hands clasped together.
Hyukjae rather liked the idea of having something permanent with Hyoyeon.
He was also quite intrigued with the idea of her in a wedding dress.