Polychromatic Us: Chapter One
Title: Polychromatic Us
Part: Chapter One: White
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Donghae/Eunhyuk
Rating: PG-13 (sensuality)
Word Count: 2,214
Synopsis: Colors have always been there in our relationship...from the day I met you. If I were to tell our story, I’d do it with a canvas and paint; vibrant colors of every shade and hue.
Next Update: Saturday, September 26th.
Phew! @w@; now all of my series have begun. This is my first time writing a 2nd-person POV story...so far I like it. ^^ The idea for a color-themed series arose while I was writing down one-shot prompts many weeks ago, and so far I'm having a lot of fun with it. Please read and enjoy!! ^ ^ /
(Written from Eunhyuk's perspective.)
White
You're wearing white again. It looks good on you. I can't possibly tell you that, though, because I haven't even properly met you yet. The simple reason for that being that you're new, and no one has really gotten to know you yet. I want to introduce myself, but...I'm shy. Every time I get close to having the confidence to talk to you, I falter. I just like you, and for now, I'm okay with liking you from afar without knowing anything about you.
So, like most days, I sit down against the back wall and play with my cellphone until my friends get here. Dance practice. My favorite class at SM Entertainment, hands down. I like singing and acting, but I'm not as good at them - and what person doesn't like what he's best at the most? Anyway, I just like dancing. I've always liked it.
My eyes keep straying to you without my permission and I end up just pretending to be busy with my phone. I haven't seen you dance yet, but you must be good if you're in my class. I want you to be good - if you are, then we have something in common. I'm hoping that I'll get to see what you can do today.
I decide to save the battery on my phone and put it away. The other trainees are talking amongst themselves, but I don't care enough to listen to what they're talking about. Some of them I know, some of them I don't. I cross my arms over my chest and yawn, and look around the room. It's white and clean. Everyday, the dirt tracked in from shoes, the sweat, the tears...all of it gets mopped up by someone.
I steal another glance at you, and my heart skips a beat. You were looking at me. I quickly lower my face so you won't see that I'm blushing. My cheeks are positively burning, and I wish they'd stop. I wish I weren't so nervous when I want you to notice me. After a few seconds, I can't help myself, and I look at you again to see if you're still looking my way. You are. Our eyes meet, and you make a motion as if you want to walk towards me, and I look away again.
I almost want to get up and leave the room, but thankfully, I don't have to. Sungmin arrives, like a blessing - someone to distract me from you. As I wave him over and he walks towards me, smiling, I wonder if I think too highly of myself. The chances of you...Anyway, we don't know each other. So maybe you're just looking at everyone curiously. You were just looking at me as you'd look at anyone.
"Hey," Sungmin says, sitting down next to me and smiling. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You look like your inner soul is in turmoil," he says laughingly. "Tough day at school or something?"
"Yes," I lie.
"You should do your homework now," he says, pulling his hat down over his eyes and smiling smugly. "We still have like ten minutes before we start."
"Nah, no interest." I yawn. "What to do?"
"Sleep," he says confidently and uses my shoulder as a pillow. I don't really care, except that I was hoping he'd talk to me and keep my mind off of you. But no. With his head lowered, I can see you again. The only thing I know about you is your name. That's it. I tear my gaze away and close my eyes.
I've known that I like boys since middle school, and I've had crushes before. I just wish that I knew a better way of dealing with them than this...but you probably wouldn't feel the same way, and that's what really keeps me away. The chances of you liking boys are slim. I don't know if I have the confidence to be your friend, which is why I shouldn't talk to you until my feelings dies down a little. Because they have to, I tell myself.
The rest of the trainees and our instructors arrive, and we get to work. Another intense session of dancing and learning ahead of us. When you walk into the group, I smile, because I know I'll see you dance today.
You...can dance. You can dance really well. I'm so happy about it that I almost complimented you after practice, but couldn't find a way to do it without feeling like I was standing out. Instead, I just headed into the changing rooms like normal. A changing room full of boys is not the easiest place for me to be in, but it's not as if I like everyone I see. I don't think anyone even knows that I like boys.
I find a shower that's empty, and drop my bag outside of it. I turn on the water and lazily strip off my shirt while I wait for the water to get to the right temperature. What I need is to shower and go home and be alone for a while.
"Hey."
I turn around automatically, and I almost fall backwards in surprise. It's you. You're looking directly at me and I blush. I feel like I'm in one of those dreams where you're exposed in a crowd, where everyone is looking at you, and there is nowhere to hide. I wish, perhaps more desperately than at any other time in my life, that I was not the sort of person who blushed. Say something.
"Hi," I manage. I also wish that I had waited just ten seconds more before taking off my shirt. It only increases my feeling of exposure that I'm shirtless in front of you the first time we meet. Why must you talk to me here, now, anyway?
"Sorry, bad time?"
"No, it's okay."
You smile again, and I tell my heart to stop beating so quickly. "You're Lee Hyukjae, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm Lee Donghae."
"I know," I say breathlessly. "You're one of the new trainees."
"Yeah," you say, biting your lip cutely. "You dance awesomely."
"Thank you," I say, leaning against the wall as subtly as I can for support. "You...You do too."
"Not like you...really, very cool. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself to you. Maybe we can be friends." You smile. Your smile is pretty, and it certainly isn't making this any easier for me.
"Ab...Absolutely." I try my hardest to smile back.
"Okay, cool." You linger for a second more. "Would you...Do you want to keep practicing?"
"What, you mean together?"
"Yeah. I mean, unless you have somewhere you need to be, or something."
"No," I say a little too quickly. "Let's practice."
You grin. "Okay. Turn off the water, then. I'll meet you outside, okay?"
"Okay." You nod and leave. When you're gone, I stare into space for a few seconds. I said I'd practice with you just now, didn't I? Damn it. I turn off the water and pull my t-shirt back on quickly. I sling my bag over my shoulder and splash my face with cold water from one of the sinks. I have to get a grip on myself quickly.
I dry my face off with my towel and tell myself to not let my thoughts stray. I have to treat you like anyone else. I can't treat you like you're my crush - even though you are. I don't want you to know that.
Okay. Okay, okay, okay. Just walk out and be normal.
"Hey," you say again, greeting me with a smile as I turn the corner out into the hallway. "How old are you?"
"I'm sixteen," I say, trying to keep the shyness out of my voice.
"I'm fifteen," you say, your face falling a little. "What year were you born in?"
"1986."
"Oh! So we are the same age. My birthday's in October."
"April," I say, finding myself smiling a little. I start walking back towards the practice rooms and you fall into step beside me.
"April," you repeat. "So your stone is a diamond."
“Huh?”
“Your birthstone. It’s a diamond, right?”
My step slows and I look at you in mild surprise, wondering why you know that. "Yeah," I say slowly. "It is, I guess. But I don't really like white..."
I close my eyes for a fraction of a second and internally smack myself as soon as I say it. I like white on you. But you don't seem to read anything into it. You have no reason to.
“Diamonds aren’t always white,” you say, walking past me towards a soda machine. “Diamonds come in all different colors.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” you say, buying yourself a bottle of water. “Every color, pretty much. The popular ones aren’t really even white, though, they’re transparent, aren’t they?”
“I guess…”
“What color do you like?”
You walk towards me, drinking your water. I'm caught between watching you drink and looking away. And I don’t know what color I like. I like a lot of colors.
“I don’t really have a favorite,” I end up saying, looking at you with unfortunate shyness.
“Oh,” you say, and bite the rim of your bottle. “What do you like?”
“I like a lot of things...I like dancing."
“Me too.” You smile. “Let's choreograph something."
“Really?"
“Yeah, why not?” you say. “Let's go. And if you dance with me, you’ll loosen up, right?”
I blush. “Probably,” I admit.
“Ah, so you know how stiff you are.”
“I’m shy.”
“But you’ll get used to me, won’t you?”
“Yes,” I say, smiling a little. I hope that it isn't a lie. “I’m sorry I’m like this.”
“Don’t be - I like you.”
"What? Why?" I say, blushing furiously. Why must you say that?
You shrug. “Dunno. Just do.”
You just do. I open the door to a practice room and turn on the switch. I have to say something back, but what the hell do I say? I feel like a little kid, completely incompetent and socially inept. I should just tell you the simple truth. You won't think anything about it at all. I drop my bag down next a wall and manage a smile.
"I like you, too," I say, inwardly wincing at my tone. I kneel down next to my bag and open it, reaching in to take out CDs, and glance at you - or I meant to, but I just end up looking at you. You're smiling. It occurs to me I probably made you happy by telling you that.
"Okay," you say, kneeling down quickly and shaking my hand. Your hand is soft. "Let's do our best together!"
I nod, and we put in a few CDs, listening to tracks until we find one that we want work with. Sitting against the wall and just listening to music with you sitting next to me, I'm slowly getting a little more used to you. We like the same music. I'm actually smiling naturally as we stand up with our selected song and start experimenting. I can actually laugh with you.
I'm having fun. Time passes without me noticing it until I suddenly realize that it’s been dark outside for a while. I look at the clock above the door and I’m stunned. It’s been hours. I drink some water and catch my breath, surprised by how tired I am. I laugh and wipe my forehead with my towel. You express amazement at the time, too.
“We better leave soon,” I say. “It's getting late.” I sit down against the wall again and sling my towel around my neck. I’m positively dripping with sweat.
“That was fun,” you say, grinning at me. I smile back and agree. It's suddenly so easy for me to do that. I guess I'm just too exhausted to feel embarrassed anymore. I don't even blink as you sit down next to me.
"Where are you from?" I ask, feeling more adventurous.
"Mokpo," you answer, covering your head with your towel and grimacing slightly.
"That's pretty far."
“Mm.” You pause and look down at your hands. "I'm glad that..."
"Glad that...?"
"Nothing. I'm glad we're friends," you say, smiling hesitantly at me.
"Me too." I smile and stand up. We are friends now, I realize. I have other friends here that I’ve known for a lot longer, including my best friend since childhood, but something tells me that you’re going to become one of my closest friends, even if I'd rather be your boyfriend. I'll hide that fact if it means we can become best friends. I like you that much. You follow me out as far as the showers, which is where we part ways.
"I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. I'll see you then."
Tomorrow I'll introduce you to my friends. Something tells me that you would really like some. I like you enough that I want you to have a lot of friends. Even when I'm back in my dorm room, even hours later, even days later, I'll still be thinking about you. No, I'll probably be thinking about you longer than that. But that far in the future is still just a blank white sheet of paper.
[Next Part] Chapter Two: Yellow
Part: Chapter One: White
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Donghae/Eunhyuk
Rating: PG-13 (sensuality)
Word Count: 2,214
Synopsis: Colors have always been there in our relationship...from the day I met you. If I were to tell our story, I’d do it with a canvas and paint; vibrant colors of every shade and hue.
Next Update: Saturday, September 26th.
Phew! @w@; now all of my series have begun. This is my first time writing a 2nd-person POV story...so far I like it. ^^ The idea for a color-themed series arose while I was writing down one-shot prompts many weeks ago, and so far I'm having a lot of fun with it. Please read and enjoy!! ^ ^ /
(Written from Eunhyuk's perspective.)
White
You're wearing white again. It looks good on you. I can't possibly tell you that, though, because I haven't even properly met you yet. The simple reason for that being that you're new, and no one has really gotten to know you yet. I want to introduce myself, but...I'm shy. Every time I get close to having the confidence to talk to you, I falter. I just like you, and for now, I'm okay with liking you from afar without knowing anything about you.
So, like most days, I sit down against the back wall and play with my cellphone until my friends get here. Dance practice. My favorite class at SM Entertainment, hands down. I like singing and acting, but I'm not as good at them - and what person doesn't like what he's best at the most? Anyway, I just like dancing. I've always liked it.
My eyes keep straying to you without my permission and I end up just pretending to be busy with my phone. I haven't seen you dance yet, but you must be good if you're in my class. I want you to be good - if you are, then we have something in common. I'm hoping that I'll get to see what you can do today.
I decide to save the battery on my phone and put it away. The other trainees are talking amongst themselves, but I don't care enough to listen to what they're talking about. Some of them I know, some of them I don't. I cross my arms over my chest and yawn, and look around the room. It's white and clean. Everyday, the dirt tracked in from shoes, the sweat, the tears...all of it gets mopped up by someone.
I steal another glance at you, and my heart skips a beat. You were looking at me. I quickly lower my face so you won't see that I'm blushing. My cheeks are positively burning, and I wish they'd stop. I wish I weren't so nervous when I want you to notice me. After a few seconds, I can't help myself, and I look at you again to see if you're still looking my way. You are. Our eyes meet, and you make a motion as if you want to walk towards me, and I look away again.
I almost want to get up and leave the room, but thankfully, I don't have to. Sungmin arrives, like a blessing - someone to distract me from you. As I wave him over and he walks towards me, smiling, I wonder if I think too highly of myself. The chances of you...Anyway, we don't know each other. So maybe you're just looking at everyone curiously. You were just looking at me as you'd look at anyone.
"Hey," Sungmin says, sitting down next to me and smiling. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You look like your inner soul is in turmoil," he says laughingly. "Tough day at school or something?"
"Yes," I lie.
"You should do your homework now," he says, pulling his hat down over his eyes and smiling smugly. "We still have like ten minutes before we start."
"Nah, no interest." I yawn. "What to do?"
"Sleep," he says confidently and uses my shoulder as a pillow. I don't really care, except that I was hoping he'd talk to me and keep my mind off of you. But no. With his head lowered, I can see you again. The only thing I know about you is your name. That's it. I tear my gaze away and close my eyes.
I've known that I like boys since middle school, and I've had crushes before. I just wish that I knew a better way of dealing with them than this...but you probably wouldn't feel the same way, and that's what really keeps me away. The chances of you liking boys are slim. I don't know if I have the confidence to be your friend, which is why I shouldn't talk to you until my feelings dies down a little. Because they have to, I tell myself.
The rest of the trainees and our instructors arrive, and we get to work. Another intense session of dancing and learning ahead of us. When you walk into the group, I smile, because I know I'll see you dance today.
You...can dance. You can dance really well. I'm so happy about it that I almost complimented you after practice, but couldn't find a way to do it without feeling like I was standing out. Instead, I just headed into the changing rooms like normal. A changing room full of boys is not the easiest place for me to be in, but it's not as if I like everyone I see. I don't think anyone even knows that I like boys.
I find a shower that's empty, and drop my bag outside of it. I turn on the water and lazily strip off my shirt while I wait for the water to get to the right temperature. What I need is to shower and go home and be alone for a while.
"Hey."
I turn around automatically, and I almost fall backwards in surprise. It's you. You're looking directly at me and I blush. I feel like I'm in one of those dreams where you're exposed in a crowd, where everyone is looking at you, and there is nowhere to hide. I wish, perhaps more desperately than at any other time in my life, that I was not the sort of person who blushed. Say something.
"Hi," I manage. I also wish that I had waited just ten seconds more before taking off my shirt. It only increases my feeling of exposure that I'm shirtless in front of you the first time we meet. Why must you talk to me here, now, anyway?
"Sorry, bad time?"
"No, it's okay."
You smile again, and I tell my heart to stop beating so quickly. "You're Lee Hyukjae, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm Lee Donghae."
"I know," I say breathlessly. "You're one of the new trainees."
"Yeah," you say, biting your lip cutely. "You dance awesomely."
"Thank you," I say, leaning against the wall as subtly as I can for support. "You...You do too."
"Not like you...really, very cool. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself to you. Maybe we can be friends." You smile. Your smile is pretty, and it certainly isn't making this any easier for me.
"Ab...Absolutely." I try my hardest to smile back.
"Okay, cool." You linger for a second more. "Would you...Do you want to keep practicing?"
"What, you mean together?"
"Yeah. I mean, unless you have somewhere you need to be, or something."
"No," I say a little too quickly. "Let's practice."
You grin. "Okay. Turn off the water, then. I'll meet you outside, okay?"
"Okay." You nod and leave. When you're gone, I stare into space for a few seconds. I said I'd practice with you just now, didn't I? Damn it. I turn off the water and pull my t-shirt back on quickly. I sling my bag over my shoulder and splash my face with cold water from one of the sinks. I have to get a grip on myself quickly.
I dry my face off with my towel and tell myself to not let my thoughts stray. I have to treat you like anyone else. I can't treat you like you're my crush - even though you are. I don't want you to know that.
Okay. Okay, okay, okay. Just walk out and be normal.
"Hey," you say again, greeting me with a smile as I turn the corner out into the hallway. "How old are you?"
"I'm sixteen," I say, trying to keep the shyness out of my voice.
"I'm fifteen," you say, your face falling a little. "What year were you born in?"
"1986."
"Oh! So we are the same age. My birthday's in October."
"April," I say, finding myself smiling a little. I start walking back towards the practice rooms and you fall into step beside me.
"April," you repeat. "So your stone is a diamond."
“Huh?”
“Your birthstone. It’s a diamond, right?”
My step slows and I look at you in mild surprise, wondering why you know that. "Yeah," I say slowly. "It is, I guess. But I don't really like white..."
I close my eyes for a fraction of a second and internally smack myself as soon as I say it. I like white on you. But you don't seem to read anything into it. You have no reason to.
“Diamonds aren’t always white,” you say, walking past me towards a soda machine. “Diamonds come in all different colors.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” you say, buying yourself a bottle of water. “Every color, pretty much. The popular ones aren’t really even white, though, they’re transparent, aren’t they?”
“I guess…”
“What color do you like?”
You walk towards me, drinking your water. I'm caught between watching you drink and looking away. And I don’t know what color I like. I like a lot of colors.
“I don’t really have a favorite,” I end up saying, looking at you with unfortunate shyness.
“Oh,” you say, and bite the rim of your bottle. “What do you like?”
“I like a lot of things...I like dancing."
“Me too.” You smile. “Let's choreograph something."
“Really?"
“Yeah, why not?” you say. “Let's go. And if you dance with me, you’ll loosen up, right?”
I blush. “Probably,” I admit.
“Ah, so you know how stiff you are.”
“I’m shy.”
“But you’ll get used to me, won’t you?”
“Yes,” I say, smiling a little. I hope that it isn't a lie. “I’m sorry I’m like this.”
“Don’t be - I like you.”
"What? Why?" I say, blushing furiously. Why must you say that?
You shrug. “Dunno. Just do.”
You just do. I open the door to a practice room and turn on the switch. I have to say something back, but what the hell do I say? I feel like a little kid, completely incompetent and socially inept. I should just tell you the simple truth. You won't think anything about it at all. I drop my bag down next a wall and manage a smile.
"I like you, too," I say, inwardly wincing at my tone. I kneel down next to my bag and open it, reaching in to take out CDs, and glance at you - or I meant to, but I just end up looking at you. You're smiling. It occurs to me I probably made you happy by telling you that.
"Okay," you say, kneeling down quickly and shaking my hand. Your hand is soft. "Let's do our best together!"
I nod, and we put in a few CDs, listening to tracks until we find one that we want work with. Sitting against the wall and just listening to music with you sitting next to me, I'm slowly getting a little more used to you. We like the same music. I'm actually smiling naturally as we stand up with our selected song and start experimenting. I can actually laugh with you.
I'm having fun. Time passes without me noticing it until I suddenly realize that it’s been dark outside for a while. I look at the clock above the door and I’m stunned. It’s been hours. I drink some water and catch my breath, surprised by how tired I am. I laugh and wipe my forehead with my towel. You express amazement at the time, too.
“We better leave soon,” I say. “It's getting late.” I sit down against the wall again and sling my towel around my neck. I’m positively dripping with sweat.
“That was fun,” you say, grinning at me. I smile back and agree. It's suddenly so easy for me to do that. I guess I'm just too exhausted to feel embarrassed anymore. I don't even blink as you sit down next to me.
"Where are you from?" I ask, feeling more adventurous.
"Mokpo," you answer, covering your head with your towel and grimacing slightly.
"That's pretty far."
“Mm.” You pause and look down at your hands. "I'm glad that..."
"Glad that...?"
"Nothing. I'm glad we're friends," you say, smiling hesitantly at me.
"Me too." I smile and stand up. We are friends now, I realize. I have other friends here that I’ve known for a lot longer, including my best friend since childhood, but something tells me that you’re going to become one of my closest friends, even if I'd rather be your boyfriend. I'll hide that fact if it means we can become best friends. I like you that much. You follow me out as far as the showers, which is where we part ways.
"I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. I'll see you then."
Tomorrow I'll introduce you to my friends. Something tells me that you would really like some. I like you enough that I want you to have a lot of friends. Even when I'm back in my dorm room, even hours later, even days later, I'll still be thinking about you. No, I'll probably be thinking about you longer than that. But that far in the future is still just a blank white sheet of paper.
[Next Part] Chapter Two: Yellow