Before Sunset
TITLE: Before Sunset
AUTHOR: eunseung8693
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: OnewxTaeyeon
SUMMARY: it all started with a coincidence.
A/N: Just practicing. trying to write again so it might not be good.
Taeyeon-a, did you know that you were the reason why I was given more time?
March 18, 2010
Maybe it was just a coincidence when Taeyeon found him, drenched in the rain walking aimlessly at the park with a muddy appearance. He stopped five meters away from her and continued to stare at the wet road. She didn't know how she ended up beside him, sheltering him with her pink umbrella. He gave her a small smile before passing out, splashing some mud on Taeyeon's dress.
"You're awake" She greeted him as he woke up in an unfamiliar room, still in his muddy clothes. "I'm sorry I couldn't change your clothes, you might think I’m a pervert" She quickly added when he saw himself at the mirror across the room.
"It's okay" He answered softly and added "Thank you"
"No need, just helping" She answered happily "Taeyeon, my name is Kim Taeyeon"
"Jinki, Lee Jinki" And that was the start.
Maybe it was just a coincidence that Taeyeon have an umbrella and Jinki didn't. Or Taeyeon was just passing by at the place Jinki hang out. Or that her late parents planned for that meeting. Or maybe, just maybe, they were sent for each other.
June 26, 2010
Taeyeon wasn't sure if her professor was talking about Mozart, Wolfgang, Beethoven or maybe himself. She wasn't listening to him, no -- she wasn't paying attention at all. His voice was monotone, soft, and has no life. So why bother? She continued twisting her pen as she watch the last seconds on the clock. Alas, it was done. She pulled her bag, grabbed her books and slipped out of the room before Jessica could pull her back.
She half walked half ran, throwing glance here and there, looking for someone familiar. She sighed as she finally reached the gate, not one she knew of was there. A frown was plastered across her face the whole ride at the bus. She would look at the entrance every time the bus halts, hoping that he would hop on and sit beside her but she already reached her stop and there's still no sign of him.
"I should have known" She muttered, hoping off. A soft silk touched her forehead the moment she landed. She looked up to see a bouquet of roses in front of her held by the one she's been looking for. He was flashing his infamous grin at her, enjoying the sight of her sulking.
"I don't know why you're in a bad mood in a good day like this" said Jinki thoughtfully.
"Because someone thinks what he's doing IS funny" She answered, completely irritated with him.
"Well, it IS funny"
"Stop it Jinki, it's not"
"Okay" He took one step forward and leaned to kiss her cheek, she couldn't help but blush at the sudden greeting "Happy 100th day" He said handing her the roses. She gave him a light punch at the arm before walking away, smiling.
“There’s something I want to see later at night, they say the stars look beautiful there” She started when Jinki ran to her side “It’s not really that far from here”
“Well umm --- I sort of have an apartment by six” He scratched his brown hair, looking a little guilty “So I may not hang around until night, but I’ll make it up to you tomorrow!” He quickly added when Taeyeon stopped at her tracks.
“Again?” She pouted, trying hard to hide her disappointment. Since June came, he’s been having at least three appointments per week to God-knows-where. It’s not that she thinks he’s cheating, she just want to spend more time with him. But whatever those appointments are, she’s sure it’s important ‘cause he wouldn’t give up some time with her if it isn’t. The only problem is, he already gave up most of their time “With whom?”
“With someone not as special as you”
“Don’t go then” She flipped her hair and continued walking while adding “He’s not important anyway”
Jinki did what she said and the next day, she couldn’t talk to him since he has to meet that someone-who-isn’t-important-as-she-is the whole day.
June 27, 2010
“Taeyeon-a!” Taeyeon could hear her best friend scream at the other side of the corridor, stressing the last syllable of her name. She continued walking and pretended that she wasn’t there when she felt her hugged her from the back “Yah! Are you trying to avoid me just because I was screaming your name! Tsk”
“Well, if you only figure that out earlier then you wouldn’t have screamed from the other side” She shrugged “Are you done composing?”
“Nowhere near chorus” her mood suddenly boost down “Fighting with Jonghyun wasn’t a good inspiration. How about you?”
“Done. Did it for three hours yesterday” She winked and sat at the back of their room.
“Is love really that good? Jonghyun and I have been fighting since June came. He’s acting really weird and Jinki keeps calling him” She glared at her and quickly added “Didn’t you spend the whole day with Jinki yesterday? I ran into him in front of the Konyang Hospital”
“No, he has some appointments”
“Again? Sometimes I get the feeling he’s meeting the president” Jessica joked wearing her straight face.
July 7, 2010 - July 8, 2010
This would be the first night she’ll spent with Jinki, the first night that he isn’t busy. They arrived at her house at nine, feeling a bit tired with all the walking they did beside the Han River. She threw herself at the bed while Jinki stared at her sceptically.
“What? I’m tired” She laughed.
“You look like a kid” Jinki smiled, crawling on top of her to plant a kiss on her lips. “And a beautiful woman at the same time”
She pulled him for another kiss, but sweeter than the first one. She let him slip his hands inside her shirt, caressing her body. She moans between their lips as his hands go lower and before she knew it, their clothes were off one by one. She could feel him inside her, going deeper and deeper with every thrust. The kisses they share get more intense but the sweetness was still there. She didn’t bother to take him out when he reached his limit, she was too tired to think of it.
Taeyeon woke up feeling sore, she turned around to look at the person beside her. She gave him a kiss and pulled the blanket over her body as she stood up to brush her teeth. Last night was the happiest part of her life, every day with Jinki is. She came back to see the other sitting, hair partly covering his face as he rubbed his sleepy eyes.
“Good morning mister, rise and shine” She threw the blanket at him.
July 14, 2010
You sheltered me from harm.
Kept me warm, kept me warm.
You gave my life to me.
Set me free, set me free.
Taeyeon scribbled the first words on her paper, composing her second song for their project. She sighed at herself, feeling a bit weird that her surrounding is quiet. Jessica must be sick.
“Taeyeon-a!” Jessica slapped her back and sat beside her.
Or maybe not.
“I have something to tell you” she hissed, careful not to make a commotion at the library “I saw Jinki yesterday at Konyang hospital. Do you think he’s sick? Maybe that’s why he kept disappearing?”
“Seriously, can’t people visit the hospital with peace?” Taeyeon laughed “What’s wrong with him visiting the hospital? It’s a public place”
“Well, he might have some super serious disease!”
“Or he might have some colds” Taeyeon cut her off “Cut it out okay?”Jessica rolled her eyes and left.
July 15, 2010
Taeyeon hopped off the bus cheerfully the moment she saw Jinki waiting for her. He embraced her into a tight hug with a kiss on the cheek.
“How come you never fetch me at school anymore?”
“Let’s just say that I’m getting old” He gently squeezed her hand.
“Oh really?” she teased “Where are we going anyway grandpa?”
“Jonghyun just called me, do you want to eat dinner with them?” he said “well, if you don’t like I’ll just tell him no”
“No, it’s okay. Are you okay? You look tired”
“I’m good” Jinkireassured her.
“Is there anything you want to tell me? Jessica said she saw you at Konyang Hospital”
“Well” he paused for a moment “I need to get a check-up. I don’t want to pass out in front of you again”
The two held hands on the way to Jessica’s place. Taeyeon was holding back her smile when Jinki offered her his jacket. Jonghyun opened the door for them, giving Jinki a worried look before letting them in. Taeyeon gave Jinki a kiss and proceeded to the kitchen to help her friend prepare their dinner.
“Hey” said Taeyeon, rolling up her sleeves to wash her hands “What’s for dinner?”
“Something that’ll ease Jonghyun’s worries”
“What is he worried now?”
“I don’t know, he kept looking at his phone a while ago muttering if he’s okay or whatever”
“Who’s he?” Taeyeon asked, slicing the carrots into small pieces
Jessica shrugged “I don’t know he won’t tell me. I feel like he’s keeping something from me. Sometimes he would say something but stop at the middle and say ‘forget it’. He would excuse himself every time Jinki would call him so I wouldn’t be able to hear them”
“Give him some space, he’ll be back to normal”
As Taeyeon finished cutting the carrots, Jonghyun entered the kitchen covered with sweat. He hugged Jessica and whispered something, her brows knitted and asked him “Why? what’s the matter? Where are you guys going?”
“You’re leaving?” Taeyeon asked, almost dropping the knife.
“It’s important. We have to go, uhh sorry Taeyeon” Jonghyun apologized in a nervous fashion.
“Let me talk to him first” Taeyeon wiped her hands and was about to go out but Jonghyun blocked her way.
“He’s in the car” He said in a hurry “I’m sorry we really need to leave” He gave Jessica a kiss, tapped Taeyeon’s shoulder and left.
July 28, 2010
The last time Jinki called her was the day after that incident. He apologized all over until Taeyeon finally forgave him but got mad at him again when he told her he couldn’t fetch her. After that, they haven’t talk for almost two weeks. Jessica was just pissed as she was, things between her and Jonghyun wasn’t going well either. He would walk her home and leave immediately, saying he needs to go to something important.
“What am I exactly to him?” Jessica complained while fixing her things “He kept disappearing! Taeyeon-a! What am I going to do?” she cried at her.
“Follow him” Taeyeon answered, not really in the mood to console her.
“Not a bad idea” Jessica thought, she gave her a kiss on the cheek “See ya!”
She waited for her footsteps to fade and got up to fix her bag. She was left alone, she didn’t notice till now. Without Jinki, her life was over. And for the first time after she met Jinki, she remembered to visit her parents’ grave.
Mama, Papa, how are you? I’m sorry I never visited you for almost 5 months. I’m sorry for being a bad daughter. Mama, Papa, did you know, after you left I met Jinki. He was funny in a weird way and cute. He always take good care of me, he would help me with my home works and cooks food when I’m busy. He’s everything you wished, but right now I’m not with him. We sort of got into a fight.
Taeyeon whispered to her parents, missing them again. She held back her tears, not wanting to let them see that she’s crying. “Mama, Papa, what am I going to do?”
August 10, 2010
Jessica started act weird the day she suggested to follow Jonghyun. It was annoying at first but she started to get used to it,of how she would look at her thoughtfully and brush her hair, how her tears fall one by one just by looking at her eating. She gets used to it, Jessica is naturally weird to her anyway. But everyone have their limits, and all of them were pushing her to hers. So she decided to lock herself in her room for God-knows-how-long and after three days, Jessica came knocking on her door.
“Oh you’re here?” she said monotonously.
“Are you okay? Are you sick? You haven’t come to school lately. What’s wrong?”
“I have gastric irritation” she excused “Don’t ask me”
“Can I come in?”
“No” They stared for a minute before she felt her cheeks wet. Without her knowing, her tears were already falling.
“Taeyeon, I’m sorry” Jessica hugged her tightly, rubbing her back for comfort “I really am. I wanted to tell you but I can’t, Jinki doesn’t want. It hurts to see you like this”
Jessica’s shirt was already soaked with her tears but she can’t help, she needed to let out the stress “Go change, I’ll take you to him”
This was supposed to be one of the happy moments of her life, but she couldn’t force a smile when she stepped into Jinki’s room in the hospital. His hands were hooked into an IV, he looks thinner and bags under his eyes were visible. But beside that, he still looks like the usual. She couldn’t drag her feet closer to him, it hurts to see him smile weakly as she stepped inside.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered, holding his hand as she sat beside the bed. Jessica and Jonghyun went out to give them some privacy “I could have done something, you’re getting better now right?”
“Yes, now that you’re here with me” He smiled at her.
“It isn’t something serious right?” her grip getting a bit tighter “It’s something curable, yes it is”
“I can handle it” Jinki patted her head lightly “Taeyeon-a, I want you to know that I’m happy that I met you”
“No don’t say that”
“Taeyeon-a, did you know that you were the reason why I was given more time?”Jinki sniffed “You gave me my life back, I thank you for that. You always make me smile even when I’m in pain. You held back my tears; you made me feel what it’s like to live again. I really love you, I love you more than anything in this world. Will you promise me something?”
Taeyeon nodded. “Live for me”
“But how? How am I going to do that?” Taeyeon said between her sniffs “I can’t do that, I don’t want to”
Jinki shook his head. “You’re strong, you will be able to”
“I love you” Taeyeon kissed him on the forehead, her tears dropping on him “And we’re having a baby”
“Really?”Jinki smiled, tears rolling across his cheeks “That’s good”
Taeyeon nodded at him. “That’s why you need to fight, okay?”
August 18, 2010
The appointments he had before, his face looking tired and happy when they meet, how he waits at the bus stop every day and Jonghyun looking worried every day. Everything came to her like a gun shot, not letting her dodge all of it.
Let’s just say that I’m getting old. She remembers him saying, she felt stupid for not notcing, for not looking at him more carefully. She rested her head on the wall, listening to the footsteps of the nurses and doctors at the hospital’s corridor. She wasted a lot of time and she would never have it back again. She was a useless girlfriend.
She dropped out from school, which Jinki strongly disagreed, to take care of him. She stayed at the hospital every day, watching his leukaemia worsen. They still have fights. They fight over food, that he should eat more since he’s getting thinner every day. But when she looked at him a week after, her hope was cut into half. He looked weaker and thinner, but despite that, a smile was always on his face. And that was enough to lift her hopes up.
“Taeyeon-a, I want to go outside” Jinki said to her as she cleaned the bedside table “When I can still walk, I always pass by at the hospital park. It was beautiful, just like the park where we met”
She didn’t hesitate to say yes to him. “Anything for you dear”
It was peaceful; the sun was still shining above them. There some patients playing ball at the left side of the lake, the others were just enjoying the view. Jinki was holding their picture as Taeyeon pushed his wheelchair on the road.
“Do you want me to talk?” Taeyeon asked, watching the couple from the other side hold hands as they walk together.
“You don’t have to” Jinki reached for her hand and she quickly held it. They stayed like that for a few hours, they would stop in front of some people playing and continue to look for some other views. Jinki's smile never left, they took some pictures every minute. For the first time, Taeyeon forgot about their problems. They were laughing, holding hands, watch people just like the old days.
That was the last time they spent together. Jinki died that night, his cancer worsen. While Jessica and Jonghyun were busy listening to the doctor's explanation, Taeyeon sneaked to the rooftop and let the tears that has been kept for so long fell. She'll miss his touch, his voice, his smile. Everything. But now he's just a part of her memory, the special part.
Live for me. Jinki's voice echoed at the back of her mind. Yeah, she'll try.