the line separating the sea and the sky
the line separating the sea and the sky
kris/suho
pg
yifan is not your typical bus driver. he drives dead people to heaven but junmyeon is not quite dead.
☆ written for mochkee as a SUPER late (i am 2 months behind schedule i'm sorry!!) birthday gift >/////< pls enjoy the pain~ ♡ this is inspired by SHINee's 「1000年、ずっとそばにいて・・・」 mv and the movie Postman to Heaven starring Jaejoong and Han Hyojoo.
The long stretch of road seems endless, pulling through the empty highway without any corner or junction. On its left and right lies a huge spread of wild dandelions. A lone bus travels on the road, its tires kissing little gravels that litter the burning asphalt along the way. Cool breeze blows through the open windows, and Yifan smiles as he sticks his head out of the window a little. He props an elbow on the windowsill, his other hand steering the wheel with practiced ease.
He hums to himself while the still-empty bus continues trailing the straight path. Then, he hears it; the sound of waves hitting the beach. A curl quickly materializes on his lips as he knows that he will reach his destination soon. Yifan presses on the gas pedal, not caring that the bus is protesting at the sudden move with a loud roar.
A small bus station comes into his view. It stands out among the nothingness around it, save for the sea and the stretch of road that’s almost on its end. Yifan adjusts his hat and briefly tugs at the lapels of his black suit jacket.
He pulls the bus to a stop right in front of the station, pressing a button that makes the doors open with a tired thud. He gets off the bus and pads towards the stand. It’s not that crowded today, he notes. There’s only seventeen people there, holding onto their suitcases as they stand in line to get on the bus.
“Good day. My name is Yifan and I will be transporting you to your final destination,” Yifan announces, loud and clear. He gestures a hand towards the entrance, welcoming the first passenger, who is an old woman. As the last of the passenger settles in his seat, something catches at the periphery of Yifan’s vision.
He turns around and to his surprise, he sees a man standing at the corner of the bus station, clad in a white button-down and a pair of black pants. The first thing that Yifan notices is that he doesn’t carry any suitcase with him. Yifan slowly approaches the raven-haired man, who seems a little bewildered.
“Hello there,” he greets gently. “Are you not hopping on?”
The man blinks up at him, brown eyes just a tad darker than Yifan’s favorite beverage. Those eyes mirror uncertainty, embroidering with something that Yifan assumes as fear. The man’s lips tremble slightly, perhaps trying to find his voice.
“I… no. It’s just that I…” he speaks, voice cautious and low. “I don’t have my suitcase with me. I can’t travel yet.”
Yifan’s brows knit together, staring down at the man. He is definitely good-looking, his face bordering on the color of a white sheet of paper, further showing off the dark circles under his eyes. Yifan wants to wipe away those disgracing shadows and he thinks those brown eyes definitely need one or two stars in them. The man looks young, probably no older than twenty-five years old.
‘What a young age to die,’ Yifan muses.
“I guess I’ll get in when I find my suitcase,” the man says, looking calmer now. “I’m Junmyeon,” he smiles as he utters his name. By that simple gesture, Yifan feels like his whole world is coming to a halt, slowing down and gradually static.
However, Yifan quickly recovers, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I’m Yifan. I’ll try asking my colleagues about your suitcase. The Reapers should know.”
Junmyeon tilts his head sideways. “The Reapers?”
“Yeah. Weren’t they the ones who brought you and everyone else here in the first place?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I opened my eyes this morning and I’m suddenly… here. Where is here, exactly?”
Yifan takes a deep breath, pulling at the edge of his hat. “Here, Junmyeon,” he begins. “is the Afterlife.”
Yifan is not your typical bus driver. He drives people who have passed away to the Afterlife. That is all he does. His passengers carry suitcases with them, containing precious mementos. The road he roams about everyday is the border between the world and his passengers’ next destination. He usually works alone, preferring to stick to his route but sometimes a Reaper would come with him, much to his vexation. Especially if it’s Luhan.
“I couldn’t find his records in the Notebook,” Luhan whines, flipping through the pages of a huge bound book for the umpteenth time that day. “Jaebeom Park, Jinyoung Jung, Jiyoung Kang, Jungsu Park, Junsu Kim, Kaeun Lee… Well, his name wasn’t listed yesterday, or the day before or the day the day before, or the day the day the day bef-”
“Luhan,” Yifan sighs in exasperation. “I get it. And I’d appreciate it if you would take your feet off my dashboard. It’s disgusting.”
“This is interesting,” Luhan continues, ignoring Yifan’s groan of annoyance. “I haven’t encountered something like this. That man couldn’t possibly be dead, but he’s not alive either since he’s already here. He doesn’t have his suitcase too, so we can’t let him travel like the others.”
“What are you going to do?”
“He’s still at the bus station, am I right? I’ll go back to the Human Realm and dig him up,” Luhan giggles to himself and Yifan rolls his eyes at the Reaper’s choice of word. Luhan has the worst puns.
“You’re supposed to dig up information, not-” Before Yifan could utter another word, Luhan vanishes, leaving trails of black smoke that dissipates in the air in mere seconds.
“Damn Reaper,” he mutters under his breath.
Not long after Luhan’s gone, Yifan reaches the usual station. His eyes search for Junmyeon and like he predicts, the man is still there. He feels strangely relieved to see him and another incomprehensible emotion washes over him once again when their eyes meet.
Yifan utters the same greetings he always does, welcoming each and every one of his passengers. From the corner of his eyes, he sees Junmyeon approaching him.
“Hi,” the shorter man says, eyes crinkling into beautiful crescents.
“H-Hey.” Oh my God. A dead person isn’t supposed to be this attractive, Yifan inwardly whimpers. “Uh, so, would you like to get in?” he blurts out, trying to pry Junmyeon’s eyes off his because he thinks he’s about to pass out with Junmyeon gazing up at him.
Junmyeon’s eyes widen as he glances at the bus. “Is that really okay?” he asks, sounding very pleased.
“Of course, but I guess until you get your suitcase back, you can’t get off with the others.”
“That’s fine with me,” Junmyeon says and starts to walk to the bus entrance. He turns, “As long as you’re here.” With that, he climbs up and settles at the seat behind the driver’s.
It takes Yifan a few moments to register Junmyeon’s words. Feeling his face burn, he quickly gets to his seat and pushes at a few levers and buttons. The bus rattles in response to his ministrations.
“Wow, this is fascinating.”
Yifan almost jumps at the sound of Junmyeon’s voice. He sees Junmyeon hovering near him, leaning against the metal bar that’s separating their seats. Junmyeon is looking around the bus, seeming genuinely in awe.
“This is really amazing,” Junmyeon says again. The bus is just like an ordinary bus he used to ride, except that it’s longer and has lots of buttons on its control panel. “Those look similar to an airplane’s control,” he points at the blinking lights on the panel.
“What’s an airplane?” Yifan asks as he disengages the clutch and pushes at the gears.
Junmyeon looks thoughtful. “Hmm, it’s like a… flying bus? Except that it’s a lot bigger and has wings.”
“A flying bus, huh?” Yifan chuckles to himself. The bus maneuvers on the road and starts moving. The rest of the passengers sit quietly as they hold onto their suitcases, most of them staring out the windows.
Yifan steers the bus calmly, his gloved hands clutching at the wheel.
“Um, Yifan?” Junmyeon squeaks as the bus continues to pick up speed. “The end of the road is literally right there and if I’m not mistaken, the sea is right below this cliff-”
“I noticed,” Yifan replies, sounding more amused than alarmed. From the rearview mirror, he sees that Junmyeon’s face had turned paler. “Junmyeon, calm down. Trust me, okay? I got this.”
Junmyeon nods, bracing himself. He glances around. The other passengers seem really composed about the whole thing.
“The Reapers had briefed them when they were taken to the station, that’s why they’re mostly calm,” Yifan explains, as if sensing Junmyeon’s curiosity.
“I don’t even know how I end up here,” Junmyeon whispers. “Am I really dead, Yifan?”
Yifan doesn’t know how to answer that. Neil Sedaka’s voice filters out through the old stereo, echoing across the walls of the bus. The bus inches closer to the edge of the cliff and Junmyeon forgets about his concern. He shuts his eyes tight, waiting for the impact to rain down and him. He grips at the metal bar in front of him, clutching onto it for his dear life, if he’s not dead yet, that is.
His ears catch the music of the breeze mixed with the harmonization from sea waves splashing on the rocks. It calms him instantaneously. He’d always loved the ocean. To him, the ocean is one mysterious being. It’s peaceful and furious at the same time; it’s a sanctuary and a deadly jeopardy; and inside the ocean, deep, deep down, therein lies a whole new macrocosm hiding from hungry humans. The ocean is an enigma spread open and Junmyeon thinks it’s beautiful.
When he opens his eyes, he sees blue and white. And Yifan, he’s grinning at him from the driver’s seat, gums and teeth showing. Junmyeon feigns ignorance towards the imminent rush of heat invading his cheeks and instead, he looks through the windshield. Fluffy white clouds lumber atop them lazily, barely touching the bus. The bus is quieter now, probably pacified by the whispers of the sea breeze.
Fascinated gasps could be heard around him and Junmyeon realizes that the rest of the passengers are equally enthralled by this. He scrambles to the window and voila! He’s flying right above the sea! The aquamarine sea sparkles as if shards of mirrors had been carelessly tossed in it; the brilliance a result of incandescent sunlight making love with the water. The warm sea breeze kisses Junmyeon’s cheeks as they go up a notch in altitude. He’s beginning to love the sky.
“The idea of a flying bus is not so bad, isn’t it?” Yifan’s voice strays Junmyeon from his trail of thoughts.
“This is beyond words,” Junmyeon exclaims, not trying to hide his excitement at all. He’s beaming at Yifan and the other mirrors his expression as they exchange a silent gesture.
“Good,” Yifan says, obviously pleased. “That’s good.”
It’s been a week and Junmyeon is still lingering around Yifan. They have grown closer and without realizing it, a strange bond is formed between them. They share one or two similarities and a thousand more differences.
“Why did you take this job?” Junmyeon had asked one day while they were on the way to the bus station to pick up passengers. “Is the pay good?”
Yifan chuckled quietly, smiling a charming smile that he usually kept hidden. “I just love flying. More so than driving, actually.”
“What are you, exactly?” Junmyeon suddenly blurted out. “Are you an angel?”
Yifan was silent for one whole minute before whispering a barely audible, “I am no angel. I’m just… Yifan. I’ve always been Yifan.”
Junmyeon hummed, thoughtful. Out of sudden, he snapped his fingers, startling the blond driver. “We’re the same then! I’m just Junmyeon; I am neither a human nor the dead. Ah, it seems like we’re equal.”
Yifan laughed. “I guess we are.”
During that short moment the sound of Yifan’s laughter rang in his ears, Junmyeon decided that Yifan was an angel.
They begin traveling together. Junmyeon sort of becomes the bus conductor, helping out with whatever he can. When they reach the bus station, Junmyeon would hop off the bus, scurrying towards the queuing passengers.
“Good day. I’m Yifan and-”
“-my name is Junmyeon and we will be transporting you to your final destination.”
Junmyeon grins at the startled driver and Yifan can’t help but return the gesture. As he watches Junmyeon trying to reassure an anxious little boy, he begins to think that he actually likes the sound of “we”, the sound of “Yifan and Junmyeon”.
It’s Week 2 since Junmyeon appeared in Yifan’s universe. They work well together, perfectly in sync. Yifan could definitely get used to having Junmyeon around him. He likes listening to the sound of Junmyeon’s tinkling laughter, his soft voice telling Yifan about his job or his family and friends that he remember of; Yifan likes it when Junmyeon leans a little closer to him when they’re done for the day. Yifan likes the feeling of having Junmyeon’s alabaster skin brushing against his. Yifan likes lying down on the grass with Junmyeon beside him after a long day of work, like today, laughing under the bronze sky.
Yifan likes Junmyeon.
“Yifan.”
A voice that’s not Junmyeon’s invades Yifan’s thoughts. He abruptly sits up, with a perplexed Junmyeon copying his movement. He sees Luhan standing beside the bus, silently beckoning him over with his piercing stare.
Junmyeon fidgets at his place on the ground as Yifan walks over to the stranger. From Yifan’s previous explanation, he immediately knows that the man in the black suit is a Reaper called Luhan. He feels uneasy as he watches Luhan talk to Yifan. He can’t hear them from his location and he doesn’t want to pry. He picks up a handful of dandelion stalks and twirls one with his thumb and forefinger; an act to will away his anxiety. The white wildflower spins unsteadily until a particularly harsh wind blows, leaving only a few seed heads in its stead.
He is engrossed in watching the dandelions give in to the wind and disperse across the field that he doesn’t realize that Yifan is standing next to him. He stands to his feet too, brushing his pants. Luhan’s gone now, and there are only the two of them. Junmyeon studies Yifan’s expression. The anxiety is beginning to eat him up and his stomach turns inside out at the look on Yifan’s face.
“Luhan found you. He said you’re in coma,” Yifan whispers, voice low. “Car accident.”
Silence hangs in the air; the situation akin to the time when thick clouds imprison the moon on a gloomy night. Junmyeon sucks in a sharp breath. He should be expecting this.
Yifan continues, voice barely audible but it seems too loud in Junmyeon’s ears, “Luhan said your soul probably wandered way too far and accidentally entered this side. It rarely happens.”
“I probably do not want to live anymore.” Junmyeon looks down, a certain memory suddenly flooding his mind: the memory of being disowned by his own mother when he said that he didn’t want to inherit his family’s business. He could almost feel the sting on his left cheek at his mother’s response to his words. He remembered that he took the car, driving impossibly fast on that rainy night and the last thing he saw was the headlights of a truck blinding his vision.
“If you lack the will to live, you’ll die, Junmyeon. A Reaper will bring you here and then…” Yifan says, shoulders drooping. “I will be transporting you. Then it will be the last time we’d meet.”
Junmyeon’s voice shakes when he replies, “I’ll die eventually, anyway.”
Yifan takes the other’s hands, squeezing them gently. “But the prospect of meeting you again after this, and the thought that I could meet you one last time; it makes me happy.”
“Waiting makes you happy?”
“I’m not just waiting for anyone. I’m waiting for you. If you die now, I won’t be able to meet you again.” Yifan is smiling the kind of smile that makes Junmyeon feel like crying. It’s only been two weeks but he knows that he wants to stay with Yifan. He doesn’t mind flying over the cliff and into the clouds and doing absolutely nothing except lying down on the grass if Yifan is with him. But then, he’s also aware that they’re two different entities living in two different worlds. If Junmyeon’s world is the sea, then Yifan’s universe is the sky, only the skyline separating them. The two can’t possibly merge together.
Junmyeon laughs, but there’s no mirth in his voice. “You’re so weird.”
Yifan smiles and drapes his arms around Junmyeon’s smaller frame. Junmyeon’s eyes sting but he wills himself not to cry. From his blurred vision over Yifan’s shoulders, he sees Luhan standing not far from them, tipping up his tall hat in courtesy when their eyes meet. Junmyeon hopes that it’s Luhan who will be bringing him to Yifan when he dies.
With a snap of Luhan’s fingers, the breeze starts to blow more briskly. It sweeps the dandelions off their stalks, an invitation for an afternoon waltz. White fills Junmyeon’s vision and for a second, he thought he hears Yifan’s voice.
“Live on, Junmyeon.”
Junmyeon hears voices. He cracks open one eye but the light is too blinding and his eyes hurt. He feels like he’s drowning in the deep ocean, his vision showing splotches of brilliant white and pale blue.
“Oh God, Junmyeon’s awake!”
“Call the doctor!”
“Junmyeon-ah! Please hold on! Stay with us!”
Junmyeon begins to fall deeper in the ocean and he wants to give up. But then, he sees a hand reaching out to him and a second later, the face of his savior comes into view. Junmyeon can’t see clearly because of the blinding light but he thinks he knows that blond hair framing chiseled face anywhere. Without thinking any longer, he stretches his arm out.
“Attention to all passengers booked on Flight KE226 to Guangzhou, please proceed to Gate G2 immediately-”
Junmyeon barely manages to not miss the flight he’s scheduled on. He settles in his seat by the window, heaving a sigh of relief. He gives a quick reply to the messages his mother just sent in before turning the phone off. He smiles as he recalls his mother chiding about him going on a business trip to China after just a few weeks he recovered from the accident.
It’s not that Junmyeon wants to start working that much. He wants to escape for a while, away from the people he already knew. He wants to travel, his wanderlust desire kicking in right after he could get off the bed.
He pays no heed as the seats are being filled in and flips through the airline magazine. Bored, he stares at the clear cerulean sky and the silvery white clouds, indulging in his own thoughts when a voice interrupts.
“Nice weather, isn’t it?”
Junmyeon turns towards the voice and his eyes widen a little. The blond man sitting beside him gives a sheepish smile that looks almost bashful. Before the man could turn away and pretend that he did not just speak to him, Junmyeon quickly nods.
“Yes,” he breaths out. “Yes, it is.”
The blond man’s lips curl wider before breaking out into a charming gummy smile. “Nice to meet you. My name’s Kevin Li.”
Junmyeon can’t help but grin back. “I’m Kim Junmyeon.”
fin.
- also dedicated to my beloved tlist who never stopped holding my hands! ♥
- i love you, coney so pls reciprocate my feelings uwu ♥
- also, there might be tons of mistakes in this so please point them out if you spot any!
kris/suho
pg
yifan is not your typical bus driver. he drives dead people to heaven but junmyeon is not quite dead.
☆ written for mochkee as a SUPER late (i am 2 months behind schedule i'm sorry!!) birthday gift >/////< pls enjoy the pain~ ♡ this is inspired by SHINee's 「1000年、ずっとそばにいて・・・」 mv and the movie Postman to Heaven starring Jaejoong and Han Hyojoo.
The long stretch of road seems endless, pulling through the empty highway without any corner or junction. On its left and right lies a huge spread of wild dandelions. A lone bus travels on the road, its tires kissing little gravels that litter the burning asphalt along the way. Cool breeze blows through the open windows, and Yifan smiles as he sticks his head out of the window a little. He props an elbow on the windowsill, his other hand steering the wheel with practiced ease.
He hums to himself while the still-empty bus continues trailing the straight path. Then, he hears it; the sound of waves hitting the beach. A curl quickly materializes on his lips as he knows that he will reach his destination soon. Yifan presses on the gas pedal, not caring that the bus is protesting at the sudden move with a loud roar.
A small bus station comes into his view. It stands out among the nothingness around it, save for the sea and the stretch of road that’s almost on its end. Yifan adjusts his hat and briefly tugs at the lapels of his black suit jacket.
He pulls the bus to a stop right in front of the station, pressing a button that makes the doors open with a tired thud. He gets off the bus and pads towards the stand. It’s not that crowded today, he notes. There’s only seventeen people there, holding onto their suitcases as they stand in line to get on the bus.
“Good day. My name is Yifan and I will be transporting you to your final destination,” Yifan announces, loud and clear. He gestures a hand towards the entrance, welcoming the first passenger, who is an old woman. As the last of the passenger settles in his seat, something catches at the periphery of Yifan’s vision.
He turns around and to his surprise, he sees a man standing at the corner of the bus station, clad in a white button-down and a pair of black pants. The first thing that Yifan notices is that he doesn’t carry any suitcase with him. Yifan slowly approaches the raven-haired man, who seems a little bewildered.
“Hello there,” he greets gently. “Are you not hopping on?”
The man blinks up at him, brown eyes just a tad darker than Yifan’s favorite beverage. Those eyes mirror uncertainty, embroidering with something that Yifan assumes as fear. The man’s lips tremble slightly, perhaps trying to find his voice.
“I… no. It’s just that I…” he speaks, voice cautious and low. “I don’t have my suitcase with me. I can’t travel yet.”
Yifan’s brows knit together, staring down at the man. He is definitely good-looking, his face bordering on the color of a white sheet of paper, further showing off the dark circles under his eyes. Yifan wants to wipe away those disgracing shadows and he thinks those brown eyes definitely need one or two stars in them. The man looks young, probably no older than twenty-five years old.
‘What a young age to die,’ Yifan muses.
“I guess I’ll get in when I find my suitcase,” the man says, looking calmer now. “I’m Junmyeon,” he smiles as he utters his name. By that simple gesture, Yifan feels like his whole world is coming to a halt, slowing down and gradually static.
However, Yifan quickly recovers, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I’m Yifan. I’ll try asking my colleagues about your suitcase. The Reapers should know.”
Junmyeon tilts his head sideways. “The Reapers?”
“Yeah. Weren’t they the ones who brought you and everyone else here in the first place?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I opened my eyes this morning and I’m suddenly… here. Where is here, exactly?”
Yifan takes a deep breath, pulling at the edge of his hat. “Here, Junmyeon,” he begins. “is the Afterlife.”
Yifan is not your typical bus driver. He drives people who have passed away to the Afterlife. That is all he does. His passengers carry suitcases with them, containing precious mementos. The road he roams about everyday is the border between the world and his passengers’ next destination. He usually works alone, preferring to stick to his route but sometimes a Reaper would come with him, much to his vexation. Especially if it’s Luhan.
“I couldn’t find his records in the Notebook,” Luhan whines, flipping through the pages of a huge bound book for the umpteenth time that day. “Jaebeom Park, Jinyoung Jung, Jiyoung Kang, Jungsu Park, Junsu Kim, Kaeun Lee… Well, his name wasn’t listed yesterday, or the day before or the day the day before, or the day the day the day bef-”
“Luhan,” Yifan sighs in exasperation. “I get it. And I’d appreciate it if you would take your feet off my dashboard. It’s disgusting.”
“This is interesting,” Luhan continues, ignoring Yifan’s groan of annoyance. “I haven’t encountered something like this. That man couldn’t possibly be dead, but he’s not alive either since he’s already here. He doesn’t have his suitcase too, so we can’t let him travel like the others.”
“What are you going to do?”
“He’s still at the bus station, am I right? I’ll go back to the Human Realm and dig him up,” Luhan giggles to himself and Yifan rolls his eyes at the Reaper’s choice of word. Luhan has the worst puns.
“You’re supposed to dig up information, not-” Before Yifan could utter another word, Luhan vanishes, leaving trails of black smoke that dissipates in the air in mere seconds.
“Damn Reaper,” he mutters under his breath.
Not long after Luhan’s gone, Yifan reaches the usual station. His eyes search for Junmyeon and like he predicts, the man is still there. He feels strangely relieved to see him and another incomprehensible emotion washes over him once again when their eyes meet.
Yifan utters the same greetings he always does, welcoming each and every one of his passengers. From the corner of his eyes, he sees Junmyeon approaching him.
“Hi,” the shorter man says, eyes crinkling into beautiful crescents.
“H-Hey.” Oh my God. A dead person isn’t supposed to be this attractive, Yifan inwardly whimpers. “Uh, so, would you like to get in?” he blurts out, trying to pry Junmyeon’s eyes off his because he thinks he’s about to pass out with Junmyeon gazing up at him.
Junmyeon’s eyes widen as he glances at the bus. “Is that really okay?” he asks, sounding very pleased.
“Of course, but I guess until you get your suitcase back, you can’t get off with the others.”
“That’s fine with me,” Junmyeon says and starts to walk to the bus entrance. He turns, “As long as you’re here.” With that, he climbs up and settles at the seat behind the driver’s.
It takes Yifan a few moments to register Junmyeon’s words. Feeling his face burn, he quickly gets to his seat and pushes at a few levers and buttons. The bus rattles in response to his ministrations.
“Wow, this is fascinating.”
Yifan almost jumps at the sound of Junmyeon’s voice. He sees Junmyeon hovering near him, leaning against the metal bar that’s separating their seats. Junmyeon is looking around the bus, seeming genuinely in awe.
“This is really amazing,” Junmyeon says again. The bus is just like an ordinary bus he used to ride, except that it’s longer and has lots of buttons on its control panel. “Those look similar to an airplane’s control,” he points at the blinking lights on the panel.
“What’s an airplane?” Yifan asks as he disengages the clutch and pushes at the gears.
Junmyeon looks thoughtful. “Hmm, it’s like a… flying bus? Except that it’s a lot bigger and has wings.”
“A flying bus, huh?” Yifan chuckles to himself. The bus maneuvers on the road and starts moving. The rest of the passengers sit quietly as they hold onto their suitcases, most of them staring out the windows.
Yifan steers the bus calmly, his gloved hands clutching at the wheel.
“Um, Yifan?” Junmyeon squeaks as the bus continues to pick up speed. “The end of the road is literally right there and if I’m not mistaken, the sea is right below this cliff-”
“I noticed,” Yifan replies, sounding more amused than alarmed. From the rearview mirror, he sees that Junmyeon’s face had turned paler. “Junmyeon, calm down. Trust me, okay? I got this.”
Junmyeon nods, bracing himself. He glances around. The other passengers seem really composed about the whole thing.
“The Reapers had briefed them when they were taken to the station, that’s why they’re mostly calm,” Yifan explains, as if sensing Junmyeon’s curiosity.
“I don’t even know how I end up here,” Junmyeon whispers. “Am I really dead, Yifan?”
Yifan doesn’t know how to answer that. Neil Sedaka’s voice filters out through the old stereo, echoing across the walls of the bus. The bus inches closer to the edge of the cliff and Junmyeon forgets about his concern. He shuts his eyes tight, waiting for the impact to rain down and him. He grips at the metal bar in front of him, clutching onto it for his dear life, if he’s not dead yet, that is.
His ears catch the music of the breeze mixed with the harmonization from sea waves splashing on the rocks. It calms him instantaneously. He’d always loved the ocean. To him, the ocean is one mysterious being. It’s peaceful and furious at the same time; it’s a sanctuary and a deadly jeopardy; and inside the ocean, deep, deep down, therein lies a whole new macrocosm hiding from hungry humans. The ocean is an enigma spread open and Junmyeon thinks it’s beautiful.
When he opens his eyes, he sees blue and white. And Yifan, he’s grinning at him from the driver’s seat, gums and teeth showing. Junmyeon feigns ignorance towards the imminent rush of heat invading his cheeks and instead, he looks through the windshield. Fluffy white clouds lumber atop them lazily, barely touching the bus. The bus is quieter now, probably pacified by the whispers of the sea breeze.
Fascinated gasps could be heard around him and Junmyeon realizes that the rest of the passengers are equally enthralled by this. He scrambles to the window and voila! He’s flying right above the sea! The aquamarine sea sparkles as if shards of mirrors had been carelessly tossed in it; the brilliance a result of incandescent sunlight making love with the water. The warm sea breeze kisses Junmyeon’s cheeks as they go up a notch in altitude. He’s beginning to love the sky.
“The idea of a flying bus is not so bad, isn’t it?” Yifan’s voice strays Junmyeon from his trail of thoughts.
“This is beyond words,” Junmyeon exclaims, not trying to hide his excitement at all. He’s beaming at Yifan and the other mirrors his expression as they exchange a silent gesture.
“Good,” Yifan says, obviously pleased. “That’s good.”
It’s been a week and Junmyeon is still lingering around Yifan. They have grown closer and without realizing it, a strange bond is formed between them. They share one or two similarities and a thousand more differences.
“Why did you take this job?” Junmyeon had asked one day while they were on the way to the bus station to pick up passengers. “Is the pay good?”
Yifan chuckled quietly, smiling a charming smile that he usually kept hidden. “I just love flying. More so than driving, actually.”
“What are you, exactly?” Junmyeon suddenly blurted out. “Are you an angel?”
Yifan was silent for one whole minute before whispering a barely audible, “I am no angel. I’m just… Yifan. I’ve always been Yifan.”
Junmyeon hummed, thoughtful. Out of sudden, he snapped his fingers, startling the blond driver. “We’re the same then! I’m just Junmyeon; I am neither a human nor the dead. Ah, it seems like we’re equal.”
Yifan laughed. “I guess we are.”
During that short moment the sound of Yifan’s laughter rang in his ears, Junmyeon decided that Yifan was an angel.
They begin traveling together. Junmyeon sort of becomes the bus conductor, helping out with whatever he can. When they reach the bus station, Junmyeon would hop off the bus, scurrying towards the queuing passengers.
“Good day. I’m Yifan and-”
“-my name is Junmyeon and we will be transporting you to your final destination.”
Junmyeon grins at the startled driver and Yifan can’t help but return the gesture. As he watches Junmyeon trying to reassure an anxious little boy, he begins to think that he actually likes the sound of “we”, the sound of “Yifan and Junmyeon”.
It’s Week 2 since Junmyeon appeared in Yifan’s universe. They work well together, perfectly in sync. Yifan could definitely get used to having Junmyeon around him. He likes listening to the sound of Junmyeon’s tinkling laughter, his soft voice telling Yifan about his job or his family and friends that he remember of; Yifan likes it when Junmyeon leans a little closer to him when they’re done for the day. Yifan likes the feeling of having Junmyeon’s alabaster skin brushing against his. Yifan likes lying down on the grass with Junmyeon beside him after a long day of work, like today, laughing under the bronze sky.
Yifan likes Junmyeon.
“Yifan.”
A voice that’s not Junmyeon’s invades Yifan’s thoughts. He abruptly sits up, with a perplexed Junmyeon copying his movement. He sees Luhan standing beside the bus, silently beckoning him over with his piercing stare.
Junmyeon fidgets at his place on the ground as Yifan walks over to the stranger. From Yifan’s previous explanation, he immediately knows that the man in the black suit is a Reaper called Luhan. He feels uneasy as he watches Luhan talk to Yifan. He can’t hear them from his location and he doesn’t want to pry. He picks up a handful of dandelion stalks and twirls one with his thumb and forefinger; an act to will away his anxiety. The white wildflower spins unsteadily until a particularly harsh wind blows, leaving only a few seed heads in its stead.
He is engrossed in watching the dandelions give in to the wind and disperse across the field that he doesn’t realize that Yifan is standing next to him. He stands to his feet too, brushing his pants. Luhan’s gone now, and there are only the two of them. Junmyeon studies Yifan’s expression. The anxiety is beginning to eat him up and his stomach turns inside out at the look on Yifan’s face.
“Luhan found you. He said you’re in coma,” Yifan whispers, voice low. “Car accident.”
Silence hangs in the air; the situation akin to the time when thick clouds imprison the moon on a gloomy night. Junmyeon sucks in a sharp breath. He should be expecting this.
Yifan continues, voice barely audible but it seems too loud in Junmyeon’s ears, “Luhan said your soul probably wandered way too far and accidentally entered this side. It rarely happens.”
“I probably do not want to live anymore.” Junmyeon looks down, a certain memory suddenly flooding his mind: the memory of being disowned by his own mother when he said that he didn’t want to inherit his family’s business. He could almost feel the sting on his left cheek at his mother’s response to his words. He remembered that he took the car, driving impossibly fast on that rainy night and the last thing he saw was the headlights of a truck blinding his vision.
“If you lack the will to live, you’ll die, Junmyeon. A Reaper will bring you here and then…” Yifan says, shoulders drooping. “I will be transporting you. Then it will be the last time we’d meet.”
Junmyeon’s voice shakes when he replies, “I’ll die eventually, anyway.”
Yifan takes the other’s hands, squeezing them gently. “But the prospect of meeting you again after this, and the thought that I could meet you one last time; it makes me happy.”
“Waiting makes you happy?”
“I’m not just waiting for anyone. I’m waiting for you. If you die now, I won’t be able to meet you again.” Yifan is smiling the kind of smile that makes Junmyeon feel like crying. It’s only been two weeks but he knows that he wants to stay with Yifan. He doesn’t mind flying over the cliff and into the clouds and doing absolutely nothing except lying down on the grass if Yifan is with him. But then, he’s also aware that they’re two different entities living in two different worlds. If Junmyeon’s world is the sea, then Yifan’s universe is the sky, only the skyline separating them. The two can’t possibly merge together.
Junmyeon laughs, but there’s no mirth in his voice. “You’re so weird.”
Yifan smiles and drapes his arms around Junmyeon’s smaller frame. Junmyeon’s eyes sting but he wills himself not to cry. From his blurred vision over Yifan’s shoulders, he sees Luhan standing not far from them, tipping up his tall hat in courtesy when their eyes meet. Junmyeon hopes that it’s Luhan who will be bringing him to Yifan when he dies.
With a snap of Luhan’s fingers, the breeze starts to blow more briskly. It sweeps the dandelions off their stalks, an invitation for an afternoon waltz. White fills Junmyeon’s vision and for a second, he thought he hears Yifan’s voice.
“Live on, Junmyeon.”
Junmyeon hears voices. He cracks open one eye but the light is too blinding and his eyes hurt. He feels like he’s drowning in the deep ocean, his vision showing splotches of brilliant white and pale blue.
“Oh God, Junmyeon’s awake!”
“Call the doctor!”
“Junmyeon-ah! Please hold on! Stay with us!”
Junmyeon begins to fall deeper in the ocean and he wants to give up. But then, he sees a hand reaching out to him and a second later, the face of his savior comes into view. Junmyeon can’t see clearly because of the blinding light but he thinks he knows that blond hair framing chiseled face anywhere. Without thinking any longer, he stretches his arm out.
“Attention to all passengers booked on Flight KE226 to Guangzhou, please proceed to Gate G2 immediately-”
Junmyeon barely manages to not miss the flight he’s scheduled on. He settles in his seat by the window, heaving a sigh of relief. He gives a quick reply to the messages his mother just sent in before turning the phone off. He smiles as he recalls his mother chiding about him going on a business trip to China after just a few weeks he recovered from the accident.
It’s not that Junmyeon wants to start working that much. He wants to escape for a while, away from the people he already knew. He wants to travel, his wanderlust desire kicking in right after he could get off the bed.
He pays no heed as the seats are being filled in and flips through the airline magazine. Bored, he stares at the clear cerulean sky and the silvery white clouds, indulging in his own thoughts when a voice interrupts.
“Nice weather, isn’t it?”
Junmyeon turns towards the voice and his eyes widen a little. The blond man sitting beside him gives a sheepish smile that looks almost bashful. Before the man could turn away and pretend that he did not just speak to him, Junmyeon quickly nods.
“Yes,” he breaths out. “Yes, it is.”
The blond man’s lips curl wider before breaking out into a charming gummy smile. “Nice to meet you. My name’s Kevin Li.”
Junmyeon can’t help but grin back. “I’m Kim Junmyeon.”
fin.
- also dedicated to my beloved tlist who never stopped holding my hands! ♥
- i love you, coney so pls reciprocate my feelings uwu ♥
- also, there might be tons of mistakes in this so please point them out if you spot any!