After Life
Title: After Life
Pairing: Jongkey
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,447
A/N: So, I don't know why I wrote this when I'm on hiatus and have exams in 2 weeks time. D: Comments very much appreciated! (:
It’s 7 in the morning and the sky is barely lit. Tap, tap, tap, his wooden cane makes a slow rhythm with the concrete steps. He takes a steady pace as he climbs the steps, cane in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
It’s 7:15 by the time he reaches the grave but it doesn’t matter. Time stopped mattering the day he died. He settles down by the grave after much effort and places the paper bag by his side. He leans against the stone and inhales the crisp morning air, eyes closed while doing so. He always preferred this time of the day, he knows he did too.
-
He takes a deep breath before turning to Jonghyun.
“You know, they say the morning air is good for your health.”
“Really?” Jonghyun says, “Better breathe more then.” And the older man starts taking quick heavy breaths.
Kibum turns his head sharply at Jonghyun, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Testing the myth,” Jonghyun says. “And now I’m gonna live longer than you.”
“Are you stupid,” Kibum says, cocking a brow in Jonghyun’s direction.
Seeing that Jonghyun ignores him and continues doing that stupid breathing of his, Kibum narrows his eyes and starts doing the same. No way in hell is he going to let Jonghyun outlive him. Surely enough, that got Jonghyun’s attention and somehow, they got into a ‘Who-could-breath-the-fastest’ competition. It didn’t take them long to burst out laughing at each other’s face. Apparently, they looked like idiots.
“We should come here more often,” Jonghyun suggests, the corners of his eyes still crinkling in amusement.
“Yeah, we should.” Kibum agrees, taking another deep breath before slipping his hand into Jonghyun’s.
-
It’s 8 and the world is bright. Jonghyun takes a steamed bun from the paper bag and starts eating his breakfast. It’s noisier now, the birds are chirping and the trees are rustling. Jonghyun wonders if he should buy the bun with red bean paste or black sesame filling tomorrow.
He spends another 2 hours in silence before getting up and picking up the broom by Kibum’s grave. It’s a well-known fact that Kibum liked looking fabulous, regardless of age. Despite his age and crumpled skin, Kibum liked wearing bright colours, really bright colours. There was a time when Kibum wore a black and pink zebra-striped sweater to the market. Jonghyun shudders at the mere thought of it. And of course, the Yellow Pants. He would never forget the Yellow Pants.
-
“Unnf arrgh ughh ooh.”
Jonghyun couldn’t decide which was worst, the whimpering sounds behind him, the sharp jabs aimed at his sides or the yellow pants Kibum’s wearing.
“Urh arrf ughh.” Kibum makes those incomprehensible sounds again. He gestures to his mouth, opens and closes it, then points at almost everything around him, and gestures to his mouth again.
“Your dentures? How would I know! And don’t look at me like that, I’m wearing my own dentures, not yours.” Jonghyun says as he shakes Kibum off and hobbles over to his favourite couch.
“Urghh!” Kibum lets out an exasperated cry before grabbing a pencil from the counter and tearing a page off the calendar.
How am I supposed to go out without my teeth! Kibum shoves the paper into Jonghyun’s face.
“Well, don’t go out then. Even if you had your teeth, I’d advise you to change out of those pants. They’re blinding me.” Jonhyun says as he pushes the paper away from his face and gives Kibum a look of disgust.
If I don’t go out Mr Thinks-He’s-a-Fashionista, what are you going to wipe your stupid ass with for the rest of the day?
Jonghyun widens his eyes in sudden realization. He didn’t see that coming. How was he to know they’d run out of toilet rolls so soon! And he frowns at the thought of scrubbing his ass with the newspaper.
“Well, have you checked the fridge?” Jonghyun says, taking effort to make it sound like a normal logical suggestion. Even though he fears for his life, he can’t wait to see the look on Kibum’s face either.
Kibum stares at Jonghyun in horror and mouths a No, you didn’t to the older man before shuffling over to the fridge.
And there it was, lying in the ice box, glistening amongst the ice cubes while waiting for his owner. On the couch, Jonghyun was thumping his cane on the floor and holding his jaw, trying to prevent his own dentures from falling due to the excessive laughter. He knows he shouldn’t be laughing and he knows he’s in trouble but Kibum’s face! It was a mixture of horror and disbelief and how Jonghyun wished he had a camera right there and then. It’s not every day you get to see the dignified Kibum look so stupefied. But when he sees a Kibum filled with murderous intent, he wonders how fast his trusty cane and legs can carry him.
And so, Kibum never got to show the world the Yellow Pants as he spends most of the day chasing a hobbling Jonghyun around the house, cane in the air and ready to fire.
-
Well, He knows he can’t make Kibum’s grave look as fashionable as the younger man wants but he believes he can at least make it look presentable.
It’s a little past 11 as he finishes sweeping the leaves and dirt off Kibum’s grave. It’s 12 when he tries to straighten his back, hunched and sore from all the weed plucking. Looking up at the sky, he figures it’s time for lunch. He carefully places the broom next to Kibum’s grave and grabs his cane, slowly making his way down the hill.
It’s 5 by the time Jonghyun’s back at Kibum’s grave. Again, he carries the brown paper bag with him. As he settles down, he takes a bottle of soju out from the bag, along with 2 plastic cups. Pouring the clear liquid into both cups, he places one in front of the stone slab and holds the other in his hand. After downing the soju in one shot, he clears his throat and starts singing a song. His voice is coarse and croaky and he wonders if Kibum was serious when he made the request.
-
“Did you hear that?” Kibum asks as he wobbles out of the room, supporting himself with the wooden cane in hand.
“Hear what?”
“There’s a frog in our house. It was croaking just now.”
Jonghyun blinks quizzically at Kibum before pursing his lips. “That was me, singing.”
Blink. Blink blink. Kibum’s mouth forms a small ‘o’ as he tries to register what Jonghyun said. “Well, you suck. Why are you singing anyway, you’re not 17 anymore.”
“And who says people in their 70s can’t sing? You sing, and you don’t sound that great either,” Jonghyun remarks. “Besides, I was an awesome singer when I was 17.”
“I’m only 69, so it doesn’t apply to me,” Kibum scoffs, slowly making his way to the kitchen. “And you didn’t answer my question, you senile old man. Why were you singing?”
“Just felt like it. Reliving the good old days.” Jonghyun replies, pausing for a moment before continuing. “Do I really suck?”
“Yeah.”
Jonghyun sighs and droops his head, muttering under his breath words like ‘Top 5’ and ‘Best Male Singer’.
Kibum throws a quick glance at the old man on the couch before pouring himself a glass of water. “But I want you to sing to me every day when I die.” Kibum says, not looking at Jonghyun as he drinks from the glass.
“Why would you want that? I thought you said I sucked.”
“So I can laugh at you even after I die.”
“What if I die before you?”
Kibum contemplates for a moment before answering.
“Then I’d dance in front of your grave every day.”
-
It’s 8 in the evening when he finished the song, had 4 cups of soju and almost fell asleep by the stone. Kibum had told him not to drink more than 5 glasses a day. Something about liver cancer. Pretty ironic, considering the current situation.
Jonghyun carefully screws the bottle tight and pours Kibum’s share of soju over his grave before putting them into the paper bag. As he slowly makes his way down the steps, he wonders what to sing tomorrow.
-
It’s 7 in the morning and the sky is barely lit. Tap, tap, tap, the sound of a wooden cane against concrete steps. An old man takes a steady pace as he climbs the steps, cane in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
He wonders if it’d rain today.
Pairing: Jongkey
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,447
A/N: So, I don't know why I wrote this when I'm on hiatus and have exams in 2 weeks time. D: Comments very much appreciated! (:
It’s 7 in the morning and the sky is barely lit. Tap, tap, tap, his wooden cane makes a slow rhythm with the concrete steps. He takes a steady pace as he climbs the steps, cane in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
It’s 7:15 by the time he reaches the grave but it doesn’t matter. Time stopped mattering the day he died. He settles down by the grave after much effort and places the paper bag by his side. He leans against the stone and inhales the crisp morning air, eyes closed while doing so. He always preferred this time of the day, he knows he did too.
-
He takes a deep breath before turning to Jonghyun.
“You know, they say the morning air is good for your health.”
“Really?” Jonghyun says, “Better breathe more then.” And the older man starts taking quick heavy breaths.
Kibum turns his head sharply at Jonghyun, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Testing the myth,” Jonghyun says. “And now I’m gonna live longer than you.”
“Are you stupid,” Kibum says, cocking a brow in Jonghyun’s direction.
Seeing that Jonghyun ignores him and continues doing that stupid breathing of his, Kibum narrows his eyes and starts doing the same. No way in hell is he going to let Jonghyun outlive him. Surely enough, that got Jonghyun’s attention and somehow, they got into a ‘Who-could-breath-the-fastest’ competition. It didn’t take them long to burst out laughing at each other’s face. Apparently, they looked like idiots.
“We should come here more often,” Jonghyun suggests, the corners of his eyes still crinkling in amusement.
“Yeah, we should.” Kibum agrees, taking another deep breath before slipping his hand into Jonghyun’s.
-
It’s 8 and the world is bright. Jonghyun takes a steamed bun from the paper bag and starts eating his breakfast. It’s noisier now, the birds are chirping and the trees are rustling. Jonghyun wonders if he should buy the bun with red bean paste or black sesame filling tomorrow.
He spends another 2 hours in silence before getting up and picking up the broom by Kibum’s grave. It’s a well-known fact that Kibum liked looking fabulous, regardless of age. Despite his age and crumpled skin, Kibum liked wearing bright colours, really bright colours. There was a time when Kibum wore a black and pink zebra-striped sweater to the market. Jonghyun shudders at the mere thought of it. And of course, the Yellow Pants. He would never forget the Yellow Pants.
-
“Unnf arrgh ughh ooh.”
Jonghyun couldn’t decide which was worst, the whimpering sounds behind him, the sharp jabs aimed at his sides or the yellow pants Kibum’s wearing.
“Urh arrf ughh.” Kibum makes those incomprehensible sounds again. He gestures to his mouth, opens and closes it, then points at almost everything around him, and gestures to his mouth again.
“Your dentures? How would I know! And don’t look at me like that, I’m wearing my own dentures, not yours.” Jonghyun says as he shakes Kibum off and hobbles over to his favourite couch.
“Urghh!” Kibum lets out an exasperated cry before grabbing a pencil from the counter and tearing a page off the calendar.
How am I supposed to go out without my teeth! Kibum shoves the paper into Jonghyun’s face.
“Well, don’t go out then. Even if you had your teeth, I’d advise you to change out of those pants. They’re blinding me.” Jonhyun says as he pushes the paper away from his face and gives Kibum a look of disgust.
If I don’t go out Mr Thinks-He’s-a-Fashionista, what are you going to wipe your stupid ass with for the rest of the day?
Jonghyun widens his eyes in sudden realization. He didn’t see that coming. How was he to know they’d run out of toilet rolls so soon! And he frowns at the thought of scrubbing his ass with the newspaper.
“Well, have you checked the fridge?” Jonghyun says, taking effort to make it sound like a normal logical suggestion. Even though he fears for his life, he can’t wait to see the look on Kibum’s face either.
Kibum stares at Jonghyun in horror and mouths a No, you didn’t to the older man before shuffling over to the fridge.
And there it was, lying in the ice box, glistening amongst the ice cubes while waiting for his owner. On the couch, Jonghyun was thumping his cane on the floor and holding his jaw, trying to prevent his own dentures from falling due to the excessive laughter. He knows he shouldn’t be laughing and he knows he’s in trouble but Kibum’s face! It was a mixture of horror and disbelief and how Jonghyun wished he had a camera right there and then. It’s not every day you get to see the dignified Kibum look so stupefied. But when he sees a Kibum filled with murderous intent, he wonders how fast his trusty cane and legs can carry him.
And so, Kibum never got to show the world the Yellow Pants as he spends most of the day chasing a hobbling Jonghyun around the house, cane in the air and ready to fire.
-
Well, He knows he can’t make Kibum’s grave look as fashionable as the younger man wants but he believes he can at least make it look presentable.
It’s a little past 11 as he finishes sweeping the leaves and dirt off Kibum’s grave. It’s 12 when he tries to straighten his back, hunched and sore from all the weed plucking. Looking up at the sky, he figures it’s time for lunch. He carefully places the broom next to Kibum’s grave and grabs his cane, slowly making his way down the hill.
It’s 5 by the time Jonghyun’s back at Kibum’s grave. Again, he carries the brown paper bag with him. As he settles down, he takes a bottle of soju out from the bag, along with 2 plastic cups. Pouring the clear liquid into both cups, he places one in front of the stone slab and holds the other in his hand. After downing the soju in one shot, he clears his throat and starts singing a song. His voice is coarse and croaky and he wonders if Kibum was serious when he made the request.
-
“Did you hear that?” Kibum asks as he wobbles out of the room, supporting himself with the wooden cane in hand.
“Hear what?”
“There’s a frog in our house. It was croaking just now.”
Jonghyun blinks quizzically at Kibum before pursing his lips. “That was me, singing.”
Blink. Blink blink. Kibum’s mouth forms a small ‘o’ as he tries to register what Jonghyun said. “Well, you suck. Why are you singing anyway, you’re not 17 anymore.”
“And who says people in their 70s can’t sing? You sing, and you don’t sound that great either,” Jonghyun remarks. “Besides, I was an awesome singer when I was 17.”
“I’m only 69, so it doesn’t apply to me,” Kibum scoffs, slowly making his way to the kitchen. “And you didn’t answer my question, you senile old man. Why were you singing?”
“Just felt like it. Reliving the good old days.” Jonghyun replies, pausing for a moment before continuing. “Do I really suck?”
“Yeah.”
Jonghyun sighs and droops his head, muttering under his breath words like ‘Top 5’ and ‘Best Male Singer’.
Kibum throws a quick glance at the old man on the couch before pouring himself a glass of water. “But I want you to sing to me every day when I die.” Kibum says, not looking at Jonghyun as he drinks from the glass.
“Why would you want that? I thought you said I sucked.”
“So I can laugh at you even after I die.”
“What if I die before you?”
Kibum contemplates for a moment before answering.
“Then I’d dance in front of your grave every day.”
-
It’s 8 in the evening when he finished the song, had 4 cups of soju and almost fell asleep by the stone. Kibum had told him not to drink more than 5 glasses a day. Something about liver cancer. Pretty ironic, considering the current situation.
Jonghyun carefully screws the bottle tight and pours Kibum’s share of soju over his grave before putting them into the paper bag. As he slowly makes his way down the steps, he wonders what to sing tomorrow.
-
It’s 7 in the morning and the sky is barely lit. Tap, tap, tap, the sound of a wooden cane against concrete steps. An old man takes a steady pace as he climbs the steps, cane in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
He wonders if it’d rain today.