Only Want What I Can't Have - One-shot
Title: Only Want What I Can't Have [One-shot]
Author: carcrashheart_8
Pairings: HenWook, HaeWook [one-sided], mentionings of KyuMi
Rating: PG
Summary: Henry is a little tired of Ryeowook’s crush on Donghae. So he decides to come up with a plan to make him forget all about Donghae. Unfortunately, he somehow manages to attract Donghae’s attention as well.
Disclaimer: Title taken from "From Now On We're Enemies" by Fall Out Boy
Henry stared at Ryeowook. Ryeowook didn’t notice.
Typical, thought Henry.
Henry turned his head in the direction that Ryeowook was currently looking. There was Yesung, talking to his turtle. Next to him was Shindong who was talking to Eunhyuk, a conversation that somehow turned into an argument. Henry looked back at Ryeowook and noticed the glazed eyes, the dreamy expression. He then turned his head once again, and sure enough, Ryeowook was staring at Donghae, clear across the room.
“HYUNG!” Henry called to Donghae.
“Henry?! Shh! Don’t call him over here!” Ryeowook panicked.
But Henry didn’t listen and waved Donghae over to where the two of them were sitting. Ryeowook started to twitch, attempting to hide his crimson-red cheeks.
“What’s wrong, Henry?” Donghae asked, looking completely glorious in Ryeowook’s eyes.
“He,” Henry motioned towards Ryeowook, “wants to talk to you.”
“WHAT?!”
“Oh-really? Is that so, Ryeowook?” Donghae smirked.
Ryeowook just started babbling, and Henry looked on in disgust.
You could say Henry was jealous but that was an understatement. It’d been only a few months but Ryeowook’s crush on Donghae was enough to make Henry despise being around his friend for longer than 5 minutes. The only words that ever seemed to come out of Ryeowook’s mouth always related to Donghae in some way. It was sickening, Henry thought. Surely he was better than Donghae; after all he played the violin, could dance, not to mention he was Canadian!
“I hate the way he looks at him,” Henry vented.
Kyuhyun wasn’t listening; he continued to play StarCraft, without blinking an eye.
“HYUNG!”
“WHAT? I’M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE,” Kyu shouted back, never once taking his eyes of the screen.
“HYUNG, I’M TRYING TO GET YOUR ADVICE. WILL YOU PUT DOWN THE FRICKIN’ JOYSTICK?”
Kyuhyun sighed. He put down the joystick, turned off his computer and looked at Henry. Henry didn’t say anything, which made the older boy annoyed.
“You stopped my playing just to stare at me?”
“What? No! I wanted to talk to you about-Ryeowook-hyung.”
“What about him?”
Henry pouted a bit, his cheeks puffed a bit, causing some pinching from Kyuhyun. Henry just batted his hand away and sighed.
“He’s always looking at Donghae-hyung-like-like-”
“Like he wants in his pants?”
Henry glared at Kyuhyun.
“What?”
“That’s not what I meant-but yes. He won’t even acknowledge me when we’re together. And when I ask him about it, he just shuts me out and pretends like he’s not doing anything. I just get so frustrated. Oh and yesterday he wouldn’t stop bitching when Donghae-hyung and Hyukjae-hyung were sitting ‘a little too close’ to each other. And-”
Henry noticed Kyuhyun eyeing his laptop and huffed.
“I could have you killed,” he simply said.
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Don’t make me call Hankyung-hyung in here.”
“What’s he going to do?”
“He’ll call for Siwon-hyung and then the two of them will find some way of making you suffer,” Henry smiled with an evil air about him.
Kyu just shook his head, not seeming the least bit scared but uninterested in testing the younger man further.
“If you really want to get Ryeowook’s attention, the best way is to have him mother you. Make him cook you dinner; pretend to be sick and make him nurse you. The guy loves to care for his fellow members-it’s a bit creepy if you ask me.”
“You weren’t saying that when he helped you after you got the flu not too long ago.”
“Yeah, well, he made me some really good soup.”
“Whatever, hyung-I’ll do what you say. I’ll have him ‘mother’ me-let’s just hope it works.”
“Good, now get out of here so I can finish my game before Zhou Mi comes back.”
Henry scurried out of the room and tried to come up with a plan that would make Ryeowook fully devote himself to him and not Donghae. He eventually came up with the best strategy he could.
“YOU BROKE YOUR ARM?!” Ryeowook gasped.
Henry nodded his head with a closed mouth and practically paraded the arm he was carrying in a fake-looking cast. Ryeowook was the only one who bought it, and thus had the sympathy of everyone in the group.
“You can see where he chipped the plaster.”
“Is that papier mache?”
“It looks like he made it out of cardboard.”
Henry glared at his hyungs as they all looked with disapproval at the half-assed job he done on his “cast.” Ryeowook didn’t seem to notice and just stared in both awe and horror as he examined the supposedly broken arm. He poked it.
“Does it hurt here?”
Henry just smiled, “Hmm? OH-oh yeah-ow-hyung, don’t touch me there. It hurts.”
Henry gave a bit of a pout and Ryeowook did everything but squeeze him tightly in an embrace.
“Don’t worry, Henry. Hyung will take care of you.”
Henry smiled to himself, “Jackpot!”
The rest of the group just continued to look on, shaking their heads and adding their own commentary about the event taking place. The only person missing was Donghae who had gone out for a while, without any detail as to where or why he was going.
Moments later, he came back, smiling and appearing to be glowing as well. Henry just looked at him, dissatisfied with the arrogant aura he seemed to have. Donghae didn’t notice and smiled right at the younger man.
“Oh, hi, Henry, how are-WHAT’S THAT ON YOUR ARM?!”
Henry looked at him oddly but then he realized that the other man was referring to the make-shift cast he had made.
“Oh-oh this. I just broke my arm-did it while attempting to break while doing my violin work. It’s no big deal,” Henry sniffed, attempting to sound big and bad in front of Ryeowook who was fretting over him at the moment.
Donghae just looked at the cast, examining it like everyone else had previously. He appeared as if he wasn’t sure he believed that Henry was really hurt. This caused Henry to grow nervous; he was waiting for a response but chose to change the subject.
“So, hyung, where have you been all afternoon?”
Donghae took his eyes off the cast and looked at Henry, “Who me? I was just hanging out with a friend, no big deal.”
“Really? A friend? Who is this friend?” Henry continued to interrogate, hoping that Donghae wouldn’t blow his cover.
“Just someone I knew in high school-say, Henry, there’s something weird about this cast of yours,” he pointed out.
“Really? What ever do you mean, hyung?”
“I mean, it doesn’t look like it’ll give you the proper leverage you need so that the bone will heal. What you need is those metal rods that they put underneath severely broken arms-I’ll go make some from the old metal hangers I keep in my room. Be right back.”
“NO, HYUNG! WAIT!”
“Henry-” Ryeowook whispered, “are you okay?”
Henry looked at Ryeowook who seemed genuinely concerned for his friend. Henry could only sigh in response. Ryeowook looked sad and walked into the kitchen where he was presumably going to fix Henry some food.
Donghae came back with about a dozen metal wires in his arms and looked at Henry eagerly.
“What are you going to do with all of those, hyung?” Henry looked suspsiciously.
“I’m going to fasten these to you and make sure that your arm will heal faster. It’s no good for you to be unable to play the violin. That’s your best talent!”
“Um-thanks-thanks, hyung but I don’t think you should try this. The doctor didn’t seem to think I needed them so how about you just put those hangers back and we can just sit down and wait as Ryeowook-hyung makes us something to eat.”
Donghae started to pout.
“But I want to help take care of you,” he said, with a pathetic look on his face that normally would have annoyed Henry to no end. But there was something about it that made Henry think that maybe Donghae wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
“O-Ok, hyung, you can help-just not in that way.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Ask Ryeowook-hyung-he’s in charge of me, I guess,” Henry shrugged his shoulders, while attempting to keep from completely freeing his arm from the sling.
Donghae beamed, “Ok! I’ll be right back.”
Henry just smiled awkwardly and nodded in the same fashion. He watched as Donghae scampered into the kitchen like a happy puppy. Henry could only scoff; what was so great about Donghae anyways. He was nice but he was so cheesy, it was a wonder that Ryeowook could see him in such a positive light. Henry shook his head and made his way to the couch; he waited to be served and pampered by Ryeowook, and Donghae as well.
“You’re going to hell,” Kyuhyun commented, standing in the hallway nearby.
Henry just nodded.
“I know. But I don’t care,” he smiled as he turned on the TV.
Donghae came out of the kitchen with a large tray of food, looking proud of himself even though it was obvious he was not the cook. Ryeowook crossed his arms and leant on the doorframe and watched as Donghae served the injured Henry. He seemed a bit annoyed, but Henry wasn’t sure why.
“Are you happy with all this food, Henry? Hyung made it all for you,” Donghae smiled.
Henry stared at him oddly, “You mean Ryeowook-hyung, right?”
Donghae’s smile faded, “Yeah, but I helped! Here, eat some of this soup. You need your strength so the bone will heal quicker.”
Henry just shook his head before tasting the soup and commenting on its delicious taste. Donghae continued to appear proud while Ryeowook just looked on. He looked even more annoyed now, but neither Donghae nor Henry noticed. Ryeowook went back into the kitchen without saying a word.
“Ryeowook-hyung? I finished with my food,” Henry called out. Donghae had to leave to meet up with someone so he left Henry in Ryeowook’s care.
Henry got up and looked around the kitchen, where he was surprised to see Ryeowook standing at the sink, not moving a muscle.
“Hyung?”
Ryeowook let out a small sigh. His shoulders slumped from their once tense position and he turned to look at Henry. His eyes were red and his cheeks were wet. Henry stared at him, open-mouthed.
“Hyung, have you been crying?”
Ryeowook shook his head, puffed out his bottom lip and had an expression that made Henry think the older man was not in the best of moods.
“So are you done monopolizing Donghae-hyung or do you two need some alone time together?”
Henry blinked, “What?”
“I get that you’re injured and all and that you need a little more help, but do you have to act so helpless with Donghae? It’s almost like you-”
Ryeowook stopped. He stared at Henry, accusingly, which ended up confusing the latter.
“What?”
“Do you-do you like Donghae?”
Henry had to laugh. Was Ryeowook really that dense? The whole time he’d been looking at Donghae, he hadn’t noticed that Henry had always been looking at him.
“I don’t know where you got that idea but no, I don’t like Donghae. I like someone else.”
Ryeowook breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t even bother to ask who Henry did like. Figures, Henry thought to himself. As long as it was not Donghae, Ryeowook could care less. There was a pattern developing.
“Ok, then that’s fine. I was just worried that you started to like him and were trying to steal him from me,” Ryeowook babbled, showing his relief in a way that irritated Henry.
“He’s not yours to begin with. I can’t steal what’s not yours.”
“What?”
“You don’t know anything, hyung. I like to support you in whatever you do but when you get delusional like this, it’s hard to just sit by and let you act like this. You don’t care about anything else but yourself and whatever is related to Donghae.”
Henry ripped off the homemade cast and threw it on the floor. Ryeowook’s eyes bugged out as he stared at Henry who began stomping on the flimsy piece of papier-mache he’d spent a good two hours on making.
“I don’t know why I do these things. There’s no point. I’m not going to get what I want no matter how hard I try. Screw it. I’m just done.”
Henry didn’t even let Ryeowook respond; he just walked out of the kitchen and stormed out of the dorm.
Ryeowook walked over and bent down. He picked up the cast and examined it, hoping it would tell him to what Henry was referring. What could he mean by Ryeowook acting delusional?
He couldn’t think; he just walked over to the tray and picked it up. He did the dishes without another thought about Henry.
Henry sniffled, wiping his nose angrily and continued walking. He was in a hurry to go nowhere and wouldn’t stop until he reached his destination. He finally made it when he wound up at a park, where he sat on a bench. He stared at the ground with a small frown on his face. He couldn’t believe he had actually yelled at Ryeowook the way he did.
He must’ve stayed in that exact same spot for hours, because when he decided to check his phone, he found about a dozen messages from both Donghae and Ryeowook. One was worried about the supposedly injured boy, the other was worried about the words the supposedly injured boy had spouted earlier. Henry didn’t want to answer either one of them. It wasn’t worth it, he thought. Somehow he believed that if he explained anything to them, it’d just lead to the two older men finding that they actually liked each other and that they were meant to be. Henry would just wind up a third wheel, as was expected of him.
He sighed again.
“How did it get this way?” he said to himself.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” he heard a voice say. He turned around to see Ryeowook, wearing a hoodie he probably got from Donghae. It had that same stain that Donghae’s had from when he spilled coffee when he was in a hurry one morning.
Henry gave the other man a look of contempt, jealous that he was wearing Donghae’s sweater of all things.
“What’s that look for?”
Henry shook his head.
“If you don’t know, I’m not telling you.”
“Is that any way to talk to your hyung?” Ryeowook joked, sliding next to the other man, on the bench.
Henry didn’t say anything. He wouldn’t even look at Ryeowook, who was staring at him, longing for some eye contact. Ryeowook then turned and looked where Henry was looking.
“Donghae-he knows.”
Henry’s disinterest faded away.
“He knows what?”
“Everything-about the fake cast, about what you said to me-about how I have feelings for him.”
Henry blinked, trying to fathom the conversation that had taken place.
“And I found something out as well-he’s got a girlfriend.”
Henry’s eyes widened, “WHAT?”
Ryeowook chuckled, not because he was amused but because he felt pathetic.
“Yeah, it appears he’s been dating for awhile. She’s the person he’s always slipping out to see. She’s the reason why he’d never, ever, ever see me as more than his fellow member. I’m not on his list of possible love interests, is what he said. For some reason, he found it necessary to reiterate that he’s absolutely, positively, 100% not gay.”
Henry gulped, “What’d you say?”
Ryeowook laughed, this time sounding less like he was feeling sorry for himself and more like he found the situation generally amusing.
“I couldn’t say anything. I kept thinking how angry I was at him-I really wanted to punch him in the face. But I couldn’t. I know that he didn’t say those things to be mean-he was just trying to establish some facts that I wouldn’t get lead on and thus, end up getting hurt.”
“It seems like it’s a little late for that.”
Ryeowook smiled.
“That’s what I told him. That’s all I could say to him after I confessed. I wanted to be a lot more composed but I just couldn’t. I was just so angry and felt so-so betrayed. Not to mention, I feel like a complete idiot for even thinking that I had a chance with him.”
Henry tried to place his hand on Ryeowook’s shoulder as a form of comfort, but he felt too guilty to do so. He placed his hand back down on his lap and hung his head in shame.
“You were right, you know?”
Henry looked up, turning his head towards Ryeowook’s.
“I was?”
“Yep. You were right about me being delusional. It’s all my fault,” he said with a slight crack in his voice.
Henry wanted to hug the other man but felt like he would just be taking advantage of the situation. He stared at Ryeowook as the other seemed like he was about to cry.
“I just wish that I hadn’t wasted so much time wishing for something I should’ve known I could never have. It’s idiotic! It’s degrading, really.”
“Ok, now you’re just being dramatic.”
“Really? I mean, you wouldn’t feel that way if you were in this situation? You wouldn’t feel like hiding after confessing to someone who would never have any intention of dating you?”
Henry couldn’t stand the irony of the situation. He bit his tongue, holding in all of his thoughts and feelings and only stated.
“It’s gotta be tough.”
Ryeowook closed his eyes. He was holding in the tears, Henry could see.
“I shouldn’t have ever told him. Now I can’t face him again.”
“Come on-don’t be so dramatic. Donghae-hyung’s not a bad guy. He won’t make you uncomfortable-at least not intentionally. He might go out of his way to make you NOT feel uncomfortable but in the process, will just end up making things worse.”
“I love that about him,” Ryeowook replied.
Henry rolled his eyes slightly, looking back to check that Ryeowook didn’t notice. He didn’t.
The two sat in silence before Ryeowook spoke again.
“Henry-I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not noticing your feelings for me.”
Henry stood up, instinctively.
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?”
“Donghae told me. He said he’d noticed and thought I should know. Like that was supposed to be the cure for my heartbreak.”
Henry didn’t listen.
“WHAT?”
“Look, I know that you probably hold some resentment against me for having never noticed but you know me well enough to realize that when I love something, I become passionate about it. I don’t tend to notice other things or feel the need to pay attention to other things. It’s selfish, I’ll admit, but it’s just always been part of my character.”
Henry sat down, making sure he wasn’t sitting too close to the other man.
“I can’t tell you that I feel the same way, simply because I’ve been so wrapped up in this stupid infatuation with Donghae. I don’t know if I feel the same way-at least not now.”
“I understand.”
“But when I do-I want you to promise that you’ll be willing to listen to whatever my answer is.”
Henry smiled and nodded.
“Sure, hyung.”
Ryeowook smiled in return.
He then did something unexpected. He grabbed Henry’s hand, pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek. Henry couldn’t help but blush furiously. That was clearly not what he expected.
“That was for always being by my side. It must’ve been agonizing to listen to me constantly talk about Donghae.”
Henry couldn’t respond. His face was white and his mouth was wide open.
“Henry!”
“WHY’D YOU DO THAT?”
“I just told you why,” Ryeowook replied easily.
“I didn’t expect you to do that!”
“Exactly.”
Henry blinked.
“What?”
“I don’t want to be predictable. I want you to like me because I’m full of surprises.”
Henry blushed again. Ryeowook just gripped his hand tighter, while smiling sweetly.
Henry couldn’t help but smile in return. Even if this wasn’t exactly what he wanted, he felt satisfied, just being with Ryeowook. Not to mention, he loved knowing that he was holding the hand of the man he loved.
Needless to say, Henry was right where he wanted to be.
THE END!
A/N: Hoping this leads to more HenWook in the future \o/
Author: carcrashheart_8
Pairings: HenWook, HaeWook [one-sided], mentionings of KyuMi
Rating: PG
Summary: Henry is a little tired of Ryeowook’s crush on Donghae. So he decides to come up with a plan to make him forget all about Donghae. Unfortunately, he somehow manages to attract Donghae’s attention as well.
Disclaimer: Title taken from "From Now On We're Enemies" by Fall Out Boy
Henry stared at Ryeowook. Ryeowook didn’t notice.
Typical, thought Henry.
Henry turned his head in the direction that Ryeowook was currently looking. There was Yesung, talking to his turtle. Next to him was Shindong who was talking to Eunhyuk, a conversation that somehow turned into an argument. Henry looked back at Ryeowook and noticed the glazed eyes, the dreamy expression. He then turned his head once again, and sure enough, Ryeowook was staring at Donghae, clear across the room.
“HYUNG!” Henry called to Donghae.
“Henry?! Shh! Don’t call him over here!” Ryeowook panicked.
But Henry didn’t listen and waved Donghae over to where the two of them were sitting. Ryeowook started to twitch, attempting to hide his crimson-red cheeks.
“What’s wrong, Henry?” Donghae asked, looking completely glorious in Ryeowook’s eyes.
“He,” Henry motioned towards Ryeowook, “wants to talk to you.”
“WHAT?!”
“Oh-really? Is that so, Ryeowook?” Donghae smirked.
Ryeowook just started babbling, and Henry looked on in disgust.
You could say Henry was jealous but that was an understatement. It’d been only a few months but Ryeowook’s crush on Donghae was enough to make Henry despise being around his friend for longer than 5 minutes. The only words that ever seemed to come out of Ryeowook’s mouth always related to Donghae in some way. It was sickening, Henry thought. Surely he was better than Donghae; after all he played the violin, could dance, not to mention he was Canadian!
“I hate the way he looks at him,” Henry vented.
Kyuhyun wasn’t listening; he continued to play StarCraft, without blinking an eye.
“HYUNG!”
“WHAT? I’M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE,” Kyu shouted back, never once taking his eyes of the screen.
“HYUNG, I’M TRYING TO GET YOUR ADVICE. WILL YOU PUT DOWN THE FRICKIN’ JOYSTICK?”
Kyuhyun sighed. He put down the joystick, turned off his computer and looked at Henry. Henry didn’t say anything, which made the older boy annoyed.
“You stopped my playing just to stare at me?”
“What? No! I wanted to talk to you about-Ryeowook-hyung.”
“What about him?”
Henry pouted a bit, his cheeks puffed a bit, causing some pinching from Kyuhyun. Henry just batted his hand away and sighed.
“He’s always looking at Donghae-hyung-like-like-”
“Like he wants in his pants?”
Henry glared at Kyuhyun.
“What?”
“That’s not what I meant-but yes. He won’t even acknowledge me when we’re together. And when I ask him about it, he just shuts me out and pretends like he’s not doing anything. I just get so frustrated. Oh and yesterday he wouldn’t stop bitching when Donghae-hyung and Hyukjae-hyung were sitting ‘a little too close’ to each other. And-”
Henry noticed Kyuhyun eyeing his laptop and huffed.
“I could have you killed,” he simply said.
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Don’t make me call Hankyung-hyung in here.”
“What’s he going to do?”
“He’ll call for Siwon-hyung and then the two of them will find some way of making you suffer,” Henry smiled with an evil air about him.
Kyu just shook his head, not seeming the least bit scared but uninterested in testing the younger man further.
“If you really want to get Ryeowook’s attention, the best way is to have him mother you. Make him cook you dinner; pretend to be sick and make him nurse you. The guy loves to care for his fellow members-it’s a bit creepy if you ask me.”
“You weren’t saying that when he helped you after you got the flu not too long ago.”
“Yeah, well, he made me some really good soup.”
“Whatever, hyung-I’ll do what you say. I’ll have him ‘mother’ me-let’s just hope it works.”
“Good, now get out of here so I can finish my game before Zhou Mi comes back.”
Henry scurried out of the room and tried to come up with a plan that would make Ryeowook fully devote himself to him and not Donghae. He eventually came up with the best strategy he could.
“YOU BROKE YOUR ARM?!” Ryeowook gasped.
Henry nodded his head with a closed mouth and practically paraded the arm he was carrying in a fake-looking cast. Ryeowook was the only one who bought it, and thus had the sympathy of everyone in the group.
“You can see where he chipped the plaster.”
“Is that papier mache?”
“It looks like he made it out of cardboard.”
Henry glared at his hyungs as they all looked with disapproval at the half-assed job he done on his “cast.” Ryeowook didn’t seem to notice and just stared in both awe and horror as he examined the supposedly broken arm. He poked it.
“Does it hurt here?”
Henry just smiled, “Hmm? OH-oh yeah-ow-hyung, don’t touch me there. It hurts.”
Henry gave a bit of a pout and Ryeowook did everything but squeeze him tightly in an embrace.
“Don’t worry, Henry. Hyung will take care of you.”
Henry smiled to himself, “Jackpot!”
The rest of the group just continued to look on, shaking their heads and adding their own commentary about the event taking place. The only person missing was Donghae who had gone out for a while, without any detail as to where or why he was going.
Moments later, he came back, smiling and appearing to be glowing as well. Henry just looked at him, dissatisfied with the arrogant aura he seemed to have. Donghae didn’t notice and smiled right at the younger man.
“Oh, hi, Henry, how are-WHAT’S THAT ON YOUR ARM?!”
Henry looked at him oddly but then he realized that the other man was referring to the make-shift cast he had made.
“Oh-oh this. I just broke my arm-did it while attempting to break while doing my violin work. It’s no big deal,” Henry sniffed, attempting to sound big and bad in front of Ryeowook who was fretting over him at the moment.
Donghae just looked at the cast, examining it like everyone else had previously. He appeared as if he wasn’t sure he believed that Henry was really hurt. This caused Henry to grow nervous; he was waiting for a response but chose to change the subject.
“So, hyung, where have you been all afternoon?”
Donghae took his eyes off the cast and looked at Henry, “Who me? I was just hanging out with a friend, no big deal.”
“Really? A friend? Who is this friend?” Henry continued to interrogate, hoping that Donghae wouldn’t blow his cover.
“Just someone I knew in high school-say, Henry, there’s something weird about this cast of yours,” he pointed out.
“Really? What ever do you mean, hyung?”
“I mean, it doesn’t look like it’ll give you the proper leverage you need so that the bone will heal. What you need is those metal rods that they put underneath severely broken arms-I’ll go make some from the old metal hangers I keep in my room. Be right back.”
“NO, HYUNG! WAIT!”
“Henry-” Ryeowook whispered, “are you okay?”
Henry looked at Ryeowook who seemed genuinely concerned for his friend. Henry could only sigh in response. Ryeowook looked sad and walked into the kitchen where he was presumably going to fix Henry some food.
Donghae came back with about a dozen metal wires in his arms and looked at Henry eagerly.
“What are you going to do with all of those, hyung?” Henry looked suspsiciously.
“I’m going to fasten these to you and make sure that your arm will heal faster. It’s no good for you to be unable to play the violin. That’s your best talent!”
“Um-thanks-thanks, hyung but I don’t think you should try this. The doctor didn’t seem to think I needed them so how about you just put those hangers back and we can just sit down and wait as Ryeowook-hyung makes us something to eat.”
Donghae started to pout.
“But I want to help take care of you,” he said, with a pathetic look on his face that normally would have annoyed Henry to no end. But there was something about it that made Henry think that maybe Donghae wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
“O-Ok, hyung, you can help-just not in that way.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Ask Ryeowook-hyung-he’s in charge of me, I guess,” Henry shrugged his shoulders, while attempting to keep from completely freeing his arm from the sling.
Donghae beamed, “Ok! I’ll be right back.”
Henry just smiled awkwardly and nodded in the same fashion. He watched as Donghae scampered into the kitchen like a happy puppy. Henry could only scoff; what was so great about Donghae anyways. He was nice but he was so cheesy, it was a wonder that Ryeowook could see him in such a positive light. Henry shook his head and made his way to the couch; he waited to be served and pampered by Ryeowook, and Donghae as well.
“You’re going to hell,” Kyuhyun commented, standing in the hallway nearby.
Henry just nodded.
“I know. But I don’t care,” he smiled as he turned on the TV.
Donghae came out of the kitchen with a large tray of food, looking proud of himself even though it was obvious he was not the cook. Ryeowook crossed his arms and leant on the doorframe and watched as Donghae served the injured Henry. He seemed a bit annoyed, but Henry wasn’t sure why.
“Are you happy with all this food, Henry? Hyung made it all for you,” Donghae smiled.
Henry stared at him oddly, “You mean Ryeowook-hyung, right?”
Donghae’s smile faded, “Yeah, but I helped! Here, eat some of this soup. You need your strength so the bone will heal quicker.”
Henry just shook his head before tasting the soup and commenting on its delicious taste. Donghae continued to appear proud while Ryeowook just looked on. He looked even more annoyed now, but neither Donghae nor Henry noticed. Ryeowook went back into the kitchen without saying a word.
“Ryeowook-hyung? I finished with my food,” Henry called out. Donghae had to leave to meet up with someone so he left Henry in Ryeowook’s care.
Henry got up and looked around the kitchen, where he was surprised to see Ryeowook standing at the sink, not moving a muscle.
“Hyung?”
Ryeowook let out a small sigh. His shoulders slumped from their once tense position and he turned to look at Henry. His eyes were red and his cheeks were wet. Henry stared at him, open-mouthed.
“Hyung, have you been crying?”
Ryeowook shook his head, puffed out his bottom lip and had an expression that made Henry think the older man was not in the best of moods.
“So are you done monopolizing Donghae-hyung or do you two need some alone time together?”
Henry blinked, “What?”
“I get that you’re injured and all and that you need a little more help, but do you have to act so helpless with Donghae? It’s almost like you-”
Ryeowook stopped. He stared at Henry, accusingly, which ended up confusing the latter.
“What?”
“Do you-do you like Donghae?”
Henry had to laugh. Was Ryeowook really that dense? The whole time he’d been looking at Donghae, he hadn’t noticed that Henry had always been looking at him.
“I don’t know where you got that idea but no, I don’t like Donghae. I like someone else.”
Ryeowook breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t even bother to ask who Henry did like. Figures, Henry thought to himself. As long as it was not Donghae, Ryeowook could care less. There was a pattern developing.
“Ok, then that’s fine. I was just worried that you started to like him and were trying to steal him from me,” Ryeowook babbled, showing his relief in a way that irritated Henry.
“He’s not yours to begin with. I can’t steal what’s not yours.”
“What?”
“You don’t know anything, hyung. I like to support you in whatever you do but when you get delusional like this, it’s hard to just sit by and let you act like this. You don’t care about anything else but yourself and whatever is related to Donghae.”
Henry ripped off the homemade cast and threw it on the floor. Ryeowook’s eyes bugged out as he stared at Henry who began stomping on the flimsy piece of papier-mache he’d spent a good two hours on making.
“I don’t know why I do these things. There’s no point. I’m not going to get what I want no matter how hard I try. Screw it. I’m just done.”
Henry didn’t even let Ryeowook respond; he just walked out of the kitchen and stormed out of the dorm.
Ryeowook walked over and bent down. He picked up the cast and examined it, hoping it would tell him to what Henry was referring. What could he mean by Ryeowook acting delusional?
He couldn’t think; he just walked over to the tray and picked it up. He did the dishes without another thought about Henry.
Henry sniffled, wiping his nose angrily and continued walking. He was in a hurry to go nowhere and wouldn’t stop until he reached his destination. He finally made it when he wound up at a park, where he sat on a bench. He stared at the ground with a small frown on his face. He couldn’t believe he had actually yelled at Ryeowook the way he did.
He must’ve stayed in that exact same spot for hours, because when he decided to check his phone, he found about a dozen messages from both Donghae and Ryeowook. One was worried about the supposedly injured boy, the other was worried about the words the supposedly injured boy had spouted earlier. Henry didn’t want to answer either one of them. It wasn’t worth it, he thought. Somehow he believed that if he explained anything to them, it’d just lead to the two older men finding that they actually liked each other and that they were meant to be. Henry would just wind up a third wheel, as was expected of him.
He sighed again.
“How did it get this way?” he said to himself.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” he heard a voice say. He turned around to see Ryeowook, wearing a hoodie he probably got from Donghae. It had that same stain that Donghae’s had from when he spilled coffee when he was in a hurry one morning.
Henry gave the other man a look of contempt, jealous that he was wearing Donghae’s sweater of all things.
“What’s that look for?”
Henry shook his head.
“If you don’t know, I’m not telling you.”
“Is that any way to talk to your hyung?” Ryeowook joked, sliding next to the other man, on the bench.
Henry didn’t say anything. He wouldn’t even look at Ryeowook, who was staring at him, longing for some eye contact. Ryeowook then turned and looked where Henry was looking.
“Donghae-he knows.”
Henry’s disinterest faded away.
“He knows what?”
“Everything-about the fake cast, about what you said to me-about how I have feelings for him.”
Henry blinked, trying to fathom the conversation that had taken place.
“And I found something out as well-he’s got a girlfriend.”
Henry’s eyes widened, “WHAT?”
Ryeowook chuckled, not because he was amused but because he felt pathetic.
“Yeah, it appears he’s been dating for awhile. She’s the person he’s always slipping out to see. She’s the reason why he’d never, ever, ever see me as more than his fellow member. I’m not on his list of possible love interests, is what he said. For some reason, he found it necessary to reiterate that he’s absolutely, positively, 100% not gay.”
Henry gulped, “What’d you say?”
Ryeowook laughed, this time sounding less like he was feeling sorry for himself and more like he found the situation generally amusing.
“I couldn’t say anything. I kept thinking how angry I was at him-I really wanted to punch him in the face. But I couldn’t. I know that he didn’t say those things to be mean-he was just trying to establish some facts that I wouldn’t get lead on and thus, end up getting hurt.”
“It seems like it’s a little late for that.”
Ryeowook smiled.
“That’s what I told him. That’s all I could say to him after I confessed. I wanted to be a lot more composed but I just couldn’t. I was just so angry and felt so-so betrayed. Not to mention, I feel like a complete idiot for even thinking that I had a chance with him.”
Henry tried to place his hand on Ryeowook’s shoulder as a form of comfort, but he felt too guilty to do so. He placed his hand back down on his lap and hung his head in shame.
“You were right, you know?”
Henry looked up, turning his head towards Ryeowook’s.
“I was?”
“Yep. You were right about me being delusional. It’s all my fault,” he said with a slight crack in his voice.
Henry wanted to hug the other man but felt like he would just be taking advantage of the situation. He stared at Ryeowook as the other seemed like he was about to cry.
“I just wish that I hadn’t wasted so much time wishing for something I should’ve known I could never have. It’s idiotic! It’s degrading, really.”
“Ok, now you’re just being dramatic.”
“Really? I mean, you wouldn’t feel that way if you were in this situation? You wouldn’t feel like hiding after confessing to someone who would never have any intention of dating you?”
Henry couldn’t stand the irony of the situation. He bit his tongue, holding in all of his thoughts and feelings and only stated.
“It’s gotta be tough.”
Ryeowook closed his eyes. He was holding in the tears, Henry could see.
“I shouldn’t have ever told him. Now I can’t face him again.”
“Come on-don’t be so dramatic. Donghae-hyung’s not a bad guy. He won’t make you uncomfortable-at least not intentionally. He might go out of his way to make you NOT feel uncomfortable but in the process, will just end up making things worse.”
“I love that about him,” Ryeowook replied.
Henry rolled his eyes slightly, looking back to check that Ryeowook didn’t notice. He didn’t.
The two sat in silence before Ryeowook spoke again.
“Henry-I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not noticing your feelings for me.”
Henry stood up, instinctively.
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?”
“Donghae told me. He said he’d noticed and thought I should know. Like that was supposed to be the cure for my heartbreak.”
Henry didn’t listen.
“WHAT?”
“Look, I know that you probably hold some resentment against me for having never noticed but you know me well enough to realize that when I love something, I become passionate about it. I don’t tend to notice other things or feel the need to pay attention to other things. It’s selfish, I’ll admit, but it’s just always been part of my character.”
Henry sat down, making sure he wasn’t sitting too close to the other man.
“I can’t tell you that I feel the same way, simply because I’ve been so wrapped up in this stupid infatuation with Donghae. I don’t know if I feel the same way-at least not now.”
“I understand.”
“But when I do-I want you to promise that you’ll be willing to listen to whatever my answer is.”
Henry smiled and nodded.
“Sure, hyung.”
Ryeowook smiled in return.
He then did something unexpected. He grabbed Henry’s hand, pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek. Henry couldn’t help but blush furiously. That was clearly not what he expected.
“That was for always being by my side. It must’ve been agonizing to listen to me constantly talk about Donghae.”
Henry couldn’t respond. His face was white and his mouth was wide open.
“Henry!”
“WHY’D YOU DO THAT?”
“I just told you why,” Ryeowook replied easily.
“I didn’t expect you to do that!”
“Exactly.”
Henry blinked.
“What?”
“I don’t want to be predictable. I want you to like me because I’m full of surprises.”
Henry blushed again. Ryeowook just gripped his hand tighter, while smiling sweetly.
Henry couldn’t help but smile in return. Even if this wasn’t exactly what he wanted, he felt satisfied, just being with Ryeowook. Not to mention, he loved knowing that he was holding the hand of the man he loved.
Needless to say, Henry was right where he wanted to be.
THE END!
A/N: Hoping this leads to more HenWook in the future \o/