What Should I Do..... Just Wait
TITLE: What Should I Do..... Just Wait
AUTHOR: giveitupjessica
RATING: PG
PAIRINGS: MinKey (Main), MinKhun, KeyWoon (Key/Dongwoon)
SUMMARY: I don't think I can do it. The love I have with you, I won't be able to find anywhere else even when I die. So what should I do if it isn't you? No one else can hold my heart but you. What should I do? Just wait...
A/N: MIANHE AGAIN! I know I told some of you that I'd have this done on Monday, but that didn't happen since I got stuck in the middle of writing it and had other things that I needed to do as well. Anyways, it's finally done and I hope you guys like it. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. Oh but guess what... this is my 200th post!!!!!!!!! WOO!!!!
“Yah! Kim Kibum!” Chansung yelled as he pushed the smaller boy causing him to fall onto the ground. There was a faint ripping sound as his knee skidded across the pavement.
“Why do you always play with the girls Kibum?! You don’t like playing with us? Are we too rough? You’d rather play tea part and dress up?” Taecyeon added as he kicked dirt up and into the other boy’s face, small particles fly into his eyes.
“N-no,” he mumbles as he starts to rub at his eyes in hopes of getting the dirt out and to wipe the tears away before they can see it. He may be young, but he’s not stupid. He knows that if they see him crying then they will just make things worst for him. It’s better if they think they don’t have any affects on him. But it’s hard to be strong when two much bigger boys are bullying you and there’s no one around to help.
“Then why don’t you come play with us?”
“I know why Taec.”
“Why?”
“Because he throws like a girl and screams whenever the ball comes his way,” they both erupt into laughter, their feet coming into contact with the legs he had tucked under his body. He falls over into the fetal position to keep them from doing any major damage on them. His mom would freak out if he came home all beaten up again and he hated to worry his mom.
“YAH! OK TAECYEON! HWANG CHANSUNG!” Kibum can barely hear the voice since he’s currently covering his ears with both of his hands, but he knows that someone is here to save him. He’s always here to save Kibum whenever he needs him the most. It’s like he was a super hero or something. At least he was Kibum’s super hero. He doesn’t bother to look and see who is coming, opting to keep protecting his body instead.
“You leave Kibum alone!”
“Yah, Minho,” Chansung looked over at the boy who just walked up to them “Why do you care so much about this guy anyways? He’s a nobody.”
“He’s not a nobody. He’s my friend so you better leave him alone or I will shove this ball up your nose,” Minho held out the soccer ball he had in his hands as a threat.
“You don’t have the guts,” Taecyeon scoffed, walking over to stand next to Minho in hopes of intimidating the other. But Minho was kind of a fool, he wasn’t one to back down easily even though the odds weren’t in his favor. At least not when it came to Kibum. He would always protect the other no matter what. He didn’t think it was fair for Taecyeon and and Chansung to pick on someone who was barely even half their size.
“Try me!” Minho stepped in front of Kibum to block him from the other two boys.
“Whatever, he’s not worth our time anyways Taec. Let’s go to the arcade,” Chansung said with a roll of his eyes.
“Fine. But you better watch your back Kibum!” and with that they both left them, walking down the street towards the arcade.
Minho turned around when he could no longer see them and kneeled next to the curled up boy. He placed a gentle hand on the other’s shoulder, causing him to flinch, “It’s okay Bummie, it’s just me. They’re gone.”
Kibum slowly uncovered his face and looked around. When he saw no sign of the other two he jumped into Minho’s waiting arms, “Ho, I was so scared. No one was here when they found me!”
“I’m sorry Kibum,” Minho rubbed the crying boy’s back as he continued to sob into his chest. He can feel his shirt start to get wet from the other’s tears, “I promise I won’t make you wait again.”
“Why are you late anyways Ho?” Kibum whimpered and looked up at the taller boy.
Minho gave him a sympathetic smile and wiped the tears from his face, “I got held up at practice. I’m sorry. I did rush over here once we were done. See, I’m still in my uniform and I accidentally took one of the balls.”
“Promise me you’ll never be late again!” Kibum said with a huff and lightly hit the other’s chest.
“I promise Bummie,” Minho pulled him back into a tight hug, “Come on, let’s go to my house so I can clean up your cut.”
Kibum looks down at his legs and sees the two rips that are now adorning his pants, “OMO! These are my favorite pair of jeans too!”
“Only you Bummie, only you,” Minho chuckled and started to lead the other in the direction of his house.
“Only me what?”
“Only you would worry more about your pants than the blood covering your knees.”
*~*
“Taecyeon, Chansung!” Minho yelled from down the hall, “How many times do I have to tell you to leave Kibum alone!” He marched over to the other two who were currently trying to stuff Kibum into his locker. Kibum was doing his best to stop it from happening, holding onto the sides of the locker tightly.
“And how many times do we have to ask you why you keep sticking up for this loser?” Chansung shoves Kibum hard in the back forcing a grunt out of the latter’s mouth.
“You’re cool Minho,” Taceyeon explains, leaving Chansung to the task they were currently working on, “A lot of girls like you and you’re the captain of the soccer team, so why waste your time on this thing?”
“Kibum is not a thing Taceyeon,” Minho shoves both boys aside and grabs Kibum’s hand, “He’s my friend and if you want to keep being friends with me, then you’ll leave him alone! Come on Bummie.”
Minho tugs on Kibum’s hand and they walk out of the building. He doesn’t slow down his pace until they’re a few blocks away from the school.
“Ho,” Kibum says once they’re walking at a normal pace, he tightens the grip he has on Minho’s hand.
“Yeah Bummie?”
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“What?” Minho turns to face the other to study his face before leading them to a nearby bench, “Why are you asking me that Bummie?”
“Well ever since we were little you’ve always been so nice to me. When all the other kids are bullying me, you’re always protecting me. And look at us, we’re already 14 and I still need you to protect me from stupid Chansung and Taecyeon,” Kibum pouts and turns his gaze to the floor. He starts to draw random shapes on the pavement, hands folded neatly in his lap.
“Bummie,” Minho grabs one of his hands and Kibum looks over at him, “I’m nice to you because I want to be. Besides, I hate bullies and I like you.”
“Really?” Kibum looks at Minho with big eyes, “You like me Ho?”
“Yeah.”
“I like you too,” he mumbles.
“What did you say?” Minho leans in with a hand cupped over his ear, pretending not to have heard the other when he really did.
“I said,” Kibum turns to look at Minho directly in the eyes, “I like you too.”
*~*
Kibum ran with all his might the moment his mom told him the news. It was a good thing that Minho didn’t live that far away or he wouldn’t be able to make it at all. The things he does for his boyfriend. He hates running the most and yet here he is running like there’s no tomorrow.
“MINHO!” he breathlessly yells when he finally spots the other’s house. Minho was just about to get into the car when he turns in the direction he heard his name coming from.
“Bummie?”
“YAH!” Kibum hits Minho with what little strength he has left before bending over in an attempt to catch his breath.
“Did you run all the way here Bummie?” Minho rubs Kibum’s back.
“Ne.”
“Aw, you didn’t have to.”
“But umma told me that you were leaving for good,” Kibum stands up and stares at Minho, “Why didn’t you tell me?! I’m your boyfriend!”
“I didn’t want you to be sad.”
“And so you were just going to leave me without saying good bye?” tears were now forming in Kibum’s eyes.
“Bummie, mianhe,” Minho brought the other into a hug, “I wasn’t thinking. I just didn’t want you to be sad that I was leaving.”
“I hate you Choi Minho!” Kibum yelled as he hit Minho’s chest. His cheeks were now wet with his tears, “I can’t believe you were planning on just leaving me!”
“Mianhe Bummie,” Minho held onto the crying boy tightly, “We really weren’t even supposed to be leaving for another week, but my appa called and said we need to go over there now. Our house isn’t even packed up yet. Please don’t hate me.”
“Minho, we need to get going or we’ll miss our flight,” Minho’s mom called from the cab that was waiting at the end of the drive way.
“Ne umma,” he turns back to the Kibum and lifts his head so that they can look at one another, “I’m really sorry Bummie. I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me. If I had a choice I would never leave your side, but I need to go with my umma and appa and hyung.”
“I know Ho,” Kibum sniffled and felt the other start to wipe away his tears again, “I wish you didn’t have to go either.”
“I promise I’ll be back okay?”
“Promise?” Kibum holds out his pinky and Minho wraps his own around it.
“I promise. Me moving away for a little bit won’t change anything. I still love you and am yours only.”
“And I’m yours as well,” Kibum leaned up and placed a soft kiss on Minho’s lips. When the two separated, their fingers naturally laced together as they walked down to the car that would be taking Minho away. They hesitantly let go of one another so that Minho can get in. He rolls down the window and holds out his hand to Kibum who quickly sandwiches it between his own.
“You’ll wait for me right?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I know.”
“Take care of yourself okay? And if those stupid monkey Chansung and his beaver friend Taceyeon touch a singly hair on your body I will come back and beat the snot outta them.”
Kibum couldn’t help but laugh at the thought and nodded his head, “I know.”
Minho pulled his hand away for a second so he could dig in the pockets of jeans, pulling something out but keeping it hidden within his fist, “I didn’t have time to get you a proper going away gift.”
“Shouldn’t it be me who gets you one?”
“You already gave me your gift.”
“Did I?”
“Yeah, that kiss,” Minho smiled and reached his closed hand out of the window again. Kibum placed his hands underneath to catch the object that laid hidden in it when he opened his fist, “It’s my favorite guitar pic. Think of it as collateral. A for sure sign that I will be coming back to you.”
Kibum nods and leans his head into the car to give Minho one last gift before they’re separated, “I love you Choi Minho.”
“I love you too Kim Kibum. I’ll see you in a little bit,” Minho caressed Kibum’s face one more time, placing a final kiss on the other’s lips before Kibum straightens up. Tears escape both teenagers eyes as the cab drives off. Kibum holds the small gift tight in his fist and close to his heart while Minho keeps his fingers on his lips, trying to bore the feeling of Kibum’s lips against his into his memory.
*~*
Just like every story when a couple is separated they vow to stay in touch. They’re constantly in contact with one another whether it be phone or e-mail or regular mail. There was always a strong connection between the two young lovers. However, as always, things start to die down. Phone calls go from every night to every other night to every few days to once a week and so on. The e-mails start to get less frequent and the letters stop altogether. The two start to move on with their lives, accepting the fact that they may never see one another again as one year slowly turns into two and then three. It’s time that they both start to move on. And that’s exactly what they do.
“Nichkhun hyung,” Minho calls out to his boyfriend as he brings in the last box to their new apartment. They had met in high school and quickly became friends and then soon lovers. Now they were both in college, opting to go to the same school so that they wouldn’t have to be apart.
“Yeah babe?” Nichkhun walked out of their room, folding up the box he had just unpacked and adding it to the growing stack he had going in the living room.
“This is the last one and then we are officially moved in.”
“Good because I don’t know how many more boxes I can stand the sight of,” they both survey the room that was only half full of boxes now compared to the amount they had started with earlier this morning. Nichkhun takes the box from Minho and goes to the kitchen with it, setting it down on the counter before going back over to his boyfriend. He wraps his arms around the other’s waist and Minho does the same, “I’m glad that we’re going to be living together now. You don’t know how much I hated having to say good-bye to you every night before we went our separate ways.”
“Oh I have a feeling how you much you hated it because I hated it too,” Minho leans forward just as Nichkhun does and their lips meet for a brief kiss.
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” and even though Minho would never admit it to himself, the phrase just never felt right when he said it to Nichkhun. He had no doubt that he indeed loved the other, but those three little words never held quite the same meaning as when he said it to a certain sixteen year old boy of his past. The one whose last memory he had of was the image of the slightly older crying as he drove to the airport, his own tears blurring his vision.
In the building just next door that same sixteen year old boy held the door open for his boyfriend as he brought in the last box into his single dorm, “I still can’t believe we’re not going to the same school Woonie.”
“Key, we’ve been over this the whole day,” Dongwoon said, gathering the other in his arms and placing a comforting kiss on his cheek, “My university is just a 15 minute bus ride away. I’ll be here every weekend and on all the holidays.”
“I know, but I’d still prefer us to be going to the same school Woonie. We’ve rarely been apart since the day you asked me out.”
“I know baby, but don’t think of it as us being apart. I’m not that far away. I can come running whenever you need me.”
“Promise,” Kibum holds out his pinky finger and Dongwoon wraps his around it. The feeling not quite the same as when he was promised that a certain alien-like boy would come back for him one day. He didn’t believe and put all of his faith into this promise like he did back then, like he still does now.
“I promise. Now do you want me to help you unpack?”
“Oh god no. I love you and all Woonie, but you’re kind of messy. I’ll be fine unpacking myself,” he takes a quick survey of all the boxes in the room.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then I’m going to get going then. I have an early class tomorrow and I want to read the first chapter before going to bed.”
“Always the studious one,” Kibum joked and leaned forward to kiss his boyfriend, their lips lingering against one another sweetly.
“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon once my last class is done okay?”
“Okay.”
“I love you,” Dongwoon says as the other walks him to the door.
“I love you too,” Kibum doesn’t pay any attention to the light sourness that lingers in his mouth when the words leave it. It’s as if they know that they aren’t meant for the person they were being directed to. That the true owner of the heart felt words wasn’t the blond that was now walking out of the dorm, but rather the alien boy that was living in the building beside them. The same alien boy who gave him the guitar pic that has been hanging from his neck since the day he left. Kibum’s left hand comes up to clench around it just as his heart begins to flutter.
At that precise moment, Minho stops unpacking the box that’s in front of him. His own heart suddenly increasing in speed as his left hand comes up to pound at it. It’s as if they know that the other is near. That the person they beat for is just a short walk away. Their hearts continued to call out to one another in hopes of reuniting the two boys and becoming whole once again.
*~*
There’s no mistaking it, Minho can spot him from miles away in a crowded room. He knows he saw Kibum walking around campus earlier, but when he tried to catch up with him, the other just seemed to disappear into thin air. Minho was no fool and knew that that didn’t happen and ever since that day he’s been searching the crowds around campus for that familiar face. For those sharp cheek bones that he used to love to touch. Those plump lips that seemed to fit perfectly against his own. And those feline eyes that would bore holes into his heart and soul whenever they were on him.
Just the thought of attending the same school as Kibum filled him with a feeling he hadn’t had since the day he left. There was little guilt in his heart that the face he thought of every night every morning wasn’t that of his boyfriend, but of his ex. A determination he had never experienced before coursed through his body as he was adamant on finding Kibum in the crowded campus.
Lady luck didn’t seem to be on his side though. For weeks after that first glimpse he caught no sign of the other around campus. He began to think that his eyes and brain were playing tricks on him. He knew that the campus was big, but he still saw familiar faces everyday. None of them were the face he wanted to see the most though. He finally gave up after two months of searching for the other. His subconscious was probably just playing tricks on him. Just because he was back home, doesn’t mean he would run into Kibum the moment be returned.
He still thought about whether or not Kibum still thought about what they had before he left all those years ago. He wondered if Kibum even knew that he was back, no doubt their moms have already talked since their return a few months back. He wondered if Kibum was looking for him as well, hoping to catch even just a glimpse of the other.
*~*
“No umma,” Kibum said into the phone, letting out a long sigh. His mom has been calling him every day since she told him the news about Minho’s family returning to the city. Sure he remembered Minho. How could he not? Minho was his world for the first sixteen years of his life. He was the only one he cared about and loved other than his family. Then Minho moved away and things between them died down. He was with Dongwoon now. He was happy and in love. So he wasn’t going to ruin it all by going to look for someone from his past. Even though he was someone that he still loved more than anything.
“Have you even tried to look for him? His umma told me that he actually goes to the same university as you.”
“I have umma,” no he hasn’t, he hasn’t tried at all. If anything he was trying his best to blend into the crowd in hopes of not be spotted by Minho. He didn’t know why he was doing this because a part of him did want to see Minho again. He wanted to be held in the other’s arms and feel the warmth and safety only Minho could make him feel.
“No you haven’t,” she says, “Did you forget who you’re talking to Kibummie. I’m your mom and I know when you’re lying without having to see you. Why haven’t you tried to get in contact with Minho again? I thought things ended mutually between you two.”
“They did umma, I just haven’t had the time to go out and search for him. This university isn’t small,” Kibum answered. He still felt the small tinge of guilt when his mom brought up how things ended between Minho and him. Things didn’t really end mutually, well they didn’t end badly either. He had just stopped talking to Minho. He was tired of the ache in his heart and the tears that would form whenever he heard from the other. It was also probably the reason why he wasn’t going out of his way to find Minho. He didn’t want to feel that pain again.
“Kim Kibum, stop doing this to yourself,” his mom scolded.
“What are you talking about umma?” Kibum turned the stove off and removed his dinner, placing it on a pot holder before going over to grab a plate.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Putting yourself through this.”
“Umma, you’re talking in circles. Will you just spit out what you need to say so that we can hang up and I can eat my dinner then study before going to bed?”
“Kibum,” she starts and then stops, inhaling a deep breath, “I want you to be happy again.”
“I am happy umma.”
“Happy and in love.”
“I am happy and in love. I love Dongwoon and he loves me. I’m happy that we’re still together even though we’re going to separate universities.”
“I think you love Dongwoon, but I don’t think you’re IN love with him because you’re still IN love with Minho.”
“No I’m not.”
“Then why do you still wear that necklace?”
His hand goes up to his neck to the necklace that has been hanging from it for over three years now. His fingers close around the small green piece of plastic, he can still feel the warmth from when Minho first gave it to him. He let out a sigh and dropped his hand, “I need to go now umma. I love you and I’ll talk to you later.”
*~*
If Minho had known sooner, he would have given up on looking for Kibum earlier than he did. It was the day after he had given up that he finally caught another glimpse of the other. This time he wasn’t going to let him get away. This time he was going to make sure to keep his eye on the other as he pushed his way through the people and towards him. This time he was able to land a hand on Kibum’s shoulder before he disappeared into one of the many buildings that made up their university.
Kibum turned around to face who had just grabbed his shoulder and his breath hitched. He found himself staring into familiar brown eyes that he used to dream about seeing in person again. His voice was caught in his throat hindering him from saying anything to the other. They stood there, partially blocking the entrance to the building Kibum was just about to walk into, and just stared at one another. Neither one of them uttered a single work or sound.
Minho was the first to do something. He jerked his hand back towards his body causing the slightly smaller boy to fall into his waiting arms, “Bummie, I knew that was you I saw a few months ago.”
Kibum could hear the smile in the other’s voice as he was pulled closer to a chest that he used to know so well. It was firmer now and he could faintly feel the new muscles that had formed in the time that they were apart. He took in a deep breath and smiled at the fact that Minho still smelt the same. He still smelt like it did after a spring rain, fresh, clean, and comforting. He reluctantly pulled away from the embrace though. There was no way he was going to allow himself to mix his past and present together. Dongwoon was his present and possibly his future, Minho was his past.
“Minho,” he managed to choke out, “Umma told me that you were back and you are!”
“I am. I actually came back awhile go. I’ve missed everything about this place and knew that if we didn’t move back before I graduated that I would apply for university here. And as you can see, I got in.”
“Yeah,” Kibum wanted to leave, he could already sense that the feelings he used to have for the other was coming back. He didn’t want any of that though, he was already happy with Dongwoon and he couldn’t betray him.
“I can’t believe I’m finally seeing you after all those years,” Minho pulls Kibum into another tight hug, not wanting to ever let go of the other again. He didn’t realize just how much he missed Kibum until now, “I’ve missed you so much Bummie. Didn’t you miss me?”
“O-of c-course I missed you s-silly boy,” Kibum tried to playfully hit the other on the just, but seemed to melt into the embrace instead. The familiar scent of the other flooding his nose and bringing back so many memories and feelings. He grips Minho’s shoulders tightly and buries his head into the crook of his neck, afraid that if either of them were to let go that this would just be a dream.
Minho was the first to pull away from the other, keeping his arms firmly locked around Kibum’s waist though, “Do you have class right now?”
Kibum glanced at the building behind them and then down at his watch, “It started five minutes ago and my professor is a stickler about being on time, so I guess I won’t be going today.”
“Good because I want to catch up with you,” Minho finally releases Kibum from his arms, only to grab the other’s hands instead, “Have you eaten?”
“You know I’m not a breakfast person Minho.”
“Still haven’t changed,” Minho playfully tapped Kibum’s nose and began to pull him through campus, “Well you can sit and mooch off of my plate, like you always do, while we talk and update each other on what’s happened since we last talked.”
“Yah!” Kibum slapped Minho’s arm, “I never mooched off your plate.”
“Oh you’re right,” Minho laughed, “You always ate half of it and whenever I suggested you order your own food, you always said you weren’t that hungry.”
Kibum pouted at Minho as he was pulled into a nearby diner and then into a booth not too long afterwards. He knew that he should be sitting across from Minho and not beside him, but couldn’t make himself move away when the hand that was holding his wrapped around his shoulder instead to pull him close.
Minho places his order with their waitress, Kibum only ordering a cup of coffee. He really wasn’t that big on eating in the morning, probably because he’d rather sleep until he absolutely had to wake up, “So how was California?”
“Different,” Minho replied, starting to play with Kibum’s hair without realizing it, “Everyone is so plastic there. I’m sure more than half the people there can’t even remember what how they looked before they had all their surgeries.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but I liked that it was always sunny and warm. I never had an excuse not to be out playing sports or jogging. It was nice.”
“Still sports obsessed I see.”
“You never complained about it before.”
“I know, I just like that you haven’t changed in all these years. You’re still the Minho that I know.”
“And you’re still the Bummie I know,” Minho chuckled as Kibum grabbed a piece of cantaloupe from his plate when the waitress returned with his order.
“You still eat such a heavy breakfast,” Kibum says, picking up Minho’s fork and cutting himself a piece of pancake after Minho finished buttering and pouring syrup over them.
“I have practice later today, so I need to eat up so I have the energy to get through it. The coaches here are brutal. We’ve mostly been running drills the past couple days,” he started to eat his own food, holding up his fork every once in awhile to feed the other.
They continued to talk about what the other had missed while they were apart. It was like they had never been apart in the first place. Kibum was extremely tense when they had first ran into each other and it only got worst when the got to the diner and Minho’s arm was around his shoulder. By the time Minho was done eating and had paid the bill, Kibum had his hand resting on Minho’s thigh while he laughed at their childhood memories.
“Oh gosh,” Kibum wiped his eyes with his free hand as his laughter finally died down, “I haven’t laughed this hard in ages.”
“Same here,” he responded, giving Kibum’s shoulder a comforting squeeze, “I miss this. I miss us. Talking and laughing like this. I’m glad to be back.”
Kibum looked up at Minho and straight into his eyes. He smiled softly and returned Minho’s squeeze by doing the same to the thigh his hand rested on, “I’m glad you’re back too.”
Neither one of them knew that they other was fighting the urge to lean forward and capture the other’s lips. They both were happy to have each other back. Their life wasn’t the same when they were apart. Things were finally starting to feel normal again.
*~*
Minho and Kibum continued to hang out with one another, their meetings getting more and more regular. They mostly met at the diner for breakfast, Kibum always ordering a plain cup of coffee only to end up eating half of Minho’s food just like in the past. Minho smiled, never telling the other that he always ordered so much because he knew that Kibum would always end up eating part of it. They talked about everything and anything, except for one thing.
They both danced around the topic of their love lives. Neither one of them wanted to ask the other if they were dating or not. Perhaps it was because the question never really crossed either of their minds. Or maybe it did and they were just too scared to bring the topic up. It felt like it did three years ago. It was like they were together again even though they both had their own boyfriends.
Kibum was walking towards the soccer field in hopes of catching a glimpse of Minho during practice. He really was happy to have the other back in his life. He could see the soccer field ahead of him and quickened his steps. He could spot Minho even from a distance, it was like he had a homing device on the other. A bright smile crossed his face as he got closer to Minho and then he stopped in his tracks.
He didn’t notice that there was another person with Minho. A person that was leaning over the railing of the bleachers whispering something into Minho’s ear and making him laugh. It was probably all innocent and Kibum was overreacting, but he could feel his blood starting to boil. That was HIS Minho. He was the only one who could whisper in Minho’s ear like that and make him laugh. Who was this other guy?
And then he saw the other guy lean forward even more and Minho raise up on his tippy toes to share a kiss. Kibum couldn’t breathe all of a sudden. It was like all the oxygen in his body was just ripped from him at the sight of the two kissing and so openly. His left hand went up to the necklace that still hung from his neck, the one that Minho never noticed no matter what Kibum did, while the other clenched into a fist. He turned on his heels and started to run in the direction he just came from. It was until he stopped, hiding behind a pillar of one of the science buildings that he realized the tears streaming down his face, quickly wiping them away. He sank to the floor, hugging his legs tightly to his chest as he tried to get some oxygen into his lungs again.
“It’s okay Kibum, you’re okay. Minho’s free to date whoever he wants, you two broke up a long time ago. There’s no reason for you to be upset. You’re okay,” Kibum started to pound his chest as the aching began to grow, this time it was worst than when Minho had left to move to California. The tears wouldn’t stop falling no matter how much he urged them not to and wiped them away, “Kim Kibum stop crying. You don’t have a right to be upset about Minho having a boyfriend. You have a boyfriend too. Don’t you remember? His name is Dongwoon and you’re crazy about him. Minho is just an ex boyfriend/best friend who just happened to walk back into your life. You love him, I mean…” Kibum’s hand came up to his mouth and he gasped, surprised at what he had just said.
*~*
Minho pulled away from the quick kiss and turned just in time to catch Kibum running in the opposite. He knew it was Kibum without having to look at his face.
“Baby,” Nichkhun said as he straightened up and followed his boyriend’s eyes, “Baby?”
“Huh?” Minho turned back to his boyfriend, fighting the urge to run after Kibum. He knew that Kibum was upset, having mastered the art of reading the other like a book. Kibum never liked it because he wasn’t able to hide anything from the other, but Minho was quite fond of his skill because the other had a tendency to keep things bottled up inside until it exploded in his face.
“What are you looking at?”
“Oh, nothing,” he smiled at Nichkhun, “I better get going, practice is going to start soon.”
“Okay,” Nickhun leans over once more and Minho presses their lips together in a quick kiss, “I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll even make your favorite for dinner.”
“Aw, you don’t have to baby.”
“I know, but I want to. I feel like I haven’t spoiled my baby in so long. I’m such a bad boyfriend,” he joked as he picked his bag off the ground.
“You’re not a bad boyfriend baby,” I’m the bad boyfriend. I’ve fallen back in love with my ex and I can’t help but think of anyone but him. He the last thing I think of every night and the first thing every morning even though you’re the one laying beside me. I’m sorry Nichkhun hyung.
“Aw, you’re too sweet Minho,” Nichkhun patted his cheeks and smiled warmly at him, “Have a good practice, I’ll be waiting for you when you get home.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later baby.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” Minho felt his stomach churn when he said that, the picture of Kibum running away being the only thing he could think of. He wondered if he had enough time to go after him and see if he was okay, but knew that he didn’t. Practice was going to start in ten minutes and he still had to change into his uniform and get his cleats on. Minho turned in the direction that Kibum had run, the same direction that Nichkhun was walking and sighed before heading off to the locker room.
*~*
Kibum was curled up on his couch, hugging a blanket to his shaking form. He was still pretty upset about learning that Minho was dating someone and the guy wasn’t that bad looking either. He didn’t even know when he had fallen back in love with Minho to begin with or was it that he never stopped loving him. He groaned in frustration and pulled the blanket over his head. He didn’t even hear his door opening and closing.
“Baby, what are you doing?” the couch dipped beside his head as someone sat down beside him. He pulled the blanket way just enough so he can look at his own boyfriend.
“Nothing. I was tired when I got home and wanted to take a little nap, but it was too bright.”
“So you decided to hide under your blanket so you can sleep?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re so cute,” Dongwoon leans down and places a kiss on Kibum’s forehead, “Have you started dinner yet?”
“No, I just got home not too long ago. But if you’re hungry I can go and start it now,” Kibum made a move to get off the couch, but Dongwoon stopped him.
“No need baby. I wanted to cook tonight anyways,” he help up the plastic bag in his hand, “I know how much you like pasta so I’m going to make you chicken alfredo.”
“Aw, thanks Woonie,” Kibum leaned up and kissed the other gently, “Not too much pepper this time okay?”
“Okay. You just take your nap, I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”
“Okay,” Kibum closed his eyes again and curled into the warmth of the blanket. He felt Dongwoon’s lips land on his before he went to the kitchen to start on dinner.
Kibum didn’t get to take his nap though. His mind was reeling with thoughts of Dongwoon and Minho. Dongwoon was the epitome of the perfect boyfriend. They had started dating back in high school. He was actually the one who had begun to watch over and protect Kibum from his childhood bullies, who eventually gave up on bullying him altogether. And things started to get a little more romantic and a little less friendly between the two. Dongwoon was the reason why Kibum had stopped talking to Minho. He figured he needed to put all his energy into his new relationship instead of wasting it on someone he didn’t know if he’d ever see again. Dongwoon had take Minho’s place in Kibum’s life. But now that Minho was back, he didn’t know what he felt anymore.
He did know that his heart broke worst than when Minho left. The aching in his chest was getting progressively worst. He pounded on his chest again in hopes of dulling out the pain, but it was no use. He never thought he’d see Minho with someone else. And now that he was dating a new, pretty hot guy, Kibum’s world shattered. Tears began to fall from his eyes again and he swallowed his sobs, not wanting to worry Dongwoon.
*~*
“Hey,” Minho ran to catch up with Kibum, placing his hand on the other’s shoulder much like he did all those months ago. This time Kibum didn’t let that hand rest there for long before jerking away and continuing into the building. Minho frowned, but followed the other, this time grabbing his wrist, “Kibum.”
“Let go, I’m going to be late for class,” Kibum yanked his hand out of Minho’s grasp and quickened his pace down the hall. Minho wasn’t going to let him get away that easily. He hadn’t seen the other for almost two weeks and was worried that something might have happened or that he had fallen ill. So when he finally caught sight of him, he was determined to find out what was wrong.
“Bummie,” Minho whispered, grabbing hold of the other again.
“What do you want Minho?” Kibum turned around to face him and felt bad when he saw the look on Minho’s face. He looked upset.
“What’s wrong? I haven’t seen or heard from you in two weeks. Were you sick? You should have told me, I could have brought you some soup or something.”
“I wasn’t sick.”
“Then what were you doing for two weeks that you couldn’t even say hi to me?”
“I was just busy with school. I had some tests and projects that needed my full attention.”
“Oh.”
“Look I’m sorry Minho,” Kibum softened and placed his hand on top of the one Minho had wrapped around his wrist, “I didn’t mean to stop talking to you. I was just busy.”
“Well I was worried about you. I thought you had fallen ill or something. I just wish you would told me.”
Kibum stepped forward and let his free hand caress Minho’s cheek, the other involuntarily leaning into the touch. Without thinking, Kibum stood up on his tippy toes and kissed Minho’s forehead and then his cheek, “I’m sorry Minho. I don’t mean to make you worry.”
“I just thought it was like when you stopped talking to me all of a sudden when I was still in California. I don’t want that to happen again. It hurt a lot. I thought I had done something wrong and you hated me all of a sudden.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong Minho,” Kibum continued to caress the other lovingly, realizing how Minho immediately relaxed and calmed down at the simple touch.
“I don’t want you to be out of my life again Bummie.”
“I don’t want to be out of your life.”
“I still love you,” both Minho and Kibum’s eyes widen at the sudden confession. Minho wasn’t planning on revealing his feelings for the other, the words seeming to have come out of his mouth on their own accord. He ended up smiling though, it felt good to say it out loud.
“What did you say Minho?”
“I said I still love you.”
“But… How?”
“Bummie, I think you know how. You were there when I first told you I loved you all those years ago. Nothing’s changed since then.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“But I saw you kiss another guy the other day.”
Minho thought about it and then remembered the day he saw Kibum running away. The day he knew that the other was upset, but couldn’t run after him to make sure he was okay. That was also the last day he had heard from Kibum. Everything was starting to make perfect sense to him, “Bummie.”
“Hm?” Minho had wrapped his arms around Kibum at this point and pulled him close. The other had his head resting on Minho’s chest and his eyes closed. He inhaled the familiar scent of Minho and smiled.
“Do you love me?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer my question please. Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Are you still IN love with me?”
“Very much so.”
“Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“Okay I’ll break up with Nichkhun hyung.”
“Wh-what?” Kibum pulled away from Minho and stared up at him in shock, “How can you just decide that all of a sudden? Don’t you love him?”
“I do, but I’m no longer IN love with him. That stopped the day I saw you again.”
“B-but Minho…”
“We love each other right?”
“Yes, but-”
“You want to be with me right?”
“Of course I do, but-”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You can’t just go and break up with someone out of nowhere.”
“Why not? It’s best if I don’t string him along. I love you Bummie and I want us to be together again. Therefore, I need to break up with Nichkhun.”
“Minho…”
“Wait… are you dating someone too?”
Kibum slowly nods his head, “Dongwoon.”
“And you don’t want to break up with him,” Minho’s voice fell and he took a few steps away from Kibum, “I see. You don’t want me to break up with Nichkhun because you don’t want to break up with this Dongwoon guy.”
“Minho, I just don’t want us to rush into something that we might regret.”
“How are we going to regret this Bummie? You love me and I love you. We belong together. We’ve always belonged together. You can’t tell me that you don’t feel the same.”
“I do feel the same. I love you and want to be with you.”
“So be with me,” Minho grabbed Kibum’s hands and held them firmly in his own, “I’m standing right in front of you telling you I want to be with you. Why are you hesitating?”
“Because this is all so sudden. I don’t know what to think or do at this point. All I know is that I’m confused about you and what I feel for you and what I feel for Dongwoon.”
“I see,” Minho drops Kibum’s hands and steps back. Then maybe I should give you some space so you can figure this out.”
Kibum grabbed Minho’s hand to keep him in place, “I never said that I needed space.”
“Then why did you avoid me for the past two weeks?”
“Because I needed to think.”
“About?”
“About you.”
“And?”
“And us.”
“So?”
“I’m still confused, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t extremely happy to have you back in my life.”
“And I’m happy to have you back as well.”
“Give me one more day.”
“Just one day?”
“Yes, let me talk to Dongwoon tonight and then we’ll see where this all goes.”
“And if I say no?”
“Minho, don’t be like that.”
“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“Then… I don’t know. Just let me talk to him okay?”
“Sure thing, but I’m coming over tonight.”
“You don’t even know where I live.”
“Tell me.”
“I’ll text it to you later.”
“The moment you’re done talking to this Dongwoon guy?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll see you later tonight,” Minho leaned forward and kisses Kibum for the first time in the three years they’ve been apart before he jogged off to his next class. Kibum stood there speechless as his hand came up to touch his lips. It’s been so long since they’ve kissed, but that one kiss made Kibum remember why he felt the way he did about Minho all those years ago. Why Minho was the only person he ever wanted to be with. Because after all this time they’ve spent apart, Minho is still the one and only person who can leave Kibum completely breathless and speechless with just one simple kiss.
*~*
The talk with Dongwoon doesn’t go as good as Kibum had hoped it would. There was a lot of yelling and arguing between them. Dongwoon thought that Kibum was just using Minho as an excuse to dump him and that he didn’t care about the other whatsoever. Kibum argued that he wasn’t using Minho as an excuse. That the feelings and love they shared were genuine and real.
Dongwoon tried to get Kibum to understand that he was probably just reveling in what he shared with Minho in the past. That what he was feeling was just his brain reminiscing. He told Kibum that he knew that he loved him and no one else. They were the ones that belonged together not him and Minho. He told Kibum that he would be making a serious mistake if he left him for the other. What they had was deep and real. What him and Minho had were just good memories.
Kibum had told Dongwoon to leave about an hour ago and was now laying on his couch, crying his eyes out. He had never seen this side of Dongwoon before. He was so harsh and cold. Kibum didn’t like it one bit. And he didn’t like that he belittled what him and Minho had together. How could Dongwoon say such things about something he knew nothing about. He wasn’t the person that Kibum thought he was.
*Bummie? Are you in there?” he heard coming from the door and he stood up. He walked over to it and opened it up to see Minho standing on the other side.
“Minho what are you doing here? How did you even find out where I live?”
“I have a friend who works in the main building and he gave me your address.”
“That’s totally illegal.”
“It’s harmless.”
“It’s still illegal. What if I had a restraining order on you?”
“Relax Bummie,” Minho wrapped his arms around Kibum’s waist and pulled him close, “It’s Jinki hyung. He knows both of us, that’s the only reason why he gave it to me. It did take a lot of convincing and I promised him that I’d give him a bucket of chicken every day for two weeks.”
“He’s still obsessed with chicken?”
“Of course he is. He’s the chicken maniac Lee Jinki.”
Kibum nods his head and moves closer to Minho, resting his head in the crook of the other’s neck.
“What’s wrong Bummie? You seem upset.”
“Dongwoon and I had a fight. He’s being unreasonable and stupid. Nothing like the person I started to date and fell in love with.”
Minho felt his blood boil when he listened to the other talk about his boyfriend. He really didn’t like hearing that someone else was trying to take his place in his Bummie’s heart. Kim Kibum belonged with him not anybody else. Why can’t he see that?
“And what did you say to him?”
“I told him to get out.”
“That’s my Bummie.”
“Am I really?”
“Are you really what?”
“Yours?”
“I want you to be.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why? You don’t want to be mine?”
“I never said that. I was just asking if you’re sure you want me to be yours. I want to make sure that you won’t regret it and wish you were back with your boyfriend.”
“The only boyfriend I want and need is you,” Minho pulled Kibum closer to him and kissed him again. Kibum’s eyes widened, but they just as quickly fell shut as he responded to the innocent kiss by pushing his lips more firmly against Minho’s.
Minho pulled away from Kibum first and lovingly caressed his face. Kibum’s eyes closed and he leaned into the soft touch, “That is why I want to be with you.”
“What is?”
“That kiss.”
“You want to be with me because I’m a good kisser.”
“No because it feels right whenever we kiss. It’s not like when I kiss Nichkhun. It’s different, I don’t know how to explain it.”
Kibum smiled and nodded, “I think I know what you mean.”
“You always do.”
“That’s because I know you better than you know yourself.”
“True,” they stood in the middle of Kibum’s apartment, not saying a single word to one another. They were just enjoying being back in the arms of the one they were meant to be with. Minho reaches his hand up and Kibum thinks he’s going to caress his face again, but is thrown off when he reaches for his neck instead. He gives Minho a confused look, but he only gets a smile in return.
“What are you doing?”
“What did I say to you when I gave you this?”
Kibum looked down to see that Minho held the guitar pick he had given the other when he left, “You said that it was your favorite guitar pick.”
“Yeah and what else.”
“To think of it as collateral.”
“And what else?”
“That it was a promise that you’d come back to me.”
“And I kept that promise didn’t I?”
“Yes, yes you did,” Kibum leaned forward and captured the other’s lips in a sweet kiss, “Did you want it back?”
“No, why don’t you hold onto it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So that if we’re ever separated again for whatever reason, you’ll know that I’ll come back for you. That I’ll always come back to you as long as you wait for me.”
AUTHOR: giveitupjessica
RATING: PG
PAIRINGS: MinKey (Main), MinKhun, KeyWoon (Key/Dongwoon)
SUMMARY: I don't think I can do it. The love I have with you, I won't be able to find anywhere else even when I die. So what should I do if it isn't you? No one else can hold my heart but you. What should I do? Just wait...
A/N: MIANHE AGAIN! I know I told some of you that I'd have this done on Monday, but that didn't happen since I got stuck in the middle of writing it and had other things that I needed to do as well. Anyways, it's finally done and I hope you guys like it. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. Oh but guess what... this is my 200th post!!!!!!!!! WOO!!!!
“Yah! Kim Kibum!” Chansung yelled as he pushed the smaller boy causing him to fall onto the ground. There was a faint ripping sound as his knee skidded across the pavement.
“Why do you always play with the girls Kibum?! You don’t like playing with us? Are we too rough? You’d rather play tea part and dress up?” Taecyeon added as he kicked dirt up and into the other boy’s face, small particles fly into his eyes.
“N-no,” he mumbles as he starts to rub at his eyes in hopes of getting the dirt out and to wipe the tears away before they can see it. He may be young, but he’s not stupid. He knows that if they see him crying then they will just make things worst for him. It’s better if they think they don’t have any affects on him. But it’s hard to be strong when two much bigger boys are bullying you and there’s no one around to help.
“Then why don’t you come play with us?”
“I know why Taec.”
“Why?”
“Because he throws like a girl and screams whenever the ball comes his way,” they both erupt into laughter, their feet coming into contact with the legs he had tucked under his body. He falls over into the fetal position to keep them from doing any major damage on them. His mom would freak out if he came home all beaten up again and he hated to worry his mom.
“YAH! OK TAECYEON! HWANG CHANSUNG!” Kibum can barely hear the voice since he’s currently covering his ears with both of his hands, but he knows that someone is here to save him. He’s always here to save Kibum whenever he needs him the most. It’s like he was a super hero or something. At least he was Kibum’s super hero. He doesn’t bother to look and see who is coming, opting to keep protecting his body instead.
“You leave Kibum alone!”
“Yah, Minho,” Chansung looked over at the boy who just walked up to them “Why do you care so much about this guy anyways? He’s a nobody.”
“He’s not a nobody. He’s my friend so you better leave him alone or I will shove this ball up your nose,” Minho held out the soccer ball he had in his hands as a threat.
“You don’t have the guts,” Taecyeon scoffed, walking over to stand next to Minho in hopes of intimidating the other. But Minho was kind of a fool, he wasn’t one to back down easily even though the odds weren’t in his favor. At least not when it came to Kibum. He would always protect the other no matter what. He didn’t think it was fair for Taecyeon and and Chansung to pick on someone who was barely even half their size.
“Try me!” Minho stepped in front of Kibum to block him from the other two boys.
“Whatever, he’s not worth our time anyways Taec. Let’s go to the arcade,” Chansung said with a roll of his eyes.
“Fine. But you better watch your back Kibum!” and with that they both left them, walking down the street towards the arcade.
Minho turned around when he could no longer see them and kneeled next to the curled up boy. He placed a gentle hand on the other’s shoulder, causing him to flinch, “It’s okay Bummie, it’s just me. They’re gone.”
Kibum slowly uncovered his face and looked around. When he saw no sign of the other two he jumped into Minho’s waiting arms, “Ho, I was so scared. No one was here when they found me!”
“I’m sorry Kibum,” Minho rubbed the crying boy’s back as he continued to sob into his chest. He can feel his shirt start to get wet from the other’s tears, “I promise I won’t make you wait again.”
“Why are you late anyways Ho?” Kibum whimpered and looked up at the taller boy.
Minho gave him a sympathetic smile and wiped the tears from his face, “I got held up at practice. I’m sorry. I did rush over here once we were done. See, I’m still in my uniform and I accidentally took one of the balls.”
“Promise me you’ll never be late again!” Kibum said with a huff and lightly hit the other’s chest.
“I promise Bummie,” Minho pulled him back into a tight hug, “Come on, let’s go to my house so I can clean up your cut.”
Kibum looks down at his legs and sees the two rips that are now adorning his pants, “OMO! These are my favorite pair of jeans too!”
“Only you Bummie, only you,” Minho chuckled and started to lead the other in the direction of his house.
“Only me what?”
“Only you would worry more about your pants than the blood covering your knees.”
*~*
“Taecyeon, Chansung!” Minho yelled from down the hall, “How many times do I have to tell you to leave Kibum alone!” He marched over to the other two who were currently trying to stuff Kibum into his locker. Kibum was doing his best to stop it from happening, holding onto the sides of the locker tightly.
“And how many times do we have to ask you why you keep sticking up for this loser?” Chansung shoves Kibum hard in the back forcing a grunt out of the latter’s mouth.
“You’re cool Minho,” Taceyeon explains, leaving Chansung to the task they were currently working on, “A lot of girls like you and you’re the captain of the soccer team, so why waste your time on this thing?”
“Kibum is not a thing Taceyeon,” Minho shoves both boys aside and grabs Kibum’s hand, “He’s my friend and if you want to keep being friends with me, then you’ll leave him alone! Come on Bummie.”
Minho tugs on Kibum’s hand and they walk out of the building. He doesn’t slow down his pace until they’re a few blocks away from the school.
“Ho,” Kibum says once they’re walking at a normal pace, he tightens the grip he has on Minho’s hand.
“Yeah Bummie?”
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“What?” Minho turns to face the other to study his face before leading them to a nearby bench, “Why are you asking me that Bummie?”
“Well ever since we were little you’ve always been so nice to me. When all the other kids are bullying me, you’re always protecting me. And look at us, we’re already 14 and I still need you to protect me from stupid Chansung and Taecyeon,” Kibum pouts and turns his gaze to the floor. He starts to draw random shapes on the pavement, hands folded neatly in his lap.
“Bummie,” Minho grabs one of his hands and Kibum looks over at him, “I’m nice to you because I want to be. Besides, I hate bullies and I like you.”
“Really?” Kibum looks at Minho with big eyes, “You like me Ho?”
“Yeah.”
“I like you too,” he mumbles.
“What did you say?” Minho leans in with a hand cupped over his ear, pretending not to have heard the other when he really did.
“I said,” Kibum turns to look at Minho directly in the eyes, “I like you too.”
*~*
Kibum ran with all his might the moment his mom told him the news. It was a good thing that Minho didn’t live that far away or he wouldn’t be able to make it at all. The things he does for his boyfriend. He hates running the most and yet here he is running like there’s no tomorrow.
“MINHO!” he breathlessly yells when he finally spots the other’s house. Minho was just about to get into the car when he turns in the direction he heard his name coming from.
“Bummie?”
“YAH!” Kibum hits Minho with what little strength he has left before bending over in an attempt to catch his breath.
“Did you run all the way here Bummie?” Minho rubs Kibum’s back.
“Ne.”
“Aw, you didn’t have to.”
“But umma told me that you were leaving for good,” Kibum stands up and stares at Minho, “Why didn’t you tell me?! I’m your boyfriend!”
“I didn’t want you to be sad.”
“And so you were just going to leave me without saying good bye?” tears were now forming in Kibum’s eyes.
“Bummie, mianhe,” Minho brought the other into a hug, “I wasn’t thinking. I just didn’t want you to be sad that I was leaving.”
“I hate you Choi Minho!” Kibum yelled as he hit Minho’s chest. His cheeks were now wet with his tears, “I can’t believe you were planning on just leaving me!”
“Mianhe Bummie,” Minho held onto the crying boy tightly, “We really weren’t even supposed to be leaving for another week, but my appa called and said we need to go over there now. Our house isn’t even packed up yet. Please don’t hate me.”
“Minho, we need to get going or we’ll miss our flight,” Minho’s mom called from the cab that was waiting at the end of the drive way.
“Ne umma,” he turns back to the Kibum and lifts his head so that they can look at one another, “I’m really sorry Bummie. I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me. If I had a choice I would never leave your side, but I need to go with my umma and appa and hyung.”
“I know Ho,” Kibum sniffled and felt the other start to wipe away his tears again, “I wish you didn’t have to go either.”
“I promise I’ll be back okay?”
“Promise?” Kibum holds out his pinky and Minho wraps his own around it.
“I promise. Me moving away for a little bit won’t change anything. I still love you and am yours only.”
“And I’m yours as well,” Kibum leaned up and placed a soft kiss on Minho’s lips. When the two separated, their fingers naturally laced together as they walked down to the car that would be taking Minho away. They hesitantly let go of one another so that Minho can get in. He rolls down the window and holds out his hand to Kibum who quickly sandwiches it between his own.
“You’ll wait for me right?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I know.”
“Take care of yourself okay? And if those stupid monkey Chansung and his beaver friend Taceyeon touch a singly hair on your body I will come back and beat the snot outta them.”
Kibum couldn’t help but laugh at the thought and nodded his head, “I know.”
Minho pulled his hand away for a second so he could dig in the pockets of jeans, pulling something out but keeping it hidden within his fist, “I didn’t have time to get you a proper going away gift.”
“Shouldn’t it be me who gets you one?”
“You already gave me your gift.”
“Did I?”
“Yeah, that kiss,” Minho smiled and reached his closed hand out of the window again. Kibum placed his hands underneath to catch the object that laid hidden in it when he opened his fist, “It’s my favorite guitar pic. Think of it as collateral. A for sure sign that I will be coming back to you.”
Kibum nods and leans his head into the car to give Minho one last gift before they’re separated, “I love you Choi Minho.”
“I love you too Kim Kibum. I’ll see you in a little bit,” Minho caressed Kibum’s face one more time, placing a final kiss on the other’s lips before Kibum straightens up. Tears escape both teenagers eyes as the cab drives off. Kibum holds the small gift tight in his fist and close to his heart while Minho keeps his fingers on his lips, trying to bore the feeling of Kibum’s lips against his into his memory.
*~*
Just like every story when a couple is separated they vow to stay in touch. They’re constantly in contact with one another whether it be phone or e-mail or regular mail. There was always a strong connection between the two young lovers. However, as always, things start to die down. Phone calls go from every night to every other night to every few days to once a week and so on. The e-mails start to get less frequent and the letters stop altogether. The two start to move on with their lives, accepting the fact that they may never see one another again as one year slowly turns into two and then three. It’s time that they both start to move on. And that’s exactly what they do.
“Nichkhun hyung,” Minho calls out to his boyfriend as he brings in the last box to their new apartment. They had met in high school and quickly became friends and then soon lovers. Now they were both in college, opting to go to the same school so that they wouldn’t have to be apart.
“Yeah babe?” Nichkhun walked out of their room, folding up the box he had just unpacked and adding it to the growing stack he had going in the living room.
“This is the last one and then we are officially moved in.”
“Good because I don’t know how many more boxes I can stand the sight of,” they both survey the room that was only half full of boxes now compared to the amount they had started with earlier this morning. Nichkhun takes the box from Minho and goes to the kitchen with it, setting it down on the counter before going back over to his boyfriend. He wraps his arms around the other’s waist and Minho does the same, “I’m glad that we’re going to be living together now. You don’t know how much I hated having to say good-bye to you every night before we went our separate ways.”
“Oh I have a feeling how you much you hated it because I hated it too,” Minho leans forward just as Nichkhun does and their lips meet for a brief kiss.
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” and even though Minho would never admit it to himself, the phrase just never felt right when he said it to Nichkhun. He had no doubt that he indeed loved the other, but those three little words never held quite the same meaning as when he said it to a certain sixteen year old boy of his past. The one whose last memory he had of was the image of the slightly older crying as he drove to the airport, his own tears blurring his vision.
In the building just next door that same sixteen year old boy held the door open for his boyfriend as he brought in the last box into his single dorm, “I still can’t believe we’re not going to the same school Woonie.”
“Key, we’ve been over this the whole day,” Dongwoon said, gathering the other in his arms and placing a comforting kiss on his cheek, “My university is just a 15 minute bus ride away. I’ll be here every weekend and on all the holidays.”
“I know, but I’d still prefer us to be going to the same school Woonie. We’ve rarely been apart since the day you asked me out.”
“I know baby, but don’t think of it as us being apart. I’m not that far away. I can come running whenever you need me.”
“Promise,” Kibum holds out his pinky finger and Dongwoon wraps his around it. The feeling not quite the same as when he was promised that a certain alien-like boy would come back for him one day. He didn’t believe and put all of his faith into this promise like he did back then, like he still does now.
“I promise. Now do you want me to help you unpack?”
“Oh god no. I love you and all Woonie, but you’re kind of messy. I’ll be fine unpacking myself,” he takes a quick survey of all the boxes in the room.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then I’m going to get going then. I have an early class tomorrow and I want to read the first chapter before going to bed.”
“Always the studious one,” Kibum joked and leaned forward to kiss his boyfriend, their lips lingering against one another sweetly.
“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon once my last class is done okay?”
“Okay.”
“I love you,” Dongwoon says as the other walks him to the door.
“I love you too,” Kibum doesn’t pay any attention to the light sourness that lingers in his mouth when the words leave it. It’s as if they know that they aren’t meant for the person they were being directed to. That the true owner of the heart felt words wasn’t the blond that was now walking out of the dorm, but rather the alien boy that was living in the building beside them. The same alien boy who gave him the guitar pic that has been hanging from his neck since the day he left. Kibum’s left hand comes up to clench around it just as his heart begins to flutter.
At that precise moment, Minho stops unpacking the box that’s in front of him. His own heart suddenly increasing in speed as his left hand comes up to pound at it. It’s as if they know that the other is near. That the person they beat for is just a short walk away. Their hearts continued to call out to one another in hopes of reuniting the two boys and becoming whole once again.
*~*
There’s no mistaking it, Minho can spot him from miles away in a crowded room. He knows he saw Kibum walking around campus earlier, but when he tried to catch up with him, the other just seemed to disappear into thin air. Minho was no fool and knew that that didn’t happen and ever since that day he’s been searching the crowds around campus for that familiar face. For those sharp cheek bones that he used to love to touch. Those plump lips that seemed to fit perfectly against his own. And those feline eyes that would bore holes into his heart and soul whenever they were on him.
Just the thought of attending the same school as Kibum filled him with a feeling he hadn’t had since the day he left. There was little guilt in his heart that the face he thought of every night every morning wasn’t that of his boyfriend, but of his ex. A determination he had never experienced before coursed through his body as he was adamant on finding Kibum in the crowded campus.
Lady luck didn’t seem to be on his side though. For weeks after that first glimpse he caught no sign of the other around campus. He began to think that his eyes and brain were playing tricks on him. He knew that the campus was big, but he still saw familiar faces everyday. None of them were the face he wanted to see the most though. He finally gave up after two months of searching for the other. His subconscious was probably just playing tricks on him. Just because he was back home, doesn’t mean he would run into Kibum the moment be returned.
He still thought about whether or not Kibum still thought about what they had before he left all those years ago. He wondered if Kibum even knew that he was back, no doubt their moms have already talked since their return a few months back. He wondered if Kibum was looking for him as well, hoping to catch even just a glimpse of the other.
*~*
“No umma,” Kibum said into the phone, letting out a long sigh. His mom has been calling him every day since she told him the news about Minho’s family returning to the city. Sure he remembered Minho. How could he not? Minho was his world for the first sixteen years of his life. He was the only one he cared about and loved other than his family. Then Minho moved away and things between them died down. He was with Dongwoon now. He was happy and in love. So he wasn’t going to ruin it all by going to look for someone from his past. Even though he was someone that he still loved more than anything.
“Have you even tried to look for him? His umma told me that he actually goes to the same university as you.”
“I have umma,” no he hasn’t, he hasn’t tried at all. If anything he was trying his best to blend into the crowd in hopes of not be spotted by Minho. He didn’t know why he was doing this because a part of him did want to see Minho again. He wanted to be held in the other’s arms and feel the warmth and safety only Minho could make him feel.
“No you haven’t,” she says, “Did you forget who you’re talking to Kibummie. I’m your mom and I know when you’re lying without having to see you. Why haven’t you tried to get in contact with Minho again? I thought things ended mutually between you two.”
“They did umma, I just haven’t had the time to go out and search for him. This university isn’t small,” Kibum answered. He still felt the small tinge of guilt when his mom brought up how things ended between Minho and him. Things didn’t really end mutually, well they didn’t end badly either. He had just stopped talking to Minho. He was tired of the ache in his heart and the tears that would form whenever he heard from the other. It was also probably the reason why he wasn’t going out of his way to find Minho. He didn’t want to feel that pain again.
“Kim Kibum, stop doing this to yourself,” his mom scolded.
“What are you talking about umma?” Kibum turned the stove off and removed his dinner, placing it on a pot holder before going over to grab a plate.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Putting yourself through this.”
“Umma, you’re talking in circles. Will you just spit out what you need to say so that we can hang up and I can eat my dinner then study before going to bed?”
“Kibum,” she starts and then stops, inhaling a deep breath, “I want you to be happy again.”
“I am happy umma.”
“Happy and in love.”
“I am happy and in love. I love Dongwoon and he loves me. I’m happy that we’re still together even though we’re going to separate universities.”
“I think you love Dongwoon, but I don’t think you’re IN love with him because you’re still IN love with Minho.”
“No I’m not.”
“Then why do you still wear that necklace?”
His hand goes up to his neck to the necklace that has been hanging from it for over three years now. His fingers close around the small green piece of plastic, he can still feel the warmth from when Minho first gave it to him. He let out a sigh and dropped his hand, “I need to go now umma. I love you and I’ll talk to you later.”
*~*
If Minho had known sooner, he would have given up on looking for Kibum earlier than he did. It was the day after he had given up that he finally caught another glimpse of the other. This time he wasn’t going to let him get away. This time he was going to make sure to keep his eye on the other as he pushed his way through the people and towards him. This time he was able to land a hand on Kibum’s shoulder before he disappeared into one of the many buildings that made up their university.
Kibum turned around to face who had just grabbed his shoulder and his breath hitched. He found himself staring into familiar brown eyes that he used to dream about seeing in person again. His voice was caught in his throat hindering him from saying anything to the other. They stood there, partially blocking the entrance to the building Kibum was just about to walk into, and just stared at one another. Neither one of them uttered a single work or sound.
Minho was the first to do something. He jerked his hand back towards his body causing the slightly smaller boy to fall into his waiting arms, “Bummie, I knew that was you I saw a few months ago.”
Kibum could hear the smile in the other’s voice as he was pulled closer to a chest that he used to know so well. It was firmer now and he could faintly feel the new muscles that had formed in the time that they were apart. He took in a deep breath and smiled at the fact that Minho still smelt the same. He still smelt like it did after a spring rain, fresh, clean, and comforting. He reluctantly pulled away from the embrace though. There was no way he was going to allow himself to mix his past and present together. Dongwoon was his present and possibly his future, Minho was his past.
“Minho,” he managed to choke out, “Umma told me that you were back and you are!”
“I am. I actually came back awhile go. I’ve missed everything about this place and knew that if we didn’t move back before I graduated that I would apply for university here. And as you can see, I got in.”
“Yeah,” Kibum wanted to leave, he could already sense that the feelings he used to have for the other was coming back. He didn’t want any of that though, he was already happy with Dongwoon and he couldn’t betray him.
“I can’t believe I’m finally seeing you after all those years,” Minho pulls Kibum into another tight hug, not wanting to ever let go of the other again. He didn’t realize just how much he missed Kibum until now, “I’ve missed you so much Bummie. Didn’t you miss me?”
“O-of c-course I missed you s-silly boy,” Kibum tried to playfully hit the other on the just, but seemed to melt into the embrace instead. The familiar scent of the other flooding his nose and bringing back so many memories and feelings. He grips Minho’s shoulders tightly and buries his head into the crook of his neck, afraid that if either of them were to let go that this would just be a dream.
Minho was the first to pull away from the other, keeping his arms firmly locked around Kibum’s waist though, “Do you have class right now?”
Kibum glanced at the building behind them and then down at his watch, “It started five minutes ago and my professor is a stickler about being on time, so I guess I won’t be going today.”
“Good because I want to catch up with you,” Minho finally releases Kibum from his arms, only to grab the other’s hands instead, “Have you eaten?”
“You know I’m not a breakfast person Minho.”
“Still haven’t changed,” Minho playfully tapped Kibum’s nose and began to pull him through campus, “Well you can sit and mooch off of my plate, like you always do, while we talk and update each other on what’s happened since we last talked.”
“Yah!” Kibum slapped Minho’s arm, “I never mooched off your plate.”
“Oh you’re right,” Minho laughed, “You always ate half of it and whenever I suggested you order your own food, you always said you weren’t that hungry.”
Kibum pouted at Minho as he was pulled into a nearby diner and then into a booth not too long afterwards. He knew that he should be sitting across from Minho and not beside him, but couldn’t make himself move away when the hand that was holding his wrapped around his shoulder instead to pull him close.
Minho places his order with their waitress, Kibum only ordering a cup of coffee. He really wasn’t that big on eating in the morning, probably because he’d rather sleep until he absolutely had to wake up, “So how was California?”
“Different,” Minho replied, starting to play with Kibum’s hair without realizing it, “Everyone is so plastic there. I’m sure more than half the people there can’t even remember what how they looked before they had all their surgeries.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but I liked that it was always sunny and warm. I never had an excuse not to be out playing sports or jogging. It was nice.”
“Still sports obsessed I see.”
“You never complained about it before.”
“I know, I just like that you haven’t changed in all these years. You’re still the Minho that I know.”
“And you’re still the Bummie I know,” Minho chuckled as Kibum grabbed a piece of cantaloupe from his plate when the waitress returned with his order.
“You still eat such a heavy breakfast,” Kibum says, picking up Minho’s fork and cutting himself a piece of pancake after Minho finished buttering and pouring syrup over them.
“I have practice later today, so I need to eat up so I have the energy to get through it. The coaches here are brutal. We’ve mostly been running drills the past couple days,” he started to eat his own food, holding up his fork every once in awhile to feed the other.
They continued to talk about what the other had missed while they were apart. It was like they had never been apart in the first place. Kibum was extremely tense when they had first ran into each other and it only got worst when the got to the diner and Minho’s arm was around his shoulder. By the time Minho was done eating and had paid the bill, Kibum had his hand resting on Minho’s thigh while he laughed at their childhood memories.
“Oh gosh,” Kibum wiped his eyes with his free hand as his laughter finally died down, “I haven’t laughed this hard in ages.”
“Same here,” he responded, giving Kibum’s shoulder a comforting squeeze, “I miss this. I miss us. Talking and laughing like this. I’m glad to be back.”
Kibum looked up at Minho and straight into his eyes. He smiled softly and returned Minho’s squeeze by doing the same to the thigh his hand rested on, “I’m glad you’re back too.”
Neither one of them knew that they other was fighting the urge to lean forward and capture the other’s lips. They both were happy to have each other back. Their life wasn’t the same when they were apart. Things were finally starting to feel normal again.
*~*
Minho and Kibum continued to hang out with one another, their meetings getting more and more regular. They mostly met at the diner for breakfast, Kibum always ordering a plain cup of coffee only to end up eating half of Minho’s food just like in the past. Minho smiled, never telling the other that he always ordered so much because he knew that Kibum would always end up eating part of it. They talked about everything and anything, except for one thing.
They both danced around the topic of their love lives. Neither one of them wanted to ask the other if they were dating or not. Perhaps it was because the question never really crossed either of their minds. Or maybe it did and they were just too scared to bring the topic up. It felt like it did three years ago. It was like they were together again even though they both had their own boyfriends.
Kibum was walking towards the soccer field in hopes of catching a glimpse of Minho during practice. He really was happy to have the other back in his life. He could see the soccer field ahead of him and quickened his steps. He could spot Minho even from a distance, it was like he had a homing device on the other. A bright smile crossed his face as he got closer to Minho and then he stopped in his tracks.
He didn’t notice that there was another person with Minho. A person that was leaning over the railing of the bleachers whispering something into Minho’s ear and making him laugh. It was probably all innocent and Kibum was overreacting, but he could feel his blood starting to boil. That was HIS Minho. He was the only one who could whisper in Minho’s ear like that and make him laugh. Who was this other guy?
And then he saw the other guy lean forward even more and Minho raise up on his tippy toes to share a kiss. Kibum couldn’t breathe all of a sudden. It was like all the oxygen in his body was just ripped from him at the sight of the two kissing and so openly. His left hand went up to the necklace that still hung from his neck, the one that Minho never noticed no matter what Kibum did, while the other clenched into a fist. He turned on his heels and started to run in the direction he just came from. It was until he stopped, hiding behind a pillar of one of the science buildings that he realized the tears streaming down his face, quickly wiping them away. He sank to the floor, hugging his legs tightly to his chest as he tried to get some oxygen into his lungs again.
“It’s okay Kibum, you’re okay. Minho’s free to date whoever he wants, you two broke up a long time ago. There’s no reason for you to be upset. You’re okay,” Kibum started to pound his chest as the aching began to grow, this time it was worst than when Minho had left to move to California. The tears wouldn’t stop falling no matter how much he urged them not to and wiped them away, “Kim Kibum stop crying. You don’t have a right to be upset about Minho having a boyfriend. You have a boyfriend too. Don’t you remember? His name is Dongwoon and you’re crazy about him. Minho is just an ex boyfriend/best friend who just happened to walk back into your life. You love him, I mean…” Kibum’s hand came up to his mouth and he gasped, surprised at what he had just said.
*~*
Minho pulled away from the quick kiss and turned just in time to catch Kibum running in the opposite. He knew it was Kibum without having to look at his face.
“Baby,” Nichkhun said as he straightened up and followed his boyriend’s eyes, “Baby?”
“Huh?” Minho turned back to his boyfriend, fighting the urge to run after Kibum. He knew that Kibum was upset, having mastered the art of reading the other like a book. Kibum never liked it because he wasn’t able to hide anything from the other, but Minho was quite fond of his skill because the other had a tendency to keep things bottled up inside until it exploded in his face.
“What are you looking at?”
“Oh, nothing,” he smiled at Nichkhun, “I better get going, practice is going to start soon.”
“Okay,” Nickhun leans over once more and Minho presses their lips together in a quick kiss, “I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll even make your favorite for dinner.”
“Aw, you don’t have to baby.”
“I know, but I want to. I feel like I haven’t spoiled my baby in so long. I’m such a bad boyfriend,” he joked as he picked his bag off the ground.
“You’re not a bad boyfriend baby,” I’m the bad boyfriend. I’ve fallen back in love with my ex and I can’t help but think of anyone but him. He the last thing I think of every night and the first thing every morning even though you’re the one laying beside me. I’m sorry Nichkhun hyung.
“Aw, you’re too sweet Minho,” Nichkhun patted his cheeks and smiled warmly at him, “Have a good practice, I’ll be waiting for you when you get home.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later baby.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” Minho felt his stomach churn when he said that, the picture of Kibum running away being the only thing he could think of. He wondered if he had enough time to go after him and see if he was okay, but knew that he didn’t. Practice was going to start in ten minutes and he still had to change into his uniform and get his cleats on. Minho turned in the direction that Kibum had run, the same direction that Nichkhun was walking and sighed before heading off to the locker room.
*~*
Kibum was curled up on his couch, hugging a blanket to his shaking form. He was still pretty upset about learning that Minho was dating someone and the guy wasn’t that bad looking either. He didn’t even know when he had fallen back in love with Minho to begin with or was it that he never stopped loving him. He groaned in frustration and pulled the blanket over his head. He didn’t even hear his door opening and closing.
“Baby, what are you doing?” the couch dipped beside his head as someone sat down beside him. He pulled the blanket way just enough so he can look at his own boyfriend.
“Nothing. I was tired when I got home and wanted to take a little nap, but it was too bright.”
“So you decided to hide under your blanket so you can sleep?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re so cute,” Dongwoon leans down and places a kiss on Kibum’s forehead, “Have you started dinner yet?”
“No, I just got home not too long ago. But if you’re hungry I can go and start it now,” Kibum made a move to get off the couch, but Dongwoon stopped him.
“No need baby. I wanted to cook tonight anyways,” he help up the plastic bag in his hand, “I know how much you like pasta so I’m going to make you chicken alfredo.”
“Aw, thanks Woonie,” Kibum leaned up and kissed the other gently, “Not too much pepper this time okay?”
“Okay. You just take your nap, I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”
“Okay,” Kibum closed his eyes again and curled into the warmth of the blanket. He felt Dongwoon’s lips land on his before he went to the kitchen to start on dinner.
Kibum didn’t get to take his nap though. His mind was reeling with thoughts of Dongwoon and Minho. Dongwoon was the epitome of the perfect boyfriend. They had started dating back in high school. He was actually the one who had begun to watch over and protect Kibum from his childhood bullies, who eventually gave up on bullying him altogether. And things started to get a little more romantic and a little less friendly between the two. Dongwoon was the reason why Kibum had stopped talking to Minho. He figured he needed to put all his energy into his new relationship instead of wasting it on someone he didn’t know if he’d ever see again. Dongwoon had take Minho’s place in Kibum’s life. But now that Minho was back, he didn’t know what he felt anymore.
He did know that his heart broke worst than when Minho left. The aching in his chest was getting progressively worst. He pounded on his chest again in hopes of dulling out the pain, but it was no use. He never thought he’d see Minho with someone else. And now that he was dating a new, pretty hot guy, Kibum’s world shattered. Tears began to fall from his eyes again and he swallowed his sobs, not wanting to worry Dongwoon.
*~*
“Hey,” Minho ran to catch up with Kibum, placing his hand on the other’s shoulder much like he did all those months ago. This time Kibum didn’t let that hand rest there for long before jerking away and continuing into the building. Minho frowned, but followed the other, this time grabbing his wrist, “Kibum.”
“Let go, I’m going to be late for class,” Kibum yanked his hand out of Minho’s grasp and quickened his pace down the hall. Minho wasn’t going to let him get away that easily. He hadn’t seen the other for almost two weeks and was worried that something might have happened or that he had fallen ill. So when he finally caught sight of him, he was determined to find out what was wrong.
“Bummie,” Minho whispered, grabbing hold of the other again.
“What do you want Minho?” Kibum turned around to face him and felt bad when he saw the look on Minho’s face. He looked upset.
“What’s wrong? I haven’t seen or heard from you in two weeks. Were you sick? You should have told me, I could have brought you some soup or something.”
“I wasn’t sick.”
“Then what were you doing for two weeks that you couldn’t even say hi to me?”
“I was just busy with school. I had some tests and projects that needed my full attention.”
“Oh.”
“Look I’m sorry Minho,” Kibum softened and placed his hand on top of the one Minho had wrapped around his wrist, “I didn’t mean to stop talking to you. I was just busy.”
“Well I was worried about you. I thought you had fallen ill or something. I just wish you would told me.”
Kibum stepped forward and let his free hand caress Minho’s cheek, the other involuntarily leaning into the touch. Without thinking, Kibum stood up on his tippy toes and kissed Minho’s forehead and then his cheek, “I’m sorry Minho. I don’t mean to make you worry.”
“I just thought it was like when you stopped talking to me all of a sudden when I was still in California. I don’t want that to happen again. It hurt a lot. I thought I had done something wrong and you hated me all of a sudden.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong Minho,” Kibum continued to caress the other lovingly, realizing how Minho immediately relaxed and calmed down at the simple touch.
“I don’t want you to be out of my life again Bummie.”
“I don’t want to be out of your life.”
“I still love you,” both Minho and Kibum’s eyes widen at the sudden confession. Minho wasn’t planning on revealing his feelings for the other, the words seeming to have come out of his mouth on their own accord. He ended up smiling though, it felt good to say it out loud.
“What did you say Minho?”
“I said I still love you.”
“But… How?”
“Bummie, I think you know how. You were there when I first told you I loved you all those years ago. Nothing’s changed since then.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“But I saw you kiss another guy the other day.”
Minho thought about it and then remembered the day he saw Kibum running away. The day he knew that the other was upset, but couldn’t run after him to make sure he was okay. That was also the last day he had heard from Kibum. Everything was starting to make perfect sense to him, “Bummie.”
“Hm?” Minho had wrapped his arms around Kibum at this point and pulled him close. The other had his head resting on Minho’s chest and his eyes closed. He inhaled the familiar scent of Minho and smiled.
“Do you love me?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer my question please. Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Are you still IN love with me?”
“Very much so.”
“Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“Okay I’ll break up with Nichkhun hyung.”
“Wh-what?” Kibum pulled away from Minho and stared up at him in shock, “How can you just decide that all of a sudden? Don’t you love him?”
“I do, but I’m no longer IN love with him. That stopped the day I saw you again.”
“B-but Minho…”
“We love each other right?”
“Yes, but-”
“You want to be with me right?”
“Of course I do, but-”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You can’t just go and break up with someone out of nowhere.”
“Why not? It’s best if I don’t string him along. I love you Bummie and I want us to be together again. Therefore, I need to break up with Nichkhun.”
“Minho…”
“Wait… are you dating someone too?”
Kibum slowly nods his head, “Dongwoon.”
“And you don’t want to break up with him,” Minho’s voice fell and he took a few steps away from Kibum, “I see. You don’t want me to break up with Nichkhun because you don’t want to break up with this Dongwoon guy.”
“Minho, I just don’t want us to rush into something that we might regret.”
“How are we going to regret this Bummie? You love me and I love you. We belong together. We’ve always belonged together. You can’t tell me that you don’t feel the same.”
“I do feel the same. I love you and want to be with you.”
“So be with me,” Minho grabbed Kibum’s hands and held them firmly in his own, “I’m standing right in front of you telling you I want to be with you. Why are you hesitating?”
“Because this is all so sudden. I don’t know what to think or do at this point. All I know is that I’m confused about you and what I feel for you and what I feel for Dongwoon.”
“I see,” Minho drops Kibum’s hands and steps back. Then maybe I should give you some space so you can figure this out.”
Kibum grabbed Minho’s hand to keep him in place, “I never said that I needed space.”
“Then why did you avoid me for the past two weeks?”
“Because I needed to think.”
“About?”
“About you.”
“And?”
“And us.”
“So?”
“I’m still confused, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t extremely happy to have you back in my life.”
“And I’m happy to have you back as well.”
“Give me one more day.”
“Just one day?”
“Yes, let me talk to Dongwoon tonight and then we’ll see where this all goes.”
“And if I say no?”
“Minho, don’t be like that.”
“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“Then… I don’t know. Just let me talk to him okay?”
“Sure thing, but I’m coming over tonight.”
“You don’t even know where I live.”
“Tell me.”
“I’ll text it to you later.”
“The moment you’re done talking to this Dongwoon guy?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll see you later tonight,” Minho leaned forward and kisses Kibum for the first time in the three years they’ve been apart before he jogged off to his next class. Kibum stood there speechless as his hand came up to touch his lips. It’s been so long since they’ve kissed, but that one kiss made Kibum remember why he felt the way he did about Minho all those years ago. Why Minho was the only person he ever wanted to be with. Because after all this time they’ve spent apart, Minho is still the one and only person who can leave Kibum completely breathless and speechless with just one simple kiss.
*~*
The talk with Dongwoon doesn’t go as good as Kibum had hoped it would. There was a lot of yelling and arguing between them. Dongwoon thought that Kibum was just using Minho as an excuse to dump him and that he didn’t care about the other whatsoever. Kibum argued that he wasn’t using Minho as an excuse. That the feelings and love they shared were genuine and real.
Dongwoon tried to get Kibum to understand that he was probably just reveling in what he shared with Minho in the past. That what he was feeling was just his brain reminiscing. He told Kibum that he knew that he loved him and no one else. They were the ones that belonged together not him and Minho. He told Kibum that he would be making a serious mistake if he left him for the other. What they had was deep and real. What him and Minho had were just good memories.
Kibum had told Dongwoon to leave about an hour ago and was now laying on his couch, crying his eyes out. He had never seen this side of Dongwoon before. He was so harsh and cold. Kibum didn’t like it one bit. And he didn’t like that he belittled what him and Minho had together. How could Dongwoon say such things about something he knew nothing about. He wasn’t the person that Kibum thought he was.
*Bummie? Are you in there?” he heard coming from the door and he stood up. He walked over to it and opened it up to see Minho standing on the other side.
“Minho what are you doing here? How did you even find out where I live?”
“I have a friend who works in the main building and he gave me your address.”
“That’s totally illegal.”
“It’s harmless.”
“It’s still illegal. What if I had a restraining order on you?”
“Relax Bummie,” Minho wrapped his arms around Kibum’s waist and pulled him close, “It’s Jinki hyung. He knows both of us, that’s the only reason why he gave it to me. It did take a lot of convincing and I promised him that I’d give him a bucket of chicken every day for two weeks.”
“He’s still obsessed with chicken?”
“Of course he is. He’s the chicken maniac Lee Jinki.”
Kibum nods his head and moves closer to Minho, resting his head in the crook of the other’s neck.
“What’s wrong Bummie? You seem upset.”
“Dongwoon and I had a fight. He’s being unreasonable and stupid. Nothing like the person I started to date and fell in love with.”
Minho felt his blood boil when he listened to the other talk about his boyfriend. He really didn’t like hearing that someone else was trying to take his place in his Bummie’s heart. Kim Kibum belonged with him not anybody else. Why can’t he see that?
“And what did you say to him?”
“I told him to get out.”
“That’s my Bummie.”
“Am I really?”
“Are you really what?”
“Yours?”
“I want you to be.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why? You don’t want to be mine?”
“I never said that. I was just asking if you’re sure you want me to be yours. I want to make sure that you won’t regret it and wish you were back with your boyfriend.”
“The only boyfriend I want and need is you,” Minho pulled Kibum closer to him and kissed him again. Kibum’s eyes widened, but they just as quickly fell shut as he responded to the innocent kiss by pushing his lips more firmly against Minho’s.
Minho pulled away from Kibum first and lovingly caressed his face. Kibum’s eyes closed and he leaned into the soft touch, “That is why I want to be with you.”
“What is?”
“That kiss.”
“You want to be with me because I’m a good kisser.”
“No because it feels right whenever we kiss. It’s not like when I kiss Nichkhun. It’s different, I don’t know how to explain it.”
Kibum smiled and nodded, “I think I know what you mean.”
“You always do.”
“That’s because I know you better than you know yourself.”
“True,” they stood in the middle of Kibum’s apartment, not saying a single word to one another. They were just enjoying being back in the arms of the one they were meant to be with. Minho reaches his hand up and Kibum thinks he’s going to caress his face again, but is thrown off when he reaches for his neck instead. He gives Minho a confused look, but he only gets a smile in return.
“What are you doing?”
“What did I say to you when I gave you this?”
Kibum looked down to see that Minho held the guitar pick he had given the other when he left, “You said that it was your favorite guitar pick.”
“Yeah and what else.”
“To think of it as collateral.”
“And what else?”
“That it was a promise that you’d come back to me.”
“And I kept that promise didn’t I?”
“Yes, yes you did,” Kibum leaned forward and captured the other’s lips in a sweet kiss, “Did you want it back?”
“No, why don’t you hold onto it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So that if we’re ever separated again for whatever reason, you’ll know that I’ll come back for you. That I’ll always come back to you as long as you wait for me.”