Water Under Bridge
Water Under Bridge
Author - dewdrop07
Pair - onew/kibum
Rate - pg 13
summary - Kibum is not ready for the change; may be.
Kibum clutched at the small strap of his man purse tightly. He was nervous. Its been so long that he did not know how all this still went about.
“Its just this once and then I shall be free for long time,” he kept on muttering himself. He hoped that this mantra would settle down the butterflies in his stomach. He fingered his hair as he looked around. Jonghyun had said called him just over a minute ago to tell him that the guy has already arrived and is waiting by a window side table. Kibum took a deep breath and stepped into the café.
The jingle of the bells on the café door was went unheard as Kibum scanned the small quint café. His eyes were subconsciously drawn to the window side table. There he was. The man was comfortable sitting on the snug chair and was staring out of the window. His face on the palm, elbow on the table the man seemed lost as he kept staring out of the window.
Weird, Kibum thought, its almost as if he’s just sitting there and enjoying the atmosphere of the café rather than waiting for his date.
Taking a deep breath again Kibum moved towards the table keeping his eyes on the man. The man did not seem to notice Kibum till he reached the table. Feeling more awkward than before, Kibum cleared his throat. That seemed to startle him. Sitting straight abruptly the man gasped and turned around. His eyes seemed slightly dazed as he looked at Kibum.
“I’m Jonghyun’s friend?" Kibum introduced his voice carrying the same awkwardness.
He cringed internally as his sentence came out more of a question than a statement. But that seemed to be enough as the man nearly jumped from his seat to stand up. The movement was too sudden and it rattled the table violently, nearly upturning the glass. Out of sheer reflex Kibum managed to catch the glass before it could fall and spill its contents.
The entire scene seemed to have made the man flustered as quickly smoothed the table clothes which had wrinkled due to all these actions. Giving out a nervous laughter he apologized.
“I’m so sorry,” I’m bit clumsy." he said in a low voice. That somehow seemed to lift the awkwardness that Kibum felt till now. With a small chuckle he tilted his head slightly.
“It's all right. I should not have startled you. I’m not up to my best social skills today.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” the man said this time accompanied with a small laugh.
“I’m Lee Jinki.” He introduced extending his hands.
“And I’m Kim Kibum” Kibum introduced feeling the nervousness return again. But this time it was more of a pleasant one.
Taking the extended hand Kibum felt warm and grounded, since first time in a long time. And he sort of liked it.
But did not feel ready for it.
It has been little over two years when his boyfriend of seven and half years left their apartment and went to a boating trip. And did not return. Only things that came back was a pair of couple’s ring that they had brought together (more like Kibum had bought it for them) and a letter conveying briefly that he did not want to be tied to one place and one person.
It left Kibum shattered. Not that he had not seen this coming. Minho, his boyfriend had been showing every sign of flight and Kibum was fighting hard to keep them together. Met at a rave, Kibum and Minho had clicked instantly. They both liked to party, go out, meet new people and try new things. both had them had not been any long term relationsip before; and both of them didn't know they ended with in one with each other either. But before both could realize they had been going out for six years.
Things started to change as Kibum began became more comfortable in their relatioship and started looking for more. And the problem was that Minho found it too comfortable…and slow; almost to the extend that it had formed a groove in their life, the kind of groove that a heavy furniture leave on the carpet.
Kibum tried every trick in the book to spice the things up to keep the thrill in the relationship. Role play, kinky sex, couples’ get away, every damn thing. But Minho constantly kept his gaze wandering, his feathers ready. One bright Tuesday morning it finally happened. One-day boat trip turned days then months and then finally two and half years.
Kibum had cried continuously for a day and a night till he vomited; followed by weeks of living in daze. His friend Jonghyun had literally shifted to his apartment to keep an eye on him. Jonghyun fed and forced him to take shower every day. His senses cleared up after almost four weeks. Strangely he went through every emotions except that of anger. May be because he had known that Minho would leave eventually.
For nearly two years Kibum lived a life of a monk in the hamlet, cocooned by his work and apartment (during which Jonghyun had packed all things belonging to Mino and shifted to his garage.). He would work till he would feel exhausted, come home shower and then go to sleep. He even started taking extra works at weekends. It sort of paid off as he got two promotions within two years. Jonghyun was more horrified than happy with his second promotion. With a set lips that gave Kibum foreboding that older was about to do something that he won’t like, Jonghyun declared, “You need a life.”
Those four words had been source of Kibum’s headache for a month as Jonghyun cajoled and coaxed (read: pestered) Kibum to every party since then. When Kibum refused to pick up a stranger at a party, the older had one day an eureka moment, a perfect way to start Kibum’s life - blind date. After a week of puppy eyes and incessant wheedling Kibum finally relented. He agreed to go to the said date once; just once and that’s it he had said. And it will be a coffee date in café, he had added for good measure to avoid the unwanted ‘possible night time activities’
So the end result of those foreboding four words were that Kibum was sitting here in front of a stranger, handsome stranger he has to say.
As the warm evening gave way to cool night Kibum found himself enjoying the company. Jinki’s calm deep voice relaxed him for first time in two years. He found himself smiling laughing out loud first time in two years. For first time in two years he had talked this much. And this seemed to trouble him.
As Jinki finished his another one of a funny story involving Jonghyun and office chair Kibum felt it was time to come clean.
“Jinki you seem like a nice guy…so …I have to be honest with you,” the butterflies in his stomach which had settle down for past two hours came fluttering out and started having a field day.
Jinki looked at him with curious eyes. His lips were slightly drawn together, the only indication that he was feeling concerned with the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Kibum clutched the handle of the coffee cup to stop his fingers from shaking.
“I’m still recovering from a seven year relationship which ended…..quite suddenly,” Kibum began uncertainly, not knowing how to put forth his thoughts to Jinki. “And I’m not ready yet to start new one.”
He ended the sentence with a firm nod as if to punctuate the point further.
However, Kibum was surprised with a low chuckle that came from Jinki. He looked up only to see a bright sunny smile adorned by the man, the brightest one that man was yet to give.
“Good thing that you said it first; because I was about to say the same thing to you,” the man said. He leaned over and pat the hands of a very confused Kibum.
“I’m also recovering.” He said with couple of nods; this time to convey the feeling of comprehension.
“Your boyfriend too left!” Kibum blurted out amazed. When his brain finally caught up with his mouth he realized how rude that came out.
“Sorry,” he mumbled ashamed. He pat his hair anxiously, wishing for the sophisticacy that he once had.
Jinki let a diluted laughter.
“It’s ok. You are right, my boyfriend left too.” he replied. “But to heaven,” he added with watery smile.
Kibum was dismayed.
Never before had he felt so ashamed at himself. But before he could say anything the man across him put a reassuring hand over his.
“Again, it’s all right. You didn’t know,” he said gently shaking his head.
Turns out Jinki is a widower. His husband of four years had died of cancer. As the night air turned chilly, as the pair strolled slowly on the streets, Jinki told the stories of his life with his boyfriend whom he had met as a high schooler, fell in love as college student and married after he became employee at a multinational company. It was four years ago that they discovered his husband had cancer, too advanced, beyond medical help. The news was followed by eight months of grief, anger, reconciliation, bucket lists and funeral. Three years later Jinki still felt as much as married as he was before.
“From the moment Jonghyun came barging in my office announcing that he was going to get a life for me I began to feel the same dread that I hadn’t felt since three years,” Jinki finished with a small laugh.
Kibum laughed out aloud, because this was the exact thing that he had felt for past few months.
“But the only reason I agreed to this date is because I had promised Taemin I will go out after sometime,” Jinki said with a sigh that indicated the kind of argument which the subject could have gone under.
“So you are on a date because your husband asked you to?” Kibum asked with a smirk.
“Pretty much,” Jinki laughed out loud. And Kibum couldn’t resist joining in.
By the time night grew deep they discovered themselves standing on the bridge looking down on the clam flowing river. Their conversation on other hand had trickled down to comfortable silence. Kibum was lost in the thoughts about Minho discovering new world out there on not so calm waters without him, him who is standing on a firm bridge.
“Hey, if you don’t mind I like to take you out for a lunch, you know, sort of non-date kind of way?” Jinki asked. Kibum watched as the other worried his lips in nervousness.
“Ok,” he replied his hands patting his hair and with a shy smile.
A/N : ...And as the years will pass, their friendship will gradually develop in love.
This was written in a span of one hour. I had this sudden absurd inspo and next thing I know I had to pop this out...
Also, sorry to assign such role to Tenderheart Choi, it’s just that someone had to be Kibum’s restless boyfriend..But really he’s such a sweetheart :))
so..please comment if you like it; comment even if don't..Guess i'm really thristy for some comments lol.
Author - dewdrop07
Pair - onew/kibum
Rate - pg 13
summary - Kibum is not ready for the change; may be.
Kibum clutched at the small strap of his man purse tightly. He was nervous. Its been so long that he did not know how all this still went about.
“Its just this once and then I shall be free for long time,” he kept on muttering himself. He hoped that this mantra would settle down the butterflies in his stomach. He fingered his hair as he looked around. Jonghyun had said called him just over a minute ago to tell him that the guy has already arrived and is waiting by a window side table. Kibum took a deep breath and stepped into the café.
The jingle of the bells on the café door was went unheard as Kibum scanned the small quint café. His eyes were subconsciously drawn to the window side table. There he was. The man was comfortable sitting on the snug chair and was staring out of the window. His face on the palm, elbow on the table the man seemed lost as he kept staring out of the window.
Weird, Kibum thought, its almost as if he’s just sitting there and enjoying the atmosphere of the café rather than waiting for his date.
Taking a deep breath again Kibum moved towards the table keeping his eyes on the man. The man did not seem to notice Kibum till he reached the table. Feeling more awkward than before, Kibum cleared his throat. That seemed to startle him. Sitting straight abruptly the man gasped and turned around. His eyes seemed slightly dazed as he looked at Kibum.
“I’m Jonghyun’s friend?" Kibum introduced his voice carrying the same awkwardness.
He cringed internally as his sentence came out more of a question than a statement. But that seemed to be enough as the man nearly jumped from his seat to stand up. The movement was too sudden and it rattled the table violently, nearly upturning the glass. Out of sheer reflex Kibum managed to catch the glass before it could fall and spill its contents.
The entire scene seemed to have made the man flustered as quickly smoothed the table clothes which had wrinkled due to all these actions. Giving out a nervous laughter he apologized.
“I’m so sorry,” I’m bit clumsy." he said in a low voice. That somehow seemed to lift the awkwardness that Kibum felt till now. With a small chuckle he tilted his head slightly.
“It's all right. I should not have startled you. I’m not up to my best social skills today.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” the man said this time accompanied with a small laugh.
“I’m Lee Jinki.” He introduced extending his hands.
“And I’m Kim Kibum” Kibum introduced feeling the nervousness return again. But this time it was more of a pleasant one.
Taking the extended hand Kibum felt warm and grounded, since first time in a long time. And he sort of liked it.
But did not feel ready for it.
It has been little over two years when his boyfriend of seven and half years left their apartment and went to a boating trip. And did not return. Only things that came back was a pair of couple’s ring that they had brought together (more like Kibum had bought it for them) and a letter conveying briefly that he did not want to be tied to one place and one person.
It left Kibum shattered. Not that he had not seen this coming. Minho, his boyfriend had been showing every sign of flight and Kibum was fighting hard to keep them together. Met at a rave, Kibum and Minho had clicked instantly. They both liked to party, go out, meet new people and try new things. both had them had not been any long term relationsip before; and both of them didn't know they ended with in one with each other either. But before both could realize they had been going out for six years.
Things started to change as Kibum began became more comfortable in their relatioship and started looking for more. And the problem was that Minho found it too comfortable…and slow; almost to the extend that it had formed a groove in their life, the kind of groove that a heavy furniture leave on the carpet.
Kibum tried every trick in the book to spice the things up to keep the thrill in the relationship. Role play, kinky sex, couples’ get away, every damn thing. But Minho constantly kept his gaze wandering, his feathers ready. One bright Tuesday morning it finally happened. One-day boat trip turned days then months and then finally two and half years.
Kibum had cried continuously for a day and a night till he vomited; followed by weeks of living in daze. His friend Jonghyun had literally shifted to his apartment to keep an eye on him. Jonghyun fed and forced him to take shower every day. His senses cleared up after almost four weeks. Strangely he went through every emotions except that of anger. May be because he had known that Minho would leave eventually.
For nearly two years Kibum lived a life of a monk in the hamlet, cocooned by his work and apartment (during which Jonghyun had packed all things belonging to Mino and shifted to his garage.). He would work till he would feel exhausted, come home shower and then go to sleep. He even started taking extra works at weekends. It sort of paid off as he got two promotions within two years. Jonghyun was more horrified than happy with his second promotion. With a set lips that gave Kibum foreboding that older was about to do something that he won’t like, Jonghyun declared, “You need a life.”
Those four words had been source of Kibum’s headache for a month as Jonghyun cajoled and coaxed (read: pestered) Kibum to every party since then. When Kibum refused to pick up a stranger at a party, the older had one day an eureka moment, a perfect way to start Kibum’s life - blind date. After a week of puppy eyes and incessant wheedling Kibum finally relented. He agreed to go to the said date once; just once and that’s it he had said. And it will be a coffee date in café, he had added for good measure to avoid the unwanted ‘possible night time activities’
So the end result of those foreboding four words were that Kibum was sitting here in front of a stranger, handsome stranger he has to say.
As the warm evening gave way to cool night Kibum found himself enjoying the company. Jinki’s calm deep voice relaxed him for first time in two years. He found himself smiling laughing out loud first time in two years. For first time in two years he had talked this much. And this seemed to trouble him.
As Jinki finished his another one of a funny story involving Jonghyun and office chair Kibum felt it was time to come clean.
“Jinki you seem like a nice guy…so …I have to be honest with you,” the butterflies in his stomach which had settle down for past two hours came fluttering out and started having a field day.
Jinki looked at him with curious eyes. His lips were slightly drawn together, the only indication that he was feeling concerned with the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Kibum clutched the handle of the coffee cup to stop his fingers from shaking.
“I’m still recovering from a seven year relationship which ended…..quite suddenly,” Kibum began uncertainly, not knowing how to put forth his thoughts to Jinki. “And I’m not ready yet to start new one.”
He ended the sentence with a firm nod as if to punctuate the point further.
However, Kibum was surprised with a low chuckle that came from Jinki. He looked up only to see a bright sunny smile adorned by the man, the brightest one that man was yet to give.
“Good thing that you said it first; because I was about to say the same thing to you,” the man said. He leaned over and pat the hands of a very confused Kibum.
“I’m also recovering.” He said with couple of nods; this time to convey the feeling of comprehension.
“Your boyfriend too left!” Kibum blurted out amazed. When his brain finally caught up with his mouth he realized how rude that came out.
“Sorry,” he mumbled ashamed. He pat his hair anxiously, wishing for the sophisticacy that he once had.
Jinki let a diluted laughter.
“It’s ok. You are right, my boyfriend left too.” he replied. “But to heaven,” he added with watery smile.
Kibum was dismayed.
Never before had he felt so ashamed at himself. But before he could say anything the man across him put a reassuring hand over his.
“Again, it’s all right. You didn’t know,” he said gently shaking his head.
Turns out Jinki is a widower. His husband of four years had died of cancer. As the night air turned chilly, as the pair strolled slowly on the streets, Jinki told the stories of his life with his boyfriend whom he had met as a high schooler, fell in love as college student and married after he became employee at a multinational company. It was four years ago that they discovered his husband had cancer, too advanced, beyond medical help. The news was followed by eight months of grief, anger, reconciliation, bucket lists and funeral. Three years later Jinki still felt as much as married as he was before.
“From the moment Jonghyun came barging in my office announcing that he was going to get a life for me I began to feel the same dread that I hadn’t felt since three years,” Jinki finished with a small laugh.
Kibum laughed out aloud, because this was the exact thing that he had felt for past few months.
“But the only reason I agreed to this date is because I had promised Taemin I will go out after sometime,” Jinki said with a sigh that indicated the kind of argument which the subject could have gone under.
“So you are on a date because your husband asked you to?” Kibum asked with a smirk.
“Pretty much,” Jinki laughed out loud. And Kibum couldn’t resist joining in.
By the time night grew deep they discovered themselves standing on the bridge looking down on the clam flowing river. Their conversation on other hand had trickled down to comfortable silence. Kibum was lost in the thoughts about Minho discovering new world out there on not so calm waters without him, him who is standing on a firm bridge.
“Hey, if you don’t mind I like to take you out for a lunch, you know, sort of non-date kind of way?” Jinki asked. Kibum watched as the other worried his lips in nervousness.
“Ok,” he replied his hands patting his hair and with a shy smile.
A/N : ...And as the years will pass, their friendship will gradually develop in love.
This was written in a span of one hour. I had this sudden absurd inspo and next thing I know I had to pop this out...
Also, sorry to assign such role to Tenderheart Choi, it’s just that someone had to be Kibum’s restless boyfriend..But really he’s such a sweetheart :))
so..please comment if you like it; comment even if don't..Guess i'm really thristy for some comments lol.